Devarim / Chazon

Hi,

This week's portion is D'varim.

(This Shabbat is also called "Shabbat Chazon," because of the special Haftorah portion called "Chazon," which is always read the week before the fast of Tisha b'Av. This Haftorah portion is traditionally read with special musical notes reflecting mourning; these are the same notes used to read the book of Eichah on Tisha b'Av.)

D'varim is the start of Moshe's 5-week speech to the Jews, originally presented from the 1st of Shevat through the 7th of Adar, on the eastern side of the Jordan. Moshe provides a history of the Jewish experience in the desert. Moshe specifically recounts the low points; he is trying to make sure these errors aren’t repeated after his death.

This week's portion of the speech covers the following points:
1. Moshe recounts his exasperation with handling an entire nation. He discusses the establishment of judges, and his instructions to the judges.

2. The mission of the Spies who were to investigate a military approach to the land, and who ended up giving a negative report and discouraging the nation. When the nation's males rebelled against Gd for bringing them there, Gd decreed that this generation of military-aged males would die in the desert, and the next generation would enter Israel.

3. The Jews' approach to Edom, the descendants of Esav, on the way into Israel. The Edomites refused to let them through. The Jews were instructed not to fight them, so they went around.

4. The Jews' approach to the people of Moav, with whom they were not supposed to fight, either. They went around.

5. The Jews' approach to the people of Amon, with whom they were not supposed to fight, either. They went around.

6. The Jews' approach to the Emorites, who refused to let them through. The Jews fought a war and captured many cities on the eastern the side of the Jordan. The tribes of Reuven and Gad, and half the tribe of Menasheh, chose to live there. They agreed to fight for the rest of Israel first, though, and then go back to the eastern side of the Jordan.