Chukat Commentary

The Death of the Righteous

“A ritually clean person shall gather the cow’s ashes and place them outside the camp in a clean place, and It shall be as a keepsake for the congregation of the children of Israel for sprinkling water, [used] for cleansing…Whoever touches the corpse of a human soul which dies, and he does not cleanse himself, he has defiled the Mishkan of the Lord, and that soul shall be cut off from Israel. For the sprinkling water was not sprinkled on him, so he remains unclean, and his uncleanness remains upon him.”(Bamidbar / Numbers 19:9,13)

Here is Rashi’s comment on a section of this week’s parashat (20:1) sandwiched in between two interesting statements:

“Miriam died there.” Why is the passage relating Miriam’s death juxtaposed with the passage of the Red Cow? To teach you that just as sacrifices bring atonement, so the death of the righteous secure atonement. — [M.K. 28a].

This is interesting, especially in relationship to the specifications of the Red Heifer. The statement which immediately follows is what makes it even more intriguing:

“The congregation had no water; so they assembled against Moses and Aaron.”(Bamidbar / Numbers 20:2)

The question is, were they angry with Moshe & Aharon only because they didn’t have water to drink only? Or was it a deeper reason due to carrying the guilt of Myriams death with the entire congregation until they could be cleansed? Just a thought…