Shalom Yerachmiel,

1. I will write assuming that I understood your question correctly. If I miscontrued something, please let me know.

The Shulchan Aruch (1), based on the opinion of the Rosh (2), rules that one should check that the Tzitzis are Kosher before making a Berachah.

The commentaries explain that this is not because we are concerned about violating the prohibition of wearing a four-cornered garment without Tzitzis -- because for that, we could rely on the Chazakah that the Talis was and still remains Kosher. Rather, we are extra careful to check their Kashrus since we will be making a Berachah, and we do not want to make a blessing in vain (3).

According to this reason, it would follow that if a person will wear a Talis without making a Berachah, then he would not have to check the Tzitzis beforehand.

One could argue that such an instance could occur when a person wears a Talis that belongs to the Tzibur. Even though some sources indicate that normally a person would make a Berachah on such a communal Talis (4), other sources indicate that if the person is just wearing a Talis for the sake of Kavod, then he does not make a Berachah (5).

2. The verse you quoted from Bamidbar means that the name of the Jewish man who was struck, the one who was struck with the Midianite woman, was Zimri etc. (6).

Best wishes,

Yishai Rasowsky