Va’etchanan Study Questions

 

  1. Why do you thing Moshe would again ask the Lord to let him cross the Jordan?  With what attitude did he ask? What would this teach us about how to pray?

 

  1. What are several reasons revealed in this parahsa to follow the Torah?  What can it accomplish in the life of the follower? What can it accomplish in the  lives of others who may be watching him?

 

  1. What does it mean when the Torah calls God a “Consuming Fire”?

 

  1. What does it mean when the Torah says that God is a jealous God?

 

  1. Why does Moshe call on heaven and earth to witness against the Israelites?

 

  1. What does Moshe predict concerning the future of Israel?  How do you think it was intended to be understood figuratively (the church replacing Israel) or literally? Explain.

 

  1. In Devarim 5:1, how did Moshe exhort Israel to relate to the Torah?

 

  1. Why do you think Moseh repeated the Ten Commandments in chapter five?  What differences do you notice between this record of them and the record in Shemot 20?  How can you explain the differences?

 

  1. In Devarim 6:1, what was Israel supposed to do in the land? Was it to exclusively for life in the land or not? Please explain.

 

  1. What does Devarim 5:4 teach concerning the uniqueness of God?  How do you explain the use of the Hebrew word echad as compared with Rambam’s use of yachid?

 

  1. What is the response to God of one who is truly a redeemed person, according to Devarim 6:5?

 

  1. What does verse 6:5 tell us that we are to instruct our children?

 

  1. What are  we instructed to put on our houses?  What are not the reasons?  How does this apply to the election of the individual to eternal salvation?

 

  1. What is the relationship, if any, divine election ahs to God’s faithfulness?

 

  1. How was Israel to treat the inhabitants of the land which they were to possess? Why?

 

Torah Study Questions
 Va'etchanan   I Sought
 Devarim (Deuteronomy) 3:23 - 7:11
 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 3

 What does "Va'etchanan" mean and signify?  For what did Moshe plead to
YHVH?  What was the response of YHVH?  What did YHVH instruct Moshe to do
regarding Yehoshua?  What was the strong hand of Adonai YHVH in verse 24?
What parallels are there between the relationship of Moshe and Yehoshua and
the relationship of YHVH and Y'shua?  How does Yeshayahu 40: 10-11 prophesy
the coming of Y'shua and his characteristics?

 Chapter 4

 What did Moshe instruct Bnei Yisrael to do, for what purpose, and where?
How does the psalmist (19: 7) describe the Torah and what are the
implications therefrom?  What was Moshe instructed not to do regarding the
instructions of YHVH?  How does YHVH warn about tampering with his Word in
Proverbs and Revelation?  How have churchmen and churchanity violated these
instructions through the centuries?

 For what three purposes does YHVH instruct his people to keep his Torah
instructions for living?  How soon did Bnei Yisrael forget Abba's
instructions after getting into Eretz Yisrael?  What was Bnei Yisrael
instructed to teach their children?  How and why has HaSatan attacked the
family unit?  What is the key to understanding the prohibition against
idolatry and graven images?  How is theology related to idolatry?  How is
YHVH described in verse 24?  What is the primary object of worship of modern
man in his practice of idolatry?  Why has the creature become the object of
worship rather than the Creator?

 What does Moshe prophesy about Bnei Yisrael?  Upon whom does Moshe call as
witnesses and to what?  What little word has been added by translators and
how does this change the meaning?  Have these prophecies of Moshe been
fulfilled?  If so, when and how?  What good prophecy does Moshe give
regarding Bnei Yisrael and what is it conditioned upon?  What additional
positive prophecy does Moshe give for Bnei Yisrael and in what time frame?
What part of the covenant people of YHVH was Moshe addressing with his
prophecy?  How is this prophecy being fulfilled today?

 How is YHVH described in relationship to his covenants?  If, as so many
Christians believe, YHVH broke those prior covenants, what should they fear
he will do in the future?

 What construction in Hebrew does Moshe use to demonstrate the reality of
the One True G-d and what does it mean?  What benefits does Moshe list that
will accrue to those who are obedient to the Torah of YHVH?  What three
cities were designated as cities of refuge on the east side of the Yarden?


 Chapter 5

 Whom did Moshe summon and what did he say to them?  What speech of Moshe
is begun with these words and how long does it run?  Why did Moshe call all
the people of Israel together and review with them their history and the
instructions of YHVH? What did Bnei Yisrael tell Moshe at Har Sinai and what
did it signify?  What was YHVH's response to Bnei Yisrael's fright and lack
of faith?


 Then what did YHVH give to Moshe?  For how long did YHVH give Moshe the
Oral Torah on Har Sinai?  What was the Oral Torah YHVH gave Moshe and give
an example?  To whom were these oral instructions passed and then
transmitted?  What was Y'shua's position regarding the Oral Torah?  How is
the Oral Torah preserved today and why is it difficult to determine?

 How did Moshe adjure Bnei Yisrael to act in the closing verses of this
chapter?


 Chapter 6

 What blessings from YHVH are promised to those who are obedient to his
Torah and teach their children and grandchildren to be obedient also?  What
is the central message, the theme, of the entire Torah and what is its
significance?  What is the response that YHVH expects of us?  How is our
love for YHVH demonstrated according to Y'shua?

 Where are the words of Torah to be kept?  What is to be done with the
words of Torah in regard to children?  In what two ways is the teaching of
Torah to be done and why?  What practice is derived from verse eight?  What
practice is derived from verse nine?  What is Bnei Yisrael warned about
doing after entering into Eretz Yisrael?


 Chapter 7

 What did YHVH command Bnei Yisrael to do to the occupants of the Eretz
Yisrael?  What was Bnei Yisrael not to do with the occupants of the land?
Why would YHVH give this second set of instructions when his first
instruction was to a utterly destroy the inhabitants?  What lesson should
Torah observant believers learn that Bnei Yisrael did not learn after
entering the land?

 What did Moshe prophesy would result from Bnei Yisrael's failure to keep
the second set of instructions?  What further instructions were given as a
result of this prophecy?  Why did YHVH want them to do this?  For what two
reasons did YHVH set his love on Bnei Yisrael and what did he do as a
result?  What do the actions of YHVH confirm about him as a covenant maker
and covenant keeper?  What characteristics of YHVH to those who love him
does Moshe describe?  What does YHVH do to those who hate him?


 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.