Devarim (Deuteronomy) Chapter 1

1These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel on that side of the Jordan in the desert, in the plain opposite the Red Sea, between Paran and Tofel and Lavan and Hazeroth and Di Zahav.   אאֵ֣לֶּה הַדְּבָרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֤ר משֶׁה֙ אֶל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בְּעֵ֖בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן בַּמִּדְבָּ֡ר בָּֽעֲרָבָה֩ מ֨וֹל ס֜וּף בֵּֽין־פָּארָ֧ן וּבֵֽין־תֹּ֛פֶל וְלָבָ֥ן וַֽחֲצֵרֹ֖ת וְדִ֥י זָהָֽב:
These are the words Since these are words of rebuke and he [Moses] enumerates here all the places where they angered the Omnipresent, therefore it makes no explicit mention of the incidents [in which they transgressed], but rather merely alludes to them, [by mentioning the names of the places] out of respect for Israel (cf. Sifrei).   אֵלֶּה הַדְּבָרִים  לְפִי שֶׁהֵן דִּבְרֵי תוֹכָחוֹת וּמָנָה כָאן כָּל הַמְּקוֹמוֹת שֶׁהִכְעִיסוּ לִפְנֵי הַמָּקוֹם בָּהֶן, לְפִיכָךְ סָתַם אֶת הַדְּבָרִים וְהִזְכִּירָם בְּרֶמֶז מִפְּנֵי כְבוֹדָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל (עי' ספרי):
to all Israel If he had rebuked only some of them, those who were in the marketplace [i.e., absent] might have said, “You heard from [Moses] the son of Amram, and did not answer a single word regarding this and that; had we been there, we would have answered him!” Therefore, he assembled all of them, and said to them, “See, you are all here; if anyone has an answer, let him answer!” - [from Sifrei]   אֶל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל  אִלּוּ הוֹכִיחַ מִקְצָתָן, הָיוּ אֵלּוּ שֶׁבַּשּׁוּק אוֹמְרִים אַתֶּם הֱיִיתֶם שׁוֹמְעִים מִבֶּן עַמְרָם וְלֹא הֲשִׁיבוֹתֶם דָּבָר מִכָּךְ וְכָךְ? אִלּוּ הָיִינוּ שָׁם הָיִינוּ מְשִׁיבִים אוֹתוֹ, לְכָךְ כִּנְּסָם כֻּלָּם וְאָמַר לָהֶם הֲרֵי כֻּלְּכֶם כָּאן, כָּל מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ תְשׁוּבָה יָשִׁיב (ספרי):
in the desert [At that time] they were not in the desert, but in the plains of Moab. [Accordingly,] what is [the meaning of] בַּמִּדְבָּר, in the desert? It means that he rebuked them for their having angered Him in the desert by saying, “If only we had died [by the hand of God]” (Exod. 16:3).   בַּמִּדְבָּר  לֹא בַמִּדְבָּר הָיוּ אֶלָּא בְּעַרְבוֹת מוֹאָב, וּמַהוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר? אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל מַה שֶּׁהִכְעִיסוּהוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר שֶׁאָמְרוּ (שמות ט"ז) "מִי יִתֵּן מוּתֵנוּ וְגוֹ'":
in the plain in the plain [He rebuked them] regarding the plain, for they had sinned with [the worship of] Baal-Peor at Shittim in the plains of Moab (Num. 25:1-9). [from Sifrei]   בָּֽעֲרָבָה  בִּשְׁבִיל הָעֲרָבָה, שֶׁחָטְאוּ בְּבַעַל פְּעוֹר בְּשִּׁטִּים בְּעַרְבוֹת מוֹאָב:
opposite the Red Sea [He rebuked] them regarding their rebellion at the Red Sea. When they arrived at the Red Sea, they said, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt [that you have taken us to die in the desert?]” (Exod. 14:11) Likewise, [they sinned] when they traveled from the midst of the sea, as it is said, “and they were rebellious by the sea, by the Red Sea” (Ps. 106:7), as is found in Arachin (15a).   מוֹל סוּף  עַל מַה שֶּׁהִמְרוּ בְיַם סוּף בְּבוֹאָם לְיַם סוּף, שֶׁאָמְרוּ (שם י"ד) "הֲמִבְּלִי אֵין קְבָרִים בְּמִצְרַיִם", וְכֵן בְּנָסְעָם מִתּוֹךְ הַיָּם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהילים ק"ו) "וַיַּמְרוּ עַל יָם בְּיַם סוּף" כִּדְאִיתָא בַּעֲרָכִין (דף ט"ו):
Between Paran and Tofel and Lavan Rabbi Yochanan said: We have reviewed the entire Bible, but we have found no place named Tofel or Lavan! However, [the explanation is that] he rebuked them because of the foolish things they had said (תָּפְלוּ) about the manna, which was white (לָבָן), saying “And our soul loathes this light bread” (Num. 21:5), and because of what they had done in the desert of Paran through the spies. [from Eileh Hadevarim Rabbah, Lieberman]   בֵּֽין־פָּארָן וּבֵֽין־תֹּפֶל וְלָבָן  אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן חָזַרְנוּ עַל כָּל הַמִּקְרָא וְלֹא מָצִינוּ מָקוֹם שֶׁשְּׁמוֹ תֹּפֶל וְלָבָן, אֶלָּא הוֹכִיחָן עַל הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁתָּפְלוּ עַל הַמָּן, שֶׁהוּא לָבָן, שֶׁאָמְרוּ (במדבר כ"א) "וְנַפְשֵׁנוּ קָצָה בַּלֶּחֶם הַקְּלֹקֵל", וְעַל מַה שֶּׁעָשׂוּ בְמִדְבַּר פָּארָן עַל יְדֵי הַמְרַגְּלִים:
and Hazeroth Concerning the insurrection of Korach [which took place in Hazeroth] (Eileh Hadevarim Rabbah , Lieberman). Another explanation: He said to them, “You should have learned from what I did to Miriam at Hazeroth because of slander; [nevertheless,] you spoke against the Omnipresent” (Sifrei).   וַֽחֲצֵרֹת  בְּמַחְלָקְתּוֹ שֶׁל קֹרַח; דָּבָר אַחֵר אָמַר לָהֶם הָיָה לָכֶם לִלְמֹד מִמַּה שֶּׁעָשִׂיתִי לְמִרְיָם בַּחֲצֵרוֹת בִּשְׁבִיל לָשׁוֹן הָרָע, וְאַתֶּם נִדְבַּרְתֶּם בַּמָּקוֹם:
and Di-Zahav (lit., enough gold). He rebuked them for the calf they had made as a result of their abundance of gold, as it is said: “and I gave her much silver and gold, but they made it for Baal” (Hosea 2:10). (cf. Sifrei ; Ber. 32a, Eileh Hadevarim Rabbah , Lieberman).   וְדִי זָהָֽב  הוֹכִיחָן עַל הָעֵגֶל שֶׁעָשׂוּ בִּשְׁבִיל רֹב זָהָב שֶׁהָיָה לָהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (הושע ב') "וְכֶסֶף הִרְבֵּיתִי לָהּ וְזָהָב עָשׂוּ לַבָּעַל" (עי' ספרי; ברכות ל"ב):
2"It is eleven days' journey from Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea."   באַחַ֨ד עָשָׂ֥ר יוֹם֙ מֵֽחֹרֵ֔ב דֶּ֖רֶךְ הַר־שֵׂעִ֑יר עַ֖ד קָדֵ֥שׁ בַּרְנֵֽעַ:
It is eleven days journey from Horeb Moses said to them: “See what you caused! There is no shorter route from Horeb to Kadesh-Barnea than the way through Mount Seir, and even that is a journey of eleven days. But you traversed it in three days!” For they traveled from Horeb on the twentieth of lyar, as it is said, “And it came to pass in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth of the month [… the children of Israel traveled…]” (Num. 10:11-12). And on the twenty-ninth of Sivan, they sent out the spies from Kadesh Barnea, (an interval of 40 days; cf. Ta’anith 29a). Subtract from them the thirty days they spent at Kivroth Hataavah (Num. 11:34), where they ate the meat a “month of days,” and the seven days they spent at Hazeroth for Miriam to be confined [as a mezora’ath] (Num. 12:15); we find therefore, that this entire journey [from Horeb to Kadesh-Barnea] took [only] three days. And to such an extent did the Shechinah exert itself to hasten your arrival to the land of Canaan, but because you sinned, He made you travel around Mount Seir for forty years. [from Sifrei]   אַחַד עָשָׂר יוֹם מֵֽחֹרֵב  אָמַר לָהֶם מֹשֶׁה רְאוּ מַה גְּרַמְתֶּם אֵין לָכֶם דֶּרֶךְ קְצָרָה מֵחוֹרֵב לְקָדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ כְּדֶרֶךְ הַר שֵׂעִיר, וְאַף הוּא מַהֲלַךְ י"א יוֹם, וְאַתֶּם הֲלַכְתֶּם אוֹתָהּ בִּשְׁלֹוֹשָׁה יָמִים – שֶׁהֲרֵי בְּעֶשְׂרִים בְּאִיָּר נָסְעוּ מֵחוֹרֵב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר י') "וַיְהִי בַּשָּׁנָה הַשֵּׁנִית בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי בְּעֶשְׂרִים בַּחֹדֶשׁ וְגוֹ'", וּבְכ"ט בְּסִיוָן שָׁלְחוּ אֶת הַמְרַגְּלִים מִקָּדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ (תענית כ"ט), צֵא מֵהֶם ל' יוֹם שֶׁעָשׂוּ בְּקִבְרוֹת הַתַּאֲוָה שֶׁאָכְלוּ הַבָּשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ יָמִים, וְשִׁבְעָה יָמִים שֶׁעָשׂוּ בַחֲצֵרוֹת לְהִסָּגֵר שָׁם מִרְיָם, נִמְצָא בִשְׁלוֹשָׁה יָמִים הָלְכוּ כָּל אוֹתוֹ הַדֶּרֶךְ – וְכָל כָּךְ הָיְתָה הַשְּׁכִינָה מִתְלַבֶּטֶת בִּשְׁבִילְכֶם לְמַהֵר בִּיאַתְכֶם לָאָרֶץ, וּבִשְׁבִיל שֶׁקִּלְקַלְתֶּם הֵסֵב אֶתְכֶם סְבִיבוֹת הַר שֵׂעִיר אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה (ע' ספרי):
3It came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first of the month, that Moses spoke to the children of Israel according to all that the Lord had commanded him regarding them;   גוַֽיְהִי֙ בְּאַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה בְּעַשְׁתֵּֽי־עָשָׂ֥ר חֹ֖דֶשׁ בְּאֶחָ֣ד לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ דִּבֶּ֤ר משֶׁה֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כְּ֠כֹ֠ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה אֹת֖וֹ אֲלֵהֶֽם:
And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first of the month [… Moses spoke] This teaches us that he rebuked them only a short while before his death. From whom did he learn [to do] this? From Jacob, who rebuked his sons only a short while before his death. He said, “Reuben, my son, I will tell you why I have not reproved you [for your shortcomings] during all these years: So that you would not leave me and join my brother, Esau.” And for four reasons, one should not reprimand a person except shortly before one’s death: So that one should not rebuke and again have to rebuke him, so as not to cause his friend to feel ashamed when he sees him; etc. These appear in Sifrei. And similarly, Joshua rebuked Israel only shortly before his death (cf. Joshua 24:1-29), and so, Samuel, as it is said, “Behold, testify against me” (I Sam. 12:3) and so, also, David rebuked his son Solomon only shortly before his death (see I Kings 2:1-10).   וַֽיְהִי בְּאַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה בְּעַשְׁתֵּֽי־עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ  מְלַמֵּד שֶׁלֹּא הוֹכִיחָן אֶלָּא סָמוּךְ לַמִּיתָה; מִמִּי לָמַד? מִיַּעֲקֹב, שֶׁלֹּא הוֹכִיחַ אֶת בָּנָיו אֶלָּא סָמוּךְ לַמִּיתָה, אָמַר, רְאוּבֵן בְּנִי אֲנִי אוֹמֵר לְךָ מִפְּנֵי מָה לֹא הוֹכַחְתִּיךָ כָּל הַשָּׁנִים הַלָּלוּ, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא תַנִּיחֵנִי וְתֵלֵךְ וְתִדְבַּק בְּעֵשָׂו אָחִי; וּמִפְּנֵי אַרְבָּעָה דְּבָרִים אֵין מוֹכִיחִין אֶת הָאָדָם אֶלָּא סָמוּךְ לַמִּיתָה, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא מוֹכִיחוֹ וְחוֹזֵר וּמוֹכִיחוֹ, וְשֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא חֲבֵרוֹ רוֹאֵהוּ וּמִתְבַּיֵּשׁ מִמֶּנּוּ, כוּ' כִּדְאִיתָא בְּסִפְרֵי. וְכֵן יְהוֹשֻׁעַ לֹא הוֹכִיחַ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶלָּא סָמוּךְ לַמִּיתָה, וְכֵן שְׁמוּאֵל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל א י"ב), "הִנְנִי עֲנוּ בִי", וְכֵן דָּוִד אֶת שְׁלֹמֹה בְנוֹ (מלכים א ב'):
4After he had smitten Sihon, king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and Og, king of the Bashan, who dwelt in Ashtaroth in Edrei.   דאַֽחֲרֵ֣י הַכֹּת֗וֹ אֵ֚ת סִיחֹן֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ הָֽאֱמֹרִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר יוֹשֵׁ֖ב בְּחֶשְׁבּ֑וֹן וְאֵ֗ת ע֚וֹג מֶ֣לֶךְ הַבָּשָׁ֔ן אֲשֶׁר־יוֹשֵׁ֥ב בְּעַשְׁתָּרֹ֖ת בְּאֶדְרֶֽעִי:
After He had smitten [Sihon] Moses said: If I rebuke them before they enter [at least] part of the land, they will say, “What [claim] has this [man] on us? What good has he ever done for us? He has come only to vex us and to find some pretext, for he does not have the power to bring us into the land.” Therefore he [Moses] waited until he had defeated Sihon and Og before them and had given them possession of their land, and [only] afterwards did he rebuke them. [Sifrei]   אַֽחֲרֵי הַכֹּתוֹ  אָמַר מֹשֶׁה אִם אֲנִי מוֹכִיחָם קֹדֶם שֶׁיִּכָּנְסוּ לִקְצֵה הָאָרֶץ, יֹאמְרוּ מַה לָּזֶה עָלֵינוּ? מַה הֵיטִיב לָנוּ? אֵינוֹ בָא אֶלָּא לְקַנְתֵּר וְלִמְצֹא עִלָּה, שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ כֹחַ לְהַכְנִיסֵנוּ לָאָרֶץ, לְפִיכָךְ הִמְתִּין עַד שֶׁהִפִּיל סִיחוֹן וְעוֹג לִפְנֵיהֶם וְהוֹרִישָׁם אֶת אַרְצָם וְאַחַר כָּךְ הוֹכִיחָן (ספרי):
Sihon… who dwelt in Heshbon “Even if Sihon himself had not been powerful, but had dwelt in Heshbon, he would have [nevertheless] been powerful because the city was a powerful one; and even had it been another city, and Sihon had dwelt in it, it would have [also] been powerful because the king was powerful. How much more so now, since both the king and the city were powerful!” [Sifrei]   סִיחֹן אֲשֶׁר יוֹשֵׁב בְּחֶשְׁבּוֹן  אִלּוּ לֹא הָיָה סִיחוֹן קָשֶׁה וְהָיָה שָׁרוּי בְּחֶשְׁבּוֹן, הָיָה קָשָׁה, שֶׁהַמְּדִינָה קָשָׁה, וְאִלּוּ הָיְתָה עִיר אַחֶרֶת וְסִיחוֹן שָׁרוּי בְּתוֹכָהּ, הָיְתָה קָשָׁה, שֶׁהַמֶּלֶךְ קָשֶׁה, עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה שֶׁהַמֶּלֶךְ קָשֶׁה וְהַמְּדִינָה קָשָׁה (שם):
[And Og…] who dwelt in Ashtaroth [Here, too,] the king was powerful, and the city was powerful. [Sifrei]   אֲשֶׁר יוֹשֵׁב בְּעַשְׁתָּרֹת  הַמֶּלֶךְ קָשֶׁה וְהַמְּדִינָה קָשָׁה:
Ashtaroth This is an expression denoting sharp cliffs and strength, just as “Ashteroth-karnaim” (Gen. 14:5) [the hard rocks of Karnaim]. And the Ashtaroth [referred to here] is indeed that same Ashteroth-karnaim where the Rephaim [the giants] were, whom Amraphel smote, as it is said, “And they smote the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim” (Gen. 14:5). And Og escaped from them, and that is the meaning of that which is stated, “And the fugitive came” (Gen. 14:13), and Scripture states (further, 3:11) “For only Og, king of the Bashan, remained from the remnant of the Rephaim.”   עשתרת  הוּא לְשׁוֹן צוּקִין וְקֹשִׁי, כְּמוֹ "עַשְׁתְּרֹת קַרְנַיִם" (בראשית י"ד) וְעַשְׁתָּרוֹת זֶה הוּא עַשְׁתְּרֹת קַרְנַיִם, שֶׁהָיוּ שָׁם רְפָאִים שֶׁהִכָּה אַמְרָפֶל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שם) "וַיַּכּוּ אֶת רְפָאִים בְּעַשְׁתְּרֹת קַרְנַיִם". וְעוֹג נִמְלַט מֵהֶם, וְהוּא שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שם) "וַיָּבֹא הַפָּלִיט", וְאוֹמֵר (דברים ג') "כִּי רַק עוֹג מֶלֶךְ הַבָּשָׁן נִשְׁאַר מִיֶּתֶר הָרְפָאִים":
in Edrei the name of the kingdom. [Sifrei]   בְּאֶדְרֶֽעִי  שֵׁם הַמַּלְכוּת:
5On that side of the Jordan, in the land of Moab, Moses commenced [and] explained this Law, saying,   הבְּעֵ֥בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מוֹאָ֑ב הוֹאִ֣יל משֶׁ֔ה בֵּאֵ֛ר אֶת־הַתּוֹרָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את לֵאמֹֽר:
commenced , Heb. הוֹאִיל, he commenced, just as “Behold, now I have commenced (הוֹאַלְתִּי)” (Gen. 18:27). [based on Sifrei]   הוֹאִיל  הִתְחִיל, כְּמוֹ (בראשית י"ח) "הִנֵּה נָא הוֹאַלְתִּי" (ע' ספרי):
explained this Law He explained it to them in seventy languages. [from Midrash Tanchuma 2; Gen. Rabbah 49; see Sotah 32a). Hakethav Vehakabbalah explains this to mean that Moses gave them seventy interpretations to every passage.   בֵּאֵר אֶת־הַתּוֹרָה  בְּשִׁבְעִים לָשׁוֹן פֵּרְשָׁהּ לָהֶם (תנחומא; ע' סוטה ל"ב):
6"The Lord our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying, 'You have dwelt long enough at this mountain.   ויְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֵ֛ינוּ דִּבֶּ֥ר אֵלֵ֖ינוּ בְּחֹרֵ֣ב לֵאמֹ֑ר רַב־לָכֶ֥ם שֶׁ֖בֶת בָּהָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה:
You have dwelt long enough [at this mountain] [This is to be interpreted] according to its simple meaning. But there also is an Aggadic explanation: I have given you much greatness and reward for your having dwelt at this mountain: you made the Mishkan , the menorah, and the [other] furnishings; you received the Torah; you appointed a Sanhedrin for yourselves, and captains over thousands and captains over hundreds. [Sifrei]   רַב־לָכֶם שֶׁבֶת  כִּפְשׁוּטוֹ; וְיֵשׁ מִקְרָא אַחֵר, הִרְבָּה לָכֶם גְדֻלָּה וְשָׂכָר עַל יְשִׁיבַתְכֶם בָּהָר הַזֶּה – עֲשִׂיתֶם מִשְׁכָּן, מְנוֹרָה, וְכֵלִים, קִבַּלְתֶּם תּוֹרָה, מִנִּיתֶם לָכֶם סַנְהֶדְרִין, שָׂרֵי אֲלָפִים וְשָׂרֵי מֵאוֹת (ע' ספרי):
7Turn and journey, and come to the mountain of the Amorites and to all its neighboring places, in the plain, on the mountain, and in the lowland, and in the south and by the seashore, the land of the Canaanites, and the Lebanon, until the great river, the Euphrates River.   זפְּנ֣וּ | וּסְע֣וּ לָכֶ֗ם וּבֹ֨אוּ הַ֥ר הָֽאֱמֹרִי֘ וְאֶל־כָּל־שְׁכֵנָיו֒ בָּֽעֲרָבָ֥ה בָהָ֛ר וּבַשְּׁפֵלָ֥ה וּבַנֶּ֖גֶב וּבְח֣וֹף הַיָּ֑ם אֶ֤רֶץ הַכְּנַֽעֲנִי֙ וְהַלְּבָנ֔וֹן עַד־הַנָּהָ֥ר הַגָּדֹ֖ל נְהַר־פְּרָֽת:
Turn and journey This is the way to Arad and Hormah.   פְּנוּ וּסְעוּ לָכֶם  זוֹ דֶּרֶךְ עֲרָד וְחָרְמָה:
and come to the mountain of the Amorites This is to be understood literally.   וּבֹאוּ הַר הָֽאֱמֹרִי  כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ:
and to all its neighboring places Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir.   וְאֶל־כָּל־שְׁכֵנָיו  עַמּוֹן וּמוֹאָב וְהַר שֵׂעִיר:
in the plain This refers to the forested plain.   בָּֽעֲרָבָה  זֶה מִישׁוֹר שֶׁל יַעַר:
on the mountain This is the king’s mountain.   בָהָר  זֶה הַר הַמֶּלֶךְ:
and in the lowland This is the southern lowland.   וּבַשְּׁפֵלָה  זוֹ שְׁפֵלַת דָּרוֹם:
and in the south, and by the seashore [This refers to] Ashkelon, Gaza and Caesarea, etc., as is stated in Sifrei .   וּבַנֶּגֶב וּבְחוֹף הַיָּם  אַשְׁקְלוֹן וְעַזָּה וְקֵיסָרִי וְכוּ' כִּדְאִיתָא בְּסִפְרֵי:
until the great river [the Euphrates] Since it [the Euphrates] is mentioned [in association] with the Land of Israel it is referred to as “great.” A popular parable says: A king’s servant is a king. Associate yourself with the ruler, and [people] will bow down to you; attach yourself to one who is anointed [with oil] and you will become anointed [with oil yourself] (Shevuoth 47b).   עַד־הַנָּהָר הַגָּדֹל  מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנִּזְכָּר עִם אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל קוֹרְאוֹ גָּדוֹל, מְשַׁל הֶדְיוֹט אוֹמֵר "עֶבֶד מֶלֶךְ מֶלֶךְ", "הִדַּבֵּק לַשַּׁחֲוָר וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לְךָ", ״קְרַב לְגַבֵּי דְהִינָא וְאִדַּהֵן" (שבועות מ"ז):
8See, I have set the land before you; come and possess the land which the Lord swore to your forefathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them and their descendants after them.   חרְאֵ֛ה נָתַ֥תִּי לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ בֹּ֚אוּ וּרְשׁ֣וּ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִשְׁבַּ֣ע יְ֠הֹוָ֠ה לַֽאֲבֹ֨תֵיכֶ֜ם לְאַבְרָהָ֨ם לְיִצְחָ֤ק וּלְיַֽעֲקֹב֙ לָתֵ֣ת לָהֶ֔ם וּלְזַרְעָ֖ם אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם:
Behold! I have set [the land before you] With your own eyes you can see [this]: I do not tell you this from guessing or hearsay (Sifrei).   רְאֵה נָתַתִּי  בְּעֵינֵיכֶם אַתֶּם רוֹאִים, אֵינִי אוֹמֵר לָכֶם מֵאֹמֶד וּמִשְּׁמוּעָה (ספרי):
Go in and possess [the land] No one will contest the matter, and you will not need to go to war. If they [the Israelites] had not sent the spies, [but had trusted God] they would not have needed weapons of war (Sifrei).   בֹּאוּ וּרְשׁוּ  אֵין מְעַרְעֵר בַּדָּבָר, וְאֵינְכֶם צְרִיכִים לְמִלְחָמָה, אִלּוּ לֹא שָׁלְחוּ מְרַגְּלִים לֹא הָיוּ צְרִיכִים לִכְלֵי זַיִן (ע' שם):
to your forefathers Why does he [Moses] further mention Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob [when the reference “your forefathers” clearly indicates them]? [Their names are mentioned to show that] Abraham is worthy [of God’s oath] by himself, Isaac is worthy by himself, [and] Jacob is worthy by himself (Sifrei).   לַֽאֲבֹתֵיכֶם  לָמָּה הִזְכִּיר שׁוּב לְאַבְרָהָם לְיִצְחָק וּלְיַעֲקֹב? אֶלָּא אַבְרָהָם כְּדַאי לְעַצְמוֹ, יִצְחָק כְּדַאי לְעַצְמוֹ, יַעֲקֹב כְּדַאי לְעַצְמוֹ (שם):
9And I said to you at that time, saying, 'I cannot carry you alone.   טוָֽאֹמַ֣ר אֲלֵכֶ֔ם בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִ֖וא לֵאמֹ֑ר לֹֽא־אוּכַ֥ל לְבַדִּ֖י שְׂאֵ֥ת אֶתְכֶֽם:
And I said to you at that time, saying Heb. לֵאמֹר. What is the meaning of לֵאמֹר? Moses said to them, "Not by my own accord do I speak to you [and tell you that I cannot carry you alone] but by the command of the Holy One, blessed is He (Sifrei).   וָֽאֹמַר אֲלֵכֶם בָּעֵת הַהִוא לֵאמֹר  מַהוּ לֵאמֹר? אָמַר לָהֶם מֹשֶׁה לֹא מֵעַצְמִי אֲנִי אוֹמֵר לָכֶם, אֶלָּא מִפִּי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא (שם):
I cannot alone Is it possible that Moses could not judge Israel? The man who brought them out of Egypt, split the sea for them, brought down the manna, and caused the quails to fly, could not judge them? Rather, he said to them: “The Lord, your God, has multiplied you”- [i.e.,] He has made you superior and elevated you higher than your judges. He took the punishment away from you and imposed it upon the judges [in cases where they could have prevented your wrongdoing and did not]. Solomon made a similar statement: “For who is able to judge Your great people?” (I Kings 3:9) Is it possible that he [i. e., Solomon] of whom it is said (I Kings 5:11), “He was wiser than all men,” could say, “Who is able to judge?” But this is what Solomon meant: The judges of this people are not like the judges of other peoples, for if [one of the judges of other nations] gives judgment and sentences a person to death, to lashes, or to strangulation, or perverts judgment and robs him, it means nothing; if, however, I cause a person to pay unjustly, I am liable with my life, as it is said (Proverbs 22:23), “And He robs the life of those who rob them” (Sifrei , San. 7a).   לֹֽא־אוּכַל לְבַדִּי וגו'  אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה מֹשֶׁה יָכוֹל לָדוּן אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל? אָדָם שֶׁהוֹצִיאָם מִמִּצְרַיִם, וְקָרַע לָהֶם אֶת הַיָּם, וְהוֹרִיד אֶת הַמָּן, וְהֵגִיז הַשְּׂלָו, לֹא הָיָה יָכוֹל לְדוּנָם? אֶלָּא כָּךְ אָמַר לָהֶם, ה' אלהיכם הרבה אתכם – הִגְדִּיל וְהֵרִים אֶתְכֶם עַל דַּיָּנֵיכֶם, נָטַל אֶת הָעֹנֶשׁ מִכֶּם וּנְתָנוֹ עַל הַדַּיָּנִין; וְכֵן אָמַר שְׁלֹמֹה (מלכים א ג') "כִּי מִי יוּכַל לִשְׁפֹּט אֶת עַמְּךָ הַכָּבֵד הַזֶּה"; אֶפְשָׁר מִי שֶׁכָּתוּב בּוֹ (שם ה') "וַיֶּחְכַּם מִכָּל הָאָדָם", אוֹמֵר מִי יוּכַל לִשְׁפֹּט? אֶלָּא כָּךְ אָמַר שְׁלֹמֹה, אֵין דַּיָּנֵי אֻמָּה זוֹ כְדַיָּנֵי שְׁאָר הָאֻמּוֹת, שֶׁאִם דָּן וְהוֹרֵג וּמַכֶּה וְחוֹנֵק וּמַטֶּה אֶת דִּינוֹ וְגוֹזֵל אֵין בְּכָךְ כְּלוּם, אֲנִי אִם חִיַּבְתִּי מָמוֹן שֶׁלֹּא כַדִּין, נְפָשׁוֹת אֲנִי נִתְבָּע, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי כ"ב) "וְקָבַע אֶת קֹבְעֵיהֶם נָפֶשׁ" (ספרי; סנהדרין ז'):
10The Lord, your God, has multiplied you, and behold, you are today as the stars of the heavens in abundance.   ייְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֖ם הִרְבָּ֣ה אֶתְכֶ֑ם וְהִנְּכֶ֣ם הַיּ֔וֹם כְּכֽוֹכְבֵ֥י הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם לָרֹֽב:
And, behold, you are today as the stars of the heavens But were they [the Israelites] on that day as [many as] the stars of the heavens? Were they not only six hundred thousand? What, then, is [the meaning of] “And, behold, you are today…?” [It means]-Behold, you are compared to the sun, [signifying that you will] exist forever as do the sun, the moon, and the stars (cf. Sifrei).   וְהִנְּכֶם הַיּוֹם כְּכֽוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם  וְכִי כְכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם הָיוּ בְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם, וַהֲלֹא לֹא הָיוּ אֶלָּא שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא, מַהוּ וְהִנְּכֶם הַיּוֹם? הִנְּכֶם מְשׁוּלִים כַּיּוֹם – קַיָּמִים לְעוֹלָם כַּחַמָּה וְכַלְּבָנָה וְכַכּוֹכָבִים (עי' ספרי):
11May the Lord God of your forefathers add to you a thousandfold as many as you are, and may He bless you, as He spoke concerning you!   יאיְהֹוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבֽוֹתֵכֶ֗ם יֹסֵ֧ף עֲלֵיכֶ֛ם כָּכֶ֖ם אֶ֣לֶף פְּעָמִ֑ים וִֽיבָרֵ֣ךְ אֶתְכֶ֔ם כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר לָכֶֽם:
May… add to you a thousandfold as many as you are What is [the purpose of] repeating further [in the verse]: “And He will bless you, as He has spoken concerning you?” They [the Israelites] said to him, “Moses, you are limiting our blessings [i.e., our numbers being multiplied only a thousandfold]. The Holy One, blessed is He, already promised to Abraham (Gen. 13:16), 'so that if a man will be able to count [the dust of the earth, so will your seed be counted]!’” [Moses] replied to them: “This [blessing of a thousandfold] is mine, but He will bless you as He spoke concerning you!” (Sifrei)   יֹסֵף עֲלֵיכֶם כָּכֶם אֶלֶף פְּעָמִים  מַהוּ שׁוּב ויברך אתכם כאשר דבר לכם? אֶלָּא אָמְרוּ לוֹ, מֹשֶׁה אַתָּה נוֹתֵן קִצְבָּה לְבִרְכוֹתֵינוּ? כְּבָר הִבְטִיחַ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶת אַבְרָהָם "אֲשֶׁר אִם יוּכַל אִישׁ לִמְנוֹת וְגוֹ'" (בראשית י"ג), אָמַר לָהֶם זוֹ מִשֶּׁלִּי הִיא, אֲבָל הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶתְכֶם כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לָכֶם (ספרי):