Parsha for 7/31/04

[insaneinthebrain]

Parsha Va'etchanan (http://www.chabad.org/parshah/TorahReading.asp?AID=36233)(And I besought) - Devarim (Deuteronomy) 3:23 - 7:11
Haftorah (http://www.chabad.org/parshah/TorahReading.asp?AID=36233&name=Haftorah)- Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 40:1-26

I guess the lack of discussion in these threads means I need to kick up my study a bit and contribute more than some links in the OP ;). I'll see what I can do...

Edited to add: I guess I didn't give Monte Judah enough credit on his Ketuvim Netzarim readings, as this week he recommends Mark 12:28-34 (http://biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&passage=Mark+12%3A28-34&version=NASB), which is definitely worth including here.

[Henaynei]

6. And you shall keep [them] and do [them], for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the eyes of the peoples, who will hear all these statutes and say, "Only this great nation is a wise and understanding people. " 7. For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is at all times that we call upon Him? hmmm.... a thought worth pondering.....

[debi b]

1 Chronicles 28
11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the plans (for the Temple)…
19 Everything is in writing, by the hand of HASHEM, which He gave me understanding to know – all the works of the plan (for the Temple).

2 Chronicles 3
17 And he set up the pillars before the Temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz.

Jachin means “he will establish” and “Boaz” means “with strength”. Hebrew reads from right to left, so when you look at those two pillars you would think – He will establish with strength.

Devarim/Deuteronomy 7
11 And you shall guard the mitzvah (commandment), and the chukim (decrees), and the mishpatim (ordinances) the I am commanding you today to do them.

Chukim generally fall into the category of Adonai’s things and mishpat generally fall into the category of people things. Chukim certainly contain Temple practices. The word for “I am commanding you” is a participle. When it is construed as a verb, it usually suggests continuous occurrence of an activity. And I believe the intent here is just that.

Devarim/Deuteronomy 4
1 Now, O Israel, listen to the chukim (decrees), and to the mishpatim (ordinances) the I teach you to to do, so that you will live…

When we compare the plans for the Tabernacle in the wilderness and Solomon’s Temple there are differences between the structures, but the chukim didn’t change and neither did the mishpatim. I think there is quite a statement in that.