The ancient world, indeed our world today, believed in magic, in curses in evil eyes. And Balaam was the best of the magicians and was paid a lot of money to come and curse the Children of Israel, to stop them dead in their tracks and make them disappear. But he failed because God had other plans. Amongst the statements…
Author: Jeremy Rosen
Tents
One of Balaam’s famous phrases that he speaks when he reviews the Israelites is Ma Tovu Oholeha Yaakov, Mishkenoteha Yaakov. How good are your tents, Jacob, Your dwelling places Israel. On the face of this Balaam is looking at an impressive array of tents of various sorts that the Israelites were using as they were about to end a nomadic…
Red Heifer
In ancient times, anyone who wanted to be on the Temple Mount had to go through a process of preparation that involved immersing in water into which the ashes of a red cow had been dissolved. The terms used are ‘pure’ and ‘impure’ but these had nothing at all to do with cleanliness. They merely marked the difference in states,…
Striking the Rock
Back in Exodus there was a shortage of water and Moses was told to take his staff and hit the rock and water flowed copiously for the Israelites. This time, years later, he was told to speak to the rock. Instead he hit it again. His punishment for disobeying God was that he (and Aaron) were denied entry into the…
Miriam and Aaron Die
Miriam dies in Chapter 20. She is buried and suddenly there is no water. Hence the tradition that Miriam’s well followed the people until she died. But otherwise no mourning rituals are mentioned. Aaron died soon after in the fortieth year after coming out of Egypt. His death was very public and moving. Moses slowly stripped him of the garments…
Snake Symbol
There is a crisis, in this week’s Torah reading, as happens often with the children of Israel. Once again, they are complaining about Moses and his leadership. We think we are divided and self-destructive. Believe me it was worse then. In response, there is a plague of poisonous snakes. Moses made a bronze snake, put it up on a pole…