Devarim
Eikev, Aliyah 6 עקב, שישי
Part of: EikevEikev, Aliyah 6Chapter 11Setumah, Deuteronomy 11:10Setumah, Deuteronomy 11:13
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Devarim 11
כִּי הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה בָא־שָׁמָּה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ לֹא כְאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם הִוא אֲשֶׁר יְצָאתֶם מִשָּׁם אֲשֶׁר תִּזְרַע אֶֽת־זַרְעֲךָ וְהִשְׁקִיתָ בְרַגְלְךָ כְּגַן הַיָּרָֽק׃
For the land where you are arriving to inherit is not like the land of Egypt from which you departed, where you planted your seed and watered [it] on foot like a vegetable garden.
For the land where you are arriving to inherit is not like the land of Egypt from which you departed, where you planted your seed and watered [it] on foot like a vegetable garden.
Rashi
אשר יצאתם משם. אֲפִלּוּ אֶרֶץ רַעְמְסֵס אֲשֶׁר יְשַׁבְתֶּם בָּהּ וְהִיא בְּמֵיטַב אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "בְּמֵיטַב הָאָרֶץ וְגוֹ'" (בראשית מ"ז), אַף הִיא אֵינָהּ כְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל:
From which you departed. Even the land of Raamses [and Goshen], where you dwelt, which is the best of the land of Mitzrayim, as it is said, “in the best of the land, etc.” — even that cannot compare with Eretz Yisroel.
והשקית ברגלך. אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם הָיְתָה צְרִיכָה לְהָבִיא מַיִם מִנִּילוּס, בְּרַגְלְךָ, וּלְהַשְׁקוֹתָהּ – צָרִיךְ אַתָּה לִנְדֹּד מִשְּׁנָתְךָ וְלַעֲמֹל, וְהַנָּמוּךְ שׁוֹתֶה וְלֹא הַגָּבוֹהַּ, וְאַתָּה מַעֲלֶה הַמַּיִם מִן הַנָּמוּךְ לַגָּבוֹהַּ, אֲבָל זוֹ למטר השמים תשתה מים – אַתָּה יָשֵׁן עַל מִטָּתְךָ וְהַקָּבָּ"ה מַשְׁקֶה נָמוּךְ וְגָבוֹהּ גָּלוּי וְשֶׁאֵינוֹ גָלוּי כְּאֶחָת (ספרי):
And watered it on foot. In the land of Egypt, you had to bring water from the Nile on foot in order to irrigate it; you had to lose sleep, to toil. The lowlands were irrigable, but not the highlands, and you had to bring the water up from the low areas to the high ones. But with this, “by the rain of the skies you will drink water.” You can sleep in your bed while the Holy One, may He be blessed, irrigates lowland and highland, open and enclosed areas alike.
כגן הירק. שֶׁאֵין דַּי לוֹ בִגְשָׁמִים וּמַשְׁקִין אוֹתוֹ בָּרֶגֶל וּבַכָּתֵף:
Like a vegetable garden. For which rainfall is insufficient. It must be irrigated on foot, with [the water carried on] the shoulders.
וְהָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם עֹבְרִים שָׁמָּה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ אֶרֶץ הָרִים וּבְקָעֹת לִמְטַר הַשָּׁמַיִם תִּשְׁתֶּה־מָּֽיִם׃
Rather, the land where you are crossing to inherit is a land of mountains and plains—by the rain of the skies will you drink water.
Rather, the land where you are crossing to inherit is a land of mountains and plains—by the rain of the skies will you drink water.
Rashi
ארץ הרים ובקעת. מְשֻׁבָּח הָהָר מִן הַמִּישׁוֹר, שֶׁהַמִּישׁוֹר בְּבֵית כֹּר אַתָּה זוֹרֵעַ כֹּר, אֲבָל הָהָר בֵּית כֹּר מִמֶּנּוּ חֲמֵשֶׁת כֹּרִין – אַרְבָּעָה מֵאַרְבָּעָה שִׁפּוּעָיו וְאֶחָד בְּרֹאשׁוֹ:
Is a land of mountains and plains. The mountain is more valuable than the plain, for in the plain, on a kor-sized parcel you may plant a kor, but on the mountain, a kor-sized parcel yields five kors — four on its four slopes, and one at its peak.
ובקעת. הֵן מִישׁוֹר:
And plains. This refers to level areas.
אֶרֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ דֹּרֵשׁ אֹתָהּ תָּמִיד עֵינֵי יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בָּהּ מֵֽרֵשִׁית הַשָּׁנָה וְעַד אַחֲרִית שָׁנָֽה׃ {ס}
A land that Adonoy, your God, looks after; the eyes of Adonoy, your God, are always upon it, from the year’s beginning until the year’s end.
A land that Adonoy, your God, looks after; the eyes of Adonoy, your God, are always upon it, from the year’s beginning until the year’s end.
Rashi
אשר ה' אלהיך דרש אתה. וַהֲלֹא כָּל הָאֲרָצוֹת דוֹרֵשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "לְהַמְטִיר עַל אֶרֶץ לֹא אִישׁ" (איוב ל"ח)? אֶלָּא כִּבְיָכוֹל אֵינוֹ דוֹרֵשׁ אֶלָּא אוֹתָהּ, וְעַל יְדֵי אוֹתָהּ דְּרִישָׁה שֶׁדּוֹרְשָׁהּ, דּוֹרֵשׁ אֶת כָּל הָאֲרָצוֹת עִמָּהּ:
That Adonoy, your God, looks after. But does He not look after all the lands, as it is said, “Bringing rain to no-man’s land”? But, rather, it is as if He seeks after no other land but this, and as a result of seeking after this, He incidentally seeks after all the other lands.
תמיד עיני ה' אלהיך בה. לִרְאוֹת מַה הִיא צְרִיכָה, וּלְחַדֵּשׁ בָּהּ גְּזֵרוֹת, עִתִּים לְטוֹבָה עִתִּים לְרָעָה כוּ', כִּדְאִיתָא בְּרֹ"הַ (דף י"ז):
The eyes of Adonoy, your God, are always upon it. To see what its needs are, and to initiate decrees concerning it, sometimes beneficial, and sometimes damaging, etc., as stated in tractate Rosh Hashanah.
מרשית השנה. מֵרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה נִדּוֹן מַה יְּהֵא בְּסוֹפָהּ (שם ח'):
From the year’s beginning. From the beginning of the year judgement is passed determining what is to occur at its end.
וְהָיָה אִם־שָׁמֹעַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ אֶל־מִצְוֺתַי אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם הַיּוֹם לְאַהֲבָה אֶת־יְהֹוָה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם וּלְעׇבְדוֹ בְּכׇל־לְבַבְכֶם וּבְכׇל־נַפְשְׁכֶֽם׃
Should you thoroughly heed My commandments that I am commanding you today—to love Adonoy, your God, and to serve Him with all your desires and with your entire beings,
Should you thoroughly heed My commandments that I am commanding you today—to love Adonoy, your God, and to serve Him with all your desires and with your entire beings,
Rashi
והיה אם שמע. וְהָיָה מוּסָב עַל הָאָמוּר לְמַעְלָה, לִמְטַר הַשָּׁמַיִם תִּשְׁתֶּה מָּיִם:
Should you heed [lit., “It shall be . . .”]. “It shall be” relates to the statement above, ”by the rain of the skies you will drink water.”
והיה אם שמע תשמעו. אִם שָׁמֹעַ בַּיָּשָׁן תִּשְׁמְעוּ בֶּחָדָשׁ, וְכֵן "אִם שָׁכֹחַ תִּשְׁכַּח" (דברים ח') – אִם הִתְחַלְתָּ לִשְׁכֹּחַ סוֹפְךָ שֶׁתִּשְׁכַּח כֻּלָּהּ, שֶׁכֵּן כְּתִיב בִּמְגִלָּה אִם תַּעַזְבֵנִי יוֹם יוֹמַיִם אֶעֶזְבֶךָּ:
Should you thoroughly heed. If you heed the old, then you shall heed the new. Similarly, “It shall be, if forgetting you forget.” If you begin forgetting, you shall eventually forget everything. This is as it is written in the scroll, ‘If you forsake me for a day, I shall forsake you for two.’
מצוה אתכם היום. שֶׁיִּהְיוּ עֲלֵיכֶם חֲדָשִׁים, כְּאִלּוּ שְׁמַעְתֶּם בּוֹ בַיּוֹם (ספרי):
Commanding you today. They must be as fresh to you, as if you heard them this very day.
לאהבה את ה'. שֶׁלֹּא תֹאמַר הֲרֵי אֲנִי לוֹמֵד בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁאֶהְיֶה עָשִׁיר, בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁאֶקָּרֵא רַב, בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁאֲקַבֵּל שָׂכָר, אֶלָּא כָּל מַה שֶּׁתַּעֲשֶׂה עֲשֵׂה מֵאַהֲבָה וְסוֹף הַכָּבוֹד לָבֹא (שם):
To love Adonoy. You must not say, ‘I shall study so that I may become wealthy, or so that I may be entitled “Rabbi,” or so that I may be rewarded.’ Rather, all that you fulfill, fulfill with love, and the glory will eventually follow.
ולעבדו בכל לבבכם. עֲבוֹדָה שֶׁהִיא בַּלֵּב, וְזוֹ הִיא תְפִלָּה, שֶׁהַתְּפִלָּה קְרוּיָה עֲבוֹדָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "אֱלָהָךְ דִּי אַנְתְּ פָּלַח לֵהּ בִּתְדִירָא" (דניאל ו'), וְכִי יֵשׁ פֻּלְחָן בְּבָבֶל? אֶלָּא עַל שֶׁהָיָה מִתְפַּלֵּל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שם) "וְכַוִּין פְּתִיחָן לֵהּ וְגוֹ'"; וְכֵן בְּדָוִד הוּא אוֹמֵר (תהילים קמ"א) "תִּכּוֹן תְּפִלָּתִי קְטֹרֶת לְפָנֶיךָ":
And to serve Him with all your hearts. With the service of the heart — this refers to prayer, as prayer is entitled “service,” as it is said, “Your God whom you constantly serve.” Was there service in Bavel? Rather, because he prayed, as it is said, “Windows were open for him, etc.” Similarly, with Dovid it is said, “May my prayer be established like incense before You.”
בכל לבבכם ובכל נפשכם. וַהֲלֹא כְּבָר הִזְהִיר "בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁךָ" (דברים ו'), אֶלָּא אַזְהָרָה לַיָּחִיד, אַזְהָרָה לַצִּבּוּר (ספרי):
With all your hearts and with all your souls. But has not Scripture already commanded, “With all your heart and with all your soul”? Evidently, one command is addressed to the individual, and the other command is addressed to the community.
וְנָתַתִּי מְטַֽר־אַרְצְכֶם בְּעִתּוֹ יוֹרֶה וּמַלְקוֹשׁ וְאָסַפְתָּ דְגָנֶךָ וְתִירֹֽשְׁךָ וְיִצְהָרֶֽךָ׃
I will provide the rain of your land in its time, fall rain and spring rain, and you will harvest your grain and your wine and your olive oil.
I will provide the rain of your land in its time, fall rain and spring rain, and you will harvest your grain and your wine and your olive oil.
Rashi
ונתתי מטר ארצכם. עֲשִׂיתֶם מַה שֶּׁעֲלֵיכֶם אַף אֲנִי אֶעֱשֶׂה מַה שֶּׁעָלַי (שם):
I will provide the rain of your land. You fulfilled your obligation — I, too, shall fulfill my obligation.
בעתו. בַּלֵּילוֹת שֶׁלֹּא יַטְרִיחוּ אֶתְכֶם; דָּ"אַ – בְּעִתּוֹ בְּלֵילֵי שַׁבָּתוֹת שֶׁהַכֹּל מְצוּיִין בְּבָתֵּיהֶם:
In its time. During the night, so that it does not trouble you. Another interpretation of “in its time.” On Shabbos eve, when everyone is at home.
יורה. הִיא רְבִיעָה הַנּוֹפֶלֶת לְאַחַר הַזְּרִיעָה, שֶׁמַּרְוָה אֶת הָאָרֶץ וְאֶת הַזְּרָעִים:
Fall rain. This refers to the rain which falls after seeding, saturating the earth and the seeds.
מלקוש. רְבִיעָה הַיּוֹרֶדֶת סָמוּךְ לַקָּצִיר, לְמַלֹּאת הַתְּבוּאָה בְּקַשֶּׁיהָ. וּלְשׁוֹן מַלְקוֹשׁ דָּבָר הַמְאֻחָר כְּדִמְתַרְגְּמִינָן (בראשית ל') "וְהָיָה הָעֲטֻפִים לְלָבָן" – לַקִּישַׁיָּא; דָּ"אַ – לְכָךְ נִקְרֵאת מַלְקוֹשׁ, שֶׁיּוֹרֶדֶת עַל הַמְּלִילוֹת וְעַל הַקַּשִּׁין:
Spring rain. This refers to the rain which falls just prior to the harvest, filling the stalks with grain. The word מַלְקוֹשׁ denotes something which arrives late, as Targum renders “the late ones,” לַקִּישָׁא Another interpretation. It is called מַלְקוֹשׁ because it descends on the ears and on the stalks.
ואספת דגנך. אַתָּה תַאַסְפֶנּוּ אֶל הַבַּיִת וְלֹא אוֹיְבֶיךָ, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "אִם אֶתֵּן דְּגָנֵךְ וְגוֹ' כִּי מְאַסְפָיו יֹאכְלֻהוּ" (ישעיהו ס"ב) וְלֹא כָעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְהָיָה אִם זָרַע יִשְׂרָאֵל וְגוֹ'" (שופטים ו'):
You will harvest your grain. You will gather it into your home, not your enemies, as it is said, “...if I give your grain, etc., for he who gathers it shall consume it,” but not as it is said, “It shall come to pass that if Yisroel plants, etc.”
וְנָתַתִּי עֵשֶׂב בְּשָׂדְךָ לִבְהֶמְתֶּךָ וְאָכַלְתָּ וְשָׂבָֽעְתָּ׃
And I will provide grass in your field for your animals, and you will eat and be full.
And I will provide grass in your field for your animals, and you will eat and be full.
Rashi
ונתתי עשב בשדך. שֶׁלֹּא תִצְטָרֵךְ לְהוֹלִיכָהּ לַמִּדְבָּרוֹת. דָּ"אַ — שֶׁתִּהְיֶה גּוֹזֵז תְּבוּאָתְךָ כָּל יְמוֹת הַגְּשָׁמִים וּמַשְׁלִיךְ לִפְנֵי בְהֶמְתְּךָ וְאַתָּה מוֹנֵעַ יָדְךָ מִמֶּנָּה שְׁלוֹשִׁים יוֹם קֹדֶם לַקָּצִיר וְאֵינָהּ פּוֹחֶתֶת מִדְּגָנָהּ (ספרי):
And I will provide grass in your field. So that it will not be necessary for you to lead it to the desert. Another interpretation. You will reap your produce throughout the entire rainy season, and throw it before your animals. Then you will discontinue reaping for thirty days prior to the harvest, and there will be no shortfall of grain.
ואכלת ושבעת. הֲרֵי זוֹ בְרָכָה אַחֶרֶת שֶׁתְּהֵא בְרָכָה מְצוּיָה בַּפַּת בְּתוֹךְ הַמֵּעַיִם ואכלת ושבעת:
And you will eat and be full. This a different blessing — the blessing will visit the bread with your abdomen, so that you will eat and be full.
הִשָּֽׁמְרוּ לָכֶם פֶּן יִפְתֶּה לְבַבְכֶם וְסַרְתֶּם וַעֲבַדְתֶּם אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶם לָהֶֽם׃
Look out for yourselves lest your heart be misled and you turn away and serve other gods and bow to them,
Look out for yourselves lest your heart be misled and you turn away and serve other gods and bow to them,
Rashi
השמרו לכם. כֵּיוָן שֶׁתִּהְיוּ אוֹכְלִים וּשְׂבֵעִים הִשָּׁמְרוּ לָכֶם שֶׁלֹּא תִבְעֲטוּ, שֶׁאֵין אָדָם מוֹרֵד בְּהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶלָּא מִתּוֹךְ שְׂבִיעָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "פֶּן תֹּאכַל וְשָׂבָעְתָּ וּבְקָרְךָ וְצֹאנְךָ יִרְבְּיֻן" (דברים ח'), מַה הוּא אוֹמֵר אַחֲרָיו? "וְרָם לְבָבֶךָ וְשָׁכַחְתָּ":
Look out for yourselves. Since you will eat and be full, look out for yourselves, so that you are not insubordinate, for a man does not rebel against the Holy One, may He be blessed, except when satiated, as it is said, “Lest you eat and become full, and your cattle and flocks multiply.” What is said afterward? “You shall become arrogant and forget.”
וסרתם. לִפְרֹשׁ מִן הַתּוֹרָה, וּמִתּוֹךְ כָּךְ ועבדתם אלהים אחרים, שֶׁכֵּיוָן שֶׁאָדָם פּוֹרֵשׁ מִן הַתּוֹרָה הוֹלֵךְ וּמִדַּבֵּק בַּעֲ"זָ, וְכֵן דָּוִד אוֹמֵר "כִּי גֵרְשׁוּנִי הַיּוֹם מֵהִסְתַּפֵּחַ בְּנַחֲלַת ה' לֵאמֹר לֵךְ עֲבֹד וְגוֹ'" (שמואל א כ"ו), וּמִי אָמַר לוֹ כֵן? אֶלָּא כֵּיוָן שֶׁאֲנִי מְגֹרָשׁ מִלַּעֲסֹק בַּתּוֹרָה, הֲרֵינִי קָרוֹב לַעֲבֹד אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים:
And you turn away. By abandoning the Torah, and because of this, “you serve alien gods.” For once a man abandons the Torah, he proceeds to adhere to idolatry. Similarly, Dovid said, “For they have driven me away, this day, from adherence to Adonoy’s heritage, saying, ‘Go, worship, etc.”’ Now who said this to him? But, rather, since I have been driven away from engaging in the study of Torah, I am thereby brought close to worshipping alien gods.
אלהים אחרים. שֶׁהֵם אֲחֵרִים לְעוֹבְדֵיהֶם – צוֹעֵק אֵלָיו וְאֵינוֹ עוֹנֵהוּ, נִמְצָא עָשׂוּי לוֹ כְּנָכְרִי (ספרי):
Alien gods. They are alien to those who worship them — he cries out to him, but he does not respond. Thus, he has become alienated from him.
וְחָרָה אַף־יְהֹוָה בָּכֶם וְעָצַר אֶת־הַשָּׁמַיִם וְלֹֽא־יִהְיֶה מָטָר וְהָאֲדָמָה לֹא תִתֵּן אֶת־יְבוּלָהּ וַאֲבַדְתֶּם מְהֵרָה מֵעַל הָאָרֶץ הַטֹּבָה אֲשֶׁר יְהֹוָה נֹתֵן לָכֶֽם׃
And Adonoy’s anger will be aroused against you, and He will restrain the skies and there will be no rain, and the soil will not yield its produce, and you will swiftly be removed from upon the good land that Adonoy is giving you.
And Adonoy’s anger will be aroused against you, and He will restrain the skies and there will be no rain, and the soil will not yield its produce, and you will swiftly be removed from upon the good land that Adonoy is giving you.
Rashi
את יבולה. אַף מַה שֶּׁאַתָּה מוֹבִיל לָהּ, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (חגי א') זְרַעְתֶּם הַרְבֵּה וְהָבֵא מְעָט (ספרי):
Its produce. Even what you bring to it, as it is said, “You have planted much, but gathered little.”
ואבדתם מהרה. עַל כָּל שְׁאָר הַיִּסּוּרִין אַגְלֶה אֶתְכֶן מִן הָאֲדָמָה שֶׁגָּרְמָה לָכֶם לַחֲטֹא; מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁשָּׁלַח בְּנוֹ לְבֵית הַמִּשְׁתֶּה וְהָיָה יוֹשֵׁב וּמַפְקִידוֹ אַל תֹּאכַל יוֹתֵר מִצָּרְכְּךָ, שֶׁתָּבֹא נָקִי לְבֵיתְךָ, וְלֹא הִשְׁגִּיחַ הַבֵּן הַהוּא, אָכַל וְשָׁתָה יוֹתֵר מִצָּרְכּוֹ, וְהֵקִיא וְטִנֵּף אֶת כָּל בְּנֵי הַמְּסִבָּה, נְטָלוּהוּ בְיָדָיו וּבְרַגְלָיו וּזְרָקוּהוּ אֲחוֹרֵי פַּלְטְרִין (שם):
And you will swiftly be removed. In addition to all the other suffering, I will exile you from the land which caused you to sin. This is compared to a king who sent his son off to a feast, but sat and admonished him, ‘Do not overindulge in eating, so that you may return home in cleanliness.’ The son payed no attention, overindulged in eating and drinking, vomited, and filthied everyone attending the feast. He grasped his hand and foot, and flung him behind the palace.
מהרה. אֵינִי נוֹתֵן לָכֶם אַרְכָּא, וְאִם תֹּאמְרוּ וַהֲלֹא נִתְּנָה אַרְכָּא לְדוֹר הַמַּבּוּל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְהָיוּ יָמָיו מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה (בראשית ו') דּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל לֹא הָיָה לָהֶם מִמִּי לִלְמֹד וְאַתֶּם יֵשׁ לָכֶם מִמִּי לִלְמֹד (ספרי):
Swiftly. I will not allow you any extension. But you may ask, was not an extension granted to the generation of the flood, as it is said, “His days shall be a hundred and twenty years”? The generation of the flood had no one from whom to learn. You, however, have someone from whom to learn.
וְשַׂמְתֶּם אֶת־דְּבָרַי אֵלֶּה עַל־לְבַבְכֶם וְעַֽל־נַפְשְׁכֶם וּקְשַׁרְתֶּם אֹתָם לְאוֹת עַל־יֶדְכֶם וְהָיוּ לְטוֹטָפֹת בֵּין עֵינֵיכֶֽם׃
You are to place these words of Mine on your mind and on your being, and bind them as a sign on your hand and they will be totafos on your head;
You are to place these words of Mine on your mind and on your being, and bind them as a sign on your hand and they will be totafos on your head;
Rashi
ושמתם את דברי. אַף לְאַחַר שֶׁתִּגְלוּ הֱיוּ מְצֻיָּנִים בַּמִּצְווֹת, הַנִּיחוּ תְּפִלִּין, עֲשׂוּ מְזוּזוֹת, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיוּ לָכֶם חֲדָשִׁים כְּשֶׁתַּחְזְרוּ, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (ירמיהו ל"א) הַצִּיבִי לָךְ צִיֻּנִים (ספרי):
You are to place these words of Mine. Even after you are exiled, you must distinguish yourselves by performing mitzvos. Set the tefilin in place, and affix the mezuzos, so that they do not seem novel when you return. Similarly, it is said, “Establish marks of distinction for yourself.”
וְלִמַּדְתֶּם אֹתָם אֶת־בְּנֵיכֶם לְדַבֵּר בָּם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ בְּבֵיתֶךָ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ בַדֶּרֶךְ וּֽבְשׇׁכְבְּךָ וּבְקוּמֶֽךָ׃
And you are to teach them to your sons to speak in them when you sit at home, and when you journey on the road, and when you go to sleep, and when you rise;
And you are to teach them to your sons to speak in them when you sit at home, and when you journey on the road, and when you go to sleep, and when you rise;
Rashi
לדבר בם. מִשָּׁעָה שֶׁהַבֵּן יוֹדֵעַ לְדַבֵּר, לַמְּדֵהוּ "תּוֹרָה צִוָּה לָנוּ מֹשֶׁה" שֶׁיְּהֵא זֶה לִמּוּד דִּבּוּרוֹ; מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ כְּשֶׁהַתִּינוֹק מַתְחִיל לְדַבֵּר אָבִיו מֵשִׂיחַ עִמּוֹ בִּלְשׁוֹן הַקֹּדֶשׁ וּמְלַמְּדוֹ תוֹרָה, וְאִם לֹא עָשָׂה כֵן הֲרֵי הוּא כְאִלּוּ קוֹבְרוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ולמדתם אתם את בניכם לדבר בם וגו'.
To speak in them. From the time that the son is able to speak, teach him “Torah, Moshe commanded us,” so that this develops his speech. From here it is said that, when an infant begins speaking, his father should converse with him in the sacred language, and teach him Torah. If he failed to do this, it is as if he had buried him, for it is said, “Teach them to your sons to speak in them, etc.”
וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל־מְזוּזוֹת בֵּיתֶךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶֽיךָ׃
And you are to write them on the doorposts of your home and your gateways.
And you are to write them on the doorposts of your home and your gateways.
לְמַעַן יִרְבּוּ יְמֵיכֶם וִימֵי בְנֵיכֶם עַל הָֽאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע יְהֹוָה לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶם לָתֵת לָהֶם כִּימֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ*(בספרי תימן הָאָֽרֶץ בצד״י גדולה)׃ {ס}
In order that they will be many—your years and the years of your children on the soil that Adonoy swore to your forefathers to give them, like the years of heaven on earth.
In order that they will be many—your years and the years of your children on the soil that Adonoy swore to your forefathers to give them, like the years of heaven on earth.
Rashi
למען ירבו ימיכם וימי בניכם. אִם עֲשִׂיתֶם כֵּן יִרְבּוּ, וְאִם לָאו לֹא יִרְבּוּ, שֶׁדִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה נִדְרָשִׁין מִכְּלַל לָאו הֵן וּמִכְּלַל הֵן לָאו (ספרי):
In order that they will be many — your years and the years of your children. If you do this, they will be many, but if not, they will not be many, for the Torah’s statements may be expounded so that the negative infers the positive, and the positive infers the negative.
לתת להם. לָתֵת לָכֶם אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא לָתֵת לָהֶם, מִכָּאן מָצִינוּ לְמֵדִים תְּחִיַּת הַמֵּתִים מִן הַתּוֹרָה:
To give them. “To give you” is not written here, but “to give them.” Thus, we discover the derivation of the revival of the dead from the Torah.
לא כארץ מצרים הוא. אֶלָּא טוֹבָה הֵימֶנָּה, וְנֶאֶמְרָה הַבְטָחָה זוֹ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בִּיצִיאָתָם מִמִּצְרַיִם, שֶׁהָיוּ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁמָּא לֹא נָבֹא אֶל אֶרֶץ טוֹבָה וְיָפָה כָּזוֹ. יָכוֹל בִּגְנוּתָהּ הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, וְכָךְ אָמַר לָהֶם לֹא כְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם הִיא אֶלָּא רָעָה הֵימֶנָּה? תַּ"לֹ "וְחֶבְרוֹן שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים נִבְנְתָה לִפְנֵי וְגוֹ'" (במדבר י"ג), אָדָם אֶחָד בְּנָאָן, חָם בָּנָה צֹעַן לְמִצְרַיִם בְּנוֹ, וְחֶבְרוֹן לִכְנַעַן, דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ אָדָם בּוֹנֶה אֶת הַנָּאֶה וְאַחַר כָּךְ בּוֹנֶה אֶת הַגָּרוּעַ, שֶׁפְּסָלְתּוֹ שֶׁל רִאשׁוֹן הוּא נוֹתֵן בַּשֵּׁנִי, וּבְכָל מָקוֹם הֶחָבִיב קוֹדֵם, הָא לָמַדְתָּ שֶׁחֶבְרוֹן יָפָה מִצֹּעַן; וּמִצְרַיִם מְשֻׁבַּחַת מִכָּל הָאֲרָצוֹת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית י"ג) "כְּגַן ה' כְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם", וְצֹעַן שֶׁבַח מִצְרַיִם הִיא שֶׁהִיא מְקוֹם מַלְכוּת, שֶׁכֵּן הוּא אוֹמֵר (ישעיהו ל') "כִּי הָיוּ בְצֹעַן שָׂרָיו", וְחֶבְרוֹן פְּסָלְתָּהּ שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, לְכָךְ הִקְצוּהָ לְקְבוּרַת מֵתִים, וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן הִיא יָפָה מִצֹּעַן. וּבִכְתֻבּוֹת (דף קי"ב) דָּרְשׁוּ בְּעִנְיָן אַחֵר, אֶפְשָׁר אָדָם בּוֹנֶה בַיִת לִבְנוֹ הַקָּטָן וְאַחַר כָּךְ לִבְנוֹ הַגָּדוֹל? אֶלָּא שֶׁמְּבֻנָּה עַל אֶחָד מִשִּׁבְעָה בְּצֹעַן:
Is not like the land of Egypt. But better than it. This assurance was made to the Israelites when they departed from Egypt, when they said, ‘Perhaps we shall never come to a land as good and as beautiful as this.’ But perhaps Scripture speaks derogatorily and this is what he told them: ‘It is not like the land of Egypt, but inferior to it.’ The Torah therefore teaches, “Chevron was built seven years before, etc.” One man built them, Cham built Tzoan for his son Mitzrayim, and Chevron for Canaan. it is customary for a man to build the superior one and afterward build the inferior one, so that what is discarded by the first is relegated to the second. Everywhere, what is cherished takes precedence. Thus you learn that Chevron is superior to Tzoan. Now Mitzrayim is the most praiseworthy of all lands, as it is said, “Like Adonoy’s garden, like the land of Mitzrayim.” And Tzoan was the most praiseworthy in Mitzrayim, for it was the seat of royalty, as it is said, “for his ministers were in Tzoan.” Chevron was most inferior in Eretz Yisroel — that is why it was set aside as a cemetery. Yet, despite this, it was superior to Tzoan. In Kesubos, this is expounded differently. Is it possible that a man would build a home for his younger son, and then for his older son? Rather, it was built up seven times more than Tzoan.