In this weeks parsha perek 21 pasuk 4, it says, "וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר תָּשִׂ֖ים לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃", "these are the rules you shall set before them:"
Why does the Torah take it's time to say "set before them"? Why doesn't it say "The rules to teach them"? What is the significance of this wording?
Rashi gives an explanation. He says that HaShem didn't want Moshe to simply have Bnei Yisrael memorize the Torah and Halacha verbatim and mindlessly, he wanted there to be a significance to what they were learning. Therefore, HaShem tells Moshe to have everything laid out before Bnei Yisrael like a table of food put out before someone ready to eat. This way Bnei Yisrael would learn more than just the word for word Torah and Halacha and be able to know the reason for it.
What are other possible reasons for why the pasuk says "set before them"?
The reason the Torah words it like this is because it is to show that it is as if it is a fully made table ready to eat on. Hashem said these rules to Moshe because he is saying you should not think I will teach them a section until they know the words perfectly, but I will not make them understand the reason or significance behind these rules. Therefore it says "set before them" this is from rabbisaks.com.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Rav Scwartz, the reason the Pasuk says set before them is because Moshe would have to SET them up for success. Bnei Yisroel were not at the stage where they could just learn the mitzvot and be left alone. They would have to be helped by Moshe to lead them in the correct direction. This could be compared to a student and their educational experience throughout high school. As a freshman, teachers are not able to tell their student what to do,and expect perfection. Due to the new environment , these freshman need to be led in the right path. Seniors however, are expected to understand and abide by certain rules and regulations that are not seen as obvious to lower class men. At this stage Bnei Yisroel are considered freshman. They require the love and "hand holding" from Moshe. Moshe had to set the rules before them and lead them rather then just teach them and leave them.
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