Chukas 2021
Isaac’s Parsha Corner · 2021
The Parsha opens with the matter of Para Adumah the famous Red Cow. Then the Parsha returns to the desert narrative, the death of Miriam, the incident with the rock and the resulting consequences to Moshe and Aaron. Then we read of the encounter with Edom, the dramatic death of Aaron, the Incident with the Canaanite king, the complaint about the Manna and the subsequent attack of the snakes and the strange incident of the copper snake. More travels are recorded, followed by the “Song of the Well”. The Parsha concludes with successful wars against the two Amorite Kings. To summarize, the Parsha is about successes and failures, about leadership transition, and about the ultimate objective to move forward towards the ultimate goal of the entry into the land of Israel.
Noteworthy are the parallel stories of the complaint about the Manna and its consequences (poisonous snakes) versus the gratitude for Miriam’s well as expressed in the Song of the Well and its consequences (successful conquest). G-d rewards gratitude and punishes ingratitude. We are reminded of Adam’s sin in the garden where he expressed a lack of gratitude for Eve.
Probably the most discussed story in this week’s Parsha is the sin of the rock. How could have Moshe disobeyed a direct command from G-d?. Furthermore Aaron’s role was minor, he did not strike the rock, why was he punished and so dramatically? Moshe, whose role as the primary striker of the rock, went on to lead three successful military campaigns, was intimately involved in the apportionment of the East Bank (Ever Hayarden), and successfully halted a major plague, all this after Aaron’s demise! Another difficulty exists with a contradiction in the psukim. On the one hand G-d says “you have not caused My Name to be sanctified” (20:12) on the other hand the pasuk says “those are the waters of quarrel which the children of Israel quarreled with G-d and He became sanctified through them” (20:13). (See Rashi there for his answer). Furthermore if G-d told Moshe to speak to the rock exclusively, how was Moshe able to hit the rock and bring water? Of course we must mention the Ramban’s problem. Why did G-d command Moshe to bring the staff altogether if not to use it? Later in the Chumash In the book of Devarim Moshe reviews the events in the wilderness. His first and most highly emphasized story is the incident of the spies. Moshe sates, “I also was the recipient of G-d’s anger because of you” (Deut. 1:37) Moshe assumed that his own demise was a result of or somehow connected to the twelve spies and not because of he hit the rock. It is possible Moshe may had been referencing - “Because of you” to the incident of the rock and not to the spies. The context of the verses there in Devarim however was the spies. Aaron’s demise was explicit “He (Aaron) will not go (into Israel) because YOU have embittered My mouth with the quarrelsome waters” (Num. 20:24). Interestingly there is no mention of failure to sanctify G-d’s Name. Could that be the meaning of G-d having His Mouth embittered? Unkulus as is his normal way translates “because you have disregarded my words” Notice that Aaron’s death was a consequence of both brothers failure!
I believe there is a connection between this story and other stories in the Torah. The request by G-d to Moshe to “speak to the Rock” is reminiscent of G-d asking Moshe to go down to Egypt to speak to Pharaoh. There G-d assigned two helpers, the staff and Aaron. There Aaron did all the talking. Again in Beshalach where the people ask for water, “take the staff which you (Aaron) hit the Nile River (Yeor) and hit the rock.”(Ex 17:5) Later in the war against Amalek, “tomorrow I will go up to the peak of the mountain and the staff of Elokim is with me. Moshe, Aaron, and Hur went up to the peak of the mountain. And Aaron and Hur held his arms up and they defeated Amalek.“ (Ex 17:9-13) At the rock Moshe needed both Aaron and the staff as assistants or aides. The torah says that Hashem said to Moshe, “ #1/ take your brother Aaron and speak to the rock (both of you), and it will give its waters. #2/ You shall take out water for them from the rock and you shall water the nation and their cattle.” (Num. 19:8) Both were possible! If you were to speak to the rock it would give up its water willingly. If you cannot speak to the rock you are still expected to remove the water from the rock any way you could. If either of you speak to the rock then the rock (G-d) will be the provider; if you hit it with the staff then you will be the provider.
Moshe’s failure was his unwillingness to move forward and to grow beyond his own weaknesses. Earlier Moshe declared “I am a heavy of tongue and of speech. Please send another.” Here G-d sent Aaron to speak to the rock in case Moshe was still “heavy of tongue”. Aaron’s inability to speak can be related to the death of his two sons. “And Aaron was silent” (Lev. 10:3) G-d then removed Aaron. Moshe failure to reach his own potential resulted in loss of his brother and closest confidant. Aaron’s death was from his failure to sanctify G-d’s name. That is always the job of the Kohen Gadol, to sanctify G-d’s name. Moshe was never a speaker. His way was the way of the staff. After the death of Aaron Moshe continued leading with no Aaron and no staff. In the end Moshe lost his leadership over his involvement in the matter of the spies “On their behalf”.
Dedicated to the memory of Moshe Yaakov Ben Zeev Haleivi Berg A’H