Torah Portion Summary

Devarim is both the title for the last book from the scroll of the Torah and the title of the first Torah portion therein. Devarim means “words.” The English-speaking world calls this book Deuteronomy. The Hebrew title for the book comes from the opening phrase of the book: “These are the words (devarim) which Moses spoke to all Israel across the Jordan in the wilderness” (Deuteronomy 1:1).

One ancient name for the book of Deuteronomy is Mishnah HaTorah, which means “repetition of the Torah.” This is similar to the Greek Septuagint name Deuteronomos, which means “second law.” The English name Deuteronomy is derived from Deuteronomos. The book of Deuteronomy is dominated by Moses’ farewell address to the children of Israel as he urges them to remain faithful to the covenant and prepares them for entering Canaan.

The children of Israel are assembled on the plains of Moab across the Jordan while Moses reviews the story of the giving of the Torah at Sinai and the trip to the promised land, reiterates several laws of Torah, and introduces new laws. The book seems to follow the general pattern of an ancient Near Eastern covenant treaty document.

Haftarh Portion Summary

The Haftarah for Devarim is from the prophet Isaiah. This portion is read on the Sabbath that precedes Tisha'h B'Av since "the vision of Isaiah" concerns the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. When it was first recorded, Isaiah's vision was still future, and the Israelites still had a chance to repent before the great tragedy befell them. However, since the Jews did not repent, calamity overtook them. Today the haftarah is traditionally chanted to the same haunting melody as Megilat Eichah (Lamentations), written by the prophet Jeremiah, who was an eyewitness to the destruction and fall of Judah and Jerusalem.

Chapter 1 of the Haftarah recounts the wickedness of Judah and her utmost corruption. Without authentic repentance, all the rituals and forms of sacrificial worship are meaningless. Chapter 2 then shifts to a scene in the heavenly court, where the case is made against Judah and the judgment is made sure. According to Chaza'l, the haftarah ends on a positive note because they did not want to give punishment the last word. Therefore "Zion shall be redeemed by justice, and those in her who repent, by righteousness." There is hope for Israel, even in light of the tragedy that is commemorated during Tishah B'Av.

B'rit Chadashah Portion Summary

The reading from the Brit Chadashah concerns the conversion of the Apostle Paul, then known as Rav Sha'ul, on the road to Damascus. Like Rav Sha'ul, who was the consummate "Torah-Observant" Jew, those who would follow the Torah of Moses are in need of radical teshuvah, a complete about-face from the way of obtaining merit through works of righteousness. The first generation of Israelites could not enter the land of promise on account of their unbelief, and even Moses himself was forbidden to enter the land. It was through Yehoshua (Joshua), a type of Mashiach, who brought the people in through trusting in the promises of the LORD.

All Portions this week (LINK)
Torah	Haftarah	B'rit Chadashah
Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22	Isaiah 1:1-27	Acts 7:51-8:4
		Luke 1:68, 19:41-44

COMMENTARY
Fruits of Torah	Torah Resource	Hebrews for Christians
Ardelle -ver1	Tim Hegg -part1	Torah Table Talk
Ardelle -ver2	Tim Hegg -part2	The Call to Obey

AUDIO COMMENTARY (Nehemia's Wall)
Portion	Torah Pearls	Prophet Pearls
Devarim