Chukat - commentary

חֻקַּת
Chukat
(statute)
B'midbar 19:1-22:1

United in Prayer
B'midbar [Numbers] 21:1-31 And the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who dwelt in the South, heard tell that Yisra’el came by the way of the spies; and he fought against Yisra’el, and took some of them captive.2 And Yisra’el vowed a vow to YHVH, and said, "If You will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities."3 And YHVH hearkened to the voice of Yisra’el, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and the name of the place was called Chormah.
When Yisra’el as a twelve tribe nation calls out to YHVH, He answers in a powerful way!
With the current difficulties that modern day Yisra’el is having with Canaanites in the Land, this verse would seem to tell us of the need for Yisra’el both to be crying out to YHVH, and for all twelve tribes to be present (and crying out together). This is not the case today, because basically only two to three tribes are present in any great degree in the Land. May YHVH cause it to happen soon and in our day!
One of the beautiful things about the above passage, is the relationship between Yisra’el and her Elohim through prayer. Let us consider some truths about prayer.
Luqa [Luke] 11:1 And it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, that when He ceased, one of his disciples said to him, "Master, teach us to pray, even as Yochanan (John) also taught his talmidim."
All of us pray about many people and things that are near and dear to us. How many of us before we start praying about a person, situation, or thing, actually ask YHVH what it is that He wants us to pray about? Perhaps, if each one of us actually asked YHVH what it was that He wants us to pray concerning each person, then we may just see many more wonderful answers to prayer. Please consider the following passage.
Yochanan Aleph [1st John] 5:14 14 And this is the boldness which we have toward Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us: 15 and if we know that He hears us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of Him.
Please note in the above passage, that if we ask anything whatsoever that is YHVH's will, He will give to us that which we have asked. The key to answered prayer seems to be praying according to His will.
So when we consider the former passage about asking Him to teach us to pray for a particular person, then when He tells us what it is that we should pray, we know that we are praying according to His will. And if we are praying according to His will, then we can have complete confidence that He will answer the prayer because we are only praying what He has told us to pray.
Consider this illustration.
Little Johnny gets sick. His mom starts praying for him right away, but nothing seems to be happening, at least that she can tell. Then one day in prayer she happens to ask YHVH what it is that she should be praying for little Johnny. YHVH impresses upon her what it is that she should pray. Johnny's mother begins praying what it was that YHVH impressed upon her. Her faith is increased because she knows that she is praying for Johnny according to YHVH's will.
Let us consider one more aspect of prayer.
Daniel 10:12 Then said he to me, "Fear not, Daniel; for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your Elohim, your words were heard: and I am come for your words' sake."
Notice, that as Daniel prayed, YHVH heard his prayers right away. This is important to understand. Now notice what this messenger tells Daniel in the next verse.
Daniel 10:13 "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; but, behold, Micha’el, one of the chief princes, came to help me: and I remained there with the kings of Persia."
From the time that YHVH heard and dispatched the answer to Daniel, there was a delay of three weeks' time. Why? Spiritual warfare!
When we know that what we are praying is YHVH's will, then we need to be diligent and not give up. There are times that the answer to our prayers is sometimes delayed in the spiritual realm. When we understand this, then it should encourage us to keep on praying and not lose heart.

The Fiery Serpents
B'midbar [Numbers] 21:4-94 And they journeyed from Har Hor by the way to the Yam Suf, to compass the land of Edom: and the being of the people was much discouraged because of the way.5 And the people spoke against Elohim, and against Moshe, "Wherefore have you brought us up out of Mitzrayim to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, and there is no water; and our being loathes this insignificant bread."6 And YHVH sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many people of Yisra’el died.7 And the people came to Moshe, and said, "We have sinned, because we have spoken against YHVH, and against you; pray to YHVH, that He take away the serpents from us." And Moshe prayed for the people.8 And YHVH said to Moshe, "You make a fiery serpent, and set it upon a standard; and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he sees it, shall live."9 And Moshe made a serpent of brass, and set it upon the standard; and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the serpent of brass, he lived.
In the first few verses, we see the wonderful way in which Yisra’el was praying and seeing their prayers answered by her Elohim. Then they went on the next leg of their journey. Verse four records that their discouragement came because of the way in which they traveled.
In walking with Mashiach and serving Him, have you ever become discouraged? Probably most of us have at one time or another. But why?
Could it be that we do not understand the way as well as we should? Christianity has basically taught us for the past two millennia, that if you will just accept “Jesus”, then everything will be okay in your life from that point on. In fact, some even go so far as to teach that you will become healthy and wealthy. And if you don't, they teach that you have a faith problem. It is all your fault that you are having problems.
Granted, many of our problems are self caused and self inflicted; albeit, unintentionally on our part. However, there are problems and challenges that come our way that have nothing to do with wrong choices on our part. This is what happened to Iyov (Job). In fact, what happened in Iyov's life happened because he was living a righteous life.
Should we not also expect to see the same kinds of trials and tribulations in our own life as a result of doing His will? Sure! For further details, please see the study Testing of the Set-Apart Ones.
This discouragement that the Nation of Yisra’el experienced, resulted in their complaining and grumbling against YHVH and His chosen leader, Moshe.
It seems that YHVH views this particular sin (grumbling) as being so grievous that it is worthy of death. In this particular instance, YHVH sends serpents to bite the people. Many people died as a result. Let us consider this next passage.
Qorintyah Aleph [1st Corinthians] 10:5-6 5 Howbeit with most of them Elohim was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
Please note that it is the seeking after things of the material realm that is displeasing to YHVH. What we need to be seeking after is His Kingdom as Yahshua taught us.
Mattityahu [Matthew] 6:33 "But you seek first His kingdom, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you."
Notice that if we seek His spiritual Kingdom first and foremost, then those things that we need in this physical realm He will give to us.
Qorintyah Aleph [1st Corinthians] 10:10 10 Do not murmur, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer.
Notice that those who murmured were destroyed, and Scripture tells us that the destroyer (Satan, that serpent of old) destroyed them. When YHVH sent the fiery serpents among the people, it was a reflection of the spiritual reality at that moment. HaSatan had come into the camp and destroyed their spirits through enticing them to lust after the physical things (something better than water and bread) and to then voice that lusting; thereby, allowing the spiritual to spill over into the physical (the fiery serpents biting the people).
Basically, the fiery serpents were just an indication of what had already happened in the spiritual realm. But now, everyone could see what was in their hearts.
But the ones that would look upon the bronze serpent that YHVH had Moshe make, are the ones who humbled themselves and repented of their grumbling. They are the ones whom YHVH healed.
Qorintyah Aleph [1st Corinthians] 10:11-12 11 Now these things happened to them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
YHVH had these words written for us today!
This example of what happens to people that grumble and complain should be a sobering reminder that we should live a life full of thankfulness and gratitude towards YHVH for His many blessings that He gives to us. Even those things that do not look like blessings to us are, in actuality, blessings.
Qorintyah Aleph [1st Corinthians] 10:13 13 There has no temptation come upon you but such as man can bear: but Elohim is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
These are very comforting words. YHVH will only give us what we are able to handle. However, He will often take us right to the very limit of what we can handle in order to stretch and refine us. But He will not exceed that limit.
However, that being said, it should also be recognized that if He was not in our lives we could not handle it. Or, if we attempt to handle something without His presence and His counsel and wisdom, we are bound to stumble and fail.
May YHVH cause the lesson of the fiery serpents to sink deep into our spirits so that none of us will be guilty of grumbling and complaining and thus be destroyed.

Journeys
B'midbar [Numbers] 21:10-1610 And the children of Yisra’el journeyed, and encamped in Ovot.11 And they journeyed from Ovot, and encamped at Iyei-Ha'avarim, in the wilderness which is before Moab, toward the sun rising.12 From there they journeyed, and encamped in the valley of Zared.13 From there they journeyed, and encamped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness, that comes out of the border of the Amorites: for the Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.14 Wherefore it is said in the book of the Wars of YHVH, Vaheb in Suphah, and the valleys of the Arnon,15 And the slope of the valleys that inclines toward the dwelling of Ar, and leans upon the border of Moab.16 And from there to Be'er: that is the well whereof YHVH said to Moshe, "Gather the people together, and I will give them water."
In these seven verses, we see Yisra’el moving and camping at five different locations. The last place, Be'er, to which YHVH had taken them, they had been before. Perhaps if we remember that these are lessons for us upon whom the end of the ages has come, then we may be able to see another very important lesson for us here.
YHVH loves us very much! It is something that almost all of us would understand. In that great love that He expresses toward us is His loving discipline. And when He disciplines us to refine us, if we do not get the lesson that He is teaching us, then He repeats the lesson.
That seems to be what is happening in the Nation of Yisra’el above. YHVH took them back to where they started from.

Life Has its Ups and Downs
B'midbar [Numbers] 21:17-2017 Then sang Yisra’el this song: "Spring up, well; sing you to it:18 The well, which the princes dug, which the nobles of the people delved, with the scepter, with their staves." And from the wilderness to Mattanah;19 and from Mattanah to Nachaliel; and from Nachali'el to Bamot;20 and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the field of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looks down upon the desert.
This is one of those portions of Scripture that contains several place names. It is interesting to investigate the meaning of these names. Let us list them for convenience.
1. Mattanah - present (i.e., sacrificial offering)
2. Nahali’el - valley of El
3. Bamot - heights
4. Valley in the field of Moab - valley from the father
5. Pisgah - to cut up or to contemplate (to the top of)

Notice that it starts out with a spiritual high. Then into the valley, then back up to the heights again, then down in the valley once more and finally back up to a mountain top experience.
Probably all of us could relate our own spiritual journey to this kind of up and down. First being spiritually high and then all of a sudden finding ourselves trudging through the valley of despair. Then, back up high spiritually for a short time before finding ourselves back in the valley once again.
If we are not careful, we can let the valleys be very discouraging to us. However, please note the meanings of the names of the two valleys listed above. The first one is Valley of El. Who would not want to be in this valley? This should be a good valley to be in, one would think. Then the next valley is Valley from the Father. Again, shouldn't this valley be a good valley to be in?
Please consider this passage.
Ivrim [Hebrews] 12:11 All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceable fruit to them that have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness.
We need to realize that there is not much growing up on top of a mountain, but that the growth is down in the valley. On the mountaintop one can see a long way. One can see and get one's bearings easily because of the lack of vegetative growth that would block one's view. So mountaintop experiences are good and necessary. However, the true growth in our spiritual lives happens down in the valley where the going can be hard and even treacherous at times.
If we can remember this when in the valley, it may help lighten the burden of going through the valley.

War with the Amorites
B'midbar [Numbers] 21:21-2621 And Yisra’el sent messengers to Sichon king of the Amorites, saying,22 "Let me pass through your land; we will not turn aside into field, or into vineyard; we will not drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's highway, until we have passed your border.23 And Sichon would not allow Yisra’el to pass through his border: but Sichon gathered all his people together, and went out against Yisra’el into the wilderness, and came to Yahtzah; and he fought against Yisra’el.24 And Yisra’el smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from the Arnon to the Yabboq, even to the children of Ammon; for the border of the children of Ammon was strong.25 And Yisra’el took all these cities: and Yisra’el dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Cheshbon, and in all the towns thereof.26 For Cheshbon was the city of Sichon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even to the Arnon.
The offer that Yisra’el gave to the Amorites seems like it was a pretty generous offer. They would take nothing out of the land that belonged to the Amorites, including water. But for some reason the Amorites did not accept this offer. Instead, they came out in force to fight against Yisra’el.
Verse 23 above says that they came out to Yahtzah, which means to stamp, as in a threshing floor. This is exactly what YHVH had Yisra’el do to them as a result of their not accepting Yisra’el's offer in passing through their land.
It brings this verse to mind.
Kepha [1st Peter] 2:8 A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence; for they stumble at the word, being disobedient: where unto also they were appointed.
When a person stumbles at His truth, it will end in destruction if one does not repent unto YHVH.

A Proverb
B'midbar [Numbers] 21:27-3027 Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, "Come to Cheshbon; let the city of Sichon be built and established:28 For a fire is gone out of Cheshbon, A flame from the city of Sichon; it has devoured Ar of Moab, the Ba'alim of the high places of the Arnon.29 Woe to you, Moab! You are undone, people of Chemosh; he has given his sons as fugitives, and his daughters into captivity, to Sichon king of the Amorites.30 We have shot at them; Cheshbon is perished even to Divon, and we have laid waste even to Nophah, which (reaches) to Medeba."
The essence of this proverb seems to be the fire or flame, which brings to mind this passage.
Ivrim [Hebrews] 12:29 for our Elohim is a consuming fire.
Keeping this in mind, the proverb starts off with a command to "come to Cheshbon". But what could that signify? Let us consider the meaning and implication of this place name.
חֶשְׁבּוֹן Chesbon means properly contrivance; by implication intelligence: - account, device, reason.
So when we properly consider that this passage starts out with these words:
Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, "Come to Cheshbon...."
What the meaning of coming to Cheshbon means is proverbial. So to properly understand it one needs to understand the meaning of the name. In this case we are being commanded to come to intelligence or come to reason. This seems to go with the general tenure of Scripture for YHVH states in another place:
Yesha`Yahu [Isaiah] 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together, says YHVH: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
So properly reasoning (parsing) of Scripture is something that YHVH desires for us to learn and do.
And in the case of this proverb if we will look at its meaning with reason we will see that it is those that did not submit to His will that He consumed with fire. Does not much of Scripture bear this out? To be sure it does!

Yisra’el Dwells
B'midbar [Numbers] 21:31-3231 Thus Yisra’el dwelt in the land of the Amorites.32 And Moshe sent to spy out Yazer; and they took the towns thereof, and drove out the Amorites that were there.
Let us have a brief overview to put the above verses in their proper perspective.
1. Yisra’el spies out the land (chapter 13) and rejects wise council to go in and possess the land.
2. Aharon and Miriam die (chapter 20)
3. All the generation that sinned and were condemned to not enter His Land all died in the wilderness by the time the next census is taken. (chapter 26)

While there may still be a few of the old-timers left here in chapter 21, their numbers are probably quickly diminishing. It is a praise to YHVH that the next generation did not reject Him because of the reports of spies. It seems that perhaps when Moshe sent these spies out, that when they reported back, they did not do so publicly as they did in chapter 13.
We see further evidence of this after Y’hoshua takes over as leader of Yisra’el and he sends spies out as well.
Y’hoshua [Joshua] 2:1 And Y’hoshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men as spies secretly, saying, "Go, view the land, and Yericho." And they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lay there.
Notice Y’hoshua sent them out secretly.
The Yisra’elites, after taking the land of the Amorites, then dwelt there.

War with Bashan
B'midbar [Numbers] 21:33-22:133 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 battle at Edrei.34 And YHVH said to Moshe, "Fear him not: for I have delivered him into your hand, and all his people, and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Sichon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Cheshbon."35 So they smote him, and his sons and all his people, until there was none left him remaining: and they possessed his land.1 And the children of Yisra’el journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Yarden at Yericho.
Yisra’el then went up by way of the Bashan and the king of Bashan brought out all his people to do battle at Edrei - literally to battle mightily.
However, YHVH was with Yisra’el and He caused them to overcome Og, king of Bashan and all his people until there were none left. Then Yisra’el was in possession of their land as well.
YHVH then moved Yisra’el on to the plains of Moab (plains from the Father).

Yisra’el's Warfare
Ephesians 6:12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
The primary warfare that Yisra’el is involved in is spiritual. We are struggling against those spiritual forces that have rebelled against YHVH and His Kingdom. These evil spiritual forces often use people in the physical realm to do their bidding. Often times those that are doing the bidding of the evil spiritual forces are doing so unknowingly. But that does not change the fact that they are being used by these evil spiritual forces.
Actually, we are all born into the kingdom of darkness and we must each choose to come out of that darkness into his wonderful light.
Kepha Aleph [1st Peter] 2:9 But you are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a kadosh nation, a people for Elohim's own possession, that you may show forth the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light:
When we come out of that great darkness and walk in His light as He is in the light, then YHVH can and will give us victory.
Yochanan Aleph [1st John] 1:7 but if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Yahshua His Son cleanses us from all sin.
This is how we are to overcome HaSatan and all the works of darkness: to walk in all of His wonderful light.
Yechezk’el [Ezekiel] 37:22-23 22 "and I will make them one nation in the land, upon the mountains of Yisra’el; and one king shall be king to them all; and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all; 23 neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will save them out of all their dwelling-places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their Elohim."
What a wonderful blessing we can look forward to, being reunited with our brethren and being in the Land and all serving Him together as one new man. Then we will see wonderful victories for His people!
ABBA YHVH, please cause all of Your people to walk in all the light that You give to them and cause us to be gathered back home to Your Land soon and in our day; in the Name of Yahshua our Mashiach, Omein.
Shabbat Shalom
Zerubbabel ben Emunahzerubbabel@nazareneisrael.org

יברכך יהוה וישמרך
יאר יהוה פניו אליך ויחנך
ישא יהוה פניו אליך וישם לך שלום
Yosef ben Ruach A servant of our Master The Israelite sect of the Nazarenes Re-establishing the original faith of the apostles www.nazareneisrael.org