Practice Parashat Matot with TropeTrainer
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Parashat Matot - פָּרָשַׁת מַטּוֹת־מַסְעֵי
Matot (“Tribes”) opens with laws about vows, and continues to describe the Israelites’ war against the Midianites and the allocation of spoils. The tribes of Reuben and Gad request to dwell outside of the Land of Israel, and Moses acquiesces on the condition that they help conquer it. Masei (“Travels”), the final Torah portion in the Book of Numbers, opens with a list of places that the Israelites traveled in the desert. God commands the Israelites to destroy idolatry in the Land of Israel, outlines Israel’s boundaries, and details the laws of cities of refuge for accidental killers.
Torah Portion: Numbers 30:2-32:42
Parashat Matot-Masei is the 42,43th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Next read on July 31st, 2027 / 26 Tamuz 5787
- Annual Reading
Read Annually
1:
30:2 - 30:17· 16 p’sukim
2:
31:1 - 31:12· 12 p’sukim
3:
31:13 - 31:24· 12 p’sukim
4:
31:25 - 31:41· 17 p’sukim
5:
31:42 - 31:54· 13 p’sukim
6:
32:1 - 32:19· 19 p’sukim
7:
32:20 - 32:42· 23 p’sukim
Maftir:
32:39 - 32:42· 4 p’sukim
Haftarah:
Jeremiah 1:1 - 2:3· 22 p’sukim
About Parashat Parashat Matot
Beyond the narrative, Matot is unified by the theme of the binding power of speech and commitment. The opening laws of vows (nedarim) establish that a person's word is sacred and must be fulfilled, while the request of Reuben and Gad turns on a verbal pledge to lead the conquest before settling east of the Jordan. The war against Midian is framed as a reckoning for the moral corruption of Baal-Peor, and the detailed division of spoils among soldiers, the wider community, the Levites, and the priesthood underscores communal responsibility and shared obligation. Taken together, the portion stresses integrity of speech, accountability to one's fellow Israelites, and the duty not to abandon the national mission.
The Haftarah
Matot is most commonly read paired with the following portion as the combined Matot-Masei, in which case the haftarah is that of Masei (Jeremiah 2:4-28, with a closing verse that differs by rite — in most Ashkenazi communities ending at Jeremiah 3:4 and in most Sephardi communities ending at Jeremiah 4:1-2). When Matot is read on its own — which generally happens only in certain leap years — its haftarah is Jeremiah 1:1-2:3, the first of the three "Haftarot of Admonition" read during the Three Weeks of mourning before Tisha b'Av. The connection is thematic and calendrical rather than a direct narrative parallel: Jeremiah, traditionally regarded as the author of Lamentations, prophesies impending judgment on Judah for its faithlessness, echoing Matot's emphasis on keeping one's word and remaining faithful to one's commitments. Because the exact reading (alone vs. combined) and the closing verses depend on the year and on local custom, congregants should confirm with their own community.
Notable passages and verses
The portion's most famous verse is Numbers 30:3, "He shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth" — the foundational text on the sanctity of vows and oaths. Matot also records the deaths of the five kings of Midian and of Balaam son of Beor in the war of vengeance, and Moses's striking rebuke of Reuben and Gad, whom he compares to the spies who demoralized the nation a generation earlier. Liturgically, the portion is notable for being read separately only on rare occasions; when it is, its haftarah inaugurates the cycle of admonition leading up to Tisha b'Av.
Frequently asked questions
What is parashat Matot about?
Matot (Numbers 30:2-32:42) opens with the laws of vows and oaths, teaching that a person must keep their word, and details when a father or husband could annul a woman's vow. It then narrates the war of vengeance against Midian for the Baal-Peor incident — in which the Midianite kings and Balaam are killed — and the careful purification and division of the spoils. Finally, the tribes of Reuben and Gad (later joined by half of Manasseh) ask to settle the pastureland east of the Jordan, and Moses agrees on the condition that their warriors first help conquer the Land. You can hear and practice this reading with its trope on TropeTrainer.
What is the haftarah for Matot?
It depends on whether Matot is read alone or combined with Masei. In most years Matot is read together with Masei, and the haftarah is that of Masei (Jeremiah 2:4-28, with the closing verse differing by rite). In the leap years when Matot is read on its own, its haftarah is Jeremiah 1:1-2:3 — the first of the three Haftarot of Admonition read during the Three Weeks before Tisha b'Av. Customs vary, so check with your community for your specific year. TropeTrainer lets you hear and practice the haftarah reading with its cantillation.
What are the themes of Matot?
Matot centers on the binding power of speech and commitment: the laws of vows insist that a person fulfill their word, and Reuben and Gad's request hinges on a pledge to help conquer the Land before settling. The war against Midian addresses the consequences of moral corruption, and the division of spoils highlights communal responsibility. Together these stress integrity of speech and not abandoning one's fellow Israelites in the national mission. On TropeTrainer you can hear and practice the entire portion with its trope.
Why is Matot usually read together with Masei?
The Torah is divided so that the entire scroll is completed each year, and to keep the annual cycle aligned with the calendar several shorter portions are paired in most years. Matot and Masei are read together as Matot-Masei in the great majority of years, and Matot is read on its own only in certain leap years when the calendar allows. Because this varies year to year, confirm the reading for your year with your community. TropeTrainer lets you hear and practice both portions with their cantillation.
Where to go next
Open a sample Torah reading with full Hebrew text, trope marks, and audio to see how TropeTrainer works.
See the complete list of weekly parashot with links to every reading and detail page.
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