Shoftim - Preparing for the New Year

When you go out to war against your enemies, and you see horse and chariot, a people more numerous than you, you shall not be afraid of them, for HaShem, your G-d is with you Who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

כִּי תֵצֵא לַמִּלְחָמָה עַל אֹיְבֶיךָ וְרָאִיתָ סוּס וָרֶכֶב עַם רַב מִמְּךָ לֹא תִירָא מֵהֶם כִּי ה’ קלקיך  עִמָּךְ הַמַּעַלְךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם

Devarim 20:1

The Slonimer Rebbe raises two questions on this verse: 

• Why does it say 'תצא' (go out) when talking about war, shouldn't it say 'תלחם' (go to fight)?
• Why does it say 'תצא' (go out) in the singular, shouldn't it say 'תצאו' (go out) in the plural?

Re'eh - Midot

Keep and listen to all these words that I command you, that it may benefit you and your children after you, forever, when you do what is good and proper in the eyes of the L-rd, your G-d

שְׁמֹ֣ר וְשָֽׁמַעְתָּ֗ אֵ֚ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָֽנֹכִ֖י מְצַוֶּ֑ךָּ לְמַ֩עַן֩ יִיטַ֨ב לְךָ֜ וּלְבָנֶ֤יךָ אַֽחֲרֶ֨יךָ֙ עַד־עוֹלָ֔ם כִּ֤י תַֽעֲשֶׂה֙ הַטּ֣וֹב וְהַיָּשָׁ֔ר בְּעֵינֵ֖י ה' קלקיך

Devarim 12:28

The Slonimer brings a question by the Or HaChaim Hakadosh, asking why does 'keep' (שמר) precede 'listen' (שמעת). Shouldn't one have to listen first in order to know what they need to keep?

Eikev - Following

And it will be, because you will heed these ordinances and keep them and perform, that the L-rd your G-d, will keep for you the covenant and the kindness that He swore to your forefathers.

וְהָיָ֣ה | עֵ֣קֶב תִּשְׁמְע֗וּן אֵ֤ת הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים֙ הָאֵ֔לֶּה וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֥ם וַֽעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹתָ֑ם וְשָׁמַר֩ ה' קלקיך לְךָ֗ אֶת־הַבְּרִית֙ וְאֶת־הַחֶ֔סֶד אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבַּ֖ע לַֽאֲבֹתֶֽיךָ

Devarim 7:12

What is the meaning of the word Eikev (עקב)?

Rabbeinu Bechayei writes that the parshah starts of with the word 'Eikev' as a warning: to those that step on mitzvot with their 'heel'  (עקב) and treat them lightly.  That is, there are some that disregard certain mitzvot, considering them insignificant in their eyes, and in a figurative sense, step on them with their heel.