Weekly Torah Reading

Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22 What an Ox and a Donkey Know   This week’s Torah reading, from the beginning of the book of Deuteronomy, is always read on the Shabbat preceding the Ninth of Av (Tish‘ah be-Av), a day of mourning that …

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Numbers 30:2-36:13   The Lex Talionis   One of the most widespread legal principles in the ancient world was the lex [or “ius”] talionis, the law [or “right”] of retribution. A person who, for example, injured someone was to be …

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Numbers 25:10-32:42 A Tall Order   Last week’s Torah reading ended with a certain Israelite hero slaying a flagrantly offending couple, thereby turning aside God’s wrath. The name of the hero is written Phinehas in English, although Phineas used to …

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Numbers 22:2-25:9 A People Dwelling Apart?   In this week’s Torah reading, the pagan seer Balaam is hired to curse the people of Israel, but every time he tries, he ends up blessing them instead. In the first of these …

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Dear Readers, Sorry for the format problems–I’m working on it. Meanwhile, I hope you’ll find it nonetheless worth struggling with. James Kugel Numbers 19:1-22:1 Moses’ Mistake This week’s reading relates that, toward the end of their forty years of wandering …

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Numbers 16:1-18:32   Altogether Holy   Korah is the villain of this week’s Torah reading, the leader of a foiled rebellion against Moses and Aaron. “Look, all of us are holy,” Korah said to them. By this he meant that …

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Numbers 13:1-15:41 Being an Ish   Commentators have long noticed a contradiction in the Torah’s account of the tribal leaders who were sent to spy out the land of Canaan. In this week’s reading, the idea of sending them clearly …

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Numbers 8:1-12:16 Oh, the Cucumbers!   In the book of Ecclesiastes, the author advises, “Don’t say, ‘How has it come about that things were better in earlier times than now?’ for you are not asking about this out of wisdom” …

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