42- Mattot

מטות - "Tribes"
Weekly parashah #42: Mattot Torah: B'midbar (Numbers) 30:1-32:42 Haftarah: Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 1:1-2:3 Greek Scriptures: Yochanan (John) 18-19 (In regular years read with next parashah. In leap years read by itself.)

Numbers 30:1

Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the sons of Israel, saying, "This is the word which the LORD has commanded.

The Hebrew Word

Mattot (Strong's #4294) means "branch" or "staff" and is figuratively used to mean "a tribe". It is used 247 times in 205 verses in the Tanakh.

First use in Scripture

The first time mattot is used in Scripture is in Genesis 38:18.

Genesis 38:18

He said, "What pledge shall I give you?" And she said, "Your seal and your cord , and your staff that is in your hand." So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.

Last use in Scripture

The last time mattot is used in Scripture is in Habbakkuk 3:14.

Habbakuk 3:14

You pierced with his own spears The head of his throngs. They stormed in to scatter us; Their exultation was like those Who devour the oppressed in secret.

Parashah Outline

• The Law of Vows - Numbers 30:1
• The Slaughter of Midyan- Numbers 31:1
• Division of the Spoils - Numbers 31:25
• Reuven and Gad Settle in Gil'ad - Numbers 32:1

Portraits of Messiah

Verse by Verse Notes

Other Observations