The parasha opens with vows and oaths, then the war against Midian, and then the tribes of Reuven and Gad come forward: "they had a very great multitude of cattle." They ask to settle east of the Jordan — "do not bring us across."

Moshe answers with twelve verses of rebuke: you are repeating the sin of the spies! For forty years we wandered because they refused to go up to the Land — and now, on the plains of Moav, you return to the very same error?

Reuven and Gad calm him: "we will build folds for our flocks here and cities for our little ones — and we will march armed" ahead of the people, and not return until the land is apportioned. Moshe is appeased and seals a covenant — and within his words lies a great principle:

There were two families in Israel. Beit Garmu knew how to make the lehem hapanim (showbread) — a handbreadth high and never turning stale — and would not teach the secret. For this they were blamed.

Beit Avtinas knew how to make the ketoret (incense) from its eleven ingredients — and would not teach it. They too were blamed. But they were praised:

The Sages asked them: what did you see that made you refuse to teach? They answered: we had a tradition that the Temple was destined to be destroyed, and we feared that an unworthy person would learn it and go and use it for idolatry.

The blame: they had a reason — yet as long as the Temple stands, whoever knows something that benefits the community should share it. If a person passes away with no one to replace him, the secret is lost. The Torah is not yours — it belongs to the Holy One; if you have something to share, share it.

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