Parshas Shoftim-Summary of the Parsha

Author: Rabbi Yaakov GoldsteinPublished: November 30, 2016
CategoriesParshas Shoftim

This article is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy now on Amazon.com Chapter 1: The Mitzvos Number of Mitzvos: There are a total of Fourty one Mitzvos in Parshas Shoftim; Fourteen positive commands and Twenty seven negative commands. The following are the commands in the order listed by the

This article is an excerpt from our Sefer

   Buy now on Amazon.com

Chapter 1: The Mitzvos

Number of Mitzvos:

There are a total of Fourty one Mitzvos in Parshas Shoftim; Fourteen positive commands and Twenty seven negative commands. The following are the commands in the order listed by the Sefer Hachinuch.

 

A. Positive:

  1. Mitzvah 491/Positive 203: To appoint judges and police in every Jewish city.
  2. Mitzvah 492/Positive 204: To Listen to the words of the Beis Din Hagadol.
  3. Mitzvah 493/Positive 205: To appoint a king over us.
  4. Mitzvah 494/Positive 206: For the king to write his own personal Sefer Torah.
  5. Mitzvah 495/Positive 207: To give the arm, cheek and stomach of an animal to the Kohen.
  6. Mitzvah 496/Positive 208: To separate Teruma Gedola.
  7. Mitzvah 497/Positive 209: To give the first sharing of wool from sheep to the Kohen.
  8. Mitzvah 498/Positive 210: For the Kohanim and Levites to set up shifts and rotations of Avoda.
  9. Mitzvah 499/Positive 211: To listen to a Navi.
  10. Mitzvah 500/Positive 212: To separate Arei Miklat.
  11. Mitzvah 501/Positive 213: To repay Eidim Zomimim just like they desired to do.
  12. Mitzvah 502/Positive 214: To anoint a Kohen during times of war to speak to the soldiers.
  13. Mitzvah 503/Positive 215: To give an option of surrender and peace to a city where the war waged is optional.
  14. Mitzvah 504/Positive 216: To break the neck of the Egla Arufa.

 

B. Negative:

  1. Mitzvah 505/Negative 289: Not to plant a tree in the Mikdash.
  2. Mitzvah 506/Negative 290: Not to build a Matzeiva.
  3. Mitzvah 507/Negative 291: Not to sacrifice a Karban that has a Mum.
  4. Mitzvah 508/Negative 292: Not to argue on the Gedolei Yisrael.
  5. Mitzvah 509/Negative 293: Not to appoint a non-Jew or Ger as a king.
  6. Mitzvah 510/Negative 294: A king may not have many horses.
  7. Mitzvah 511/Negative 295: Not to live in Egypt.
  8. Mitzvah 512/Negative 296: Not to have to too many wives.
  9. Mitzvah 513/Negative 297: Shevet Levi may not receive a portion in Eretz Yisrael.
  10. Mitzvah 514/Negative 298: Shevet Levi may not take any spoilage from war.
  11. Mitzvah 515/Negative 299: A king may not have more gold and silver than necessary.
  12. Mitzvah 516/Negative 300: Not to eat do Kesima-actions to tell the future – psychics.
  13. Mitzvah 517/Negative 301: Not to perform magic.
  14. Mitzvah 518/Negative 302: Not to perform Chaver-Charms.
  15. Mitzvah 519/Negative 303: Not to seek the service of an Ov .
  16. Mitzvah 520/Negative 304: Not to seek the service of a Yidoni.
  17. Mitzvah 521/Negative 305: Not to seek the dead.
  18. Mitzvah 522/Negative 306: Not to say a false prophesy in name of G-d.
  19. Mitzvah 523/Negative 307: Not to prophesize in name of idolatry.
  20. Mitzvah 524/Negative 308: Not to fear a false prophet and to kill him.
  21. Mitzvah 525/Negative 309: Not to steal property by changing the line of the border.
  22. Mitzvah 526/Negative 310: Not to accept a single witness for testimony.
  23. Mitzvah 527/Negative 311: Not to have mercy on one who is obligated to pay fines and damages.
  24. Mitzvah 528/Negative 312: Not to fear the enemy during war.
  25. Mitzvah 529/Negative 313: Not to allow to live any soul of the seven Canaanite nations.
  26. Mitzvah 530/Negative 314: Not to destroy trees that surrounds a city under siege.
  27. Mitzvah 531/Negative 315: Not to cultivate the channel where the Egla Arufa was killed.

 

Chapter 2: Outline of the Parsha

Pesukim: 97 [Siman:סלוא]

 

Rishon

  1. Appointing honest judges and police:
    • The Mitzvah to appoint judges and police in all one’s cities.
    • The judges are to judge appropriately and may not take bribes. 
  2. Number of miscellaneous commandments:
    • Not to plant a tree in the Mikdash.
    • Not to build a Matzeiva.
    • Not to sacrifice a Karban that has a Mum.
    • To kill a Jew who is an idol worshiper.
    • Not to accept testimony from one witness.
    • To Listen to the words of the Beis Din Hagadol.
    • Not to argue on the Gedolei Yisrael. 

      Sheiyni

  3. Mitzvos relating to appointing a king:
    • It is a Mitzvah to appoint a king over us.
    • One may not appoint a non-Jew or Ger as a king.
    • A king may not have many horses.
    • A king may not have to too many wives.
    • A king may not have more gold and silver than necessary.
    • The king is to write his own personal Sefer Torah. 

      Shelishi

  4. Mitzvos relating to Shevet Levi and Kohanim:
    • Shevet Levi may not receive a portion in Eretz Yisrael.
    • One is to give the arm, cheek and stomach of an animal to the Kohen.
    • They are to receive Teruma Gedola.
    • One is to give the first sharing of wool from sheep to the Kohen. 

      Revi’i

  5. Mitzvos relating to not resembling the Canaanite nations:
    • Not to eat do Kesima-actions to tell the future – psychics.
    • Not to perform magic.
    • Not to perform Chaver-Charms.
    • Not to seek the service of an Ov .
    • Not to seek the service of a Yidoni.
    • Not to seek the dead. 

      Chamishi

  6. Mitzvos relating to a Navi.
    • One must listen to a Navi.
    • To kill a false prophet.
    • How to tell if one is a false prophet. 
  7. Mitzvos relating to Ir Miklat:
    • Upon arrival to Eretz Yisrael Arei Miklat are to be separated.
    • Each city is to be placed in an equal distance.
    • An accidental murderer, such as one who killed while wood chopping, is to seek refuge there.
    • When the borders will expand another three cities are to be added.
    • An intentional murderer cannot seek refuge in the city and he is to be extradited and killed. 

      Shishi

  8. Miscelaneous Mitzvos:
    • One may not steal property by changing the line of the border.
    • One may not to accept a single witness for testimony.
    • To repay Eidim Zomimim just like they desired to do. 
  9. Laws relating to war:
    • The speech of the Mashuach Milchama.
    • Not to fear the enemy during war.
    • For all those who recently married, built a home or vineyard to return.
    • Those who have fear may not go to battle.
    • Guards 

      Shevi’i

  • The Kohanim and Levites to set up shifts and rotations of Avoda. 
  • The nation is to give an option of surrender and peace to a city of whom war will be waged against.
  • Every male is to be killed if they do not accept peace.
  • From the Canaanite nations, not one soul is to be allowed to survive.
  • One may not destroy a fruit tree even when placing asiege on a city. 
    1. The Mitzvah of Egla Arufa:
      • If a corpse is found, the elders measure to which city it is closest.
      • The elders of that city are to bring a calf who has never done work.
      • The calf’s neck is to be snapped near a river and that area is to never be cultivated.
      • They are to wash their hands in the river and state that they were not involved in the murder.

 

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