Chukat/Balak - חקת/בלק : "Statute/Balak"
Torah : Numbers 19:1-25:9
Haftarah : Micah 5:6-6:8
Gospel : John 11-14

Thought for the Week:

Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Yeshua the Messiah, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. (Romans 13:13-14)

Commentary:

While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab. (Numbers 25:1)

Balaam found he could not put a curse on the children of Israel, so he advised King Balak to pursue a different tactic. Rather than attempt a military solution or rely on occult manipulations, he introduced the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes. Instead of going to battle with Israel, he advised Balak to invite them to dinner.

"Through the counsel of Balaam," (Numbers 31:16 the daughters of the Moabites and Midianites went out to the me...