Parsha discussion

Question:  Why are the punishments of bodily ailments split? Approach: it would seem that there's a build up of the punishments, starting with the "lighter" punishments and getting gradually worse. And hence the bodily afflictions get worse as we progress through the curses.

Question:  Why are the rules relating to eating in someone else’s field not placed with the other agricultural laws later on in the פרשה? Approach: It would seem that these laws relate to the "family" aspect of being Jewish, i.e. that all Jews are part of one large family. Hence they are placed near the rules governing not charging interest to Jews and marriage rules. This is separate from the other rules which appear to relate more to requirements to look after the weaker aspects of society.

Question:  What is the role of the כהן ולוי in the ceremony of עגלה ערופה? They seem to not actually do anything Approach: On the basis of the directives given earlier in the פרשה (and strongly implied here), it would seem that the role is to ensure that the ceremony is carried out completely correctly, so that the interim atonement for the murder can be achieved. This is possibly what leads תרגום אונקלוס to mention that it is the כהנים who make the statement at the end of the section.

Question:  Why are the laws of בכור not written together with the other קרבנות rules earlier in the פרשה? Approach: The rule of בכור being only allowed to be eaten in המקום אשר יבחר ה' is mentioned in the earlier section. This section comes to teach us the rule of the בכור בעל מום, and the special leniencies that apply, allowing the animal to still be eaten - and anywhere. It thus could be viewed as similar to the released slave, who no longer is limited to his master's domain (the rules mentioned just before).

Question:  11:24 Why are the borders listed here significantly larger than those designated in פרשת מסעי? Approach: These borders are, of course, the same as foretold to אברהם and it could therefore be suggested that if the people do indeed cleave to the laws and take the initiative to conquer the entire land. Whereas the borders in מסעי are a more limited borders given the size of the people at that period of time, and thus more realistic for an initial conquest.