Questions tagged [parshanut-torah-comment]
interpretation of parts of Tanach by close reading, not derivation
1,770
questions
3
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Parshanut Theory/Intro Books
I am currently looking for a book that gives a thorough introduction into the Rishonim's and other Meforshim's understanding of the Chumash in their compilations and a guide to Parshanut and (Jewish) ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
How exactly did the Jews get enough water in the desert?
The Torah does not give details as to how the Bnai Yisrael got water in the desert. Given that there were 600,000 men between twenty and sixty (about 2 - 3 million people total) they could not have ...
2
votes
1answer
52 views
Beside "לא תבשל", what phrases appear several times in the Torah and interpreted as different Halachot?
Famously, "לא תבשל" appears three times in the Torah in different verses:
"רֵאשִׁ֗ית בִּכּוּרֵי֙ אַדְמָ֣תְךָ֔ תָּבִ֕יא בֵּ֖ית ה"א לֹֽא־תְבַשֵּׁ֥ל גְּדִ֖י בַּחֲלֵ֥ב אִמֹּֽו׃" ...
0
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2answers
120 views
Why does Midrash refer to "New Torah" not found in the original verse?
Rabbi Abin builds a Drasha on a phrase not found in the text (Vayikra_Rabbah.13):
"אָמַר רַבִּי אָבִין בַּר כַּהֲנָא אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא (ישעיה נא, ד):
"תּוֹרָה חֲדָשָׁה מֵאִתִּי ...
3
votes
2answers
140 views
Explanation for episode with Moshe's near death at the hotel
Exodus 4:24-26 describes one of the strangest stories in the Chumash. Moshe was on his way to save the Jewish people, and the Torah says that he stayed with his wife and children in a hotel. Next, we'...
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1answer
84 views
The miraculous nature of the incident with Bas Paroh and baby Moshe; why is it not mentioned in the text?
Shemos 2 (5 – 11). To escape the decree of Paroh to kill Jewish male babies, Yocheved places her son in a basket in the water. None other than Paroh's daughter discovers him and saves him. Paroh's ...
0
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0answers
36 views
ויהיה ערב ויהיה בוקר - what's the nature of those emergences?
"וַיִּקְרָא אֱלֹהִים לָאוֹר יוֹם וְלַחֹשֶׁךְ קָרָא לָיְלָה וַיְהִי־עֶרֶב וַיְהִי־בֹקֶר יוֹם אֶחָד׃"
"God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night.
And there was evening ...
2
votes
1answer
68 views
Why all the Bnei Yakov (the holy tribes) went to Egypt for food
What is the reason that all the holy tribes (except for Benjamin) went to Egypt for food? Couldn't they send only several of them or to split themselves and go in different time? Or even send some of ...
1
vote
0answers
45 views
Parshat Miketz in one bloc
I am looking for any significance about why parshat Miketz is written in one solid bloc, with no break at all, except the fact that the Parsha begins at the beginning of a line.
Unlike parshat ...
1
vote
0answers
22 views
Why is there no differentiation between drashos and asmachtos in shaas?
Similar to this quesion, I have been bothered for a while now with the following question: How is it that the Talmud was written with no indication at all between drashos gemuros and asmachtos?
1
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0answers
52 views
What happened to Bnei Yakov?
From the time of the sale of Yosef (Chapter 37) until the decision to head to Egypt (Chapter 42) we don't hear about the story/goings on of brothers (excluding Yehudah). We have flash references for a ...
1
vote
1answer
75 views
Does Scripture Mention Jacob eating meat?
I remember that Jacob gives Esau some of his lentil stew, and that he makes a big deal telling Lavan that he never ate of Lavans flock. Is there a scripture that shows or talks about Jacob eating meat?...
2
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0answers
46 views
Why were the shevatim named by their mothers, not Yaakov
Yitzchok and Yishmael were named by Avraham. Yaakov and Eisav were seemingly named by Yitzchok. Yet all of the Shevatim were named by their mothers, based on their situation at the time, without any ...
2
votes
1answer
67 views
Yaakov's travel from Be'er Sheva to Haran: a spiritual journey?
The Torah tells us that Yaakov went from Be'er Sheva towards Haran (Bereishit 28:10).
If you look at the map, Haran is somewhere in modern day Turkey (if I'm correct), so the journey was upwards. When ...
0
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0answers
39 views
Is Historical (or narrative) Present Used in Tanakh?
In the beginning of ויצא, the first couple of verses are written in past tense but Yaakov's dream is in present tense. I assumed that a possible explanation for this is that the Torah is using the ...
1
vote
1answer
111 views
How could Leah daven to change her fetus's gender?
The gemara brachos 60a asks how could Leah daven for her fetus to change genders if the mishna calls that a wasted tefilla.
The gemara gives 2 answers.The first is, acts of miracles are different. I ...
5
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1answer
91 views
Why did God listen to Lot's prayer to save Sodom, yet didn't listen to Abraham's?
After all of Abraham's wondorous prayers to Hashem to save Sodom the posuk says (י״ח:לג):
וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ יְהוָ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר כִּלָּ֔ה לְדַבֵּ֖ר אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֑ם וְאַבְרָהָ֖ם שָׁ֥ב לִמְקֹמֽוֹ
God 'went' when ...
2
votes
3answers
80 views
Why did they want to murder Eliezer?
Various Midrashim say that Rivka's family put poison in front of Eliezer, in an attempt to kill him (Bereishis Rabbasi by Rav Moshe HaDarshan to Genesis 24:30 and v. 33; Yalkut Shimoni Chayei Sarah § ...
4
votes
0answers
105 views
Angels visiting Abraham during Pesach
I start it from the end: regarding Lot it is written (Bereishit 19:3):
וַיִּפְצַר־בָּ֣ם מְאֹ֔ד וַיָּסֻ֣רוּ אֵלָ֔יו וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ אֶל־בֵּית֑וֹ וַיַּ֤עַשׂ לָהֶם֙ מִשְׁתֶּ֔ה וּמַצּ֥וֹת אָפָ֖ה וַיֹּאכֵֽלוּ׃...
1
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0answers
55 views
The angels who accused Yishmoel – what action were they suggesting?
Beraishis 21 (17)
Hashem judges Yishmoel “בַּאֲשֶׁר הוּא שָׁם " - “in that condition in which he now is”. The ministering angels according to the Medrash said, “Master of the Universe, for him ...
1
vote
2answers
146 views
Were there any Tzaddikim in Sodom?
In Vayera, Avraham asks HaShem to save Sodom if even 10 righteous people exist. Sodom gets destroyed. Are there any sources that say Sodom had any righteous people, even if less than ten?
4
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0answers
115 views
How to understand the Ruzhiner's understanding on Noach's righteousness
So a family member sent me a very nice idea on Parshas Noach from the Ruzhiner Rebbe. The text reads as follows:
Noach was a righteous man, he was perfect in his generation (Bereishis 6:9) - there ...
1
vote
1answer
220 views
What does "Britain" have to do with "the destruction of the second Beis HaMikdosh"?
Abarbanel on Torah, Deuteronomy 28:49, writes
"Now he mentions the destruction of the second Beis HaMikdosh. From
afar. Who came from Britain and other distant countries speedily."
I only ...
2
votes
0answers
25 views
'Anshei' vs 'B'nei'
Ezra 2 contains a big list of the size of different families. However, some of the verses (eg 16, 17, 18) introduce those they count as בני, and some of the verses (eg 22, 23, 27) introduce those they ...
2
votes
1answer
35 views
When did עבודה זרה start?
Rashi says on the posuk (בראשית,ד,כ) of:
וַתֵּ֥לֶד עָדָ֖ה אֶת־יָבָ֑ל ה֣וּא הָיָ֔ה אֲבִ֕י יֹשֵׁ֥ב אֹ֖הֶל
וּמִקְנֶֽה
וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה בּוֹנֶה בָתִּים לַעֲ"זָ, כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמַר
סֵמֶל ...
2
votes
1answer
43 views
Daniel 9:12 k’ri-k’tiv
Do any commentators or other sources address the rationale of דבריו becoming דברו in Daniel 9:12? I’ve so far been unable to find any explanation for this.
1
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0answers
71 views
Mashiach ben Yosef and the relation to Yaakov
In parashas Toldot it is explained that Yaakov stayed in his tent, "[...] but Jacob was a mild man who stayed in camp". The Haamek Davar on this pasuk says that "his tent" or "...
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votes
1answer
86 views
During the Exodus, why didn't God house the Israelites in real Succot?
"לְמַעַן יֵדְעוּ דֹרֹתֵיכֶם כִּי בַסֻּכּוֹת הוֹשַׁבְתִּי אֶת־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּהוֹצִיאִי אוֹתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם...׃
in order that future generations may know that I made the Israelite people ...
4
votes
3answers
175 views
What's this recurring progression in Hallel?
Commonly recited from Psalms is Chapter 118, recited in Hallel on Rosh Chodesh and Festivals. It begins (v. 1-4):
הוֹד֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה כִּי־ט֑וֹב כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
Praise the LORD, for He is ...
1
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1answer
60 views
Why lying with fathers means death (not burial)?
וְשָׁכַבְתִּי עִם־אֲבֹתַי וּנְשָׂאתַנִי מִמִּצְרַיִם וּקְבַרְתַּנִי בִּקְבֻרָתָם...׃
When I lie down with my fathers, take me up from Egypt and bury me in their burial-place.” Gen.47.30 (also in ...
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votes
1answer
54 views
Why idolaters are called "own brothers" and "own fellow Jews"?
I was taught that all positive interpersonal Mitzvos are phrased in the Torah with "אחיך" or "רעך" (brother of fellow Jew) to signify that they only apply to Kosher pious Jews, for ...
2
votes
0answers
78 views
How many times do variations of "halachta b'drachav" appear in the Chumash, and why?
The past few weeks, the phrase "halachta b'drachav" or "Lalechet B'drachav" or "Lalechet b'chol drachav" meaning "walk in His ways" (or "walk in ways that ...
1
vote
1answer
105 views
What is meant by the "'sons' of Israel"
I've noticed that in Deuteronomy 31:19 and also Numbers 15:38 that only the 'sons' were included. Were these things not required for women?
1
vote
1answer
177 views
Rabbinic changes in the Septuagint (Megillah 9a) - facts or fables?
The Gemmarah in Megillah.9a lists a number of changes that the Jewish sages deliberately implemented in the Septuagint:
"וְכָתְבוּ לוֹ אֱלֹהִים בָּרָא בְּרֵאשִׁית אֶעֱשֶׂה אָדָם בְּצֶלֶם ...
1
vote
1answer
52 views
When is the ideal time to finish Shnayim Mikra?
Regarding Shnayim Mikra v'echad targum, Halachipedia says this:
Some have the practice to read a little bit every day and complete it day Shabbat. [37]
They also say:
Some have the practice to do ...
0
votes
1answer
52 views
What were the names of the places to which Bney Yisrael backtracked in Bamidbar 33?
What were the names of the places to which Bney Yisrael backtracked in Bamidbar 33?
In Numbers 33, the children of Israel journeyed from a total of 42 encampments.
In the process, as pointed out in
...
9
votes
1answer
815 views
Source for at least considering non-Jewish interpretations?
I remember reading that there was a letter (Geonic, I believe) advising his correspondent to look at the interpretation of a local Christian clergyman of a pasuk; that his was better than the one that ...
1
vote
2answers
66 views
כי לא את בניכם אשר לא ידעו... ?Is this literal
Eikev, chapter 11:1
ואהבת את השם... ושמרת משמרתו...
כי לא את בניכם אשר לא ידעו ואשר לא ראו... כי עיניכם הרואת את כל מעשה השם
Are the children excluded from this requirement to love God and keep his ...
2
votes
1answer
81 views
Why prohibitions and their corresponding punishments are separated in the Torah?
I was arguing with a Documentary Hypothesis supporter who claimed that we consistently find that Biblical prohibitions and their punishments are not written in one place. The Ten Commandments are a ...
2
votes
1answer
83 views
Was Lavan White?
Sometimes names in Tanakh are just names, but sometimes they're descriptions. Are there any commentaries that talk about whether Lavan is called Lavan because he's an oddly white man in the middle ...
3
votes
2answers
68 views
"as is still the case"; in Devarim 3:14
The passuk in Devarim 3:14 says:
יָאִ֣יר בֶּן־מְנַשֶּׁ֗ה לָקַח֙ אֶת־כׇּל־חֶ֣בֶל אַרְגֹּ֔ב עַד־גְּב֥וּל הַגְּשׁוּרִ֖י וְהַמַּֽעֲכָתִ֑י וַיִּקְרָא֩ אֹתָ֨ם עַל־שְׁמ֤וֹ אֶת־הַבָּשָׁן֙ חַוֺּ֣ת יָאִ֔יר ...
-1
votes
1answer
61 views
How is it possible that Numbers 33 talks about 48 camps instead of 42?
How is it possible that Numbers 33 talks about 48 camps instead of 42?
To what peshat did these mefarshim source this enumeration?
Some of these mefarshim conclude that instead of 42 locations, there ...
0
votes
1answer
55 views
Does the בְ in לֹֽא־תַעֲנֶ֥ה בְרֵעֲךָ֖ עֵ֥ד שָֽׁקֶר only mean against?
Does the בְ in לֹֽא־תַעֲנֶ֥ה בְרֵעֲךָ֖ עֵ֥ד שָֽׁקֶר
only mean against or can it mean about with the idea of claiming the innocence of a guilty person as well as accusing an innocent person? Or, maybe ...
2
votes
1answer
67 views
Why does the Torah repeat itself in Matos?
במדבר לא יא says:
וַיִּקְחוּ֙ אֶת־כׇּל־הַשָּׁלָ֔ל וְאֵ֖ת כׇּל־הַמַּלְק֑וֹחַ בָּאָדָ֖ם וּבַבְּהֵמָֽה
They gathered all the spoil and all the booty, man and beast,
במדבר לא יב says:
וַיָּבִ֡אוּ אֶל־...
5
votes
3answers
214 views
Is it true the Torah states that no one will claim national revelation?
Many kiruv/outreach Rabbis, in an attempt to prove the veracity of the Torah, will base their claim on the concept of National Revelation. Part of that proof, they say, is that the Torah states that ...
-1
votes
1answer
144 views
Biblical attribution of intelligence and feelings to the human heart
Traditionally, the human heart was considered the residence of the animated soul and numerous Biblical passages refer to that ancient belief:
"You shall love the LORD your God with all your ...
1
vote
2answers
161 views
What תוֹרָ֔ה is referred to in Isaiah 2:3?
Isaiah 2:3
Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of
the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For ...
3
votes
3answers
115 views
Looking for a chassidic Torah commentary on the level of Pshat
I'm looking for a chassidic Torah commentary on the level of pshat or a chassidic commentary easy to read?
5
votes
2answers
468 views
Who is Filwarg?
I have seen a number of articles on Ibn Ezra that quote a supercommentator known as "Jonah Filwarg" (usually just referred to as "J. Filwarg") who wrote a book known as "Bnei ...
2
votes
0answers
70 views
Which species does or do בקר refer to in the Torah?
Are only cows and bulls included?
Or perhaps other related species as well?
Is this subject to disagreement?
And does context make a difference?