Balak, the king of Moab, hired the prophet Balaam to curse the people of Israel. Balaam repeated futile attempts to curse Israel, but Elohim insisted that he bless Israel. Elohim wanted these magnificent blessings to come to Israel through the agency of the wicked and immoral Balaam, so that all the world would know that everyone is helpless to harm Israel against …
CHUKAT (ordinance of)
In this Torah reading יהוה instructs Moses and Aaron regarding the red heifer, whose ashes purify a person who has been contaminated by contact with a dead body; Miriam dies and the people thirst for water; Moses hits a rock in anger to bring forth water rather than speaking to it and is denied entry to the Promised Land; Aaron dies, …