Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 22:14:08 +0300 From: Menachem Leibtag Subject: BAMIDBAR - Questions for self study To: all@tanach.org, parsha@tanach.org, par-new@tanach.org Cc: yhe-parsha.ml@vbm-torah.org Reply-to: tsc@bezeqint.net Priority: normal Reply To: Menachem Leibtag Error-To: Listproc Error X-ListMember: cypess@ymail.yu.edu [all@tanach.org] ************************************************************* THE TANACH STUDY CENTER/ In Memory of Rabbi Abraham Leibtag [http://www.tanach.org] ************************************************************* SEFER BAMIDBAR - INTRODUCTION / Questions for preparation PART ONE - WHAT YOU REMEMBER... 1. In your opinion, is Sefer Bamidbar a continuation of Sefer Vayikra? If so, explain how and why. If not, explain why it is not. Could you say then that it is a continuation from Sefer Shmot? If so, explain why. According to your answer, why does Sefer Bamidbar start where it does? [See Ramban 1:1, and Seforno in his introduction to Chumash.] 2. From you previous knowledge of Sefer Bamidbar, can you suggest a theme for the entire Sefer? How is this theme unique in relation to the other books of Chumash? From what you recall, does it contain primarily 'narrative', i.e. does it contain an 'ongoing story'? If so, what is that story? Does it contain "mitzvot"? If so, what are they, when were they given, and do they follow any common theme? 3. If you have suggested a theme for Sefer Bamidbar, how doe that theme relate to the themes of Sefer Shmot and Sefer Vayikra? 4. [In your opinion - ] Had Bnei Yisrael had not sinned, would there have been a need for Sefer Bamidbar? If not, explain why. If so, what would have been the topic of that Sefer? PART TWO - PREPARATION 1. Scan Sefer Bamidbar and make a list of its general topics. In other words, compose a very general Table of Contents for the Sefer. 2. As you review the Sefer, attempt to summarize each chapter with a short phrase (or two), but no more than one or two lines for each chapter. Then, (as we have done before), attempt to turn your list into an outline. If (/as) you encounter certain difficulties while attempting to develop your outline, be sure to note them. Based on your outline, who you conclude that the topics in Sefer Bamidbar follow a logical progression? [Can you explain where they do not?] 3. Next, go over your list one more time. For each chapter make note whether the topic is a narrative - i.e. a story, or if it is a "mitzvah" (a commandment). If it is a "mitzvah", make note if it is a "mitzvah l'dorot" - i.e. a commandment which applies to all generations, or a "mitzvah l'shaah" - i.e. a one time commandment given special for that generation. Then, make a new list, this time writing down ONLY the narratives and the "mitzvot l'shaah", while leaving OUT any chapter which is a "mitzvah l'dorot" (and not part of the ongoing narrative). Now, can you turn this second list into an outline? If so, what are its main headers? Is the flow of topic is this outline more logical? If os, can you explain why? How would you title this outline? 4. Now make a list of all of the parshiot of "mitzvot l'dorot" which you 'filtered' out of your list in question #3. In your opinion, are these mitzvot in any way connected to one another? Would you say that these parshiot belong in Sefer Bamidbar? If not, what Sefer DO they belong in? Do any of these mitzvot relate to mitzvot which have been recorded earlier in Chumash? If so, in what Sefer? Can you suggest a reason why they are recorded in Sefer Bamidbar instead? Do they relate in any manner to its narrative? 5. See the first Ramban on Sefer Bamidbar, especially the last several lines. How do your answers to the above questions help you understand this Ramban? What question does Ramban leave unanswered? 6. Based on your answers to the above questions, can you explain the "pshat" for using "drash" when explaining the progression of parshiot in Sefer Bamidbar? =========================================================== PARSHAT BAMIDBAR / Questions for self-study PART I - QUESTIONS FOR THE 'SHABBOS TABLE' 1. Chazal refer to Sefer Bamdibar as Chumash ha'PKUDIM. Based on Parshat Bamidbar, what is the meaning of this name? Where else do we find "pkudim" of this nature in this Sefer? [Be sure to note 26:51-52 in their context.] Is this "shoresh" ["p.k.d"] used in any other context in Sefer Bamidbar? [If (or when) you give up, note 27:16, in the context of 27:12-23!] Attempt to relate you answer to the theme of Sefer Bamidbar as discussed in the Bamdibar INTRO questions. 2. Note the specific names of the leaders of each of the "shvatim" [tribes] in 1:4-15. How many of them include Hashem's Name in one form or another? Can you explain why? [Are all the names Hebrew?] [Note as well the names of the "meraglim" in 13:4-16.] Which of Hashem's Names do you find in these names? Which Name of Hashem in NOT found in these names! Can you explain why? Relate to Shmot 6:2-4 and to Bamidbar 13:16! What change is made to Yehoshua's name, and why?! 3. To the best of your recollection, how were the "keilim" [vessels] of the Mishkan carried? [i.e. What method was used to carry them?] Did all of the "keilim" have "badim" [poles] for carrying? How do you think that they carried the MENORAH? [Does the MENORAH have 'poles' attached like the other vessels of the Mishkan?] Now, see Bamidbar 4:9-10! Does this answer the question? [How come you never noticed this before?] 4. Note in 3:1-4 how the Torah goes out of its way to mention the death of Nadav and Avihu when counting the Kohanim. How does the explanation of how and why they died (in 3:4) relate to primary responsibility of the Leviim, as explained in chapters 3 & 4. [Note 3:5-10.] Relate as well to the special warning in 4:17-20! 5. Sefer Bamidbar opens on the first day of the second month with God's commandment to take a census. What was the purpose of this census? [Support your answer.] How does this relate to the DATE of the commandment? [Relate to 10:11-28! / See Rashbam & Seforno on 1:2] How does this relate to WHO is counted? How does this relate to the theme of Sefer Bamidbar? Towards the end of Sefer Bamidbar we find that another census is taken in the fortieth year (see 26:1-52). In what manner are these two censuses similar? In what manner are they different? [Compare them carefully!] What is the purpose of the second census? [Relate to 26:52-56 (as well as 26:1)!] Is it for the same reason as the first census? Use your answer to explain the differences between them. 6. Finally, see Bamidbar 34:16-29. How do these psukim help explain the need for the leaders mentioned in 1:5-19? How do those psukim help you understand the mission of the "meraglim" as described in 13:1-17? PART II - QUESTIONS FOR PREPARATION (for weekly shiur) 1. What is the first general topic of Sefer Bamidbar - or, in other words, what is the topic of Parshat Bamidbar? How does this topic relate to theme of Sefer Bamidbar (based on your answers in the intro. section)? 2. If the "shvatim" (tribes) are to be counted, in what order would you expect the Torah to list them? [What was their order in Parshat Shmot (1:1-4)?] How many times are the "shvatim" listed in Parshat Bamidbar? In what order? [Note 1:20-42 & 2:3-30.] Can you explain why the order is different each time? [Relate to their 'military formation' as they travel.] 3. Review chapter two once again, and note the FOUR tribes who are chosen to LEAD each group of three. What is special about the forefather of each of these four tribes? How does this help you answer question #2 above? Can you explain why specifically GAD 'jumps camp' from the his brother ASHER to REUVEN & SHIMON? [How are they related?] 4. In your opinion, is there any significance in the manner of how the "shvatim" travel through the desert with the Mishkan at the center of their camp? Can you relate this to the purpose of this journey? PART III - PARSHANUT A. In Bamidbar 9:1-8 we find an event which takes place on the 14th day of the first month, while the opening pasuk of Sefer Bamidbar (1:1) records an event which takes place two week later on the first day of the second month! Hence, Sefer Bamidbar appears to be 'out of (chronological) order'. See Rashi, Ramban, Ibn Ezra, & Sforno (on 9:1). Note how each "parshan" offers a different explanation. This seems to be a very strong proof of "ein mukdam u'muchar...", How does Ramban (who hold "yeish mukdam u'muchar) deal with this problem? How does Rashi's "shita" of "ein mukdam..." affect his interpretation? Why do you think that Ibn Ezra considers this parsha as a continuation of the dedication ceremony (chapters 7-8)? Note especially the final line in Seforno's pirush. Based on this Seforno, how would you explain his approach to "ein mukdam u'muchar"? Is his approach more similar to Ramban's or to Rashi's? See also Rashbam on 1:1. 2. Note that the population of shevet Levi is (proportionally) much less than any of the other shvatim. Note also that they are counted from a much younger age! Re: why they are counted from age 30 days, see Chizkuni 3:15. Re: why their numbers are so small, see Ramban 3:15. Note as well that the number of first born of Bnei Yisrael (approx. 22,000 from age 30 days and above) appears to be much less than would be expected from a population of 600,000 males (age 20 & above). [Approx. than approx. half the male population would be under the age of 20, that would be one first born for every 50, and hence an average family size of 50!] See Ramban on 3:45, noting how he relates to and solves this problem! Note also how explains why this 'transfer' of kedusha to the Leviim only takes place at this time. b'hatzlacha, menachem ********************************************************* To SUBSCRIBE or to UNSUBSCRIBE to this shiur: send e-mail to: lists@tanach.org with the following message in first line of TEXT: join all or leave all ********************************************************* Previous shiurim are available on the TSC WEBSITE: http://www.tanach.org *********************************************************** If you would like to support the TSC Project or dedicate a shiur, please e-mail: ml@tanach.org *********************************************************** Internet & e-mail list hosting for the TSC provided courtesy of: The Yerushalayim Network (http://www.yerushalayim.net) a Centennial Project of the Orthodox Union (http://www.ou.org) *********************************************************** Copyright (c) 1999 Menachem Leibtag. All rights reserved.