Chaya Rochel Nach Yomi

*Shoftim 8*

Learn the Perek with translation abd classic commentaries:

https://mg.alhatorah.org/Full/Shofetim/8.1#e0n6

*Perek Points*

_Adaped from R' Shaya Sussman's Nach Daily_

● The men of the tribe of Ephraim complain harshly to Gidon for not having summoned them to battle so Gidon mollifies them by praising them.

● The Jews of Sukkos and P’nuel deny rations to Gidon’s army pursuing Midiani kings, Zevach and Tzalmuna.

● Gidon commands his son Yesser to kill the two Midiani kings but Yesser is afraid to so Gidon kills them himself and then kills the Jews of Sukkos and P’nuel for their insolence.

● The Jewish people wish to make Gidon their leader but Gidon refuses to accept the leadership role of the Jewish nation and argues that Hashem be the leader.

● Gidon makes an Eifod out of the golden nose rings that the Jews had amassed in the Midian battles but the Eifod later becomes a source of idol worship for the Jewish people.

● Gidon returns home and sires seventy sons plus another son from a concubine named Avimelech before dying.

● The land is tranquil for forty years until the Jewish nation returns to idol worship.

*Shoftim 7*

Learn the Perek with translation and classic commentaries:

https://mg.alhatorah.org/Full/Shoftim/7.1

*Perek Summary*

● Gidon gathers a large army to fight Midyan, but Hashem tells him the force is too large — lest Bnei Yisrael claim the victory for themselves. Anyone who is afraid is allowed to leave, and thousands depart.

● Hashem then conducts the famous water test: the soldiers drink from a stream, and those who kneel down to drink are separated from those who bring the water up to their mouths with their hands.

● Only 300 men drink in this latter way, and Hashem declares that through these 300 the salvation will come.

● Before the battle, Hashem reassures Gidon by sending him secretly into the Midyanite camp, where he overhears a soldier describing a dream that foretells Midyan’s defeat at the hands of Gidon.

● Encouraged, Gidon divides the 300 men into three groups and equips them not with conventional weapons, but with shofaros, empty pitchers, and torches hidden inside the pitchers.

● In the middle of the night they surround the Midyanite camp. At Gidon’s signal they blow the shofaros, smash the pitchers to reveal the torches, and shout, “A sword for Hashem and for Gidon!”

● The sudden noise, light, and confusion send the Midyanite camp into panic; they turn their swords against each other and flee, while Bnei Yisrael pursue the retreating enemy.

*Shoftim 6*

Learn the Perek with translation and classic commentaries:

https://mg.alhatorah.org/Full/Shofetim/6.1#e1n6

*Perek Summary*

_Adapted from R' Shaya Sussman's Nach Daily_

● The Jews sin in the eyes of Hashem.

● Midian and Amaleik oppress Klal Yisrael for seven years.

● The Jews’ crops are destroyed and the Jews are forced into hiding in the mountains for fear of their lives.

● Pinchas rebukes the Jews and they repent.

● An angel appears to Yoash, telling him to send Gid'on, his son, to save the Jews.

● Gid'on challenges whether or not Hashem will help, but ultimately is convinced to carry out Hashem’s word as he destroys the local idols and altars of Ba'al (false rain deity) and the _Asheiros_ (trees used for idol worship).

● The people of the town want to kill Gid'on. His father Yoash argues that Ba'al should fend for itself. Gid'on becomes "Yeruba'al" ("he who contends with Ba'al")

● All of Midian, Amaleik and many tribes of the Jewish nation gather in Yizre'el valley.

● Gid'on asked for two signs as evidence that Hashem is with him:

1. After placing fleece on the ground, the next morning the fleece should be wet but the floor dry.

2. After placing fleece on the ground, the next morning, the fleece should be dry and the ground wet.

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_Challenge Questions:_

● Who was Gid'on?

● Whom does Gid'on remind you of? (More than one answer perhaps)

● What holiday does his story remind you of?

*Shoftim 5*

Learn the Perek with translation and classic commentaries:

https://mg.alhatorah.org/Full/Shofetim/5.1#e0n6

*Perek Points*

● Devorah and Barak sing a shirah which mentions several ideas including how in the days of Shamgar and Yael, the Bnei Yisrael strayed and were oppressed and were in constant fear until Devorah got up and initiated Teshuvah and a battle.

● In it, she praises those who support the Torah and those who helped in the battle (Yissachar, Zevulun, etc.) and condemns those who didn’t help (Reuven, Gilad, Dan, etc.).

● She then praises Yael’s act of heroism in her killing of Sisra and mentions Sisra’s mother’s wonderment about his delay in returning home.

● The Navi then says that the land rested for 40 years.

*Shoftim 4*

_Learn the perek (with translation and classic commentaries):_ https://mg.alhatorah.org/Full/Shofetim/4.1#e0n6

*Perek Points*

_Adapted from R' Shaya Sussman's Nach Daily_

● The Jewish people abandon Hashem and are oppressed by Yavin, king of Chatzor.

● Devorah, the judge, calls upon Barak to save the Jewish people from the evil Canaani general Sisra.

● Barak accepts the challenge on the condition that Devorah would go to war with him and she agrees but tells him that a woman would get the credit and not him.

● Barak gathers 10,000 men from the tribes of Zevulun and Naftali and destroys Sisra’s army, as well as nine hundred iron chariots.

● Sisra flees on foot and takes refuge in the tent of Yael.

● Yael feeds the famished and exhausted Sisra, puts him to sleep, and kills him by driving a tent peg through his head.

● Barak arrives at Yael's tent and sees Sisra dead.

●The Jews destroy Yavin and his kingdom.

*Shoftim 3*

Learn the Perek with translation and classic commentaries:

https://mg.alhatorah.org/Full/Shofetim/3.26#e1n6

*Perek Points*

_Adapted from R' Shaya Sussman's Nach Daily_

● A new generation of Jews arises that was unskilled in warfare.

● The Jewish people are oppressed

● Osniel ben K’naz saves the Jews from Cusham Rish’asayim who had oppressed them for eight years.

● Peace reignes for forty years until Osniel dies.

● Ehud ben Geira saves Klal Yisroel from King Eglon and the oppression of Moav.

● Ehud was a lefty who wore a double-edged dagger on his right thigh.

● Ehud fools King Eglon’s guards by saying that he had a present for King Eglon.

● Ehud kills King Eglon while King Eglon is in the bathroom.

● Ehud escapes out the window.

● The Shofar is sounded. The Jews win the war.

● Peace then reigns for eighty years.

● Shamgar ben Anas saves the Jews from the Plishtim.

*Shoftim 2*

Learn the Perek with translation and classic commentaries:

https://mg.alhatorah.org/Full/Shofetim/2.15#e0n6

*Perek Points*

_Adapted from R' Shaya Sussman's Nach Daily_

· A "Malach Hashem" criticizes the Jews for failing to drive out the foreign nations from their heritage and they accept the criticism and wept.

· A new generation arises that is unaware of the goodness Hashem had done for the Jews throughout the leadership of Yehoshua.

· The Navi tells us the framework for Sefer Shoftim: The Jews would sin “in the eyes of Hashem," a foreign nation would oppress the Jews, they would turn to Hashem in prayer and teshuvah, Hashem would send a "judge" (Shofeit) to save the Jews, and eventually they would sin again and the cycle would repeat.

*Shoftim 1*

Learn the perek (with translation and classic commentaries): https://mg.alhatorah.org/Full/Shofetim/1.1#e0n6

*Perek Points*

_Adapted from R' Shaya Sussman's Nach Daily_

Although Eretz Yisrael is divided amongst the tribes, Eretz Yisrael is still not completely conquered.

After the death of Yehoshua, the Jews ask Hashem (through the Urim V’Tumim) which tribe should go to war first and He answers Yehudah.

Yehudah asks Shimon to assist in battle against King Adoni Vezek.

Adoni Vezek is captured and his thumbs and big toes are severed in accordance with what Adoni Vezek would do to his captured enemies.

Osniel ben K’naz conquers Kiryas Arba and is given Achsa bas Calev a wife (as mentioned in Yehoshua). Calev grants Achsa’s request for more fertile land.

The Bnei Yosef come upon the city of Luz and defeat it.

The Navi lists the tribes who failed to remove the remaining nations in their portion of land.

*Yehoshua 24 (Final Perek)*

https://mg.alhatorah.org/Full/Yehoshua/24.15#e1n6

*Perek Points:*

_Adapted from R' Shaya Sussman's Nach Daily_

● Yehoshua continues to prepare Klal Yisroel for his death.

● Yehoshua relates the history of Klal Yisrael. He starts with Terach and Avraham, and continues through the miracles of Egypt. Yehoshua ends with the battles in Sefer Yehoshua.

● Klal Yisrael pledges allegiance to Hashem.

● Yehoshua tells them that Hashem will not forgive them for serving avodah zarah.

● Yehoshua writes down the Torah of Moshe, placing it in the Mishkan.

● Yehoshua passes away.

● The bones of Yosef are buried in Sh’chem.

● Elazar HaKohein passes away.

🎊 Mazel Tov on our completion of Sefer Yehoshua! 🎊

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_Challenge Question:_

● Why was it necessary for Yehoshua to deliver a second lecture?

*Yehoshua 23*

Learn the Perek with translation and classic commentaries:

https://mg.alhatorah.org/Full/Yehoshua/23.1#e0n6

*Perek Points:*

_Adapted from R' Shaya Sussman's Nach Daily_

● Yehoshua gathers the entire Klal Yisrael together in order to prepare them for his death.

● Yehoshua tells them that there are still unconquered nations living in Eretz Yisrael.

● Yehoshua encourages Klal Yisrael to remain strong and not be enticed by the unconquered nations in Eretz Yisrael or assimilate with them after his passing.

● Yehoshua impresses upon Klal Yisrael to serve Hashem with sincerity and wholeheartedness and warns them that just as Hashem has done so much good for Klal Yisrael, so, too, is He capable of doing the opposite.