[Par-reg] Chukat - questions for self study
Menachem Leibtag
tsc at bezeqint.net
Tue Jun 23 09:07:35 EDT 2009
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THE TANACH STUDY CENTER [http://www.tanach.org]
In Memory of Rabbi Abraham Leibtag
Shiurim in Chumash & Navi by Menachem Leibtag
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PARSHAT CHUKAT
PART I - QUESTIONS FOR THE 'SHABBOS TABLE'
WHERE DOES PARSHAT PARA ADUMA BELONG?
1. Even though the laws of Para Aduma are recorded in
Parshat
Chukat, there is ample reason to assume that these laws of
'tum'at met' [i.e. laws pertaining to 'spiritual
uncleanliness' caused by touching a dead body] may have
been
given at an earlier time.
To prove this point, review Bamidbar 9:1-8, noting
how
that event ('pesach sheni') took place before the 14 of
Nissan
and after the laws of tum'at met had been given! Is
it
logical to assume that these laws were given before the
mishkan was first erected? Explain why yes (or no).
[See
Ramban on 19:1.]
Is it logical to assume that these laws were given
before
Matan Torah? If so, explain why.
2. See Rashi on Shmot 15:25. According to this Rashi,
when
were these laws (re: para aduma) first given? What, do
you
think, leads Rashi to this conclusion?
What is problematic with this conclusion, based on
Bamidbar
19:4. [See also Ramban.]
3. Finally, see Rashi at the conclusion of Bamidbar
chapter
19 (i.e. after he completes his commentary on 19:22) -
where
he quotes Rebbe Moshe ha'darshan, providing an alternate
commentary for the entire chapter which emphasizes the
thematic connection between the laws of "para aduma" the
events at "chet ha'egel"
After reading this commentary [which is simply a
masterpiece], explain how it would affect our
understanding of
when and why these laws were first given, and why they are
recorded at this specific point in Sefer Bamidbar!
4. In our introductory shiur to Sefer Bamidbar, we
discussed
the unique style of Sefer Bamidbar (where its ongoing
narrative is periodically 'interrupted' by parshiot of
mitzvot). Would you consider these laws of para aduma
(i.e.
chapter 19) typical of this style?
If so, what is the narrative that precedes these laws
and
what is the narrative that follows them?
Do any of these two narratives involve death? Do any
of
these parshiot relate to the responsibilities of the
kohanim?
Based on your answer to question #1, how could this
explain why the Torah chose to record this parsha here,
even
though these laws were actually given at a much earlier
time?
[See Rashi on 20:1 ['va-tamot sham Miriam'...]. What
leads Rashi to this conclusion?]
5. In what year do the events recorded in Bamidbar
chapters
16 thru 18 [i.e. the story of Korach's rebellion] take
place?
Would it make more sense if they took place soon
after
the sin of the 'meraglim'? [See Ibn Ezra & Ramban on
16:1.]
Assuming that Korach's rebellion took place soon
after
the sin of the meraglim, and the Mei Meriva incident took
place in the fortieth year, approximately how many years
elapse in between these two events?
What is recorded in Chumash between these two events?
Are
there any narratives?
In your opinion, could parshat para aduma (and its
laws)
relate to this time-period? If so, how?
6. Re: other commentators on this topic:
See Ibn Ezra on 19:1 (and Ramban on 19:1 / about 15
lines
down) where they discuss why this parshia is recorded
here.
See also Chizkuni on 19:1. In what manner is his
peirush
similar and in what manner is it very different from Ibn
Ezra
and Ramban's? Then, see Rashi on 20:1 [d.h.
'va-tamot
sham Miriam']. How is Rashi's peirush different from all
of
the others?
BETWEEN SEFER BAMIDBAR & DEVARIM
1. Review the story of how Bnei Yisrael doesn't enter the
territory of Edom (and why) in 20:14-21 and their journey
and
ensuing war with Sichon & Og in 21:10-35. Then, review
the
parallel account of these events in Devarim 2:1 thru 3:22.
Attempt to explain why each account emphasizes
different
aspects of these events, based on the primary theme of
[this
section of] Sefer Bamdibar in contrast to the purpose of
Moshe
Rabeinu's speech to the nation in Sefer Devarim [i.e. the
'pep
talk' to the nation before they embark on their battle to
conquer the land/ see TSC shiur on Parshat Devarim].
THE LAST STOP
1. Review the final pasuk of Parshat Chukat (i.e. 22:1).
Notice how if forms the final pasuk of entire 'parshia',
yet
on the other hand, it's considered the first verse of
chapter
22! In your opinion, which division makes more sense,
i.e.
the chapter division - considering 22:1 as the beginning
of
the Balak story; or Chazal's division, considering this
the
conclusion of Bnei Yisrael journey that began after
Aharon's
death in (see 21:4)?
2. Note how Bnei Yisrael arrive at Arvot Moav in 22:1.
To
the best of your recollection, when is the next time the
Bnei
Yisrael travel, and where do they travel to, and where is
that
story recorded?
Did you ever notice before, that this is the last
'camp
site' that Bnei Yisrael set up during their forty year
journey? To appreciate the importance of this site, make
a
list of all of the events that take place in Arvot Moav,
from
the stories in Parshat Balak until the end of Sefer
Devarim.
PART II - QUESTIONS FOR PREPARATION (for weekly shiur)
THREE SHIURIM!!
SHIUR #1 - Moshe's 'sin' at Mei Meriva
1. How many different opinions can your recall, which
explain
what Moshe did wrong at the Mei Meriva incident?
Which opinion do you consider the most logical?
What ever it may have been what he did wrong; in your
opinion - was his 'sin' intentional, or' unintentional'?
2. What was Moshe Rabbeinu's punishment for this sin?
[Keep
note of your answer for later reference.]
Do you think that the punishment that Moshe received was
'fair'? If not, explain why not.
[Did you ever hear an explanation for why he was
punished so
severely for such a small transgression?]
3. To begin our study, let's go to the 'crime scene' -
i.e.
begin your study with a quick review of 20:7-11 - the
psukim
that describe this 'sin', noting how they first describe
God's
commandment to Moshe & Aharon, followed by how they
fulfilled
[or didn't fulfill] that commandment.
Review God's commandment to Moshe in 20:8, noting how
it
includes a long list of instructions. List each command
that
Moshe is instructed to perform. [Be sure that you can
identify
each of these five commands. /If it's not Shabbat, it
would
be helpful if you write down each command, leaving a space
between each one, for later reference.]
4. Based on these five commands, is it perfectly clear
(from
these commands) precisely what Moshe is supposed to do?
For example, what is supposed to say to the rock?
Why is he commanded to take the staff?
Is he supposed to take water out of the rock, or is
the
water supposed to flow out by itself?
Did you notice any apparent contradiction between the
third and fourth commands (in 20:8)?
5. Next, carefully read 20:9-11, noting how Moshe
fulfills
(or doesn't fulfill) each of these five commands. [If you
are
writing them down, then insert them into the list you
began
above.]
Is it easy to pinpoint precisely what he did wrong?
How do you know for sure that he did do something
wrong?
In your own opinion, did he do anything wrong? If so,
which
command (or commands) did he not fulfill properly?
In your opinion (if he did something wrong), was it
because he didn't understand what God's command was; or
did he
understand - yet disobeyed intentionally?
[If you have time, see Ramban on 20:7 where he
summarizes
all of the various opinions. Note how your answers to
these
questions should help you understand all of the various
points
raised by Ramban. Which opinions does Ramban refute, and
which opinion does he prefer?
6. Return now to 20:9. To the best of your recollection,
which (or whose) 'mateh' did Moshe take? Based on this
pasuk,
how do we know for sure that he indeed took the proper
mateh?
Where does he take this mateh from and why? Is this
what
God instructed him to do in 20:8?
Now, review Bamidbar 17:16-26, noting especially
17:25!
How would this explain which mateh Moshe was instructed to
take in 20:8? What other textual and thematic connections
can
you find between the events at Mei Meriva and the story of
Korach's rebellion? Note 16:14, 16:19, & 17:27-28;
compare
with 20:4, 20:6, & 20:3! [See Chizkuni on 20:8-9, noting
how
he deals with many of the questions raised above!]
7. Next, review the story that sets the background for
Moshe's 'sin' by studying 20:1-6, carefully comparing
these
psukim with a similar event that took place in Shmot
17:1-8.
Based on this parallel, what do you think should have
been Moshe & Aharon's initial reaction to Bnei Yisrael's
complaint for water (as described in 20:2-5)?
How did Moshe & Aharon react to the people's
complaint at
Mei Meriva? In your opinion, was their reaction proper?
What
was their reaction to the similar complaint raised by the
nation as recorded in Shmot 17:1-5?
How are Moshe and Aharon's reaction to Bnei Yisrael
complaint in 20:2-5 similar to their overall reaction to
the
various other complaints raised by Bnei Yisrael in Sefer
Bamidbar? Could this explain the reason for Moshe &
Aharon's
'punishment'?
8. Review 20:12-13. What was Moshe & Aharon's
punishment?
Be precise! Does this punishment relate in any manner to
their 'leadership', or was it a personal punishment?
Does this punishment relate in any manner to their
'sin'?
In other words, are Moshe & Aharon punished as
individuals or as national leaders? Explain your answer.
9. In addition to the Ramban on 20:7-10 (where he
discusses
just about all of the opinions of the various Rishonim on
the
topic of Mei Meriva), see also Abrabanel at the end of
chapter
one of Sefer Devarim where he explains that Moshe does not
actually sin at Mei Meriva, rather is punished due to chet
ha-
meraglim [and Aharon because of chet ha-egel].
Note in his peirush that he brings down about TEN
different
explanations of Moshe's sin at Mei Meriva and disproves
each
one! As you study this Abrabanel, relate it to the above
questions.
=====
SHIUR #2 - WHEN DID MEI MERIVA TAKE PLACE?
1. To the best of your recollection, in what year do the
events of Mei Meriva (see Bamidbar 20:1-13 take place?
Similarly, when do the events in Bamidbar 20:14-29 take
place?
[Base your answer on Bamidbar 33:37-39 in relation to
20:22-26. See also Ibn Ezra on 20:1]
Based on the psukim alone, is it possible to reach a
definite answer to this question? [Explain why yes or why
not.]
From a thematic perspective, is there any reason to
prefer an explanation that puts (or doesn't put) these
events
in the fortieth year?
Can you explain why the Torah (in 20:1) only informs
us
in regard to the month, yet prefers not to tell us the
year!
How does the fact that this event takes place in the first
month affect our understanding of what transpires in the
ensuing story (i.e. in 20:2-6) in regard to the lack of
water,
and why they fear death?
2. According to Bamidbar 20:1, the incident of Mei Meriva
takes place at Kadesh in Midbar Tzin.
Where is Midbar Tzin located?
[For those of you familiar with the map of Israel
today,
take a look on the map where the road to Eilat from Beer
Sheva
meets the road to Eilat from the Dead Sea (below the
'machtesh
ha-katan' - the small crater). You should be able to find
there 'nachal tzin'.]
In your opinion, is this the same location as Kadesh
Barnea in Midbar Paraan, the site from where the meraglim
were
sent? (Be sure you understand where Midbar Paraan is
located
in relation to Midbar Tzin.) Note Yehoshua 10:41 & 15:3,
and
Bamidbar 34:4 in their context.
[To find that Kadesh [Barnea], look on the map on
Egyptian side of the Israeli-Egyptian border in the Negev,
left of the Rimon Crater area.]
3. Do you think that Kadesh was the original name of this
site at Midbar Tzin (mentioned in 20:1), or was it named
Kadesh because of the incident of Mei Meriva? Relate to
Bamidbar 20:13 and 33:36!
Relate this to the nature of Moshe's punishment
(20:12-
13)!
Are there any other cities in Israel (or nearby) that
are
called Kadesh, or have the word Kadesh as part of their
name?
[See Shoftim 4:6! Note as well Breishit 14:7 & 16:14;
Yehoshua 12:22, 15:23, 19:37, 20:7 & 21:32.]
Based on these sources, would it be logical to assume
that Kadesh Barnea and Kadesh Midbar Tzin could be (and
should
be) two different places?
4. Carefully read Devarim 1:40 - 2:14, paying careful
attention to the chronology of the events. Pay special
attention from 1:45 thru 2:3. Be sure that you can
identify
(within these psukim) when the 38 year 'gap' transpires.
[Note again 2:14.]
Attempt to correlate those psukim with the events
described in Bamidbar chapters 20 and 21, as well as in
Bamidbar chapter 33. [Btw, this is a very difficult
question
- but necessary preparation to follow the shiur.]
Relate your answer as well to Shoftim 11:15-17 (note
by
chance, it is quoted in this week's Haftara)!
5. In Devarim 1:46, the Torah informs us that Bnei
Yisrael
encamped in Kadesh - 'yamim rabim' - for many days (most
likely this implies many years / see Rashi 1:46).
In your opinion, which Kadesh is this pasuk referring
to:
Kadesh Barnea or Kadesh Midbar Tzin? What do you base you
answer on? Can you bring support for both opinions?
6. After the sin of the meraglim, were Bnei Yisrael
supposed
to stay in Kadesh Barnea, or were they instructed to
leave?
If so, why? [Relate to Devarim 1:40 and Bamidbar 14:25.
See Ibn Ezra on Devarim 1:46 & Bamidbar 20:14.
Do you agree with his interpretation? Explain!
7. If Kadesh mentioned in 1:46 is indeed Kadesh Midbar
Tzin,
and not Kadesh Barnea, what possibility arises in regard
to
when (i.e. in what year) Bnei Yisrael may have first
arrived
at that site?
If so, what possibility would arise in regard to when
the
events at Mei Meriva may have taken place?
8. See the Netziv [Emek Davar] in his lengthy commentary
to
Devarim 1:46. Note how his commentary relates to many of
the
points raised by the above questions. Be sure you
understand
what leads him to conclude [nevertheless] that Mei Meriva
took
place in the fortieth year!
=======
SHIUR #3 - PARSHAT PARAH
1. Review Bamdibar chapter 19, i.e. Parshat Parah.
How did you translate the phrase 'chukat ha-torah',
and
in your opinion, what does this phrase mean?
In general, what does the word "torah" usually refer
to
in Sefer Vayikra & Bamidbar? [Relate to Vayikra chapters
6 &
7, and Bamidbar 5:29-30 & 6:21.]
What does the word 'chok' usually refer to? [Relate to
Shmot
12:14, Vayikra 18:1-5 & 23:14,21,31 & 41.]
2. Based on Bamidbar 5:30, clearly the word "torah" can
infer
a certain type of 'procedure'. As you review Bamidbar
chapter
19, see if you can identify a 'procedure', i.e. a set of
instructions for how to make 'something'. How many
'procedures' did you find , and what would you title each
one.
[In other words, what is the end result of each
procedure?]
If you found more than one procedure, how does each
procedure relate to the next one?
3. Review this parshia once again, this time looking for
special laws or 'consequences' when performing these
procedures. Do these laws share anything in common? If
so,
can you explain why? Relate your answers to questions #2
& #3
to question #1.
4. Based on chapter 19, attempt to summarize the various
laws
of "tum'at met" [spiritual uncleanliness contracted by
contact
with a dead body]. Clarify the various manners how one
can
contract tum'at met, and the procedure that one must
follow to
'get rid' of it.
Relate your answer to the above questions.
5. Based on your answers, how would you define a 'chuka'
(or
chok) and how would you define a 'torah' in this parshia?
[Relate to the definition of a torah in Parshat Tzav.
Relate
as well to the word chok in Shmot 12:14 and Shoftim
11:38-40!]
How could this help explain what chukat ha-torah
means?
====
PART IV - PARSHANUT
EVERYONE or EVERYBODY?
1. Read 20:1, note the use of the phrase 'kol ha-eida' =
the
entire 'eida'. In your opinion, what does the word 'kol'
add
to this pasuk?
In other words, how would the pasuk have a different
meaning if the word kol was not included? Can you recall
any
other times in Chumash when this phase kol ha-eida has
been
used? If not, try Shmot 16:1 & 17:1 and Bamidbar 14:1 &
17:6,
and 20:27-29. Attempt to explain in each of these
instances
what the word kol adds to the pasuk?
2. Now see Rashi on 20:1. What detail does Rashi learn
for
the word kol? Why? [Note Ibn Ezra as well. How does
this
relate?]
Finally, see Ramban. How and why does he disagree
with
Rashi? How does he explain kol here and in all of the
other
instances noted above? How does he relate to Rashi's
peirush
concerning when the last members of the first generation
died?
In your opinion, which peirush is 'pshat', Rashi or
Ramban's?
A 'SARAF' OR A 'SERPENT'
3. Review the story in 21:1-10. Note that God tells
Moshe to
make a 'saraf' (see 21:8), but in 21:9 - Moshe makes a
'nachash nechoshet'. Can you explain why?
Based on the story, is there any logical reason that
this
'symbol' should be a nachash? Is there any reason that it
should be made out of copper?
First, see Rashi on 21:8-9. Which of the problems
(discussed above) does Rashi deal with?
Next, see Seforno on 21:8-9. Which of the problems
(discussed above) does he deal with?
Finally, see Ibn Ezra on 21:8. Note that he makes a
very
bold, but important statement in regard to understanding
miracles of this nature. In your opinion, does this Ibn
Ezra
contradict anything in the commentaries of Rashi or
Seforno?
WHO'S THE "BAM"?
1. Review 20:13 (the final pasuk of the Mei Meriva
incident),
noting its final phrase "va'ykadesh BAM". In your
opinion,
who (or what) does the word "bam" refer to? What did you
base you answer on?
[In other words, does "bam" refer back to "heyma mei
meriva", or to "bnei Yisrael" that were mentioned
earlier in
20:13, or to "Moshe & Aharon" mentioned in 20:12?]
2. See Rashi on 20:13. [Read it carefully!]
How did Rashi answer our above question, and how does
he
reach his conclusion?
Then see Ibn Ezra , noting how he offers a different
interpretation [even though he and Rashi both bring a
proof
from the pasuk "b'krovei akadesh" from Vayikra 10:3, but
for
different reasons.]
3. Next, see Rashbam & Chizkuni, noting how the disagree
with
Ibn Ezra, yet seem to agree with Rashi - even though they
provide a different reason.
Then see Seforno, noting how he offers a similar
interpretation, yet once again, based on a very different
reason!
4. Finally see Ramban, noting how he quotes Rashi, yet
disagrees. Study this Ramban carefully, noting the logic
behind each stage of his commentary. Note he bases his
interpretation on the context of the word "bam" in this
pasuk;
but also takes into account what transpired in Refidim in
Shmot chapter 17.
be-hatzlacha,
menachem
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