Pinchas 27:3 · EXTRA 1 — Tzelofchad was not in Korach’s assembly — daughters’ careful claim

Parashas Pinchas · EXTRA side-ring · Passuk 27:3

The Complete Passuk

אָבִינוּ מֵת בַּמִּדְבָּר וְהוּא לֹא־הָיָה בְּתוֹךְ הָעֵדָה הַנּוֹעָדִים עַל־יְהֹוָה בַּעֲדַת־קֹרַח כִּי־בְחֶטְאוֹ מֵת וּבָנִים לֹא־הָיוּ לוֹ׃

Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among the assembly that gathered against Hashem in the assembly of Korach, but he died for his own sin; and he had no sons.

Chabad.org — 27:3

Source Citation

Sifrei Bamidbar 133

Sefaria — Sifrei Bamidbar 133

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וְכָל מִי שֶׁמַּעֲשָׂיו סְתוּמִים מַעֲשֵׂה אֲבוֹתָיו סְתוּמִים, וְהַכָּתוּב מְיַחֲסוֹ לְשֶׁבַח – הֲרֵי זֶה צַדִּיק בֶּן צַדִּיק.

English: Whoever’s deeds are hidden and whose fathers’ deeds are hidden, and Scripture attributes him for praise — he is a righteous man the son of a righteous man.

Type of Learning

Scripture’s praise of lineage when deeds are otherwise closed.

What Is Learned

The daughters carefully distinguish their father from Korach’s rebels while affirming his personal accountability.