1)

?Kach es Kol Roshei ha?Am?. Who were the "Roshei ha?Am?? What was Moshe expected to do with them?

1.

Rashi and Targum Yonasan: It refers to the Dayanim ? who did not sin and whom Moshe was to (divide into Batei-Dinim and - Sanhedrin, 35a) 1 delegate to judge all those who had worshipped Ba'al Pe'or (and hang them). 2

1

See Torah Temimah, note 5.

2

Rashi: Refer to 25:5:1:1.

2)

Why did Hashem order specifically the Dayanim to carry out the death-sentence?

1.

Oznayim la'Torah (in Pinchas 25:11): Perhaps it is because there were no witnesses - on whom the Torah places the onus of carrying out the death-sentence. 1

1

See Oznaim la'Torah Ibid. - DH 'Heishiv es Chamasi'.

3)

What are the connotations of "Ve'hoka osam"?

1.

Rashi #1 and Rashbam: It means 'Hang them'. 1

2.

Rashi #2 (in Vayikra, 19:28): It means 'Join them' - inasmuch as by hanging someone on a piece of wood that is stuck into the ground, one joins him to the ground.

3.

Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: It means 'Kill them'.

1

Rashi and Rashbam: As in Shmuel 2, 21:6 & 10. See Torah Temimah, citing Sanhedrin, 34b.

4)

Whom were they told to hang, and why?

1.

Rashi and Rashbam: The judges were told to hang those who had worshipped Ba?al-Pe?or, because whoever worships idols is subject to hanging (momentarily) 1 after he has been stoned. 2

1

Refer to 25:4:4:1

2

As the Gemara states in Sanhedrin, 45b. In this case however, it was a Hora'as Sha'ah to actually kill them by hanging (Oznayim la'Torah).

5)

What are the connotations of "Neged ha'Shemesh"?

1.

Rashi #1: It means that they should hang them publicly, for all to see.

2.

Rashi #2: The judges discovered 1 who the sinners were by means of the sun which shone its rays on them. 2

3.

Seforno: It means that the people should see them being hanged and not object - a Kaparah for their failure to object when they saw the people sinning.

4.

Targum Yonasan: It means that they were to hang them when the sun rises in the morning and to take them down the moment it set and bury them.

5.

Sanhedrin, 34b: It means ?in the day? - and We learn from here that Dinei Nefashos must be judged and concluded by day. 3

1

This wa Hora'as Sha'ah, since there were no witnesses. This helps us understand the Midrash that B'nei Yisrael served the idol prior to having Bi'ah with the women (refer to 25:2:2:1). Presumably, they were secluded, and there would not be witnesses! (PF).

2

Rashi: The Cloud folded to enable the sun to shine on them. Riva: Even though the Cloud went away after Aharon died, it returned on the merit of Moshe.

3

See Torah Te imah, note 7/

6)

Why would hanging the sinners cause Hashem's anger to abate?

1.

Rashi (in Sanhedrin, 35a: Because that is how Hashem would react to when He would see that the people are acting zealously in His honor.

2.

Oznayim la'Torah (based on Avos de'R. Nasan: Because when Yisrael perform Din down here, Hashem withdraws Midas Din from them in Heaven. 1

1

See Oznayim la'Torah.

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