This week's 10-Minute Torah (July 31, 2021): "Parashat Eikev" 5781
- Rabbi Stephen Epstein
- Jul 25, 2021
- 2 min read
Parashat Eikev / פרשת עֵקֶב
Read on 31 July 2021 (22 Av 5781).
Parashat Eikev is the 46th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading.
Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25
Parashat Eikev tells of the blessings of obedience to God, the dangers of forgetting God, and directions for taking the Land of Israel. Moses recalls the making and re-making of the Tablets of Stone, the incident of the Golden Calf, Aaron's death, the Levites' duties, and exhortations to serve God.
Triennial Year 2 31 Jul 2021
1: 9:4-10 · 7 p’sukim
2: 9:11-14 · 4 p’sukim
3: 9:15-21 · 7 p’sukim
4: 9:22-29 · 8 p’sukim
5: 10:1-5 · 5 p’sukim
6: 10:6-8 · 3 p’sukim
7: 10:9-11 · 3 p’sukim
maf: 11:22-25 · 4 p’sukim
Moses reminds the Children of Israel that if they observe the covenant and commandments, Hashem will reward them. The people need to remember all that G-d did for them and have faith that Hashem will look over them. G-d will also make sure our enemies do not conquer us, but defeat them.
Moses reminds them that G-d will provide for them and give them prosperity, but they should continue to observe the commandments when prosperous. The people should also not think that it is because of their merit or righteousness alone and the wickedness of the Canaanite tribes that they will possess the land, but mostly because of G-d’s promise to the Patriarchs.
Moses reviews how he received the Ten Commandments from Hashem and how the people made the Golden Calf. Moses then destroyed the first set of stone tablets and once again ascended Mt. Sinai where he implored Hashem to forgive them. After another forty days and nights of not eating or drinking, he returned with a second set. The Levites are consecrated as the Priests.
The end of Ekev also includes the second paragraph of the Shema. Whereas the first paragraph addresses G-d’s sovereignty, the second addresses accepting the responsibility of the commandments.
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