Torah Study Questions
Re'eh - Look At, Behold
Devarim (Deuteronomy) 11:26 - 16:17
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?  Probably lush rolling hills, very good for raising sheep
and cattle.  Just across the Yarden from the land flowing with milk and
honey opposite Sufah.

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 11:26-32

What two things does Moshe present to Bnei Yisrael?  What is the blessing?
What has been our elementary understanding of blessings? What is the higher
understanding of blessings?  What brings the curse?  After Bnei Yisrael
entered the land, where were they to deliver the blessing and the curse?
How was this instruction fulfilled?  Why were Bnei Yisrael going to cross
the Yarden?  What did Moshe instruct them to do?  What important lesson is
derived from the words, "which I command you this day."

Chapter 12

In what geographical area do the instructions of Moshe in the first 19
verses have particular relevance and why?  What four instructions did YHVH
give Bnei Yisrael regarding idolatry?  What do we know about the obedience
of Bnei Yisrael to these instructions?  What were the instructions of YHVH
for true worship?  Where were Bnei Yisrael to bring their offerings and
where were they forbidden from erecting altars and offering sacrifices?
What instruction destroys the arguments of vegetarians?  What were they
forbidden to eat and what was to be done with it?  What were Bnei Yisrael
forbidden to eat in their cities and where were they to eat these?  What
additional instruction demolishes the vegetarian's position?  What
instruction contains a strong indication of the existence and necessity for
the Oral Torah?
What two things did Moshe tell Bnei Yisrael to do with the words he gave
them and why?  What warning did Moshe give to Bnei Yisrael regarding the
gods of the nations they were to drive out of the land?  Why was this
warning given?

Chapter 13

Divide the first verse (last verse of chapter 12 in the English Bible)
into its two parts.  Restate each part in your own words so as to amplify
them and recognize the tremendous significance of each part.

What two different types of seducers are listed in this chapter?  What is
the penalty for the seducers?  What is the test to which YHVH is putting
Bnei Yisrael by such seducers?  What was to be done to a city in Eretz
Yisrael that had gone astray to worship the gods of others, after proper
investigation and inquiry?  If Bnei Yisrael was faithful and did this to the
idolators and their city, what would YHVH do?

What passage in the Brit Chadashah provides important instructions for
avoiding the seduction of idolatry and remaining true to Abba?  What two
critical instructions are contained in the first verse?  What is the key
test to recognize the spirit of G-d?  What is the spirit of the
anti-messiah?  How do the children of G-d overcome false prophets?  How are
false prophets identified?  How can we distinguish the Spirit of truth from
the spirit of error?

Chapter 14

What is special about the expression of love by Abba for his people in the
first two verses?  What does Moshe call any thing the people were not to
eat?  What animals may be eaten?  What things living in water may be eaten?
What birds may be eaten?

What two tithes are described in this chapter; describe each?  If the
distance from their home to Yerushalayim was too great that they could not
carry the tithe, what could they do?

Chapter 15

What was to happen at the end of every seven years?  What did YHVH not
want to be found among Bnei Yisrael and what was this conditioned upon?
What two things did YHVH say Bnei Yisrael would do to many nations?  What
was to be done for a destitute person if any were found among Bnei Yisrael?
What would YHVH do for one who helped a destitute persons?  What did Moshe
say would not cease to exist within the land and why did he make this
statement?

How long could a Hebrew bond-servants work before he was released?  When
the Hebrew bond-servant was released, how was his master to treat him and
why?  What was done if the Hebrew bond-servant did not wish to leave his
master?

What was to be done with the firstborn male of the cattle and flocks?
What was to be done if the firstborn animal had a blemish?

Chapter 16

What were the three pilgrimage feasts or festivals described in this
chapter?  What was commemorated by Pesach?  Where was the only place that
the Pesach offering could be offered to YHVH?  How long after Pesach and the
Feast of First Fruits did Shavuot occur?  What was the length of the
Festival of Sukkot?  Who were required to attended these pilgrimage feasts
and festivals?  What was each person who attended to bring?


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.