Parsha:

Bo,  Va'etchanan 

Description

One of the most well-known Midrashim is the "Four Sons", which addresses the apparent redundancy of instructing us four different times to teach about them about the Exodus. As a result, the passage in Devarim 6, which we identify as the interaction with the "Wise Son", is usually assessed in the context of the other interactions - and not against the backdrop of its place in Devarim. After reviewing some of the classic questions about the various responses suggested that we give this curious child, we step back and look at this interaction "in situ" - in its literary context as part of Moshe's speech, immediately following his presentation of the Decalogue. Seeing it in this light explains both the textual as well as Midrashic responses.