Mefarshim

📘 Parsha Insights – Rashi Commentary Q&A on Shishi

📏 Boundaries & Witnesses

Q: 📏 According to Rashi, what does “לא תסיג גבול” (do not push back the boundary) mean?
A: Moving the landmark backward into a neighbor’s field to enlarge one’s own.
Q: 📜 Why does the Torah add “do not push back the boundary” if it already says “do not steal”?
A: To teach that in Eretz Yisrael, moving a boundary violates two prohibitions.
Q: 🌍 Does the double prohibition of moving boundaries apply outside Eretz Yisrael?
A: No — outside the land it’s only the prohibition of theft.
Q: 👤 In the Torah, when the word “עד” (witness) appears without qualification, how many witnesses does it mean?
A: Two.
Q: ✍️ According to Rashi, can witnesses send written testimony to the court?
A: No — they must testify orally in person.
Q: 🗣 What is the minimum a single witness can accomplish in court?
A: Obligate the defendant to take an oath.
Q: 🚫 What does “לענות בו סרה” mean in the context of false witnesses?
A: To testify to something impossible because they were elsewhere at the time.
Q: 🚹 Who are “the two men” that must stand before Hashem in judgment?
A: The witnesses.
Q: 🙅‍♀️ What does Rashi learn from “the two men” about women as witnesses?
A: Women cannot serve as witnesses.
Q: 🕊 What mindset should witnesses have when testifying “before Hashem”?
A: As if standing before the Divine Presence.

⚖️ False Witnesses & Punishment

Q: 📚 What does “כאשר זמם” teach about punishing false witnesses?
A: They are punished for what they plotted, not for what they actually caused.
Q: 👩‍🦰 Why does the verse say “to their brother” regarding false witnesses?
A: To exclude certain cases, like a married daughter of a Kohen, from identical punishment.
Q: 📢 What must be done publicly when false witnesses are executed?
A: Announce their crime so others will hear and fear.
Q: 👁 According to Rashi, what does “eye for eye” really mean?
A: Monetary compensation.

⚔️ War Laws – Chapter 20

Q: 🪖 Why is the war passage placed next to the justice passage?
A: To teach that fair judgment brings victory in war.
Q: 🐎 What does “horse and chariot” teach according to Rashi?
A: In Hashem’s eyes, they are as insignificant as one horse.
Q: 🗣 Who is “the priest” that speaks to the people before battle?
A: The Kohen anointed for war.
Q: 🇮🇱 In what language does the Kohen address the soldiers?
A: Lashon HaKodesh (Hebrew).
Q: 📖 What merit does Rashi say can save Israel in battle even if they have nothing else?
A: Reciting Shema.
Q: 🔊 The four warnings “do not be faint… afraid… alarmed… terrified” correspond to what?
A: Four tactics of enemy armies: horse noises, shield clanging, horn blasts, and shouting.
Q: 🏹 What is the difference between fighting “against your enemies” and fighting fellow Jews?
A: Enemies show no mercy; fellow Jews may show compassion.

🏠 Exemptions from Battle

Q: 🏡 What does “not inaugurated it” mean for a new house?
A: Not yet lived in it.
Q: 🍇 What does “not redeemed it” mean for a vineyard?
A: Not redeemed its fourth-year fruit to eat in Jerusalem.
Q: 👰 Why is a newly betrothed man sent home from war?
A: So he can marry and not die in battle.
Q: 😨 According to Rabbi Akiva, who is “fearful and fainthearted”?
A: One literally afraid of battle.
Q: 🙏 According to Rabbi Yosei HaGelili, who is “fearful and fainthearted”?
A: One afraid because of his sins.
Q: 🕵️ Why does the Torah list other exemptions before “fearful and fainthearted”?
A: To give sinners a cover story so they won’t be shamed.

🪖 Army Discipline

Q: 🪓 Who are “officers over the legions” appointed after the speeches?
A: Sentinels to prevent desertion.
Q: 🪢 What are “זקפין” and what is their role?
A: Men who lift fallen soldiers’ spirits and stop them from fleeing.
Q: 🗡 What authority do these officers have over deserters?
A: To strike their legs to stop them from running.

Parshas Shoftim Mefarshim – Rashis Commentary