Torah Classes

Chp. 20 verse 14 - Chp. 21 verse 20: Moshe sends messengers to the king of Edom asking for permission to pass through his land, he refuses. They travel to mount Hor and there Aaron dies and is succeeded by his son Elazar, and all the people mourn for him. Chp. 21, begins with the Amalekie attacking they defeat them. The people begin to complain about the conditions in the desert. Hashem punishes them with poisonous snakes and scorpions which kill many of the people. They repent and Hashem tells Moshe to make a copper snake and hang it on a pole and those that look at it will not die. They continue to travel in the wilderness. Hashem performs a miracle for them at the valley of

Arnon. When they become aware of this miracle they compose a song of praise to Hashem.

Chp. 19 verse 17 - Chp. 20 verse - 13: Continues with the laws of the Red Heifer. Chp. 20 begins with the death of Miriam. The people complain to Moshe and Aaron about the lack of water. Hashem tells Moshe to talk to the rock and it will bring forth water, but he hits the rock twice. Hashem then informs Moshe, that because he did not fulfill G-ds command properly he would not lead the people into the land.

Chp. 19 verses 1 - 16: Introduction, begins with the laws of the "Red Heifer" the ultimate statute.

Chp. 18 verses 15 - 32: Continues with the 24 gifts given to the priests. Then it tells us of the gifts given to the Levites for their service. Also that the Levites are obligated to give a portion of their first tithing to the priests.

Chp. 17 verse 9 - Chp. 18 verse 15: Hashem brings a plague on the people and Aaron stops it with his fire pan of incense. Continues with the test of the staffs to prove that the tribe of Levi was chosen by Hashem. Chp, 18, begins with warnings to the people about the Mishkan. Hashem defines the position of the Levites. Continues with the 24 gifts given to the priests.

Chp. 16 verse 15 - Chp. 17 verse 8: The two hundred and fifty men, Korach, and Aaron all gather with their fire pans filled with incense. Moshe warns the people to separate from the group. Hashem brings a fire that consumes the 250 men and the earth swallows Dasan, Aviram, Korach, their families and all their possessions. Chp. 17 begins with Elazar the son of Aaron collecting all the fire pans. They were to be used as a covering for the copper alter.

Chp. 16 verses 1 - 15: Introduction, portion deals with the rebellion of Korach and his group against Moshe and Aaron. Moshe proposes a test to prove that Hashem had chosen Aaron to be the high preist. Moshe goes to Dasan and Aviram to try and placate them but to no avail.

Chp. 15 verses 1 - 41: In this chp. Hashem introduces the wine libation that would accompany many sacrifices. Hashem also commands them about the taking of challah from their dough which would be given to the priests. Continues with the sacrifice brought for an error done by the congregation concerning idol worship. It continues with the individual who sins by error and his sacifice. The Torah mentions many times that there should be one law for you and the convert. Next the story of the gatherer of wood on Shabbos. The portion ends with the Chapter on Tzitzith and its laws.

Chp. 14 verses 1 - 45: The people cry in their tents and they complain to Moshe. Joshua and Calev try to convince the people that the land was very good and that Hashem will give them the land. The people threaten to stone them, but they are protected by the glory of G-d. Hashem tells Moshe that He will destroy the nation. Moshe is able to defend the people only to the point of Hashem not destroying them all at one time. He would punish all those between the ages of twenty to sixty with death and wandering in the desert for forty years. Only Joshua and Calev of those between the ages of twenty and sixty would enter the land. The ten spies die by the plague. Against Moshe's words some of the people try to go up and conquer the mountain but they are defeated by the Amalekie and Canaanie.

Chp 13 verses 1 - 33: Introduction, Moshe is given permission by Hashem to send spies into the land of Canaan. He sends twelve men one from each tribe. The Torah lists their names. They return after forty days with a cluster of grapes, a pomegranate, and a fig. Ten of them give their report to Moshe and the people, with the intent of frightened the people and they succeed. Calev tries to convince the people that the land is wonderful and conquerable. The ten spies try to convince the people that they would not be able to conquer the land and that they also saw giants there.