GCTorah: Yaakov and Shechem 2/11/01
1. Why is Yehuda’s name significantly different from the names of Leah’s first three kids? Based on your answer, what do you think Leah finally came to understand about creating a family?
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2. What does Ya’akov really mean in Pasuk 2 Chapter 30 in response to Rachel’s ultimatum in the previous pasuk 1? What was Rachel thinking!?
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3. Draw a family tree of Ya’aakov, his wives and kids, the way things actually turned out.
4. Why is the number of kids and their specific configuration—which you drew above—significant? Prove your answer from another family in the Torah.
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5. Draw a family tree of Ya’aakov, his wives and kids, assuming a perfect chiasmus structure.
6. What event caused the structure of family tree to deviate from the perfect chiasmus?
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6a.Why did Leah deserve the extra kids (based on the events in question 6)?
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6b.Why did Rachel deserve the loss (based on the events in question 6)?
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7. Ya’akov had three goals upon coming back to Eretz Cana’an. Prove each one by citing the correct “chapter : pasuk” and the precise word or words that indicate the motivation for each goal.
a) Conquer if necessary. ______
b) Make peace treaties when possible. ______
b) Establish belief in one God. ______
8) Why does Shechem think of Dina as “Dina bat Ya’akov” when she had been described a few pesukim before as “Dina bat Leah”?
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9. In what way is the deal that Chamor offers Ya’akov and the brothers different from the deal described by Chamor and Shechem to their own people? Give two reasons why you think the deal was changed.
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10.How do we know that Ya’akov was right: that the option listed in question 7b (above) turns into 7a? Make sure you cite and explain the correct pasukim in your answer.
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11. Which tribes did not get any land when Yehoshua brings the Israelis into Israel?
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11a. From where do we know that these tribes were fated to receive no land, and that even Ya’akov knew it and wanted it that way? Make sure you cite and explain the correct pasuk in your answer.
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11b. Why should these tribes not receive any land, since their direct forefathers were Tzadikim and excellent brothers as well?
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number of lines you need for the answers. Please use the
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