What does the end of Shoftim have to do with the opening of Ki Teitzei? And what does war have to do with bread? And what kind of weapon is a tent peg?! As we consider these questions, we will also look at two interesting words that occur only twice in Bible. Oh, and what word does a scribe write in order to test a new pen? These little details are sure to add some “seasonings” to your Torah study.
Ki Teitzei covers 31 different topics and contains 72 positive and negative commandments.
Shoftim ends with: “…when you do what is upright in the eyes of Adonai.”
Ki Teitzei begins with: “When you go out to war…”
מלחמה (mil’chamah) = “war”
לחם (lechem) = “bread”
Deuteronomy 21:17 Rather, he must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the first fruits of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his.
בכור (bachor) = “firstborn”
ב (beit) = 2
כ (kaf) = 20
ו (vav) is spelled וו (two vavs)
ר (resh) = 200
Deuteronomy 22:10 You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.
תַחֲרֹשׁ (tacharosh) Occurs 2x
2nd – Proverbs 3:29 Do not plot evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you.
Deuteronomy 23:13 And you shall have a tent peg with your weapons, and when you sit down outside, you shall dig a hole with it and turn back and cover up your excrement.
וחפרתה (v’chaphartah) Occurs 2x
2nd – Job 11:18 You will be confident, because there is hope; you will dig around you and lie down secure.
Deuteronomy 25:3 Forty stripes may be given him, but not more, lest, if one should go on to beat him with more stripes than these, your brother be degraded in your sight.
אחיך (achei’cha) = 39
2 Corinthians 11:24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one.
Deuteronomy 25:19 Therefore when Adonai your God has given you rest from all your enemies around you, in the land that Adonai your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. You shall not forget.
עמלק = Amalek