Ilustration Credit: Elad Lifshitz, Dov Abramson Studio
In This Week’s Parashah: מָה בַּפָּרָשָׁה
Full Parashah Reading: Devarim 1:1-3:22
- In the 40th year of wandering in the מִדְבָּר (midbar, wilderness), Benei Yisrael are almost ready to enter Eretz Yisrael. Moshe gives a long speech, reminding the people of their journey after leaving Har Sinai.
- Moshe recalls how he needed help to lead Benei Yisrael, and so he appointed judges to govern the people with him.
- Moshe reminds Benei Yisrael of the episode with the מְרַגְּלִים (meraglim, spies), who gave a negative report about Eretz Yisrael. Benei Yisrael lost faith and were punished. No one from that generation, besides Calev and Yehoshua, would enter the land.
- God tells Moshe that Benei Yisrael should not fight against Seir, who were the descendants of Esav, nor should they fight against Moav and Ammon, the descendants of Lot.
- Benei Yisrael defeat the armies of Sihon and Og. Their land, east of the Jordan River, is given to the tribes of Reuven, Gad, and some of Menasheh. Moshe reminds these tribes that they must cross into Eretz Yisrael and fight with the rest of Benei Yisrael, before settling there.
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