ספר במדבר - פרשת מסעי - לד:טז-כט - רביעי

Hashem speaks to Moshe, saying—this is the introduction to the next section, where Hashem is going to instruct Moshe about the division of the land.

These are the names of the people who will inherit the land on your behalf: Elozor HaKohen and Yehoshua ben Nun. The teacher explains that the Rashi will clarify it's not that they did the act of inheritance for the people, but they actually inherited for the Jewish people and then later gave it to the people. The phrase Yinchal Lachem refers to the Nesim, the leaders, who were in charge under the guidance of Elozor HaKohen and Yehoshua ben Nun. It's hard to say that Elozor HaKohen and Yehoshua ben Nun inherited for everyone; rather, it refers to the Nesim.

Rashi explains that Asher Yinchalu Lachem means "for you, on your behalf." Each leader of a tribe was an apotropos, a caretaker or representative for his tribe, and he would distribute the inheritance of the tribe to the families and to the males. The division was done by the Nasi, who would choose a proper portion for each person. What they did was considered as if the people themselves had appointed them as agents, and their actions were binding. Rashi also points out that the word Lachem here cannot be understood as it usually is in the Torah, meaning "to you," because then it would have said Yanchilu Lachem. Instead, Yinchalu means they inherit for you, in your place, similar to the phrase "Hashem yilochem lachem"—Hashem will fight for you.

One leader from each tribe should be taken to inherit the land. The teacher notes that these Nesim were appointed now, since the previous leaders had died during the forty years in the desert. The verse is saying that each tribe should have a leader to handle the inheritance of the land.

Rashi explains Linchol Es Ha'aretz means that the leader will inherit and divide the land in your place. He doesn't keep it for himself; he inherits it on your behalf and then distributes it to you.

Now the Torah specifies the names of these leaders. For the tribe of Yehudah, it was Kalev ben Yefuneh. The teacher notes that Kalev was the only one left from the previous generation who didn't die in the desert, as mentioned in earlier parshiyos. Kalev was also the spy from Yehudah, and he received the portion of Chevron in addition to his tribe's inheritance.

For the tribe of Shimon, the leader was Shmuel ben Amiud.

For the tribe of Binyomin, the leader was Elidad ben Kisloin.

For the tribe of Dan, the leader was Buki ben Yogli. The teacher notes that sometimes the word "Nasi" (leader) is mentioned explicitly, and sometimes it is not, and sometimes the phrasing of the tribe's name varies, but he does not know the reason for these differences.

For the descendants of Yosef, for the tribe of Menasheh, the leader was Chaniel ben Eifod. Here again, the word "Nasi" is used.

For the tribe of Ephraim, the leader was Kemuel ben Shiftan.

For the tribe of Zevulun, the leader was Elitzofon ben Parnach. In these last few verses, the word "Nasi" is consistently used.

For the tribe of Yissachar, the leader was Paltiel ben Azan.

For the tribe of Asher, the leader was Achihud ben Shlomi.

For the tribe of Naftali, the leader was Pedah'el ben Amiud.

These are the ones whom Hashem commanded to give the inheritance to the B'nei Yisroel in the land of Canaan. The teacher explains that once these leaders inherited the land, they then gave it to the B'nei Yisroel.

Rashi explains Lenachel Es B'nei Yisroel means that these leaders would distribute the land to the B'nei Yisroel according to their portions.