Torah reading Chukat (חקת): Numbers 19:1–22:1

Readings

Numbers 19:1–22:1
Judges 11: a sobering account of someone who made a rash vow and sealed the fate of his daughter
Hebrews 9

Chukat-related studies

Striking the rock, idolizing the snake: Lessons in trusting God’s provision (Numbers 19–21; 2Kings 18; John 3; 1Corinthians 10)

Jeff July 13, 2024

In this study on Torah reading חֻקַּת‎ Chukat (“statute of,” Numbers 19:1–22:1), we focus on how the parabolic instructions for the red heifer, serpent on the pole and water from the rock reveal a profound lesson on trust in God. The red heifer’s ashes, both cleansing and toxic, underscore our need for an external source of purification beyond our own efforts. The bronze serpent, healing initially then much later worshipped itself, reminds us not to idolize symbols over the true Source of life — think Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden. And the water from the rock,…

How Messiah makes the best-laid plans of snake and men go oft awry (Numbers 19–24)

Jeff July 1, 2023

In the Torah readings of חֻקַּת‎ Chukat (“statute of,” Numbers 19:1–22:1) and בָּלָק Balak (Numbers 22:2-25:9), we see the mysterious instructions for the red heifer, Israel’s apostasy; judgment by “fiery” snakes then the brass serpent; and also a talking donkey. One may wonder why all of these are coming together. One thread through it all is the downhill slide of the first generation of Israel post-Exodus as they are dying off and the second generation are ascending into leadership. Chukat and Balak cover nearly 40 years of time in the history of Israel between the Exodus from Mitzraim (Egypt) and…

How to live a worthwhile life. The sacrificial and Messianic obedience of Jephthah’s daughter. (Judges 11)

How to live a worthwhile life, rather than as a ‘worthless person’ (Judges 11)

Jeff July 9, 2022

Judges 11, a parallel passage to the Torah reading חֻקַּת‎ Chukat (“statute of,” Numbers 19–21), focuses on Yiftakh (Jephthah), a judge/ruler of ancient Israel. The account doesn’t portray him or his friends in a kind light. It underscores a key lesson that Yeshua haMashiakh (Jesus the Christ) taught that Heaven calls many to serve the good of the world, but those who aren’t transformed on the inside will only serve like did Yehudah Ish Kariot (Judas Iscariot). https://hallel.info/chukat-2022-judges-11/

Death is not a normal part of life (Numbers 19; Hebrews 9)

Red heifer and Messiah: Death isn’t supposed to a normal part of life (Numbers 19; Hebrews 9)

Jeff July 9, 2022

The Torah reading חֻקַּת Chukat (Numbers 19-21) is the prerequisite to understanding Hebrews 9, and the latter’s explanation of how Yeshua haMashiakh (Jesus the Messiah) cleanses our consciences from rebellion against the Creator is essential to understanding the Torah’s life-affirming yet mysterious lessons of the red heifer and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).

Snakes on the brain: Poison of the critical spirit (Numbers 20–21)

Jeff June 19, 2021

What kingdom do you prefer to inhabit? The Kingdom of Death (that which doesn’t persist long term) or the Kingdom of Life (that which persists eternally)? Some believe that out of the ashes of chaos comes revolution that will result in a new golden age of peace, comfort and stability. But is this true? The Torah section חֻקַּת‎ Chukat/Khuqat (“statute of,” Numbers 19:1–22:1) reveals the deadly viper poised to strike in the propaganda of our age.

So you say you want a revolution? Better watch where it’s headed (Numbers 19:1–25:9)

Jeff July 4, 2020

It’s apt that the double Torah reading חֻקַּת‎ Chukat and בָּלָק Balak (Numbers 19:1–25:9) this year includes Shabbat on July 4, when we here in the United States celebrate the Declaration of Independence and what it states about the intent for where this nation was going to go. Ancient Israel was at a spiritual and literal crossroads. Would it embrace its destiny as the people beyond number (Genesis 15 and 22) and as a nation of priests (Exodus 19), taking the nations closer to the Creator? Similarly, we in the U.S. can ask ourselves if we’re going to follow the God-led legacy of freedom…

A medieval woman with long red hair contemplates the sunset from a mountain summit

Numbers 19-20: Learning to trust that ‘all things work together for good’

Daniel July 13, 2019

The Creator of Heaven and Earth can make what appears good and bad to exchange places, shuffled like a deck of cards based on the circumstances. This isn’t to say that what’s bad actually becomes good. Rather, that a bad situation or person can be part of a something bigger. In the Torah reading חֻקַּת‎Chukat (“statute of,” Numbers 19:1-22:1), Moses saved the second generation of Israel from dying of thirst, but they entered the Promised Land, while he didn’t. In a parallel account, the bandit Yiftakh (Jephthah) lost his daughter to a rash vow made after gaining something great. Through these…

Numbers 19–21; 1Corinthians 15: Death is the enemy, so choose life!

Jeff June 23, 2018

Death is out of place in the order God created. The biblical offering of the red heifer and the purification water made from its ashes are poured into were designed by God to be a physical cleanser and a spiritual cleanser. In the Torah reading חֻקַּת Chukat (Numbers 19-21), instructions are given for its use to remove any physical remnants of death that clings to a person who helped take care of the final rest for the dead, but it was also a spiritual cleanser used to clear away the spiritual stench of death. Death cannot inhabit the realm of…

Numbers 19–21: Life and salvation amid death and rebellion

Jeff July 1, 2017

A major message of the Bible is death is out of place in the order God created. In the Torah reading חֻקַּת‎ Chukat/Khuqat (“statute of”), we will learn more about Heaven’s antidote to death, foretold in the rituals of the red heifer and the bronze serpent. Both point to the Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus).

Numbers 19–21: Mystery of the red heifer reveals the work of Messiah

Jeff July 16, 2016

The Torah reading חֻקַּת‎ Chukat (“statute of”) starts with “the statute (khukat) of the red heifer” and the bronze serpents, which are both symbolic of the role of the Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus).

Judges 11:12-40: Jephthah’s rash vow seals daughter’s future

Daniel March 8, 2008

Yeeftakh (Jephthah), whose name means “he opens,” is one of the most tragic of the judges of ancient Israel. His rash vow to God that ended being fulfilled by his daughter as a sacrifice disturbs many people. However, a close look at the account suggests quite a different outcome.

Numbers 21: Serpent on a pole, Messiah on a cross

Richard February 3, 2007

Yeast is often associated with sin, yet Yeshua haMashiakh (Jesus the Christ) used it in a parable to describe a vital work of Heaven. A serpent is a frequent Bible symbol for haSatan (the Adversary), yet Yeshua connected the Moshe’s bronze serpent on a pole in Numbers 21 with healing from His death on the cross. Let’s get to the naked truth of God’s lesson here.

Numbers 20: Moses is barred from entering the Land

Jeff January 27, 2007

It’s often taught that God barred Moshe (Moses) from entering Canaan because he hit the rock to start water flowing, rather than speaking to the rock. Yet it seems Moshe’s rebel yell had more to do with it and fits more with the lesson God had been teaching the people since the Exodus.

Numbers 19 — The red heifer

One of the most mysterious passages regarding the sacrifices involved with the sanctuary and temple of Israel is the red heifer. In fact, this teaching in Numbers 19 is intimately connected with the mission of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus).

Numbers 18-19: High priest as a type of the Messiah; lesson of the mysterious red heifer

There is a very special but blunt message in Numbers 18–19, targeted to the High Priest and his family. Moses is not addressed at all. God impresses upon the High Priest family and the Levites the seriousness of their charge. They are given certain rights within in the community of Israel but also gives them very serious responsibilities. God also places serious consequences on the High Priestly family and the Levites if they are derelict in their Temple duties.

Numbers 19: Red heifer a picture of Messiah

God did not create the ritual of the red heifer, described in Numbers 19, to prevent the spread of disease but to make sure we don’t treat the death of a fellow human being casually. That’s regardless of whether their death was recent or many years ago. Death is our enemy. Death is not natural. Death is not our friend. The symbol of the red heifer points to the Messiah, and we can learn how much Yeshua did for us through that symbol.

Numbers 20: Deaths of Miriam and Aaron

We will look at this chapter carefully. The events of this chapter occur near the end 40 year wilderness exile. After nearly 40 years, the people still complain about being removed from Egypt and “dying in the wilderness.”

Numbers 20: Moses is barred from entering the Land

Numbers 21: Serpent on a pole, Messiah on a cross

Numbers 21: Israel fights Amorites; God sends deadly serpents among Israel — and the Cure

Israel didn’t credit God with the victory over the Amorites and other blessings, namely the coming of manna each morning to feed the people. God sent death amid the people — and the cure in the image of the instrument of that death. There’s an important prophecy about the work of Messiah Yeshua in this account, something Yeshua didn’t want Nicodemus to miss from his studies of the Torah.

Haftarah: Judges 11:1–33

Judges 10:1–11:11: Israel’s backsliding leaders Tola, Jair, Jephthah

This passage looks at three leaders of ancient Israel: Tola, Yair (Jair), and Yeftah (Jephthah). After 45 years under the guidance of the first two, Israel then slid into devotion to the gods of surrounding nations. Israel finally realized the oppression under Philistia and Ammon was to turn them back to the LORD, Who led the nation out of bondage in Egypt.