Questions tagged [pentateuch-chumash]
Questions pertaining to the Five Books of Moses (Chumash)
67
questions
11
votes
10
answers
3k
views
Are there unnecessary words in torah?
I've been taught, often enough that I thought it was universal, that there are no unnecessary words in torah (chumash) — every word is there to teach us something. I've seen plenty of discussions in ...
16
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Is there a place for the documentary-hypothesis in observant Judaism?
The documentary-hypothesis implies that Moses wasn't the writer of the Torah verbatim, but he could have transmitted it before it was written down. Evidence in the text shows several sources and that ...
24
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Why was the translation considered a tragedy if it was already translated into 70 languages?
I just read in Parashat ki tavo that the Torah was translated into 70 languages and written on giant stones, yet the Talmud says the translation of the Torah to Greek many years later was considered a ...
19
votes
9
answers
3k
views
Why is there no description of Olam Haba in the Torah?
According to the beginning of the Mesilas Yesharim, the entire purpose of creation is for man to merit Olam Haba (the bliss of the next world).
If so, why is there no mention nor description of Olam ...
16
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Which mitzvah is repeated the most times in the Chumash?
I have learned that not mixing milk and meat is mentioned 3 times in the chumash, and because of this we learn 3 different laws.
I also found out today that the law "not to follow the ways of the ...
12
votes
3
answers
1k
views
What were the Nephilim?
Inspired by this question on Biblical Hermeneutics.
What were the Nephilim mentioned in Bereishis and in Bamidbar?
Bereishis 6:1-4
The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after ...
11
votes
2
answers
668
views
Moshe Rabbeinu's knowledge of future events
If Moshe Rabbeinu was taught the entire Torah on Mt. Sinai (Rashi on Vayikra 25:1, Rambam), how do we explain events such as the incident involving the Bnos Tzelafchad (Bamidbar 27:1-11), or the tamei ...
15
votes
2
answers
321
views
How is the story of the Torah being given told in the Torah itself?
How was the Torah (aka the Five Books of Moses) given if the story of the Torah being given is contained in these books?
In other words, the Torah tells the story - close to halfway through it - of ...
10
votes
4
answers
373
views
What is the reason for שנים מקרא ואחד תרגום?
The gemara in Berachos 8a-b states:
אמר רב הונא בר יהודה אמר רבי אמי לעולם ישלים אדם פרשיותיו עם הצבור שנים
מקרא ואחד תרגום [...] שכל המשלים פרשיותיו עם הצבור מאריכין לו ימיו ושנותיו
Rav ...
9
votes
3
answers
936
views
Is there a mention of the Oral Torah in the Written Torah?
Is there an explicit mention mention of the Oral Torah in the Chumash? If not, why not?
9
votes
1
answer
843
views
What are the rules for ain mukdam umeuchar?
Sometimes we say that things in the Torah are not in chronological order. What are the parameters for this? do you need to have a mesorah (particular tradition) for this? Is there a list of all '...
9
votes
4
answers
866
views
Why is Techiyas HaMeisim not explicitly mentioned in the Torah?
Since believing that Techiyas HaMeisim is part of the Torah is a fundamental of Judaism (Mishna Sanhedrin Perek HaChelek, although the Rambam Hilchos Teshuva Chapter 3 doesn't emphasize the believing ...
7
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Siddur & chumash -- which gets stacked on top?
I've seen this one asked over and over again, and always heard different things.
Do you stack a chumash on top of a siddur, or the other way around?
6
votes
4
answers
754
views
Why is the birth of twins a Chidush for Rivka?
Background:
In Parshat Toldot, Rivka conceives and is troubled by the discomfort.
She goes to ask Hashem and it is explained to her that 2 nations are struggling within her, so she already knows that ...
5
votes
2
answers
434
views
Were Esav, Yishmael, and Nimrod Evildoers?
This question asserts that Ishmael was an evildoer (rasha). However, based on a simple (p'shat) reading of the relevant texts (in Genesis), neither he nor Esau nor Nimrod appear to do anything "evil."...
4
votes
5
answers
969
views
Do the Torah codes offer scientific proof that the Torah is supernatural?
There was an experiment published in a journal called Statistical Science in 1994 that found that certain medieval Rabbis and their birth & yahrtzeit are referenced to in sefer Bereshit by running ...
4
votes
2
answers
261
views
Last Posukim in the Torah
Who wrote the last eight Pesukim of the Torah?
-2
votes
4
answers
685
views
What does Mot Yumat mean?
In the chumash, any sources. What is the literal translation and does it mean, mot = this world, yumat = the next world?
25
votes
9
answers
2k
views
After chumashim with notes and Rashi, what's the next torah commentary I should acquire and study?
When I read the torah text (parsha or otherwise) I currently use a couple of chumashim with notes, and Rashi. I know some Hebrew but am not fluent. I'm ready to stretch beyond what I'm reading now ...
14
votes
2
answers
46k
views
Difference between Torah and the first five books in Christian bible [closed]
I know that basically, the first 6 5 books in Christian's Bible forms the Torah. However are there any subtle difference between torah and those books?
13
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Why 1,000 generations of ungiven Torah, not X years?
The Mainz Anonymous reads, in part (in my own translation):
He created the Torah 974 generations before the world was created, then twenty-six generations [passed] from the creation of the world ...
11
votes
1
answer
698
views
Why don't we name children Yitro?
Yitro appears to be an overall positive character in the Torah. At least as much as Noah or Saul, yet I do not know of contemporary (or even ancient) Jews named Yitro. Why is that?
10
votes
7
answers
832
views
Is there a substantive difference in meaning when the Torah uses the Hebrew verb root דבר rather than אמר?
Is there a substantive difference in meaning when the Torah uses the Hebrew verb root דבר rather than אמר, or do they both pretty much mean "to say" or "to speak"? Do any sages see the choice of one ...
7
votes
2
answers
334
views
Metzudat Tzion on the Torah
Was there a Metzudat Tzion written on the Torah? If so, does anyone know if it is available online or for sale?
I always loved this commentary as it explained the hard words on the Nach.
6
votes
2
answers
473
views
Yocheved is the daughter of who?
So Yocheved, as it is known, is the wife of Amram, mother of Moshe Rabbeinu, Aharon HaCohen, and Miriam the prophetess, peace be on them. And Yocheved, like Amram, is from the Tribe of Levi.
Amram is ...
6
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is there any Mikras Gedolos in English?
Is there any Mikras Gedolos in English? I am interested in learning Meforshim on Chumash, and I wanted to know if there were any online or in a store.
5
votes
2
answers
5k
views
What is the total amount and count of pesukim in the Torah?
After much research, both on Israeli websites (here) and other locations, I have yet to figure out what the total amount of pesukim there are in the Torah. I've even physically counted the pesukim in ...
5
votes
2
answers
333
views
Rabbinic understandings of non-Divine origin of Onqelos
Shavua' tov all,
A question from a friend that I thought I would post here regarding the origin of Onqelos. It seems fair to say that the classical rabbinic understanding is that the Aramaic ...
4
votes
2
answers
182
views
When did Eisav find out that Yaakov was still alive?
The pasuk in Bereishis 29:11 says:
וַיִּשַּׁ֥ק יַעֲקֹ֖ב לְרָחֵ֑ל וַיִּשָּׂ֥א אֶת־קֹל֖וֹ וַיֵּֽבְךְּ׃
Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and broke into tears.
Rashi says on that pasuk:
...Another ...
4
votes
2
answers
223
views
Machine-Readable Torah
Is there a machine-readable Sefer Torah or Chumash? Machine-readable meaning formatted as to be understood by a computer program. Despite the phrase, this is different from a Torah simply stored in ...
-1
votes
1
answer
452
views
Abram's worship of El Elyon [closed]
In Genesis 14:18-20 Abram recognizes the deity El Elyon of the Jebusite monarch Melchizedek.
Some scholars have investigated into the meaning of this name El Elyon and propose that it actually ...
-4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What evidence shows that Moses wrote the Torah?
I asked this in hermeneutics.
Typical atheists think that Torah is written/compiled on Babylonian exile.
Christians and Jews believe that Torah was written by Moses or someone shortly after him, ...
14
votes
3
answers
445
views
What does the aramaic "pon" mean?
Once in a while, Onkelos will throw in the word pon (פּוֹן) that doesn't directly translate from the Hebrew.
Avimelech to Yitzchak: k'z'eir pon shachiv d'm'yached b'ama (Toldos 26:10)
Lavan to Yaakov:...
13
votes
3
answers
735
views
Potential issue with Theory on Divine Origins of Judaism?
The core of a theory is that since Judaism is based on events witnessed by something like 3,000,000 Jews, it is true, while other religions rely on an individual or a few individuals who experienced a ...
11
votes
3
answers
199
views
What is the difference between curses that would require changing lashon?
In parshat Lech Lecha, (Bereishit 12:3) Hashem promises Avram that וַאֲבָרְכָה, מְבָרְכֶיךָ, וּמְקַלֶּלְךָ, אָאֹר, And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse.
Why ...
8
votes
1
answer
465
views
Who wrote Ikar Siftei Chachamim?
Siftei Chachamim (שפתי חכמים) is a super-commentary on Rashi's commentary on the Torah, written by the 17th-Century CE Polish scholar Shabbethai Bass. It tends to be included in Mikraot Gedolot ...
7
votes
5
answers
394
views
Who said that little Tzfardeaim jumped out of the big one's mouth?
Who said that little Tzfardeaim jumped out of the big one's mouth?
As far as I can tell, the gemara in Sanhedrin, as well as all of the mainstream medrashim, use a lashon of וישרצו, which, as Rashi ...
6
votes
1
answer
360
views
Chumash with Shoresh highlighted
I remember seeing a Chumash that showed the shoresh highlighted for every word, does anyone know what this Chumash is called (and where it can be purchased)?
6
votes
3
answers
489
views
Why aren't Job or Psalms 90 in the Pentateuch?
In the Tanakh, the Jewish Biblical Canon, there are three categories of works: the Torah of Moses, and what are know as the 'Prophets' and 'Writings'. This categorization is outlined and mentioned in ...
6
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Where can I find Chumash and Rashi review questions
Where can I find Chumash and Rashi review questions on all books of the Torah?
Looking for:
As much detailed question as possible (i.e the more questions on as much rashi's as possible the more ...
6
votes
4
answers
768
views
Why did God need to command the Jews not to kill?
There is a principle 'svara lamah li krah i.e. if a certain idea is logical and self evident to the average healthy mind, the Torah does not need to teach that idea. Additionally, what seems to be ...
5
votes
2
answers
182
views
How did Bisya/Basya know that tevilah is part of conversion?
In Shemos 2:5, we read the daughter of Pharaoh came down "לִרְחֹץ עַל הַיְאֹר" "To dip into the Nile". The Gemara in Sotah 12b says it means she came to convert.
How did she know ...
5
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Looking for a good tikkun kor'im
I have an old Tikkun Kor'im by Mishor whose cover has literally come off (ah, the motivation for that question is revealed!).
Now that i'm in the market for a new tikkun, i'd like to make sure i get ...
5
votes
0
answers
378
views
When did Bliha and Zilpah die?
I heard that Seder Olam Rabbah writes that both Rachel and Leah had already passed away by the time of twenty two years after Yaakov married them. We wanted to know if there are any sources when Bilha ...
5
votes
1
answer
372
views
Does p'shat explain everything?
Ways of reading Chumash are commonly divided into four headings: p'shat, simple readings; d'rash, exegeses; remez, hints; and sod, secrets. The g'mara and midr'she halacha are full of d'rash: they ...
5
votes
2
answers
179
views
Recommendation for a digital Torah codex for software developers
Could someone recommend a source for a machine-readable Hebrew with English Torah codex that may be used in software development projects?
By "machine readable," I mean of a format that may be ...
4
votes
1
answer
174
views
Where does Rashi say "Complaint" in his commentary on the Torah?
When I was in 4th grade, my rebbi taught us a Rashi in which he explains a Pasuk by simply saying "Complaint" (קומפליינט or some similar transliteration), meaning the voice in the Pasuk was ...
4
votes
4
answers
433
views
Why is Avraham's monotheism not mentioned in the torah?
One of the more famous achievements of Avraham was his discovery in a single God. However there is no mention of this accomplishment anywhere in the Torah. In fact there is no conclusive proof that he ...
4
votes
2
answers
192
views
Authenticity of Rosh's commentary to Torah
What do different sources state regarding the authenticity of the commentary to the Torah attributed to Rosh?
I remember seeing people claiming that it is missatributed. If I recall, the suggested ...
4
votes
3
answers
308
views
Urim and Thumim
I am currently researching the topic of Urim and Thumim and have two questions, maybe someone can help me or suggest sources:
There are 72 letters on the Ephod (50 for the 12 tribes plus Avraham ...