Family Parshah
Devarim Q & A

Moses spoke unto the Children of Israel. (1:3)

Question: The commentator Rashi explains that Moses rebuked them only when he was close to death in order to avoid rebuking them again and again. How does this accord with the statement of the our sages in the Talmud1 that the Torah commandment, "You shall reprove [your fellow]2" -- means even one hundred times?

Answer: There are two kinds of rebuke:

Direct confrontation: specifying the wrongdoing and admonishing the perpetrator for committing the act.

A more subtle method: not mentioning the iniquity directly, but encouraging the person to improve his conduct. The advantage of the latter is that the erring individual is spared embarrassment.

When the Torah says "You shall reprove" it concludes "and do not bear a sin because of him" which can also be explained literally to mean, "Do not bring up the sin to him" -- that is, be careful not to mention the particular sin, and thus he will not be embarrassed. This type of rebuke may and should be repeated, even one-hundred times. However, since Moses' current rebuke consisted of specifying through veiled references, the sins committed, he waited until immediately before his death so that his words would be accepted and they would not have to face him constantly and be embarrassed.

After he had smitten Sichon, king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Cheshbon, and Og, king of Bashan, who dwelt in Ashtarot in Edrei. (1:4)

Question: Why did Moses wait to deliver his rebuke until after the conquest of Sichon and Og?

Answer: Moses, the first leader of the Jews, was conveying a message to the leaders of future generations. It is human nature to reject rebuke. Therefore, if a one who rebukes wants his words to be accepted, he should not only rebuke but also do positive things to benefit the erring community or individual. Once he is recognized as a good friend, his words of admonishment will be accepted favorably.

Sichon and Og posed a serious threat to the Jewish people. After Moses risked his life to defeat the Jews' enemies, he earned their respect and thus considered the time opportune to reprimand them.

I cannot carry you alone. G-d, your G-d, has multiplied you and behold! you are this day like the stars of heaven in abundance. (1:9-10)

Question: At that time the Jews numbered only six-hundred thousand. Why did Moses exaggerate?

Answer: Sometimes the Jews are compared to the dust of the earth,3 and at other times to the stars of heaven.4 The difference between the two is that each particle of dust sticks to the other while stars are separated by great distances. Thus, when Jews are united, they are compared to the dust of the earth, and when they are fragmented and at odds they are compared to the stars.

In expressing his frustration with the Jewish people, Moses said, "At present you are like the stars of heaven -- there is animosity and fragmentation among you instead of unity. When you behave this way, it is difficult for me alone to carry your contentiousness, burdens, and quarrels."

G-d heard the sound of your words, and He was incensed. (1:34)

Question: The word "sound" is superfluous, the verse could have just said, "And G-d heard your words."

Answer: A story is told about Jeff who spread a rumor that Simon was a thief. Simon brought him before the Rabbi and it was ruled that on Shabbat morning, Jeff was to publicly announce, "What I said about Simon being a thief is a lie." On Shabbat morning Jeff ascended to the podium and announced as ordered, "What I said about Simon being a thief is a lie?!" (with a question intonation)

Simon immediately ran to the Rabbi exclaiming, "Rabbi, this announcement is ruining my reputation. The situation is now worse than before."

The Rabbi summoned Jeff and asked him, "Why did you do such a thing?"

Jeff answered, "Rabbi, I said the exact words you told me to say. Is it my fault that I am not a cantor and do not know how to sing properly?"

When the messengers returned from Israel their report was that "Good is the land that G-d, our G-d, is giving us."5 If this was their report, why was G-d upset with them? The reason was that although their words were superficially proper, the problem was the the voice (tone) with which they said them. The message the people heard was, "Good is the land that G-d, our G-d, is giving us?!" -- a question rather than a declaration.