Parshas Shoftim - Parsha Stumpers

~ Something to Think About ~

פרשת שופטים

Parsha Stumpers

By: Daniel Listhaus

1. (16:21) The Medrash Rabbah says that Shlomo HaMelech's throne had 6 steps leading up to it. On each step was one of six consecutive לא תעשה found in this week's parsha. What are they and what is the connection between them? (see Kli Yakar)

2. (17:18) 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 the כסא ? (see Kli Yakar)

3. (16:22) Rashi explains that Hashem despises things which goyim use for avoda zarah. If this is so, why are we allowed to have a mizbe'ach? Why are we allowed to pray? Where do the liens get drawn?

4. (17:6) Rashi 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. (17:11) Rashi 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? What is the fundamental difference between this law and the one regarding not following a navi sheker (18:22)?

7. (18:10) Rashi understands the passuk as forbidding various types of superstitious activities. (a) Rabbi Akiva explains “me’onain” as people who assign seasons by saying that certain times are more propitious for certain things. Isn’t this something that we do? For example, we say that Adar is a good time to have a court case? (b) Rashi explains “menacheish” as one who makes decisions based on occurrences such as bread falling or a deer blocking the road or one’s staff dropping from his hand. Yet the Gemara Berachos relates a story in a mishna of a tanna who would know when his tefillos would be answered based on the fluency it came from his mouth?

8. (20:3) Rashi points out that the Torah lists four times not to be afraid of an enemy during war based on the noise it makes – whether it be the collision of shields, the stamping of the horses hooves and their neighing, the sound of their horns, and the enemy’s shouting. Why does the Torah need to write four warnings to include each of these specific scary noises? Why not just tell us not to be afraid?