Torah Dialogue

From the Text
1. How long did Chumash Devarim take? (1:3-)
2. For what purpose did the people ask for a Spy Mission into the Promised Land? (1:22)
3. What rewards did Calev and Yehoshua receive for being the “good spies”? (1:36,38)
4. After the failed Spy Mission, they stayed in Kaddish for many days. How long did they stay there? (1:46)
5. Reuven, Gad, and half of Menasheh were allowed to settle east of the Jordan River, but they were required to lead the Jewish army in its conquest of Canaan. Who could remain east of the Jordan during the wars of Canaan? (3:19)

From Rashi
6. Moshe tells Bnei Yisrael that “come and possess the Land.” Why did this not happen? (1:8)
7. Moshe said to bring to him the difficult questions. (1:17). Moshe overlooked Hashem’s input in this statement. How was Moshe punished for this?
8. What lands did Esav and Lot receive from the Almighty for being the relatives of Avraham? (2:5)
9. Moshe states that Bnei Esav did something good for Bnei Yisrael. (2:29). What did Bnei Esav do?
10. Why did Moshe fear Og (when he didn’t fear Sichon)? (3:2)

From the Rabbis
11. What did Bnei Yisrael learn from the victories over Sichon and Og? (Bechor Shor)
12. On the verse “...Moshe began explaining the Torah...” (1:5), Rashi comments that Moshe explained the Torah in 70 languages. What is Rashi’s real point in his commentary? (Sfat Emet)
13. When we read the Torah reading publicly on Shabbat, we end the first Aliyah one verse before Sheini. (Minhag Ashkenaz) Why?

Haftorah.   Isaiah
14. The prophet does not lament the upcoming destruction of the Holy Temple. What does the prophet lament?

 Relationships
a) Yitro - Gershom
b) Moshe - Merari
c) Aminadav - Elisheva
d) Miriam - Elazar
e) Pinchas - Rechavia

ANSWERS FOR PARSHAT DEVARIM

1. 5 weeks. It starts on Rosh Chodesh Shevat and ends when Moshe dies on 7 Adar.
2. To know which roads to take when they invade and which cities they would encounter.
3. Calev will receive the lands which he visited (Chevron), and Yehoshua will lead Bnei Yisrael into the Promised Land.
4. 19 years.
5. The women, children, and livestock.
6. The sin of the spies ruined the divine plan of Bnei Yisrael taking the Land without a fight.
7. Hashem made Moshe forget the answer when the daughters of Tzelaphchad asked their question.
8. Hashem gave Avraham 10 countries: 7 to Bnei Yisrael; one (Se’ir) to Esav; and two (Ammon and Moav) to Lot.
9. They didn’t allow Bnei Yisrael to traverse through their land, but they did sell food and water to Bnei Yisrael.
10. Moshe was afraid that Og might have earned divine merit for being a help to Avraham (Og informed Avraham that Lot was taken prisoner during the war of the 4 and 5 kings. (Breishit 14:13))
11. They learned that they need not fear the Canaanites at all.
12. It was to tell us that in the future, when we are all exiled all over the world, the Jews will be able to study the Torah in a language they will understand. (I believe this is an endorsement for Artscroll!)
13. In order not to start the next Aliyah with the word “Eichah”, which is sung in the tune of Megillat Eichah.
14. He laments the sins that caused the loss of the Holy Temple.
Relationships
a) Grandfather Yitro
b) Uncle Merari (Moshe’s mother was Merari’s sister)
c) Father Aminadav
d) Aunt Miriam
e) Second Cousins (Rechavia was Moshe’s grandson; Pinchas was Aharon’s grandson)