The mitzvot of Chukat

The commandment of the red heifer

Positive · Numbers 19:2

The author of the Chinuch writes that his hands grew weak before explaining this mitzvah, for the sages said that King Shlomo, who understood all the reasons of the Torah, did not grasp this one. The great wonder is that its ashes purify the impure and make impure those who are busy with its burning. Still, he notes that there are healing plants with opposite powers, cooling the hot and warming the cold, and if we knew the nature of the soul and its ailments, perhaps we would understand that the heifer too has such a power.

The commandment of the impurity of a dead body

Positive · Numbers 19:14

The impurity of the dead is the most severe of all impurities. When the intelligent soul departs from the body only matter remains, which in a person's lifetime even caused the soul to sin, so it is fitting to keep away from it, especially for one who comes to the holy.

The Commandment of the niddah waters which render the pure, impure and only purify someone impure from the impurity of a dead body

Positive · Numbers 19:19

The author of the Chinuch says of this mitzvah that it is a lofty wonder beyond his reach, for the statute of the heifer was hidden even from King Shlomo. The water mixed with the heifer's ashes purifies the impure and makes the pure impure, and that is the great wonder. Even so, just as there are healing plants that act in opposite ways, perhaps if we knew the nature of the soul we would understand that these ashes too have such a power.