This week’s parashat is the 6th parashat in the book of Bamidbar also called Numbers, and is called Chukat which means ‘Statute’.
Bullet Point Summary
– The law of the red heifer sacrifice is given
– The laws of purification for touching a dead body are given
– A clean person shall sprinkle the one defiled with the water of separation on the 3rd and 7th day
– Miryam dies in Kadesh
– The people complain about not having water
– YHWH commands Moshe to take the rod and speak to the rock and it shall bring forth water
– Moshe told the people they were rebels and smote the rock twice and water came forth
– YHWH told Moshe and Aharon because they didn’t believe Him they would not bring the people into the land
– Moshe asks Edom if Yisra’el can pass through their land but Edom refused
– YHWH told Aharon he shall die on Mt. Hor for rebelling and El’azar his son shall replace him
– King Arad the Kena’ani fought against Yisra’el
– Yisra’el vowed to destroy them and YHWH delivered them into their hand
– The people murmmered against the food, water, and the manna
– YHWH sent fiery serpents among them and many died
– YHWH commanded Moshe to make the nahushtan
– The journeys of the children of Yisra’el
– Yisra’el went to Be’er and sang a song by the well
– Yisra’el asked to pass through the land of the Amori but they refused
– Sichon fought with Yisra’el and was destroyed
– Og King of Bashan came against Yisra’el and was destroyed
– Haftarah – Yiftach fights the King of Ammon who wants to take back the land of the Ammoni
Parashat Text with Readers and Daily Portions (Reader 1 Starts on Saturday Evening)
Chukat “Statute”
Num 19:1 – 22:1 , Judges 11:1 – 33
Reader 1 (Saturday Evening Portion)
– The law of the red heifer sacrifice is given
Num 19:1 And YHWH spoke unto Moshe and unto Aharon, saying,
Num 19:2 This is the ordinance of the law which YHWH has commanded, saying, Speak unto
the children of Yisra’el, that they bring you a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish,
and upon which never came a yoke:
Num 19:3 And you shall give her unto El’azar the priest, that he may bring her forth * outside
the camp, and one shall slay her before his face:
Num 19:4 And El’azar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle of her
blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times:
Num 19:5 And one shall burn * the heifer in his sight; * her skin, and her flesh, and her blood,
with her dung, shall he burn:
Num 19:6 And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the
midst of the burning of the heifer.
Num 19:7 Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and
afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the even.
Num 19:8 And he that burns her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water,
and shall be unclean until the even.
Num 19:9 And a man that is clean shall gather up * the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up
outside the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of
Yisra’el for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin.
Num 19:10 And he that gathers * the ashes of the heifer shall wash * his clothes, and be unclean
until the even: and it shall be unto the children of Yisra’el, and unto the stranger that
sojourns among them, for a statute forever.
(Sunday Morning Portion)
– The laws of purification for touching a dead body are given
Num 19:11 He that touches the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days.
Num 19:12 He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be
clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean.
Num 19:13 Whosoever touches the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifies not himself,
defiles * the tabernacle of YHWH; and that soul shall be cut off from Yisra’el: because the
water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet
upon him.
Num 19:14 This is the law, when a man dies in a tent: all that come into the tent, and all that is
in the tent, shall be unclean seven days.
Num 19:15 And every open vessel, which has no covering bound upon it, is unclean.
Num 19:16 And whosoever touches one that is slain with a sword in the open fields, or a dead
body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.
Num 19:17 And for an unclean person they shall take of the ashes of the burnt heifer of
purification for sin, and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel:
Reader 2 (Sunday Evening Portion)
– A clean person shall sprinkle the one defiled with the water of separation on the 3rd and 7th day
Num 19:18 And a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon
the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that
touched a bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave:
Num 19:19 And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the
seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe
himself in water, and shall be clean at even.
Num 19:20 But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be
cut off from among the congregation, because he has defiled * the sanctuary of YHWH: the
water of separation has not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean.
Num 19:21 And it shall be a perpetual statute unto them, that he that sprinkles the water of
separation shall wash his clothes; and he that touches the water of separation shall be
unclean until even.
Num 19:22 And whatsoever the unclean person touches shall be unclean; and the soul that
touches it shall be unclean until even.
(Monday Morning Portion)
– Miryam dies in Kadesh
Num 20:1 Then came the children of Yisra’el, even the whole congregation, into the desert of
Tzin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miryam died there, and was
buried there.
– The people complain about not having water
Num 20:2 And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together
against Moshe and against Aharon.
Num 20:3 And the people chode with Moshe, and spoke, saying, Would Elohim that we had
died when our brethren died before YHWH!
Num 20:4 And why have you brought up * the congregation of YHWH into this wilderness, that
we and our cattle should die there?
Num 20:5 And wherefore have you made us to come up out of Mitzrayim, to bring us in * unto
this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is
there any water to drink.
Num 20:6 And Moshe and Aharon went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of YHWH
appeared unto them.
Reader 3 (Monday Evening Portion)
– YHWH commands Moshe to take the rod and speak to the rock and it shall bring forth water
Num 20:7 And YHWH spoke unto Moshe, saying,
Num 20:8 Take * the rod, and gather you * the assembly together, you, and Aharon your
brother, and speak you unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and
you shall bring forth to them water out of the rock: so you shall give * the congregation and
their beasts drink.
– Moshe told the people they were rebels and smote the rock twice and water came forth
Num 20:9 And Moshe took * the rod from before YHWH, as He commanded him.
Num 20:10 And Moshe and Aharon gathered * the congregation together before the rock, and
he said unto them, Hear now, you rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?
Num 20:11 And Moshe lifted up * his hand, and with his rod he smote * the rock twice: and the
water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
(Tuesday Morning Portion)
– YHWH told Moshe and Aharon because they didn’t believe Him they would not bring the people into the land
Num 20:12 And YHWH spoke unto Moshe and Aharon, Because you believed me not, to
sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Yisra’el, therefore you shall not bring * this
congregation into the land which I have given them.
Num 20:13 This is the water of Merivah; because the children of Yisra’el strove with YHWH,
and He was sanctified in them.
Reader 4 (Tuesday Evening Portion)
– Moshe asks Edom if Yisra’el can pass through their land
Num 20:14 And Moshe sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith your
brother Yisra’el, You know * all the travail that has befallen us:
Num 20:15 How our fathers went down into Mitzrayim, and we have dwelt in Mitzrayim a long
time; and the Mitzrayim vexed us, and our fathers:
Num 20:16 And when we cried unto YHWH, He heard our voice, and sent an angel, and has
brought us forth out of Mitzrayim: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of
your border:
Num 20:17 Let us pass, I pray you, through your country: we will not pass through the fields, or
through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king’s
high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed your
borders.
(Wednesday Morning Portion)
– Edom refuses to let Yisra’el pass through their land
Num 20:18 And Edom said unto him, You shall not pass by me, lest I come out against you with
the sword.
Num 20:19 And the children of Yisra’el said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and
my cattle drink of your water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else,
go through on my feet.
Num 20:20 And he said, You shall not go through. And Edom came out against him with much
people, and with a strong hand.
Num 20:21 Thus Edom refused to give * Yisra’el passage through his border: wherefore Yisra’el
turned away from him.
Reader 5 (Wednesday Evening Portion)
– YHWH told Aharon he shall die on Mt. Hor for rebelling and El’azar his son shall replace him
Num 20:22 And the children of Yisra’el, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh,
and came unto mount Hor.
Num 20:23 And YHWH spoke unto Moshe and Aharon in mount Hor, by the coast of the land
of Edom, saying,
Num 20:24 Aharon shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which
I have given unto the children of Yisra’el, because you rebelled against * my word at the
water of Merivah.
Num 20:25 Take * Aharon and El’azar his son, and bring them up * unto mount Hor:
Num 20:26 And strip * Aharon * of his garments, and put them upon * El’azar his son: and
Aharon shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.
Num 20:27 And Moshe did as YHWH commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the
sight of all the congregation.
Num 20:28 And Moshe stripped * Aharon * of his garments, and put them upon ** El’azar his
son; and Aharon died there in the top of the mount: and Moshe and El’azar came down from
the mount.
Num 20:29 And when all the congregation saw that Aharon was dead, they mourned for *
Aharon thirty days, even all the house of Yisra’el.
(Thursday Morning Portion)
– King Arad the Kena’ani fought against Yisra’el
Num 21:1 And when king Arad the Kena’ani, which dwelt in the south, heard that Yisra’el came
by the way of the spies; then he fought against Yisra’el, and took some of them prisoners.
– Yisra’el vowed to destroy them and YHWH delivered them into their hand
Num 21:2 And Yisra’el vowed a vow unto YHWH, and said, If you will indeed deliver * this
people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy * their cities.
Num 21:3 And YHWH hearkened to the voice of Yisra’el, and delivered up * the Kenaani; and
they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and [H]e called the name of the place Chormah.
– The people murmmered against YHWH concerning the food, water, and the manna
Num 21:4 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Sea of Suf, to compass * the
land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.
Num 21:5 And the people spoke against Elohim, and against Moshe, Wherefore have you
brought us up out of Mitzrayim to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is
there any water; and our soul loathes this light bread.
– YHWH sent fiery serpents among them and many died
Num 21:6 And YHWH sent * fiery serpents among the people, and they bit * the people; and
much people of Yisra’el died.
Num 21:7 Therefore the people came to Moshe, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken
against YHWH, and against you; pray unto YHWH, that He take away * the serpents from
us. And Moshe prayed for the people.
– YHWH commanded Moshe to make the nahushtan
Num 21:8 And YHWH said unto Moshe, Make you a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it
shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looks upon it, shall live.
Num 21:9 And Moshe made a serpent of copper, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass,
that if a serpent had bitten * any man, when he beheld the serpent of copper, he lived.
Reader 6 (Thursday Evening Portion)
– The journeys of the children of Yisra’el
Num 21:10 And the children of Yisra’el set forward, and pitched in Ovot.
Num 21:11 And they journeyed from Ovot, and pitched at IyeAvarim, in the wilderness which is
before Moav, toward the sunrising.
Num 21:12 From there they removed, and pitched in the valley of Zared.
Num 21:13 From there they removed, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which is in the
wilderness that comes out of the coasts of the Amori: for Arnon is the border of Moav,
between Moav and the Amori.
Num 21:14 Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of YHWH, * What He did in the Sea of
Suf, and in the brooks of Arnon,
Num 21:15 And at the stream of the brooks that goes down to the dwelling of Ar, and lies upon
the border of Moav.
– Yisra’el went to Be’er and sang a song by the well
Num 21:16 And from there they went to Be’er: that is the well whereof YHWH spoke unto
Moshe, [Gather together * the people], and I will give them water.
Num 21:17 Then Yisra’el sang * this song, Spring up, O well; sing you unto it:
Num 21:18 The princes dug the well, the nobles of the people dug it, by the direction of the
lawgiver, with their staves. And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah:
Num 21:19 And from Mattanah to Nachali’el: and from Nachali’el to Bamot:
Num 21:20 And from Bamot in the valley, that is in the country of Moav, to the top of Pisgah,
which looks toward Yeshi’mone.
Reader 7 (6th Day Friday Morning Double Portion)
– Yisra’el asked to pass through the land of the Amori but they refused
Num 21:21 And Yisra’el sent messengers unto Sichon king of the Amori, saying,
Num 21:22 Let me pass through your land: we will not turn into the fields, or into the
vineyards; we will not drink of the waters of the well: but we will go along by the king’s high
way, until we be past your borders.
– Sichon fought with Yisra’el and was destroyed
Num 21:23 And Sichon would not suffer * Yisra’el to pass through his border: but Sichon
gathered togather * all his people, and went out against Yisra’el into the wilderness: and he
came to Yahatz, and fought against Yisra’el.
Num 21:24 And Yisra’el smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed * his land from
Arnon unto Yabbok, even unto the children of Ammon: for the border of the children of
Ammon was strong.
Num 21:25 And Yisra’el took * all these cities: and Yisra’el dwelt in all the cities of the Amori, in
Cheshbon, and in all the villages thereof.
Num 21:26 For Cheshbon was the city of Sichon the king of the Amori, who had fought against
the former king of Moav, and taken * all his land out of his hand, even unto Arnon.
Num 21:27 Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Cheshbon, let the city of
Sichon be built and prepared:
Num 21:28 For there is a fire gone out of Cheshbon, a flame from the city of Sichon: it has
consumed Ar of Moav, and the lords of the high places of Arnon.
Num 21:29 Woe to you, Moav! you are undone, O people of Kemosh: he has given his sons that
escaped, and his daughters, into captivity unto Sichon king of the Amori.
Num 21:30 We have shot at them; Cheshbon is perished even unto Divon, and we have laid
them waste even unto Nofach, which reaches unto Medeva.
Num 21:31 Thus Yisra’el dwelt in the land of the Amori.
Num 21:32 And Moshe sent to spy out * Ya’zer, and they took the villages thereof, and drove
out * the Amori that were there.
– Og King of Bashan came against Yisra’el and was destroyed
Num 21:33 And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went
out against them, he, and all his people, to the battle at Edre’i.
Num 21:34 And YHWH said unto Moshe, Fear him not: for I have delivered him into your
hand, and all his people, and his land; and you shall do to him as you did unto Sichon king
of the Amori, which dwelt at Cheshbon.
Num 21:35 So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him
alive: and they possessed * his land.
Num 22:1 And the children of Yisra’el set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moav on this
side Yarden by Yericho.
Haftarah (Shabbat Evening Portion)
– Yiftach fights the King of Ammon who wants to take back the land of the Ammoni
Jdg 11:1 Now Yiftach the Gil’adi was a mighty man of valor, and he was the son of a harlot: and
Gil’ad begat * Yiftach.
Jdg 11:2 And Gil’ad’s wife bore him sons; and his wife’s sons grew up, and they thrust out *
Yiftach, and said unto him, You shall not inherit in our father’s house; for you are the son of
a strange woman.
Jdg 11:3 Then Yiftach fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tov: and there were
gathered vain men to Yiftach, and went out with him.
Jdg 11:4 And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made war against
Yisra’el.
Jdg 11:5 And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Yisra’el, the elders
of Gil’ad went to fetch * Yiftach out of the land of Tov:
Jdg 11:6 And they said unto Yiftach, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the
children of Ammon.
Jdg 11:7 And Yiftach said unto the elders of Gil’ad, Did not you hate me, and expel me out of my
father’s house? and why are you come unto me now when you are in distress?
Jdg 11:8 And the elders of Gil’ad said unto Yiftach, Therefore we turn again to you now, that
you may go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the
inhabitants of Gil’ad.
Jdg 11:9 And Yiftach said unto the elders of Gil’ad, If you bring me home again * to fight against
the children of Ammon, and YHWH deliver them before me, shall I be your head?
Jdg 11:10 And the elders of Gil’ad said unto Yiftach, YHWH be witness between us, if we do not
so according to your words.
Jdg 11:11 Then Yiftach went with the elders of Gil’ad, and the people made him head and
captain over them: and Yiftach uttered * all his words before YHWH in Mitzpah.
Jdg 11:12 And Yiftach sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon, saying, What
have you to do with me, that you are come against me to fight in my land?
Jdg 11:13 And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of Yiftach,
Because Yisra’el took away * my land, when they came up out of Mitzrayim, from Arnon
even unto Yabbok, and unto Yarden: now therefore restore those lands again * peaceably.
Jdg 11:14 And Yiftach sent messengers again unto the king of the children of Ammon:
Jdg 11:15 And said unto him, Thus saith Yiftach, Yisra’el took not away * the land of Moav, nor
the land of the children of Ammon:
Jdg 11:16 But when Yisra’el came up from Mitzrayim, and walked through the wilderness unto
the Sea of Suf, and came to Kadesh;
Jdg 11:17 Then Yisra’el sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I pray you, pass
through your land: but the king of Edom would not hearken thereto. And in like manner
they sent unto the king of Moav: but he would not consent: and Yisra’el abode in Kadesh.
Jdg 11:18 Then they went along through the wilderness, and compassed * the land of Edom,
and the land of Moav, and came by the east side of the land of Moav, and pitched on the
other side of Arnon, but came not within the border of Moav: for Arnon was the border of
Moav.
Jdg 11:19 And Yisra’el sent messengers unto Sichon king of the Amori, the king of Cheshbon;
and Yisra’el said unto him, Let us pass, we pray you, through your land into my place.
Jdg 11:20 But Sichon trusted not * Yisra’el to pass through his coast: but Sichon [gathered
together * all his people], and pitched in Yahatz, and fought against Yisra’el.
Jdg 11:21 And YHWH Elohim of Yisra’el delivered * Sichon and all his people into the hand of
Yisra’el, and they smote them: so Yisra’el possessed * all the land of the Amori, the
inhabitants of that country.
Jdg 11:22 And they possessed * all the coasts of the Amori, from Arnon even unto Yabbok, and
from the wilderness even unto Yarden.
Jdg 11:23 So now YHWH Elohim of Yisra’el has dispossessed * the Amori from before his
people Yisra’el, and should you possess it?
Jdg 11:24 Will not you possess * that which Chemosh your Elohim gives you to possess? So
whomsoever YHWH our Elohim shall drive out from before us, them will we possess.
Jdg 11:25 And now are you anything better than Balak the son of Tzippor, king of Moav? did he
ever strive against Yisra’el, or did he ever fight against them,
Jdg 11:26 While Yisra’el dwelt in Cheshbon and her towns, and in Aro’er and her towns, and in
all the cities that be along by the coasts of Arnon, three hundred years? why therefore did
you not recover them within that time?
Jdg 11:27 Wherefore I have not sinned against you, but you do me wrong to war against me:
YHWH the Judge be judge this day between the children of Yisra’el and the children of
Ammon.
Jdg 11:28 Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Yiftach
which he sent him.
Jdg 11:29 Then the Spirit of YHWH came upon Yiftach, and he passed over * Gil’ad, and
Manasheh, and passed over * Mitzpah of Gil’ad, and from Mitzpah of Gil’ad he passed over
unto the children of Ammon.
Jdg 11:30 And Yiftach vowed a vow unto YHWH, and said, If you shall without fail deliver * the
children of Ammon into my hands,
Jdg 11:31 Then it shall be, that whatsoever comes forth of the doors of my house to meet me,
when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be YHWH’S, and I will
offer it up for a burnt offering.
Jdg 11:32 So Yiftach passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and YHWH
delivered them into his hands.
Jdg 11:33 And he smote them from Aro’er, even till you come to Minnit, even twenty cities, and
unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon
were subdued before the children of Yisra’el.
Review Torah Summaries (Shabbat Morning Portion)