Looking-at-Devarim
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do NOT visit this site
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Re Tanakh versions:
Throughout
this site I may use any of three versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Hebrewsish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. “Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF), three brilliant versions, However, the
JPS-1917 is my preferred version!
Colour coded
details of our beloved TaNaKh:
1. Torah =
History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical
books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot,
or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes,
and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and
Chronicles I & II.
Please Note: Some alterations
or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God), having been corrected like it once was pre
the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which
I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM
IT, that ye may keep the commandments of אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).
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As we may well have noted in the past, that דְּבָרִים - Devarim - Deuteronomy has a specific focus that distinguishes itself from the other four books of the Torah.
Let me explain that Devarim was intended to
prepare the ‘Bnai Yisroel’ (Children of Israel) for their transition from the
miraculous 40-year experience in the desert into the natural normalcy of their
new life in
Moshe had four basic concerns:
Concern #1: Distance from אֱלֹהִים - Elohim and the Mishkan. For forty years the nation had lived “beneath the sheltering cover of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s wings.” They had been surrounded by clouds, protected from the elements, isolated from every other nation, given water from rocks, food from heaven, and were within sight of the Mishkan and all her attendants: ‘Kohanim’, ‘Laviyim’, and the ‘Sanhedrin’ (Supreme Court). Upon crossing the Jorden, the nation would have to wage years of war, institute a government, divide the land, cultivate the land, and raise the next generation of Hebrews.
While in the desert, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s presence was clearly evident. Once they crossed over the Jorden, His presence would be less overt. While in the desert, the Hebrews were cared for “as we have seen, your אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, bore you as a man carries his son”. (1:31) אֱלֹהִים - Elohim did not expect th Bnai Yisroel to “care for ourselves”. He took care of making the money, buying all the necessities, preparing all the meals, and keeping them safe and secure. Their job was to study His Torah and develop their faith and devotion. However, once they crossed over the Jorden, their level of participation and effort in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s largess – would be much greater. They would not be as free to focus their energies on study and devotion.
Moshe was concerned for the transition because greater effort in the secular and mundane and less time for the study of Torah can make man believe more in himself and his own efforts than in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s absolute and total generosity.
Furthermore, there would no longer be a constancy of the Mishkan’s presence in the lives of the Hebrews. While in the desert the daily workings of the Mishkan were in “their faces”. Whether through actual attendance at the Mishkan or by seeing the rising smoke of the daily offerings, every Hebrews was aware of “אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s Place.
How would the nation retain their awareness of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s presence in their lives and the lives of the nation once they transitioned from the desert into the Land?
Concern #2: Distance from the nation. As we detailed in Sefer Be’midbar, the organization and placement of the Tribes while in the desert was intentional. It accomplished three obvious things. (A) For all practical intents and concerns the nation was organized. (B) Each Tribe was made aware of its unique place within the nation and אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s expectation for its exclusive contribution to the nation. (C) Each person realized that they belonged to a much greater whole. They did not work only for themselves. They also worked for the nation. They were part of a national reality and a national mission.
On the one hand, each of them would have to do their personal best in shouldering their part of the national job. On the other hand, they knew that they could not do it alone and that they needed each other to accomplish the goal of their personal best.
Upon crossing the Jorden the Tribes would be dispersed throughout the land. Contact between the Tribes would be limited by time and geography. Tribes would inevitably become more tribal and territorial. This is not to suggest that while in the desert rivalry between the tribes didn’t exist. Of course it did! However, at least the tribes could physically see each other. They knew that they were but one tribe among twelve. In Eretz Yisroel the tribes would be focused on settling their assigned portions and would have little time to engage each other in much more than the job of survival.
This explains Moshe’s concerns in last week’s Parsha for the tribes of Reuven and Gad. Not only would they be decentralized by the transition into the Land, they were requesting to be further distanced from the nation by settling east of the Jorden! Therefore, Moshe demanded that they assume an even greater role as the point-guard in the “national effort” of settling Eretz Yisroel. Their commitment to the nation during the years of conquest would offset their increased distance from them.
Concern #3: Distance from Torah leadership - the Sanhedrin. While in the desert, the Hebrews were in constant touch with the hierarchy of the nation. The focus of the 40 years was to learn אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s Torah and develop their faith and devotion. In order to do so the word of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim was given to Moshe who transmitted it to the rest of the nation.
The manner of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s transmitting and Moshe’s receiving was evident to everyone. The cloud would descend over “the Meeting Tent”. Everyone would see the cloud and know that Moshe had been summoned. Moshe would make his way through the camp as everyone stood outside their tents and watched. Moshe would enter the Meeting Tent and receive אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s prophecy. Moshe would emerge from the Meeting Tent and relay אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s word to the people. Every stage of the transmission process reemphasized the direct line of transmission and reception - from אֱלֹהִים - Elohim to Moshe to the people.
There were many benefits as a result. (A) Every individual felt personally connected to Moshe and to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim. (B) Every individual felt personally obligated to study, understand, and adhere to the word of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim - as taught by Moshe (C) Every individual realized that they were responsible for continuing the process of receiving and transmitting אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s Torah as taught to them by Moshe to their children and all future generations.
Once they crossed the Jorden the direct connection to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim and Moshe’s successors would not be as clear. No longer would the Torah be a “first edition” in its first publication. No longer would they witness first hand the “giving of the Torah”. No longer would there be constant and direct contact with the top hierarchy of the nation. While in the desert, every one experienced seeing Moshe, Aharon, Yehoshua, Pinchus, and the other great personalities of that generation. It took a minimal degree of effort for the smallest child to witness or experience true greatness. Once they entered the land it would take time, travel, and much more effort for the majority of the nation to encounter the heroes of the generation.
The severing of constant contact between the nation and the Torah leadership was a major concern. Access to leadership provides constant contact, answers, and direction. (See Shemot 18:13) Denied access due to constraints of time and distance leaves a void in the transmission of answers that is often filled by subjective ignorance and limited scholarship. Unfortunately, this sets the stage for the transmission of half-truths and full-falsehoods rather than the transmission of truth and justice.
Concern
#4: Contact with the other nations. While in the
desert, the Bnai Yisroel was in virtual isolation. Except for a few instances,
primarily at the end of the 40 years, the Bnai Yisroel were truly a “nation
that dwells alone”. This allowed for us the Hebrews to become comfortable with
their Divinely ordained differences. This allowed for אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s laws to become traditions and for traditions to generate pride in
their distinction and uniqueness. However, once they crossed the Jorden their
contact with the inhabitants of
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Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following through a number of our prophets...
“The More Torah,
the More Life”,
For Elohim is the One who gave us our ... “Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom =
Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD
of hosts, be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat,
as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and
continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and
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שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
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