ParshaPix
for Parshat Matot - Mas'ei

Explanations of this week's ParshaPix -

The father and daughter in the upper right corner and the husband and wife next to them represent Hafarat N'darim, the special cases of nullification of vows as presented in the beginning portion of Matot.

Upper left are pairs of animals representing the sharing of the spoils of war from the battle against Midyan. Specifically, flocks, cattle, and donkeys are mentioned in the Torah, hence, the choice of pictures.

Middle right is a soldier times 12000, representing the special army selected to fight against Midyan.

Middle middle, another couple, this time multiplied by 5, representing the marriage of the five daughters of Tzelafchad to members of their own tribe, Menashe.

The map of Israel on the lower left represents the three Cities of Refuse to be selected on each side of the Jordon River. And it can also represent the boundaries of Eretz Yisrael. Not accurate, of course.

And at the bottom left, sweeping up and to the right, we have a representation of the travels of the People of Israel, as described in the beginning of Mas'ei, from the pyramids of Egypt, via many encampments (represented by the arrows) until arrival at the boundary of Eretz Yisrael. Don't be thrown by the orientation of the picture. It too isn't accurate.

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