Pinchas: Chapter 76

"Take from among you an offering," not from among the mixed multitude

Synopsis

Rabbi Shimon and Rabbi Elazar discuss the question of whether the offering was to be taken only from the children of Yisrael or from the mixed multitudes as well. They also determine that Yisrael did not in fact worship Baal Pe'or.

[Verse 475] The Faithful Shepherd confirms that the offering was not taken from the mixed multitude. He says that the rule of the mixed multitude over Yisrael causes Yisrael to come under the jurisdiction of the stars and planets rather than God.