Daily Chumash Monday Vaeschanon – Moshe commands Bnei Yisrael to follow the Torah

Sheiyni

• The Torah is our wisdom: The Torah is the wisdom of the Jewish people in the eyes of the nations. The nations will declare how wise the Jewish people are. There is no nation that is closer to Hashem than the Jewish people.
• Remembering Matan Torah: We must never forget our witnessing of the giving of the Torah and are to teach it to our children. We stood under the mountain and a fire came out from the mountain until the heavens and Hashem’s voice came out from the fire. We were commanded 10 commands and they were written on two tablets of stone. Hashem commanded Moshe the remaining commands that he must tell the Jewish people.
• One must guard his soul very much. Venishmartem Meod Lenafshoseichem.
• Idolatry: Moshe warns Bnei Yisrael against performing idolatry. “One is not to make a replica of a human, male or female, or of an animal or bird or fish. Lest your eyes look at the heavens and you see the sun, moon and stars and worship them.
• Hashem has removed you from the iron crucible of Egypt and chosen you as a nation.”
• Moshe will not enter Eretz Yisrael: Hashem became angry with Moshe due to Bnei Yirael and told him that he will not enter Eretz Yisrael, although Bnei Yisrael will enter.
• Prophecy that the Jewish people will go astray and their punishments: “When you have many descendants and live long in the land, you will go astray and in corrupt ways, performing evil in the eyes of Hashem. I forewarn you today that you will perish from the land. Hashem will disperse you amongst all the lands and you will serve their gods. You will search for Hashem your G-d there and you will find him. Hashem is merciful, and He will not destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers.”
• Moshe recounts the miracles Hashem has done and that there is nothing but Him: “Inquire and see, has there ever been a time that a nation has heard the voice of Hashem and taken one nation out from another with miracles and wonders. You have been shown today that Hashem is G-d and there is nothing aside for Him. Internalize this message into your heart.”