Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue

WEEKLY PARSHA

Parsha #49: Deuteronomy [D'varim] Ki Tetze (When you go out) 21:10-25:19

B’rit Chadasha: Mattityahu 5:31-32; 19:3-12; 22:23-32; Mark 10:2-12; 12:18-27; Luke 20:27-38; Galatians 3:9-14; 1 Timothy 5:17-18; 1 Corinthians 9:4-18;

At the end of this Parsha YHVH gives us a command to totally destroy any and all trace of the nation known as Amalek. For some this would seem to be a radical departure of YHVH from His attribute of grace and loving kindness. How can a loving G-d command us to be so brutal and heartless?

When we think of this mitzvah we have to ask ourselves what did this nation do to deserve total annihilation? Many nations fought with B'nai Yisrael and are spared annihilation, so why did YHVH single them out for such total destruction.

First, we must understand who the people of Amalek were. They were nomads and did not have any land to call their own. They wandered from place to place making their living by stealing from innocent travelers. Harder to understand is why they attacked Yisrael. Other nations attacked Yisrael out of fear because they felt threatened by this new nation. We read that the Edomites and Amorites attacked Yisrael when Israel came to close to their borders. As reason go the other nations had justification for their attacks.

What motivated Amalek? The people of Amalek had no land for Israel to threaten, and B'nai Yisrael for their part stayed clear of the nomadic tribes. So, what prompted Amalek to be the first to attack B'nai Yisrael?

Our Sages compare what Amalek did to the case of a body of boiling water, which everyone is afraid to jump into. One fool jumps into the water and even though he is scalded he brings down the temperature of the water, making it easier for others to follow his lead.

Amalek knew of the miracles that YHVH had preformed for His people, but they did not fear YHVH or care. They wanted to show the world that B'nai Yisrael were not invincible, even if it resulted in their destruction. For this reason the army of Amalek began their attack not against the army of Yisrael but against the old and weary who trailed behind the main body of Israel. That's why YHVH says, "They cut off all those lagging to your rear." Amalek never thought they could win the war. Their whole intent was to prove that it possible to fight Israel, hurt them, and make them bleed.

YHVH is saying that a nation that harbors this sort of senseless hatred against B'nai Yisrael, a nation whose sole purpose is to demean and debase the G-d of Israel deserves no less than the pledge by YHVH and His people, to wipe it out, utterly and for all time.

We see two lessons here. One, not to harbor senseless hatred for anyone and two YHVH is also a fearsome G-d who exacts total punishment for sins committed against Him and His people.

B'rit Chadasha: 1 Tim 5: 17-18

17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

Sha'ul is making drash here going beyond the P'shat, the simple meaning of scripture. YHVH is obviously concerned with the welfare of animals, but how much more so is he concerned with the welfare of people. Sha'ul is teaching us through allegory how our attitude toward His faithful servants should be. We are not to withhold any good thing from them because of our avarice and greed.

Halftarah: Yesha'yahu (Isaiah) 54:1-10

This is the fifth of the seven "prophecies of comfort" read between the Fast of the Ninth of Av and Rosh Hashanah. One of the nation's keys to survival is its numbers. Being fruitful is one of the best blessings a people can receive. In our Halftarah, YHVH comforts Yisrael by promising that al their barren women will give birth and that their desolate land will be inhabited.

Things to think about:

1. The reward for sending away the mother bird before taking her eggs is long life. The same reward is received for honoring one's parents. Why do you think these two commandments have the same reward?

2. We are not allowed to loathe an Egyptian, even though the Egyptians enslaved us, because we were strangers in the land. What does this teach us about how to treat strangers?

3. Why can't we put a muzzle on an animal while it's working in the field?

Sages Wisdom:

"When you go out to wage war against your enemy." (21:10)

The Torah here instructs us in good military tactics reminiscent of the saying, "The best defense is a good offense." The Torah tells us that when waging war, it is best to "go out" and fight the enemy on their soil rather than on your own land.

"When you reap your harvest and forget a sheaf, you must not go back to get it, leave it for the orphan…" (24:19)

This commandment has a unique element not found in the other commandments. Every other commandment depends on our conscious intention to do the mitzvah, whereas this commandment can only be fulfilled if a person forgets! The Me'am Loez says that if YHVH blesses a person for performing a mitzvah unintentionally, by forgetting, how much more is one blessed when he performs a mitzvah intentionally.

"You shall not give him more that 40 lashes." (25:3)

The Torah says 40, yet the maximum number inflicted under Jewish law is 39. Why not all 40? The Sages reason that if a culprit received all 409 he might think that since his punishment is complete, he doesn't have to repent. In receiving only 39 he knows he hasn't been completely punished and he will repent.

Gramatria:

The numeric value of the word Amalek is 240. This is the same numeric value of the Hebrew word "safek," which means, "doubt." The people of Amalek fought with B'nai Yisrael because they didn't believe in YHVH; they doubted His existence.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Davis