Parsha discussion

Question:   How do we understand the rules surrounding hanging someone sentenced to death? On the one hand we are commanded to do so, yet we are also told that it is a curse Approach: there seem to be situations when something needs to be done, even if undesirable. The obvious example that springs to mind is חליצה. So perhaps there is a need to hang someone who was guilty of the death penalty, even if it’s not an ideal situation. And hence why it’s limited to a relatively short time.

  Question:  Why are the rules of the עובד עבודה זרה not written with the similar rules mentioned in פרשת ראה? Approach:  There is a clear distinction in the nature of the situations mentioned in the two places. In פרשת ראה, the perpetrator was trying to influence other people to sin, and hence it can be viewed as a public issue. In פרשת שופטים though, the sinner is a single individual who has gone astray.  There might be a similar recurring thread relating to the order of the rules listed throughout this section. But this requires more thought and investigation.

Question : What is the purpose of the ceremony of the ברכות וקללות on הר גריזים והר עיבל? Approach: it would seem that the ceremony may be some form of re-enactment of הר סיני, needed for accepting the “terms” of living in the Land, and includes elements of the ברית at ערבות מואב, referred time at the end of כי תבוא.

Question:  Why does משה interrupt the narrative of חטא העגל with mention of other sins? Approach:  It would seem that the point of this part of the speech is to warn the people that their behaviour will determine their right to success in both conquering the land, as well as staying there thereafter. In that context, משה recalls situations in recent history when things went awry and the negative consequences that they had (including the breaking of the לוחות). In this context, משה then quickly recalls other unsavoury incidents, as a warning. Only after compeleting the main purpose ofthe rebuke does משה return to the narrative and explain how he managed to save the people's destruction.