Torah
Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17

1) The doctrine of Free Will is a fundamental doctrine in Jewish though. What choice is put before man in the first verse of this portion? How does this verse affect your understanding of Free Will?

2) Who is affected by the choices you make about obeying God’s Word?

3) Where can sacrifices be made?

4) What is requiring for a non-sacrifice slaughtering of an animal for food?

5) What 3 types of tithes are mentioned in this portion?

6) What is taught about the false prophet who might arise?

7) What is a Shemittah/Sabbatical Year? What is instructed about it?

How might one find themselves as an indentured servant?

9) What instruction is given about the firstborn males?

10) What are the 3 Pilgrimage Feasts? What does it mean to be a Pilgrimage Feast?

Haftarah
Isaiah 54:11-55:5

1) Between last week’s portion and this week’s, what chapter is conspicuously missing from a Haftarah reading? Why do you think that might be?

2) This is the 3rd “Haftarot of Consolation” and offers encouragement to Israel in the face of exile. What is God promising to do to Jerusalem even while it is desolate? Why?

3) According to verse 55:3, what must Israel do for the Lord to make with them an everlasting covenant?

4) What will be the result of the Jewish people finally turning to the Lord?

Brit Chadashah
John 7:37-52

1) What is Yeshua’s offer to Israel in this passage?

Torah
Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25

1) What will it look like for Israel to grapple (or wrestle) with the commandments of the Lord?

2) What will be the consequence of them not performing them diligently?

3) The Canaanites were going to live in the Land while God drove them out slowly, over time, so that the Israelites could grow as a nation and be able to populate the entire Land. While living in the Land with the Canaanites were they to live in fear or faith?

4) What does Moses remind the Israelites of while encouraging them to live in faith?

5) Based on Deut 8:10 the Jewish “blessing” or “grace” for meals is given after the meal (not to be confused with the many added blessings for before the meal. How does this verse speak to that?

6) Moses is very clear that the Israelites are not being given the land because of something special about them. Why are they being given the Land?

7) Based on this Torah portion, what would it mean to “fear the Lord”?

In this portion we learn the Shema. What does it teach us about God?

Haftarah
Isaiah 49:52-3

1) This is the “Second Haftarah of Consolation”. What does it begin with?

2) To what does God compare His love for Israel?

3) In Jeremiah 3:8 the Lord states that he is issuing a divorce decree because Israel has demanded it. What does he say about the decree in this portion? What will it take to make that decree null and void?

4) Who is the subject of the rest of this portion?

Brit Chadashah
Hebrews 11:8-13;
Romans 8:31-39

1) How are believers compared to Abraham and Sarah in the Hebrews passage?

2) What does the Romans passage teach us we can trust the Lord to do?

Torah
Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22

1) Where are the Israelites as we begin this book?

2) It has been noted that the book Devarim resembles an ancient middle-east covenant between a King and his people. Who would be the King?

3) What did it mean that Moses said God was saying they had stayed long enough at this mountain?

4) How many Israelites did Moses say there now were?

5) When the Israelites first arrived at the Promised Land the spies returned to camp on the 9th of Av. What else has happened in Israel’s history on the 9th of Av?

6) What information did Moses add to the account of the refusal to enter the Land?

7) What three nations bordering the Promised Land were the Israelites forbidden from attacking?

How many years did the Israelites wander before they entered the battle with Sihon and Og?

9) Where did Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh settle?

Haftarah
Isaiah 1:1-27

1) This portion is read on the Sabbath that precedes the 9th of Av. What does it refer to?

2) Why does the portion, despite the subject matter, end on a positive note?

Brit Chadashah
Acts 9:1-21

1) Describe the encounter of God with Rabbi Shaul on the road to Damascus?

2) What was so significant about Shaul accepting Yeshua as Messiah?

Torah
Numbers 30:2-32:42; 33:1-36:13

1) Who are we told has restrictions on making vows and what are they?

2) It is very important to keep our word and if we make a Nederam/Vow then we have given a sacred commitment. To violate that would be with severe consequence. James tells us not to make promises about going here or there. What does Jesus say about vows (see Matthew 5:33-37; 12:36-37)?

3) Why did the Lord command Moses to go to battle against the Midianites?

4) Who was commanded to go into battle?

5) What spoils did the men bring back from the battle?

6) What was required of the warriors who were unclean after the battle?

7) How were the spoils purified?

What permission do the tribes of Reuben and Gad seek?

9) Who eventually joined them?

10) How many places had Israel camped during their time during their journey?

11) What borders are given for the land of Israel?

12) What are cities of refuge and who was to live in them?

13) What are the plans the daughters of Zelophehad’s plans for marriage?

Haftarah
Jeremiah 1:1-2:3; Jeremiah 2:4-28; 3:4

1) This portion is one of the portions read during the “Three Weeks of Sorrow” that are collectively called the “Haftarahs of Reproof”. Jeremiah presents what option for people with regard to the Lord in this and the other portions of Reproof?

2) If God determines everything that is, what choice do we have?

3) This portion is read as a call to repentance. What has the Lord already been telling you is an area where you need to repent?

4) What is made sure in the second portion from Jeremiah?

Brit Chadashah
Matthew 5:33-37; James 4:1-12

1) What is Yeshua’s teaching about vows?

2) In Matthew 12:36-37, Yeshua says, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, but by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” What is your initial response to that statement in light of this week’s Torah portion?

3) James addresses pride and the ensuing spiritual adultery. One translation is to not be “double-souled”. What wars for your soul’s attention away from the Lord?

Chazak! Chazak! Ve’nit-chazek!

Be strong! Be strong! And may we be strengthened!

Yes! We have finished Numbers. Next we dive into Deuteronomy and then it will be time to roll back the Torah!

Torah

Numbers 25:10-30:1

1)  What reward was Phinehas granted because of his faithfulness at the end of last week’s portion?

2)  There are two reasons that Phinehas, though Aaron’s grandson, was not already a kohen. What are they?

3)  In a Torah scroll we see a broken vav in the word shalom.  The laws regarding the copying of scrolls say that no letter is to be connected to another or broken.  What might be the significance of a broken vav (which means “nail, peg” in the world shalom?

4)  After the plague ended what did God order Eleazar to do?  What do we learn about Israel from the results of the census?

5)  What is the description of God telling Moses it was time for him to be gathered to his people (die)?

6) What petition did Moses make to the Lord at this point?

7) Who succeeded Moses as leader of Israel?

8)  What two overarching lists does this portion end with?

Haftarah

1 Kings 18:46-19:21

1)   What was Queen Jezebel’s reaction to hearing about the encounter between Elijah and the Prophets of Baal?

2)   When God said He would make himself known to Elijah, how did He appear to Him?

3)    What did Elijah do to Elisha?  Why?

Brit Chadashah

Romans 11:2-32

1)   By referring to this week’s Haftarah portion, what point is Paul trying to make?

2)   What is the message of the Olive Tree metaphor?

Torah

Numbers 22:2-25:9

1)  Balak, the King of Moab, considered what was done to the Bashanites and the Ammonites at the end of last week’s portion, and decided to do what?

2)  When Lot was saved from Sodom and stayed in a cave with his daughters they got him drunk and slept with him and conceived.  One of their sons was the father of the nation of Moab and the other was the father of the nation of Ammon.  They come back into play now. In what way?

3)  Who was Balaam?

4)  Was Balaam being obedient or disobedient when he went out to curse Israel?

5)  What happened when Balaam tried to curse Israel each time?

6) Why did a plague break out at Peor?

7) Balaam is a very prevalent character in the text of the Hebrew Scriptures and the Brit Chadashah.  Find another time when he is mentioned. What is the context?

Haftarah

Micah 5:6-6:8

1)   “Remnant of Jacob” comes from the verb sha’ar and means “left behind” or “left over”.  What are we told is the purpose of the Remnant of Jacob at the end of days?

2)   What does this portion tell us about Gog and Magog?

3)    What appeal does the Lord make to Israel?

Brit Chadashah

Romans 1:25-32

1)   Balaam prophesied that “a star shall rise from Jacob.”  How was that prophecy fulfilled?

2)   Has Israel been restored yet according to promise?

Torah

Numbers 19:1-22:1

1)  What do the ashes of the Red Heifer do?

2)  Chok is a word that means it makes no rational sense.  Is the Red Heifer sacrifice chok?

3)  What was added to the burning sacrifice?  Where have we seen these items before?

4)  How was the Water of Separation made?  How was it used?

5)  What are the 4 ways in which the Parah Adumah (Red Heifer) sacrifice was different from all others?

6) How was this sacrifice a picture of Yeshua?

7) What happened with the Well of Miriam that led everyone to complain to Moses?

What instruction did God give to Moses?

9)  Why was it important for Moses to obey God in his actions?  Did he?

10)  What happened when the Canaanite king Arad attacked while Israel was mourning for Aaron’s death?

11)  How did the people grumble in this week’s portion? Against whom?

12)  What plague came against the people and how did God instruct Moses to cause it to cease?

13)  How did the war against the King of the Amorites resolve?

14)  How about the war against Og?

Haftarah

Judges 11:1-33

1)   At the end of this week’s Torah Portion we read about two territories taken by the Israelites.  In this week’s Haftarah portion we read about the King of Ammon demanding these territories be returned to him.  Who did the Israelites turn to for guidance?

2)   What did Jephthah require to help the Israelites?

3)    What was the consequence of Jephthah’s rash vow?

Brit Chadashah

Hebrews 9:11-28;

John 3:10-21

1)   Yeshua is the foreshadowing of the “types and shadows” of the Torah. What does this mean?

2)   How is the way of salvation explained to Nicodemus?

Torah

Numbers 16:1-18:32

1)  In this week’s portion we learn about a rebellion. Who led it?

2)  What was the reason for the rebellion?

3)  What were the rebels told to bring to the Mishkan so that the Lord would make clear who was chosen by Him to be the high priest?

4)  Who did the Lord choose?

5)  What happened to the men who had rebelled?

6) What was the result in the rest of the community of Israel?

7) What sign did God give to the people to prove whom He had chosen to lead them?

Haftarah

1 Samuel 11:14-18:32

1)   What change in leadership do we read about in this week’s portion?

2)   What warning did God give the Israelites about getting a king?

3)    What warning was given to the Israelites to warn them about violating God’s covenant with them while under a king’s leading?

Brit Chadashah

Romans 13:1-7

1)   What submission is discussed in this week’s portion?

2)   Does this instruction mean that a believer is required to do anything that a government demands?  How would one determine what to do?

Torah

Numbers 13:1-15:41

1)  Who was sent to spy out the Promised Land?

2)  What questions did Moses have for them?

3)  What new name did Moses give Hoshea?

4)  What did the spies bring back?

5)  How long were the spies in the Promised Land?

6) What report did the spies give when asked about the land?

7) Who gave a different report?

8)  What did the Israelites choose to do after hearing the two reports?

9) How many times does God say Israel has now rebelled and challenged him?

10) What happened to the spies who made the bad report?

11) What was the judgment for Israel after Moses interceded for them again?

12) How long were the Israelites to wander in the Wilderness?  How did God choose this number of years?

13)  What is added to the instructions for offerings and why?

Haftarah

Joshua 2:1-2:24

1)   Before Joshua leads the Israelites into the Promised Land he also sends in spies.  How are the questions he poses to the spies different from the questions posed by Moses?

2)   Where do the spies stay the night?

3)    What agreement do they make and who will be saved?

Brit Chadashah

Hebrews 3:7-4:1

1)   What questions are posed by the author of Hebrews in this portion?

2)   Describe how Joshua was a Messianic figure.

Torah

Numbers 8:1-12:16

1)  What do we learn about the lampstand?

2)  How were the Levites purified for their service in the Mishkan?

3)  What is the purpose of Pesach Sheni (Second Passover)?

4)  What happens if you are not unclean or unable to observe Passover and yet fail to do so?

5) How were the Israelites led in their travels for the 40 years that they were in the wilderness?

6) God instructed Moses to make two silver trumpets for summoning the camp.  What are the trumpet blast combinations that called the different groups?

7) How else were the trumpet blasts used?

8)  How long were the Israelites camped at Sinai before they were led to move on?

8)  What was Moses response to Jethro saying he was going to return to Midian?

9) What was God’s response to the people’s complaints?

10) What was Moses’ response to the people complaining about not having meat?

11) Describe the plague of the quail.

12) Miriam and Aaron engaged in lashon hara (evil tongue) against Moses. What was the consequence for their action?

Haftarah

Zechariah 2:14-4:7[h]

1)   When Zechariah delivers his prophecy to Joshua, the high priest, what do we learn about Messiah?

2)   How does the menorah picture in Zechariah’s vision?

Brit Chadashah

1 Cor 10:6-13

Revelation 11:1-19

1)    How are the consequences of the Israelites grumblings in the wilderness intended to affect us?

2)   In Revelation we receive an interpretation of the same image as in Zechariah’s vision. What do we learn about it?