Torah: Numbers 19:1 – 22:1Haftarah: Judges 11:1-33Brit Chadesha: He 9:11-22; Joh 3:1-21 Psalms: 39, 93, 135 Gospels: Luke 16, 17

Chukat - חקת : "Statute"

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Fun Facts about Chukat

• 39th of 54 portions

• 6th of 10 in Bamidbar

• Written on 159.2 lines in a Torah

• 40th in length, it’s the smallest in Bamidbar

• Chukat contains 3 of the 613 mitzvot; all 3 are positive

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How is the Haftarah like Chukat?

• Jg 11:13, “And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when they came up out of Egypt… …now therefore restore those lands again peaceably. 14And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children of Ammon: 15And said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon:”

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Why is this portion called Statutes?

• Nu 19:2, “This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke:”

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Why was Miriam important to the people?

• Nu 20:2, “And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.”

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Would they turn against Moshe and Aharon like the previous generation?

• Nu 20:3, “…Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! 4And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there? 5And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, 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.”

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What did Moshe and Aharon do wrong?

• Nu 20:12-13, “And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. 13This is the water of Meribah;”

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What other sin did they revisit in this Torah portion?

• Nu 21:4, “And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 5And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.”

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Do you really think no one is listening?

• Nu 21:6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

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What is the Messianic implications of this verse?

• Nu 21:8, “And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.”

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Summary

• Moshe is taught the laws of the red heifer• The people arrive in the wilderness of Zin• Miriam dies; the people thirst for water• Both Moshe and Aharon are disobedient• Aharon dies; the people thirst, get tired of

Manna and complain loudly; God responds measure for measure.

• Moshe leads the people into War, but the LORD goes before them.