Study Desk

Observe diligently the mitzvot of Adonai your God, and his instructions and laws which he has given you.

Adonai worked great and terrible signs and wonders against Egypt, Pharaoh and all his household, before our very eyes.

Don't intermarry with them — don't give your daughter to his son, and don't take his daughter for your son.

For you are a people set apart as holy for Adonai your God. Adonai your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his own unique treasure.

Adonai didn't set his heart on you or choose you because you numbered more than any other people — on the contrary, you were the fewest of all peoples.

(Maftir) From this you can know that Adonai your God is indeed God, the faithful God, who keeps his covenant and extends grace to those who love him and observe his mitzvot, to a thousand generations.

But he repays those who hate him to their face and destroys them. He will not be slow to deal with someone who hates him; he will repay him to his face.

You are to remember everything of the way in which Adonai led you these forty years in the desert, humbling and testing you in order to know what was in your heart — whether you would obey his mitzvot or not.

Think deeply about it: Adonai was disciplining you, just as a man disciplines his child.

(ii) "Be careful not to forget Adonai your God by not obeying his mitzvot, rulings and regulations that I am giving you today.

No, you are to remember Adonai your God, because it is he who is giving you the power to get wealth, in order to confirm his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as is happening even today.

"The people of Isra'el traveled from the wells of B'nei-Ya‘akan to Moserah, where Aharon died and was buried; and El‘azar his son took his place, serving in the office of cohen.

At that time Adonai set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark for the covenant of Adonai and to stand before Adonai to serve him and to bless in his name, as they still do today.

This is why Levi has no share or inheritance with his brothers; Adonai is his inheritance, as Adonai your God had said to him.

(v) "So now, Isra'el, all that Adonai your God asks from you is to fear Adonai your God, follow all his ways, love him and serve Adonai your God with all your heart and all your being;

You are to fear Adonai your God, serve him, cling to him and swear by his name.

"Therefore, you are to love Adonai your God and always obey his commission, regulations, rulings and mitzvot.

Today it is you I am addressing — not your children, who haven't known or experienced the discipline of Adonai your God, his greatness, his strong hand, his outstretched arm,

his signs and his actions which he did in Egypt to Pharaoh the king of Egypt and to his entire country.

(vii & Maftir) "For if you will take care to obey all these mitzvot I am giving you, to do them, to love Adonai your God, to follow all his ways and to cling to him,