📜Daily Chumash & Rashi – Parshas Nitzavim Vayelech Shevi’i: Moshe instructs the Levites to place the Sefer Torah in the Aron

 

Shevi’i when combined with Nitzavim

• “I will bring the Jewish people to the promised land, the land of milk and honey, and they will eat to satiation and stray after other gods, breaking My covenant. When tragedy befalls them, this song will be their testimony. This song shall never be forgotten from their offspring.” [It will serve as testimony that I forewarned regarding the punishments if they do not guard my words.]
• Moshe wrote the song on that day and taught it to Bnei Yisrael. So it was that Moshe completed the writing of the Torah until its end.

 

2. Moshe instructs the Levites to place the Sefer Torah in the Aron:

• Moshe instructed the tribe of Levi who carry the Aron as follows: “Take this Sefer Torah and place it at the side of the Aron as a testimony. I know the nation’s rebellious nature and stubbornness as I witnessed during my leadership and as will occur after my death.”

 

3. Moshe summons the leaders to gather before him and teaches them the song of testimony:

• Moshe asked for all the elders of Israel to gather before him for him to teach them all these words, and called the heaven and earth to bear witness. “I know that the Jewish people will become corrupt after my death and stray away from the commands, and tragedies will befall them in the end of days.”
• Moshe told this song to all of the Jewish people, until its conclusion.

 

 

Q&A on Rashi

 

Parsha Bee – Devarim 31:20–30 (Rashi)

1. What will happen after the Jews enter the land flowing with milk and honey and become satisfied?
   Answer: They will turn to other gods and serve them.
2. What does וְנִאֲצוּנִי mean?
   Answer: They will provoke Hashem to anger.
3. What will occur when many troubles and evils befall Israel?
   Answer: The Song of Ha’azinu will testify against them.
4. Why will the song serve as a witness?
   Answer: Because it warned them in advance about the consequences of abandoning Hashem.
5. What claim will Israel not be able to make?
   Answer: That they were never warned about the punishments.
6. What promise is contained in the words “it will not be forgotten from the mouth of their offspring”?
   Answer: The Torah will never be entirely forgotten by the Jewish people.
7. Which Gemara does Rashi quote for this promise?
   Answer: Shabbat 138b.
8. What did Moshe do on that day?
   Answer: He wrote the song and taught it to Bnei Yisrael.
9. Who commanded Yehoshua in verse 23?
   Answer: Hashem Himself.
10. How do we know that Hashem is speaking?
    Answer: Because the verse says, “the land that I have sworn to them.”
11. What words of encouragement did Hashem give Yehoshua?
    Answer: “Be strong and courageous.”
12. What responsibility did Yehoshua receive?
    Answer: To bring Bnei Yisrael into the Land.
13. What promise did Hashem make to Yehoshua?
    Answer: “I will be with you.”
14. What did Moshe finish writing?
    Answer: The words of the Torah.
15. To whom did Moshe give instructions after completing the Torah?
    Answer: The Leviim who carried the Ark.
16. What were the Leviim told to do with the Torah scroll?
    Answer: Place it alongside the Ark.
17. What purpose would the Torah scroll serve there?
    Answer: It would serve as a witness.
18. What does “Take this Torah scroll” imply according to Rashi?
    Answer: An ongoing action or continuing obligation.
19. Where was the Torah scroll placed according to one opinion?
    Answer: On a shelf or board projecting alongside the Ark.
20. Where was it placed according to the second opinion?
    Answer: Inside the Ark next to the Tablets.
21. What did Moshe say he knew about the people’s character?
    Answer: Their rebellious nature and stubbornness.
22. What did Moshe observe even during his lifetime?
    Answer: That the people rebelled against Hashem.
23. What did Moshe predict would happen after his death?
    Answer: Their rebellion would continue.
24. Whom did Moshe summon before teaching the song?
    Answer: The elders and officers of Israel.
25. Why were trumpets not used to gather the people on that day?
    Answer: The trumpets belonged uniquely to Moshe.
26. What happened to Moshe’s trumpets before his death?
    Answer: They were hidden away.
27. What verse does Rashi connect to this loss of authority?
    Answer: “There is no ruling on the day of death.”
28. Why did Moshe call heaven and earth as witnesses again?
    Answer: This time he was directly addressing heaven and earth themselves.
29. Which words begin that direct address?
    Answer: “Give ear, O heavens” (Ha’azinu).
30. Moshe said Israel would become corrupted after his death. Why is this difficult?
    Answer: Because the people remained faithful throughout Yehoshua’s lifetime.
31. How does Rashi resolve that difficulty?
    Answer: A student’s life is considered like his teacher’s life.
32. Therefore, when did “after my death” really begin?
    Answer: After Yehoshua’s death.
33. What does this teach about the relationship between a teacher and student?
    Answer: A disciple is as dear to the teacher as the teacher’s own self.
34. What did Moshe then recite before all Israel?
    Answer: The Song of Ha’azinu.
35. What is the overall purpose of the Song of Ha’azinu?
    Answer: To serve as an eternal witness reminding Israel of the consequences of faithfulness and unfaithfulness.

Bonus: What powerful promise about Torah does Rashi derive from verse 21?

Answer: That the Torah will never be completely forgotten from the Jewish people.