1) Ch. 14, v. 1: "Bonim a'tem laShem Elokeichem" You are children of Hashem your G-d How is this a cogent explanation for what follows, to not gouge oneself in mourning?
2) Ch. 14, v. 1: "Lo sisgod'du v'lo sosimu korchoh bein eineichem" Do not gouge and do not create a bald area between your eyes The Torah prohibits these forms of mourning upon the death of a person. We likewise derive from these words two other important rules. One is that we should not create separate groups that might bring rancor, disparity among us (gemara Y'vomos 13b). The second is that although the Torah says to place our head tefillin between our eyes (Dvorim 6:8, 11:18), the intention is on our hair above the area between our eyes, as our verse also mentions "between your eyes," and obviously the intention is our hair on the top of our heads, as this is the place that we can create a bald spot.
It is most interesting to note that the placement of our tefillin is clarified in a verse that carries the message to not create rancor and disunity in our ranks. How do these two thoughts connect one with the other?
3) Ch. 14, v. 21,22: "Bacha'leiv imo, Shonoh shonoh" In its mother's milk, Year after year What do we derive from the juxtaposition of these two verse?
4) Ch. 15, v. 7: "Ki yi'h'yeh v'cho evyon" If there will be within you a destitute person The word "v'cho" seems superfluous.
5) Ch. 15, v. 18: "Lo yiksheh v'ei'necho b'sha'leichacho oso chofshi avodcho sheish shonim" Do not find it difficult in your eyes when you send him away free he has served you for six years The master owned this slave for a maximum of six years only. When sending away an indentured slave who might have worked for his master as for as long as 49 years (Vayikra 25:10,13) the Torah does not commensurate with the owner or comfort him by stating that the servant did what was required of him and that we were likewise slaves in Egypt and were freed (verses 15 and 18). It would seem that there is a greater need to mention these concepts there.
Important Numbers
