Ki Teitzei - Reading #6

Ki Teitzei כִּי-תֵצֵא - When You Go Out

Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19

Reading #6 - Deuteronomy 24:5–13

My Thoughts: 

Verse 6 is a curious commandment,  “No man shall take the mill or the upper millstone as a pledge, for he takes a life in pledge.” After doing some research it seems like what Hashem is saying is don’t take the “livelihood” of another as a pledge (to pay for a debt, etc). To do so, would take his ability to take care of himself and family -- away. And leave him with nothing to sustain his family. Hashem doesn’t want us to do this. That’s how much He loves each of us. It is a protection that someone would not lose everything and become destitute. Again one more example of how Hashem protects the poor. And how we are to be involved with that process.

Challenge:

We learn today another lesson of protecting husband and wife, and their relationship, by Hashem. If you are newly married you are not required to serve in the army for at least a year. This is so beautiful. Think of how important that first year is in a marriage. How hard it would be to be apart from your new spouse, right after you got married. This is a clear indicator of how Hashem wants marriages to be good and solid. Your challenge today is to look at your own marriage, or the marriage of a friend or family person. Have they had time together to solidify their marriage (or have you)? Have they (you) had a special time of at least one year to “ground” their marriage? If not, take the time to do so now. Or help the couple that has not had that special time, to do the same. Support marriages in your family and amongst your community of friends. 

Reading #6 - Deuteronomy 24:5–13

24:5 When a man takes a new wife, he shall not go out in the army, neither shall he be assigned any business. He shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer his wife whom he has taken.

6 No man shall take the mill or the upper millstone as a pledge, for he takes a life in pledge.

7 If a man is found stealing any of his brothers of the children of Israel, and he deals with him as a slave, or sells him, then that thief shall die. So you shall remove the evil from among you.

8 Be careful in the plague of leprosy, that you observe diligently and do according to all that the Levitical priests teach you. As I commanded them, so you shall observe to do. 9 Remember what Hashem your Elohim did to Miriam, by the way as you came out of Egypt.

10 When you lend your neighbor any kind of loan, you shall not go into his house to get his pledge. 11 You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you lend shall bring the pledge outside to you. 12 If he is a poor man, you shall not sleep with his pledge. 13 You shall surely restore to him the pledge when the sun goes down, that he may sleep in his garment and bless you. It shall be righteousness to you before Hashem your Elohim.

Ki Teitzei - Reading #5

Ki Teitzei כִּי-תֵצֵא - When You Go Out

Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 23:25–24:4

My Thoughts:

In this week's Torah portion we learn that it is okay to pick corn or grapes from our neighbor if we happen to walk through their property. No trespassing laws, in fact an invitation to help yourself. But, of course only for what you need at the moment. Not to gather bushels full. It is very kind and generous to think that our Hashem allows this kind of trust and sharing. He also has rules for your harvest and the poor. Hashem makes it clear He does not want the poor to starve, and He is interested in sharing our blessings. Let us try to remember that in our daily lives.

Challenge:

Today we read some interesting rules about divorce and remarrying. It seems like Hashem is allowing divorce, but not remarrying that person again (if she has married someone else and they have died). In fact, He mentions it is an abomination if you do this. And that we do not cause the land to sin. It has to do with his wife being “defiled”. We may not quite understand this, but what we can understand is that He does not want us to sin. Period. Your challenge today is to look over your life -- pay attention to the areas you know where you are “sinning” or disobeying Hashem’s commands. Do not pretend that you are perfect. Because as soon as you think about this -- sin will be revealed. Even what you may think is a “small” sin, like gossiping. Gossiping is NO small sin. It affects people, and can ripple out to affect your community, thus affecting a part of the world. It gets “into the Land”. Get rid of sin in your life today. If it is a habit, then ask Hashem to help you. It may be hard to change, but He can help you. Guaranteed.

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 23:25–24:4

25 When you come into your neighbor’s standing grain, then you may pluck the ears with your hand; but you shall not use a sickle on your neighbor’s standing grain.

24 When a man takes a wife and marries her, then it shall be, if she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some unseemly thing in her, that he shall write her a certificate of divorce, put it in her hand, and send her out of his house. 2 When she has departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife. 3 If the latter husband hates her, and write her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house; or if the latter husband dies, who took her to be his wife; 4 her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife after she is defiled; for that would be an abomination to Hashem. You shall not cause the land to sin, which Hashem your Elohim gives you for an inheritance.

Ki Teitzei - Reading #4

Ki Teitzei כִּי-תֵצֵא - When You Go Out
Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19

Reading #4 - Deuteronomy 23:8–24

My Thoughts:

Keeping the camp clean is very important. It is important for people to be righteous, and for the camp to be physically clean (especially without modern plumbing)! Why?  Verse 14 tells us, “...for Hashem your Elohim walks in the middle of your camp, to deliver you, and to give up your enemies before you. Therefore your camp shall be holy, that he may not see an unclean thing in you, and turn away from you.” He “walks” in the middle of the camp. What does that look like? We can’t see Him in physical form, but I am assuming His Spirit walks through our lives, through our dwelling places. Now, that is something to think about. If He “walks” in the middle of our lives, shouldn’t we be very, very concerned about being “clean” before Him also? Review your life. Make sure you are repenting, turning away from sin, and washing yourselves clean so that He can walk among us!

Challenge:

Are you a man/woman of your word? In verse 23 we read, “You shall observe and do that which has gone out of your lips.” Hashem is teaching us that when we say we are going to do something, we are obligated to do it! This reminds me when I meet someone and we are talking. Then I say to them “I will pray for you”. Well, I better be sure that I will pray for them, or I better not say it. It is better to either pray for them on the spot, or tell them you will try and remember to pray for them and be honest. The challenge today is for you to think about who you have told you would do something for recently. Have you fulfilled your word? Did you do what you said you would? If not, make it right today. Make your “yes be yes, and your no be no”. Be a person of integrity.

Reading #4 - Deuteronomy 23:8–24

8 The children of the third generation who are born to them may enter into Hashem’s assembly.

9 When you go out and camp against your enemies, then you shall keep yourselves from every evil thing. 10 If there is among you any man who is not clean by reason of that which happens to him by night, then shall he go outside of the camp. He shall not come within the camp; 11 but it shall be, when evening comes, he shall bathe himself in water. When the sun is down, he shall come within the camp. 12 You shall have a place also outside of the camp where you go relieve yourself. 13 You shall have a trowel among your weapons. It shall be, when you relieve yourself, you shall dig with it, and shall turn back and cover your excrement; 14 for Hashem your Elohim walks in the middle of your camp, to deliver you, and to give up your enemies before you. Therefore your camp shall be holy, that He may not see an unclean thing in you, and turn away from you.

15 You shall not deliver to his master a servant who has escaped from his master to you. 16 He shall dwell with you, among you, in the place which he shall choose within one of your gates, where it pleases him best. You shall not oppress him.

17 There shall be no prostitute of the daughters of Israel, neither shall there be a sodomite of the sons of Israel. 18 You shall not bring the hire of a prostitute, or the wages of a male prostitute, into the house of Hashem your Elohim for any vow; for both of these are an abomination to Hashem your Elohim

19 You shall not lend on interest to your brother: interest of money, interest of food, interest of anything that is lent on interest. 20 You may charge a foreigner interest; but you shall not charge your brother interest, that Hashem your Elohim may bless you in all that you put your hand to, in the land where you go in to possess it.

21 When you vow a vow to Hashem your Elohim you shall not be slack to pay it, for Hashem your Elohim will surely require it of you; and it would be sin in you. 22 But if you refrain from making a vow, it shall be no sin in you. 23 You shall observe and do that which has gone out of your lips. Whatever you have vowed to Hashem your Elohim as a free will offering, which you have promised with your mouth, you must do. 24 When you come into your neighbor’s vineyard, then you may eat your fill of grapes at your own pleasure; but you shall not put any in your container.

Ki Teitzei - Reading #3

Ki Teitzei כִּי-תֵצֵא - When You Go Out

Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19

Reading #3 - Deuteronomy 22:8–23:7

My Thoughts:

“So you shall remove the evil from Israel.” (verse 22) Here are some specific instructions about “taking” a virgin. And also the importance of a woman remaining a virgin until marriage (or it could cost her life). Hashem’s specific instructions are given so that Israel does not become corrupted, anywhere. He does not want people to be influenced by other people who worship false gods, neither does He want any disapproved sexual conduct. How very “loose” we have become regarding virginity. TV, movies, media all promote promiscuity. It would be wise to study these verses and teach our children to be righteous before Hashem.

Challenge:

Verse 8 commands people to make a railing around a porch, or anywhere people may be at risk on a building. He is so wonderful about thinking about the safety of everyone. My challenge to you today is to take a review of your house. Is it safe? Do you have sturdy railings in places they should be? Have you made necessary repairs throughout your house that make people safe? Take an inventory and make sure that you are not taking risks. It is a command. Obey it.

Reading #3 - Deuteronomy 22:8–23:7

8 When you build a new house, then you shall make a railing around your roof, so that you don’t bring blood on your house if anyone falls from there.

9 You shall not sow your vineyard with two kinds of seed, lest all the fruit be defiled, the seed which you have sown, and the increase of the vineyard. 10 You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together. 11 You shall not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together.

12 You shall make yourselves fringes on the four corners of your cloak with which you cover yourself.

13 If any man takes a wife, and goes in to her, hates her, 14 accuses her of shameful things, gives her a bad name, and says, “I took this woman, and when I came near to her, I didn’t find in her the tokens of virginity;” 15 then the young lady’s father and mother shall take and bring the tokens of the young lady’s virginity to the elders of the city in the gate. 16 The young lady’s father shall tell the elders, “I gave my daughter to this man as his wife, and he hates her. 17 Behold, he has accused her of shameful things, saying, ‘I didn’t find in your daughter the tokens of virginity;’ and yet these are the tokens of my daughter’s virginity.” They shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city. 18 The elders of that city shall take the man and chastise him. 19 They shall fine him one hundred shekels of silver, and give them to the father of the young lady, because he has given a bad name to a virgin of Israel. She shall be his wife. He may not put her away all his days.

20 But if this thing is true, that the tokens of virginity were not found in the young lady, 21 then they shall bring out the young lady to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones, because she has done folly in Israel, to play the prostitute in her father’s house. So you shall remove the evil from among you.

22 If a man is found lying with a woman married to a husband, then they shall both die, the man who lay with the woman and the woman. So you shall remove the evil from Israel. 23 If there is a young lady who is a virgin pledged to be married to a husband, and a man finds her in the city, and lies with her, 24 then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones; the lady, because she didn’t cry, being in the city; and the man, because he has humbled his neighbor’s wife. So you shall remove the evil from among you. 25 But if the man finds the lady who is pledged to be married in the field, and the man forces her and lies with her, then only the man who lay with her shall die; 26 but to the lady you shall do nothing. There is in the lady no sin worthy of death; for as when a man rises against his neighbor and kills him, even so is this matter; 27 for he found her in the field, the pledged to be married lady cried, and there was no one to save her. 28 If a man finds a lady who is a virgin, who is not pledged to be married, grabs her and lies with her, and they are found, 29 then the man who lay with her shall give to the lady’s father fifty shekels of silver. She shall be his wife, because he has humbled her. He may not put her away all his days. 30 A man shall not take his father’s wife, and shall not uncover his father’s skirt.

23 He who is emasculated by crushing or cutting shall not enter into Hashem’s assembly. 2 A person born of a forbidden union shall not enter into Hashem’s assembly; even to the tenth generation shall no one of his enter into Hashem’s assembly. 3 An Ammonite or a Moabite shall not enter into Hashem’s assembly; even to the tenth generation shall no one belonging to them enter into Hashem’s assembly forever, 4 because they didn’t meet you with bread and with water on the way when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you. 5 Nevertheless Hashem your Elohim wouldn’t listen to Balaam, but Hashem your Elohim turned the curse into a blessing to you, because Hashem your Elohim loved you. 6 You shall not seek their peace nor their prosperity all your days forever. 7 You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother. You shall not abhor an Egyptian, because you lived as a foreigner in his land.

Ki Teitzei - Reading #2

Ki Teitzei כִּי-תֵצֵא - When You Go Out
Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19
Reading #2 - Deuteronomy 21:22–22:7

My Thoughts:

So, here is a sensitive subject. Sexual identification is a huge issue in today’s world. At the time of this writing Miss USA is a transgender female. What does Hashem think about all of this? In verse 5 we read, “A woman shall not wear men’s clothing, neither shall a man put on women’s clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to Hashem your Elohim.” Some commands are very clear and this is one of them. There is no debate or discussion. Hashem says not to cross dress. It is an abomination to Him. If we want to please Hashem, then we obey Him. And this is in all areas of our life. Some sins are outward like this one. And some sins are hidden. But, let us be clear. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is hidden from Hashem. He sees it all. The best part is if we ask for forgiveness, He forgives. Remember that. Amen.

Challenge:

Sometimes when I pray I worry that what I am asking Hashem for is too small. Then I read today’s verse 22:6, “If you come across a bird’s nest on the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, and the hen sitting on the young, or on the eggs, you shall not take the hen with the young.” This is compassion, even for the least. Not to take eggs or young when the mother bird is in sight. You spare her. Not only is this kind, but it also makes sense for future eggs. If you kill both the mother and eat her eggs, there will be no more eggs in the future! This is compassion and sensibility. Your challenge today is to go through the day and see if there are some times where you can exhibit compassion, even for the smallest thing. Or if you can practice some sensibility instead of selfishness. What a better world we have when we exercise these things! Amen.

Reading #2 - Deuteronomy 21:22–22:7

22 If a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, 23 his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him the same day; for he who is hanged is accursed of Elohim. Don’t defile your land which Hashem your Elohim gives you for an inheritance.

22 You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep go astray and hide yourself from them. You shall surely bring them again to your brother. 2 If your brother isn’t near to you, or if you don’t know him, then you shall bring it home to your house, and it shall be with you until your brother comes looking for it, and you shall restore it to him. 3 So you shall do with his donkey. So you shall do with his garment. So you shall do with every lost thing of your brother’s, which he has lost and you have found. You may not hide yourself. 4 You shall not see your brother’s donkey or his ox fallen down by the way, and hide yourself from them. You shall surely help him to lift them up again.

5 A woman shall not wear men’s clothing, neither shall a man put on women’s clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to Hashem your Elohim.

6 If you come across a bird’s nest on the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, and the hen sitting on the young, or on the eggs, you shall not take the hen with the young. 7 You shall surely let the hen go, but the young you may take for yourself, that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days.

Ki Teitzei - Reading #1

Ki Teitzei כִּי-תֵצֵא - When You Go Out

Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19

Reading #1 - Deuteronomy 21:10–21

My Thoughts:

Some interesting verses (commandments) today. What to do if you bring back a female enemy and want to take her as your wife. Or if you have two wives and one is hated, but she has the firstborn. It seems like Hashem has fairness even in these unusual situations. Not that we can understand all this, but we know we can trust in Hashem and His greatness. Some things in Torah we may not be able to comprehend, but still we can depend on Hashem’s Word. 

Challenge:

In the last part of today’s portion we read about what happens to a disobedient drunkard son. There is no mercy. He is taken out of the city and stoned! This may seem so harsh to us today, but Hashem once again, has His reasons. He wants to maintain peace and set an example. In verse 21 He explains why, “So you shall remove the evil from among you. All Israel shall hear, and fear.” First of all He does not want any evil in His presence and secondly the rest of the people will see the punishment and be afraid to ever do the same! My challenge to you today is to see if you are “setting an example” with your family and friends. If your child does something wrong is there strict punishment? Or do you just casually say, “Oh Johnny, please don’t do that.” I believe Hashem wants discipline for those who are rebellious. So that they can learn and so that they can set an example. In this case it was death. But, we can look at it today as the death of a habit or sin. Be consistent and fair in your discipline. And let your children know that you do it because you love them.

Reading #1 - Deuteronomy 21:10–21

21:10 When you go out to battle against your enemies, and Hashem your Elohim delivers them into your hands and you carry them away captive, 11 and see among the captives a beautiful woman, and you are attracted to her, and desire to take her as your wife, 12 then you shall bring her home to your house. She shall shave her head and trim her nails. 13 She shall take off the clothing of her captivity, and shall remain in your house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month. After that you shall go in to her and be her husband, and she shall be your wife. 14 It shall be, if you have no delight in her, then you shall let her go where she desires; but you shall not sell her at all for money. You shall not deal with her as a slave, because you have humbled her.

15 If a man has two wives, the one beloved and the other hated, and they have borne him children, both the beloved and the hated, and if the firstborn son is hers who was hated, 16 then it shall be, in the day that he causes his sons to inherit that which he has, that he may not give the son of the beloved the rights of the firstborn before the son of the hated, who is the firstborn; 17 but he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the hated, by giving him a double portion of all that he has; for he is the beginning of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his.

18 If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and though they chasten him, will not listen to them, 19 then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city and to the gate of his place. 20 They shall tell the elders of his city, “This our son is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey our voice. He is a glutton and a drunkard.” 21 All the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall remove the evil from among you. All Israel shall hear, and fear.

Ki Teitzei - Week #6

Ki Teitzei כִּי-תֵצֵא - When You Go Out

Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19

Isaiah 54:1-10

Matthew 24:29-42

1.1 First reading — Deuteronomy 21:10–21

1.2 Second reading — Deuteronomy 21:22–22:7

1.3 Third reading — Deuteronomy 22:8–23:7

1.4 Fourth reading — Deuteronomy 23:8–24

1.5 Fifth reading — Deuteronomy 23:25–24:4

1.6 Sixth reading — Deuteronomy 24:5–13

1.7 Seventh reading — Deuteronomy 24:14–25:19