Torah Trivia for Parashah 44. Devarim (118.11.28)

Torah Trivia for Parashah 44. Devarim (Questions Only)
1.) Within the opening of Parashah Devarim, can you describe: a.) where Moshe addresses the Israeli camp; and, b.) when this address takes place?
2.) Within Parashah Devarim, Moshe recounts Adonai’s address at Mount Horeb (Sinai) to Moshe and the Israeli camp to leave the mountain; can you describe which book (Shmot, Vayikra, or B’midbar) and/or which parashah (Tetzaveh, Ki Tissa, or Vayachel) this event is initially described?
3.) Within Parashah Devarim, Moshe recounts the manner in which his authority is distributed amongst additional Israeli leaders; can you describe which book (Shmot, Vayikra, or B’midbar) and/or which parashah (B’shallach, Yitro, or Mishpatim) this event is initially described?
4.) Within Parashah Devarim, Moshe recounts the Israeli arrival at Kadesh Barnea, the sending of scouts into Eretz Israel, and the conferring of the 40-yaer course upon Israelis; can you describe which book (Shmot, Vayikra, or B’midbar) and/or which parashah (Becha’alotecha, Shelach Lecha, or Korach) this event is initially described?
5.) Within Parashah Devarim, Moshe recounts Israel’s encounter with the children of Esau; can you describe which book (Shmot, Vayikra, or B’midbar) and/or which parashah (Korach, Chukkat, or Balak) this event is initially described?
6.) Within Parashah Devarim, Moshe recounts the Israeli encounter with Moab; can you describe which book (Shmot, Vayikra, or B’midbar) and/or which parashah (Korach, Chukkat, or Balak) this event is initially described?
7.) Within Parashah Devarim, Moshe recounts the Israeli crossing over wadi Zered; can you describe which book (Shmot, Vayikra, or B’midbar) and/or which parashah (Korach, Chukkat, or Balak) this event is initially described?
8.) Can you describe the duration of years between the Israeli departure from Kadesh Barnea to the actual crossing of the wadi Zered?
9.) Can you describe which of these events occur before Israelis leave Kadesh Barnea:
a.) Israelis leave Egypt;
b.) The “10 Commandments” are initially conferred;
c.) The blueprints for the Mishkan and its items are first conferred;
d.) The golden calf is formed;
e.) Construction of the Mishkan begins;
f.) The construction of the Mishkan is completed;
g.) Aaron and the Kohanim are ordained;
h.) The 1st Census is taken;
i.) The 2nd Observance of Pesach is made;
j.) Israelis leave the Wilderness of Sinai;
k.) Miriam’s is afflicted and cured of leprosy;
l.) The scouts provide a dismal report of Eretz Israel; and/or,
m.) The curse of 40 years of wandering is conferred?
10.) Can you describe which of these events occur within the span of the next 38 years, upon leaving Kadesh Barnea:
a.) Korach rebels;
b.) Miriam passes away;
c.) Edom Refuses Israel’s Passage; and/or,
d.) Aaron Passes Away?
11.) Can you describe which of these events occur after crossing the Brook of Zered, as this crossing is described within Parashah Devarim:
a.) Israel defeats Sichon of Amorites;
b.) Israel Defeats Og of Bashan;
c.) Adonai undoes plots of Balam and Balak;
d.) Pinchas kills an Israeli idol worshipper and his Midiani wife;
e.) The 2nd Census is taken;
f.) Israel annhilates Midianis;
g.) Reuven, Gad, and Mannaseh receive hereditary land outside of Eretz Israel; and/or,
h.) Israelis Camp in Plains of Moab, along Yordan River, near Yericho?
12.) Can you appropriately match the described the proceeding boundaries (of the land provided to Reuvenis and Gaddis), with the appropriate orientation (Northern boundary, Eastern boundary, Southern boundary, Western boundary) of that boundary location:
a.) The Jabbok River;
b.) The land of Ammon;
c.) The Yordan River and Yordan Valley; and,
d.) The Arnon River?
Torah Trivia for Parashah 44. Devarim (with Answers)
1.) Within the opening of Parashah Devarim, can you describe: a.) where Moshe addresses the Israeli camp; and, b.) when this address takes place?
Answer: Moshe address the Israeli camp on the East bank of the Yordan River, on the 1st day of the 11th month of the 40th year (presumably after leaving Kadesh Barnea):
“These are the words that (Moshe) addressed to all Israel on the other side of the (Yordan).—Through the wilderness, in the Arabah near Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Di-zahab, it is eleven days from HOreb to Kadesh-barnea by the Mount Seir route.—It was in the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, that (Moshe) addressed the Israelites in accordance with the instructions that the LORD had given him for them, after he had defeated Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and King Og of Bashan, who dwelt at Ashtaroth (and) Edrei. On the other side of the (Yordan), in the land of Moab, (Moshe) undertook to expound this Teaching.”
2.) Within Parashah Devarim, Moshe recounts Adonai’s address at Mount Horeb (Sinai) to Moshe and the Israeli camp to leave the mountain; can you describe which book (Shmot, Vayikra, or B’midbar) and/or which parashah this event is initially described?
Answer: The address occurs within Parashah Ki Tissa, within the book of Shmot (Shmot 33:1 – 3);
“The LORD our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying: You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Start out and make your way to the hill country of the Amorites and to all their neighbors in the Arabah, the hill country, the Shephalah, the Negev, the seacoast, the land of the Canaanites, and the Lebanon, as far as the Great River, the river Euphrates. See, I place the land at your disposal. Go, take possession of the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, (Avraham), (Yitzak), and (Yaakov), to assign to them and to their heirs after them.” (Devarim 1:6 – 8).
3.) Within Parashah Devarim, Moshe recounts the manner in which his authority is distributed amongst additional Israeli leaders; can you describe which book (Shmot, Vayikra, or B’midbar) and/or which parashah (B’shallach, Yitro, or Mishpatim) this event is initially described?
Answer: This even is initially described within Parshah Yitro, within the book of Shmot (Shmot 18:17 – 27);
“Thereupon I said to you, ‘I cannot bear the burden of you by myself. The LORD your God has multiplied you until you are today as numerous as the stars in the sky.—May the LORD, the God of your fathers, increase your numbers a thousandfold, and bless you as (Adonai) promised you.—How can I bear unaided the trouble of you, and the burden, and the bickering! Pick from each of your tribes men who are wise, discerning, and experienced, and I will appoint them as your heads.’ You answered me and said, ‘What you propose to do is (benevolent).’ So I took your tribal leaders, wise and experienced men, and appointed them heads over you: chiefs of thousands, chiefs of hundreds, chiefs of fifties, and chiefs of tens, and officials for your tribes. I charged your magistrates at that time as follows, ‘Hear out your fellow men, and decide justly between any man and a fellow Israelite or a stranger. You shall not be partial in judgment: hear out low and high alike. Fear no man, for judgment is God’s/. And any matter that is too difficult for you, you shall bring to me and I will hear it.’ Thus I instructed you, at that time, about the various things that you should do.’” (Devarim 1:9 – 17);
There are actually 2 occasions when authority is taken from Moshe and shared with additional Israeli leaders (aside from Aaron or Eleazer), and this retelling within Devarim almost seems like a synthesis of the 2 distinct occurrences; during the 1st occurrence, Moshe’s far-in-law, Yitro, actually makes the suggestion to Moshe, and Moshe implements it; and there is the specific description of authority placed upon 1000’s, 100’s, 50’s, and 10;s; during the 2nd occasion (described within Parashah Becha’alotecha, within B’midbar 11:11 – 17), Moshe makes the actual complaint (described within Parashah Devarim), however, Adonai transfers the power through 70 of the tribal elders.
4.) Within Parashah Devarim, Moshe recounts the Israeli arrival at Kadesh Barnea, the sending of scouts into Eretz Israel, and the conferring of the 40-yaer course upon Israelis; can you describe which book (Shmot, Vayikra, or B’midbar) and/or which parashah (Becha’alotecha, Shelach Lecha, or Korach) this event is initially described?
Answer: This is sort of a trick question: all the events are described within the book of B’midbar; however, the Israeli departure from Sinai to Paran is described within Parashah Becha’alotecha (B’midbar 10:11 – 13); the sending of the scouts into Eretz Israel is described within Parashah Shelach Lecha (B’midbar 13:1 – 2); and the 40-year course is also conferred within Parashah Shelach Lecha (B’midbar 14:26 – 33); these events are retold within Parshah Devarim (Devarim 1:19 – 38).
5.) Within Parashah Devarim, Moshe recounts Israel’s encounter with the children of Esau; can you describe which book (Shmot, Vayikra, or B’midbar) and/or which parashah (Korach, Chukkat, or Balak) this event is initially described?
Answer: This event is initially described within Parashah Chukkat, within the Book of B’midbar (B’midbar 20:14 – 21); this event is described within Devarim (Devarim 2:1 – 7).
6.) Within Parashah Devarim, Moshe recounts the Israeli encounter with Moab; can you describe which book (Shmot, Vayikra, or B’midbar) and/or which parashah (Korach, Chukkat, or Balak) this event is initially described?
Answer: This event is initially described within the book of B’midbar, within Parashah Chukkat; this event is retold within Devarim (Devarim 2:9 – 12).
7.) Within Parashah Devarim, Moshe recounts the Israeli crossing over wadi Zered; can you describe which book (Shmot, Vayikra, or B’midbar) and/or which parashah (Korach, Chukkat, or Balak) this event is initially described?
Answer: Whilst there is an absence of an explicitly coinciding description of actually crossing the wadi Zered, there is a similar description of Israelis moving from the wadi Zered, within the book of B’midbar, and within Parashah Chukkat (B’midbar 21:11 – 13); this event is initial described within Devarim (Devarim 2:13 – 15).
8.) Can you describe the duration of years between the Israeli departure from Kadesh Barnea to the actual crossing of the wadi Zered?
Answer: 38 years transpire between leaving Kadesh Barnea until the crossing of the wadi Zered:
“The time that we spent in travel from Kadesh-barnea until we crossed the wadi Zered was thirty-eight years, until the that whole generation of warriors had perished from the camp, as the LORD had sworn concerning them.” (Devarim 2:14).
9.) Can you describe which of these events occur before Israelis leave Kadesh Barnea:
a.) Israelis leave Egypt;
b.) The “10 Commandments” are initially conferred;
c.) The blueprints for the Mishkan and its items are first conferred;
d.) The golden calf is formed;
e.) Construction of the Mishkan begins;
f.) The construction of the Mishkan is completed;
g.) Aaron and the Kohanim are ordained;
h.) The 1st Census is taken;
i.) The 2nd Observance of Pesach is made;
j.) Israelis leave the Wilderness of Sinai;
k.) Miriam’s is afflicted and cured of leprosy;
l.) The scouts provide a dismal report of Eretz Israel; and/or,
m.) The curse of 40 years of wandering is conferred?
Answer: All of these events occur before Israelis leave Kadesh Barnea, within the previously listed sequence, and within the corresponding parshiyot:
a.) Israelis leave Egypt (B’shallach);
b.) The “10 Commandments” are initially conferred (Yitro);
c.) The blueprints for the Mishkan and its items are first conferred (Parashah T’rumah);
d.) The golden calf is formed Ki Tissa);
e.) Construction of the Mishkan begins (Parashah Vayakhel);
f.) The construction of the Mishkan is completed (Pekudei);
g.) Aaron and the Kohanim are ordained (T’zav);
h.) The 1st Census is taken (B’midbar);
i.) The 2nd Observance of Pesach is made (Becha’alotecha);
j.) Israelis leave the Wilderness of Sinai (Becha’alotecha);
k.) Miriam’s is afflicted and cured of leprosy (Becha’alotecha);
l.) The scouts provide a dismal report of Eretz Israel (Shelach Lecha); and,
m.) The curse of 40 years of wandering is conferred (Shelach Leacha).
10.) Can you describe which of these events occur within the span of the next 38 years, upon leaving Kadesh Barnea:
a.) Korach rebels;
b.) Miriam passes away;
c.) Edom Refuses Israel’s Passage; and/or,
d.) Aaron Passes Away?
Answer: Each of these events occur within the 38 years after Israelis leave Kadesh Barnea, within the previously listed sequence, and within the corresponding parshiyot:
a.) Korach rebels (Korach);
b.) Miriam passes away (Chukkat);
c.) Edom Refuses Israel’s Passage (Chukkat); and,
d.) Aaron Passes Away (Chukkat).
11.) Can you describe which of these events occur after crossing the Brook of Zered, as this crossing is described within Parashah Devarim:
a.) Israel defeats Sichon of Amorites;
b.) Israel Defeats Og of Bashan;
c.) Adonai undoes plots of Balam and Balak;
d.) Pinchas kills an Israeli idol worshipper and his Midiani wife;
e.) The 2nd Census is taken;
f.) Israel annhilates Midianis;
g.) Reuven, Gad, and Mannaseh receive hereditary land outside of Eretz Israel; and/or,
h.) Israelis Camp in Plains of Moab, along Yordan River, near Yericho?
Answer: All of the these described events occur after the crossing of the wadi Zered, within the previously listed sequence, and within the corresponding parshiyot:
a.) Israel defeats Sichon of Amorites (Chukkat);
b.) Israel Defeats Og of Bashan (Chukkat);
c.) Adonai undoes plots of Balam and Balak (Balak);
d.) Pinchas kills an Israeli idol worshipper and his Midiani wife (Balak);
e.) The 2nd Census is taken (Phinechas);
f.) Israel annhilates Midianis (Mattot);
g.) Reuven, Gad, and Mannaseh receive hereditary land outside of Eretz Israel (Mattot); and,
h.) Israelis Camp in Plains of Moab, along Yordan River, near Yericho (Masei).
12.) Can you appropriately match the described the proceeding boundaries (of the land provided to Reuvenis and Gaddis), with the appropriate orientation (Northern boundary, Eastern boundary, Southern boundary, Western boundary) of that boundary location:
a.) The Jabbok River;
b.) The land of Ammon;
c.) The Yordan River and Yordan Valley; and,
d.) The Arnon River?
Answer: A tenuously interpreted rendering of the boundaries includes the proceeding:
The Jabbok River (towards the North);
The land of Ammon (towards the East);
The Yordan River and Yordan Valley (towards the West); and,
The Arnon River (towards the South):
“And this is the land which we apportioned at that time: The part from Aroer along the wadi Arnon, with part of the hill country of Gilead and its towns, I assigned to the (Reuvenites) and the Gadites.” (Devarim 3:12);
“And to the (Reuvenites) and the Gadites I assigned the part from the Gilead down to the wadi Arnon, the middle of the wadi being the boundary, and p to the wadi Jabbok, the boundary of the Ammonites.” (Devarim 3:16).
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Discussion Questions:
What are the dynamics within the distinctions between the initial description of certain events, and Moshe’s retelling of these events (such as Moshe claiming authorship for the sharing of his authority, and the initial description of this being a suggestion from Yitro; and Moshe’s ownership of the suggestion to send scouts, amidst the initial description of this suggestion coming from the Israeli camp; as well as Moshe blaming Israelis for refusing to enter Eretz Israel)?
When does Adonai actually invoke the punishment upon Moshe: upon the scout incident, or during the hitting of the staff upon the rock at Meribah?
What is deal with Moshe’s revisionist history regarding the children of Esau (B’midbar 2:2 – 8), regarding: a.) the description of making an initial offer to pay; b.) the description of the fear towards Israelis; being blessed upon every step and being without any lack, compared with the complaints of hunger and thirst; and, c.) additional considerations regarding passing through lands of relatives?
In his recounting, Moshe describes the command he receives from Adonai to conquer Sichon, and then describes his decision to send ambassadors to offer Peace to Sichon for allowance to pass through his land; what is the nature of the dissonance within these descriptions? Is there some dissonance in how these distinct actions are recorded? Does Moshe initially disobey Adonai’s command and attempt to offer Peace (and how might this compare with the fear of Israelis after the scouts’ report)? And/or, is Moshe’s diplomacy simply deceitful to make Sichon increasingly vulnerable to attack?
How do the descriptions of killing every man, woman, and child compare with the initial descriptions?
What lessons are to be appropriate gleaned from the distinctions included within Moshe’s retelling of the experiences of Israelis? Understanding these writings as Adonai’s word, how can such distinctions (contradictions) be appropriately reconciled? Is this an intentional teaching regarding the intrinsic imperfection of humanity, and our inability to even exactly retell our own narrative (perhaps imparting an emphasis on the practise of patience, humility, understanding, and compassion when encountering the narratives of others who are different from ourselves)? What is the nature of any line of cohesion, integrity, and singularity that exists within these different descriptions; and how might that line be extended to include the narratives of those who are substantially different from ourselves?
Connexion between death of Aaron, generation, and crossing of wadi Zered?
What is the “book of war”?


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118.11.28
ושלום אהבא , Family and Friends.
שלום .नमस्ते.สมาธ.Pax.سلام .Peace.SatNam.صلح .Kwey.Amani.Barış.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن .和平.平和.평화.Aloha....
This correspondence is provided for the week’s Parashah Devarim, where we begin to recount the experiences of Israelis within the wilderness, immediately preceding entrance into Eretz Israel.
The featured Hebrew terms for this week are: “חרב ,” (“Horeb”), and “סיני ,” (“Sinai”), which both refer to the mountain that Moshe climbs to receive the “10 Commandments,” respectively included within Devarim 1:2, and Shmot 19:2.
Horeb; Sinai; חרב ; סיני
The Torah Trivia Question of the Week is: “Can you describe which of these events occur before Israelis leave Kadesh Barnea: a.) Israelis leave Egypt; b.) The “10 Commandments” are initially conferred; c.) The blueprints for the Mishkan and its items are first conferred; d.) The golden calf is formed; e.) Construction of the Mishkan begins; f.) The construction of the Mishkan is completed; g.) Aaron and the Kohanim are ordained; h.) The 1st Census is taken; i.) The 2nd Observance of Pesach is made; j.) Israelis leave the Wilderness of Sinai; k.) Miriam’s is afflicted and cured of leprosy; l.) The scouts provide a dismal report of Eretz Israel; and/or, m.) The curse of 40 years of wandering is conferred?
Additional Torah study resources include:
USCJ Torah Sparks: http://www.uscj.org/JewishLivingandLearning/WeeklyParashah/TorahSparks/Archive/Default.aspx;
Orthodox Union: http://www.ou.org/torah/index;
URJ: http://urj.org/learning/torah/;
Masorti Olami: http://masortiworld.org/molami/parashat_hashavua;
Reconstructionist: http://jrf.org/recon-dt;
Chabad: http://www.chabad.org/parshah/default_cdo/jewish/Torah-Portion.htm; and,
Aish: http://www.aish.com/tp/.
, ושלום אהבא
Peter
שלום .नमस्ते.สมาธ.Pax.سلام .Peace.SatNam.صلح .Kwey.Amani.Barış.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن .和平.平和.평화.Aloha....
ૐ. אמן

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