1)

Why does the Torah juxtapose the Parshah of Bikurim to that of Amalek?

1.

Moshav Zekenim #1: Amalek is called "Reishis Goyim" and in the end, he will be destroyed - as implied in Balak Bamidbar, 24:20. We are commanded to bring Reishis Bikurim and to destroy Reishis Amalek.

2.

Moshav Zekenim #2: Amalek cut off Yisrael's Milos and threw them into the air (Rashi in Devarim 25:18) - to prevent them from creating Peiros (having children), so we bring the first-fruit from our land to Hashem. 1

3.

Ba'al ha'Turim: a. Because the juxtaposition of "Vehayah ki Savo el ha'Aretz" to the Parshah of Amalek hints that the Mitzvah of wiping out Amalek applies from the moment 2 Yisrael enter Eretz Yisrael; 3 b. Because Parshas Bikurim contains "Arami Oveid Avi" - with reference to Lavan, and Amalek was the one who informed Lavan that Ya'akov had fled.

4.

Oznayim la'Torah: Since the prime function of Amalek is to create Bitul Torah - to stop Yisrael from learning Torah - Indeed, he attacked them when they left Egypt because they were lax in Torah-study. 4 Therefore we counter that by bringing Bikurim (and Terumos and Ma'asros) to the Kohanim and the Levi'im, who are the teachers of Torah 5 - to enable them to teach Torah to Yisrael. 6


1

Refer to 26:1:2:1. According to the Pesikta, "Va'yeshasef Shmuel es Agag" (Shmuel 1 15:33) teaches us that he castrated him. Likewise, Amalek was uprooted from the world from the place that makes Peiros.

2

Which is why he informed Par'oh that Yisrael had fled - in order to prevent their entry (The commentaries on Sanhedrin 20b say that Yisrael must appoint a king first. If so, it would be more appropriate for "Ki Savo el ha'Aretz" to be placed next to appointing a king? PF).

3

See Torah Temimah, note 2.

4

Refer to Sh'mos, 17:8:

5

Refer to 33:10:2:1 & 3.

6

See Oznayim la'Torah, who elaborates.

2)

Why does the Torah introduce the Mitzvah of Bikurim with the word "Vehayah ki Savo'u el ha'Aretz"?

1.

Sifri: To teach us that one should be careful to perform the Mitzvah of Bikurim, since it is on the merit of Bikurim that they will enter Eretz Yisrael. 1


1

See Torah Temimah, note 1.

3)

What are the implications of the phrase "Viyerishtah Veyashavta bah"?

1.

Rashi: It implies that the Mitzvah of Bikurim will only come into effect 1 after they have conquered the land and distributed it. 2


1

See Sifsei Chachamim.

2

Fourteen years after they enter it.

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