Chukat
“Statue”
The thirty-ninth reading from the Torah is Chukat. The word chukat means “statue.” The name is derived from the second verse of the reading. “This is the statue of the law which the LORD commanded” (Numbers 19:2).
Chukat presents the mysterious laws of the red heifer ceremony for purification after contact with human death. This reading also contains the story of Moses striking the rock, the stories of the deaths of Aaron and Miriam, and the wars with the Amorites. The portion concludes with the host of Israel encamping on the edge of the promised land.
Numbers 19:1-22:1
Judges 11:1-33
John 3:1-36
From FFOZ’s Unrolling the Scroll
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Balak
“Balak”
Balak was the name of the Moabite king in the days of Moses. It is also the name of the fortieth reading from the Torah. It comes from the second verse of this Torah portion, which says, “Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites” (Numbers 22:2).
This Torah reading tells the story of how Balak hires the occult prophet Balaam to lay a curse on Israel. Balaam meets resistance from God, has a conversation with his donkey, and end up blessing Israel instead of curing them.
Numbers 22:2-25:9
Micah 5:7-6:8
Revelation 2:12-17
From FFOZ Unrolling the Scroll
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