posts so far for parshat Chukat

2004

• For What Sin Was Moshe Punished?
• perhaps not for striking the rock, but for his words
  
• Yiftach BeDoro KeShmuel BeDoro (cross-listed from Shoftim)
• since Yiftach appears in the haftarah, it pays to note that he was not a total am haAretz.
  

Year 2

• For the Border of Ammon Was Strong?
• how so? Does this not contradict Devarim that they did not because of Divine decree? I suggest it means that the border was firm. Or another answer, variant text (LXX) that has יעזר rather than עז for the border, such that it is a border town by the name of עז or יעזר. And a parallel to referencing a border town in the haftara. Then I discovered Targum gives my first explanation.
  
• Who Caused the Children of Ammon To Inherit?
• Hashem, or Chemosh? or both, in Yiftach's mind? Or is it diplomacy?
  
• Making Sense of Parah Adumah
• that tumah is a construct, by fiat
  

I likely will not get a chance to post for the next week.


to be continued...