📜 Daily Chumash & Rashi – Parshas Eikev: Rishon – The blessings received for guarding the Mitzvos

Rishon

1. The blessings received for guarding the Mitzvos:
   • If you adhere by the commands of Hashem, He will guard with you the covenant that he made with your forefathers.

• He will love you and bless you and multiply you.
• You will have many offspring, and the land will give off much produce. You will be blessed amongst all the nations.
• You and your animals will not be infertile.
• He will remove all illnesses from you and rather place them onto your enemies
• You will destroy all your enemies.

 

2. Moshe encourages Bnei Yisrael not to fear the nations of Canaan:
   • “If you tell yourself that the nations are too mighty and many to be destroyed, do not fear. Remember what Hashem did to Egypt, as He will do the same to those nations. He will send the wasp against them until no survivor remains. Do not fear them, as Hashem is amongst you. Hashem will annihilate them little by little and not quickly, lest the animals of the field increase.
   • Idolatry: Destroy their idols in fire. Don’t desire to take any of their ornaments of idolatry as it is an abomination of G-d. You shall loathe it and abominate it.”

 

3. Recounting the desert experience:
   • “Remember the entire 40-year journey in the desert where He challenged you to see if you would follow his word.
   • The Mun: Hashem gave you the Mun in the desert to test you and teach you that man does not live on bread alone, but on the word of G-d.
   • Clothing: Your clothing did not wear out and your foot did not swell.”

 

4. The greatness of the promised land:
   • “The land Hashem is giving you contains water and springs. It is a land of wheat and barley and grapes, figs, pomegranate, olives and date-honey. It is a land of abundance of food. A land whose stones are iron and whose mountains contain copper.
   • Birchas Hamazon: You shall eat and be satiated and bless Hashem for the good land that He gave you.”

 

Q&A on Rashi

📘 Rashi Q&A — Devarim 7:12–26 & 8:1–10

Devarim 7:12–16 — Blessings for Obedience

7:12

Q1. What does “עקב תשמעון” mean according to Rashi?

1. If you observe even the seemingly minor commandments that people tend to trample under their heels.

Q2. What will Hashem do in return?

1. He will faithfully keep His covenant and kindness promised to the Patriarchs.

 

7:13

Q3. What blessings are promised?

1. Love, blessing, multiplication, healthy children, abundant crops, and flourishing livestock.

Q4. What does “שגר אלפיך” mean?

1. The offspring born from cattle.

Q5. What does “עשתרות צאנך” mean according to the Sages?

1. Sheep that enrich their owners.

 

7:14

Q6. What does “עקר” mean?

1. A male incapable of producing offspring.

Q7. What blessing is promised?

1. No infertility among people or livestock.

 

7:15

Q8. What will Hashem remove from Israel?

1. All illness.

Q9. What will happen to the diseases of Egypt?

1. They will be placed upon Israel’s enemies.

 

7:16

Q10. How must Israel treat the nations Hashem delivers to them?

1. Destroy them and avoid their idolatry.

Q11. Why must their idols be avoided?

1. Because they can become a spiritual trap.

 

Devarim 7:17–26 — Conquering the Land

7:17–18

Q12. What fear might Israel have?

1. The nations are too numerous to drive out.

Q13. What does “כי” mean in this verse?

1. “Perhaps.”

Q14. How should Israel respond to that fear?

1. Remember what Hashem did to Pharaoh and Egypt.

 

7:19

Q15. What are “המסות”?

1. The trials through which Hashem demonstrated His power.

Q16. What are “האותות”?

1. Signs such as Moshe’s staff turning into a snake.

Q17. What are “המופתים”?

1. The miraculous plagues.

Q18. What does “היד החזקה” refer to?

1. The plague upon livestock.

Q19. What does “הזרוע הנטויה” refer to?

1. The sword used against the Egyptian firstborn.

 

7:20

Q20. What is the צרעה?

1. A wasp-like creature sent against the enemy.

Q21. What did it do?

1. It struck enemies even when they were hidden.

 

7:21–22

Q22. Why need Israel not fear?

1. Hashem is a great and awesome God among them.

Q23. Why would the nations not be destroyed all at once?

1. So wild animals would not multiply and overrun the land.

Q24. Why does Rashi say this concern was necessary?

1. Hashem knew Israel would eventually sin and lose special protection.

 

7:23–24

Q25. What will Hashem do to the nations?

1. Throw them into confusion and deliver their kings into Israel’s hands.

Q26. What will happen to their memory?

1. Their names and fame will disappear.

7:25–26

Q27. What must be done with idols?

1. Burn them.

Q28. May their gold and silver be taken?

1. No.

Q29. Why not?

1. It can become a spiritual snare.

Q30. Why must idols not be brought into one’s home?

1. Because they are objects designated for destruction.

 

📘 Devarim 8:1–10 — Remembering the Wilderness

8:1

Q31. What is meant by “כל המצוה”?

1. All the commandments collectively.

Q32. What is the Midrashic lesson from the singular form?

1. If you begin a mitzvah, complete it.

Q33. What example does Rashi give?

1. Yosef’s bones are credited to those who completed the burial.

 

8:2

Q34. Why did Hashem lead Israel through the wilderness?

1. To test them and reveal what was in their hearts.

Q35. What does keeping the commandments mean here?

1. Not testing or questioning Hashem.

 

8:3

Q36. Why did Hashem give manna?

1. To teach that life depends on Hashem’s word, not bread alone.

Q37. What lesson was Israel meant to learn?

1. Human survival ultimately comes from Hashem.

 

8:4

Q38. What miracle happened to their clothing?

1. Their clothing never wore out.

Q39. How were their clothes maintained?

1. The Clouds of Glory cleaned and pressed them.

Q40. What happened as children grew?

1. Their clothing grew with them.

Q41. What does “לא בצקה רגלך” mean?

1. Their feet never became swollen.

 

8:5–6

Q42. How should Israel understand the hardships of the wilderness?

1. As a father’s discipline toward a child.

Q43. What practical response is required?

1. Keep Hashem’s commandments and walk in His ways.

8:7–9 — The Good Land

Q44. How is the Land described?

1. As a land of waters, springs, and flowing sources.

Q45. Which seven species are listed?

1. Wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates.

Q46. What does “זית שמן” mean?

1. Oil-producing olives.

Q47. What natural resources are highlighted?

1. Iron and copper.

Q48. What promise is made?

1. Israel will lack nothing there.

8:10

Q49. What must a person do after eating and becoming satisfied?

1. Bless Hashem.

Q50. Why?

1. For the good land He has given.