Parsha discussion

1. What is the purpose of the ceremony of the ברכות וקללות on הר גריזים והר עיבל? 2. 12:6 and 12:12 appear to be virtually identical in content. What are the differences? 3. 14:3 What is the תועבה that is being referred to ? Given that the list of forbidden foods is stated explicitly further on 4. Why are the laws of בכור not written together with the other קרבנות rules earlier in the פרשה?

1. Why does משה interrupt the narrative of חטא העגל with mention of other sins? 2. In the narrative of the second art of לוחות, there appears to be a jump in the chronology to the 40th year and then back. Why? 3. Of all the miracles to happen in the desert, why is the episode of דתן ואבירם singled out to show the greatness of הקב״ה? 4. 11:24 Why are the borders listed here significantly larger than those designated in פרשת מסעי?

1. What is the connection between משה not being allowed to enter the Land and the warnings against עבודה זרה? 2. Why do we need to be told again of the borders of the areas captured from סיחון and עוג? 3. 6:3 How does the phrase ארץ זבת חלב ודבש fit into the context? 4. 6:14 what would be the attraction of turning to עבודה זרה when finding ready to use facilities?

1.  Why was the command to go and conquer the Land the impetus for the appointment of a judicial system? 2. From the statement made to סיחון, it seems that בני ישראל passed through אדום. How does this fit with the refusal stated explicitly in פרשת חקת? 3. 2:37 Why the sudden switch to second person? 4. Why the double mention of land being given to the ראובני and גדי?

1. Why are we told only now of the date of אהרן’s death and his age? 2. 34:14-15 Why the repetition that the 2.5 tribes took portions on the East Bank? 3. Why are the rules of עיר מקלט brought here? Surely not just because they are mentioned in the context of ערי הלויים? Especially as they are mentioned in פרשת שופטים. 4. What exactly was the issue of the בני מנשה? It’s likely that other tribes would have been affected, and things would have evened themselves out on a long term basis