Pinchas 5780

Question: 25:1 tells us that it was the women from מואב who seduces the men. Why then is the war to be engaged with מדין (only)?

Approach: we do of course see that the women of מדין were involved, as per the appearance of כזבי. And it could be that מואב is mentioned initially as they came up with the idea and initiated the event, to which מדין joined. Later though, מדין seem have taken the lead role by sending prominent members of society to entice the nation.

We might also suggest that מואב received a reprieval due to their family connected, as indicated in פרשת דברים. 

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