Devarim 27 · Pshat

27:1

וַיְצַו מֹשֶׁה וְזִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת־הָעָם לֵאמֹר שָׁמֹר אֶת־כׇּל־הַמִּצְוָה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם הַיּֽוֹם׃

Moshe and the elders of Yisroel commanded the people the following, ‘‘Keep all of the commandment that I am commanding you today.

Rashi

שמר את כל המצוה. לְשׁוֹן הוֹוֶה, גרדנ"ט בְּלַעַז:

Keep all of the commandment. This denotes constancy. Gardant in Old French.

27:2

וְהָיָה בַּיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר תַּעַבְרוּ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן אֶל־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לָךְ וַהֲקֵמֹתָ לְךָ אֲבָנִים גְּדֹלוֹת וְשַׂדְתָּ אֹתָם בַּשִּֽׂיד׃

When the day comes that you cross the Yardein to the land that Adonoy, your God, is giving you, erect large stones and coat them with whitewash.

Rashi

והקמת לך. בַּיַּרְדֵּן, וְאַחֲ"כָּ תּוֹצִיא מִשָּׁם אֲחֵרוֹת וְתִבְנֶה מֵהֶן מִזְבֵּחַ בְּהַר עֵיבָל; נִמְצֵאת אַתָּה אוֹמֵר שְׁלוֹשָׁה מִינֵי אֲבָנִים הָיוּ — שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה בַּיַּרְדֵּן וּכְנֶגְדָן בַּגִּלְגָּל וּכְנֶגְדָּן בְּהַר עֵיבָל, כִּדְאִיתָא בְמַסֶּכֶת סוֹטָה (דף ל"ה):

Erect. In the Yardein. Afterward, remove others from there, and construct an altar with them on Mount Eival. Consequently, we may state that there were three kinds of stones; twelve in the Yardein, a similar number at Gilgal, the same at Mount Eival, as stated in Tractate Sotah.

27:3

וְכָתַבְתָּ עֲלֵיהֶן אֶֽת־כׇּל־דִּבְרֵי הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת בְּעׇבְרֶךָ לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר תָּבֹא אֶל־הָאָרֶץ אֲֽשֶׁר־יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ ׀ נֹתֵן לְךָ אֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבַשׁ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽי־אֲבֹתֶיךָ לָֽךְ׃

You are to write on them all statements of this Torah upon your crossing; in order that you come to the land that Adonoy, your God, is giving you, a land flowing milk and honey, as promised by Adonoy, God of your forefathers, to you.

27:4

וְהָיָה בְּעׇבְרְכֶם אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן תָּקִימוּ אֶת־הָאֲבָנִים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם הַיּוֹם בְּהַר עֵיבָל וְשַׂדְתָּ אוֹתָם בַּשִּֽׂיד׃

As soon as you have crossed the Yardein, set up these stones that I am commanding you today, on Mount Eival, and coat them with whitewash.

27:5

וּבָנִיתָ שָּׁם מִזְבֵּחַ לַיהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ מִזְבַּח אֲבָנִים לֹא־תָנִיף עֲלֵיהֶם בַּרְזֶֽל׃

Build there an altar to Adonoy, your God; an altar of stones; do not lift iron upon them.

27:6

אֲבָנִים שְׁלֵמוֹת תִּבְנֶה אֶת־מִזְבַּח יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ וְהַעֲלִיתָ עָלָיו עוֹלֹת לַיהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃

[Of] whole stones are you to build the altar of Adonoy, your God; and you are to bring upon it burnt-offerings to Adonoy, your God.

27:7

וְזָבַחְתָּ שְׁלָמִים וְאָכַלְתָּ שָּׁם וְשָׂמַחְתָּ לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃

You are to slaughter peace -offerings and eat [them] there; and you are to rejoice in the presence of Adonoy, your God.

27:8

וְכָתַבְתָּ עַל־הָאֲבָנִים אֶֽת־כׇּל־דִּבְרֵי הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת בַּאֵר הֵיטֵֽב׃ {ס}

You are to write on the stones all the statements of this Torah, explained properly.

Rashi

באר היטב. בְּשִׁבְעִים לָשׁוֹן (שם ל"ב):

Explained properly. In seventy languages.

27:9

וַיְדַבֵּר מֹשֶׁה וְהַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם אֶל כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר הַסְכֵּת ׀ וּשְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה נִהְיֵיתָֽ לְעָם לַיהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃

Moshe and the kohanim-Levi’im addressed all of Yisroel, to say, ‘‘Take heed and accept, Yisroel! [On] this day you have become a people to Adonoy, your God.

Rashi

הסכת. כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ:

Take heed. As Targum [Onkelos] renders.

היום הזה נהיית לעם. בְּכָל יוֹם יִהְיוּ בְעֵינֶיךָ כְּאִלּוּ הַיּוֹם בָּאתָ עִמּוֹ בַּבְּרִית (ברכות ס"ג):

This day you have become a people. Each day let it appear to you as if, on that very day, you had entered the covenant with Him.

27:10

וְשָׁמַעְתָּ בְּקוֹל יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ וְעָשִׂיתָ אֶת־מִצְוֺתָו וְאֶת־חֻקָּיו אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּֽוֹם׃ {ס}

You are to obey Adonoy, your God, and perform His commandments and His statutes that I am commanding you today.’’

27:11

וַיְצַו מֹשֶׁה אֶת־הָעָם בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא לֵאמֹֽר׃

Moshe commanded the people on that day, to say,

27:12

אֵלֶּה יַֽעַמְדוּ לְבָרֵךְ אֶת־הָעָם עַל־הַר גְּרִזִים בְּעׇבְרְכֶם אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן שִׁמְעוֹן וְלֵוִי וִֽיהוּדָה וְיִשָּׂשכָר וְיוֹסֵף וּבִנְיָמִֽן׃

‘‘The following will stand to bless the people on Mount Gerizim, upon your crossing the Yardein: Shimon and Levi and Yehudah, and Yisachar and Yoseif and Binyomin.

Rashi

לברך את העם. כִּדְאִיתָא בְמַסֶּכֶת סוֹטָה (דף ל"ב): שִׁשָּׁה שְׁבָטִים עָלוּ לְרֹאשׁ הַר גְּרִיזִים וְשִׁשָּׁה לְרֹאשׁ הַר עֵיבָל וְהַכֹּהֲנִים וְהַלְוִיִּם וְהָאָרוֹן לְמַטָּה בָּאֶמְצַע, הָפְכוּ לְוִיִּים פְּנֵיהֶם כְּלַפֵּי הַר גְּרִיזִים וּפָתְחוּ בַבְּרָכָה, "בָּרוּךְ הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה פֶסֶל וּמַסֵּכָה וְגוֹ'", וְאֵלּוּ וָאֵלּוּ עוֹנִין אָמֵן. חָזְרוּ וְהָפְכוּ פְּנֵיהֶם כְּלַפֵּי הַר עֵיבָל וּפָתְחוּ בַקְּלָלָה וְאוֹמְרִים "אָרוּר הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה פֶסֶל וְגוֹ'", וְכֵן כֻּלָּם עַד "אָרוּר אֲשֶׁר לֹא יָקִים":

To bless the people. As stated in tractate Sotah. Six tribes ascended the summit of Mount Gerizim, and six the summit of Mount Eival, with the kohanim and Levi’im and the ark below, at the center. The Levi’im directed their faces toward Mount Gerizim, and began the blessing: ‘Blessed is the man who does not make a sculpture or molten idol, etc.’ These, and the others as well, answered, Amein. They turned, directed their faces toward Mount Eival, and began the curse, saying: ‘Cursed is the man who makes a sculpture, etc.’ [These, and the others as well, answered Amein. They turned, directed their faces toward Mount Gerizim, and said: ‘Blessed is the one who does not revile his father or mother,’ etc. Then they turned, directed their faces toward Mount Eival, saying: ‘Cursed is the one who reviles his father or mother.’] Similarly with all of them, until ‘Cursed is whoever does not uphold.’

27:13

וְאֵלֶּה יַֽעַמְדוּ עַל־הַקְּלָלָה בְּהַר עֵיבָל רְאוּבֵן גָּד וְאָשֵׁר וּזְבוּלֻן דָּן וְנַפְתָּלִֽי׃

And the following will stand for the curse at Mount Eival: Reuvein, Gad and Asher, and Zevulun, Don and Naftoli.

27:14

וְעָנוּ הַלְוִיִּם וְאָמְרוּ אֶל־כׇּל־אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל קוֹל רָֽם׃ {ס}

The Levi’im are to respond and say to every man of Yisroel aloud:

27:15

אָרוּר הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה פֶסֶל וּמַסֵּכָה תּוֹעֲבַת יְהֹוָה מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵי חָרָשׁ וְשָׂם בַּסָּתֶר וְעָנוּ כׇל־הָעָם וְאָמְרוּ אָמֵֽן׃ {ס}

‘Cursed is the man who makes a statue or a molten image, Adonoy’s abomination, the handiwork of a craftsman, and places [it] in a secret [place];’ the entire people will respond and say, Amein.

27:16

אָרוּר מַקְלֶה אָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ וְאָמַר כׇּל־הָעָם אָמֵֽן׃ {ס}

‘Cursed is whoever reviles his father or his mother,’ and the entire people will say, Amein.

Rashi

מקלה אביו. מְזַלְזֵל, לְשׁוֹן "וְנִקְלָה אָחִיךָ" (דברים כ"ה):

Whoever reviles his father. To denigrate. This means the same as “Your brother shall be denigrated.”[25:3]

27:17

אָרוּר מַסִּיג גְּבוּל רֵעֵהוּ וְאָמַר כׇּל־הָעָם אָמֵֽן׃ {ס}

‘Cursed is whoever casts aside the boundary of his fellow;’ and the entire people will say, Amein.

Rashi

מסיג גבול. מַחֲזִירוֹ לַאֲחוֹרָיו וְגוֹנֵב אֶת הַקַּרְקַע, לְשׁוֹן "וְהֻסַּג אָחוֹר" (ישעיהו נ"ט):

Whoever casts aside the boundary. Who casts it back, and steals the property. This means the same as “Has been cast back.”

27:18

אָרוּר מַשְׁגֶּה עִוֵּר בַּדָּרֶךְ וְאָמַר כׇּל־הָעָם אָמֵֽן׃ {ס}

‘Cursed is whoever misleads the blind about the way;’ and the entire people will say, Amein.

Rashi

משגה עור. הַסּוּמָא בַדָּבָר וּמַשִּׂיאוֹ עֵצָה רָעָה:

Whoever misleads the blind. Blind concerning a particular matter, and he offers ill advice.