Shulchan Aruch HaRav | 📜 Daily Chumash & Rashi – Parshas Vezos Habracha Shishi: Praising Hashem and Israel

Shishi He destroyed the enemy from before you and secures the dwelling of the Jewish people in a land of grain and wine which drips dew. Praised are you Israel, who is like you, a people delivered by Hashem who was your shield and sword. Q&A on Rashi

Shishi

He destroyed the enemy from before you and secures the dwelling of the Jewish people in a land of grain and wine which drips dew. Praised are you Israel, who is like you, a people delivered by Hashem who was your shield and sword.

Q&A on Rashi

Parsha Bee – Devarim 33:22–29 (Rashi)

To what animal is Dan compared?
Answer: A young lion.
Why is Dan compared to a lion?
Answer: Because he lived near the border and needed strength for protection.
Which other border tribe was compared to a lion?
Answer: Gad.
What does “streaming from Bashan” mean according to Onkelos?
Answer: Dan’s territory received waters flowing from Bashan.
Which major river is connected to Dan’s territory?
Answer: The Jordan River.
Where does the Jordan originate according to Rashi?
Answer: The Paneas (Banias) cave.
What was the earlier name of Dan’s northern city?
Answer: Leshem.
What did the tribe of Dan rename Leshem?
Answer: Dan.
What is Rashi’s second explanation of “streaming from Bashan”?
Answer: Dan expanded from one territory into two separate areas.
What natural image illustrates Dan’s expansion?
Answer: A stream dividing into two branches.
Which tribe is blessed after Dan?
Answer: Naftali.
What does “favorably satisfied” mean?
Answer: Naftali’s land fully satisfied its inhabitants.
What sea was included in Naftali’s territory?
Answer: The Sea of Kinneret.
What special coastal area did Naftali receive?
Answer: A fishing coastline for spreading nets.
What does “Possess the sea and the south” mean?
Answer: Take possession of the Kinneret and its southern shoreline.
What does the word יְרָשָׁה mean?
Answer: Possess!
Is יְרָשָׁה a statement or a command?
Answer: A command.
Which tribe is blessed next?
Answer: Asher.
What blessing did Moshe give Asher?
Answer: “May Asher be blessed with sons.”
According to the Sifrei, how was Asher especially blessed?
Answer: More than any other tribe with children.
What product made Asher beloved by his brothers?
Answer: Olive oil.
What foods did Asher provide to his brothers?
Answer: Fine oils and delicacies.
How did the other tribes repay Asher?
Answer: With grain.
What is a second explanation of “pleasing to his brothers”?
Answer: Asher’s daughters were exceptionally beautiful.
Whom did the daughters of Asher marry?
Answer: Kohanim Gedolim and kings.
Why is Malchiel called “the father of Birzayit”?
Answer: His descendants were connected to those anointed with olive oil.
What does “immerse his foot in oil” mean?
Answer: Asher’s land overflowed with olive oil.
What famous resource characterized Asher’s territory?
Answer: Extraordinary olive production.
What story does Rashi bring about Asher’s oil?
Answer: A merchant purchased an enormous quantity of oil there.
Which city needed that oil?
Answer: Laodicea.
To whom does verse 25 refer according to Rashi?
Answer: All of Israel.
What does “your locks are iron and copper” mean according to the first explanation?
Answer: Israel’s border defenders were strong and secure.
What is the second explanation of “your locks are iron and copper”?
Answer: The land contained mountains rich in iron and copper.
Which tribe’s territory served as the “lock” of Eretz Yisrael?
Answer: Asher.
What does “the days of your old age will be like the days of your youth” mean?
Answer: Israel will remain strong and blessed throughout its existence.
What is Rashi’s second explanation of this phrase?
Answer: Wealth from the nations will flow into Israel.
Why will silver and gold flow into Israel?
Answer: Because Israel’s produce will sustain the world.
What will happen to the wealth of other nations?
Answer: It will be poured into Eretz Yisrael.
Who is addressed by the title “Jeshurun”?
Answer: Israel.
What does Moshe declare about Hashem?
Answer: There is none like Him.
How does Hashem compare to the gods of the nations?
Answer: None can compare to Him.
What does “He Who rides the heavens” describe?
Answer: Hashem’s majesty and power.
Why does Hashem ride the heavens?
Answer: To assist Israel.
What are “the abode for the God Who precedes all”?
Answer: The heavens.
What does “God Who precedes all” mean?
Answer: Hashem existed before all false gods.
Who are the “mighty ones of the world” mentioned in verse 27?
Answer: Sichon, Og, and the kings of Canaan.
Why do these mighty rulers tremble?
Answer: Because Hashem is above them and aids Israel.
What did Hashem do before Israel?
Answer: Drove out the enemy.
What command did Hashem give Israel?
Answer: “Destroy!”
How will Israel dwell according to verse 28?
Answer: Safely and securely.
What does “alone” mean according to Rashi?
Answer: Each family can dwell independently without fear.
What blessing of Yaakov is recalled in verse 28?
Answer: The promise of secure dwelling in the Land.
What additional blessing is added to Yaakov’s blessing?
Answer: Yitzchak’s blessing of the dew of heaven.
What does “their heavens will drip dew” symbolize?
Answer: Continued abundance and blessing.
How does Moshe summarize all the blessings in verse 29?
Answer: “Fortunate are you, O Israel!”
What does Moshe mean by this statement?
Answer: All blessings belong to Israel.
Upon whom does Israel’s salvation depend?
Answer: Hashem.
What two titles does Moshe give Hashem?
Answer: Shield and Sword.
What example of enemy deception does Rashi mention?
Answer: The Givonim pretending to come from a distant land.
What does “you will tread upon their heights” mean?
Answer: Israel will subdue and triumph over its enemies.

Bonus

What is the grand conclusion of all Moshe’s blessings?

Answer: “Fortunate are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by Hashem?” Israel’s greatness comes from having Hashem as its Shield, Sword, Protector, and Savior.