Matot מַטּוֹת

Bamidbar 30:2—32:42 · 112 verses · 42 of 54

Commandments in this portion: positive — 1 · negative — 1counted by Sefer HaChinuch

Which commandments

406The commandment of the law of the abrogation of vowsמצות דין הפרת נדריםpos.
407That we not profane our words from vowsשלא נחל דברנו בנדריםneg.

Numbering, order and division follow Sefer HaChinuch; the number links to the text.

The laws of vows and their annulment. War against Midian, the division of the spoil and the vessels' purification. Then Reuven and Gad ask for the land east of the Jordan, and Moshe agrees on one condition—that they cross over armed before their brothers and only then return to their own.

Read next on 31 July 2027, 22 July 2028. By the Israeli reading cycle.

People of the portion

Mosesprophet, leader of the Exodus, who received the Torah at Sinai2368–2488 AM · 120 years Eleazar the PriestAaron's third son, who received the high priesthood from him on Mount Hor Balaama gentile prophet hired to curse Israel JoshuaMoshe's disciple and successor, conqueror of the Land of Israel2406–2516 AM · 110 years Abrahamthe first patriarch, who made the one God known to the world1948–2123 AM · 175 years Isaacthe second patriarch, the only one who never left the Land of Israel2048–2228 AM · 180 years Calebthe faithful spy; a leader of the tribe of Yehuda Jacobthe third patriarch, father of the twelve tribes, renamed Israel2108–2255 AM · 147 years

Numbers

Events of this portion

2488 AMThe War against Midian

Echoes in the Prophets and history

These events themselves live in other books and other centuries; each is tied to this portion by the verse shown beside it: the early ones the portion recalls, in the later ones its word resounds:

2487 AMBalak and Balaam: the Curse That Became a Blessing

The world at that time

The nearest event of world history known to us comes later, 14 years on:

2502The treaty of Ramesses II with the Hittites: the oldest peace treaty

How it is read

First	Bamidbar 30:2—30:17	16 verses
Second	Bamidbar 31:1—31:12	12 verses
Third	Bamidbar 31:13—31:24	12 verses
Fourth	Bamidbar 31:25—31:41	17 verses
Fifth	Bamidbar 31:42—31:54	13 verses
Sixth	Bamidbar 32:1—32:19	19 verses
Seventh	Bamidbar 32:20—32:42	23 verses
Maftir	Bamidbar 32:39—32:42	4 verses
Haftarah	Jeremiah 1:1—2:3 on Sefaria	22 verses

The text

The English edition does not yet carry the text of the portion. The Hebrew with translation is on Sefaria; the Russian page of this portion carries the full text verse by verse — открыть по-русски →.