A Thought On Parshas Chukas
A Thought On Parshas Chukas
"...al kein ye'amar b'sefer Milchamos HaShem..."
"...that is the reason it is told in the Book of G-d's Wars..." (21:14)
After the Torah writes about our desert travels around mountains and near the sea and past the territories of various peoples, our verse indicates that there is some type of record called the Book of HaShem's Wars and that some of these travels are talked about there.
Rabbeinu Chaim Paltiel professes that he is puzzled by this! Firstly, what book is called the Book of HaShem's Wars? Where is it and who wrote it and what was it, since we do not have such a book? The Torah asserts that it existed, and leaves it at that. Secondly, the phrase "al kein..." throughout the Torah and Scriptures always means "this is the reason for". What does the verse intend upon saying that we traveled here and there "and this is the reason that it is written" in that Book? Just exactly what is the reason for what? If the Torah wants us to know that there is such a Book, it might have simply written that there were many journeys in the desert and they are recorded there. What is the meaning of "this is the reason they are told there"?
Rabbeinu Chaim Paltiel reviews with us the verses leading up to this. The Torah earlier states that we went from Mt. Hor along the Reed Sea (Yam Suf) to avoid the Land of Edom. It then says that the territory of Arnon borders the Land of Moav and separates Moav from the tribe of Emori, ruled by King Sichon.
From these places and names, he deduces that "the Book of HaShem's Wars" is actually none other than our very familiar Az Yashir Song of the Sea way back in Parshas BeShalach in the Book of Exodus (Sh'mos) which we recite every morning as well as when we read that Torah portion. If you look there at the Shira (15:15) you will see that it exults how the "leaders of Edom, of Moav and the residents of Canaan all trembled" as they learned of the splitting of the sea and of our victory there over the pursuing Egyptians. That verse establishes for us that the lands of Egypt, Edom, Moav and Canaan were in close geographical proximity one to the other.
Now, as an aside, we also know that the Shira proclaims that HaShem was "the Warrior" (Ish Milchama as in the word "war") at the battle of the Reed Sea (15:3) and that this battle is portrayed as "HaShem fights for His people against the Egyptians" (14:25), in view of the miraculous events there (again, the word there is yi'lachem, from the word for war). If so, writes Rabbeinu Chaim Paltiel, the Shira is indeed a record of "the Wars of HaShem"!
Our verse and this week's parsha reference the places past which we traveled as we went across the desert from Egypt up towards Canaan. It notes how we traversed the territories of Edom, Moav and Emori. In order that we have an accurate glimpse of the geography and the itinerary sequence, we need some perspective of what was where so that these names do not seem like a random list of locations. Therefore, explains our master Rabbeinu Chaim Paltiel, our verse enunciates that this is the reason that in the Shira it was written that when the Egyptians fell at the Sea, the nations of Edom, Moav and the residents of Canaan knew about it and reacted with fear! The Torah needed us to get that perspective there in order to better grasp the events of our parsha here!
Henceforth, when we recite the Az Yashir we will view it as "the Book of the Wars of HaShem" Who leads us, protects us and is at all times fighting our battles, whether we are aware of them or not. Wishing you a good Shabbos. D Fox
"...al kein ye'amar b'sefer Milchamos HaShem..."
"...that is the reason it is told in the Book of G-d's Wars..." (21:14)
After the Torah writes about our desert travels around mountains and near the sea and past the territories of various peoples, our verse indicates that there is some type of record called the Book of HaShem's Wars and that some of these travels are talked about there.
Rabbeinu Chaim Paltiel professes that he is puzzled by this! Firstly, what book is called the Book of HaShem's Wars? Where is it and who wrote it and what was it, since we do not have such a book? The Torah asserts that it existed, and leaves it at that. Secondly, the phrase "al kein..." throughout the Torah and Scriptures always means "this is the reason for". What does the verse intend upon saying that we traveled here and there "and this is the reason that it is written" in that Book? Just exactly what is the reason for what? If the Torah wants us to know that there is such a Book, it might have simply written that there were many journeys in the desert and they are recorded there. What is the meaning of "this is the reason they are told there"?
Rabbeinu Chaim Paltiel reviews with us the verses leading up to this. The Torah earlier states that we went from Mt. Hor along the Reed Sea (Yam Suf) to avoid the Land of Edom. It then says that the territory of Arnon borders the Land of Moav and separates Moav from the tribe of Emori, ruled by King Sichon.
From these places and names, he deduces that "the Book of HaShem's Wars" is actually none other than our very familiar Az Yashir Song of the Sea way back in Parshas BeShalach in the Book of Exodus (Sh'mos) which we recite every morning as well as when we read that Torah portion. If you look there at the Shira (15:15) you will see that it exults how the "leaders of Edom, of Moav and the residents of Canaan all trembled" as they learned of the splitting of the sea and of our victory there over the pursuing Egyptians. That verse establishes for us that the lands of Egypt, Edom, Moav and Canaan were in close geographical proximity one to the other.
Now, as an aside, we also know that the Shira proclaims that HaShem was "the Warrior" (Ish Milchama as in the word "war") at the battle of the Reed Sea (15:3) and that this battle is portrayed as "HaShem fights for His people against the Egyptians" (14:25), in view of the miraculous events there (again, the word there is yi'lachem, from the word for war). If so, writes Rabbeinu Chaim Paltiel, the Shira is indeed a record of "the Wars of HaShem"!
Our verse and this week's parsha reference the places past which we traveled as we went across the desert from Egypt up towards Canaan. It notes how we traversed the territories of Edom, Moav and Emori. In order that we have an accurate glimpse of the geography and the itinerary sequence, we need some perspective of what was where so that these names do not seem like a random list of locations. Therefore, explains our master Rabbeinu Chaim Paltiel, our verse enunciates that this is the reason that in the Shira it was written that when the Egyptians fell at the Sea, the nations of Edom, Moav and the residents of Canaan knew about it and reacted with fear! The Torah needed us to get that perspective there in order to better grasp the events of our parsha here!
Henceforth, when we recite the Az Yashir we will view it as "the Book of the Wars of HaShem" Who leads us, protects us and is at all times fighting our battles, whether we are aware of them or not. Wishing you a good Shabbos. D Fox
posted by Rabbi Dr. Fox at 6:16 PM
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