📜 Daily Chumash & Rashi – Parshas Shoftim Chamishi: Mitzvos relating to a Navi

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Chamishi

1. Mitzvos relating to a Navi:
   • The gentile nations need to turn to Meoninim and Kosmin for future guidance. However, Hashem gave the Jewish people the prophets in their place [as the Shechina resides on the prophets and the Urim Vetumim]. Hashem will bring to you a prophet from your midst who is similar to me, and you shall listen to him.
   • You asked Hashem by Chorev not to hear Hashem’s voice directly lest you die. Hashem agreed with you and told me that He would establish for you a prophet through whom I shall speak. One who does not listen to the words of the prophet who speaks in My name, I shall hold him accountable.
   • A false prophet: A prophet who speaks not in My name, and one who speaks in the name of idolatry, is to be killed.
   • How to tell if one is a false prophet: Now, if you ask yourselves how will you know who is a false or true prophet, if the matter that he predicted does not come true, he is a false prophet. Do not fear him.

 

2. Mitzvos relating to Ir Miklat:
   • Upon arrival to Eretz Yisrael and the eventual conquest and inheritance, three cities of refuge [i.e. Arei Miklat] are to be established. Each city is to be placed in an equal distance from each other and spread out in the land for a murderer to seek refuge in. The refuge city is meant for an accidental murderer, such as one who accidentally killed while wood chopping. He is to seek refuge from the relative of the victim who may kill him.
   • Building an additional three cities: When Hashem expands your borders, you are to build another three cities.
   • An intentional murderer: An intentional murderer cannot seek refuge in the city and he is to be extradited and killed. You are not to have mercy on him.

📘 Rashi Q&A — Devarim 18:14–22 & 19:1–13

Devarim 18:14–22 — Prophets and False Prophets

18:14

Q1. How are Israel different from the nations regarding knowledge of the future?
A. The nations rely on diviners and occult practices, while Israel receives guidance through prophets and the Urim VeTumim.

Q2. What has Hashem provided instead of divination?
A. Divine revelation through prophecy.

 

18:15

Q3. What does Hashem promise to Israel?
A. He will raise up a prophet from among their own people.

Q4. What does “like me” mean?
A. Just as Moshe came from among Israel, future prophets will also arise from Israel.

Q5. What is Israel commanded to do?
A. Listen to the prophet.

 

18:16–18

Q6. Why did Israel ask for prophets?
A. They feared hearing Hashem’s direct voice at Sinai.

Q7. How did Hashem respond?
A. He approved their request.

Q8. What does Hashem place in the prophet’s mouth?
A. The words He commands the prophet to speak.

 

18:19

Q9. What happens if someone ignores a true prophet?
A. Hashem Himself will hold that person accountable.

 

18:20

Q10. What is a false prophet who claims a message Hashem never gave him?

1. One who speaks in Hashem’s Name without authorization.

Q11. What additional type of false prophet is mentioned?

1. One who prophesies in the name of idols.

Q12. Even if his teachings agree with Torah law, is prophecy in the name of idols permitted?

1. No.

Q13. What punishment does such a prophet receive?

1. Death.

Q14. What are the three categories of false prophet executed by a court?

A.

1. One who invents a prophecy.
2. One who repeats a prophecy given to someone else as if it were his own.
3. One who prophesies in the name of an idol.

Q15. Who is punished by Heaven rather than by a court?

1. One who suppresses prophecy or disobeys a true prophet.

 

18:21–22

Q16. How can Israel determine if a prophet is false?

1. If his prediction fails to occur.

Q17. What future example does Rashi mention?

1. The conflict between the prophecies of Chananyah ben Azur and Yirmiyahu.

Q18. Is every prophetic instruction tested solely by prediction?

1. No. Torah already rejects anyone who seeks to overturn mitzvot.

Q19. Can a genuine prophet ever temporarily suspend a mitzvah?

1. Yes, in exceptional circumstances, such as Eliyahu on Mount Carmel.

Q20. What does “Do not fear him” mean?

1. Do not hesitate to prosecute a proven false prophet.

 

📘 Devarim 19:1–10 — Cities of Refuge

19:1–3

Q21. What mitzvah follows the conquest of the land?

1. Establishing cities of refuge.

Q22. How many cities were initially designated in Canaan?

1. Three.

Q23. What special preparation was made for them?

1. Roads were maintained and signs reading “Refuge” were posted at intersections.

Q24. How were the cities positioned?

1. At equal distances throughout the country.

 

19:4–5

Q25. Who may flee to a city of refuge?

1. Someone who killed unintentionally.

Q26. What example does the Torah provide?

1. A woodcutter whose axe accidentally kills another person.

Q27. How does Rashi explain “his hand moved”?

1. The hand was in motion bringing the axe downward.

Q28. What is one interpretation of “the iron slipped from the wood”?

1. The axe head flew off the handle.

Q29. What is another interpretation?

1. A splinter from the wood flew off and killed someone.

 

19:6–7

Q30. Why must roads to the refuge cities be prepared?

1. So the accidental killer can reach safety quickly.

Q31. From whom is he fleeing?

1. The blood-avenger.

Q32. Why might the avenger pursue him?

1. Because grief and anger are still fresh.

 

19:8–10

Q33. When will additional cities of refuge be added?

1. When Hashem expands Israel’s borders as promised.

Q34. Which lands does Rashi identify here?

1. The lands of the Kenites, Kenizzites, and Kadmonites.

Q35. How many refuge cities will ultimately exist?

1. Nine.

Q36. How are they distributed?

A.

• Three east of the Jordan
• Three in Canaan
• Three in the future expanded territory

Q37. Why are additional cities needed?

1. To prevent innocent bloodshed.

 

📘 Devarim 19:11–13 — The Deliberate Murderer

19:11

Q38. What distinguishes the murderer from the accidental killer?

1. Hatred and premeditation.

Q39. What lesson do the Sages derive from this?

1. One sin often leads to a more severe sin.

Q40. What progression does Rashi note?

1. Hatred can ultimately lead to murder.

 

19:12

Q41. What happens if a murderer flees to a refuge city?

1. The elders remove him and hand him over for judgment.

 

19:13

Q42. Why must the court not pity him?

1. Justice for innocent blood must be upheld.

Q43. What argument must not be made?

1. “One person has already died, why cause another death?”

Q44. What is achieved by carrying out justice?

1. The guilt of innocent bloodshed is removed from Israel.