Almost the entire book of Devarim (Deuteronomy) consists of one long speech given by Moses just before he died. It can be roughly divided into three sections:

• a reflection on the past
• a review of some of the commandments, with others mentioned for the first time
• and prophecies and warnings about the future
  

The first verse seems to pinpoint the location of Moses' speech, but actually mentions several places, which were far apart. Rashi suggests that these are a hint of rebuke about incidents that had taken place over the years. For example bein paran invokes the memory of the spies who were sent out from the Paran desert, and di zahav reminds us of the Golden Calf. Verse 2 describes the 11day journey from Horev (Mount Sinai) to Kadesh Barnea, which had actually taken forty years.

The main theme of the sedra of Devarim is the sin of the spies. It is always read on the Shabbat preceding Tisha B'Av, which was the date that the spies had returned from their ill-fated mission, many years earlier. The sedra then jumps 38 years and describes the wanderings of the Israelites around the Lands of Edom, Moab and Ammon. It recalls the wars with Sichon and Og, and the agreement to give those lands to Reuven, Gad and part of the tribe of Menashe.

Haftarah

The Haftarah comes from the first chapter of Isaiah. It is strongly critical of the Jewish People, saying in the name of G-d: 'I have raised and exalted (these) children, yet they have rebelled against Me. An ox knows its owner, and a donkey (knows) the feeding trough of its master; but Israel does not know, My people does not consider.'

Isaiah goes on to describe the corruption of the rulers, and thus the futility of the sacrifices. The Haftarah concludes on a positive note, that Zion will be redeemed through justice and her penitent will return through righteousness.

Shabbat Shalom