GC#88 - Bittersweet Symphony - Perek Shira 19 - The Rivers' Song Part 3

We have spoken of rivers and of paradoxes. Today, we will meet the ultimate paradox. This is one that even the wisest of men said was beyond his ken. This means that it was not something which was possible to comprehend from a human perspective. A common misconception is that Shlomo said 'I said I would be wise, but it is beyond me', he was referring to the mitzva of Poroh aduma - the red cow. This is inaccurate. Simply because there was a 'strange-looking ceremony', with certain strict elements, is not unique amongst the Mitzvos. No, the paradox to which Shlomo haMelech was referring, was this - How can the one who actually purifies the one who has been in contact with a corpse, become Tomei/impure himself?

Lofty ideas indeed, which we cannot fathom. So much so, that the Malochim themselves cannot grasp G-d's mysterious ways. They tremble in fear and confusion before him. They sweat rivers of fire. Yes - rivers - more about that in the podcast...

This theme of paradoxical confusion goes through the whole of Chukas - hence its name. The deaths of two of our greatest leaders just before the finishing line...and the sealing of the third one's fate - what was so wrong? He had hit a rock before to produce water. It's pretty impressive. Snakes that kill; snakes that heal - the very cause of death in the world. Rivers and water sources which cause death and which save. Which is it? What is the song that the rivers of Perek Shira are performing for us?

This is the place where we come face to face with the deepest chok...death itself. If we can begin to see that there are things that we cannot see, as Moshe himself accepted, then the bittersweet indeed becomes a symphony. And once again the rivers deep...and mountains high... will lead the applause.