Aecet-Yik Now It’S Time to Read the Torah Portion

Home , Deuteronomy 22, Ki Teitzei, Mishpatim

3-Year The Torah Portion | Parashat #144 Ki Teitzei (Reading 3 of 3) Torah Cycle August 7, 2021 Parashat #144 I) Reading the Torah Portion aecet-yiK Now it’s time to read the Torah portion. You will get the most out of the Torah portion if you have a Ki Teitzei disciplined plan for approaching it each week. I suggest the following (although you may want to Deuteronomy 24:1-25:19 develop your own plan of attack). Prepare by having a pen and paper ready to take notes or by having Hosea 10:11-11:11 your computer ready. Read the Torah portion quickly just to get a bird’s-eye view of it and to gain a 1 Corinthians 9:1-14 general understanding of its contents. Then read it again slowly and more contemplatively. As you read it, you should keep track of 1) changes in the main storyline (plots and subplots) of the text, 2) the introduction of new major themes you have not encountered heretofore and 3) connections to the main themes developed in the Torah portion. Keeping track of the major themes will provide you with thoughts to help you outline the passage later on. Recording changes in the storyline (subplots) will Revelation 21:9-14 1) help you more accurately interpret Scripture and 2) see connections to themes that may be repeated in the Haftarah and Apostolic readings.

I strongly recommend that when you study these lessons you have the following tools available. 1) A Bible [all references are based on the NKJV], 2) a printed copy of this lesson, 3) pen and paper [notebook preferred] where you can either write extra notes or complete answers to questions where the lines in this lesson are not enough space to write on, 4) an on-line version of the Bible. I suggest BibleGateway (https://www.biblegateway.com/). There are many instances where I will ask you to make a connection to some other passage. The BibleGateway app has an awesome SEARCH feature to find Bible passages. Also, once you find a passage you can use Control-F or Command-F (MAC users) to find words, numbers or phrases in the text on display. Lastly, as often as possible . . . have a partner studying with you! II) Outlining the Torah Portion

Now that you have read the Torah portion, it’s time to outline it. Try to divide the Torah portion into its major subject divisions. Please limit the outline to no more than seven major headings. Also, try to limit each subject division to a short phrase. In the chart below provide a brief phrase describing each significant change of events in the reading. Outlining will help you develop the skill of “seeing” the themes in the text.

II.

III.

IV.

VI.

VII. VIII.

III) Torah Portion Discussion Questions

I have given you a number of questions to stimulate your thought about the Torah portion reading. My goal is two-fold. First, I want to ask you questions about what the Spirit has shown me are important lessons to learn from the Torah reading. Secondly, I want to help you develop the art of making thematic connections. This skill will develop as you practice, practice, practice.

1. Earlier, we discovered that the book of Devarim (Deuteronomy) was a collection of four speeches Moses gave to Am Yisrael (the people of Israel) during the last five weeks of his life. The basic outline of the book is as follows:

Scripture Reference Topic

Devarim 1-4 Introductory Speech

Devarim 5-26 Main Speech

Devarim 27-28 Tochachah (Admonition)

Devarim 29-30 Teshuvah (Repentance)

We are currently studying Moses’ main speech, Devarim 5-26. We also learned that this main speech is divided into two main subjects. The first subject is entitled, The Commandment (singular), which begins in Devarim 6:1 and lasts until Deuteronomy 11:25. The second subject is entitled, The Statutes (chukim) and Judgments (mishpatim), and lasts from Devarim 11:26-26:19. I’m sure many of you have been thinking, “Moses is hopscotching all over the place from subject to subject!” This week, let’s continue to gain a better understanding of the book of Devarim by studying its thematic structure. This way, you will see that his speech is actually very highly organized! This is another one of those studies where you will be amazed at how thematic analysis will bring clarity and understanding to the text. In general, Parashat Re’eh (Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17) contained statutes (chukim) and judgments (mishpatim) pertaining to the establishment of a national center for worship. Do you remember the key phrase that was repeated numerous times in Parashat Re’eh? ______2. Browse over Parashat Shoftim (Devarim 16:18-21:9). How does Parashat Shoftim continue the theme of statutes (chukim) and judgments (mishpatim) that pertain to Am Yisrael at the national level? ______3. Now browse through Parashat Ki Teitzei (21:10-25:19), looking at a few commands here and there. Do you see a difference? What is the main thematic difference between the statutes (chukim) and judgments (mishpatim) presented in Parashat Ki Teitzei compared to Parashats Re’eh and Shoftim? ______4. Amazing, isn’t it! The entire focus has now switched from national issues to issues pertaining to the individual Israelite! This is a major thematic shift. Parashat ‘Eikev and Va’etchannan primarily pertained to the first subject of the main speech—The Commandment. Remember, The Commandment was none other than the greatest commandment to love the Holy One with all of one’s heart and soul. We saw that the entire The Commandment section (Devarim 6:1-11:25) emphasized our heart attitude towards Adonai. His concern was that Am Yisrael love Him and trust Him fully. The key word, love, appears numerous times. As I've stated before, Devarim 12- 26 comprises the statutes (chukim) and judgments (mishpatim) section of the main speech. We've already seen that this section pertains to how Am Yisrael will function as a nation. Parashat Re’eh and Shoftim pertain to how Copyright © 2021 Restoration of Torah Ministries. 2 Am Yisrael should relate to Adonai at the national level. Now, Parashat Ki Teitzei discusses how Am Yisrael will relate to each other at the individual level. Thematically, do you see how Parashat Re’eh and Shoftim seems to pertain to the vertical man-God relationship. Furthermore, do you see how Parashat Ki Teitzei seems to emphasize the horizontal man-man relationship? Can you think of another set of laws that divide into these two major areas of emphasis? ______5. Wow! We may be on to something here. Could there be a thematic relationship between the Ten Commandments and the presentation of Moses' main speech? Let's review the Ten Commandments thematically. Ø Commandment #1— I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Ø Commandment #2—You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. Ø Commandment #3—You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. Ø Commandment #4—Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. Ø Commandment #5—Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you. Ø Commandment #6—You shall not murder. Ø Commandment #7—You shall not commit adultery. Ø Commandment #8—You shall not steal. Ø Commandment #9—You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Ø Commandment #10—You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.

Before continuing, have you ever wondered why the Torah sometimes speaks of the Ten Commandments as if they were the entire covenant? Moses made the following statement to the children of Israel as he recounted to them the events that occurred at Mount Sinai:

So He declared to you His covenant, which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone (Deuteronomy 4:13).

Why and how could Moses call the Ten Commandments Adonai's covenant? We know that he gave Israel many other commandments. Therefore, why did He single out these ten and essentially say that they were equivalent to the entire covenant? Now that we know the themes associated with each of the Ten Commandments, let's take a closer look at Moses' main speech in order to answer these questions.

Read Deuteronomy 6:4-5, 12-14; 7:6-16; 8:1-6; 10:12-13; 11:13-14 and 22-25. These passages were taken from The Commandment section of Moses' main speech. Note how these passages require Am Yisrael to trust in Him. The Holy One makes numerous staggering promises to Am Yisrael. What should their response be? Furthermore, He continually calls upon Am Yisrael to love and cleave to Him. How is this passage thematically related to any of the Ten Commandments? ______

Copyright © 2021 Restoration of Torah Ministries. 3 6. Read Deuteronomy 6:13-15; 7:1-5, 25-26; 10:16-17; and especially 12:1-4. How are these passages thematically related to any of the Ten Commandments? ______7. As you can see, the themes of the first two commandments (mitzvot) are the same themes present at the very beginning of Moses' main speech (primarily in the The Commandment section). Let's continue. Read Deuteronomy 12-14. What phrase is used over and over and over in this portion of Scripture? ______8. The main emphasis seems to be on the national center where the Holy One will cause His Name to dwell. Now how is this emphasis on The Name thematically related to any of the Ten Commandments (mitzvot)? ______9. Read Deuteronomy 15-16. A) What one word is explicitly and implicitly repeated numerous times in this section of Scripture? B) Now, how is this emphasis on the number seven thematically related to any of the Ten Commandments (mitzvot)? ______10. Read Deuteronomy 16:18-18:22. Although this portion of Scripture discusses four different leadership institutions—prophet, priest, judge and king, A) How are they all thematically related? B) How is the theme of leadership and authority thematically related to any of the Ten Commandments (mitzvot)? ______11. Read Deuteronomy 19-21. This section of Scripture talks about many subjects including, cities of refuge, unsolved murder, killing of a rebellious son, proper hanging of criminals and fences on roofs. A) What one theme connects all of them? B) How is this emphasis on dead bodies thematically related to any of the Ten Commandments (mitzvot)? ______12. Read Deuteronomy 22:10-23:19. A) How would you characterize the general theme of the topics in this section of Scripture? B) How are the themes of marital and sexual relationships thematically related to any of the Ten Commandments (mitzvot)? C) How is the instruction concerning the wearing of tzitzit thematically related to the seventh commandment? ______13. Read Deuteronomy 23:15-25. What is the general theme of these passages? How is this theme thematically related to the eighth commandment? ______14. Read Deuteronomy 19:15-21. Which commandment is thematically linked to this passage? ______15. Read Deuteronomy 24. Which commandment is thematically linked to this passage? ______Taken all together, we’ve seen the following correlation!

Devarim 6-12 Faith in Adonai; Rejection of Idolatry 1st and 2nd Commandment

Devarim 12-14 Honoring the Name 3rd Commandment

Devarim 15-16 Sanctification of Time 4th Commandment

Devarim 16:18-18:22 Respecting Authority 5th Commandment

Sanctification of Life 6th Commandment Devarim 19-21 Devarim 22:10-23:19 Sanctification of Intimacy 7th Commandment

Devarim 23:20-26 Sanctification of Property 8th Commandment

Devarim 19:15-21 Sanctification of Truth 9th Commandment

Devarim 24 Covetousness 10th Commandment

And as I said, Moses’ main speech is a very highly organized speech. It appears that Moses used the Ten Commandments as a template for his speech! Instead of randomness, what we see is great order. But, guess what? We would miss these things apart from studying THEMATICALLY!

16. Our Torah portion may seem as if it were written haphazardly, with a few laws here about this and a few laws here about that. Oh, and by the way, let’s not forget about this . . . and this! Once again, we need to consider this passage thematically. Look at our outline. You should immediately see a pattern with four of the elements. What pattern is that? ______17. Yes! Notice how we have a pattern of marriage followed by miscellaneous laws twice! These are arranged in the form of a parallelism. Can you see if there’s a connection between Deuteronomy 25:1-4 and 25:17-19? If so, this would complete a parallelism! ______18. While performing the outline, it may have seemed strange to include Deuteronomy 25:4 along with Deuteronomy 25:1-3. Afterall, what does a muzzled ox treading grain have to do with the punishments due a wrongdoer? Perhaps the parallelism we’ve discovered can provide the answer. What thematic connection can you find that connects Deuteronomy 25:4 to events in Deuteronomy 25:17-19? ______19. Write a complete diagram of the parallelism.

IV) Messiah in the Parsha In Luke 24:25-27 and 46-47 Yeshua stated that Moses, the Prophets and the Writings all prophesied of His death, burial and resurrection in three days. Therefore, we should expect to see teachings about Yeshua and His role in redemption throughout the Torah. In this section I will ask you questions that will hopefully help you “see” Messiah Yeshua in the Torah portion and sometimes the Haftarah reading as well.

Copyright © 2021 Restoration of Torah Ministries. 5 1. We have seen in past lessons how the Torah’s commandments are all about LIFE! John 10:10 (The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.) makes it clear that Yeshua came that we would have LIFE. In this manner, Yeshua is once again fulfilling the Torah. Many of the commandments in this week’s Torah portion may seem archaic, but we must remember that it was written to an ancient society and therefore was needed to address those situations affecting Israel at that time. Nonetheless, if we simply put on our thematic thinking caps, we will be able to realize that so much of it applies to us today! According to Deuteronomy 24:5 (When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year, and bring happiness to his wife whom he has taken.), who is the beneficiary of the commandment? ______2. How is Deuteronomy 24:5 thematically connected to John 10:10? ______3. How is Deuteronomy 24:6 (No man shall take the lower or the upper millstone in pledge, for he takes one’s living in pledge.) thematically connected to John 10:10, and what does Adonai want us to be concerned about in this situation? ______4. How is Deuteronomy 24:7 (If a man is found kidnapping any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and mistreats him or sells him, then that kidnapper shall die; and you shall put away the evil from among you.) thematically connected to John 10:10, and what does Adonai want us to be concerned about in this situation? ______

5. How is Deuteronomy 24:8-9 (Take heed in an outbreak of leprosy, that you carefully observe and do according to all that the priests, the Levites, shall teach you; just as I commanded them, so you shall be careful to do. 9 Remember what the LORD your God did to Miriam on the way when you came out of Egypt!) thematically connected to John 10:10, and what does Adonai want us to be concerned about in this situation? Hint—remember what we learned leprosy represented?! ______

6. What does Adonai want us to be concerned about in Deuteronomy 24:10-13 (“When you lend your brother anything, you shall not go into his house to get his pledge. 11 You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you lend shall bring the pledge out to you. 12 And if the man is poor, you shall not keep his pledge overnight. 13 You shall in any case return the pledge to him again when the sun goes down, that he may sleep in his own garment and bless you; and it shall be righteousness to you before the LORD your God.)? ______

7. As you should be able to see by now, the commandments in Deuteronomy 24:5-22 are connected by a unifying theme. Read the remainder of this chapter. How are the other verses thematically connected to the themes we’ve uncovered so far? ______

8. Notice the types of people we are supposed to have concern for (people who owe us a pledge, a poor brother, a hired servant, a stranger, the fatherless, and the widows). Why does Adonai use these people in these examples?

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9. How does the book of James teach the same thing? Give a reference. ______

V) Making the Connection to the Haftarah Reading I have listed a number of passages from the Haftarah reading that have thematic connections to the Torah portion. Your job is to find the thematic connections in the Torah portion. Although I may quote an entire verse or two from the Haftarah reading, you should focus most of your attention on the text that is bold and italicized. The bold and italicized text will contain the main theme or words that I want you to connect to the Torah portion. Once you have found a connection to the Haftarah verses, record the chapter and verse of the Torah text connection and write a brief sentence describing how the two passages are thematically connected.

1. How is Hosea 10:11a (Ephraim is a trained heifer That loves to thresh grain) thematically connected to the Torah portion? ______

2. How is Hosea 10:12a (Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy) thematically connected to the Torah portion? ______

3. How is Hosea 10:12b (For it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.) thematically connected to the Torah portion? ______

4. How is Hosea 10:13a (You have plowed wickedness; You have reaped iniquity.) thematically connected to the Torah portion? ______

5. How is Hosea 10:13b (You have eaten the fruit of lies) thematically connected to the Torah portion? ______

6. How is Hosea 10:15a (Thus it shall be done to you, O Bethel, because of your great wickedness.) thematically connected to the Torah portion? ______

7. How is Hosea10:15b (At dawn the king of Israel shall be cut off utterly.) thematically connected to the Torah portion? ______

8. How is Hosea 11:1 (“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.”) thematically connected to the Torah portion? ______Copyright © 2021 Restoration of Torah Ministries. 7 9. How is Hosea 11:5 (“He shall not return to the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to repent.”) thematically connected to the Torah portion? ______

10. How is Hosea 11:4b (And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them.) thematically connected to the Torah portion? ______

VI) The Apostolic Writings I have listed a number of passages from the Apostolic reading that have thematic connections to the Torah portion. Your job is to find the thematic connections to the Torah portion. Although I may quote an entire verse or two from the Apostolic reading, you should focus most of your attention on the text that is bold and italicized. The bold and italicized text will contain the main theme or words that I want you to connect to the Torah portion. Once you have found a connection to the Apostolic verses, record the chapter and verse of the Torah text connection and write a brief sentence describing how the two passages are thematically connected.

1. How is 1 Corinthians 9:1 (Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?) thematically connected to the Torah portion? ______

2. How is 1 Corinthians 9:3 (My defense to those who examine me is this) thematically connected to the Torah portion? ______

3. How is 1 Corinthians 9:5 (Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?) thematically connected to the Torah portion? ______

4. How is 1 Corinthians 9:7 (Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?) thematically connected to the Torah portion? ______

5. How is 1 Corinthians 9:9-10 (For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.) thematically connected to the Torah portion? ______

6. How is 1 Corinthians 9:11 (If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?) thematically connected to the Torah portion? ______

This crossword puzzle will cover basic facts about the Torah portion, Haftarah reading and Apostolic readings. The answers are based on the text from the New King James Version of the Bible and may contain phrases as well as individual words.

Let’s get practical. The study of the Word is not complete until we are encouraged to think, speak and act differently. Our study of the Word should always involve personal application of the text to our lives. As I’ve heard it said before, Adonai’s Word needs to go from our head to our hearts and then to our hands. Our lifelong journey is to become like our master, Yeshua, and this is only accomplished as we faithfully apply His Word to every aspect of our lives. Discipling Our Children What have you learned from this week’s Torah study that you can teach your children? Ø Write down what you learned that can and/or should be discussed with your children? Perhaps they need to know some of the facts covered in the crossword puzzle? o ______o ______o ______Ø Write down anything you learned that revealed bad habits or thought patterns in your children’s lives? o ______o ______o ______Ø Write down anything you learned that revealed good habits or thought patterns that your children need to be encouraged or strengthened in and grow in obedience to? o ______o ______o ______

Ø Write down anything you learned that can be a topic of prayer for you and your children this week or permanently? o ______o ______o ______Discipling One Another Think about what you’ve studied in this week’s lesson. Ø Write down anything you learned that impacted you the most? o ______o ______o ______Copyright © 2021 Restoration of Torah Ministries. 10 Ø Write down anything you learned that revealed bad habits or thought patterns you need to stop? o ______o ______o ______Ø Write down anything you learned that revealed good habits or thought patterns you need to be encouraged or strengthened in and grow in obedience to? o ______o ______o ______Ø Write down anything you learned that can be a topic of prayer for yourself, your family, your worship community, your neighborhood, the world or Adonai’s people at large? o ______o ______o ______Just focus on one thing and talk to an accountability partner about it. Determine what you can DO over the next week (or more) in order to put what you’ve learned into practice. Make a commitment to someone else that you are going t seek to put some aspect of this week’s lesson into practice. ANSWER KEY Outlining the Torah Portion I. Deuteronomy 24:1-4 – Marriage and Remarriage II. Deuteronomy 24:5-22 – Miscellaneous Laws III. Deuteronomy 25:1-4 – Punishments from the Court IV. Deuteronomy 25:5-10 – Marriage Duty of the Surviving Brother V. Deuteronomy 25:11-16 – Miscellaneous Laws VI. Deuteronomy 25:17-19 – Remember to Destroy the Amalekites Torah Portion Discussion Answers 1. One of many examples is Deuteronomy 12:11a—the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide. 2. It spoke of the establishment of the judicial system in the place, HaMaqom (which we now know was speaking of Jerusalem). Furthermore, it established the statutes (chukim) and judgments (mishpatim) for the national offices of king, priest, judge and prophet. 3. The statutes (chukim) and judgments (mishpatim) of Parashat Re’eh and Shoftim primarily pertained to Am Yisrael at the national level. The statutes (chukim) and judgments (mishpatim) of Parashat Ki Teitzei pertain to Am Yisrael at the individual level. 4. Yes, the Ten Commandments! 5. Answers: A. They should believe Him and love him. B. Commandment #1—Page: 11 Know Adonai, believe and trust in Him that He alone is the one and only true God. 6. Commandment #2—Idolatry is forbidden! 7. The place (HaMaqom) where Adonai will cause His NAME to dwell. 8. Page: 11 Commandment #3—Sanctification of Adonai's Name! 9. Answers: A. The number Seven! Ø Deuteronomy 15:1—Instructions concerning the seven-year remission of debt (Shemittah cycle). Ø Deuteronomy 15:12-18—Israelite bondsmen go free every seven years.

Copyright © 2021 Restoration of Torah Ministries. 11 Ø Deuteronomy 16:3-8—Seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Ø Deuteronomy 16:9-12—Seven-week countdown to Shavuot. B. Commandment #4—The number seven and the setting apart of time in honor of the Holy One! 10. Answers: A. Page: 12 They are all positions of leadership and authority. B. Commandment #5—Respect for (parental) authority! 11. Answers: A. The theme of a corpse. In most of the examples, someone is killed either accidentally or intentionally. B. Page: 12 The theme of Commandment #6—Sanctification of life! 12. Answers: A. Page: 12 The general theme pertains to proper marital and sexual relationships. B. Page: 12 Commandment #7—Sanctification of sexual intimacy! C. According to Numbers 15:39, the wearing of the tassels (tzitzit) is so “that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined.” This is thematically equivalent to the seventh commandment’s prohibition of adultery. 13. Answers: A. Page: 12 Not keeping that which does not belong to you. B. Commandment #8—Sanctification of property! 14. Page: 12 Commandment #9—Sanctification of truth! 15. Commandment #10—Sanctification of our desires! 16. Answer: Ø Deuteronomy 24:1-4 – Marriage and Re-Marriage Ø Deuteronomy 24:5-22 – Miscellaneous Laws Ø Deuteronomy 25:1-4 – Punishments from the Court Ø Deuteronomy 25:5-10 – Marriage Duty of the Surviving Brother Ø Deuteronomy 25:11-16 – Miscellaneous Laws Ø Deuteronomy 25:17-19 – Remember to Destroy the Amalekites 17. Answers: A. In Deuteronomy 25:1-4 there is an evildoer who performed a wrongful act against someone else. This is thematically connected to Deuteronomy 25:17-19 where the Amalekites wrongfully attacked the rear flanks of Israel when they left Egypt. B. In Deuteronomy 25:1-4 the evil doer was deserving of punishment. This is thematically connected to Deuteronomy 25:17-19 where Adonai commanded Israel to punish the Amalekites at the appropriate time. 18. Answers: A. The stragglers in Deuteronomy 25:17-19 were characterized as tired and weary. B. This is what would characterize an ox who was not allowed to eat as he treaded the grain. 19. Answer:

A) Deuteronomy 24:1-4 – Marriage and Remarriage B) Deuteronomy 24:5-22 – Miscellaneous Laws C) Deuteronomy 25:1-4 – Punishments from the Court A) Deuteronomy 25:5-10 – Marriage Duty of the Surviving Brother B) Deuteronomy 25:11-16 – Miscellaneous Laws C) Deuteronomy 25:17-19 – Remember to Destroy the Amalekites Messiah in the Parsha Answers

Copyright © 2021 Restoration of Torah Ministries. 12 1. The woman is the one who benefits from this commandment. Obviously, the man does also, but the text seems to be primarily concerned that the woman is cared for during these early years of marriage. 2. It shows us that the initial years of marriage were important to Adonai. It was His will that newlyweds enjoy one another and establish their marriage—LIFE! 3. Without both upper and lower millstones, the person cannot grind grain to provide sustenance (food necessary for LIFE). Therefore, when it comes to our financial dealings, Adonai wants us to be concerned about the welfare of others even when they owe us something. In other words, our hearts should not be so dark that we would deprive someone of something necessary for LIFE. 4. Kidnapping is the literal taking of a LIFE, not physically, but spiritually. Adonai has given every man a LIFE of freedom and it is wrong for one person to kidnap someone and sell them. Kidnapping is a form of taking of a LIFE. This is why the punishment for kidnapping is similar to the punishment for murder, because someone’s LIFE has been taken, albeit figuratively. We are to be concerned with others’ lives. We should not be so hardhearted that we would not care that a person was not able to live the life of freedom Adonai intended for him. 5. Remember, the person suffering from “leprosy,” a metzora, was essentially THE WALKING, LIVING DEAD! That’s right. If we want to see what death is like, then we look to the metzora, who was totally cut off from the presence of Adonai in the Mishkan, as well as all human relationships. Therefore, in context, it seems that Adonai wanted a person with “leprosy” to obey the priest’s commandments so that the leprosy would not spread to others! Again, we see that Adonai wants us to be concerned with the welfare of others. Furthermore, we see that the “leper” was experiencing the exact opposite of LIFE! 6. It seems that we are to be concerned about respect for the dignity of others. Just because we loan someone something doesn’t mean that they lose all other rights and don’t deserve respect anymore, especially if they are poor. 7. In general, Adonai is teaching us to have concern for the welfare of others! 8. Adonai chose this group of people to teach us that we are to have concern for the welfare of the least among us. We’re not supposed to just be concerned for the welfare of the rich and famous. We need to consider the most vulnerable within our midst and not show partiality. 9. James 2:1-13! Haftarah Connection Answers 1. Deuteronomy 25:4 – You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain. 2. This Torah portion has many commandments that display the mercy (lovingkindness) of Adonai. Here are a few: 1) Deuteronomy 24:5—“When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year, and bring happiness to his wife whom he has taken.” 2) Deuteronomy 25:6—“No man shall take the lower or the upper millstone in pledge, for he takes one’s living in pledge.” 3) Deuteronomy 24:12-13—And if the man is poor, you shall not keep his pledge overnight. 13You shall in any case return the pledge to him again when the sun goes down, that he may sleep in his own garment and bless you; and it shall be righteousness to you before the LORD your God. 4) Deuteronomy 24:14-15—“You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether one of your brethren or one of the aliens who is in your land within you gates. 15Each day you shall give him his wages, and not let the sun go down on it, for he is poor and has set his heart on it; lest he cry out against you to the LORD, and it be sin to you.” 5) Deuteronomy 24:17—“You shall not pervert justice due the stranger or the fatherless, nor take a widow’s garment as a pledge.” 6) Deuteronomy 24:19—“When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow . . .”, etc. It’s tragic that Marcion viewed “the God of the Old Testament,” as a malevolent God. It’s also tragic that many Christians today view the Torah as something evil or onerous. Adonai’s commandments demonstrate his mercy, lovingkindness and compassion. 3. Deuteronomy 24:13 – You shall in any case return the pledge to him again when the sun goes down, that he may sleep in his own garment and bless you; and it shall be righteousness to you before the LORD your God. 4. Deuteronomy 24:19 – “When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.”

Copyright © 2021 Restoration of Torah Ministries. 13 5. Deuteronomy 24:21a – When you gather the grapes of your vineyard . . . 6. Deuteronomy 25:1-2 – “If there is a dispute between men, and they come to court, that the judges may judge them, and they justify the righteous and condemn the wicked, 2 then it shall be, if the wicked man deserves to be beaten, that the judge will cause him to lie down and be beaten in his presence, according to his guilt, with a certain number of blows.” 7. Deuteronomy 25:19b – that you will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. You shall not forget. 8. Deuteronomy 24:18 and 22 – But you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this thing . . . 22 And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this thing. 9. Deuteronomy 24:18 and 22 – But you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this thing . . . 22 And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this thing. 10. Deuteronomy 25:4 – “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Apostolic Reading Answers 1. Deuteronomy 24:18 – But you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this thing. The connection is an opposite, a slave versus a free man! 2. Deuteronomy 24:1a—“When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her . . .” 3. Deuteronomy 24:5 – “When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year, and bring happiness to his wife whom he has taken.” 4. Deuteronomy 24:5 – “When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year, and bring happiness to his wife whom he has taken.” 5. Deuteronomy 25:4 – “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” 6. Deuteronomy 24:19 – “When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.”