Chukat
Parshat Chukat
This morning’s reading continues describing the special sacrifices to be offered once the people enter Israel. It begins with a description of the purification ceremony for someone who has been in contact with a corpse. The portion continues to describe the death of Moses’ siblings - Miriam and Aaron. It concludes with the Israelites engaging in battle and being victorious.
First Aliyah - Numbers chapter 19, verse 1-19:17 pp. 880-883
A red calf, unblemished, has to be slaughtered a certain way for the ritual purification ceremony. Red calves were very rare and there are stories in the Talmud of how representatives of the Temple would pay a high price for this prized calf.
Second Aliyah - 19:18-20:6 pp. 883-884
The events of chapter 20 are said to have taken place 38 years later. The generation of the Exodus has died, including Moses’ sister Miriam, and a new generation that did not know slavery is born. In this aliyah we read about how the people complain of thirst. Moses prays to God for assistance.
Third Aliyah 20:7-13 pp. 884-886
God tells Moses to take his rod and speak to the rock to bring forth water. Moses instead hits the rock. Water though, does come out. Because of Moses’ action he is not allowed to lead the people in to the Promised Land.
Fourth Aliyah - 20:14-21 pp. 886-887
Moses asks permission from the King of Edom to pass through his territory without even stopping to drink of the water. The king refuses. So Israel has to detour.
Fifth Aliyah - 20:22-21:9 pp. 887-889
Aaron ascends Mt. Hor and dies because he, too, is not allowed to enter Israel. The rabbis comment that Aaron “loved peace and persued peace, loved his fellow men, and brought them near to the Torah”.
The Israelites battle the Canaanites and defeat them. The people complain again of lack of bread and water. God sends fiery serpents that bite the people. The people repent and God tells Moses to fashion a brass serpent so that those who have been bitten, upon looking at the serpent, will be healed. This brass serpent is now used as the doctors’ symbol.
Sixth Aliyah - 21:10-20 pp. 889-890
We are presented with a list of camping stops for the community.
Seventh Aliyah - 21:21-22:1 pp. 891-893
Moses asks the king of the Amorites for permission to pass through. Sihon, the king refuses and goes out to war against the Israelites. Israel defeats them. They then battle Og king of Bashan and defeat him as well.
Maftir - 21:34-22:1 pp. 892-893
Haftorah - Judges 11:1-33 pp. 910-913
The haftorah describes another battle between the Israelites and the Amorites, this under the leadership of Jephtah. Here, too, the Israelites are victorious.
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