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Va'etchanan

Aliya 2

רְאֵ֣ה ׀ לִמַּ֣דְתִּי אֶתְכֶ֗ם חֻקִּים֙ וּמִשְׁפָּטִ֔ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוַּ֖נִי יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֑י לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת כֵּ֔ן בְּקֶ֣רֶב הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתֶּ֛ם בָּאִ֥ים שָׁ֖מָּה לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃

See, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, as the Lord my God had commanded me to do so, to comply with these statutes and ordinances, in the midst of the land that you are coming there to take possession of it. Not all of the laws given by Moses were designed to be fulfilled in the wilderness; the complete fulfillment of the Torah will be possible only in the Land of Israel.

וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם֮ וַעֲשִׂיתֶם֒ כִּ֣י הִ֤וא חָכְמַתְכֶם֙ וּבִ֣ינַתְכֶ֔ם לְעֵינֵ֖י הָעַמִּ֑ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִשְׁמְע֗וּן אֵ֚ת כָּל־הַחֻקִּ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וְאָמְר֗וּ רַ֚ק עַם־חָכָ֣ם וְנָב֔וֹן הַגּ֥וֹי הַגָּד֖וֹל הַזֶּֽה׃

You shall observe and you shall perform, as this, the fulfillment of the Torah, is your wisdom and your understanding in the eyes of the peoples; when they hear all these statutes, they will say: It is a particularly wise and understanding people, this great nation. If you continue to fulfill the Torah, you will be honored because of it.

RASHI

ושמרתם.זוֹ מִשְׁנָה:

ועשיתם.כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ (שם):

כי הוא חכמתכם ובינתכם וגו'.בָּזֹאת תֵּחָשְׁבוּ חֲכָמִים וּנְבוֹנִים לְעֵינֵי הָעַמִּים:

כִּ֚י מִי־ג֣וֹי גָּד֔וֹל אֲשֶׁר־ל֥וֹ אֱלֹהִ֖ים קְרֹבִ֣ים אֵלָ֑יו כַּיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ בְּכָּל־קָרְאֵ֖נוּ אֵלָֽיו׃

You are not just a wise nation, but also an important one; for who is a great nation that has God near it, as the Lord our God, who is close to us in all of our calling to Him?

וּמִי֙ גּ֣וֹי גָּד֔וֹל אֲשֶׁר־ל֛וֹ חֻקִּ֥ים וּמִשְׁפָּטִ֖ים צַדִּיקִ֑ם כְּכֹל֙ הַתּוֹרָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם הַיּֽוֹם׃

Who is a great nation that has righteous statutes and ordinances like this entire Torah that I place before you today?

RASHI

חקים ומשפטים צדיקם.הֲגוּנִים וּמְקֻבָּלִים:

רַ֡ק הִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֩ וּשְׁמֹ֨ר נַפְשְׁךָ֜ מְאֹ֗ד פֶּן־תִּשְׁכַּ֨ח אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֜ים אֲשֶׁר־רָא֣וּ עֵינֶ֗יךָ וּפֶן־יָס֙וּרוּ֙ מִלְּבָ֣בְךָ֔ כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֣י חַיֶּ֑יךָ וְהוֹדַעְתָּ֥ם לְבָנֶ֖יךָ וְלִבְנֵ֥י בָנֶֽיךָ׃

Moses now details specific commandments: Only beware, and protect yourself greatly, lest you forget the matters that your eyes saw, and lest they move from your heart all the days of your life. Aside from statutes and ordinances, the nation of Israel must retain certain memories in its consciousness. At its core stands its collective memory, which is supposed to be retained not by experts or academics alone; rather: And you shall impart them to your children and to your children’s children.

RASHI

רק השמר לך … פן תשכח את הדברים.אָז, כְּשֶׁלֹּא תִשְׁכְּחוּ אוֹתָם וְתַעֲשׂוּם עַל אֲמִתָּתָם, תֵּחָשְׁבוּ חֲכָמִים וּנְבוֹנִים, וְאִם תְּעַוְּתוּ אוֹתָם מִתּוֹךְ שִׁכְחָה, תֵּחָשְׁבוּ שׁוֹטִים:

י֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָמַ֜דְתָּ לִפְנֵ֨י יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶיךָ֮ בְּחֹרֵב֒ בֶּאֱמֹ֨ר יְהוָ֜ה אֵלַ֗י הַקְהֶל־לִי֙ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם וְאַשְׁמִעֵ֖ם אֶת־דְּבָרָ֑י אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִלְמְד֜וּן לְיִרְאָ֣ה אֹתִ֗י כָּל־הַיָּמִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֵ֤ם חַיִּים֙ עַל־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה וְאֶת־בְּנֵיהֶ֖ם יְלַמֵּדֽוּן׃

One of the occurrences that you must remember is the day that you stood before the Lord your God at Horev, at Mount Sinai, to receive the Torah, when the Lord said to me: Assemble the people for Me, and I will have them hear My words, so that they will learn to fear Me all the days that they live on the earth, and so that they will also teach their children.

RASHI

יום אשר עמדת.מוּסָב עַל מִקְרָא שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה מִמֶּנּוּ אשר ראו עיניךיום אשר עמדת בחרב אֲשֶׁר רָאִיתָ הַקּוֹלוֹת וְאֶת הַלַּפִּידִים:

יִלְמְדוּן.יֵלְפוּן – לְעַצְמָם:

יְלַמֵּדוּן.יְאַלְּפוּן – לַאֲחֵרִים:

וַתִּקְרְב֥וּן וַתַּֽעַמְד֖וּן תַּ֣חַת הָהָ֑ר וְהָהָ֞ר בֹּעֵ֤ר בָּאֵשׁ֙ עַד־לֵ֣ב הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם חֹ֖שֶׁךְ עָנָ֥ן וַעֲרָפֶֽל׃

You approached and stood at the foot of the mountain [ tah · ]. This phrase has also been understood in a literal sense, meaning that the mountain was suspended over their heads so that they stood beneath the mountain. And the mountain was burning with fire to the heart of the heavens, darkness, cloud, and fog surrounding it.

וַיְדַבֵּ֧ר יְהוָ֛ה אֲלֵיכֶ֖ם מִתּ֣וֹךְ הָאֵ֑שׁ ק֤וֹל דְּבָרִים֙ אַתֶּ֣ם שֹׁמְעִ֔ים וּתְמוּנָ֛ה אֵינְכֶ֥ם רֹאִ֖ים זוּלָתִ֥י קֽוֹל׃

The Lord spoke to you from the midst of the fire; the sound of words alone you were hearing, but an image you were not seeing, only a sound. Had there been any physical image, you would have seen it. The fact that there was none is the basis for the prohibition of sculpting an idol or an image mentioned in the following verses. In addition, realize that the miracles and wonders were not the primary focus of the event at Mount Sinai. Rather, you must remember the content of the revelation, which is the basis for the entire Torah.

וַיַּגֵּ֨ד לָכֶ֜ם אֶת־בְּרִית֗וֹ אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֤ה אֶתְכֶם֙ לַעֲשׂ֔וֹת עֲשֶׂ֖רֶת הַדְּבָרִ֑ים וַֽיִּכְתְּבֵ֔ם עַל־שְׁנֵ֖י לֻח֥וֹת אֲבָנִֽים׃

He told you His covenant that He commanded you to perform, the Ten Precepts, and He inscribed them on two tablets of stone.

וְאֹתִ֞י צִוָּ֤ה יְהוָה֙ בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔וא לְלַמֵּ֣ד אֶתְכֶ֔ם חֻקִּ֖ים וּמִשְׁפָּטִ֑ים לַעֲשֹׂתְכֶ֣ם אֹתָ֔ם בָּאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתֶּ֛ם עֹבְרִ֥ים שָׁ֖מָּה לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃

To me, the Lord commanded at that time to teach you

RASHI

ואתי צוה ה' ללמד אתכם.תּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה:

וְנִשְׁמַרְתֶּ֥ם מְאֹ֖ד לְנַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶ֑ם כִּ֣י לֹ֤א רְאִיתֶם֙ כָּל־תְּמוּנָ֔ה בְּי֗וֹם דִּבֶּ֨ר יְהוָ֧ה אֲלֵיכֶ֛ם בְּחֹרֵ֖ב מִתּ֥וֹךְ הָאֵֽשׁ׃

You shall greatly beware for your lives, as you did not see any image on the day that the Lord your God spoke to you at Horev from the midst of the fire,

פֶּ֨ן־תַּשְׁחִת֔וּן וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֥ם לָכֶ֛ם פֶּ֖סֶל תְּמוּנַ֣ת כָּל־סָ֑מֶל תַּבְנִ֥ית זָכָ֖ר א֥וֹ נְקֵבָֽה׃

lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves an idol, the image of any shape. Even though the people did not see any images at Mount Sinai, they may be tempted to create their own images and worship them, due to the surrounding pagan influence. Therefore, the Torah reemphasizes the prohibition, and even details various kinds of images, the primary one being the form of a male or a female human;

RASHI

סמל.צוּרָה:

תַּבְנִ֕ית כָּל־בְּהֵמָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּאָ֑רֶץ תַּבְנִית֙ כָּל־צִפּ֣וֹר כָּנָ֔ף אֲשֶׁ֥ר תָּע֖וּף בַּשָּׁמָֽיִם׃

or the form of any beast that is on the earth, such as the Golden Calf, the form of any winged bird that flies in the heavens,

תַּבְנִ֕ית כָּל־רֹמֵ֖שׂ בָּאֲדָמָ֑ה תַּבְנִ֛ית כָּל־דָּגָ֥ה אֲשֶׁר־בַּמַּ֖יִם מִתַּ֥חַת לָאָֽרֶץ׃

the form of any being that creeps on the ground, such as the bronze serpent, which also became an object of worship over time, or the form of any fish that is in the water under the earth, such as the primordial leviathan. These images symbolized various forces in other cultures.

וּפֶן־תִּשָּׂ֨א עֵינֶ֜יךָ הַשָּׁמַ֗יְמָה וְֽ֠רָאִיתָ אֶת־הַשֶּׁ֨מֶשׁ וְאֶת־הַיָּרֵ֜חַ וְאֶת־הַכּֽוֹכָבִ֗ים כֹּ֚ל צְבָ֣א הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְנִדַּחְתָּ֛ וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִ֥יתָ לָהֶ֖ם וַעֲבַדְתָּ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר חָלַ֜ק יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ אֹתָ֔ם לְכֹל֙ הָֽעַמִּ֔ים תַּ֖חַת כָּל־הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃

And likewise, you must also be careful lest you lift your eyes to the heavens, and see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of the heavens, and you are led astray and prostrate yourselves to them, and serve them, the host of the heavens, which the Lord your God distributed to all the peoples under all the heavens, as luminaries and to help determine time, but not to worship. Alternatively, in contrast to the nation of Israel, which was explicitly warned against worshipping natural forces, the other nations of the world were not explicitly forbidden to include natural forces in their worship.

RASHI

ופן תשא עיניך.לְהִסְתַּכֵּל בַּדָּבָר וְלָתֵת לֵב לִטְעוֹת אַחֲרֵיהֶם:

אשר חלק ה'.לְהָאִיר לָהֶם (מגילה ט'); דָּ"אַ לֶאֱלוֹהוֹת, לֹא מְנָעָן מִלִּטְעוֹת אַחֲרֵיהֶם אֶלָּא הֶחֱלִיקָם בְּדִבְרֵי הַבְלֵיהֶם לְטָרְדָם מִן הָעוֹלָם, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (תהלים ל"ו) "כִּי הֶחֱלִיק אֵלָיו בְּעֵינָיו לִמְצֹא עֲוֹנוֹ לִשְׂנֹא" (עבודה זרה נ"ה):

וְאֶתְכֶם֙ לָקַ֣ח יְהוָ֔ה וַיּוֹצִ֥א אֶתְכֶ֛ם מִכּ֥וּר הַבַּרְזֶ֖ל מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם לִהְי֥וֹת ל֛וֹ לְעַ֥ם נַחֲלָ֖ה כַּיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃

As for you, the Lord has taken you for Himself, and He took you out from the iron crucible, from Egypt, to be for Him a people of inheritance, as this day. Your exodus from Egypt manifests your unique status and your separation from the other nations.

RASHI

מכור.כּוּר הוּא כְלִי שֶׁמְּזַקְּקִים בּוֹ אֶת הַזָּהָב:

וַֽיהוָ֥ה הִתְאַנֶּף־בִּ֖י עַל־דִּבְרֵיכֶ֑ם וַיִּשָּׁבַ֗ע לְבִלְתִּ֤י עָבְרִי֙ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וּלְבִלְתִּי־בֹא֙ אֶל־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַטּוֹבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ נַחֲלָֽה׃

The Lord was incensed with me because of your deeds at the waters of dispute, as I sinned by becoming angry due to your conduct, and He took an oath that I not cross the Jordan, and not come to the good land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.

RASHI

התאנף.נִתְמַלֵּא רֹגֶז:

על דבריכם.עַל אוֹדוֹתֵיכֶם, עַל עִסְקֵיכֶם:

כִּ֣י אָנֹכִ֥י מֵת֙ בָּאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את אֵינֶ֥נִּי עֹבֵ֖ר אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן וְאַתֶּם֙ עֹֽבְרִ֔ים וִֽירִשְׁתֶּ֕ם אֶת־הָאָ֥רֶץ הַטּוֹבָ֖ה הַזֹּֽאת׃

For I will die in this land; I am not crossing the Jordan, and you are crossing without me, and you will take possession of that good land.

RASHI

כי אנכי מת וגו' אינני עבר.מֵאַחַר שֶׁמֵּת מֵהֵיכָן יַעֲבֹר? אֶלָּא אַף עַצְמוֹתַי אֵינָם עוֹבְרִים (ספרי במדבר כ"ז):

הִשָּׁמְר֣וּ לָכֶ֗ם פֶּֽן־תִּשְׁכְּחוּ֙ אֶת־בְּרִ֤ית יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר כָּרַ֖ת עִמָּכֶ֑ם וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֨ם לָכֶ֥ם פֶּ֙סֶל֙ תְּמ֣וּנַת כֹּ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוְּךָ֖ יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃

Therefore, I must strongly warn you that with the pagan presence in the new land, and without me, everything is liable to unravel. Moreover, it is possible that just as you made a calf when I was on Mount Sinai, in the future, in my absence from your lives, you may decide again to create a symbolic image to represent God. Therefore, beware, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which He made with you, and you make for yourselves an idol, the image of anything that the Lord your God has commanded you not to make.

RASHI

תמונת כל.תְּמוּנַת כָּל דָּבָר:

אשר צוך ה'.אֲשֶׁר צִוְּךָ שֶׁלֹּא לַעֲשׂוֹת:

כִּ֚י יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ אֵ֥שׁ אֹכְלָ֖ה ה֑וּא אֵ֖ל קַנָּֽא׃ (פ)

For the Lord your God is like a consuming fire , whose judgment is harsh. Alternatively, this statement means that God is like a consuming fire in that He is constantly active rather than a distant and neutral entity. He is a zealous God and demands exclusive, uncompromising commitment to the relationship.

RASHI

אל קנא.מְקַנֵּא לִנְקֹם, אנפר"מנט בְּלַעַז, מִתְחָרֶה עַל רָגְזוֹ לְהִפָּרַע מֵעוֹבְדֵי עֲ"זָ:

כִּֽי־תוֹלִ֤יד בָּנִים֙ וּבְנֵ֣י בָנִ֔ים וְנוֹשַׁנְתֶּ֖ם בָּאָ֑רֶץ וְהִשְׁחַתֶּ֗ם וַעֲשִׂ֤יתֶם פֶּ֙סֶל֙ תְּמ֣וּנַת כֹּ֔ל וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֥ם הָרַ֛ע בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהוָֽה־אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ לְהַכְעִיסֽוֹ׃

It is reasonable to assume that the first generation that conquers the land will sense that God accompanies them throughout their battles. However, when you will beget children, and children’s children, and eventually you will have been long in the land, future generations may take their existence there for granted, and consequently you will act corruptly and make an idol, the image of anything, due to your integration

RASHI

ונושנתם.רָמַז לָהֶם שֶׁיִּגְלוּ מִמֶּנָּה לְסוֹף שְׁמוֹנֶה מֵאוֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁים וּשְׁתַּיִם שָׁנָה כְּמִנְיַן "וְנוֹשַׁנְתֶּם", וְהוּא הִקְדִּים וְהִגְלָם לְסוֹף שְׁמוֹנֶה מֵאוֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁים, וְהִקְדִּים שְׁתֵּי שָׁנִים לִ"וְנוֹשַׁנְתֶּם", כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִתְקַיֵּם בָּהֶם כִּי אָבֹד תֹּאבֵדוּן, וְזֶהוּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דניאל ט') "וַיִּשְׁקֹד עַל הָרָעָה וַיְבִיאֶהָ עָלֵינוּ כִּי צַדִּיק ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ" – צְדָקָה עָשָׂה עִמָּנוּ שֶׁמִּהֵר לַהֲבִיאָהּ שְׁתֵּי שָׁנִים לִפְנֵי זְמַנָּהּ (סנהדרין ל"ח; גיטין פ"ח):

הַעִידֹתִי֩ בָכֶ֨ם הַיּ֜וֹם אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם וְאֶת־הָאָ֗רֶץ כִּֽי־אָבֹ֣ד תֹּאבֵדוּן֮ מַהֵר֒ מֵעַ֣ל הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַתֶּ֜ם עֹבְרִ֧ים אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֛ן שָׁ֖מָּה לְרִשְׁתָּ֑הּ לֹֽא־תַאֲרִיכֻ֤ן יָמִים֙ עָלֶ֔יהָ כִּ֥י הִשָּׁמֵ֖ד תִּשָּׁמֵדֽוּן׃

I call today to the heavens and earth, which are eternal witnesses, to bear witness against you, that if you do so, you will be quickly eradicated from upon the land that you are crossing the Jordan there to take possession of it; you will not extend your days upon it, as you will be destroyed. Although your entry into the land and conquest of it are promised, the continuation of your dwelling there is contingent upon your actions.

RASHI

העידתי בכם.הִנְנִי מַזְמִינָם לִהְיוֹת עֵדִים שֶׁהִתְרֵיתִי בָכֶם:

וְהֵפִ֧יץ יְהוָ֛ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם בָּעַמִּ֑ים וְנִשְׁאַרְתֶּם֙ מְתֵ֣י מִסְפָּ֔ר בַּגּוֹיִ֕ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְנַהֵ֧ג יְהוָ֛ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם שָֽׁמָּה׃

The Lord will disperse you among the peoples, and you will remain few in number among the nations where the Lord will lead you.

וַעֲבַדְתֶּם־שָׁ֣ם אֱלֹהִ֔ים מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה יְדֵ֣י אָדָ֑ם עֵ֣ץ וָאֶ֔בֶן אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־יִרְאוּן֙ וְלֹ֣א יִשְׁמְע֔וּן וְלֹ֥א יֹֽאכְל֖וּן וְלֹ֥א יְרִיחֻֽן׃

You will serve gods there, the handiwork of man, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. If you are expelled from the land, you will find yourselves in locations where the inhabitants worship idolatry much more blatantly than you do (see 28:36).

RASHI

ועבדתם שם אלהים.כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, מִשֶּׁאַתֶּם עוֹבְדִים לְעוֹבְדֵיהֶם כְּאִלּוּ אַתֶּם עוֹבְדִים לָהֶם:

וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּ֥ם מִשָּׁ֛ם אֶת־יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ וּמָצָ֑אתָ כִּ֣י תִדְרְשֶׁ֔נּוּ בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ֖ וּבְכָל־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃

You will seek from there the Lord your God, and you will find Him, when you search for Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

בַּצַּ֣ר לְךָ֔ וּמְצָא֕וּךָ כֹּ֖ל הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה בְּאַחֲרִית֙ הַיָּמִ֔ים וְשַׁבְתָּ֙ עַד־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ וְשָׁמַעְתָּ֖ בְּקֹלֽוֹ׃

When you are in distress in exile, and all these matters befall you, by the end of days, i.e., in the near or distant future, you will return to the Lord your God, and you will heed His voice.

כִּ֣י אֵ֤ל רַחוּם֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לֹ֥א יַרְפְּךָ֖ וְלֹ֣א יַשְׁחִיתֶ֑ךָ וְלֹ֤א יִשְׁכַּח֙ אֶת־בְּרִ֣ית אֲבֹתֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבַּ֖ע לָהֶֽם׃

As the Lord your God is a merciful God, not just a zealous God, it is possible to return to Him. At that time, He will neither forsake you, nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers with regard to which He took an oath to them.

RASHI

לא ירפך.מִלְּהַחֲזִיק בְּךָ בְּיָדָיו, וּלְשׁוֹן לֹא יַרְפְּךָ לְשׁוֹן לֹא יַפְעִיל הוּא – לֹא יִתֵּן לְךָ רִפְיוֹן, לֹא יַפְרִישׁ אוֹתְךָ מֵאֶצְלוֹ, וְכֵן "אֲחַזְתִּיו וְלֹא אַרְפֶּנּוּ" (שיר השירים ג') שֶׁלֹּא נִנְקַד אֶרְפֶּנּוּ; כָּל לְשׁוֹן רִפְיוֹן מוּסָב עַל לְשׁוֹן מַפְעִיל וּמִתְפַּעֵל, כְּמוֹ "הַרְפֵּה לָהּ" (מלכים ב ד') – תֵּן לָהּ רִפְיוֹן, "הֶרֶף מִמֶּנִּי" (דברים ט') – הִתְרַפֵּה מִמֶּנִּי:

כִּ֣י שְׁאַל־נָא֩ לְיָמִ֨ים רִֽאשֹׁנִ֜ים אֲשֶׁר־הָי֣וּ לְפָנֶ֗יךָ לְמִן־הַיּוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁר֩ בָּרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ אָדָם֙ עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ וּלְמִקְצֵ֥ה הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְעַד־קְצֵ֣ה הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם הֲנִֽהְיָ֗ה כַּדָּבָ֤ר הַגָּדוֹל֙ הַזֶּ֔ה א֖וֹ הֲנִשְׁמַ֥ע כָּמֹֽהוּ׃

For with regard to the oath and the covenant with God, ask

RASHI

לימים ראשונים.עַל יָמִים רִאשׁוֹנִים:

ולמקצה השמים.וְגַם שְׁאַל לְכָל הַבְּרוּאִים אֲשֶׁר מִקָּצֶה אֶל קָצֶה, זֶהוּ פְּשׁוּטוֹ; וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ, מְלַמֵּד עַל קוֹמָתוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם שֶׁהָיְתָה מִן הָאָרֶץ עַד הַשָּׁמַיִם, וְהוּא הַשִּׁעוּר עַצְמוֹ אֲשֶׁר מִקָּצֶה אֶל קָצֶה (סנהדרין ל"ח):

הנהיה כדבר הגדול הזה.וּמַהוּ הַדָּבָר הַגָּדוֹל, השמע עם וגו':

הֲשָׁ֣מַֽע עָם֩ ק֨וֹל אֱלֹהִ֜ים מְדַבֵּ֧ר מִתּוֹךְ־הָאֵ֛שׁ כַּאֲשֶׁר־שָׁמַ֥עְתָּ אַתָּ֖ה וַיֶּֽחִי׃

Has a people heard the voice of God speaking from the midst of the fire, as you heard, and lived? One who is exposed to a revelation of that magnitude typically dies immediately, but you heard God speaking and remained alive.

א֣וֹ ׀ הֲנִסָּ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֗ים לָ֠בוֹא לָקַ֨חַת ל֣וֹ גוֹי֮ מִקֶּ֣רֶב גּוֹי֒ בְּמַסֹּת֩ בְּאֹתֹ֨ת וּבְמוֹפְתִ֜ים וּבְמִלְחָמָ֗ה וּבְיָ֤ד חֲזָקָה֙ וּבִזְר֣וֹעַ נְטוּיָ֔ה וּבְמוֹרָאִ֖ים גְּדֹלִ֑ים כְּ֠כֹל אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֨ה לָכֶ֜ם יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֛ם בְּמִצְרַ֖יִם לְעֵינֶֽיךָ׃

Or has a god sought to come and take for himself a nation from the midst of a nation, with wondrous tribulations, such as the ten plagues with which God struck Egypt, with signs, and with wonders that served as ominous warnings, such as the plagues of blood and darkness, and with war, and with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with fearsome deeds, like everything that the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? Have there ever been occurrences such as those that you saw with your own eyes?

RASHI

או הנסה אלהים.הֲכִי עָשָׂה נִסִּים שׁוּם אֱלוֹהַּ לבוא לקחת לו גוי וגו', כָּל הֵהִי"ן הַלָּלוּ תְּמִיהוֹת הֵן, לְכָךְ נְקוּדוֹת הֵן בַּחֲטָף פַּתָּח: הֲנִהְיָה, הֲנִשְׁמַע, הֲשָׁמַע הֲנִסָּה:

במסת.עַל יְדֵי נִסְיוֹנוֹת הוֹדִיעָם גְּבוּרוֹתָיו, כְּגוֹן "הִתְפָּאֵר עָלַי" (שמות ח') אִם אוּכַל לַעֲשׂוֹת כֵּן, הֲרֵי זֶה נִסָּיוֹן:

באתת.בְּסִימָנִין, לְהַאֲמִין שֶׁהוּא שְׁלוּחוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם, כְּגוֹן "מַה זֶּה בְיָדֶךָ" (שם ד'):

ובמופתים.הֵם נִפְלָאוֹת, שֶׁהֵבִיא עֲלֵיהֶם מַכּוֹת מֻפְלָאוֹת:

ובמלחמה.בַּיָּם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "כִּי ה' נִלְחָם לָהֶם" (שם י"ד):

אַתָּה֙ הָרְאֵ֣תָ לָדַ֔עַת כִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה ה֣וּא הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים אֵ֥ין ע֖וֹד מִלְבַדּֽוֹ׃

You have been shown these events in order to know that the Lord, He is the God; there is no other besides Him. No one can prevent Him from executing His will.

RASHI

הראת.כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ "אִתְחֲזֵיתָא"; כְּשֶׁנָּתַן הַקָּבָּ"ה אֶת הַתּוֹרָה פָּתַח לָהֶם שִׁבְעָה רְקִיעִים, וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁקָּרַע אֶת הָעֶלְיוֹנִים כָּךְ קָרַע אֶת הַתַּחְתּוֹנִים, וְרָאוּ שֶׁהוּא יְחִידִי, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר "אַתָּה הָרְאֵתָ לָדַעַת":

מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֛יִם הִשְׁמִֽיעֲךָ֥ אֶת־קֹל֖וֹ לְיַסְּרֶ֑ךָּ וְעַל־הָאָ֗רֶץ הֶרְאֲךָ֙ אֶת־אִשּׁ֣וֹ הַגְּדוֹלָ֔ה וּדְבָרָ֥יו שָׁמַ֖עְתָּ מִתּ֥וֹךְ הָאֵֽשׁ׃

F rom the heavens He had you hear His voice, to chastise you; and upon earth He showed you His great fire on the mountain and you heard His words from the midst of the fire.

וְתַ֗חַת כִּ֤י אָהַב֙ אֶת־אֲבֹתֶ֔יךָ וַיִּבְחַ֥ר בְּזַרְע֖וֹ אַחֲרָ֑יו וַיּוֹצִֽאֲךָ֧ בְּפָנָ֛יו בְּכֹח֥וֹ הַגָּדֹ֖ל מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃

This is because He loved your forefathers , and He chose their descendants after them . Alternatively, the reference is specifically to Jacob’s descendants, as this Hebrew phrase is actually formulated in the singular. And He took you out before Him, due to His will, and with miraculous divine events, with His great power, from Egypt,

RASHI

ותחת כי אהב.וְכָל זֶה תַּחַת אֲשֶׁר אָהַב:

ויוצאך בפניו.כְּאָדָם הַמַּנְהִיג בְּנוֹ לְפָנָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וַיִּסַּע מַלְאַךְ הָאֱלֹהִים הַהֹלֵךְ וְגוֹ' וַיֵּלֶךְ מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶם" (שם). דָּ"אַ, ויוצאך בפניו – בִּפְנֵי אֲבוֹתָיו, כְּמָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "נֶגֶד אֲבוֹתָם עָשָׂה פֶלֶא" (תהילים ע"ח); וְאַל תִּתְמַהּ עַל שֶׁהִזְכִּירָם בִּלְשׁוֹן יָחִיד, שֶׁהֲרֵי כְתָבָם בִּלְשׁוֹן יָחִיד – ויבחר בזרעו אחריו:

לְהוֹרִ֗ישׁ גּוֹיִ֛ם גְּדֹלִ֧ים וַעֲצֻמִ֛ים מִמְּךָ֖ מִפָּנֶ֑יךָ לַהֲבִֽיאֲךָ֗ לָֽתֶת־לְךָ֧ אֶת־אַרְצָ֛ם נַחֲלָ֖ה כַּיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃

to dispossess nations greater and mightier than you from before you, to bring you, to give you their land as an inheritance, as it is this day.

RASHI

ממך מפניך.סָרְסֵהוּ וְדָרְשֵׁהוּ: לְהוֹרִישׁ מִפָּנֶיךָ גּוֹיִם גְּדוֹלִים וַעֲצוּמִים מִמְּךָ:

כיום הזה.כַּאֲשֶׁר אַתָּה רוֹאֶה הַיּוֹם:

וְיָדַעְתָּ֣ הַיּ֗וֹם וַהֲשֵׁבֹתָ֮ אֶל־לְבָבֶךָ֒ כִּ֤י יְהוָה֙ ה֣וּא הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם מִמַּ֔עַל וְעַל־הָאָ֖רֶץ מִתָּ֑חַת אֵ֖ין עֽוֹד׃

You shall know this day, and moreover, restore to your heart that the Lord, He is the God in the heavens above and upon the earth below; there is no other. Do not suffice with the memory of that which you hear from me; you must internalize it in your soul.

וְשָׁמַרְתָּ֞ אֶת־חֻקָּ֣יו וְאֶת־מִצְוֺתָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָנֹכִ֤י מְצַוְּךָ֙ הַיּ֔וֹם אֲשֶׁר֙ יִיטַ֣ב לְךָ֔ וּלְבָנֶ֖יךָ אַחֲרֶ֑יךָ וּלְמַ֨עַן תַּאֲרִ֤יךְ יָמִים֙ עַל־הַ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃ (פ)

If you internalize this message, you shall consequently observe His statutes and His commandments, which I am commanding you this day, and on account of that, He will do good to you, and to your children after you, and so that you may extend your days upon the land that the Lord your God is giving you, for all the days.