פָּרָשַׁת בְּחֻקֹּתַי Parashat Buḥuḳḳotai
INTRODUCTION:
Parashat Buḥuḳḳotai (Lev. 26:3-27:34) contains the following sidrot:
Hundred-and-Second Sidra՚, the rewards, the punishments, destruction and repentance;
Hundred-and-Third Sidra՚, estimated values of devoted things: people, beasts, houses, landed property, and conclusion.
ANALYSIS:
Hundred-and-Second Sidra՚ (Lev. 26:3-46): The rewards, the punishments, destruction and repentance.
Parashat Buḥuḳḳotai opens with the verse, "If you walk by My laws; and My commands you keep, and observe them" (Lev. 26:3). The stipulations and obligations of the Covenant between YHWH and the Children of Israel have been revealed. Now we are informed of the blessings that the nation will receive if we uphold our part of the Covenant and consequences for the nation if we violate the Covenant.
If we uphold the Covenant YHWH will send the rains over the land of Israel according to their seasons, the ground will bring forth its yield and the trees their fruit. The threshing will overtake the vintage and the vintage will overtake the sowing, and we will eat our food to satiety - securely in the land. YHWH will give peace in the land, we will rest securely and none will make us tremble. He will remove evil animals from the land and no one will invade our land. We will pursue our enemies who will fall before us, He will grant us victory over them even if they be more numerous than we. "I will turn toward you, and I will make you fruitful, and I will make you many; and I will establish My covenant with you" (Lev. 26:9). We will have so much food that the previous year's produce will have to be cleared out before the new produce can be stored. "I will put My Mishkan in your midst; and My soul will not abhor you. I will walk about in your midst, and I will be to you for a God; and you shall be to Me for a people. I am YHWH your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from your being slaves to them; and I broke the bars of your yoke, and made you to walk upright" (Lev. 26: 11-13).
However, if we do not hearken to YHWH by not keeping all of His commandments, and if we reject His laws - our souls abhorring His judgements; we have violated the Covenant. Then YHWH will send all sorts of hardships to wear us down; terror and diseases. We will sow our seed but our enemies will eat from our labours. YHWH will set His face against us. We will be struck down before our enemies and those who hate us will rule over us; we will flee when no one is pursuing. If after all this we still don't listen to YHWH, He will punish us sevenfold for our sins. He will break our pride and arrogance; the heavens will be like iron to us and the earth like bronze. Our strength will be consumed in vain, and the ground will not bring forth its produce or the trees their fruit. If we continue to walk in opposition to YHWH, He will send blows against us - sevenfold according to our sins. Animals of the field will bereave us, making us and our live-stock few in number and our roads will become desolate. If after these things we still don't accept His discipline being in opposition to Him, then He will be in opposition to us and strike us still another sevenfold for our sins. He will bring against us an avenging sword, which will avenge His Covenant; if we gather in our cities He will send pestilence in your midst and give us into the hand of our enemies. "When I have broken for you the staff of bread, and ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they will return your bread by weight; and you shall eat but you shall not be satisfied" (Lev. 26:26).
And if after all this we still do not heed and continue to be in opposition to Him, then He will be in the heat of opposition to us and punish us sevenfold for our sins. We will eat the flesh of our sons and daughters. Our high-places will be destroyed, our sun-pillars will be cut down, and our carcasses will be placed upon the carcasses of our idols; He will abhor us. Our cities will be laid waste, and our holy shrines will be desolate. War will be brought against us that will result in the land becoming a desert, our scattering among the nations, and our enemies settling in the land. Then the land will have its Sabbatical years all the days of its desolation whilst we are in the land of our enemies, for when we dwelt in the land we did not permit it to have its Sabbatical years. YHWH will bring faintness of heart on the remnant of the nation scattered in the lands of our enemies. We will flee at the sound of a rustling leaf blown as if an army is chasing us; and fall though there is no pursuer! Each man will stumble over his brother, and we will not be able to stand our ground before our enemies. We will perish among the nations, the land of our enemies devouring us. The remnant will pine away in the lands of their enemies, simply because they continue to follow in the iniquities of their fathers. However, if we confess our iniquities, the iniquities of our fathers, that we violated our relationship with YHWH, and that we walked in opposition to Him. If we humble our uncircumcised hearts and repent over our iniquities, then YHWH will remember His covenant with Jacob, His covenant with Isaac, His covenant with Abraham, and He will also remember the land. Even in the land of our enemies YHWH will not cast us away, abhor us, and destroy us, for He will not break His covenant with us, "for I am YHWH their God" (Lev. 26:44). YHWH will remember the Covenant with the first ones whom He brought out of the land of Egypt before the eyes of the nations, to be a God for them. "These are the laws and the judgements and the instructions, that YHWH put between Himself, and between the Children of Israel; at Mount Sinai by the hand of Moses" (Lev. 26:46).
Hundred-and-Third Sidra՚ (Lev. 27:1-34): Estimated values of devoted things: people, beasts, houses, landed property, and conclusion.
When a person makes an extraordinary vow whereby they vow to donate their value in silver to the Temple, the kohen is to estimate their value according to the following valuations:
However, if the person is too poor to afford these valuations then the kohen estimates a value according to the individual's financial abilities.
If a person vows to donate to YHWH a beast from the cattle or flock of sheep and goats, it becomes holy. Once the animal has been selected it cannot be substituted or changed; good for bad or bad for good. However, if the animal is exchanged then both the original animal and its substitute become holy. If a person vows to donate an impure beast then the kohen estimates a value according to the animal's worth, but if the donor decides to redeem it he pays the value determined by the kohen plus 20%.
If someone dedicates their house to YHWH thus making it holy, the kohen estimates the value of the property and establishes an evaluation. If the donor desires to redeem the house they pay the established valuation plus 20%.
If someone dedicates one of their fields to YHWH thus making it holy, the kohen is to estimate the value of the field according to its yield of seed; every ḥomer[1] [חֹמֶר - between 220 and 450 litres - dry weight] of barley seed is equal to 50 sheḳels of silver. Then the total yearly yield of the field is multiplied by the years left to the next Year of the Yovel. If the donor desires to redeem the field they pay the established value plus 20%. If the owner does not redeem the field or sells it to someone else, it cannot be redeemed again. Then come the Year of the Yovel the field becomes holy to YHWH and is devoted; becoming the possession of the kohanim. If someone dedicates a field not of his inherited possession but one which they had bought, the kohen calculates the field's estimated value until the next Year of the Yovel and the donor donates the sum on the day of evaluation. In the Year of the Yovel the field returns to the original owner whose inherited possession it is.
All estimated values are to be worked out according to the Holy sheḳel where there are 20 gera [גֵּרָה] to the sheḳel. Since the first born of a pure beast already belongs to YHWH it cannot be dedicated on behalf of an individual. An impure beast can be ransomed according to its estimated value plus the additional 20%. However the regular devoted holy contributions to YHWH cannot be sold nor can they be redeemed. All the tithes [מַעְשַֹר - literally; a tenth] of the land of Israel are holy; they are for YHWH. If someone redeems part of their tithes they are to add the statutory 20%. From the herd and the flock the tenth animal that passes under the rod shall be for a tithe to YHWH, and it cannot be substituted or changed; good for bad or bad for good. If the animal is exchanged then both the original animal and its substitute become holy. "Anyone devoted that has been devoted to destruction from humans shall not be ransomed; death he shall be put to death" (Lev. 27:29).
Sefer Wayyiḳra՚ closes with these words, "These are the commandments that YHWH commanded Moses for the Children of Israel; at Mount Sinai" (Lev. 27:34).
TEACHINGS OF HAKHAM REKHAVI:
In the last parasha of the Book of Leviticus we are reminded that our relationship with YHWH is not one-sided. It is not a relationship of taking without giving; YHWH is not some sort of genii whose purpose is to fulfil our every wish and desire. Our relationship with YHWH is dependant upon our loyalty to Him. Being loyal to YHWH is not only a question of refraining from worshiping other gods or from placing institutions and our pleasures before YHWH, but is also dependant upon our active participation in the relationship. We respect by honouring, we honour by showing our love, and we show our love by our willingness to actively do things for the one we love; for love is active not passive. We cannot say that we respect, honour, and love God if we do not strive to keep His Torah. To expect reward without doing that which is required and to distain punishment when His Covenant has been violated is the main ingredient for a self-centred, self-serving individual; someone who can never be relied upon by God or Man.
[1] חֹמֶר from חֲמוֹר (ḥamor) - donkey; and is thus a donkey load.
Parashat Buḥuḳḳotai (Lev. 26:3-27:34) contains the following sidrot:
Hundred-and-Second Sidra՚, the rewards, the punishments, destruction and repentance;
Hundred-and-Third Sidra՚, estimated values of devoted things: people, beasts, houses, landed property, and conclusion.
ANALYSIS:
Hundred-and-Second Sidra՚ (Lev. 26:3-46): The rewards, the punishments, destruction and repentance.
Parashat Buḥuḳḳotai opens with the verse, "If you walk by My laws; and My commands you keep, and observe them" (Lev. 26:3). The stipulations and obligations of the Covenant between YHWH and the Children of Israel have been revealed. Now we are informed of the blessings that the nation will receive if we uphold our part of the Covenant and consequences for the nation if we violate the Covenant.
If we uphold the Covenant YHWH will send the rains over the land of Israel according to their seasons, the ground will bring forth its yield and the trees their fruit. The threshing will overtake the vintage and the vintage will overtake the sowing, and we will eat our food to satiety - securely in the land. YHWH will give peace in the land, we will rest securely and none will make us tremble. He will remove evil animals from the land and no one will invade our land. We will pursue our enemies who will fall before us, He will grant us victory over them even if they be more numerous than we. "I will turn toward you, and I will make you fruitful, and I will make you many; and I will establish My covenant with you" (Lev. 26:9). We will have so much food that the previous year's produce will have to be cleared out before the new produce can be stored. "I will put My Mishkan in your midst; and My soul will not abhor you. I will walk about in your midst, and I will be to you for a God; and you shall be to Me for a people. I am YHWH your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from your being slaves to them; and I broke the bars of your yoke, and made you to walk upright" (Lev. 26: 11-13).
However, if we do not hearken to YHWH by not keeping all of His commandments, and if we reject His laws - our souls abhorring His judgements; we have violated the Covenant. Then YHWH will send all sorts of hardships to wear us down; terror and diseases. We will sow our seed but our enemies will eat from our labours. YHWH will set His face against us. We will be struck down before our enemies and those who hate us will rule over us; we will flee when no one is pursuing. If after all this we still don't listen to YHWH, He will punish us sevenfold for our sins. He will break our pride and arrogance; the heavens will be like iron to us and the earth like bronze. Our strength will be consumed in vain, and the ground will not bring forth its produce or the trees their fruit. If we continue to walk in opposition to YHWH, He will send blows against us - sevenfold according to our sins. Animals of the field will bereave us, making us and our live-stock few in number and our roads will become desolate. If after these things we still don't accept His discipline being in opposition to Him, then He will be in opposition to us and strike us still another sevenfold for our sins. He will bring against us an avenging sword, which will avenge His Covenant; if we gather in our cities He will send pestilence in your midst and give us into the hand of our enemies. "When I have broken for you the staff of bread, and ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they will return your bread by weight; and you shall eat but you shall not be satisfied" (Lev. 26:26).
And if after all this we still do not heed and continue to be in opposition to Him, then He will be in the heat of opposition to us and punish us sevenfold for our sins. We will eat the flesh of our sons and daughters. Our high-places will be destroyed, our sun-pillars will be cut down, and our carcasses will be placed upon the carcasses of our idols; He will abhor us. Our cities will be laid waste, and our holy shrines will be desolate. War will be brought against us that will result in the land becoming a desert, our scattering among the nations, and our enemies settling in the land. Then the land will have its Sabbatical years all the days of its desolation whilst we are in the land of our enemies, for when we dwelt in the land we did not permit it to have its Sabbatical years. YHWH will bring faintness of heart on the remnant of the nation scattered in the lands of our enemies. We will flee at the sound of a rustling leaf blown as if an army is chasing us; and fall though there is no pursuer! Each man will stumble over his brother, and we will not be able to stand our ground before our enemies. We will perish among the nations, the land of our enemies devouring us. The remnant will pine away in the lands of their enemies, simply because they continue to follow in the iniquities of their fathers. However, if we confess our iniquities, the iniquities of our fathers, that we violated our relationship with YHWH, and that we walked in opposition to Him. If we humble our uncircumcised hearts and repent over our iniquities, then YHWH will remember His covenant with Jacob, His covenant with Isaac, His covenant with Abraham, and He will also remember the land. Even in the land of our enemies YHWH will not cast us away, abhor us, and destroy us, for He will not break His covenant with us, "for I am YHWH their God" (Lev. 26:44). YHWH will remember the Covenant with the first ones whom He brought out of the land of Egypt before the eyes of the nations, to be a God for them. "These are the laws and the judgements and the instructions, that YHWH put between Himself, and between the Children of Israel; at Mount Sinai by the hand of Moses" (Lev. 26:46).
Hundred-and-Third Sidra՚ (Lev. 27:1-34): Estimated values of devoted things: people, beasts, houses, landed property, and conclusion.
When a person makes an extraordinary vow whereby they vow to donate their value in silver to the Temple, the kohen is to estimate their value according to the following valuations:
- From the age of a month up to 5 years old; a male 5 sheḳels and a female 3 sheḳels of silver
- From the ages of 5 years to 20 years; a male 20 sheḳels and a female 10 sheḳels
- From the ages of 20 years to 60 years; a male 50 sheḳels of silver by the Holy sheḳel and a female 30 sheḳels
- From 60 years and above; a male 15 sheḳels and a female 10 sheḳels
However, if the person is too poor to afford these valuations then the kohen estimates a value according to the individual's financial abilities.
If a person vows to donate to YHWH a beast from the cattle or flock of sheep and goats, it becomes holy. Once the animal has been selected it cannot be substituted or changed; good for bad or bad for good. However, if the animal is exchanged then both the original animal and its substitute become holy. If a person vows to donate an impure beast then the kohen estimates a value according to the animal's worth, but if the donor decides to redeem it he pays the value determined by the kohen plus 20%.
If someone dedicates their house to YHWH thus making it holy, the kohen estimates the value of the property and establishes an evaluation. If the donor desires to redeem the house they pay the established valuation plus 20%.
If someone dedicates one of their fields to YHWH thus making it holy, the kohen is to estimate the value of the field according to its yield of seed; every ḥomer[1] [חֹמֶר - between 220 and 450 litres - dry weight] of barley seed is equal to 50 sheḳels of silver. Then the total yearly yield of the field is multiplied by the years left to the next Year of the Yovel. If the donor desires to redeem the field they pay the established value plus 20%. If the owner does not redeem the field or sells it to someone else, it cannot be redeemed again. Then come the Year of the Yovel the field becomes holy to YHWH and is devoted; becoming the possession of the kohanim. If someone dedicates a field not of his inherited possession but one which they had bought, the kohen calculates the field's estimated value until the next Year of the Yovel and the donor donates the sum on the day of evaluation. In the Year of the Yovel the field returns to the original owner whose inherited possession it is.
All estimated values are to be worked out according to the Holy sheḳel where there are 20 gera [גֵּרָה] to the sheḳel. Since the first born of a pure beast already belongs to YHWH it cannot be dedicated on behalf of an individual. An impure beast can be ransomed according to its estimated value plus the additional 20%. However the regular devoted holy contributions to YHWH cannot be sold nor can they be redeemed. All the tithes [מַעְשַֹר - literally; a tenth] of the land of Israel are holy; they are for YHWH. If someone redeems part of their tithes they are to add the statutory 20%. From the herd and the flock the tenth animal that passes under the rod shall be for a tithe to YHWH, and it cannot be substituted or changed; good for bad or bad for good. If the animal is exchanged then both the original animal and its substitute become holy. "Anyone devoted that has been devoted to destruction from humans shall not be ransomed; death he shall be put to death" (Lev. 27:29).
Sefer Wayyiḳra՚ closes with these words, "These are the commandments that YHWH commanded Moses for the Children of Israel; at Mount Sinai" (Lev. 27:34).
TEACHINGS OF HAKHAM REKHAVI:
In the last parasha of the Book of Leviticus we are reminded that our relationship with YHWH is not one-sided. It is not a relationship of taking without giving; YHWH is not some sort of genii whose purpose is to fulfil our every wish and desire. Our relationship with YHWH is dependant upon our loyalty to Him. Being loyal to YHWH is not only a question of refraining from worshiping other gods or from placing institutions and our pleasures before YHWH, but is also dependant upon our active participation in the relationship. We respect by honouring, we honour by showing our love, and we show our love by our willingness to actively do things for the one we love; for love is active not passive. We cannot say that we respect, honour, and love God if we do not strive to keep His Torah. To expect reward without doing that which is required and to distain punishment when His Covenant has been violated is the main ingredient for a self-centred, self-serving individual; someone who can never be relied upon by God or Man.
[1] חֹמֶר from חֲמוֹר (ḥamor) - donkey; and is thus a donkey load.