Portion 45 of 54 · Deuteronomy
וָאֶתְחַנַּן
Va'etchanan
Moses asks one last time to be allowed across, is refused, and then teaches the words Jews have said twice daily ever since.
Start by reading it
Deuteronomy 3:23–7:11
5 chapters. About 20 minutes at an unhurried pace.
Paired reading from the prophets: Isaiah 40:1–26
What happens
- 01
'Let me go over and see the good land.' The answer is no. Speak no more to me of this matter.
- 02
The Ten Commandments are given a second time, to the new generation.
- 03
The Shema: Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one.
- 04
Teach them to your children, speak of them at home and on the road, at night and in the morning.
The thing most people walk past
He teaches after being refused
God says no to the one thing Moses wants, and the next thing Moses does is give the people the most important sentence in the book. He does not withdraw. He hands over.
One verse to carry
HEAR, O ISRAEL: THE LORD OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE. And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
The first words a Jewish child learns and the last words many say. Jesus quoted it as the greatest commandment. It is the centre of the house.
A question to sit with
The Shema begins with 'hear', not 'believe'. What is being asked of a person there?
There is no answer key. This is the part you take with you.