His surviving daughters, however, appeal to Moses. Zelophehad, of the tribe of Manasseh, has died leaving no heir-that is, leaving no son. Now, in Parashat Pinchas, a fourth case comes before Moses. Each time when the people ask Moses for a ruling, he must answer “I have never heard,” until the Lord gives him additional instructions. The cases involve a blasphemer (Lev 24:10–22), some men who were ritually unclean at the time of the Passover sacrifice (Num 9:6–14), and a violator of Shabbat (Num 15:32–36). Three times in the narrative of Torah, the Israelites encounter legal cases not directly covered by the statues and ordinances they have recently received from God. The opposite of all these qualities is found in a fool. If there is something the wise person has not heard, the wise person says, “I have never heard.” The wise person acknowledges what is true. The wise person speaks about the first matter first and the last matter last. The wise person asks according to the subject and answers according to the Law. The wise person is not in a hurry to answer. The wise person does not interrupt when another is speaking. The wise person does not speak in the presence of one who is wiser. Seven things distinguish a fool and seven things distinguish a wise person.
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