Leviticus 26:3–27:34
The name of the Parshah, “Bechukotai,” means “in My statutes” and it is found in Leviticus 26:3.
G‑d promises that if the people of Israel will keep His commandments, they will enjoy material prosperity and dwell securely in their homeland. But He also delivers a harsh “rebuke,” warning of the exile, persecution and other evils that will befall them if they abandon their covenant with Him.
Nevertheless, “Even when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away; nor will I ever abhor them, to destroy them and to break My covenant with them; for I am the L‑rd their G‑d.”
The Parshah concludes with the rules on how to calculate the values of different types of pledges made to G‑d, and the mitzvah of tithing produce and livestock.
Jeremiah 16:19-17:14.
The haftorah discusses the punishments that await those who disregard G‑d's law, and the blessings that are the lot of those who follow the Creator's wishes. This follows the theme of this week's Torah reading which details at length the blessings and curses.
The prophet Jeremiah rebukes the people of Israel for their idolatrous ways and for not having faith in G‑d. He conveys G‑d's words of wrath towards those who do not put their trust in Him — foretelling exile as their punishment — and of blessings for those who do.
"Cursed is the man who trusts in man and relies on mortal flesh for his strength, and whose heart turns away from the G‑d. He shall be like a lone tree in the desert, and will not see when good comes, and will dwell on parched land in the desert, on salt-sodden soil that is not habitable. Blessed is the man who trusts in the G‑d, to whom G‑d will be his trust. For he shall be like a tree planted by the water, and which spreads its roots out into a stream, so it will not be affected when heat comes, and its leaves shall be green, and in the year of drought will not be anxious, neither shall it cease from bearing fruit."
The haftorah ends with the following poignant verses: "G‑d who is the source of the hopes of Israel, all that forsake You shall be shamed, and they who turn away from me shall be marked out on the earth that they have forsaken G‑d, the source of living waters. Heal me, O G‑d, then shall I be healed; help me, then I shall be helped, for You are my praise!"
If you walk in My statutes . . . I will give your rain in due season (26:3)
Doubtless, the religions of those times—as do the religions of our times—all promised rewards destined for the soul after its departure from the body, so as to distance the proof of their claims. Because they are not in possession of the truth, they cannot promise an imminent and tangible sign. . . . But our Torah makes promises that can be confirmed in the here and now—something that no other teaching can do.
(Ran)
https://w2.chabad.org/media/pdf/17098.pdf
