Numbers 6: Chukat
To Hear a Talk based on the Text below:
http://britam.org/Broadcasts/newBAMBI/ParChukat.mp3
Chukat: Ashes of the Red Cow,
Moses sins by striking the rock, The Amorite Lands of Sihon east of the Jordan and Og in Bashan (Syria and Iraq)
are conquered
Numbers 19:1-21:36 (46 minutes)
Talk includes points not mentioned in the text.
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Chukat
s.1
The opening theme of our portion (Chukat)
deals with the ashes of the red cow that are needed for ritual purification
which is necessary (or at the least greatly preferable) for the rebuilding of
the Temple and re-institution of the Temple Service and everything about it.
Anyone reading the Bible correctly will most likely instinctively feel that the
Almighty wants Israel to return to what it once was or to what it once should
have been. The Restoration will come about through Divine Intervention BUT it
may be speeded up in our time by human initiative. We can help bring forward the
salvation of ourselves and of all mankind as required by the Bible.
The Restoration of Israel should be conceived as including NOT ONLY the return
of the Jews to their land and the rebuilding of the Temple but also the
realization by descendants of the Ten Tribes as to who they are and their
eventual Reconciliation with Judah.
The yearning for the rebuilding of the Temple and attempts at Restoration should
incorporate the Brit-Am Lost Ten Tribes Movement and its message.
[Numbers 19:1] AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES AND UNTO AARON,
SAYING,
[Numbers 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:
The ashes of a red cow (i.e. heifer) are
needed for the purification from the impurity caused by contact with the dead
which is the most severe degree of impurity. In order to offer up sacrifices and
conduct certain activities connected with rebuilding the Temple we should have
these ashes. From the technical point of view, even without the ashes much could
be done even while we remain in a state of impurity but this would require a
greater authority to decide upon and evoke much controversy.
The ashes must be obtained from a cow whose hairs are entirely red or reddish
brown. Even one white, black, or other colored hair could disqualify the beast.
In the past there were nine such cows all of them from the same hereditary
lineage. The tenth such red cow will be associated with the Messianic era.
Surprisingly enough in recent times several bovine candidates have made their
appearance.
Any Priest (Cohen) could prepare it but traditionally the task was given to the
Deputy High Priest. It was prepared on the Mount of Olives opposite the Temple
Mount.
Wikipedia tells us:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Heifer#Temple_Institute
Temple Institute
##The Temple Institute, a controversial
organization dedicated to preparing the reconstruction of a Third Temple in
Jerusalem, has been attempting to identify Red Heifer candidates consistent with
the requirements of Numbers 19:1-22 and
Mishnah
Tractate Parah.[3]
In recent years, the Institute identified two candidates, one in 1997 and
another in 2002.[4] The Temple Institute had initially declared both kosher, but
later found each to be unsuitable.
Fundamentalist Christians
##Some fundamentalist Christians believe
that the Second Coming ...cannot occur until the Third Temple is constructed in
Jerusalem, which requires the appearance of red heifer born in Israel. Clyde
Lott, a cattle breeder in O'Neill, Nebraska, United States, is attempting to
systematically breed red heifers and export them to Israel to establish a
breeding line of red heifers in Israel in the hope that this will bring about
the construction of the Third Temple...
See also:
http://www.arksearch.com/naredhef.htm#Red%20Heifer:%20The%20Rancher
In point of fact in recent
years a number of red heifers have appeared that were "kosher" for a while but
developed some imperfection later. With genetic engineering, effort, money, and
ingenuity the impression is that a red heifer could be "produced" if we really
wanted it.
[Numbers 19:3] AND YE SHALL GIVE HER UNTO ELEAZAR THE PRIEST, THAT HE MAY BRING
HER FORTH WITHOUT THE CAMP, AND ONE SHALL SLAY HER BEFORE HIS FACE:
Eleazar
was the son of Aaron. The sons of Aaron that remained alive were
Eleazar
and Itamar.
From them descend all the Priests i.e.
Cohens
who were to serve in the Tabernacle and after that in the Temple.
[Numbers 19:4] AND ELEAZAR THE PRIEST SHALL TAKE OF HER BLOOD WITH HIS FINGER,
AND SPRINKLE OF HER BLOOD DIRECTLY BEFORE THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION
SEVEN TIMES:
[Numbers 19:5] AND ONE SHALL BURN THE HEIFER IN HIS SIGHT; HER SKIN, AND HER
FLESH, AND HER BLOOD, WITH HER DUNG, SHALL HE BURN:
[Numbers 19:6] AND THE PRIEST SHALL TAKE CEDAR WOOD, AND HYSSOP, AND SCARLET,
AND CAST IT INTO THE MIDST OF THE BURNING OF THE HEIFER.
[Numbers 19:7] THEN THE PRIEST SHALL WASH HIS CLOTHES, AND HE SHALL BATHE HIS
FLESH IN WATER, AND AFTERWARD HE SHALL COME INTO THE CAMP, AND THE PRIEST SHALL
BE UNCLEAN UNTIL THE EVEN.
[Numbers 19:8] AND HE THAT BURNETH HER SHALL WASH HIS CLOTHES IN WATER, AND
BATHE HIS FLESH IN WATER, AND SHALL BE UNCLEAN UNTIL THE
EVEN.
[Numbers 19:9] AND A MAN THAT IS CLEAN SHALL GATHER UP THE ASHES OF THE HEIFER,
AND LAY THEM UP WITHOUT THE CAMP IN A CLEAN PLACE, AND IT SHALL BE KEPT FOR THE
CONGREGATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL FOR A WATER OF SEPARATION: IT IS A
PURIFICATION FOR SIN.
[Numbers 19:10] AND HE THAT GATHERETH THE ASHES OF THE HEIFER SHALL WASH HIS
CLOTHES, AND BE UNCLEAN UNTIL THE EVEN: AND IT SHALL BE UNTO THE CHILDREN OF
ISRAEL, AND UNTO THE STRANGER THAT SOJOURNETH AMONG THEM, FOR A STATUTE FOR
EVER.
##UNTO THE STRANGER## The same rights
and obligations were to apply to the
native?born
Israelite and the Stranger (i.e. foreigner) who attached themselves to Israel.
This principle is emphasized in Scripture over and over again.
[Numbers 19:11] HE THAT TOUCHETH THE DEAD BODY OF ANY MAN SHALL BE UNCLEAN SEVEN
DAYS.
[Numbers 19:12] HE SHALL PURIFY HIMSELF WITH IT ON THE THIRD DAY, AND ON THE
SEVENTH DAY HE SHALL BE CLEAN: BUT IF HE PURIFY NOT HIMSELF THE THIRD DAY, THEN
THE SEVENTH DAY HE SHALL NOT BE CLEAN.
[Numbers 19:13] WHOSOEVER TOUCHETH THE DEAD BODY OF ANY MAN THAT IS DEAD, AND
PURIFIETH NOT HIMSELF, DEFILETH THE TABERNACLE OF THE LORD; AND THAT SOUL SHALL
BE CUT OFF FROM ISRAEL: BECAUSE THE WATER OF SEPARATION WAS NOT SPRINKLED UPON
HIM, HE SHALL BE UNCLEAN; HIS UNCLEANNESS IS YET UPON HIM.
[Numbers 19:14] THIS IS THE LAW, WHEN A MAN DIETH IN A TENT: ALL THAT COME INTO
THE TENT, AND ALL THAT IS IN THE TENT, SHALL BE UNCLEAN SEVEN
DAYS.
[Numbers 19:15] AND EVERY OPEN VESSEL, WHICH HATH NO COVERING BOUND UPON IT, IS
UNCLEAN.
[Numbers 19:16] AND WHOSOEVER TOUCHETH ONE THAT IS SLAIN WITH A SWORD IN THE
OPEN FIELDS, OR A DEAD BODY, OR A BONE OF A MAN, OR A GRAVE, SHALL BE UNCLEAN
SEVEN DAYS.
[Numbers 19:17] AND FOR AN UNCLEAN PERSON THEY SHALL TAKE OF THE ASHES OF THE
BURNT HEIFER OF PURIFICATION FOR SIN, AND RUNNING WATER SHALL BE PUT THERETO IN
A VESSEL:
s.2
[Numbers 19:18] AND A CLEAN PERSON SHALL TAKE HYSSOP, AND DIP IT IN THE WATER,
AND SPRINKLE IT UPON THE TENT, AND UPON ALL THE VESSELS, AND UPON THE PERSONS
THAT WERE THERE, AND UPON HIM THAT TOUCHED A BONE, OR ONE SLAIN, OR ONE DEAD,
OR A GRAVE:
The ingredients needed to purify an
unclean person consisted of a cedar branch, hyssop branches, water and the
ashes of the red cow. It seems that cedar wood, Hyssop, and scarlet (wool dyed
with a special red dye) was burned together with the cow and the ashes mixed
together (19:6).
Hyssop is a kind of aromatic weed with purple flowers.
The water that the hyssop was dipped in was the water that had been mixed with
the ashes of the red heifer.
[Numbers 19:19] AND THE CLEAN PERSON SHALL SPRINKLE UPON THE UNCLEAN ON THE
THIRD DAY, AND ON THE SEVENTH DAY: AND ON THE SEVENTH DAY HE SHALL PURIFY
HIMSELF, AND WASH HIS CLOTHES, AND BATHE HIMSELF IN WATER, AND SHALL BE CLEAN AT
EVEN.
[Numbers 19:20] BUT THE MAN THAT SHALL BE UNCLEAN, AND SHALL NOT PURIFY HIMSELF,
THAT SOUL SHALL BE CUT OFF FROM AMONG THE CONGREGATION, BECAUSE HE HATH DEFILED
THE SANCTUARY OF THE LORD: THE WATER OF SEPARATION HATH NOT BEEN SPRINKLED UPON
HIM; HE IS UNCLEAN.
[Numbers 19:21] AND IT SHALL BE A PERPETUAL STATUTE UNTO THEM, THAT HE THAT
SPRINKLETH THE WATER OF SEPARATION SHALL WASH HIS CLOTHES; AND HE THAT TOUCHETH
THE WATER OF SEPARATION SHALL BE UNCLEAN UNTIL EVEN.
[Numbers 19:22] AND WHATSOEVER THE UNCLEAN PERSON TOUCHETH SHALL BE UNCLEAN; AND
THE SOUL THAT TOUCHETH IT SHALL BE UNCLEAN UNTIL EVEN.
[Numbers 20:1] THEN CAME THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, EVEN THE WHOLE CONGREGATION,
INTO THE DESERT OF ZIN IN THE FIRST MONTH: AND THE PEOPLE ABODE IN KADESH; AND
MIRIAM DIED THERE, AND WAS BURIED THERE.
Miriam died at
Kadesh
in the Wilderness and was buried there. The name Miriam in English is pronounced
as Marion, Marian, or Mary. Miriam was the sister of Moses and Aaron. According
to tradition Miriam had several other names one of which was
Ephrath
who is recorded (1-Chronicles 2:18) as the wife of Caleb
ben
Yefuneh
and the mother of Hur.
[Numbers 20:2] AND THERE WAS NO WATER FOR THE CONGREGATION: AND THEY GATHERED
THEMSELVES TOGETHER AGAINST MOSES AND AGAINST AARON.
[Numbers 20:3] AND THE PEOPLE CHODE WITH MOSES, AND SPAKE, SAYING, WOULD GOD
THAT WE HAD DIED WHEN OUR BRETHREN DIED BEFORE THE LORD!
[Numbers 20:4] AND WHY HAVE YE BROUGHT UP THE CONGREGATION OF THE LORD INTO
THIS WILDERNESS, THAT WE AND OUR CATTLE SHOULD DIE THERE?
[Numbers 20:5] AND 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.
[Numbers 20:6] AND MOSES AND AARON WENT FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE ASSEMBLY UNTO
THE DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION, AND THEY FELL UPON THEIR FACES:
AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD APPEARED UNTO THEM.
s.3
[Numbers 20:7] AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES, SAYING,
[Numbers 20:8] TAKE THE ROD, AND GATHER THOU THE ASSEMBLY TOGETHER, THOU, AND
AARON THY BROTHER, AND SPEAK YE UNTO THE ROCK BEFORE THEIR EYES; AND IT SHALL
GIVE FORTH HIS WATER, AND THOU SHALT BRING FORTH TO THEM WATER OUT OF THE ROCK:
SO THOU SHALT GIVE THE CONGREGATION AND THEIR BEASTS DRINK.
Moses was commanded to speak to the rock
and it would give forth water.
[Numbers 20:9] AND MOSES TOOK THE ROD FROM BEFORE THE LORD, AS HE COMMANDED
HIM.
[Numbers 20:10] AND MOSES AND AARON GATHERED THE CONGREGATION TOGETHER BEFORE
THE ROCK, AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, HEAR NOW, YE REBELS; MUST WE FETCH YOU WATER
OUT OF THIS ROCK?
[Numbers 20:11] AND MOSES LIFTED UP HIS HAND, AND WITH HIS ROD HE SMOTE THE ROCK
TWICE: AND THE WATER CAME OUT ABUNDANTLY, AND THE CONGREGATION DRANK, AND THEIR
BEASTS ALSO.
Moses did not speak to the rock. He
struck it and water came forth.
[Numbers 20:12] 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.
Moses was to be punished for striking
the rock and not speaking to it.
What difference did it make?
It could be that by striking the rock the miracle could have been imputed to
natural causes. In the Sinai Desert,
Saudia,
and the Negev, etc, there exist different layers of underground rocks and also
subterranean reservoirs of water, in some cases of great extent. It happens that
water pressures can build up in different layers of rock. Some layers are more
pervious than others, i.e. certain strands contain a lot of water while the
layers above and beneath them do not. According to reports the different
pressures can cause rocks to suddenly break apart and water come rushing out.
Why then did Moses not do as he was
commanded?
[Numbers 20:13] THIS IS THE WATER OF MERIBAH; BECAUSE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL
STROVE WITH THE LORD, AND HE WAS SANCTIFIED IN THEM.
s.4
[Numbers 20:14] AND MOSES SENT MESSENGERS FROM KADESH UNTO THE KING OF EDOM,
THUS SAITH THY BROTHER ISRAEL, THOU KNOWEST ALL THE TRAVAIL THAT HATH BEFALLEN
US:
[Numbers 20:15] HOW OUR FATHERS WENT DOWN INTO EGYPT, AND WE HAVE DWELT IN EGYPT
A LONG TIME; AND THE EGYPTIANS VEXED US, AND OUR FATHERS:
##AND THE EGYPTIANS VEXED US## Hebrew "veyarayu
lonu"
i.e. did evil unto us.
This is what Moses said to the
Edomites.
Later when Moses tells the Israelites how they shall relate what happened to
them (in bringing their first fruits) they were to say,
AND THE EGYPTIANS EVIL ENTREATED US [Deuteronomy 26:6] in Hebrew "yarayu
autonu"
i.e. made us out to be evil and after that AFFLICTED US [ibid]. The
Commenary
"Baruch She-Omar" (Haggadah
shel
Pesach) by Rabbi Baruch HaLevi
Epstein (1860-1941 Lithuania) explains the difference between the two cases.
Those who hate the Jewish people usually seek some kind of ideological
justification for their hatred. They tell lies or gross exaggerations about the
Jews. The Egyptians did the same. They described the Israelites as evil people.
This is what it means where it says The Egyptians made us out as [i.e. to be]
evil. The Israelites were commanded to remember not only how the Egyptians had
afflicted us but also how they had sad bad things about us [Deuteronomy 26:6].
This remembrance however applied when the Israelites were amongst themselves in
the temple bringing their first fruits, as one Hebrew to another.
On the other hand when as in our cases Moses is telling the
Edomites
what the Egyptians had done to us he left out the part where they had told lies
about us. The reason for this was that when one is dealing with a potentially
antagonistic party such as the
Edomites were it is best not to
tell them the wrong things others said about you one should be careful. Those
who do not like you or are somewhat hostile to you will tend to give credence to
bad things sad about you even when they are palpably false.
[Numbers 20:16] AND WHEN WE CRIED UNTO THE LORD, HE HEARD OUR VOICE, AND SENT AN
ANGEL, AND HATH BROUGHT US FORTH OUT OF EGYPT: AND, BEHOLD, WE ARE IN KADESH, A
CITY IN THE UTTERMOST OF THY BORDER:
[Numbers 20:17] LET US PASS, I PRAY THEE, THROUGH THY COUNTRY: WE WILL NOT PASS
THROUGH THE FIELDS, OR THROUGH THE VINEYARDS, NEITHER WILL WE DRINK OF THE
WATER OF THE WELLS: WE WILL GO BY THE KING'S HIGH WAY, WE WILL NOT TURN TO THE
RIGHT HAND NOR TO THE LEFT, UNTIL WE HAVE PASSED THY
BORDERS.
[Numbers 20:18] AND EDOM SAID UNTO HIM, THOU SHALT NOT PASS BY ME, LEST I COME
OUT AGAINST THEE WITH THE SWORD.
The
Edomites
were descended from Esau who was the twin brother of Jacob who had been renamed
Israel and from whom descend the 12 tribes of Israel. The
Edomites
were located to the east of the Land of Canaan and it was this area the
Israelites wished to traverse but Edom would not let them. There were also other
areas in the north where Edomites
had settled. There were twelve different
Edomite
nations (parallel to the Twelve Tribes of Israel) and the kingdom of Edom
referred to here represented only one of them.
[Numbers 20:19] AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SAID UNTO HIM, WE WILL GO BY THE HIGH
WAY: AND IF I AND MY CATTLE DRINK OF THY WATER, THEN I WILL PAY FOR IT: I WILL
ONLY, WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING ELSE, GO THROUGH ON MY FEET.
[Numbers 20:20] AND HE SAID, THOU SHALT NOT GO THROUGH. AND EDOM CAME OUT
AGAINST HIM WITH MUCH PEOPLE, AND WITH A STRONG HAND.
[Numbers 20:21] THUS EDOM REFUSED TO GIVE ISRAEL PASSAGE THROUGH HIS BORDER:
WHEREFORE ISRAEL TURNED AWAY FROM HIM.
s.5
[Numbers 20:22] AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, EVEN THE WHOLE CONGREGATION,
JOURNEYED FROM KADESH, AND CAME UNTO MOUNT HOR.
[Numbers 20:23] AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES AND AARON IN MOUNT HOR, BY THE
COAST OF THE LAND OF EDOM, SAYING,
[Numbers 20:24] AARON SHALL BE GATHERED UNTO HIS PEOPLE: FOR HE SHALL NOT ENTER
INTO THE LAND WHICH I HAVE GIVEN UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, BECAUSE YE
REBELLED AGAINST MY WORD AT THE WATER OF MERIBAH.
Aaron was to die in this region which
was east of the Jordan.
[Numbers 20:25] TAKE AARON AND ELEAZAR HIS SON, AND BRING THEM UP UNTO MOUNT HOR:
[Numbers 20:26] AND STRIP AARON OF HIS GARMENTS, AND PUT THEM UPON ELEAZAR HIS
SON: AND AARON SHALL BE GATHERED UNTO HIS PEOPLE, AND SHALL DIE
THERE.
[Numbers 20:27] AND MOSES DID AS THE LORD COMMANDED: AND THEY WENT UP INTO
MOUNT HOR IN THE SIGHT OF ALL THE CONGREGATION.
[Numbers 20:28] AND MOSES STRIPPED AARON OF HIS GARMENTS, AND PUT THEM UPON
ELEAZAR HIS SON; AND AARON DIED THERE IN THE TOP OF THE MOUNT: AND MOSES AND
ELEAZAR CAME DOWN FROM THE MOUNT.
[Numbers 20:29] AND WHEN ALL THE CONGREGATION SAW THAT AARON WAS DEAD, THEY
MOURNED FOR AARON THIRTY DAYS, EVEN ALL THE HOUSE OF
ISRAEL.
[Numbers 21:1] AND WHEN KING ARAD THE CANAANITE, WHICH DWELT IN THE SOUTH, HEARD
TELL THAT ISRAEL CAME BY THE WAY OF THE SPIES; THEN HE FOUGHT AGAINST ISRAEL,
AND TOOK SOME OF THEM PRISONERS.
[Numbers 21:2] AND ISRAEL VOWED A VOW UNTO THE LORD, AND SAID, IF THOU WILT
INDEED DELIVER THIS PEOPLE INTO MY HAND, THEN I WILL UTTERLY DESTROY THEIR
CITIES.
[Numbers 21:3] AND THE LORD HEARKENED TO THE VOICE OF ISRAEL, AND DELIVERED UP
THE CANAANITES; AND THEY UTTERLY DESTROYED THEM AND THEIR CITIES: AND HE CALLED
THE NAME OF THE PLACE HORMAH.
The Canaanite King of
Arad
attacked the Israelites and was defeated and all his country
destroyed.
[Numbers 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.
[Numbers 21:5] AND 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.
[Numbers 21:6] AND THE LORD SENT FIERY SERPENTS AMONG THE PEOPLE, AND THEY BIT
THE PEOPLE; AND MUCH PEOPLE OF ISRAEL DIED.
[Numbers 21:7] THEREFORE THE PEOPLE CAME TO MOSES, AND SAID, WE HAVE SINNED, FOR
WE HAVE SPOKEN AGAINST THE LORD, AND AGAINST THEE; PRAY UNTO THE LORD, THAT HE
TAKE AWAY THE SERPENTS FROM US. AND MOSES PRAYED FOR THE
PEOPLE.
[Numbers 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.
[Numbers 21:9] AND MOSES MADE A SERPENT OF BRASS, AND PUT IT UPON A POLE, AND IT
CAME TO PASS, THAT IF A SERPENT HAD BITTEN ANY MAN, WHEN HE BEHELD THE SERPENT
OF BRASS, HE LIVED.
They looked upon the bronze statue of
the serpent.
Later the Greeks (who took many of their legends and concepts from the
Phoenician Canaanites and Hebrews) borrowed this imagery, adapted it to their
own legends and made it a symbol of healing.
See this extract from an Ohr Sameach article:
http://ohr.edu/yhiy/article.php/2187
The snake and staff symbol traditionally
associated with the healing arts is often attributed to Greek mythology either
as the single-snake emblem of
Asklepios, or as the double-snake
emblem representing the caduceus (magic wand) of Hermes (Mercury).
The
Asklepion
emblem of a single snake coiled around a staff has been associated with curing
since the 5th century BCE, when
Asklepios became accepted by the
Greeks as the god of healing. Whether he was also an historical figure as healer
in earlier ages is not certain.
The caduceus of Hermes, portrayed by two
snakes intertwined around a staff topped by wings, is related to the
mythological messenger of the gods who guided souls to the underworld, and was
seen as protector of travelers, shepherds, merchants and thieves. During the
Middle Ages the caduceus became a symbol of pharmacy and alchemy, and
eventually, although "mythologically"
incorrect, came to be associated with medicine.
See also:
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=symbol-serpent-pole-medical-profession-badges-banners
A: The rod of
Asclepius
(also known as the rod of
Asklepios, rod of
Aesculapius
or asklepian)...
is an ancient Greek symbol associated with astrology and with healing the sick
through medicine. It consists of a serpent entwined around a staff.
Asclepius,
the son of Apollo, was practitioner of medicine in ancient Greek mythology.
s.6
[Numbers 21:10] AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SET FORWARD, AND PITCHED IN OBOTH.
[Numbers 21:11] AND THEY JOURNEYED FROM OBOTH, AND PITCHED AT IJEABARIM, IN THE
WILDERNESS WHICH IS BEFORE MOAB, TOWARD THE SUNRISING.
[Numbers 21:12] FROM THENCE THEY REMOVED, AND PITCHED IN THE VALLEY OF ZARED.
[Numbers 21:13] FROM THENCE THEY REMOVED, AND PITCHED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF ARNON,
WHICH IS IN THE WILDERNESS THAT COMETH OUT OF THE COASTS OF THE AMORITES: FOR
ARNON IS THE BORDER OF MOAB, BETWEEN MOAB AND THE AMORITES.
[Numbers 21:14] WHEREFORE IT IS SAID IN THE BOOK OF THE WARS OF THE LORD, WHAT
HE DID IN THE RED SEA, AND IN THE BROOKS OF ARNON,
[Numbers 21:15] AND AT THE STREAM OF THE BROOKS THAT GOETH DOWN TO THE DWELLING
OF AR, AND LIETH UPON THE BORDER OF MOAB.
[Numbers 21:16] AND FROM THENCE THEY WENT TO BEER: THAT IS THE WELL WHEREOF THE
LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES, GATHER THE PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND I WILL GIVE THEM
WATER.
[Numbers 21:17] THEN ISRAEL SANG THIS SONG, SPRING UP, O WELL; SING YE UNTO
IT:
[Numbers 21:18] THE PRINCES DIGGED THE WELL, THE NOBLES OF THE PEOPLE DIGGED IT,
BY THE
DIRECTION OF THE LAWGIVER, WITH THEIR STAVES. AND FROM THE WILDERNESS THEY WENT
TO MATTANAH:
[Numbers 21:19] AND FROM MATTANAH TO NAHALIEL: AND FROM NAHALIEL TO BAMOTH:
[Numbers 21:20] AND FROM BAMOTH IN THE VALLEY, THAT IS IN THE COUNTRY OF MOAB,
TO THE TOP OF PISGAH, WHICH LOOKETH TOWARD JESHIMON.
s.7
[Numbers 21:21] AND ISRAEL SENT MESSENGERS UNTO SIHON KING OF THE AMORITES,
SAYING,
[Numbers 21:22] LET ME PASS THROUGH THY LAND: WE WILL NOT TURN INTO THE FIELDS,
OR INTO THE VINEYARDS; WE WILL NOT DRINK OF THE WATERS OF THE WELL: BUT WE WILL
GO ALONG BY THE KING'S HIGH WAY, UNTIL WE BE PAST THY
BORDERS.
[Numbers 21:23] AND SIHON WOULD NOT SUFFER ISRAEL TO PASS THROUGH HIS BORDER:
BUT SIHON GATHERED ALL HIS PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND WENT OUT AGAINST ISRAEL INTO THE
WILDERNESS: AND HE CAME TO JAHAZ, AND FOUGHT AGAINST
ISRAEL.
[Numbers 21:24] AND ISRAEL SMOTE HIM WITH THE EDGE OF THE SWORD, AND POSSESSED
HIS LAND FROM ARNON UNTO JABBOK, EVEN UNTO THE CHILDREN OF AMMON: FOR THE BORDER
OF THE CHILDREN OF AMMON WAS STRONG.
[Numbers 21:25] AND ISRAEL TOOK ALL THESE CITIES: AND ISRAEL DWELT IN ALL THE
CITIES OF THE AMORITES, IN HESHBON, AND IN ALL THE VILLAGES
THEREOF.
[Numbers 21:26] FOR HESHBON WAS THE CITY OF SIHON THE KING OF THE AMORITES, WHO
HAD FOUGHT AGAINST THE FORMER KING OF MOAB, AND TAKEN ALL HIS LAND OUT OF HIS
HAND, EVEN UNTO ARNON.
[Numbers 21:27] WHEREFORE THEY THAT SPEAK IN PROVERBS SAY, COME INTO HESHBON,
LET THE CITY OF SIHON BE BUILT AND PREPARED:
[Numbers 21:28] FOR THERE IS A FIRE GONE OUT OF HESHBON, A FLAME FROM THE CITY
OF SIHON: IT HATH CONSUMED AR OF MOAB, AND THE LORDS OF THE HIGH PLACES OF
ARNON.
[Numbers 21:29] WOE TO THEE, MOAB! THOU ART UNDONE, O PEOPLE OF CHEMOSH: HE
HATH GIVEN HIS SONS THAT ESCAPED, AND HIS DAUGHTERS, INTO CAPTIVITY UNTO SIHON
KING OF THE AMORITES.
[Numbers 21:30] WE HAVE SHOT AT THEM; HESHBON IS PERISHED EVEN UNTO DIBON, AND
WE HAVE LAID THEM WASTE EVEN UNTO NOPHAH, WHICH REACHETH UNTO MEDEBA.
[Numbers 21:31] THUS ISRAEL DWELT IN THE LAND OF THE
AMORITES.
[Numbers 21:32] AND MOSES SENT TO SPY OUT JAAZER, AND THEY TOOK THE VILLAGES
THEREOF, AND DROVE OUT THE AMORITES THAT WERE THERE.
First they fought against
Sihon
King of the Amorites east of the Jordan then they fought against
Og
King of Bashan
further north. Og
was also an Amorite.
The Prophet Amos described the Amorites as very tall people.
YET DESTROYED I THE AMORITE BEFORE THEM, WHOSE HEIGHT WAS LIKE THE HEIGHT OF THE
CEDARS, AND HE WAS STRONG AS THE OAKS; YET I DESTROYED HIS FRUIT FROM ABOVE, AND
HIS ROOTS FROM BENEATH [Amos 2:9].
ALSO I BROUGHT YOU UP FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT, AND LED YOU FORTY YEARS THROUGH
THE WILDERNESS, TO POSSESS THE LAND OF THE AMORITE [Amos
2:11].
[Numbers 21:33] AND THEY TURNED AND WENT UP BY THE WAY OF BASHAN: AND OG THE
KING OF BASHAN WENT OUT AGAINST THEM, HE, AND ALL HIS PEOPLE, TO THE BATTLE AT
EDREI.
[Numbers 21:34] AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES, FEAR HIM NOT: FOR I HAVE DELIVERED
HIM INTO THY HAND, AND ALL HIS PEOPLE, AND HIS LAND; AND THOU SHALT DO TO HIM
AS THOU DIDST UNTO SIHON KING OF THE AMORITES, WHICH DWELT AT HESHBON.
[Numbers 21:35] SO THEY SMOTE HIM, AND HIS SONS, AND ALL HIS PEOPLE, UNTIL THERE
WAS NONE LEFT HIM ALIVE: AND THEY POSSESSED HIS LAND.
[Numbers 21:36] AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SET FORWARD, AND PITCHED IN THE
PLAINS OF MOAB ON THIS SIDE JORDAN BY JERICHO.
The Lands of
Sihon
and Og
that the Israelites had conquered were east of the Jordan. They included much of
the Present Lands of Jordan and Syria. These countries should really belong to
Israel. The Arabs who dwell there at the moment are illegal squatters.
Sihon
and Og
the Amorite monarchs had themselves taken the lands they occupied from Moab and
Ammon.
300 years later the Moabites and Ammonites were to demand these lands back from
Israel
And to attempt to take them by force. The Israelite led by
Jephtah
were to refuse and to defeat
Ammon and Moab in war.
The
Haftorah
is from the Book of Judges chapter 11.
[Judges 11:1] NOW JEPHTHAH THE GILEADITE WAS A MIGHTY MAN OF VALOUR, AND HE WAS
THE SON OF AN HARLOT: AND GILEAD BEGAT JEPHTHAH.
##JEPHTHAH##
Hebrew "Yiftach"
with the final "ch"
being pronounced something like "h". The name appears to mean "He who will
open".
GILEADITE:
He belonged to the section of Gilead in
Manassseh
and in addition his father was also named Gilead.
##HARLOT: ## In Hebrew "Zonah".
The word "zonah"
is derived from the root "zoneh"
meaning turn away from or "sin". The English word "sin" is derived from this
root. At one stage the Northern peoples lost the use of the sound "z" and
replaced it with "z". That is how the
Sebulingoi
derived their name from "Zebulon-goi"
or "Zebulon-people". They were located in the region of Denmark and
Frissia
and from there moved southward into the Netherlands.
"Zonah"
is the usual Hebrew word for "harlot" or prostitute BUT it can also have other
connotations and possibilities and simply mean a woman who departs from the
straight path.
One explanation (Targum
Yehonatan,
Rabbeinu
Bachai)
that is a little difficult but may have something in it is that the mother of
JEPHTHAH
was the prospective inheritress of her ancestors' Tribal portion but she married
someone from another tribe and so lost her right.
[Judges 11:2] AND GILEAD'S WIFE BARE HIM SONS; AND HIS WIFE'S SONS GREW UP, AND
THEY THRUST OUT JEPHTHAH, AND SAID UNTO HIM, THOU SHALT NOT INHERIT IN OUR
FATHER'S HOUSE; FOR THOU ART THE SON OF A STRANGE WOMAN.
It may be that the mother of
Yiftach
was a loose woman who had given birth to him prior to the birth of heirs from
the legitimate wife similar to the case of Ishmael and Hagar.
Alternately the mother of Yiftach
may have been a second wife who was sent away because of her sons but
Yiftach
was kept on though in an inferior position. It would seem that there was
something legal about his dispossession whether justified or not.
[Judges 11:3] THEN JEPHTHAH FLED FROM HIS BRETHREN, AND DWELT IN THE LAND OF TOB:
AND THERE WERE GATHERED VAIN MEN TO JEPHTHAH, AND WENT OUT WITH
HIM..
##TOB##
also pronounced "Tov"
and in Hebrew the word can mean "Good". The land of
TOB
was north of Gilead somewhere in the north of Syria. This was land that had been
promised to Israel and in which Israelites settled though they had to struggle
for it. Ultimately the Israelites were pushed out or subordinated and the area
became part of the Aramaean
Kingdoms of the region. Yiftach
appears to have acted in a similar way to how David did before he became king
and when he was hiding from Saul.
Yiftach
apparently led a band of bandits who would prey on the non-Israelite heathen
enemies of Israel who dwelt in the region. He gained both experience and a
reputation as a warrior leader. Someone once suggested that Robin Hood was
really a Jew (Reuben Hod)
who led an armed band of "Merry Men" in opposition to wicked King John who
oppressed the Jews alongside the rest of his English subjects.
##VAIN MEN##: In Hebrew "rakim",
i.e. empty ones. This is the probable source of the English word, "rake" meaning
"profligate" and often used in that very same sense in Hebrew.
[Judges 11:4] AND IT CAME TO PASS IN PROCESS OF TIME, THAT THE CHILDREN OF AMMON
MADE WAR AGAINST ISRAEL.
[Judges 11:5] AND IT WAS SO, THAT WHEN THE CHILDREN OF AMMON MADE WAR AGAINST
ISRAEL, THE ELDERS OF GILEAD WENT TO FETCH JEPHTHAH OUT OF THE LAND OF TOB:
[Judges 11:6] AND THEY SAID UNTO JEPHTHAH, COME, AND BE OUR CAPTAIN, THAT WE MAY
FIGHT WITH THE CHILDREN OF AMMON.
[Judges 11:7] AND JEPHTHAH SAID UNTO THE ELDERS OF GILEAD, DID NOT YE HATE ME,
AND EXPEL ME OUT OF MY FATHER'S HOUSE? AND WHY ARE YE COME UNTO ME NOW WHEN YE
ARE IN DISTRESS?
[Judges 11:8] AND THE ELDERS OF GILEAD SAID UNTO JEPHTHAH, THEREFORE WE TURN
AGAIN TO THEE NOW THAT THOU MAYEST GO WITH US, AND FIGHT AGAINST THE CHILDREN OF
AMMON, AND BE OUR HEAD OVER ALL THE INHABITANTS OF GILEAD.
[Judges 11:9] AND JEPHTHAH SAID UNTO THE ELDERS OF GILEAD, IF YE BRING ME HOME
AGAIN TO FIGHT AGAINST THE CHILDREN OF AMMON, AND THE LORD DELIVER THEM BEFORE
ME, SHALL I BE YOUR HEAD?
[Judges 11:10] AND THE ELDERS OF GILEAD SAID UNTO JEPHTHAH, THE LORD BE WITNESS
BETWEEN US, IF WE DO NOT SO ACCORDING TO THY WORDS.
[Judges 11:11] THEN JEPHTHAH WENT WITH THE ELDERS OF GILEAD, AND THE PEOPLE MADE
HIM HEAD AND CAPTAIN OVER THEM: AND JEPHTHAH UTTERED ALL HIS WORDS BEFORE THE
LORD IN MIZPEH.
[Judges 11:12] AND JEPHTHAH SENT MESSENGERS UNTO THE KING OF THE CHILDREN OF
AMMON, SAYING, WHAT HAST THOU TO DO WITH ME, THAT THOU ART COME AGAINST ME TO
FIGHT IN MY LAND?
[Judges 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, FROM ARNON EVEN UNTO JABBOK, AND UNTO JORDAN: NOW THEREFORE RESTORE
THOSE LANDS AGAIN PEACEABLY.
Israel had conquered these lands from
Sihon
King of the Amorites but previously the Amorites had conquered them from Moab
and Ammon,
mostly from Moab. The Ammonites were now trying to claim that Israel had taken
them directly from Ammon
and that they had all belonged to
Ammon.
[Judges 11:14] AND JEPHTHAH SENT MESSENGERS AGAIN UNTO THE KING OF THE CHILDREN
OF AMMON:
[Judges 11:15] AND SAID UNTO HIM, THUS SAITH JEPHTHAH, ISRAEL TOOK NOT AWAY THE
LAND OF MOAB, NOR THE LAND OF THE CHILDREN OF AMMON:
[Judges 11:16] BUT WHEN ISRAEL CAME UP FROM EGYPT, AND WALKED THROUGH THE
WILDERNESS UNTO THE RED SEA, AND CAME TO KADESH;
[Judges 11:17] THEN ISRAEL SENT MESSENGERS UNTO THE KING OF EDOM, SAYING, LET
ME, I PRAY THEE, PASS THROUGH THY LAND: BUT THE KING OF EDOM WOULD NOT HEARKEN
THERETO. AND IN LIKE MANNER THEY SENT UNTO THE KING OF MOAB: BUT HE WOULD NOT
CONSENT: AND ISRAEL ABODE IN KADESH.
[Judges 11:18] THEN THEY WENT ALONG THROUGH THE WILDERNESS, AND COMPASSED THE
LAND OF EDOM, AND THE LAND OF MOAB, AND CAME BY THE EAST SIDE OF THE LAND OF
MOAB, AND PITCHED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF ARNON, BUT CAME NOT WITHIN THE BORDER OF
MOAB: FOR ARNON WAS THE BORDER OF MOAB.
[Judges 11:19] AND ISRAEL SENT MESSENGERS UNTO SIHON KING OF THE AMORITES, THE
KING OF HESHBON; AND ISRAEL SAID UNTO HIM, LET US PASS, WE PRAY THEE, THROUGH
THY LAND INTO MY PLACE.
[Judges 11:20] BUT SIHON TRUSTED NOT ISRAEL TO PASS THROUGH HIS COAST: BUT SIHON
GATHERED ALL HIS PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND PITCHED IN JAHAZ, AND FOUGHT AGAINST
ISRAEL..
[Judges 11:21] AND THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL DELIVERED SIHON AND ALL HIS PEOPLE
INTO THE HAND OF ISRAEL, AND THEY SMOTE THEM: SO ISRAEL POSSESSED ALL THE LAND
OF THE AMORITES, THE INHABITANTS OF THAT COUNTRY.
[Judges 11:22] AND THEY POSSESSED ALL THE COASTS OF THE AMORITES, FROM ARNON
EVEN UNTO JABBOK, AND FROM THE WILDERNESS EVEN UNTO
JORDAN..
[Judges 11:23] SO NOW THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL HATH DISPOSSESSED THE AMORITES FROM
BEFORE HIS PEOPLE ISRAEL, AND SHOULDEST THOU POSSESS IT?
[Judges 11:24] WILT NOT THOU POSSESS THAT WHICH CHEMOSH THY GOD GIVETH THEE TO
POSSESS? SO WHOMSOEVER THE LORD OUR GOD SHALL DRIVE OUT FROM BEFORE US, THEM
WILL WE POSSESS.
##CHEMOSH
THY GOD GIVETH
THEE TO POSSESS##: The Hebrew construction implies: "CHEMOSH
THY GOD GIVETH
THEE [in your mind] TO POSSESS", i.e. according to your notions, not mine [Meshek
Chochmah].
In the same way one may argue with a Muslim, "Should not you act in such and
such a way according to the Koran?" because he claims to believe in the Koran
even though we do not believe in it.
[Judges 11:25] AND NOW ART THOU ANY THING BETTER THAN BALAK THE SON OF ZIPPOR,
KING OF MOAB? DID HE EVER STRIVE AGAINST ISRAEL, OR DID HE EVER FIGHT AGAINST
THEM,
[Judges 11:26] WHILE ISRAEL DWELT IN HESHBON AND HER TOWNS, AND IN AROER AND HER
TOWNS, AND IN ALL THE CITIES THAT BE ALONG BY THE COASTS OF ARNON, THREE
HUNDRED YEARS? WHY THEREFORE DID YE NOT RECOVER THEM WITHIN THAT TIME?
[Judges 11:27] WHEREFORE I HAVE NOT SINNED AGAINST THEE, BUT THOU DOEST ME WRONG
TO WAR AGAINST ME: THE LORD BE JUDGE THIS DAY BETWEEN THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL AND
THE CHILDREN OF AMMON.
[Judges 11:28] HOWBEIT THE KING OF THE CHILDREN OF AMMON HEARKENED NOT UNTO THE
WORDS OF JEPHTHAH WHICH HE SENT HIM.
[Judges 11:29] THEN THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME UPON JEPHTHAH, AND HE PASSED
OVER GILEAD, AND MANASSEH, AND PASSED OVER MIZPEH OF GILEAD, AND FROM MIZPEH OF
GILEAD HE PASSED OVER UNTO THE CHILDREN OF AMMON.
[Judges 11:30] AND JEPHTHAH VOWED A VOW UNTO THE LORD, AND SAID, IF THOU SHALT
WITHOUT FAIL DELIVER THE CHILDREN OF AMMON INTO MINE HANDS,
[Judges 11:31] THEN IT SHALL BE, THAT WHATSOEVER COMETH FORTH OF THE DOORS OF MY
HOUSE TO MEET ME, WHEN I RETURN IN PEACE FROM THE CHILDREN OF AMMON, SHALL
SURELY BE THE LORD'S, AND I WILL OFFER IT UP FOR A BURNT
OFFERING..
[Judges 11:32] SO JEPHTHAH PASSED OVER UNTO THE CHILDREN OF AMMON TO FIGHT
AGAINST THEM; AND THE LORD DELIVERED THEM INTO HIS HANDS.
[Judges 11:33] AND HE SMOTE THEM FROM AROER, EVEN TILL THOU COME TO MINNITH,
EVEN TWENTY CITIES, AND UNTO THE PLAIN OF THE VINEYARDS, WITH A VERY GREAT
SLAUGHTER. THUS THE CHILDREN OF AMMON WERE SUBDUED BEFORE THE CHILDREN OF
ISRAEL.
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