Yehoshua Chapter 17- Erev Rosh Hashana

Hi Everyone!

Since we are before Rosh Hashana, we will be learning chapter 17 on Friday, and chapter 18 somewhere during the holiday.

For chapter 17 notice: Compare 17/4 with Bamidbar 27/2- what is the substantial difference? Why do you think that is?

And for chapter 18, a city mentioned in Pasuk 26 becomes significant later, see Mishna, Sukkah, Chapter 4 Mishna 5:

MISHNA: How was the command to take the willow fulfilled? There was a place below Jerusalem called Motza. Thither the people descended, and gathered drooping willow branches. These they brought and erected at the side of the altar, the tips inclining over it. While this was doing, a blast, a long note, and again a blast were blown. Every day they made one circuit round the altar, and recited the verse: "O Lord, help us; O Lord, prosper us." R. Jehudah said the words: "I and he, help us," were also said. On the particular day for using the willows (the seventh of the festival) they made seven circuits round the altar. When they withdrew, what did they say? "Beauty is thine, O altar! Beauty is thine, O altar!" R. Elazar said, they also said: "To God and to thee, O altar! To God and to thee, O altar!" As they did on week-days, so did they likewise on the Sabbath; excepting only that they gathered the willow branches on the Sabbath-eve and put them into golden casks (filled with water), that they might not fade. R. Johanan b, Beroka said: They fetched branches of palms and threshed them to pieces on the sides of the altar. Thence the day was called "the branch-threshing day." Directly afterwards the children threw down their Lulabs and ate the citrons.

משנה מסכת סוכה פרק ד משנה ה

[ה] מצות ערבה כיצד מקום היה למטה מירושלם ונקרא מוצא יורדין לשם ומלקטין משם מרביות של ערבה ובאין וזוקפין אותן בצדי המזבח וראשיהן כפופין על גבי המזבח תקעו והריעו ותקעו בכל יום מקיפין את המזבח פעם אחת ואומרים אנא ה' הושיעה נא אנא ה' הצליחה נא רבי יהודה אומר אני והו הושיעה נא ואותו היום מקיפין את המזבח שבעה פעמים בשעת פטירתן מה הן אומרים יופי לך מזבח יופי לך מזבח רבי אליעזר אומר ליה ולך מזבח ליה ולך מזבח:

Shana Tova!
May we all be blessed with a sweet and happy new year!
Chana