Summary

This portion begins with Moses reminding the people how he begged God to be allowed to enter the Promised Land. God refuses, but allows him to see the land and reminds him that Joshua will be the leader of the people as they enter their new home.

Moses continues his speech, telling the people to observe the laws and rules that they were given.  These commandments will help the people live in their new land. Moses reminds everyone of their parents’ and grandparents’  experience at Horeb (Mt. Sinai) when the law was first given. He stresses that the laws were given to the new generation, not just to the previous ones. This is an example of the very special relationship, a covenant  between God and the people of Israel.

Moses then repeats the Ten Commandments.  Other laws are also repeated, such as rules about the cities of refuge – where people who accidently kill someone can flee to.

In this portion we also read the Shema and the V’ahavta.

Moses reminds the people not to forget God and the covenant.

Torah Portion in English

23) I pleaded with the Lord at that time, saying, 24) “O Lord God, You who let Your servant see the first works of Your greatness and Your mighty hand, You whose powerful deeds no god in heaven or on earth can equal! 25) Let me, I pray, cross over and see the good land on the other side of the Jordan, that good hill country, and the Lebanon.” 26) But the Lord was wrathful with me on your account and would not listen to me. The Lord said to me, “Enough! Never speak to Me of this matter again! 27) Go up to the summit of Pisgah and gaze about, to the west, the north, the south, and the east. Look at it well, for you shall not go across yonder Jordan. 28) Give Joshua his instructions, and imbue him with strength and courage, for he shall go across at the head of this people, and he shall allot to them the land that you may only see.” 29) Meanwhile we stayed on in the valley near Beth-peor.

Chapter 4 1) And now, O Israel, give heed to the laws and rules that I am instructing you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 2) You shall not add anything to what I command you or take anything away from it, but keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I enjoin upon you. 3) You saw with your own eyes what the Lord did in the matter of Baal-peor, that the Lord your God wiped out from among you every person who followed Baal-peor; 4) while you, who held fast to the Lord your God, are all alive today.

5) See, I have imparted to you laws and rules, as the Lord my God has commanded me, for you to abide by in the land that you are about to enter and occupy. 6) Observe them faithfully, for that will be proof of your wisdom and discernment to other peoples, who on hearing of all these laws will say, “Surely, that great nation is a wise and discerning people.” 7) For what great nation is there that has a god so close at hand as is the Lord our God whenever we call upon Him? 8) Or what great nation has laws and rules as perfect as all this Teaching that I set before you this day?

Getting to Know my Parasha

What Does my Parasha Say?

1. Who did Moses blame for not being allowed to enter the Land of Israel?
2. What did God allow Moses to be able to do?
3. Who was to take over for Moses?
4. If the Israelites follow God’s teaching, what will other people say?
5. What was the name of the mountain from which the Hebrews received the law?
6. What were the cities of refuge for?
7. Why did the Israelites not want to hear God’s voice after the first time?