Weekly Torah Lesson
Parasha: Re eh (to see)
Torah: Devarim 11:26 – 16:17
** The Levitical Priesthood was established in Israel during it’s wandering in the wilderness, approximately thirty eight years before Moshe wrote these instructions. During this time, Moshe noticed that there was difficulty in controlling those who felt that they could offer sacrifices to Avinu wherever and whenever they felt like it. Some of the wealthier citizens had their own Levitical Priest living with them and assisting them in their random religious activities.
The size of the land of Israel and the distance that some of the tribes would have to travel to bring their sacrifices to the Tent of Meeting would only exacerbate the situation. The permanent Temple in Jerusalem wouldn’t be built for another three hundred years. So Moshe put into writing a detailed plan to control the integrity of the sacrificial system.
5 But to the place which Avinu Elohekah shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even to his habitation shall you seek, and there you shall come: 6 And there you shall bring your olah offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and t’ruma offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and of your flocks: 7 And there you shall eat before Avinu Elohekah, and you shall rejoice in all that you put your hand to, you and your households, wherein Avinu Elohekah has blessed you. 8 You shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatever is right in his own eyes. 9 For you are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which Avinu Elohekah gives you. 10 But when you go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which Avinu Elohekah gives you to inherit, and when he gives you rest from all your enemies round about, so that you dwell in safety; 11 Then there shall be a place which Avinu Elohekah shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; there shall you bring all that I command you; your olah offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the t’ruma offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which you vow to Avinu: 12 And you shall rejoice before Avinu Elohekah, you, and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gates; for as much as he has no part nor inheritance with you. 13 Take heed to yourself that you offer not your olah offerings in every place that you see: 14 But in the place which Avinu shall choose in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your olah offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you. (Devarim 12: 5-14)
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