Parshat Mattot-Maasei Mincha Shiur 7/19/25

It is highly unusual for Elazar to be instructing Benei Yisrael in mitzvot - that is usually Moshe's job. The rabbis were very concerned about people trying to "show Moshe up" by teaching or deciding halakha while he was present. So what gives?

Moshe's Anger led him to err, and he forgot the laws of purifying gentile utensils. [This explains why Elazar had to transmit this teaching in Moshe's stead.] We find a similar phenomenon on the eighth day of the Tabernacle's inauguration, regarding which the verse states about Moshe, "He was furious with Elazar and Itamar" (Lev. 10:16). In addition, because Moshe got angry, he made a mistake [which Aaron then corrected]. And again, when Moshe lost his temper and declared, "Listen now, rebels! Shall we produce water for you from this rock?" (20:11), it was because he got angry that he erred [and struck the stone instead of speaking to it].

The ritual of the red cow had been entrusted to Elazar (19:3). As such, although Moshe gave the people the general instruction to purify themselves, it was Elazar who explained to the nation what to do.

Moshe taught the laws of purification to the officers of the thousands and of the hundreds, but Elazar spoke directly to the soldiers regarding the utensils. It was the soldiers who plundered the household vessels from the Midianite homes, whereas the officers merely took illustrious clothing for themselves.

Elazar told the nation: The instruction that Moshe gave to purify yourselves on the third and seventh days is what is known as "the Law's decree." It is the ritual of the red cow that is required upon contact with a human corpse.

Moshe explained to the nation's elders far more than what is printed in the text. For Parshat Hukat says nothing about purifying metal utensils by passing them through fire. Nor does that text explain that objects which are flammable should be put in water instead. That earlier passage only describes the sprinkling of water. However, since the present text deals with the practical application of the law, Elazar the High Priest now teaches the nation the particulars of these processes. It was his responsibility to ensure that the people remained pure and did not impurify the Tabernacle.