Torah Study Questions

Ki Teitze - When you go

Devarim (Deut.) 21:10 - 25:19

Mark R. Ensign, Adot Adonai, Amarillo, Texas

Introductory questions -- Brief answers, not for extended discussion:

1. At what point in history does this parsha unfold?

2. Where does this parsha take place geographically? What are the setting and environment?

3. Who are the primary actors in the parsha and what role or roles does each play? What is the significance of each role? Who are the secondary actors and what roles do they play? What is the significance of their roles?

4. What is the overall theme of this parsha? What are the subdivisions, if any?

Parsha Specific Questions -- for extended discussion:

Chapter 21

Before a female captive could be taken as a wife by an Israelite, what had to be done? What was the purpose for this waiting period? What if the Israelite decided he did not want the captive as a wife?

A man having two wives, one beloved and one hated, could not do what regarding his inheritance to his sons? What did he have to give to the firstborn son and why?

What was to be done with a wayward and rebellious son who would not obey his parents? What is the punishment for the rebellious child and why? What assumption does the Torah make in this passage regarding disobedient and rebellious children? Why do most parents today have a negative view of obedience and discipline of children? What is the essential lesson to be learned from this passage? What did Yesha'yahu (Isaiah 3:10-12) describe as the end results for the wicked when their idolatry of children worship replaces the worship of YHVH?

Based upon the above three passages, what might be the anticipated consequences of an infatuated soldier marrying a beautiful captive woman?

What was to be done with one who committed a capital offense, was executed and hung on a tree; why? How does Rav Sha'ul relate this to the death of Y'shua HaMashiach?

Chapter 22

What was an Israelite to do with a lost animal or an article of personal property owned by a fellow Israelite? This passage teaches "community consciousness." What is that? How does Yochanan relate this to our love for YHVH and each other?

What two mitzvot of this parsha teach us to have and use sensitivity in our obedience, particularly in relationship to animals? If the Torah teaches us sensitivity about animals, what lesson must we learn about our relationship with people?

How does the Torah describe one who engages in cross-dressing, impersonation of the opposite sex?

What does Rav Sha'ul teach in his second epistle to the Corinthians regarding being unequally yoked? What spiritual lessons might be learned from the passages regarding mixtures? According to Rav Sha'ul in Romans 6, how is the believer in Y'shua not to be a mixture?

If a man accused his new wife of not being a virgin, what was to be done? What was the proof of her virginity? How was the husband who falsely accused his wife be punished? What was to be done with a new wife who could not prove her virginity if her husband accused her; why?

What was to be done with a man who committed adultery with a married woman and why? What was to be done to a virgin woman betrothed to a man and a man who had sexual intercourse with her in a city; why and for what purpose? What was to be done to a betrothed girl and the man who sexually assaults her outside the city; why? What was done to a virgin who was not betrothed and the man who sexually assaulted her?

Chapter 23

What marriage relationship was forbidden in the first verse (last verse of Chapter 22 in English Bible)? What categories of persons could not become part of the congregation or assembly of YHVH? What two categories of persons had to wait until the third generation before entering the assembly or congregation of YHVH?

Why was the camp of the army of Bnei Yisrael to be kept clean and pure? What was the army of Bnei Yisrael not to do to a slave who escaped his master and what were they to do? The daughters and sons of Bnei Yisrael were banned from becoming what and what could not be done with their wages? Lenders in Bnei Yisrael not charge interest to whom; who could be charged interest; why?

What instructions were given regarding making a vow to YHVH? What may a worker do in the vineyard or in the standing grain?

Chapter 24

What is the real point of the first four verses regarding divorce? What is the position of YHVH regarding divorce? What is the key to understanding Y'shua's statements about divorce? What did Y'shua set in place as the correct interpretation of these verses regarding divorce?

What exemption from army service did a newly married husband have? What could not be taken by a lender as a pledge, security or collateral on a loan and why? What was to be done to a kidnapper of an Israelite who sold him into slavery; why? What could a lender not do to obtain collateral as security for a loan? When was a poor or destitute employee to be paid and what would happen if he was not paid promptly? What important lesson is taught by v. 16? What three categories of persons receive special protection in the last few verses of this chapter and why? At what times and in what special ways were these people to be benefitted?

Chapter 25

When a guilty person was to be punished with lashes, what was the maximum number that could be inflicted on him? How was this instruction carried out in the life of Rav Sha'ul and how many times?

What was the brother of a man who died without children to do following his death? What was done with the firstborn son of this union and why? What was done to a brother who would not marry his sister-in-law?

What was to be done to a woman who intervened in a fight between her husband and another man by seizing the genitals of her husband's opponent? What types of weights and measures were ordained by YHVH for Bnei Yisrael with what result? What were Bnei Yisrael instructed to do regarding Amalek and why?

Closing Questions:

What were G-d's purposes and objectives in preserving this portion of the Scriptures to this day? What benefit do these Scriptures have for Torah observant believers today?

What other insights has the Ruach HaKodesh given you in your study of this portion that you would like to share with the group?

What questions from this portion have you had that have not been answered by the group study?

For personal introspection -- What impact do you think the study of the words from your Father in this portion will have on your life? How do you plan to implement his instructions in this parsha in your life?

Silently ask the Ruach HaKodesh to implant these words of our Father like seeds, to nurture their growth in your heart, and to enable you to respond fully as they do.