Mefarshim – Vayeilech
📘 Parsha Insights – Rashi Commentary Q&A
🧑🤝🧑 Leadership of Yehoshua
Q1: What did Moshe tell Yehoshua when he said: כִּי אַתָּה תָּבוֹא אֶת־הָעָם הַזֶּה (“for you will come with this people”)?
A1: That the elders of the generation would be with him, and he should follow their counsel. (Rashi 31:7)
Q2: What did Hashem tell Yehoshua instead, when He said: כִּי אַתָּה תָּבִיא (“for you will bring the people”)?
A2: That Yehoshua alone is the leader; everything depends on him—even against their will. There is one leader for the generation, not two. (Rashi 31:7)
✍️ Writing the Torah
Q3: What does וַיִּכְתֹּב משֶׁה (“Moses wrote”) mean?
A3: Moshe wrote the entire Torah scroll. (Rashi 31:9)
Q4: What does וַיִּתְּנָהּ (“and he gave it”) teach us?
A4: That after completing it fully, he gave it to the Kohanim (Levites) and to the elders. (Rashi 31:9)
📅 Hakhel
Q5: When the Torah says מִקֵּץ שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים בְּמוֹעֵד שְׁנַת הַשְּׁמִטָּה (“at the end of seven years, at the festival of Shemitah”), when exactly was Hakhel performed?
A5: On the first day of Chol HaMoed Sukkot of the year after Shemitah. (Rashi 31:10)
Q6: Why were even small children brought to Hakhel?
A6: To give reward to those who bring them. (Rashi 31:12)
📜 The Torah as a Witness
Q7: What does וְעַתָּה כִּתְבוּ לָכֶם אֶת־הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת (“Now write for yourselves this song”) mean?
A7: It refers to writing down the entire Torah, not just the song of Ha’azinu. (Rashi 31:19)
Q8: Why is the Torah called a “witness”?
A8: Because when Israel sins, the Torah testifies that Moshe warned them. (Rashi 31:19, 21)
🌟 Hashem’s Promise
Q9: What does ה’ הוּא הַהֹלֵךְ לְפָנֶיךָ (“Hashem is the one who goes before you”) mean?
A9: Hashem Himself will lead and conquer the Land for you. (Rashi 31:8)
Q10: Why does the Torah repeat “He will not forsake you” (לֹא יַרְפְּךָ וְלֹא יַעַזְבֶךָ)?
A10: To reassure Yehoshua and Bnei Yisrael not to fear—Hashem will not weaken His support or abandon them. (Rashi 31:6, 8)
🌟 Moshe Encourages Yehoshua
Q1: What did Moshe mean by כִּי אַתָּה תָּבוֹא (“you will come with this people”)?
A1: That Yehoshua should act with the elders of the generation and take their advice. (Rashi 31:7)
Q2: What did Hashem say differently with כִּי אַתָּה תָּבִיא (“you will bring”)?
A2: That Yehoshua alone must lead—forcefully if necessary. (Rashi 31:7)
Q3: Why was Yehoshua told חֲזַק וֶאֱמָץ (“be strong and courageous”)?
A3: Because leadership would be difficult, and he needed strength to guide Bnei Yisrael. (Rashi 31:7)
✍️ Moshe Writes the Torah
Q4: What does וַיִּכְתֹּב משֶׁה mean?
A4: Moshe wrote the entire Torah. (Rashi 31:9)
Q5: When Moshe gave the Torah, who received it?
A5: The Kohanim-Leviim (carriers of the Aron) and the elders. (Rashi 31:9)
Q6: Why does Rashi stress when it was completed Moshe gave it?
A6: To show Moshe didn’t give partial scrolls—only once it was fully written. (Rashi 31:9)