Navi Test 4/3 Y4 24-25

What did the king of Yabin hear that caused him to attack? (Lev Aharon)

He heard that Yehoshua returned to Gilgal and would not be on guard of an attack.

How and why was Mizpah used as a gathering Jewish center in the future? (Radak)

This may be the place where many Jews gathered in the future because it was a reminder and a symbol that Hashem helped with Yehoshua’s victory. Shmuel brought a Korban and prayed to Hashem in this place to be saved from the Philishtim. He also crowned Shaul as king in this place as well.

Why did Hashem command Yehoshua to burn all the chariots, and render the horses unfit for war?

The BNY were about to fight their strongest foe yet. Now would be the time where they would want to rely the most on their horses and chariots. Specifically at this time Hashem told them to burn the chariots, and render the horses unfit for war (the horses were not killed).

How was Yehoshua able to inflict pain upon the animals by rendering them useless for war? Isn’t harming animals and causing them pain forbidden from the Torah?

This command was specific as a special Diving command. Had Hashem not have commanded them directly, we would not be allowed to inflict unnecessary pain on animals.

Why were all the cities able to stay in existence except for Chazor?

All the cities remained intact for the BNY to live in. Chazor was the one exception because they led the alliance of kings against the Jews.

Was this land the same land of Goshen that BNY lived in Egypt? If yes, how is that possible if they were now in Canaan? (Rashi)

Although it can be that this was a different land with the same name, Rashi quotes a Midrash that says that while it obviously could not have been the same land, it was owned by the same Egyptian governor that owned Goshen. He ended up owning land in Eretz Yisrael and gave it the same name.

Why was Goshen given to the tribe of Yehudah?(Rashi)

Yehuda was the first to go ahead of the Jews when they went down to Egypt. He made sure that places of Torah study were set up before the BNY moved in. In this merit he was given Goshen. This is a lesson to NEVER live somewhere unless there is a shul and Bet Midrash in the town!

Why was Mount Halak given this name? (Radak)

The word Chalak means “split”. The mountain was split in 2 halves. Chalak also means “smooth”. The mountain was smooth because it had no trees on it

Why did Yehoshua take so long in war, and how was he punished for his procrastination? (Rashi)

Yehoshua was told that he would live until the land of Canaan was distributed to the BNY. Yehoshua purposely delayed so that this life could be lengthened. As a punishment, his life was actually shortened by ten years.

What is the positive opinion as to why Yehoshua prolonged the war? (Maharzu)

Yehoshua prolonged the conquest because he knew that the BNY would not sin as long as he was alive. Nevertheless, he was punished for using his own judgment and not just doing what Hashem (who ALWAYS KNOWS best!) told him to do.

Why did the Canaanim not just want to do teshuva and join the BNY, rather than going on a suicidal mission? (Radak)

The people sinned so much that Hashem took away their right to repent, just like Hashem did to Pharaoh when he hardened his heart

How long did Yehoshua live in Canaan, and what was the breakdown of what he did?

Yehoshua lived in Canaan for 14 years. The first 7 years were sent fighting and conquering. The next 7 were spent dividing the land amongst the other tribes.

The Anakim were the giants that originally scared the spies in the desert, and convinced them that they would not defeat such a gigantic enemy. Why were their names עֲנָקִ֔ים? (Rashi)

The word Anak means a necklace. The giants were so tall, that it looked like the sun was a necklace around their head.

How can the pasuk say that Yehoshua conquered the entire land, if there were parts that were still not conquered when he died? (Ma’am Loez)

Since Yehoshua destroyed the most powerful kinks ( as listed in the next chapter) the pasuk considers it as if beat everyone

Why does the pasuk not mention Moshe in the beginning of the perek talking about the war with Sichon and Og? (Ralbag)

The pasuk waits purposely to talk about Moshe because it wants to emphasize the point that the victories were not due to Moshe’s merit, but rather the merit of Hashem’s promise to the Avot

What lesson do we learn from Moshe being called the “servant of Hashem”?

Everything Moshe did was not thinking about his own considerations, but rather only what is good for Hashem!

How were there so many kings (31) in Canaan? (Midrash)

Canaan was so prestigious that many kings from outside the country bought and owned cities in the Holy Land. Their kingship came from outside the country.

What sin did these kings do in the days of Abraham that caused Hashem to make them become conquered by the BNY?

When Abraham finally had Yitzchak at 100 years old, he had a big party. All these kings came to the party and mocked Abraham by saying Abimelech ( the king that abducted Sarah) was the real father. As a response, Hashem made these kings get conquered by Abraham and Yitzchak’s nation.

Why does the pasuk say the extra word אחד by every king? (Midrash)

The extra word shows me that not only was the king killed, but his second in command was killed as well.

If the BNY would not have sinned, how much of Navi would have actually been given? (Talmud)

The Gemara says that if not for our sins leading to our punishments and admonishment from the Prophets, the only pesukim we would have would be the 5 books of the Torah and the chapters of Yehoshua detailing the borders and tribal portions of BNY.

How long did Yehoshua live for?

Yehoshua lived 110 years. 10 less years than Moshe due to his taking time in conquering and giving out of the land.

What two and a half tribes did not receive land in Canaan, but rather on the East side of the Jordan River?

Reuben and Gad requested to Moshe to have land outside the Land of Canaan because the land was good for pasture for their land. Hashem agreed and had half the tribe of Menashe join them as well.

Why did Yehoshua first award Reuben his share? (Talmud)

Reuben was rewarded because he set an example of doing teshuva. When Rachel died, he moved his father Yaakov’s main bed to his mother Leah’s tent. He spent his whole life repenting for this sin. The power of teshuva!

If the tribe of Levi has no official land, what is their inheritance?

Service of Hashem and teaching His word (the Torah) is the true inheritance of the tribe of Levi, not materialistic land.

Why does the pasuk refer to Bilam as a sorcerer if he was actually a prophet?

After Bilam unsuccessfully tried to curse the BNY, he lost his prophecy and went back to being a mere sorcerer.

Why did Yair the son of Menashe, name villages after himself (Havvot Yair)? (Rashi)

Yair did not have any children, so he named villages after himself as a memorial.

What is the term of בָּ֖א בַּיָּמִ֑ים (literally: coming in days) imply)? (Kehilat Yaakov)

Every single day Yehoshua came closer to Hashem. This is our job in life, to come a little bit closer to Hashem than you were the day before.