Torah Study Questions

Shelach L'cha Send Forth

Bamidbar (Numbers) 13:1 - 15:41

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 13

According to this parsha, what prompted Moshe to send men into Cana'an? What position did each one of these men have in their tribe? What two types of information were they to gather? What two important points did they need to verify in this mission? What differences can be noted between their mission and a spy mission? What tribe did not send a scout and why? What essential difference is there between the story found in this parsha and that reported in D'varim 1:19-36? What principle of life can we learn from this report? In what way can we see the promise of the Two Houses of Bnei Yisrael in the list of scouts? How did YHVH change the name of the leader of Ephraim and what does it symbolize? What 6 specific questions did Moshe ask the scouts to answer? What did he ask them to bring back from Cana'an?

What did the scouts return with? How long was their mission? To whom did they report? How many reports did they deliver and how many opinions? What was their report about the nature of the land? What was the majority opinion about the feasibility of the conquest of Cana'an? What was the dissenting opinion? Why was YHVH so angered by the majority opinion? What little word turned a positive report into a negative opinion? What lesson can we learn about the use of that word in our lives? What factors did the majority opinion overlook when comparing their size and ability to the opposition within Cana'an?

Chapter 14

What was the response of the assembly to the majority opinion and what did they do that night? What did they say against Moshe and Aharon? What was their primary concern? What action did they propose to take? What was the immediate response of Moshe and Aharon? With what action did Yehoshua and Kalev respond? What did they say to the assembly? What did the assembly say in response? What appeared to Bnei Yisrael and where? What question did YHVH ask Moshe and what did YHVH propose to do?

In Moshe's response, what facts did he lay out for YHVH about his relationship with Bnei Yisrael? What did he say would be the impact on the reputation of YHVH if he carried through with his proposal? What characteristics does Moshe remind YHVH that he possesses? How does he describe the consequences of sin? What does he ask YHVH to do as he has done in the past? How does YHVH respond and why? What prophetic statement does he make in the process? What would be the consequences to those who had tested him? Specifically who would this apply to? Who would be exempted and why? What did Moshe speak to Bnei Yisrael and how did they respond?

By the next day, what had Bnei Yisrael decided? What did they intend to do? What did Moshe advise them and why? What was their response and what was the result?

According to the Sages, on what date did Bnei Yisrael cry through the night? What has been the significance of that date through history? What has it come to symbolize? What was the most important difference between the minority opinion of Yehoshua and Kalev and the majority opinion of the ten? What did they say had been removed from the inhabitants of Cana'an? How were they rewarded for their faith? How could the ten great men and leaders of the nation sin so grievously and incite the people to rebel? What mental process had these man employed and what did they lack? What was the difference in focus between the ten of the majority and the two in the minority? What must be the first consideration in any undertaking that YHVH decrees? What is the most contagious disease and what is the only cure? What motivates us to act in courage? What is courage? What statement does Rav Yochanan make that we must remember throughout our lives and in every test of courage?

Chapter 15

What is the essence of the first 13 verses of this chapter?

Summarize the explicit statement of YHVH in vs. 14 to 16. What determines whether one is an Israelite? What comes to those who embrace the covenant with YHVH? How was is demonstrated in the life of Kalev? Why is it error to teach that Y'shua did away with the "law"? Why is the rabbinical teaching that only the Jews can know and live the Torah also error? What trap must be avoided by those who seek to keep the Torah of YHVH? What is to be the response of the messianic Torah observant believers to the love of our Father? What will be the result?

How was atonement made for the entire assembly that unintentionally entered idol worship? How was atonement made for an individual who unintentionally entered idol worship? What was the decrees of YHVH for one who intentionally blasphemed YHVH and why? What is the key to understanding the punishment YHVH decreed on the one who was gathering wood on Shabbat? Was the death penalty automatic for intentional sin? Why or why not? What three things would be necessary for the forgiveness of YHVH to extend to the intentional sinner? What was the purpose of the instructions of YHVH regarding the tzitzit? What are the two key verbs regarding the instructions of YHVH and our obedience to them?

What additional understanding can messianic Torah observant believers find in the Epistle to the Messianic Hebrews 3:7-19 regarding our walk of faith and learning lessons from history recorded in the Torah? What three lessons regarding faith may be derived from this parsha?

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.