Read & Listen

The Israelites are journeying towards the Jordan River and pass through the territory of King Balak of Moab. Balak is terrified and hires the prophet Balaam to lay a curse upon the Israelites. Three times Balaam climbs up to a promontory from which he can survey the Israelite encampment. Each time, instead of a curse, only words of blessing issue from his lips.

Thirty-nine years have passed since Moses, Miriam and Aaron led the Children of Israel out of bondage. Thirty-nine years since Moses raised his staff and split the sea, and since Miriam led all the women in dancing on the far shore. Now, Miriam dies.

Korakh assembles 250 Israelite leaders and publicly confronts Moses and Aaron: “Why do you merit to be the leaders?” Korakh’s argument sounds reasonable — did not YHVH speak to all of the Children of Israel at Mount Sinai?

The Children of Israel are preparing to enter the Promised Land. Moses sends 12 scouts, one from each tribe, to explore this land they had heard flowed with milk and honey. Forty days later, the scouts return. They bring back evidence of the land’s fruitfulness — an enormous cluster of grapes. But then 10 of the scouts offer a damning report: The inhabitants are enormous Titans.

After more than a year encamped at Mount Sinai, the time has come for the Children of Israel to march to the Promised Land. Transformed from a throng of refugee slaves, they are now organized into tribes and troops, bound by laws, a newly covenanted community. Their task is to follow the protecting Cloud of the Divine Presence. The Cloud lifts, the Children of Israel break camp, and they follow the cloud on a three-day journey.

The instructions are clear: Aaron and his sons are to be conduits so that Divine energy, and goodness can flow into the Children of Israel.

Last week’s portion, Behar, laid out the need for the earth to receive a sabbatical year every seventh year and our responsibility to let the land rest. Bekhukotai, the final chapters of the book of Leviticus, now describes the consequences of these directives.