Parsha Q&A - Parshat Shoftim « Ohr Somayach

Parsha Q&A - Parshat Shoftim

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Parsha Q&A

Parshat Shoftim

For the week ending 2 Elul 5760 / 1 & 2 September 2000
Contents:
  • Parsha Questions
  • Recommended Reading List
  • Answers to Parsha Questions
  • Back issues of Parsha Q&A
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    Parsha Questions

    Answers | Contents
    1. What is the role of shoftim? What is the role of shotrim?
    2. What qualifications should one look for when appointing a judge?
    3. May a judge accept a bribe if only for the purpose of judging fairly?
    4. What is the source for the concept "seek out a good beit din"?
    5. Although the avot built matzevot, the Torah later forbade doing so. Why?
    6. "You will come to...the judge who will be in those days." It's impossible to visit a judge living at a different time, so why must the Torah add these apparently extra words?
    7. What does Hashem promise a king who doesn't amass much gold, doesn't raise many horses and doesn't marry many wives?
    8. How many Torah scrolls must the king have?
    9. How was King Shaul punished for disobeying a minor command of the Prophet Shmuel?
    10. Certain kosher animals are not included in the law of "chazeh, shok, and keiva." Which ones?
    11. Families of kohanim served in the Beit Hamikdash on a rotational basis. When was this rotation system implemented?
    12. Which three categories of false prophets are executed?
    13. What does it mean to "prepare the way" to the cities of refuge?
    14. How many witnesses are meant when the Torah writes the word eid (witness)?
    15. "Through the mouth of two witnesses...." What types of testimony does this verse invalidate?
    16. If witnesses in a capital case are proven to be zomemim (false-conspirators) before their intended victim is executed, how are they punished?
    17. Why does the section about going to war follow the laws governing witnesses?
    18. The Jewish army is warned of four "scare-tactics" the enemy might employ. What are they?
    19. When a murder victim is found in a field, who determines which city is closest?
    20. What happens if the murderer is found after the calf's neck was broken?

    Recommended Reading List

    Ramban
    16:21
    Trees
    17:11
    Obedience
    17:15
    Kingship
    17:20
    Conceit
    18:15-16
    Prophecy
    19:8
    Our Borders
    19:13
    Self Defense
    20:8
    The Torah Army
    Sforno
    16:21
    Beautiful but Bad
    17:3
    The Sun and the Moon
    18:14
    Above the Stars

    Sefer Hachinuch
    491
    Securing Justice
    496
    Antidote to Anarchy
    498
    Qualities of Leadership
    503
    Safeguarding the King
    510
    The Occult
    516
    True Prophecy
    517
    False Prophecy
    526
    Strengthening the Army
    527
    Humane War

    Answers to this Week's Questions

    Questions | Contents

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

    1. What is the role of shoftim? What is the role of shotrim?
      16:18 - Shoftim are judges who pronounce judgment. Shotrim are officers who enforce it.

    2. What qualifications should one look for when appointing a judge?
      16:18 - That he is expert in the law and that he is righteous.

    3. May a judge accept a bribe if only for the purpose of judging fairly?
      16:19 - No, because it will sway his judgment.

    4. What is the source for the concept "seek out a good beit din"?
      16:20 - "Tzedek tzedek tirdof...."

    5. Although the avot built matzevot, the Torah later forbade doing so. Why?
      16:22 - Because the Canaanites used them for idolatry.

    6. "You will come to...the judge who will be in those days." It's impossible to visit a judge living at a different time, so why must the Torah add these apparently extra words?
      17:9 - To teach that although a judge may not be as eminent as judges of previous generations, we must obey him nevertheless.

    7. What does Hashem promise a king who doesn't amass much gold, doesn't raise many horses and doesn't marry many wives?
      17:18 - That his kingdom will endure.

    8. How many Torah scrolls must the king have?
      17:18 - Two. One stays in his treasury and one he keeps with him.

    9. How was King Shaul punished for disobeying a minor command of the Prophet Shmuel?
      17:20 - He lost his kingship.

    10. Certain kosher animals are not included in the law of "chazeh, shok, and keiva." Which ones?
      18:3 - Chayot (non-domestic-type animals).

    11. Families of kohanim served in the Beit Hamikdash on a rotational basis. When was this rotation system implemented?
      18:8 - During the time of David and Shmuel.

    12. Which three categories of false prophets are executed?
      18:20 - One who prophesies something he didn't hear, something told to another prophet, or prophecies in the name of an idol.

    13. What does it mean to "prepare the way" to the cities of refuge?
      19:3 - To post direction signs saying "refuge" at the crossroads.

    14. How many witnesses are meant when the Torah writes the word eid (witness)?
      19:15 - Two, unless otherwise specified.

    15. "Through the mouth of two witnesses...." What types of testimony does this verse invalidate?
      19:15 - Written testimony and testimony translated from a language which the judges don't understand.

    16. If witnesses in a capital case are proven to be zomemim (false-conspirators) before their intended victim is executed, how are they punished?
      19:19 - They are put to death.

    17. Why does the section about going to war follow the laws governing witnesses?
      20:1 - To teach that if the Jewish People execute fair judgment they will be victorious in war.

    18. The Jewish army is warned of four "scare-tactics" the enemy might employ. What are they?
      20:3 -
      1. Clanging their shields
      2. Making their horses stomp and whinny
      3. Shouting
      4. Blowing horns.

    19. When a murder victim is found in a field, who determines which city is closest?
      21:2 - The Sanhedrin.

    20. What happens if the murderer is found after the calf's neck was broken?
      21:9- He is tried and, if guilty, executed.
    Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane & Rabbi Reuven Subar
    General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
    Production Design: Michael Treblow
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