SUMMARY:
- Moses tells the Israelites that if they follow God's laws, the nations who now dwell across the Jordan River will not harm them. (7:12–26)
- Moses reminds the people of the virtues of keeping God's commandments. He also tells them that they will dispossess those who now live in the Land only because they are idolatrous, not because the Israelites are uncommonly virtuous. Thereupon, Moses reviews all of the trespasses of the Israelites against God. (8:1–10:11)
- Moses says that the Land of Israel will overflow with milk and honey if the people obey God's commandments and teach them to their children. (10:12–11:25)
D'var Torah
by Bill Schwartz
The word Ekev or Eikev has two meanings. One is “heel”, and the other is the word “if”. They both play a part in this week’s parshat.
G-d made a covenant with the Israelites to take care of them, sustain them, and protect them from their enemies as long as they follow His commandments.
Moses and the Israelites are about to enter the land promised to them. G-d has also promised to slay all their enemies that try to stop them from entering the land, no matter how many there are. If they (the Israelites) do not follow the commandments then they will be the ones to be slain.
Moses comes on the “heel” of G-d and promises to remind the Israelites of G-d’s promise. They have been wandering for forty years. Even though G-d has provided food in the form of manna and water to sustain them, the Israelites have turned away from their part of the covenant with G-d. Moses warns the Israelites: “If you do forget the Lord your G-d and follow other gods to serve them or bow down to them, I warn you this day that you shall certainly perish, like the nations that the Lord will cause to perish before you.”
Moses tells the Israelites “When the Lord your G-d thrusts your enemies from your path, it’s not because of your virtues, it’s because of their wickedness.” Moses also reminds the Israelites that they have sinned several times and that G-d wanted to destroy them but he (Moses) intervened on their behalf. “G-d was angered when you made the golden calf to worship. You also provoked the Lord at Taberah, and at Massah, and at Kibroth.”
Because of all their sinning Moses needs to remind the Israelites of G-d’s power and of G-d’s miracles, even though they were witnesses of these powers when they left Egypt.
Is G-d’s covenant with the Israelites still good today? I know it is. Look what G-d has done since the reestablishment of Israel. The land has become the land of milk and honey. G-d has protected Israel through several wars even when they were greatly outnumbered. The modern Israeli/Jew has maintained the covenant with G-d. They still believe in one G-d... the G-d that Moses believed in. They have created a land of milk and honey which they protect and maintain as G-d has instructed. They have even given so much to the rest of the world in the form of medicine and technology. And they know it is G-d who is taking care of them.
by Bill Schwartz
The word Ekev or Eikev has two meanings. One is “heel”, and the other is the word “if”. They both play a part in this week’s parshat.
G-d made a covenant with the Israelites to take care of them, sustain them, and protect them from their enemies as long as they follow His commandments.
Moses and the Israelites are about to enter the land promised to them. G-d has also promised to slay all their enemies that try to stop them from entering the land, no matter how many there are. If they (the Israelites) do not follow the commandments then they will be the ones to be slain.
Moses comes on the “heel” of G-d and promises to remind the Israelites of G-d’s promise. They have been wandering for forty years. Even though G-d has provided food in the form of manna and water to sustain them, the Israelites have turned away from their part of the covenant with G-d. Moses warns the Israelites: “If you do forget the Lord your G-d and follow other gods to serve them or bow down to them, I warn you this day that you shall certainly perish, like the nations that the Lord will cause to perish before you.”
Moses tells the Israelites “When the Lord your G-d thrusts your enemies from your path, it’s not because of your virtues, it’s because of their wickedness.” Moses also reminds the Israelites that they have sinned several times and that G-d wanted to destroy them but he (Moses) intervened on their behalf. “G-d was angered when you made the golden calf to worship. You also provoked the Lord at Taberah, and at Massah, and at Kibroth.”
Because of all their sinning Moses needs to remind the Israelites of G-d’s power and of G-d’s miracles, even though they were witnesses of these powers when they left Egypt.
Is G-d’s covenant with the Israelites still good today? I know it is. Look what G-d has done since the reestablishment of Israel. The land has become the land of milk and honey. G-d has protected Israel through several wars even when they were greatly outnumbered. The modern Israeli/Jew has maintained the covenant with G-d. They still believe in one G-d... the G-d that Moses believed in. They have created a land of milk and honey which they protect and maintain as G-d has instructed. They have even given so much to the rest of the world in the form of medicine and technology. And they know it is G-d who is taking care of them.
RSS Feed
