Parshas Shoftim - Something to Think About

פרשת שופטים

Parsha Stumpers and Something to Think About

1. The Medrash Rabbah says that Shlomo HaMelech's throne had 6 steps leading up to it. On each step 
   
   
   was one of six consecutiveלא תעשה found in this week's parsha. What are they and what is the 
   
   
   
   
   connection between them?
   
   
   
   
2. There are three important dinim pertaining to a melech. What are they and where is there a remez to
   
   
   them in the word כסא – as if to say that a king who keeps these three things will merit to stay on 
   
   
   
   
   theכסא ?
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Rashi (16:22) explains that Hashem despises things which goyim use for avoda zarah. If this is so, 
   
   
   why are we allowed to have a mizbe'ach?
   
   
   
   
4. Rashi (17:6) writes that if three witnesses come to testify, they do not become eidim zomemin until all 
   
   
   
   
   three of them become zomemin. Why should this be true?

5. How could we even understand the din of eidim zomemin? They never even completed the evil they 
   
   
   
   
   intended to do!?

6. Rashi (17:8) writes that the Beis Hamikdash is higher than every other place in the world. How could 
   
   
   we understand this?

7. Rashi (17:11) comments on the passuk that we must listen to the chachomim even if he says right is 
   
   
   
   
   left and left is right. If I know that right is indeed not left, then why should I listen to the words of the
   
   
   
   
   
   
   chochom ?

8. The Orchos Tzadikkim writes that every middah could be used for good or for bad. What are some 
   
   
   examples in our parsha where the Torah warns not to use the middah of rachamim (mercy)
   
   
   
   incorrectly?