In Mishpatim (Shemoth 24:7), after Moshe had made the first sacrifices, it says, "VaYiKaCH SeFeR HaBRITh" - and took a (since it doesn't say "AT-SeFeR HaBRITh", it has to be "a") Book of The Covenant. What book is that? It cannot be the Book of Torah, because only a few verses later (Shemoth 24:12) does Hashem tell him to ascend the mountain to receive the Lukhoth-Evven and the Torah and the Commandment that He had written to teach them (the people). What happened to that book later?

Thank you very much in advance.

Rashi says that it referring to Braishes until the giving of the Torah plus the Mitzvos that was given in Marah

Rav Chaim, with all respect due Rashi, I am not sure I agree with his assumption in this matter. We believe that Torah was given us in its entirety on Mount Sinai; yet Rashi essentially says that it was given in portions.

It could be what Moshe had written the day before, but that would then be a redundancy in the narration, because a few verses prior to "Sefer ha-Brith", Torah says that Moshe told ("SiPeR") the people of all the things G-d had commanded them at Marah, and the people agreed, and he wrote exactly the same things; so why would he take what he had written and re-read it for the people to decide again whether or not they agree?..



Or does it teach us that we should every day reevaluate our relationship with Hashem and "choose the good and the life"?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Alex,

I don't think it's a real problem for Rashi. First of all, The Mitzvos that were given at Marah were known and so where all the stories from before hand, so why can't it be written down. Someplace in these forums (you can make a search for it) I had an argument with Chaim of LA about if the Mitzvos of Marah where an extention of Sinai or not. Whichever way you learn, even if it was regiven at Sinai, so at this time this constitued the Torah, and by Sinai is was all regiven for the sake of being given at Sinai