Chukat

📜 The Story

The parsha begins with the law of the red heifer. Moses and Aaron are told to take a cow that is completely red and has never worked, burn it, and mix its ashes with water. This water made a person pure again after being near someone who had died. This mitzvah (commandment) is called a 'chok,' a law we keep because God commanded it, even though we cannot fully understand why.

The Israelites came to the desert of Zin, and there Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, died. Right after that, the well of water that had traveled with the people because of Miriam was gone. The people had no water, and they were very scared.

The people complained, and God told Moses to speak to a rock so water would come out. But Moses was upset and angry, and he hit the rock twice instead of speaking to it. Water still came pouring out. But God told Moses and Aaron that because of this, they would not go into the Land of Israel.

Aaron the High Priest died on Mount Hor. His son Eleazar put on his priestly clothes and took his place. The whole nation cried for Aaron for thirty days. Later, the people complained about the manna again, and God sent poisonous snakes. Moses made a copper snake and put it on a pole. Anyone who was bitten and looked up at it was healed.

At the end of the parsha, the Israelites won battles against two powerful kings, Sihon king of the Amorites and Og king of Bashan. They took over large areas on the east side of the Jordan River, and got ready to enter the Land of Israel.