Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”LTo sponsor an episode please visit: https://itistaught.com/support-this-project/To get the daily chumash summaries in your email click here https://substack.com/profile/182692001-sarede-rachel-switzer?utm_source=profile-page.Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsPlease consider leaving a review on the platform of your choice! For comments and inquiries, email itistaught@gmail.comThe Death of AaronAll of the Israelites who were destined to die in the desert before entering the land (see Bamidbar 14:30) had passed away.The remaining Israelites traveled from Kadesh to Mount Hor*.*Side note: Whenever the Israelites would travel, the Cloud would travel before them and level out any mountains in their path. This did not apply to three mountains however, which remained mountainous to them: Mount Sinai (for the giving of the Torah), Mount Hor (for the burial of Aaron, coming soon in this post) and Mount Nevo for the burial of Moshe.The text mentions that Mount Hor is found at the border of the land of Edom to hint at the fact that the Isrealites had come close to Edom, the descendants of the wicked Esav and losing Aaron was a consequence of this.Here at this border, G-d tells Moshe and Aaron that Moshe should bring Aaron to his people, as he will not enter the land of Israel due to his defiling of G-d's words regarding the waters of strife. Moshe should console him as he takes him by telling him that he is blessed in that he will see his crown being given to his son. He is to then take Aaron and Elazar (Aaron's son) up on the mountain and remove Aaron's clothing and dress Elazar in them.Moshe did as he was told though it was difficult for him. He told Aaron to enter a cave on the mountain and Aaron saw a bed made up and Aaron lit a lamp. Moshe tells him to go into the bed and Aaron does so. Moshe then tells him to stretch out his hands and so he does. And then to close his mouth and so he does. And then to shut his eyes, and so he does. Moshe immediately desires this death and is later granted it (see Rashi for Devarim 32:50).When the people saw Elazar and Moshe descending, they did not believe that Aaron had died. How could the one who stopped the plague fall under the dominion of the angel of death they protested? Moshe prayed and the ministering angels showed everyone that Aaron had indeed died. Everyone wept for 30 days over this.The Clouds of Glory departed from the Israelites after Aaron's death.War with AmalekThe nation of Amalek always had something against Israel and was ready to at any moment to cause them strife. Attacking the Israelites without being provoked fit with their character. When their king, whom in the text is called "the king of Arad" heard that Aaron had died and the Clouds of Glory had departed, he figured it was an opportune time to attack them.To confuse the Israelites, these Amalekite spoke the Canaanite language instead of their own (hence King Arad is also called "the Canaanite" in the text here) in the hopes that the Israelites would pray that G-d grant them victory over the Canaanites instead of the Amalekites.However when the Israelites saw a nation dressed like Amalekites but sounding like Canaanites, they prayed that G-d "deliver this people into their hand" without being specific (and that they will consecrate whatever plunder they get from it to G-d) and thus they defeated the Amalekites and called that area Chomah.The Amalekites did capture one Israelite - a single slave woman.The Copper SnakeFrom there the Israelites traveled along the same path that the spies had taken (in the south) by way of the Sea of Reeds and around the land of Edom (since he did not let them travel through his land - see earlier in the parsha) - this was a movement backwards from the way in which they came, to seven encampments earlier - which was to Mesorah. They mourned and eulogized Aaron there as if he were right there with them.The journey became difficult for the nation. They recognized that they were close to entering the land now but were traveling backwards the way their ancestors did who ended up wandering in the desert for 38 years and they were still wandering now.They complained regarding G-d and Moshe (likening "the slave to the master" in Rashi's words). They exclaimed, "why have you taken us out of Egypt to die in the desert with no food and water?" they felt disgusted and short of spirit.They complained about the manna which they felt was "insubstantial" since they didn't excrete it so were concerned that it would make their internal organs explode.G-d sends snakes who burned people with the venom of their fangs and it bit the people and many died. It was fitting that a snake would afflict them since:* A snake was punished (see Rashi for Breishis 3:5 and Shmos 4:3) for evil talk and they were now speaking maliciously and* To a snake, all food tastes the same (all food ...
