📜 Daily Chumash & Rashi – Parshas Devarim: Rishon – Moshe recounts the past occurrences since Matan Torah

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1. Moshe recounts the past occurrences since Matan Torah:

• The date: The following are the words that Moshe spoke to all the Jewish people, across the Jordan, an eleven-day journey from Chorev. This was said on the first day of the 11^th month [Shevat], in the 40^th year, after conquering Sichon and Og. Moshe began clarifying the Torah saying:
• Traveling from Sinai: Hashem spoke to us, saying that we have sat enough time by the mountain and we should travel to the Emorite mountains, to the land of Canaan. “I have given you the land, go conquer the land that I promised to your forefathers.” Moshe told Bnei Yisrael at that time that he could not carry their governance alone, being that Hashem has made them into a multitude.
• Moshe’s blessing: Moshe blessed Bnei Yisrael “May Hashem the G-d of your fathers add to you a thousand-fold and bless you [to be fruitful and multiply].

 

📘 Rashi Q&A — Devarim 1:1–11

1:1 — Moshe’s Words of Rebuke

Q1. Why does Moshe mention places instead of sins directly?

1. Out of respect for Israel, he alludes to their sins rather than stating them explicitly.

Q2. Why did Moshe speak to all Israel together?

1. So no one could later claim that, had they been present, they would have answered his criticism.

Q3. What does “in the desert” refer to?

1. Their complaints about being brought into the wilderness to die.

Q4. What does “in the plain” refer to?

1. The sin of Baal Peor at Shitim.

Q5. What does “opposite the Sea of Reeds” refer to?

1. Their complaints and rebellion at the Sea of Reeds.

Q6. What do “Tofel and Lavan” refer to?

1. Their slander of the white manna, complaining about the manna.

Q7. What does Paran refer to?

1. The sin of the spies.

Q8. What does Chatzerot refer to?

1. Korach’s rebellion, or alternatively, the lesson they should have learned from Miriam’s punishment for slander.

Q9. What does “ודי זהב” (abundance of gold) refer to?

1. The Golden Calf, made possible by their abundance of gold.

 

1:2 — Eleven Days from Horeb

Q10. Why mention the eleven-day journey from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea?

1. To show how quickly Hashem tried to bring them into the Land.

Q11. How long did they actually take?

1. Only three days.

Q12. What prevented them from entering the Land quickly?

1. Their sins, especially the sin of the spies.

Q13. What was the consequence?

1. They wandered for forty years.

 

1:3 — Timing of the Rebuke

Q14. When did Moshe give this rebuke?

1. On the first day of Shevat in the fortieth year.

Q15. Why did Moshe wait until near his death?

1. Following the example of Yaakov, who rebuked his children only near the end of his life.

Q16. Why is delayed rebuke preferable?

1. So it need not be repeated constantly and so the recipient is not continually embarrassed.

Q17. Who else followed this practice?

1. Yehoshua, Shmuel, and David.

 

1:4 — After Defeating Sichon and Og

Q18. Why did Moshe wait until after defeating Sichon and Og before rebuking Israel?

1. So they could not claim he had accomplished nothing for them.

Q19. Why was Sichon difficult to defeat?

1. Both Sichon himself and his capital city, Cheshbon, were powerful.

Q20. Why was Og difficult to defeat?

1. Both Og and his stronghold were formidable.

Q21. What does “Ashtarot” imply?

1. Strength and hardness, like rock.

Q22. Who was Og?

1. The last survivor of the Rephaim giants.

Q23. What does “Edrei” refer to?

1. The name of Og’s kingdom.

 

 

1:5 — Explaining the Torah

Q24. What does “הואיל” mean?

1. He began.

Q25. What does “באר את התורה” mean?

1. Moshe explained the Torah.

Q26. How many languages did he use?

1. Seventy languages.

 

1:6 — Staying at Sinai

Q27. What is the simple meaning of “You have stayed long enough at this mountain”?

1. They had remained there long enough and should now continue their journey.

Q28. What is the Midrashic meaning?

1. They gained great reward and achievement at Sinai.

Q29. What notable things were accomplished there?

1. The Mishkan was built, the Torah was given, and the judicial system was established.

 

1:7 — The Land Ahead

Q30. What route is “Turn and journey” referring to?

1. The route through Arad and Chormah.

Q31. Who are the neighboring nations mentioned?

1. Ammon, Moab, and Edom.

Q32. What is “the plain”?

1. The wooded plain.

Q33. What is “the mountain”?

1. Har HaMelech.

Q34. What is “the lowland”?

1. The southern lowland region.

Q35. What cities are included in “the seashore”?

1. Ashkelon, Gaza, Caesarea, and others.

Q36. Why is the Euphrates called “the great river”?

1. Because of its association with Eretz Yisrael.

 

1:8 — Possessing the Land

Q37. What does “See, I have set the land before you” mean?

1. They could see clearly that Hashem was giving them the land.

Q38. What does “Come and possess it” imply?

1. No one could legally dispute their claim.

Q39. What remarkable statement does Rashi make?

1. Had they not sent spies, they would not even have needed weapons.

Q40. Why are Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov listed separately?

1. Each one’s merit alone would have been enough to earn the Land for Israel.

 

1:9–10 — Moshe and Leadership

Q41. What does “saying” teach in this verse?

1. Moshe spoke by Hashem’s command, not on his own initiative.

Q42. Did Moshe literally mean he could not judge Israel?

1. No.

Q43. What was Moshe really saying?

1. Israel had become so elevated that judges bore tremendous responsibility for every incorrect ruling.

Q44. What parallel does Rashi bring from King Solomon?

1. Solomon also expressed concern over judging Israel because errors in judgment are viewed very seriously by Hashem.

Q45. Were Israel literally as numerous as the stars?

1. No, they were about 600,000.

Q46. Then what does the comparison mean?

1. Like the sun, moon, and stars, Israel will endure forever.

 

1:11 — A Thousandfold Blessing

Q47. What blessing does Moshe give?

1. That Hashem increase them a thousandfold.

Q48. Why did the people object?

1. They felt Moshe was placing a limit on Hashem’s promises.

Q49. How did Moshe respond?

1. The thousandfold blessing was his personal blessing; Hashem’s blessing is unlimited.