Chumash with Chayenu

Moshe reviews with the Jewish people the laws requiring them to build railings on the roofs of their homes in order to prevent people from falling, the laws prohibiting mixing wool and linen in garments, and the laws governing cases of suspected unchaste behavior, adultery, rape and forbidden marriages.

Moshe reviews with the Jewish people the laws regarding stoning, returning lost items, helping others, cross-dressing, and sending away a mother bird before taking her eggs.

Moshe tells the Jewish people the laws of captives of war. He then reviewed the laws regarding inheritance and parental responsibility for their children’s behavior.

Moshe then instructed the people how to lay siege to an enemy city, and told them that unwitnessed, unsolved murder must be atoned for by a specific ritual performed by the judges of the high court (the Sanhedrin) and those of the city closest to the site of the murder.

Moshe teaches the Jewish people the laws of legal testimony and perjury. He then begins to instruct the Jewish people regarding how they were to conduct their conquest of the Land of Israel. Before battle, a specially appointed priest had to command the soldiers, in G-d’s name, to be courageous (and who is exempt from the battlefront).

Moshe warns the Jewish people not to listen to false prophets, and reviewed the laws of Cities of Refuge for the accidental murderer.

After dividing the priests into divisions which would take turns serving in the Tabernacle/Temple, Moshe encourages the Jewish people to turn only to G-d for all their needs, and not to seek ways to foretell the future (divination).

Moshe instructs the Jewish people to honor the priests, taking care to give them their allotments from their produce and flocks. They do not receive their own portion of land.

Moshe instructs the Jewish people to appoint a king over them, and some laws pertaining to the king.

Moshe instructs the Jewish People to appoint judges and sheriffs throughout the Land of Israel to try cases and uphold the law. He further warned them against idolatrous practices.

Moshe reviews with the Jewish people the laws of the three“pilgrim” festivals— Passover, Shavu’os, and Sukos—which they were required to celebrate in the Temple-city. Each festival must fall in a specific season.

Moshe now teaches the Jewish people the law that the sabbatical year cancels loans. He then warned them not to let this fact prevent them from loaning money. He then taughtthem that when they dismiss their servants, they must give them a gift. In both cases, they should not worry about the expense, since G-d will provide them with the means to follow His laws.

Moshe teaches the Jewish people that after they settle the Land of Israel and begin working the land, G-d has obligated them to set aside a portion of their produce for the poor, and to bring a tenth of their oil, wine, and grain to the Temple-city and consume it there. This ensured that the people would regularly visit Jerusalem (which was chosen to be the Temple-city) in order to renew their spiritual inspiration.

Moshe instructs the Jewish people regarding how they must distinguish themselves from other peoples in order to remain true to their Divine mission. These instructions included the laws regarding bodily mutilation and kashrut (i.e., permitted vs. forbidden types of food).

Moshe tells the Jewish people that when they are confronted with a challenge to their faith (such as the prosperity of the wicked or of false prophets), they must remember that G-d is testing their loyalty and commitment to Him. This section also deals with the laws of Meisis (one who secretly incites others to worship false gods) as well as laws pertaining to an idolatrous city (Ir HaNidachas).

After detailing the laws governing centralized worship, Moshe reminds the Jewish people that although the blood of the sacrifices is “consumed” by G-d on the Altar, animal blood should not be consumed when they eat meat themselves.

Moshe reminds the Jewish People that G-d gives them the choice between good and evil, and that their choice will result either in a life of blessings or one of curses. He then told them that when they enter the Land of Israel, they must eradicate all traces of idolatry from it, and that they must establish a centralized location for the sacrificial rites (which would eventually become the Temple in the city of Jerusalem).

Moshe promises the Jewish people that if they would keep G-d’s commandments, imitate His goodness, and cleave to the sages of the Torah, G-d would enable them to successfully drive out the nations that were occupying the Land of Israel.

Moshe praises the Holy Land. He then encourages the Jewish people to observe the commandments and thus be worthy of the ensuing reward and vice versa (the 2nd paragraph of Shema).

Moshe tells the Jewish people that G-d’s demands on them are not excessive, and certainly not disproportionate to the great mercy that G-d continues to show them.