Parsha Q&A - Devarim

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Parsha Q&A

Parshas Devarim

For the week ending 6 Av 5757; 8 & 9 August 1997
Contents:
  • Parsha Questions
  • Bonus Question
  • I Did Not Know That!
  • Recommended Reading List
  • Answers to Parsha Questions
  • Answer to Bonus Question
  • Back issues of Parsha Q&A
  • Subscription Information
  • Ohr Somayach Home Page
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    Parsha Questions

    Answers | Contents

    1. In what location was Devarim taught?
    2. Why does the Torah say Moshe spoke "bamidbar" -- i.e., in the desert?
    3. How much time elapsed between departing from Mt. Sinai and sending the meraglim?
    4. Moshe rebuked the Jewish People shortly before his death. From whom did he learn this?
    5. In which language did Moshe explain the Torah to the Jewish People?
    6. What were some of the achievements that resulted from the Jewish People "dwelling" at Mt. Sinai?
    7. Why does the Torah single out the names of the Avos in connection with the giving of the Land?
    8. What did Moshe convey to the Jewish People by saying: "You today are like the stars of the Heavens"?
    9. Why were the Jewish People happy with Moshe's decision to appoint judges?
    10. Moshe was looking for several qualities in the judges he chose. Which quality couldn't he find?
    11. In verse 1:17, Moshe told the judges, "the case that is too hard for you, bring it to me." How was he punished for this statement?
    12. Which Tribe was not represented among the meraglim?
    13. Which city did Kalev ben Yefune inherit?
    14. How many kingdoms was Avraham promised that he would receive? How many were conquered by Yehoshua?
    15. Why were the Jewish People permitted to provoke Moav but forbidden to provoke Ammon?
    16. Why were the Jewish People not permitted to conquer the Philistines?
    17. How did Hashem instill the dread of the Jewish People into the nations of the world?
    18. What assistance did the Bnei Eisav give to the Jewish People when they passed through their land?
    19. Why did Moshe fear Og?
    20. Why did the Torah record the names by which the nations referred to Mt. Hermon?

    Bonus Question
    Answer
    Contents    		 In verse 1:5, Rashi states that Moshe explained the Torah in the seventy languages of the ancient world. Why did Moshe do this?

    I Did Not Know That!

    "For judgment is Hashem's" (1:17).

    Anyone who stubbornly refuses to listen to the words of the judge, is considered as if he refuses to listen to the words of Hashem.

    (Ba'al Haturim)

    Recommended Reading List

    Ramban
    1:1
    Overview of Devarim
    1:12
    Judging the Jewish People
    1:25
    The Meraglim
    1:37
    Moshe's Punishment
    2:4
    Brother Eisav
    2:7
    Blessings
    2:25
    Fear of the Jewish People

    Sefer Hachinuch
    414
    Appointing Judges
    415
    Responsibility of Judges
    Ba'al Haturim

    3:25
    a. The 51st Amah
    b. The missing letter "vav"
    c. Order of Prayer

    Sforno
    Introduction To Devarim
    1:5
    The Reason for Moshe's Rebuke
    1:22
    The choice of the Meraglim
    1:23
    Moshe's Reason for sending Meraglim
    1:27
    The Sin of the Meraglim
    1:37
    The Limits of Repentance
    3:11
    The Refa'im

    Answers to this Week's Questions

    All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated

    1. 1:1 - It was taught in the plains of Moav.
    2. 1:1 - Here the word "bamidbar" does not mean "in the desert" -- rather, "on account of the desert." Devarim contains a rebuke of the Jewish People for the sins committed while in the desert.
    3. 1:2 - 40 days.
    4. 1:3 - From Yaakov, who rebuked his sons shortly before his death.
    5. 1:5 - The 70 languages of the world.
    6. 1:6 - They received the Torah, built the Mishkan and all of its vessels, appointed a Sanhedrin, and appointed officers.
    7. 1:8 - Each one of the Avos possessed sufficient merit for the Jewish People to inherit the Land.
    8. 1:10 - They are an eternal people, just as the sun, the moon, and the stars are eternal.
    9. 1:14 - They thought that they would be able to find judges that they could bribe.
    10. 1:15 - Men of understanding.
    11. 1:17 - When the daughters of Tzlofchad approached him, the law was concealed from him.
    12. 1:23 - Levi.
    13. 1:36 - Hebron.
    14. 2:5 - Avraham was promised the land of 10 kingdoms. Yehoshua conquered 7. The lands of Moav, Ammon and Eisav, will be received in Messianic times.
    15. 2:9 - This was a reward for Lot's younger daughter, the mother of Ammon, for concealing her father's improper conduct.
    16. 2:23 - Because Avraham had made a peace treaty with Avimelech, King of the Philistines.
    17. 2:25 - During the battle against Og, the sun had stood still for the sake of the Jewish People and the whole world saw that.
    18. 2:29 - They sold food and water to the Jewish People.
    19. 3:2 - Og possessed merit for having once helped Avraham.
    20. 3:9 - To teach the high regard to which the nations held Eretz Canaan -- four nations vied to name Mt. Hermon according to their own names.
    Bonus Question
    Question
    Contents

    There are those who believe that the Torah is limited in scope and doesn't apply to the modern world. To combat this idea, Moshe taught the Torah in seventy different languages to stress that the Torah is valid at all times and in all situations.

    Kesav Sofer
    Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane & Rabbi Reuven Subar
    General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
    Production Design: Lev Seltzer
    HTML Design: Eli Ballon
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