Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1999 15:43:27 +0300 From: Menachem Leibtag Subject: EKEV - Questions fo self study To: all@tanach.org, parsha@tanach.org, yhe-parsha.ml@vbm-torah.org Cc: par-new@tanach.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.virtual.co.il/torah/tanach/] ************************************************************* PARSHAT EKEV / Questions for self-study PART I - QUESTIONS FOR THE 'SHABBOS TABLE' 1. The question: 'Why did God choose Am Yisrael?' is quite fundamental. How would answer this question? How would answer that question based on Devarim 7:1-11, noting especially 7:6-9. Do these psukim follow the same theme as Sefer Breishit? How does "brit avot" relate to "brit Sinai" (Shmot 19:4-6)? Be sure to relate to Breishit 12:1-3 AND its thematic connection with 18:17-19. Next, review Devarim 4:5-9. Do these psukim contradict the theme in chapter 7, modify them, or complement them? Now read Devarim 9:4-7. Based on these psukim, would you modify your answer to the opening question? If so, how? 2. Read 9:25-29 carefully. Is this simply a review of Moshe's request that God invoke His "midot ha'rachamim" after the incident of chet ha'egel, or do find a theme from "chet ha'meraglim" as well? Support your answer by comparing the Shmot chapter 34:1-9 and Bamdibar 14:11-25. Based on the context of chapter 9, can you explain why? [Relate to 9:6-7 (closed by 9:24).] Were "midot ha'rachaim" only for chet ha'egel or do they apply to other situations as well. Would you assume that they would be needed once again when Bnei Yisrael enter the land. If so, when? 3. Review Shmot 23:20-33, noting when and why these commandments and promises were first given. Then, as you study Parshat Ekev, see if you can uncover any similar passages (actually, note the parallels beginning with 7:1 at the end of Parshat Va'etchanan). Can you explain the reason for these thematic parallels? {Relate to when the mitzvot of Sefer Devarim were first given, and when Bnei Yisrael were first supposed to enter the land.] Based on this parallel, attempt to explain the logic behind the progression of Moshe Rabeinu's speech in Parshat Ekev. 4. As you read through Parshat Ekev, note how Moshe seems to be speaking to the generation that went out of Egypt. [Bring examples, note especially 7:15,18-19 & 11:10.] Note also how Moshe is clearly speaking to the second generation in the fortieth year based on 8:1-2 and its context. Can you explain why? [Relate to our introductory shiur on Sefer Devarim.] PART II - QUESTIONS FOR PREPARATION (for weekly shiur) 1. Read from 10:12 -> 11:12. Noting that 11:10-12 is a separate parsha, determine if and how it is connected to the parsha which precedes it (i.e. 10:12 ->11:9). Is this short parsha (11:10-12) connected to the parsha that follows it (i.e. 10:13-19) as well? If so, how? If all these parshiot are connected, could you give a general title to all of them? What would that title be? 2. Based on 11:10-12, would you say that the Land of Israel is 'better' or 'worse' than the land of Egypt? [See parshanut section below for a discussion of the "rishonim" on this issue.] 3. How do these parshiot relate to the overall theme of the MITZVAH section of the main speech of Sefer Devarim? How to they relate to the overall topic of the main speech? How to they relate "yirat Hashem" to the land of Israel? 4. See Breishit 13:1-18, especially 13:8-13. Can you explain why Lot preferred the area (and climate) of Sdom? Can you relate this to Devarim 11:10-12? When Avraham offered Lot "right or left", did he mean east & west; or north & south? [See tirgum Unkelos!!] What direction is Sdom from where they were standing (note from the beginning of chapter 13 that they are in Bet-el). Does Lot chose one of the 'options' which Avraham gave him? If so, where would have Avraham gone had Lot chosen the other option? 5. See Breishit 2:4-5, and Rashi on 2:5. How does the Midrash which Rashi quotes to explain this pasuk relate to your answers to the above questions? Relate also to Rashi on Breishit 13:11 ["va'yisa Lot m'KEDEM"]. What leads Rashi to this conclusion? Relate also to Breishit 3:24 & 11:2. 6. Note the punishment that Sdom receives in Breishit 19:24. Why are they punished and how? Attempt to explain why the Torah uses the verb "himtir..."? In your answer, attempt to relate (once again) to a thematic connection based on Breishit 18:17-19. PART III - PARSHANUT 1. Read Devarim 11:10-12 (& see question #2 above). See Rashi, Ramban, Rashbam, and Ibn Ezra. Note how (and why) each "parshan" offers a different explanation. Can you explain why? In you opinion, is it necessary to say that they argue with each other? 2. Read 10:6-7. How do these psukim relate to the psukim beforehand (10:1-5) and afterward (10:8-11)? How does this 'travel account' compare with Bamidbar 33:30-38? Can you explain the apparent contradiction? Can you explain what these psukim are doing here? First see Rashi, how does he solve this problem? Then see Ramban. Does he argue with Rashi? If so, on what point? How is his pirush fundamentally different? Next, see Rashbam. How does he solve the juxtaposition problem. Does he 'solve' the same problems that Rashi and Ramban dealt with. If so, in the same way or a different manner? Then, see Ibn Ezra, Chizkuni & Seforno. Answer the same question (above for Rashbam) for each of these parshanim. 3. Read 10:1-5 In your opinion, is the ARON that is described in these psukim the same ARON of the Mishkan (that held the Luchot/ [i.e the ARON described in Shmot 25:10-22)? [Would this depend on the opinion concerning WHEN the mitzvah to the build the Mishkan was first given, before or after chet ha'egel?] A. First see Rashi on 10:1. How does he answer the above question? What other questions does Rashi answer in his pirush to this pasuk? Can you explain why? B. Next see Ibn Ezra. Is the first pirush that he quotes identical to Rashi? In what manner does Ibn Ezra argues with Rashi. Can you explain why? [In what manner does he agree?] [Note how he introduces this disagreement ("their opinion is WIDER than ours..."). Can you explain what Ibn Ezra is referring to?] How does Ibn Ezra explain 10:3? Why? Note how he concludes his pirush to 10:3. What does "v'hakabblah tnatzeach" imply? [Why is this important towards appreciating Ibn Ezra's approach to parshanut?] In your opinion, what is problematic with the opinion that there were two ARONOT [holy arks]. What problems are solved if we insist that two indeed existed? Next, see Ramban. Note how he clearly argues with Rashi. Note how he first present his own pirush, then quotes Rashi, and then explains WHY he disagrees and bases his approach on a different opinion in Mesechet Shekalim. What can we infer from this in regard to Ramban's approach to parshanut and Rashi. Finally, note at the conclusion of his pirush, Ramban raises the possibility that this may actually be the same ARON that Betzalel made. Make sure that you follow his reasoning, and how it relates to the centrality of the Mishkan in Ramban's famous pirush to Shmot 25:1. For the 'fun of it', see also Chizkuni to 10:2. Note his explanation for why God commanded Moshe to take an ARON with him specifically for the SECOND Luchot, based on what happened to the FIRST Luchot! Isn't this an amazing pirush?! 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.