The Torah then digressed to teach the tell of the division of the Land – which would be the result of them vanquishing Midian, and then the korbanos Mussaf (the special additional Festival offerings), which they would bring once they were in Eretz Yisrael (see Ramban).
This week’s parashah returns to the war…but it first teaches the rules of nedarim, colloquially referred to as “promises,” where someone prohibits something to himself.
How the laws of nedarim fit in here?
Ramban (Vayikra 22:18) notes that people often make nedarim as a source of merit when they are in times of distress. According to this, the Torah was giving the soldiers going to war a weapon to garner extra spiritual protection.
It is also possible that the Torah teaches this here to highlight that anything that can be used negatively can – and should – be used positively.
Balaam sought to use his power of speech to curse the Jews. That speech would have invoked Divine wrath to wreak destruction. Nedarim teach us that Man, through his speech, has the power to sanctify. Man can take an everyday object and, with a few words, create a Torah prohibition against using that object.
Furthermore, although the Torah generally discourages the use of nedarim, it tells us that one should use it as a tool to distance himself from sin – כל הרואה סוטה בקלקולה יזיר עצמו מן היין, one who sees a sotah in her disgrace should [declare himself a nazir to] distance himself from wine.
Thus, the discussion of nedarim addresses the two threats posed by Midian and power every person has to overcome the spiritual challenges represented by that nation, a critical component of the war to be waged against them.
May Hashem grant us the wisdom and the strength to properly use the tools He has us.
Gut Shabbos.
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