97. Come and see that, in spite of all this, the wicked of Midian did not rest from all their evil. Generations later, when they saw that Joshua had died, together with all the elders who were worthy to have miracles performed through them, they figured that the time was now opportune. What did they do? They approached Amalek and told them, It is worth it for you to remember what the children of Yisrael and their master Moses and his disciple Joshua have brought upon you that will destroy you. Now is the opportune time, for they have no one to shield them. We will go and accompany you, as it is written: "Midian and Amalek and the children of the east..." (Shoftim 6:33). "And because of Midian Yisrael made for themselves the tunnels..." (Ibid. 2). There was no one in the world who wished to harm the children of YISRAEL like Midian. You might say Amalek; because of jealousy of the covenant, they approached the covenant TO HARM IT. Therefore, the Holy One, blessed be He, took everlasting vengeance, which was not to be forgotten. They agreed that it was certainly so and there was no doubt at all.

148. As soon as THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, took these gifts to Yisrael from these chief ministers that rule OVER ESAU AND ISHMAEL, He approached and called all the "holy multitudes" (Ibid. 2) that are appointed over the rest of the nations. They also replied to Him similarly AS SAMAEL AND RAHAV. From all of them, He took and accepted gifts on behalf of Yisrael. THIS IS LIKE a doctor who had one vial full of medicine of life and kept it for his son. He wished to give his son those medicine of life, but the doctor was wise and thought about the evil servants in his household. If they notice that I give this gift to my son, they will be jealous and will want to kill him.

330. The Accuser becomes jealous about this chieftain appointed under him and says, Did the Holy One, blessed be He, give men children that carry upon themselves sins and iniquities? To the chieftain He handed children without sin, who don't even know the taste of sin. He immediately goes and removes them from his hand, so he should not have any control over them. Therefore, THE HOLY SPIRIT proceeded and said, "The children that Elohim has graciously given your servant," to that servant, MEANING HE GRACIOUSLY GAVE HIM CHILDREN THAT ARE without taste of any iniquity or sin. And so that the appointed one shall not have more praise than him, he wishes to remove them from his hand.

376. However, the plea that these daughters pleaded was that he died in the wilderness. He, who was Zelophehad, a chief in the house of Joseph, and who was not properly versed in the manners of the Torah, was not THEREFORE a prince. And he was the one who did not watch his lips and speech against Moses, AS IT SAYS, "AND THE PEOPLE SPOKE AGAINST ELOHIM, AND MOSES..." (BEMIDBAR 21:5). ZELOPHEHAD WAS THE SPOKESMAN and about him, it is written: "And many (Heb. rav) people of Yisrael died" (Ibid. 6) BECAUSE HE WAS a man that was not versed in Torah. He was a chief (Heb. rav) of a family, a chieftain from the descendants of Joseph and an offspring of Menashe. Because he sinned in the wilderness by speaking against Moses, HIS DAUGHTERS thought that Moses harbored hatred AGAINST HIM. Therefore, they brought forward their complaints before Moses and Elazar and all the tribal heads and family chieftains. They did not speak with Moses alone but in their presence, because they were jealous of him.