Pinchas, Pinhas, or Pinehas (פנחס) is the Hebrew name translated in English Bibles as Phinehas. It is also the name of the forty-first reading from the Torah because of the second verse of the reading, which says, “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned away My wrath” (Numbers 25:11). In this Torah portion, HaShem makes a covenant of peace with Phinehas and his descendants, orders a second census, settles questions about inheritance, appoints Joshua to succeed Moshe and lists the sacrifices for the appointed times.

The parsha of Balak, which we read last week, concluded with the daughters of Moav seducing the Jews into idol worship. In the midst of that, one of the Jewish princes took a Midianite woman for harlotry. A man named Pinchas zealously took a spear and killed them both in the act, in a miraculous way.

Note: On the Shabbat the Torah Reading is divided into 7 sections. Each section is called an Aliya [literally: Go up] since for each Aliya, one person “goes up” to make a bracha [blessing] on the Torah Reading. Here are this week`s aliyot:

1st Aliya: The first aliyah in this week’s parsha begins by continuing that story, with God praising Pinchas. The Torah identifies the slain man as Zimri a prince of the Jews, and the slain woman as Cozbi, the daughter of a Midianite king. As a reward for his act of zealousness, Pinchas is appointed as a Kohen. Although a grandson to Aharon, he was not included in the original selection of Kohanim. No other person would ever be so honored

2nd Aliya: Moshe is told to do battle against the Midianites in retaliation for the incident at Baal Peor. Moshe counts the Bnai Yisrael in preparation for entering Eretz Yisrael. The total number of men over 20 years old, not including the Leviyim, is 601,730; compared to 40 years earlier when it was 603,550. If you include all men, women and children, the total is approx. three million

3rd Aliya: Moshe divides Israel through a lottery that miraculously matched each tribe to its proper portion. The Leviyim are counted.

4th Aliya: Motivated by the "shaila – question" of Tzelafchad’s daughters regarding their father who died without any sons, the laws of inheritance are discussed. Moshe is told to prepare for his death, and Yehoshua is chosen as his successor.

5th, 6th & 7th Aliyot: The remainder of the Parsha hashavua details the various public sacrifices offered throughout the year: daily, Shabbat, Musaf, Rosh Chodesh, and every Yom Tov.

Following the description of Succot, this aliyah discusses the holiday of Shemini Atzereth. This is the last holiday in the yearly chronological sequence of holidays. This last two holidays represent the millennium kingdom, and the world to come respectively.

According to Maimonides, cited verses in the parshah for 12 positive and 6 negative commandments: To judge in cases of inheritances (Numbers 27:8–11.). To offer the continual sacrifices daily (Numbers 28:3.). To offer an additional sacrifice every Sabbath (Numbers 28:9.) To offer an additional sacrifice at the beginning of each new month (Numbers 28:11.) To rest on the seventh day of the Festival of Passover (Exodus 12:16; Numbers 28:25.) Not to do work on the Festival of Shavuot (Leviticus 23:21; Numbers 28:26.) To offer an additional sacrifice on the Festival of Shavuot (Numbers 28:26–27.) To hear the sound of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah (Numbers 29:1.) Not to do work on Rosh Hashanah (Leviticus 23:25; Numbers 29:1.) To offer an additional sacrifice on Rosh Hashanah (Numbers 29:1–2.) To offer an additional sacrifice on Yom Kippur (Numbers 29:7.) To fast on Yom Kippur (Leviticus 16:29; Numbers 29:7.) Not to do work on Yom Kippur (Leviticus 16:29; 23:28, 31; Numbers 29:7.) Not to do work on the first day of Sukkot (Leviticus 23:35; Numbers 29:12.) To offer an additional sacrifice on the Festival of Sukkot (Numbers 29:13.) To offer an additional sacrifice on the day of Shemini Atzeret, for this day is a pilgrimage festival in itself (Numbers 29:35.) blowing the shofar (by Alphonse Lévy)Not to do work on the eighth day of Sukkot (Leviticus 23:36; Numbers 29:35.) Not to transgress in matters that one has forbidden himself (Numbers 30:3.)

According to Sefer ha-Chinuch, there are six positive commandments in the parshah. The precept of the laws of inheritance (Numbers 27:8.) The precept of the regular olah offering, sacrificed every day (Numbers 28:3.) The precept of the musaf offering on the Sabbath (Numbers 28:9.) The precept of the musaf offering on Rosh Chodesh (Numbers 28:11.) The precept of the musaf offering on the Shavuot Festival (Numbers 28:26.) The precept of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah (Numbers 29:1.)