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Chamishi
- Moshe relays to Bnei Yisrael several Mitzvos:
- “What does Hashem ask from you but to fear Him and follow His ways. To love Him and serve Him with all your heart and soul. To guard His commands for your own benefit.
- Everything in the heaven and earth belongs to Hashem and yet He chose you. Hashem loved our ancestors and hence chose us as His nation.
- You shall remove the Arla of your hearts and not be stubborn, as Hashem is the great and mighty G-d who cannot be bribed and does justice for the widow and orphan.
- One is to love the convert, as you too were converts in Egypt.
- You shall fear and love Hashem, attach to Him and swear by Him.”
- The miracles Hashem did for us: “He is your G-d who performed for you all the miracles that you witnessed. He brought you to Egypt with 70 souls and now you have become as abundant as the stars. You saw what He did to Egypt and how He smote them by the sea, and what He did for you in the desert. You saw what He did to Dasan and Aviram for whom the earth opened, and it swallowed them and their homes and tents.”
- Moshe encourages Bnei Yisrael to guard the Mitzvos and hence solidify their stay in Eretz Yisrael and merit a long life in the land of milk and honey.
📘 Rashi Q&A — Devarim 10:12–22 & 11:1–9
Devarim 10:12–13 — What Does Hashem Ask?
10:12
Q1. After all Israel’s sins, what does Moshe emphasize?
- Hashem still loves Israel and asks only that they revere Him.
Q2. What do the Sages derive from “What does Hashem ask of you?”
- Everything is in Heaven’s hands except fear of Heaven.
Q3. What obligations are listed?
- To fear Hashem, walk in His ways, love Him, and serve Him with all one’s heart and soul.
10:13
Q4. Why should Israel keep Hashem’s commandments?
- For their own good.
Q5. Is Hashem asking for something that benefits only Him?
- No, observance ultimately benefits the people themselves.
Devarim 10:14–15 — Hashem’s Choice
10:14
Q6. What belongs to Hashem?
- The heavens, the heavens of heavens, the earth, and everything in it.
Q7. Why is this emphasized?
- To show that although everything belongs to Him, He specially chose Israel.
10:15
Q8. Whom did Hashem especially love?
- The Patriarchs.
Q9. Whom did He choose after them?
- Their descendants, Israel.
Q10. How can Israel see evidence of this?
- They remain uniquely chosen among the nations.
Devarim 10:16–19 — Removing Spiritual Obstacles
10:16
Q11. What does “circumcise the foreskin of your heart” mean?
- Remove the barriers and coverings that prevent spiritual sensitivity.
Q12. What character trait must be removed?
- Stubbornness.
10:17
Q13. What does “God of gods and Lord of lords” mean?
- He rules over every power and authority.
Q14. Why can no earthly lord save someone from His judgment?
- Because all authority is subordinate to Him.
Q15. What does it mean that He “shows no partiality”?
- One cannot escape judgment by rejecting His authority.
Q16. What does “He accepts no bribe” mean?
- Material gifts cannot compensate for abandoning one’s Divine obligations.
10:18
Q17. For whom does Hashem execute justice?
- The orphan and widow.
Q18. What special kindness does He show the convert?
- He provides bread and clothing.
Q19. Why does Rashi emphasize bread and clothing?
- Because these were the specific necessities Jacob prayed for.
Q20. What striking lesson appears here?
- Hashem’s greatness is accompanied by humility and concern for the vulnerable.
10:19
Q21. Why must Israel love the convert?
- Because they themselves were strangers in Egypt.
Q22. What ethical principle does Rashi derive?
- Do not criticize others for weaknesses or experiences you once had yourself.
Devarim 10:20–22 — Attachment to Hashem
10:20
Q23. What four obligations are listed?
- Fear Hashem, serve Him, cling to Him, and swear by His Name.
Q24. When may one swear by His Name?
- Only after possessing the qualities of fear, service, and attachment to Him.
10:21
Q25. Why is Hashem worthy of praise?
- Because He performed great and awesome deeds for Israel.
Q26. Who witnessed these deeds?
- Israel themselves.
10:22
Q27. How many people went down to Egypt?
- Seventy souls.
Q28. What happened to them?
- They became as numerous as the stars of heaven.
📘 Devarim 11:1–9 — Learn From What You Saw
11:1
Q29. What must Israel do all their days?
- Love Hashem and keep His commandments, statutes, ordinances, and charge.
11:2
Q30. What does “Know today” mean?
- Pay attention, understand, and accept Moshe’s rebuke.
Q31. Why is Moshe addressing the adults rather than their children?
- The adults personally witnessed the events he is describing.
11:3–5
Q32. Which events had the people personally seen?
- The plagues, the miracles in Egypt, the destruction of Pharaoh’s army, and Hashem’s care in the wilderness.
Q33. What happened to Egypt’s army?
- It was overwhelmed by the Sea of Reeds.
Q34. What did Hashem do for Israel in the desert?
- Sustained and protected them throughout their journey.
11:6
Q35. What happened to Datan and Aviram?
- The earth opened and swallowed them, their households, tents, and possessions.
Q36. What does “all the substance at their feet” mean?
- Their wealth and possessions.
Q37. According to Rabbi Yehudah, how widely was the punishment seen?
- Openings appeared wherever the rebels fled.
Q38. According to Rabbi Nechemiah?
- The ground became like a funnel carrying them toward a single opening.
11:7
Q39. Why are the adults especially accountable?
- Their own eyes saw Hashem’s great deeds.
11:8–9
Q40. Why must Israel keep the commandments?
- To be strong and inherit the Land.
Q41. What additional reward is promised?
- Long life in the Land promised to the Patriarchs.
Q42. How is the Land described?
- A land flowing with milk and honey.