עקב

והיה עקב תשמעון. אִם הַמִּצְווֹת קַלּוֹת שֶׁאָדָם דָּשׁ בַּעֲקֵבָיו תשמעון.

In the future, as a consequence of your heeding. If, even the lesser commandments which a person [sometimes] treads on with his heels, you will heed, [then] —

ושמר ה' וגו'. יִשְׁמֹר לְךָ הַבְטָחָתוֹ (עי' תנחומא):

Adonoy, your God will preserve. . . He will keep his promise to you.

שגר אלפיך. וַלְדֵי בְקָרְךָ שֶׁהַנְּקֵבָה מְשַׁגֶּרֶת מִמֵּעֶיהָ:

The offspring of your cattle. The young of your cattle which the female casts out from her womb.

ועשתרת צאנך. מְנַחֵם פֵּרֵשׁ "אַבִּירֵי בָשָׁן" (תהילים כ"ב) – מִבְחַר הַצֹּאן, כְּמוֹ "בְּעַשְׁתְּרֹת קַרְנַיִם" (בראשית י"ד), לְשׁוֹן חֹזֶק, וְאֻנְקְלוֹס תִּרְגֵּם "וְעֶדְרֵי עָנָךְ". וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ אָמְרוּ לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמָם עַשְׁתָּרוֹת? שֶׁמַּעֲשִׁירוֹת אֶת בַּעֲלֵיהֶן (חולין פ"ד):

And the herds of your sheep. Menachem (ben Seruk) explains that אַבִּירֵי בָּשָׁן (the strong bulls of Bashan) means the choicest of the flock, similar to עַשְׁתְּרֹת קַרְנַיִם, which expresses strength. Onkelos translates it as herds of your sheep. Our Sages said: “Why are they called עַשְׁתָּרֹת ? “Because they enrich their owners.”

עקר. שֶׁאֵינוֹ מוֹלִיד:

A sterile male — who cannot beget children.

כי תאמר בלבבך. עַל כָּרְחֲךָ לְשׁוֹן דִּילְמָא הוּא, שֶׁמָּא תֹאמַר בִּלְבָבְךָ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵם רַבִּים לֹא אוּכַל לְהוֹרִישָׁם, אַל תֹּאמַר כֵּן, לא תירא מהם, וְלֹא יִתָּכֵן לְפָרְשׁוֹ בְּאַחַת מִשְּׁאָר לְשׁוֹנוֹת שֶׁל כִּי שֶׁיִּפֹּל עָלָיו שׁוּב לֹא תִירָא מֵהֶם:

Perhaps you may think to yourself. You must agree that (כִּי) in this context is an expression of perhaps: Perhaps you may think to yourself “Because they are [so] many, I will be unable to dispossess them.” You should not say [think] so. Do not fear them. And it is impossible to explain [the word כִּי ] according to any of the other meanings of כִּי that would fit in with: Do not fear them.

המסת. נִסְיוֹנוֹת:

Tests. מַסֹת means tests.

והאתת. כְּגוֹן וַיְהִי לְנָחָשׁ (שמות ד'), וְהָיוּ לְדָם בַּיַּבָּשֶׁת (שם):

Signs. For example, “And it became a snake,” and “it became blood on the dry land.”

והמפתים. הַמַּכּוֹת הַמֻּפְלָאוֹת:

And the wonders — the wondrous plagues.

והיד החזקה. זוֹ הַדֶּבֶר:

The mighty hand. This refers to the pestilence.

והזרע הנטויה. זוֹ הַחֶרֶב שֶׁל מַכַּת בְּכוֹרוֹת:

And the extended arm. This is a reference to the sword of the plague of (the Egyptian) first born.

הצרעה. מִין שֶׁרֶץ הָעוֹף שֶׁהָיְתָה זוֹרֶקֶת בָּהֶם מָרָה וּמְסָרַסְתָּן וּמְסַמְּאָה אֶת עֵינֵיהֶם בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁהָיוּ נִסְתָּרִין שָׁם (סוטה ל"ו):

The tzir’oh. This a flying insect which injected a poisonous substance into them, and castrated them and blinded them in every place where they would hide.

פן תרבה עליך חית השדה. וַהֲלֹא אִם עוֹשִׂין רְצוֹנוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם אֵין מִתְיָרְאִין מִן הַחַיָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (איוב ה') וְחַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה הָשְׁלְמָה לָּךְ? אֶלָּא גָּלוּי הָיָה לְפָנָיו שֶׁעֲתִידִין לַחֲטֹא:

Lest the wild animals multiply against you. But is it not true that if they do the will of the Omnipresent they would not have to fear the beast, as it is said, “And the wild animals will be at peace with you”? However it was known to Him that they would sin in the future.

והמם. נָקוּד קָמָץ כֻּלּוֹ, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין מ"ם אַחֲרוֹנָה מִן הַיְסוֹד, וַהֲרֵי הוּא כְּמוֹ וְהָם אוֹתָם, אֲבָל "וְהָמַם גִּלְגַּל עֶגְלָתוֹ" (ישעיהו כ"ח) כֻּלּוֹ יְסוֹד, לְפִיכָךְ חֶצְיוֹ קָמָץ וְחֶצְיוֹ פַּתָּח, כִּשְׁאָר פֹּעַל שֶׁל שָׁלוֹשׁ אוֹתִיּוֹת:

And will confuse them. Both syllables of the word הָמָם have a kometz vowel because the last mem is not part of the root. Thus וְהָמָם is the same as וְהָם אוֹתָם [and will confuse them]. However (the word וְהָמַם in the verse,) “And though the roller of his wagon was noisy,” the verb הָמַם consists entirely of root letters; therefore half of it has a kometz (הָ) and half of it has a patach (מַ) like any other verb of three letters.

כל המצוה. כִּפְשׁוּטוֹ; וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה אִם הִתְחַלְתָּ בְּמִצְוָה גְּמֹר אוֹתָהּ, שֶׁאֵינָהּ נִקְרֵאת אֶלָּא עַל שֵׁם הַגּוֹמְרָהּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְאֶת עַצְמוֹת יוֹסֵף אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם קָבְרוּ בִשְׁכֶם" (יהושע כ"ד), וַהֲלֹא מֹשֶׁה לְבַדּוֹ נִתְעַסֵּק בָּהֶם לְהַעֲלוֹתָם? אֶלָּא לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא הִסְפִּיק לְגָמְרָהּ וּגְמָרוּהָ יִשְׂרָאֵל נִקְרֵאת עַל שְׁמָם (תנחומא):

The entire mitzvah. This can be understood in its plain sense. There is also a Midrashic explanation: If you began to fulfill a mitzvah, complete it; for the mitzvah carries the name only [it is only accredited] of the one who completes it, as it is said, “And the bones of Yoseif which Bnei Yisroel brought up from Egypt they buried in Shechem.” Now, didn’t Moshe himself attend to them [the bones] to bring them [up from Egypt]? However, since he had no opportunity to complete it, and Bnei Yisroel did complete it, it is called by their name.

התשמר מצותו. שֶׁלֹּא תְנַסֵּהוּ וְלֹא תְהַרְהֵר אַחֲרָיו:

Will you guard His mitzvos — not to test Him and not to be critical of Him.

שמלתך לא בלתה. עַנְנֵי כָבוֹד הָיוּ שָׁפִים בִּכְסוּתָם וּמְגַהֲצִים אוֹתָם כְּמִין כֵּלִים מְגֹהָצִים, וְאַף קְטַנֵּיהֶם כְּמוֹ שֶׁהָיוּ גְדֵלִים הָיָה גָּדֵל לְבוּשָׁן עִמָּהֶם, כַּלְּבוּשׁ הַזֶּה שֶׁל חֹמֶט שֶׁגָּדֵל עִמּוֹ (עי' ילקוט שמעוני תת"ן):

Your garment did not wear out on you. The clouds of Divine Glory rubbed the grime off their clothes and pressed them like pressed garments; and their children too, as they grew, their clothes grew with them, similar to the covering (shell) of a snail which grows with it.

לא בצקה. לֹא נָפְחָה כְּבָצֵק, כְּדֶרֶךְ הוֹלְכֵי יָחֵף שֶׁרַגְלֵיהֶם נְפוּחוֹת:

Nor did . . . swell. It did not blow up like dough (בָּצֵק). This usually happens to those who walk barefoot, that their feet become swollen.

זית שמן. זֵיתִים הָעוֹשִׂים שֶׁמֶן:

זֵית שֶׁמֶן — (literally, the olive of oil). Its meaning is, olives that produce oil.

גדלים ועצמים ממך. אַתָּה עָצוּם וְהֵם עֲצוּמִים מִמְּךָ (ספרי דברים י"א):

Greater and more powerful than you. You are powerful but they are even more powerful than you.

אל תאמר בלבבך. צִדְקָתִי וְרִשְׁעַת הַגּוֹיִם גָּרְמוּ:

Do not say in your heart: My righteousness and the wickedness of the nations was the cause [of my inheriting the land.]

לא בצדקתך, אתה בא לרשת, כי ברשעת הגוים. הֲרֵי כִּי מְשַׁמֵּשׁ בִּלְשׁוֹן אֶלָּא:

Not because of your righteousness — are you coming to inherit — but because of the wickedness, etc. Here the word כִּי means “but.”

ואשב בהר. אֵין יְשִׁיבָה אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן עַכָּבָה (מגילה כ"א):

I remained on the mountain: In this sense, the word יְשִׁיבָה (וְאֵשֵׁב) means remaining.

לוחת. לוחת כְּתִיב שֶׁשְּׁתֵיהֶן שָׁווֹת (תנחומא):

Tablets The word is written as לוּחַת (a singular form) [without a ו -vov before the ת - tof] to imply that they were both alike.

ואתנפל לפני ה' כראשנה ארבעים יום. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות ל"ב) וְעַתָּה אֶעֱלֶה אֶל ה' אוּלַי אֲכַפְּרָה, בְּאוֹתָהּ עֲלִיָּה נִתְעַכַּבְתִּי אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם, נִמְצְאוּ כָלִים בְּכ"ט בְּאָב, שֶׁהוּא עָלָה בִּשְׁמוֹנָה עָשָׂר בְּתַמּוּז, בּוֹ בַיּוֹם נִתְרַצָּה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַר לוֹ לְמֹשֶׁה פְּסָל לְךָ שְׁנֵי לֻחוֹת (שם ל"ד) עָשָׂה עוֹד אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם, נִמְצְאוּ כָלִים בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים, בּוֹ בַיּוֹם נִתְרַצָּה הַקָּבָּ"ה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּשִׂמְחָה וְאָמַר לוֹ לְמֹשֶׁה סָלַחְתִּי כִּדְבָרֶךָ (במדבר י"ד), לְכָךְ הֻקְבַּע לִמְחִילָה וְלִסְלִיחָה, וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁנִּתְרַצָּה בְרָצוֹן שָׁלֵם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בָּאַרְבָּעִים שֶׁל לוּחוֹת אַחֲרוֹנוֹת (דברים י') וְאָנֹכִי עָמַדְתִּי בָהָר כַּיָּמִים הָרִאשֹׁנִים, מַה הָרִאשׁוֹנִים בְּרָצוֹן אַף הָאַחֲרוֹנִים בְּרָצוֹן, אֱמֹר מֵעַתָּה אֶמְצָעִיִּים הָיוּ בְּכַעַס:

I prostrated myself before God as before, forty days [and forty nights]. As it is said, “I will now ascend to Adonoy, perhaps I will gain atonement for your sin.” During that ascension, I remained for forty days — hence, they came to a close on the twenty-ninth of Av, as he ascended on the eighteenth of Tammuz. That day, God granted the Israelites favor and said to Moshe, “Carve two stones for yourself,” and he remained for an additional forty days — hence, they came to a close on Yom Kippur. That day, the Holy One, may He be blessed, granted favor to the Israelites joyfully, and said to Moshe, ‘I have forgiven, just as you spoke.’ This is why it was designated for atonement and forgiveness. From where is it derived that He granted complete favor? For it is said concerning the forty days of the last tablets, “I remained on the mountain just as during the first days.” Just as the first were with favor, so were the last with favor. You may thus say that the interim days were with anger.

ובאהרן התאנף ה'. לְפִי שֶׁשָּׁמַע לָכֶם:

And at Aharon, Adonoy grew very angry. Because he listened to you.

להשמידו. זֶה כִלּוּי בָּנִים, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (עמוס ב') וָאַשְׁמִיד פִּרְיוֹ מִמַּעַל:

To destroy him. This refers to the death of children. Similarly, it is said, “I shall destroy his fruit from above.”

ואתפלל גם בעד אהרן. וְהוֹעִילָה תְפִלָּתִי לְכַפֵּר מֶחֱצָה, וּמֵתוּ שְׁנַיִם וְנִשְׁאֲרוּ הַשְּׁנַיִם:

I also prayed for Aharon. My prayer was effective in atoning for half. Two died, and two were spared.

טחון. לְשׁוֹן הוֹוֶה, כְּמוֹ הָלוֹךְ וְכַלּוֹת, מולא"נט בְּלַעַז:

Grinding. This is the present tense, like “going,” “longing.” Molant in Old French.

ואתנפל וגו'. אֵלּוּ הֵן עַצְמָם הָאֲמוּרִים לְמַעְלָה, וּכְפָלָן כָּאן, לְפִי שֶׁכָּתוּב כָּאן סֵדֶר תְּפִלָּתוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ה' אלהים אל תשחת עמך וגו':

I prostrated myself, etc. These are the very days mentioned above. They are repeated here because Scripture here records the pattern of his prayer, as it is said, “Adonoy God, do not destroy your people, etc.”

בעת ההוא. לְסוֹף אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם נִתְרַצָּה לִי וְאָמַר לִי פסל לך, וְאַחַר כָּךְ ועשית לך ארון, וַאֲנִי עָשִׂיתִי אָרוֹן תְּחִלָּה, שֶׁכְּשֶׁאָבֹא וְהַלּוּחוֹת בְּיָדִי הֵיכָן אֶתְּנֵם? וְלֹא זֶה הוּא הָאָרוֹן שֶׁעָשָׂה בְצַלְאֵל, שֶׁהֲרֵי מִשְׁכָּן לֹא נִתְעַסְּקוּ בוֹ עַד לְאַחַר יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים, כִּי בְּרִדְתּוֹ מִן הָהָר צִוָּה לָהֶם עַל מְלֶאכֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן, וּבְצַלְאֵל עָשָׂה מִשְׁכָּן תְּחִלָּה וְאַחַר כָּךְ אָרוֹן וְכֵלִים, נִמְצָא זֶה אָרוֹן אַחֵר הָיָה, וְזֶהוּ שֶׁהָיָה יוֹצֵא עִמָּהֶם לַמִּלְחָמָה, וְאוֹתוֹ שֶׁעָשָׂה בְצַלְאֵל לֹא יָצָא לַמִּלְחָמָה, אֶלָּא בִּימֵי עֵלִי, וְנֶעֶנְשׁוּ עָלָיו וְנִשְׁבָּה (תלמוד ירושלמי שקלים ו):

At that time. At the end of forty days, He granted me favor, and said, “Carve for yourself,” and, afterward, “Make for yourself an ark.” However, I made the ark first, for, when I arrive with the tablets in hand, where shall I place them? Now this is not the ark which Betzalel made, for they were not engaged with the Tabernacle until after Yom Kippur, since, it was only when he descended from the mountain that he instructed them concerning the construction of the Tabernacle. And Betzalel made the Tabernacle first, and afterward the ark and the vessels. Hence, this was a different ark; this one went with them when they waged war, while the one Betzalel made did not go to war, except in Eli’s time, when they were punished over it, and it was captured.

ובני ישראל נסעו מבארת בני יעקן מוסרה. מָה עִנְיָן זֶה לְכָאן? וְעוֹד, וְכִי מִבְּאֵרוֹת בְּנֵי יַעֲקָן נָסְעוּ לְמוֹסֵרָה, וַהֲלֹא מִמּוֹסֵרָה בָּאוּ לִבְנֵי יַעֲקָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וַיִּסְעוּ מִמֹּסֵרוֹת וְגוֹ'" (במדבר ל"ג), וְעוֹד, שָׁם מֵת אַהֲרֹן, וַהֲלֹא בְּהֹר הָהָר מֵת, צֵא וַחֲשֹׁב וְתִמְצָא שְׁמוֹנָה מַסָּעוֹת מִמּוֹסֵרוֹת לְהֹר הָהָר? אֶלָּא אַף זוֹ מִן הַתּוֹכֵחָה, וְעוֹד זֹאת עֲשִׂיתֶם, כְּשֶׁמֵּת אַהֲרֹן בְּהֹר הָהָר לְסוֹף אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה וְנִסְתַּלְּקוּ עַנְנֵי כָבוֹד, יְרֵאתֶם לָכֶם מִמִּלְחֶמֶת מֶלֶךְ עֲרָד, וּנְתַתֶּם רֹאשׁ לַחֲזֹר לְמִצְרַיִם וַחֲזַרְתֶּם לַאֲחוֹרֵיכֶם שְׁמוֹנָה מַסָּעוֹת עַד בְּנֵי יַעֲקָן, וּמִשָּׁם לְמוֹסֵרָה, שָׁם נִלְחֲמוּ בָּכֶם בְּנֵי לֵוִי וְהָרְגוּ מִכֶּם וְאַתֶּם מֵהֶם, עַד שֶׁהֶחֱזִירוּ אֶתְכֶם בְּדֶרֶךְ חֲזָרַתְכֶם, וּמִשָּׁם חֲזַרְתֶּם הַגֻּדְגֹּדָה הוּא חֹר הַגִּדְגָּד.

Bnei Yisroel travelled from Be’eiros Bnei Ya’akon to Moseiroh. Why is this relevant here? Furthermore, was it from Be’eiros Bnei Ya’akon that they travelled to Moseiroh? Was it not, rather, from Moseiroh that they came to Bnei Ya’akon, as it is said, “They travelled from Moseiros, etc.”? Also, “There Aharon died”? Was it not at Mount Hor that he died? Make a reckoning, and you will discover that there were eight journeys from Moseiros to Mount Hor. But, rather, this, too, is part of the reprimand. ‘In addition, you perpetrated this; When Aharon died at Mount Hor at the end of forty years, and the clouds of glory departed, you were afraid of war with the king of Arad, so you decided to return to Egypt. You turned back eight journeys, until Bnei Ya’akon, and from there to Moseiroh. There, the Levites fought with you. They killed some of you, and you some of them, until they brought you back along the route of your retreat. From there you returned to Goodgode, which is Chor Hagidgad.

ומן הגדגדה וגו'. וּבְמוֹסֵרָה עֲשִׂיתֶם אֵבֶל כָּבֵד עַל מִיתָתוֹ שֶׁל אַהֲרֹן שֶׁגָּרְמָה לָכֶם זֹאת, וְנִדְמָה לָכֶם כְּאִלּוּ מֵת שָׁם (תלמוד ירושלמי סוטה א'; מכילתא שמות ט"ו; תנחומא חקת); וְסָמַךְ מֹשֶׁה תּוֹכֵחָה זוֹ לְשִׁבּוּר הַלּוּחוֹת לוֹמַר שֶׁקָּשָׁה מִיתָתָן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים לִפְנֵי הַקָּבָּ"ה כַּיּוֹם שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּבְּרוּ בוֹ הַלּוּחוֹת, וּלְהוֹדִיעֲךָ שֶׁהֻקְשָׁה לוֹ מַה שֶּׁאָמְרוּ "נִתְּנָה רֹאשׁ" (במדבר י"ד) לִפְרֹשׁ מִמֶּנּוּ – כַּיּוֹם שֶׁעָשׂוּ בוֹ אֶת הָעֵגֶל (ויקרא רבה כ'):

And from Goodgode, etc. At Moseiroh, you expressed deep grief over the death of Aharon, which brought this upon you, so that it seemed to you as if he had died there. Moshe juxtaposed this reprimand with the shattering of the tablets to teach that the death of the righteous is as disagreeable before God, as the day when the tablets were shattered. Also, to inform you that He was as disturbed when they exclaimed, “Let us choose a leader” in order to turn away from Him as on the day that they made the [golden] calf.

בעת ההוא הבדיל ה' וגו'. מוּסָב לָעִנְיָן הָרִאשׁוֹן:

At that time, Adonoy separated, etc. This refers to the original subject.

בעת ההוא, בַּשָּׁנָה הָרִאשׁוֹנָה לְצֵאתְכֶם מִמִּצְרַיִם, וּטְעִיתֶם בָּעֵגֶל וּבְנֵי לֵוִי לֹא טָעוּ, הִבְדִּילָם הַמָּקוֹם מִכֶּם; וְסָמַךְ מִקְרָא זֶה לַחֲזָרַת בְּנֵי יַעֲקָן לוֹמַר שֶׁאַף בְּזוֹ לֹא טָעוּ בָהּ בְּנֵי לֵוִי אֶלָּא עָמְדוּ בֶּאֱמוּנָתָם:

At that time. During the first year of your departure from Egypt, when you transgressed with the calf, and the Levites did not transgress, the Omnipresent separated them from you. This passage is juxtaposed with the retreat to Bnei Ya’akon to teach that, here as well, the Levites did not transgress, but remained steadfast in their faith.

לשאת את ארון. הַלְוִיִם:

To carry the ark. The Levites.

לעמד לפני ה' לשרתו ולברך בשמו. הַכֹּהֲנִים, וְהוּא נְשִׂיאַת כַּפַּיִם (ערכין י"א):

To stand before Adonoy to serve Him, and to bless in his Name. The kohanim. This refers to the lifting of the hands.

על כן לא היה ללוי חלק. לְפִי שֶׁהֻבְדְּלוּ לַעֲבוֹדַת מִזְבֵּחַ וְאֵינָן פְּנוּיִין לַחֲרֹשׁ וְלִזְרֹעַ:

This is why Levi had no share. Because they were separated for service at the altar, and do not have the opportunity for plowing and planting.

ה' הוא נחלתו. נוֹטֵל פְּרָס מְזֻמָּן מִבֵּית הַמֶּלֶךְ:

Adonoy is his heritage. He receives his allotted portion provided readily from the palace of the King.

ואנכי עמדתי בהר. לְקַבֵּל הַלּוּחוֹת הָאַחֲרוֹנוֹת, וּלְפִי שֶׁלֹּא פֵּרֵשׁ לְמַעְלָה כַּמָּה עָמַד בָּהָר בַּעֲלִיָּה אַחֲרוֹנָה זוֹ, חָזַר וְהִתְחִיל בָּהּ:

And I remained on the mountain. To receive the last tablets. Because he did not specify above how long he remained on the mountain during this final ascent, he returns now and begins anew.

כימים הראשנים. שֶׁל לוּחוֹת הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת, מַה הֵם בְּרָצוֹן אַף אֵלּוּ בְּרָצוֹן, אֲבָל הָאֶמְצָעִיִּים שֶׁעָמַדְתִּי שָׁם לְהִתְפַּלֵּל עֲלֵיכֶם הָיוּ בְכַעַס:

Like the first time. With the first tablets. Just as they were with favor, so were these with favor. However, the intermediate ones, when I remained there to pray for you, were with anger.

ויאמר ה' אלי וגו'. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁסַּרְתֶּם מֵאַחֲרָיו וּטְעִיתֶם בָּעֵגֶל, אָמַר לִי לֵךְ נְחֵה אֶת הָעָם (שמות ל"ב):

And Adonoy said to me. Although you turned away from Him and sinned with the calf, He said to me, “Go, lead the people.”

ועתה ישראל. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעֲשִׂיתֶם כָּל זֹאת, עוֹדֶנּוּ רַחֲמָיו וְחִבָּתוֹ עֲלֵיכֶם, וּמִכָּל מַה שֶּׁחֲטָאתֶם לְפָנָיו אֵינוֹ שׁוֹאֵל מִכֶּם כי אם ליראה וגו':

And now, Yisroel. Although you have perpetrated all this, He is still compassionate and affectionate toward you, so that, despite all your transgressions before Him, He requires nothing of you ‘. . . other than to fear, etc.’

כי אם ליראה וגו'. וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ דָּרְשׁוּ מִכָּאן הַכֹּל בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם חוּץ מִיִּרְאַת שָׁמַיִם (ברכות ל"ג):

Other than to fear, etc. The Rabbis extrapolate from here: All things are in the hands of Heaven, aside from the fear of Heaven.

לשמר את מצות ה'. וְאַף הִיא לֹא לְחִנָּם, אֶלָּא לטוב לך שֶׁתְּקַבְּלוּ שָׂכָר:

To keep Adonoy’s commandments. And this is also not for naught, but ‘for your benefit’ — so that you may be rewarded.

הן לה' אלהיך. הַכֹּל, וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן, רק באבתיך חשק ה'. מִן הַכֹּל:

Look! to Adonoy your God. All things. Even so, Only your forefathers did Adonoy desire. Above all things.

בכם. כְּמוֹ שֶׁאַתֶּם רוֹאִים אֶתְכֶם חֲשׁוּקִים מכל העמים היום הזה:

You. Just as you see yourselves, desired above all nations, like this day.

ערלת לבבכם. אֹטֶם לְבַבְכֶם וְכִסּוּיוֹ:

Your heart’s blockage. Your heart’s obstruction — its covering.

ואדני האדנים. לֹא יוּכַל שׁוּם אָדוֹן לְהַצִּיל אֶתְכֶם מִיָּדוֹ:

And Lord over lords. No lord is capable of rescuing you from His hand.

לא ישא פנים. אִם תִּפְרְקוּ עֻלּוֹ:

Who neither exercises favoritism. If you cast off His yoke.

ולא יקח שחד. לְפַיְּסוֹ בְּמָמוֹן:

Nor accepts bribes. To appease him with monetary gifts.

עשה משפט יתום ואלמנה. הֲרֵי גְּבוּרָה, וְאֵצֶל גְּבוּרָתוֹ אַתָּה מוֹצֵא עַנְוְתָנוּתוֹ (מגילה ל"א):

Who performs justice for orphan and widow. This expresses power. Adjacent to His power, you find His humility.

ואהב גר לתת לו לחם ושמלה. וְדָבָר חָשׁוּב הוּא זֶה, שֶׁכָּל עַצְמוֹ שֶׁל יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ עַל זֶה נִתְפַּלֵּל (בראשית כ"ח) וְנָתַן לִי לֶחֶם לֶאֱכֹל וּבֶגֶד לִלְבֹּשׁ (בראשית רבה ע'):

And loves the convert to give him bread and a garment. This is a significant matter, as Ya’akov devoted himself totally to praying for this, “. . .and gives me bread to eat and clothing to wear.”

כי גרים הייתם. מוּם שֶׁבְּךָ אַל תֹּאמַר לַחֲבֵרְךָ (בבא מציעא נ"ט):

Because you were strangers. With your own blemish do not taunt your fellow.

את ה' אלהיך תירא. וְתַעֲבֹד לוֹ וְתִדְבַּק בּוֹ, וּלְאַחַר שֶׁיִּהְיוּ בְךָ כָּל הַמִּדּוֹת הַלָּלוּ, אָז בִּשְׁמוֹ תִּשָּׁבֵעַ:

Fear Adonoy your God. And serve Him, and cling to Him. After having acquired all of these attributes, then ‘swear in His Name.’

וידעתם היום. תְּנוּ לֵב לָדַעַת וּלְהָבִין ולְקַבֵּל תּוֹכַחְתִּי:

Know today. Pay close attention, so that you know and understand, and accept my reprimand.

כי לא את בניכם. אֲנִי מְדַבֵּר עַכְשָׁו, שֶׁיּוּכְלוּ לוֹמַר אָנוּ לֹא יָדַעְנוּ וְלֹא רָאִינוּ בְּכָל זֶה:

For it is not with your children. That I now speak, who might say, ‘We do not know, nor have we seen, all this.’

בקרב כל ישראל. כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁהָיָה אֶחָד מֵהֶם בּוֹרֵחַ הָאָרֶץ נִבְקַעַת מִתַּחְתָּיו וּבוֹלַעְתּוֹ, אֵלּוּ דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יְהוּדָה, אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה וַהֲלֹא כְבָר נֶאֱמַר (במדבר ט"ז) וַתִּפְתַּח הָאָרֶץ אֶת פִּיהָ – וְלֹא פִּיּוֹתֶיהָ. אָמַר לוֹ וּמָה אֲנִי מְקַיֵּם בקרב כל ישראל? אָמַר לוֹ שֶׁנַּעֲשֵׂית הָאָרֶץ מִדְרוֹן כְּמַשְׁפֵּךְ, וְכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁהָיָה אֶחָד מֵהֶם הָיָה מִתְגַּלְגֵּל וּבָא עַד מְקוֹם הַבְּקִיעָה (עי' ילקוט שמעוני תשנ"ב):

Amid all of Yisroel. Wherever any of them fled, the earth split and swallowed him up. These are R’ Yehudah’s remarks. R’ Nechemiah said to him, ‘But is it not already stated, “The earth opened its mouth” — not “its mouths”?’ He said, ‘Then how am I to sustain “amid all of Yisroel”’? He replied, ‘The ground sloped, funnel-like, so that wherever one of them was, he rolled into the abyss.

ואת כל היקום אשר ברגליהם. זֶה מָמוֹנוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם שֶׁמַּעֲמִידוֹ עַל רַגְלָיו (סנהדרין ק"י):

And all the sustenance at their feet. This refers to a man’s wealth, which establishes him on his feet.

כי עיניכם הראת. מֻסָּב עַל הַמִּקְרָא הָאָמוּר לְמַעְלָה – כִּי לֹא אֶת בְּנֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר לֹא יָדְעוּ כִּי אִם עִמָּכֶם אֲשֶׁר עֵינֵיכֶם הָרֹאֹת וְגוֹ':

But rather your eyes have witnessed. This completes the passage stated above, ‘For it is not with your children who have not known, etc., but rather with you, whose eyes have witnessed, etc.’

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.”

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.

שמר תשמרון. אַזְהָרַת שְׁמִירוֹת הַרְבֵּה, לְהִזָּהֵר בְּתַלְמוּדוֹ שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁתַּכַּח (שם):

You truly guard. This admonishment includes many warnings. One must be diligent in learning, so that it will not be forgotten.

ללכת בכל דרכיו. הוּא רַחוּם וְאַתָּה תְּהֵא רַחוּם, הוּא גּוֹמֵל חֲסָדִים וְאַתָּה גּוֹמֵל חֲסָדִים (שם):

To walk in all His ways. He is merciful — you should be merciful. He acts kindly — you should act kindly.

ולדבקה בו. אֶפְשָׁר לוֹמַר כֵּן? וַהֲלֹא אֵשׁ אוֹכְלָה הוּא? אֶלָּא הִדַּבֵּק בַּתַּלְמִידִים וּבַחֲכָמִים וּמַעֲלֶה אֲנִי עָלֶיךָ כְּאִלּוּ נִדְבַּקְתָּ בּוֹ (ספרי):

And to cling to Him. Is it possible to say this? Is He not a consuming fire? Rather, cling to the disciples and the sages, and I will credit you as if you had clung to Him.

והוריש ה'. עֲשִׂיתֶם מַה שֶּׁעֲלֵיכֶם, אַף אֲנִי אֶעֱשֶׂה מַה שֶּׁעָלַי (שם):

Adonoy will expel. You have fulfilled your obligations — I, too, shall fulfill my obligation.

ועצמים מכם. אַתֶּם גִּבּוֹרִים, וְהֵם גִּבּוֹרִים מִכֶּם, שֶׁאִם לֹא שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל גִּבּוֹרִים מַה הַשֶּׁבַח הַהוּא שֶׁמְּשַׁבֵּחַ אֶת הָאֱמוֹרִיִּים לוֹמַר וַעֲצוּמִים מִכֶּם? אֶלָּא אַתֶּם גִּבּוֹרִים מִשְּׁאָר הָאֻמּוֹת, וְהֵם גִּבּוֹרִים מִכֶּם (ע' שם):

And more powerful than you. You are powerful, but they are more powerful than you. For, if the Israelites are not powerful, what kind of praise is it by which He extols the Emorites by saying that they are more powerful than you? But rather, you are more powerful than the other nations, and they are more powerful than you.

לא יתיצב איש וגו'. אֵין לִי אֶלָּא אִישׁ, אֻמָּה וּמִשְׁפָּחָה וְאִשָּׁה בִּכְשָׁפֶיהָ מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר "לֹא יִתְיַצֵּב" מִכָּל מָקוֹם, אִם כֵּן מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר "אִישׁ"? אֲפִלּוּ כְעוֹג מֶלֶךְ הַבָּשָׁן (שם):

No man will stand up, etc. I only know a man. A nation, family, or sorceress with her witchcraft — how is this derived? The Torah therefore teaches, “there will not stand up” — in any case. If so, why does the Torah teach “a man”? Even one like Og, king of Bashan.

פחדכם ומוראכם. וַהֲלֹא פַּחַד הוּא מוֹרָא? אֶלָּא פַּחְדְּכֶם עַל הַקְּרוֹבִים וּמוֹרַאֲכֶם עַל הָרְחוֹקִים; פַּחַד לְשׁוֹן בְּעִיתַת פִּתְאֹם, מוֹרָא לְשׁוֹן דְּאָגָה מִיָּמִים רַבִּים:

Fear of you and awe of you. But are not fear and awe the same? Evidently, “fear of you” refers to those nearby, and “awe of you” to those distant. “Fear” denotes sudden fright, ”awe” denotes long term dread.

כאשר דבר לכם. וְהֵיכָן דִּבֵּר? (שמות כ"ג) אֶת אֵימָתִי אֲשַׁלַּח לְפָנֶיךָ וְגוֹ' (ספרי שם):

As he promised you. Where did He promise? “I shall send My fear before you.”