It's in this week's parasha where a black hole of death takes place, unmentioned, eerily skipped. But I think there's a hint as to mass death in the mass purification of people described in the opening halachic/ritual description of the para aduma.
You can read lots more about the black hole in Aviva Zornberg's fab book on Bemidbar "the Murmering Deep".
And for a meditation on death, mortality and purpose generally, read the whole of Chukat - I could have done 10 different mini sermons on this compelling, somewhat devastating parasha.
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