BaMidbar (Numbers) 19:1

1st Aliyah

HaShem spoke to Moshe and to Aharon, saying: This is the decree o the Torah, which HaShem has commanded, saying: Speak to the Children of Yisra'el, and they shall take to you a completely red cow, which is without blemish, and upon which a yoke has not come.
The Torah teaches us that HaShem gave us His best, however, that since all laws of the Torah are the products of HaShem's intelligence, any human inability to comprehend them indicates the limitation of the student, not the Teacher.  As we have learned from the Sages, there is nothing meaningless or purposeless in the Torah, and if it seems so, it is only a product of our own deficiency.

BaMidbar (Numbers) 19:18

2nd Aliyah

A pure man shall take hyssop and dip it in water, and sprinkle upon the tent, upon all vessels, upon the people who were there, and upon the one who touched the bone, or the slain one, or the one that died, or the grave.

The Torah teaches us that there is a process for purification. First fresh water from a spring or river is place in a vessel. Next, ashes are poured onto the water inside of the vessel, then mixed together.  A pure person throws some of the mixture upon the contaminated individual or vessels on the third and seventh days, after which the person and vessel are immersed in a mikveh to conclude the purification process.

BaMidbar (Numbers) 20:7

3rd Aliyah

HaShem spoke to Moshe, saying: "Take the staff and gather together the assembly, you and Aharon your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes that it shall give its waters."

The Torah teaches us that staff is the same one Moshe used to perform miracles in Mitzrayim and the one used to provide water for the people after they crossed the Sea of Reeds.  At that time, he performed the miracles by striking the rock, but now HaShem told him to speak--not strike.

BaMidbar (Numbers) 20:14

4th Aliyah

Moshe sent emissaries from Kadesh to the king of Edom: So said your brother Yisra'el: You know all the hardships that has befallen us."

The Torah teaches us that  king of Edom refused to allow the Children of Yisra'el to traverse his land, forcing the nation to travel around Edom, east and north.  It would not have been a difficult matter for the Jews to invade Edom, but HaShem had commanded them not to provoke their Edomite cousins.

BaMidbar (Numbers) 20:22

5th Aliyah

They journeyed from Kadesh and the Children of Yisra'el arrived--the entire assembly--at Mount Hor. HaShem said to Moshe and Aharon at mount Hor by the border of the land of Edom, saying, "Aharon shall be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the Land that I have given to the Children of Yisra'el, because you defied My Word at the waters of strife."

The Torah teaches us that on the first of Av, in the fortieth year of Yisra'el's wondering in the Wilderness, at the age of one hundred and twenty-three years, Aharon died and was succeeded by his son Elazar.  Before he died Aharon had the satisfaction of seeing Elazar clothed in the vestments of the Kohen Gadol, thus seeing how great a father was succeeded by a great son.

BaMidbar (Numbers) 21:10

6th Aliyah

The Children of Yisra'el journeyed and encamped at Oboth. They journeyed from Oboth and encamped in the desolate passes in the Wilderness facing Moab, towards the rising sun. From there they journeyed and encamped in the valley of Zered.

The Torah teaches us that the crossing must have been a great event.  HaShem had told the Children of Yisra'el, "Now rise up and cross the river Zered", and Moshe continued, "the days which we traveled from Kadesh-Barnea until we crossed the Zered were thirty-eight years".  It was a memorable place that HaShem began to speak to Moshe again.

BaMidbar (Numbers) 21:21

7th Aliyah

Yisra'el sent emissaries to Sihon, King of the Amorite, saying, "Let me pass through your land; we shall not turn off to field or vineyard; we shall not drink well water; on the king's road shall we travel, until we pass through your border."

The Torah teaches us that a new generation is now prepared for task of moving into the Land.  only young people remained, and they were willing to apply themselves to the task ahead with courage and faith in HaShem.  They were inflamed by Sichon's refusal and hardened by the death of Miriam and Aharon; and now they were ready to fight their enemies with all their strength.

Return to Top