The Last Chapter of Torah (Deut 34)
MC
ByMisha Clebaner

Questions to keep in mind during reading Dvarim/Deut 34:

  1. Dvarim 34:1-4

    1. What is Moses being shown here in v1-4?

    2. Is there anything surprising in Moses’ actions vis-a-vis his age in v1?

    3. What do you make of the “לאמור” in v4 before the names of the patriarchs? What does it imply? What are the implications?

    4. What are your thoughts on “לְזַרְעֲךָ֖” in v.4? How does it connect to the first two verses? Is there any need for v4 if we have v1-2.

  2. Dvarim 34:5-8

    1. Moses was usually known as “איש אלוקים”, what is he known as here? What do you make of this shift?

    2. Where specifically/spatially is “there”? What do you make of this is the location of his death?

    3. Some midrashim say that the “את” is reflexive, do you buy that? Why or why not?

    4. Why are we allowed to know where Abraham etc are buried but not Moses?

    5. According to midrashim the women didn't weep, does that make sense to you?

  3. Dvarim 34:9-12

    1. Why the qualifier of “in Israel”? What does that mean about Moshe?

    2. What are your thoughts of the torah concluding with “before the eyes of all of Israel”? How does this envelope with “bereshit”?

    3. What does the fact that the miracles were performed before the eyes of Israel do to the authority of the torah?

    4. If you were Moshe how would you be feeling with all of this as your final act?