Devarim 4:25-40

4:25

כִּֽי־תוֹלִיד בָּנִים וּבְנֵי בָנִים וְנוֹשַׁנְתֶּם בָּאָרֶץ וְהִשְׁחַתֶּם וַעֲשִׂיתֶם פֶּסֶל תְּמוּנַת כֹּל וַעֲשִׂיתֶם הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי יְהֹוָה־אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְהַכְעִיסֽוֹ׃

When you have children and grandchildren, and have grown old in the land; and you will be corrupt and make a statue—an image of anything—and do what is evil in the eyes of Adonoy, your God, to anger Him.

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):

And have grown old. He hinted to them that they would be exiled from it at the end of eight hundred and fifty-two years, which is the numerical value [gematria] of וְנוֹשַׁנְתֶּם . But he sent them into exile earlier — at the end of eight hundred and fifty years. He exiled them two years earlier than the numerical value of וְנוֹשַׁנְתֶּם so they would not suffer the fulfillment of “that you will be completely removed [from the land].” And this is [the meaning of] what is said: “And Adonoy precipitated the evil, and He brought it upon us, for Adonoy our God is righteous.” He acted righteously [charitably צְדָקָה) with us, for He hastened to bring [the evil] two years before its time.

4:26

הַעִידֹתִי בָכֶם הַיּוֹם אֶת־הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת־הָאָרֶץ כִּֽי־אָבֹד תֹּאבֵדוּן מַהֵר מֵעַל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם עֹבְרִים אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן שָׁמָּה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ לֹֽא־תַאֲרִיכֻן יָמִים עָלֶיהָ כִּי הִשָּׁמֵד תִּשָּׁמֵדֽוּן׃

I bring as witness against you today heaven and earth, that you will be completely and swiftly removed from upon the land, that you are crossing the Yardein there to inherit; you will not live long upon it, but will be completely destroyed.

Rashi

העידתי בכם. הִנְנִי מַזְמִינָם לִהְיוֹת עֵדִים שֶׁהִתְרֵיתִי בָכֶם:

I bring as witness against you. I have designated them to be witnesses that I have warned you.

4:27

וְהֵפִיץ יְהֹוָה אֶתְכֶם בָּעַמִּים וְנִשְׁאַרְתֶּם מְתֵי מִסְפָּר בַּגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר יְנַהֵג יְהֹוָה אֶתְכֶם שָֽׁמָּה׃

Adonoy will disperse you among the peoples, and you will remain few in number among the nations that Adonoy leads you to.

4:28

וַעֲבַדְתֶּם־שָׁם אֱלֹהִים מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵי אָדָם עֵץ וָאֶבֶן אֲשֶׁר לֹֽא־יִרְאוּן וְלֹא יִשְׁמְעוּן וְלֹא יֹֽאכְלוּן וְלֹא יְרִיחֻֽן׃

There you will serve man-made gods of wood and stone that do not see, do not hear, do not eat, and do not smell.

Rashi

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

There you will serve gods. [This should be understood] as the Targum [has it]: Since you will serve those who worship them [idols] it will be considered as though you worship them [idols].

4:29

וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּם מִשָּׁם אֶת־יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ וּמָצָאתָ כִּי תִדְרְשֶׁנּוּ בְּכׇל־לְבָבְךָ וּבְכׇל־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃

You will seek from there Adonoy, your God, and you will find [Him], when you seek Him wholeheartedly and with your whole being.

4:30

בַּצַּר לְךָ וּמְצָאוּךָ כֹּל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה בְּאַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים וְשַׁבְתָּ עַד־יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ וְשָׁמַעְתָּ בְּקֹלֽוֹ׃

When you are in distress and all these things happen to you, at the end of time, you will return to Adonoy, your God, and will obey Him.

4:31

כִּי אֵל רַחוּם יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לֹא יַרְפְּךָ וְלֹא יַשְׁחִיתֶךָ וְלֹא יִשְׁכַּח אֶת־בְּרִית אֲבֹתֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לָהֶֽם׃

For a merciful Almighty is Adonoy, your God; He will not forsake you nor destroy you; nor will He forget the covenant of your fathers that He swore 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:

He will not forsake you by not supporting you with His hands. The expression of לֹא יַרְפְּךָ is an expression signifying that He will not cause something — he will not cause you to be weakened [forsaken], for He will not separate you from Him. Similarly, “I grasped him and would not let him go,” the word אַרְפֶּנוּ is not vocalized אֶרְפֶֶּנוּ . The term רִפְיוֹן always refers to the causative or reflexive form — [one who forsakes others or one who causes himself to be forsaken], as for example: ”Leave her alone,” — let her be released. ”Leave Me alone” — release yourself from Me.

4:32

כִּי שְׁאַל־נָא לְיָמִים רִֽאשֹׁנִים אֲשֶׁר־הָיוּ לְפָנֶיךָ לְמִן־הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים ׀ אָדָם עַל־הָאָרֶץ וּלְמִקְצֵה הַשָּׁמַיִם וְעַד־קְצֵה הַשָּׁמָיִם הֲנִֽהְיָה כַּדָּבָר הַגָּדוֹל הַזֶּה אוֹ הֲנִשְׁמַע כָּמֹֽהוּ׃

Inquire now about the early years that preceded you, from the day that God created Adam on earth and from one end of the heavens to the other end of the heavens: Did anything ever happen comparable to this great event, or did anyone ever hear of such a thing?

Rashi

לימים ראשונים. עַל יָמִים רִאשׁוֹנִים:

The early years. Regarding the early years.

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):

From one end of the heavens. Also inquire of all the creatures [that exist] from one end [of heaven] to the other end. This is its plain meaning; but a Midrashic explanation teaches us regarding the height of Adam which reached from earth to heaven, which is the same measurement as from one end [of the heavens] to the other end.

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

Did anything ever happen comparable to this great event? And what is this great event? [See next verses] Did any people [ever hear], etc.

4:33

הֲשָׁמַֽע עָם קוֹל אֱלֹהִים מְדַבֵּר מִתּוֹךְ־הָאֵשׁ כַּאֲשֶׁר־שָׁמַעְתָּ אַתָּה וַיֶּֽחִי׃

Did any people [ever] hear God’s voice speaking from within the fire as you heard and survive?

4:34

אוֹ ׀ הֲנִסָּה אֱלֹהִים לָבוֹא לָקַחַת לוֹ גוֹי מִקֶּרֶב גּוֹי בְּמַסֹּת בְּאֹתֹת וּבְמוֹפְתִים וּבְמִלְחָמָה וּבְיָד חֲזָקָה וּבִזְרוֹעַ נְטוּיָה וּבְמוֹרָאִים גְּדֹלִים כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂה לָכֶם יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם בְּמִצְרַיִם לְעֵינֶֽיךָ׃

Or did any god ever miraculously come and take for himself a nation from within a nation through tests, with signs and with wonders, and through warfare, and with a strong hand and with an extended arm, and with great displays; entirely as Adonoy, your God, did for you in Egypt as you watched?

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:

Did any god ever miraculously [come]. Has any god ever performed such miracles to come and take for himself a nation, etc. All these letters hei (ה) are interrogative prefixes, and are therefore vocalized with chataph patach: הֲנִהְיָה — Did anything ever happen. הֲנִשְׁמַע — Did anyone ever hear הֲשָׁמַע — Did any people ever hear. הֲנִסָּה — Did any god ever miraculously.

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

Through tests. By means of tests, he made His mighty deeds known to them, for example: “Glorify yourself at my expense,” whether I will be able to do so. This is an example of a test.

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

With signs. With signs to confirm that he [Moshe] is the messenger of the Almighty, for example, “What is that in your hand.”

ובמופתים. הֵם נִפְלָאוֹת, שֶׁהֵבִיא עֲלֵיהֶם מַכּוֹת מֻפְלָאוֹת:

With wonders. These refer to the wonders that He brought upon them — the astonishing plagues.

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

Through warfare. [This refers to the episode] of the [Reed] Sea, as it is said, “For Adonoy is fighting for them.”

4:35

אַתָּה הׇרְאֵתָ לָדַעַת כִּי יְהֹוָה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים אֵין עוֹד מִלְּבַדּֽוֹ׃

You have been shown that you might know that Adonoy, He is the God; there is no [power] other than He.

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":

You have been shown. The word הָרְאֵתָ according to Targum Onkelos means “You were shown.” When the Holy One, blessed is He, gave the Torah, He lay open for them the seven heavens. And just as he split [opened] the upper spheres so too did He split the lower spheres, and thus they saw that He is the only One. It is therefore stated: “You have been shown that you might know.”

4:36

מִן־הַשָּׁמַיִם הִשְׁמִֽיעֲךָ אֶת־קֹלוֹ לְיַסְּרֶךָּ וְעַל־הָאָרֶץ הֶרְאֲךָ אֶת־אִשּׁוֹ הַגְּדוֹלָה וּדְבָרָיו שָׁמַעְתָּ מִתּוֹךְ הָאֵֽשׁ׃

From the sky He made audible to you His voice to teach you, and on the earth He showed you His great fire, and you heard His words form within the fire.

4:37

וְתַחַת כִּי אָהַב אֶת־אֲבֹתֶיךָ וַיִּבְחַר בְּזַרְעוֹ אַחֲרָיו וַיּוֹצִֽאֲךָ בְּפָנָיו בְּכֹחוֹ הַגָּדֹל מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃

Because He loved your forefathers, He chose his descendants after him; and He took you out before Him with His great strength from Egypt.

Rashi

ותחת כי אהב. וְכָל זֶה תַּחַת אֲשֶׁר אָהַב:

Because He loved [your fathers]. And all this was because He loved [your fathers].

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:

And He took you out before Him. Like a man who leads his son before him, as it is said, “the angel of God moved [from its position] when it traveled in front of the Israelite camp, and went behind them.” Another explanation: “And He took you out in His Presence,” in the presence of their fathers, as it is said, “In the presence of their fathers, He did wonders.” Do not be puzzled that it refers to them (the fathers) in the singular for it has [already] written about them in the singular, “And He chose his descendants after him.”

4:38

לְהוֹרִישׁ גּוֹיִם גְּדֹלִים וַעֲצֻמִים מִמְּךָ מִפָּנֶיךָ לַהֲבִֽיאֲךָ לָֽתֶת־לְךָ אֶת־אַרְצָם נַחֲלָה כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּֽה׃

To expel nations greater and stronger than you from before you; to bring you in [and] to give you their land as terrritory, like this day.

Rashi

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

[Stronger] than you from before you. Invert [the order of the verse] and then explain it: “to expel from before you nations greater and stronger than you.”

כיום הזה. כַּאֲשֶׁר אַתָּה רוֹאֶה הַיּוֹם:

Like this day. Just like you see this day.

4:39

וְיָדַעְתָּ הַיּוֹם וַהֲשֵׁבֹתָ אֶל־לְבָבֶךָ כִּי יְהֹוָה הוּא הָֽאֱלֹהִים בַּשָּׁמַיִם מִמַּעַל וְעַל־הָאָרֶץ מִתָּחַת אֵין עֽוֹד׃

You will know today, and will restore to your perception that Adonoy is the God in heaven above and on earth below; there is no other.

4:40

וְשָׁמַרְתָּ אֶת־חֻקָּיו וְאֶת־מִצְוֺתָיו אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִיטַב לְךָ וּלְבָנֶיךָ אַחֲרֶיךָ וּלְמַעַן תַּאֲרִיךְ יָמִים עַל־הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ כׇּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃ {פ}

You will guard His statutes and His commandments, which I am commanding you today, so that you have it good and your children after you, and in order that you live long on the land that Adonoy, your God, is giving you for all time.

Devarim 4:25-40 דברים ד׳:כ״ה-מ׳

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