Devarim (Deuteronomy) Chapter 4

5Look: as God, my God, commanded me to, I have taught you rules and ordinances to abide by in the land that you are entering in order to possess.   הרְאֵ֣ה | לִמַּ֣דְתִּי אֶתְכֶ֗ם חֻקִּים֙ וּמִשְׁפָּטִ֔ים כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוַּ֖נִי יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֑י לַֽעֲשׂ֣וֹת כֵּ֔ן בְּקֶ֣רֶב הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתֶּ֛ם בָּאִ֥ים שָׁ֖מָּה לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ:
6You must safeguard and perform them, for that is what will attest to your wisdom and your understanding in the eyes of other peoples, who will hear all these rules and say, ‘Only this great nation is such a wise and understanding people.’   ווּשְׁמַרְתֶּם֘ וַֽעֲשִׂיתֶם֒ כִּ֣י הִ֤וא חָכְמַתְכֶם֙ וּבִ֣ינַתְכֶ֔ם לְעֵינֵ֖י הָֽעַמִּ֑ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִשְׁמְע֗וּן אֵ֚ת כָּל־הַֽחֻקִּ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וְאָֽמְר֗וּ רַ֚ק עַם־חָכָ֣ם וְנָב֔וֹן הַגּ֥וֹי הַגָּד֖וֹל הַזֶּֽה:
וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם - You must safeguard. This refers to studying the Torah.   וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם.  זוֹ מִשְׁנָה:
וַֽעֲשִׂיתֶם - And perform. This is to be understood literally, i.e., performing the commandments.   וַֽעֲשִׂיתֶם.  כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ (שם):
כִּי הִוא חָכְמַתְכֶם וּבִינַתְכֶם וגו' - For that is your wisdom and your understanding…. i.e., through this you will be considered wise and understanding in the eyes of the nations.   כִּי הִוא חָכְמַתְכֶם וּבִינַתְכֶם וגו'.  בָּזֹאת תֵּחָשְׁבוּ חֲכָמִים וּנְבוֹנִים לְעֵינֵי הָעַמִּים:
7For what great nation is there that has a god as near to it as God, our God, is to us whenever we call upon Him?   זכִּ֚י מִי־ג֣וֹי גָּד֔וֹל אֲשֶׁר־ל֥וֹ אֱלֹהִ֖ים קְרֹבִ֣ים אֵלָ֑יו כַּֽיהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ בְּכָל־קָרְאֵ֖נוּ אֵלָֽיו:
8And what great nation is there that has rules and ordinances as just as this entire Torah, which I am setting before you today?   חוּמִי֙ גּ֣וֹי גָּד֔וֹל אֲשֶׁר־ל֛וֹ חֻקִּ֥ים וּמִשְׁפָּטִ֖ים צַדִּיקִ֑ם כְּכֹל֙ הַתּוֹרָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָֽנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם הַיּֽוֹם:
חֻקִּים וּמִשְׁפָּטִים צַדִּיקִם - Rules and ordinances as just - i.e., proper and acceptable.   חֻקִּים וּמִשְׁפָּטִים צַדִּיקִם.  הֲגוּנִים וּמְקֻבָּלִים:
9Just be wary and guard yourself carefully lest you forget the things that you saw with your own eyes, and lest these things depart from your heart all the days of your life—and you must impart them as well to your children and to your children’s children—   טרַ֡ק הִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֩ וּשְׁמֹ֨ר נַפְשְׁךָ֜ מְאֹ֗ד פֶּן־תִּשְׁכַּ֨ח אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֜ים אֲשֶׁר־רָא֣וּ עֵינֶ֗יךָ וּפֶן־יָס֨וּרוּ֙ מִלְּבָ֣בְךָ֔ כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֣י חַיֶּ֑יךָ וְהֽוֹדַעְתָּ֥ם לְבָנֶ֖יךָ וְלִבְנֵ֥י בָנֶֽיךָ:
רַק הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ … פֶּן־תִּשְׁכַּח אֶת־הַדְּבָרִים - Just be wary…lest you forget the things. Only then, when you do not forget them but perform them correctly, will you be considered wise and understanding, but if, through forgetfulness, you perform them incorrectly, you will be considered fools.   רַק הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ … פֶּן־תִּשְׁכַּח אֶת־הַדְּבָרִים.  אָז, כְּשֶׁלֹּא תִשְׁכְּחוּ אוֹתָם וְתַעֲשׂוּם עַל אֲמִתָּתָם, תֵּחָשְׁבוּ חֲכָמִים וּנְבוֹנִים, וְאִם תְּעַוְּתוּ אוֹתָם מִתּוֹךְ שִׁכְחָה, תֵּחָשְׁבוּ שׁוֹטִים:
10namely, the day you stood before God, your God, at Mount Horeb, when God said to me, ‘Assemble the people for Me; I will let them hear My words, in order that they learn to revere Me all the days that they live on the earth, and in order that they teach their children to revere Me, as well.’   יי֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָמַ֜דְתָּ לִפְנֵ֨י יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֘יךָ֘ בְּחֹרֵב֒ בֶּֽאֱמֹ֨ר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֵלַ֗י הַקְהֶל־לִי֙ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם וְאַשְׁמִעֵ֖ם אֶת־דְּבָרָ֑י אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִלְמְד֜וּן לְיִרְאָ֣ה אֹתִ֗י כָּל־הַיָּמִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֵ֤ם חַיִּים֙ עַל־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה וְאֶת־בְּנֵיהֶ֖ם יְלַמֵּדֽוּן:
יוֹם אֲשֶׁר עָמַדְתָּ - The day you stood. This refers to the previous verse: “you saw with your own eyes on the day you stood at Horeb” – that you saw God’s voices and the flames.   יוֹם אֲשֶׁר עָמַדְתָּ.  מוּסָב עַל מִקְרָא שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה מִמֶּנּוּ אשר ראו עיניך – יום אשר עמדת בחרב אֲשֶׁר רָאִיתָ הַקּוֹלוֹת וְאֶת הַלַּפִּידִים:
יִלְמְדוּן - is translated by Onkelos as יֵלְפוּן, i.e., they learn for themselves.   יִלְמְדוּן.  יֵלְפוּן – לְעַצְמָם:
יְלַמֵּדוּן - is translated by Onkelos as יְאַלְּפוּן, i.e., they teach to others.   יְלַמֵּדוּן.  יְאַלְּפוּן – לַאֲחֵרִים:
11You approached and stood at the foot of the mountain; the mountain burned with fire that rose up to the midst of heaven, and it was enveloped by darkness, a normal cloud, and a thick cloud.   יאוַתִּקְרְב֥וּן וַתַּֽעַמְד֖וּן תַּ֣חַת הָהָ֑ר וְהָהָ֗ר בֹּעֵ֤ר בָּאֵשׁ֙ עַד־לֵ֣ב הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם ח֖שֶׁךְ עָנָ֥ן וַֽעֲרָפֶֽל:
12God spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the words but saw no image; you only heard God’s voice.   יבוַיְדַבֵּ֧ר יְהֹוָ֛ה אֲלֵיכֶ֖ם מִתּ֣וֹךְ הָאֵ֑שׁ ק֤וֹל דְּבָרִים֙ אַתֶּ֣ם שֹֽׁמְעִ֔ים וּתְמוּנָ֛ה אֵֽינְכֶ֥ם רֹאִ֖ים זֽוּלָתִ֥י קֽוֹל:
13He told you the terms of His covenant that He commanded you to observe, summarizing it in the Ten Commandments, and He inscribed them on two stone tablets.   יגוַיַּגֵּ֨ד לָכֶ֜ם אֶת־בְּרִית֗וֹ אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֤ה אֶתְכֶם֙ לַֽעֲשׂ֔וֹת עֲשֶׂ֖רֶת הַדְּבָרִ֑ים וַיִּכְתְּבֵ֔ם עַל־שְׁנֵ֖י לֻח֥וֹת אֲבָנִֽים:
14God commanded me at that time to teach you the rules and ordinances, so that you should perform them in the land into which you are crossing in order to possess.   ידוְאֹתִ֗י צִוָּ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔וא לְלַמֵּ֣ד אֶתְכֶ֔ם חֻקִּ֖ים וּמִשְׁפָּטִ֑ים לַֽעֲשֽׂתְכֶ֣ם אֹתָ֔ם בָּאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתֶּ֛ם עֹֽבְרִ֥ים שָׁ֖מָּה לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ:
וְאֹתִי צִוָּה ה' לְלַמֵּד אֶתְכֶם - God commanded me at that time to teach you - the Oral Law.   וְאֹתִי צִוָּה ה' לְלַמֵּד אֶתְכֶם.  תּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה:
15You must guard yourselves carefully, for you did not see any image on the day that God spoke to you at Mount Horeb out of the midst of the fire.   טווְנִשְׁמַרְתֶּ֥ם מְאֹ֖ד לְנַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶ֑ם כִּ֣י לֹ֤א רְאִיתֶם֙ כָּל־תְּמוּנָ֔ה בְּי֗וֹם דִּבֶּ֨ר יְהֹוָ֧ה אֲלֵיכֶ֛ם בְּחֹרֵ֖ב מִתּ֥וֹךְ הָאֵֽשׁ:
16Be careful lest you become corrupt and make a sculpted image for yourselves: the representation of any form, whether it be the likeness of a male or a female person;   טזפֶּ֨ן־תַּשְׁחִת֔וּן וַֽעֲשִׂיתֶ֥ם לָכֶ֛ם פֶּ֖סֶל תְּמוּנַ֣ת כָּל־סָ֑מֶל תַּבְנִ֥ית זָכָ֖ר א֥וֹ נְקֵבָֽה:
סָמֶל - means: form.   סָמֶל.  צוּרָה:
17the likeness of any beast that is on the earth; the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the sky;   יזתַּבְנִ֕ית כָּל־בְּהֵמָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּאָ֑רֶץ תַּבְנִית֙ כָּל־צִפּ֣וֹר כָּנָ֔ף אֲשֶׁ֥ר תָּע֖וּף בַּשָּׁמָֽיִם:
18the likeness of anything that crawls on the ground; or the likeness of any fish that is in the water lower than the earth surrounding it.   יחתַּבְנִ֕ית כָּל־רֹמֵ֖שׂ בַּֽאֲדָמָ֑ה תַּבְנִ֛ית כָּל־דָּגָ֥ה אֲשֶׁר־בַּמַּ֖יִם מִתַּ֥חַת לָאָֽרֶץ:
19Be careful lest you lift up your eyes toward heaven and see the sun, the moon, the stars, or all the hosts of heaven, which God, your God, appointed to give light to all people who dwell under the entire heaven, and be lured to prostrate yourselves before them and worship them.   יטוּפֶן־תִּשָּׂ֨א עֵינֶ֜יךָ הַשָּׁמַ֗יְמָה וְ֠רָאִ֠יתָ אֶת־הַשֶּׁ֨מֶשׁ וְאֶת־הַיָּרֵ֜חַ וְאֶת־הַכּֽוֹכָבִ֗ים כֹּ֚ל צְבָ֣א הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְנִדַּחְתָּ֛ וְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲוִ֥יתָ לָהֶ֖ם וַֽעֲבַדְתָּ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר חָלַ֜ק יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ אֹתָ֔ם לְכֹל֙ הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים תַּ֖חַת כָּל־הַשָּׁמָֽיִם:
וּפֶן־תִּשָּׂא עֵינֶיךָ - Lest you lift up your eyes - with intent to focus upon the matter and set your heart to go astray after them.   וּפֶן־תִּשָּׂא עֵינֶיךָ.  לְהִסְתַּכֵּל בַּדָּבָר וְלָתֵת לֵב לִטְעוֹת אַחֲרֵיהֶם:
אֲשֶׁר חָלַק ה' - Which God…appointed to all people. to provide light for them. 1 Another explanation: God assigned them as deities in that He did not prevent the nations from straying after them, but allowed them to slip upon their vain ideas, so as to eventually remove them from the world. Similarly, it says: “sin flatters itself in the evil person’s eyes, so that God discover his transgression and hate him.” 2   אֲשֶׁר חָלַק ה'.  לְהָאִיר לָהֶם (מגילה ט'); דָּבָר אַחֵר לֶאֱלוֹהוֹת, לֹא מְנָעָן מִלִּטְעוֹת אַחֲרֵיהֶם אֶלָּא הֶחֱלִיקָם בְּדִבְרֵי הַבְלֵיהֶם לְטָרְדָם מִן הָעוֹלָם, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (תהלים ל"ו) "כִּי הֶחֱלִיק אֵלָיו בְּעֵינָיו לִמְצֹא עֲוֹנוֹ לִשְׂנֹא" (עבודה זרה נ"ה):
20God took you and brought you out of the iron crucible, out of Egypt, to become a people whom He can call His heritage, as you are today.   כוְאֶתְכֶם֙ לָקַ֣ח יְהֹוָ֔ה וַיּוֹצִ֥א אֶתְכֶ֛ם מִכּ֥וּר הַבַּרְזֶ֖ל מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם לִֽהְי֥וֹת ל֛וֹ לְעַ֥ם נַֽחֲלָ֖ה כַּיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה:
מִכּוּר - כּוּר is the iron vessel used for refining gold.   מִכּוּר.  כּוּר הוּא כְלִי שֶׁמְּזַקְּקִים בּוֹ אֶת הַזָּהָב:
21God became angry with me because of you, and He swore that I would neither cross the Jordan River nor enter the good land that God, your God, is giving you as an inheritance.   כאוַֽיהֹוָ֥ה הִתְאַנַּף־בִּ֖י עַל־דִּבְרֵיכֶ֑ם וַיִּשָּׁבַ֗ע לְבִלְתִּ֤י עָבְרִי֙ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וּלְבִלְתִּי־בֹא֙ אֶל־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַטּוֹבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ נַֽחֲלָֽה:
הִתְאַנַּף־ - means: He was filled with anger.   הִתְאַנַּף־.  נִתְמַלֵּא רֹגֶז:
עַל־דִּבְרֵיכֶם - (lit.) Regarding your things - means regarding you and because of your affairs.   עַל־דִּבְרֵיכֶם.  עַל אוֹדוֹתֵיכֶם, עַל עִסְקֵיכֶם:
22For I must die in this land; I will not cross the Jordan River. You, however, will cross it, and you will take possession of this good land.   כבכִּ֣י אָֽנֹכִ֥י מֵת֙ בָּאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את אֵינֶ֥נִּי עֹבֵ֖ר אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן וְאַתֶּם֙ עֹ֣בְרִ֔ים וִֽירִשְׁתֶּ֕ם אֶת־הָאָ֥רֶץ הַטּוֹבָ֖ה הַזֹּֽאת:
כִּי אָֽנֹכִי מֵת וגו' אֵינֶנִּי עֹבֵר - For I must die…I will not cross. Why did Moses need to say this? Once he is dead, how can he cross the Jordan?! Moses only meant: Even my bones will not cross.   כִּי אָֽנֹכִי מֵת וגו' אֵינֶנִּי עֹבֵר.  מֵאַחַר שֶׁמֵּת מֵהֵיכָן יַעֲבֹר? אֶלָּא אַף עַצְמוֹתַי אֵינָם עוֹבְרִים (ספרי במדבר כ"ז):
23Beware lest you forget the covenant of God, your God, that He made with you, and make for yourselves a sculpted image, the likeness of anything, which God, your God, has forbidden you to do.   כגהִשָּֽׁמְר֣וּ לָכֶ֗ם פֶּן־תִּשְׁכְּחוּ֙ אֶת־בְּרִ֤ית יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר כָּרַ֖ת עִמָּכֶ֑ם וַֽעֲשִׂיתֶ֨ם לָכֶ֥ם פֶּ֨סֶל֙ תְּמ֣וּנַת כֹּ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוְּךָ֖ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ:
תְּמוּנַת כֹּל - The likeness of anything - i.e., the likeness of any object.   תְּמוּנַת כֹּל.  תְּמוּנַת כָּל דָּבָר:
אֲשֶׁר צִוְּךָ ה' - (lit.) Which God has commanded you - means that He has commanded you regarding it that you not do so.   אֲשֶׁר צִוְּךָ ה'.  אֲשֶׁר צִוְּךָ שֶׁלֹּא לַעֲשׂוֹת:
24For God, your God, is a consuming fire; He is a zealous God.   כדכִּ֚י יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ אֵ֥שׁ אֹֽכְלָ֖ה ה֑וּא אֵ֖ל קַנָּֽא:
אֵל קַנָּֽא - A zealous God - i.e., He is zealous to avenge; “enprendre” in Old French (“to get angry”). He asserts His anger to punish those who serve idols.   אֵל קַנָּֽא.  מְקַנֵּא לִנְקֹם, אנפר"מנט בְּלַעַז, מִתְחָרֶה עַל רָגְזוֹ לְהִפָּרַע מֵעוֹבְדֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה:
25When you have children and grandchildren, and are long-established in the land, and you become corrupt and make a sculpted image, the likeness of anything, and do evil in the eyes of God, your God, provoking Him to anger by worshiping it,   כהכִּֽי־תוֹלִ֤יד בָּנִים֙ וּבְנֵ֣י בָנִ֔ים וְנֽוֹשַׁנְתֶּ֖ם בָּאָ֑רֶץ וְהִשְׁחַתֶּ֗ם וַֽעֲשִׂ֤יתֶם פֶּ֨סֶל֙ תְּמ֣וּנַת כֹּ֔ל וַֽעֲשִׂיתֶ֥ם הָרַ֛ע בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה־אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ לְהַכְעִיסֽוֹ:
וְנֽוֹשַׁנְתֶּם - And are long-established. Moses hereby hinted to them that they would be exiled from the land after 852 years, the numerical value of וְנוֹשַׁנְתֶּם. However, God sent them into exile early, after 850 years, two years before the number of וְנוֹשַׁנְתֶּם, so that the threat “you will utterly perish” 3 would not be fulfilled regarding them. This is what is meant by what it says: “God hurried the evil and brought it upon us, for God, our God, is righteous” 4 – He acted beneficently toward us by hastening the exile and bringing it two years before its time.   וְנֽוֹשַׁנְתֶּם.  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):
26I invoke heaven and earth today as witnesses against you that you will speedily and utterly perish from the land into which you are crossing the Jordan River to possess; you will not endure in it, but will be utterly destroyed.   כוהַֽעִידֹ֩תִי֩ בָכֶ֨ם הַיּ֜וֹם אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם וְאֶת־הָאָ֗רֶץ כִּֽי־אָבֹ֣ד תֹּאבֵדוּן֘ מַהֵר֒ מֵעַ֣ל הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַתֶּ֜ם עֹֽבְרִ֧ים אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֛ן שָׁ֖מָּה לְרִשְׁתָּ֑הּ לֹא־תַֽאֲרִיכֻ֤ן יָמִים֙ עָלֶ֔יהָ כִּ֥י הִשָּׁמֵ֖ד תִּשָּֽׁמֵדֽוּן:
הַֽעִידֹתִי בָכֶם - I invoke as witnesses against you - i.e., I hereby call them to be witnesses that I have warned you.   הַֽעִידֹתִי בָכֶם.  הִנְנִי מַזְמִינָם לִהְיוֹת עֵדִים שֶׁהִתְרֵיתִי בָכֶם:
27God will scatter you among the peoples, and you will remain few in number among the nations to where God will lead you.   כזוְהֵפִ֧יץ יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם בָּֽעַמִּ֑ים וְנִשְׁאַרְתֶּם֙ מְתֵ֣י מִסְפָּ֔ר בַּגּוֹיִ֕ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְנַהֵ֧ג יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם שָֽׁמָּה:
28As slaves to idol-worshippers, it will be as though you will be worshiping their deities there—man’s handiwork, wood and stone—that cannot see, hear, eat, or smell.   כחוַֽעֲבַדְתֶּם־שָׁ֣ם אֱלֹהִ֔ים מַֽעֲשֵׂ֖ה יְדֵ֣י אָדָ֑ם עֵ֣ץ וָאֶ֔בֶן אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־יִרְאוּן֙ וְלֹ֣א יִשְׁמְע֔וּן וְלֹ֥א יֹֽאכְל֖וּן וְלֹ֥א יְרִיחֻֽן:
וַֽעֲבַדְתֶּם־שָׁם אֱלֹהִים - (lit.) And you will worship deities there. Its meaning is as Onkelos translates it; i.e., when you serve those who serve idols, it will be as though you are serving idols.   וַֽעֲבַדְתֶּם־שָׁם אֱלֹהִים.  כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, מִשֶּׁאַתֶּם עוֹבְדִים לְעוֹבְדֵיהֶם כְּאִלּוּ אַתֶּם עוֹבְדִים לָהֶם:
29You will eventually seek God, your God, from there, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.   כטוּבִקַּשְׁתֶּ֥ם מִשָּׁ֛ם אֶת־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ וּמָצָ֑אתָ כִּ֣י תִדְרְשֶׁ֔נּוּ בְּכָל־לְבָֽבְךָ֖ וּבְכָל־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ:
30When you are distressed, and all these things happen to you in the end of the days of your exile, you will return to God, your God, and obey Him.   לבַּצַּ֣ר לְךָ֔ וּמְצָא֕וּךָ כֹּ֖ל הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה בְּאַֽחֲרִית֙ הַיָּמִ֔ים וְשַׁבְתָּ֙ עַד־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ וְשָֽׁמַעְתָּ֖ בְּקֹלֽוֹ:
31For God, your God, is a merciful God: He will not loosen His hold on you nor destroy you; neither will He forget the covenant of your forefathers, which He swore to them.   לאכִּ֣י אֵ֤ל רַחוּם֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לֹ֥א יַרְפְּךָ֖ וְלֹ֣א יַשְׁחִיתֶ֑ךָ וְלֹ֤א יִשְׁכַּח֙ אֶת־בְּרִ֣ית אֲבֹתֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבַּ֖ע לָהֶֽם:
לֹא יַרְפְּךָ - (lit.) He will not let you slip - from holding on to you with His hands. The term לֹא יַרְפְּךָ is a causative (hif’il) form, i.e., He will not allow you to slip; He will not separate you from being with Him. Similarly: אֲחַזְתִּיו וְלֹא אַרְפֶּנּוּ “I took hold of Him and would not let Him go,” 5 which is not vocalized אֶרְפֶּנּוּ. Any instance of the term רִפְיוֹן may be used in a causative or reflexive sense, as in: הַרְפֵּה לָהּ “let go of her,” 6 meaning: let her come loose; and הֶרֶף מִמֶּנִּי “Leave Me alone,” 7 which means literally: loosen yourself from Me.   לֹא יַרְפְּךָ.  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:
32You need only inquire regarding the early days that preceded you—since the day that God created humanity on the earth—and from one end of heaven to the other, whether there was ever anything like this great phenomenon, or was the likes of it ever heard:   לבכִּ֣י שְׁאַל־נָא֩ לְיָמִ֨ים רִֽאשֹׁנִ֜ים אֲשֶׁר־הָי֣וּ לְפָנֶ֗יךָ לְמִן־הַיּוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁר֩ בָּרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים | אָדָם֙ עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ וּלְמִקְצֵ֥ה הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְעַד־קְצֵ֣ה הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם הֲנִֽהְיָ֗ה כַּדָּבָ֤ר הַגָּדוֹל֙ הַזֶּ֔ה א֖וֹ הֲנִשְׁמַ֥ע כָּמֹֽהוּ:
לְיָמִים ראשונים - (lit.) To early days - means: regarding the early days.   לְיָמִים ראשונים.  עַל יָמִים רִאשׁוֹנִים:
וּלְמִקְצֵה הַשָּׁמַיִם - From one end of heaven - i.e., also ask this question to all beings who exist from one end of heaven to the other. This is its straightforward meaning. But its Midrashic explanation is: It teaches us that originally, Adam’s height reached from earth to heaven, which is the same measurement as one end of the world to the other. 8   וּלְמִקְצֵה הַשָּׁמַיִם.  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):
הֲנִֽהְיָה כַּדָּבָר הַגָּדוֹל הַזֶּה - Whether there was anything like this great phenomenon. And what is this great phenomenon? – “Did a people ever hear…?”   הֲנִֽהְיָה כַּדָּבָר הַגָּדוֹל הַזֶּה.  וּמַהוּ הַדָּבָר הַגָּדוֹל, השמע עם וגו':
33Did a people ever hear God’s voice speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and remain alive?   לגהֲשָׁ֣מַ֥ע עָם֩ ק֨וֹל אֱלֹהִ֜ים מְדַבֵּ֧ר מִתּֽוֹךְ־הָאֵ֛שׁ כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־שָׁמַ֥עְתָּ אַתָּ֖ה וַיֶּֽחִי:
34Or has any god miraculously come and taken for himself a nation from the midst of another nation, with trials, signs, marvels, war, a mighty hand, an outstretched arm, or great manifestations of his presence, as all that God, your God, did for you in Egypt before your eyes?   לדא֣וֹ | הֲנִסָּ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֗ים לָ֠ב֠וֹא לָקַ֨חַת ל֣וֹ גוֹי֘ מִקֶּ֣רֶב גּוֹי֒ בְּמַסֹּת֩ בְּאֹתֹ֨ת וּבְמֽוֹפְתִ֜ים וּבְמִלְחָמָ֗ה וּבְיָ֤ד חֲזָקָה֙ וּבִזְר֣וֹעַ נְטוּיָ֔ה וּבְמֽוֹרָאִ֖ים גְּדֹלִ֑ים כְּ֠כֹ֠ל אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֨ה לָכֶ֜ם יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֛ם בְּמִצְרַ֖יִם לְעֵינֶֽיךָ:
אוֹ הֲנִסָּה אֱלֹהִים - means: “did any deity perform miracles to come and take for himself a nation…?”   אוֹ הֲנִסָּה אֱלֹהִים.  הֲכִי עָשָׂה נִסִּים שׁוּם אֱלוֹהַּ , :
לבוא לקחת לו גוי וגו' - All these words with a ה prefix are rhetorical questions, and are therefore vocalized with a chataf-patach: הֲנִהְיָה, הֲנִשְׁמַע, הֲנִסָּה, הֲשָׁמַע.   לבוא לקחת לו גוי וגו'.  כָּל הֵהִי"ן הַלָּלוּ תְּמִיהוֹת הֵן, לְכָךְ נְקוּדוֹת הֵן בַּחֲטָף פַּתָּח: הֲנִהְיָה, הֲנִשְׁמַע, הֲשָׁמַע, הֲנִסָּה:
בְּמַסֹּת - With trials - Through trials, He showed them His might, such as: “Show off at my expense” 9 by testing if I can do this. This is called נִסָּיוֹן “a trial.”   בְּמַסֹּת.  עַל יְדֵי נִסְיוֹנוֹת הוֹדִיעָם גְּבוּרוֹתָיו, כְּגוֹן "הִתְפָּאֵר עָלַי" (שמות ח') אִם אוּכַל לַעֲשׂוֹת כֵּן, הֲרֵי זֶה נִסָּיוֹן:
בְּאֹתֹת - means with signs. so that they believe that Moses is the agent of the Omnipresent, such as: “What is that in your hand?” 10 where the staff turned into a snake.   בְּאֹתֹת.  בְּסִימָנִין, לְהַאֲמִין שֶׁהוּא שְׁלוּחוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם, כְּגוֹן "מַה זֶּה בְיָדֶךָ" (שם ד'):
וּבְמֽוֹפְתִים - These are wonders, referring to the fact that He brought upon them wondrous plagues.   וּבְמֽוֹפְתִים.  הֵם נִפְלָאוֹת, שֶׁהֵבִיא עֲלֵיהֶם מַכּוֹת מֻפְלָאוֹת:
ובמלחמה - With war. at the Sea of Reeds, as it says: “for God is fighting for them.” 11   ובמלחמה.  בים, שנאמר (שם יד כה) כי ה' נלחם להם:
35You were shown in order to know that God is the only God; there is no other reality besides Him.   להאַתָּה֙ הָרְאֵ֣תָ לָדַ֔עַת כִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה ה֣וּא הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים אֵ֥ין ע֖וֹד מִלְּבַדּֽוֹ:
הָרְאֵתָ - Its meaning is as Onkelos translates it: אִתַּחֲזִיתָא “you were shown.” When the Holy One, blessed be He, gave the Torah, He opened the seven heavens for the Israelites so they could see how they manifest Divinity, and just as He tore open the upper spheres, so did He tear open the lower ones, and they saw that He is the sole reality within creation. It thus says: “You were shown in order to know.”   הָרְאֵתָ.  כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ "אִתְחֲזֵיתָא"; כְּשֶׁנָּתַן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶת הַתּוֹרָה פָּתַח לָהֶם שִׁבְעָה רְקִיעִים, וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁקָּרַע אֶת הָעֶלְיוֹנִים כָּךְ קָרַע אֶת הַתַּחְתּוֹנִים, וְרָאוּ שֶׁהוּא יְחִידִי, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר "אַתָּה הָרְאֵתָ לָדַעַת":
36From heaven He made you hear His voice, to instruct you; upon the earth, He showed you His great fire; and you heard His words issuing out of the midst of the fire.   לומִן־הַשָּׁמַ֛יִם הִשְׁמִֽיעֲךָ֥ אֶת־קֹל֖וֹ לְיַסְּרֶ֑ךָּ וְעַל־הָאָ֗רֶץ הֶרְאֲךָ֙ אֶת־אִשּׁ֣וֹ הַגְּדוֹלָ֔ה וּדְבָרָ֥יו שָׁמַ֖עְתָּ מִתּ֥וֹךְ הָאֵֽשׁ:
37Because He loved your forefathers and chose their seed after them, He took you out of Egypt in front of Him with His great strength,   לזוְתַ֗חַת כִּ֤י אָהַב֙ אֶת־אֲבֹתֶ֔יךָ וַיִּבְחַ֥ר בְּזַרְע֖וֹ אַֽחֲרָ֑יו וַיּוֹצִֽאֲךָ֧ בְּפָנָ֛יו בְּכֹח֥וֹ הַגָּדֹ֖ל מִמִּצְרָֽיִם:
וְתַחַת כִּי אָהַב - Because He loved - i.e., all this He did because He loved them.   וְתַחַת כִּי אָהַב.  וְכָל זֶה תַּחַת אֲשֶׁר אָהַב:
וַיּוֹצִֽאֲךָ בְּפָנָיו - He brought you out in front of Him - like a person leads his son in front of him, as it says: “The angel of God who had been advancing…moved, going behind them.” 12 Another explanation: וַיּוֹצִאֲךָ בְּפָנָיו means: He took you out in the presence of your forefathers, as it says: “He performed wonders in front of their forefathers.” 13 Do not be surprised that the forefathers are mentioned in the singular, for they are referred to here in the singular: וַיִּבְחַר בְּזַרְעוֹ אַחֲרָיו “He chose (lit.) his seed after him,” where “his” and “him” refer to the forefathers.   וַיּוֹצִֽאֲךָ בְּפָנָיו.  כְּאָדָם הַמַּנְהִיג בְּנוֹ לְפָנָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וַיִּסַּע מַלְאַךְ הָאֱלֹהִים הַהֹלֵךְ וְגוֹ' וַיֵּלֶךְ מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶם" (שם). דָּבָר אַחֵר, 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:
38in order to drive out from before you nations greater and stronger than you, to bring you to their land and give you their land as an inheritance, as you see today.   לחלְהוֹרִ֗ישׁ גּוֹיִ֛ם גְּדֹלִ֧ים וַֽעֲצֻמִ֛ים מִמְּךָ֖ מִפָּנֶ֑יךָ לַֽהֲבִֽיאֲךָ֗ לָֽתֶת־לְךָ֧ אֶת־אַרְצָ֛ם נַֽחֲלָ֖ה כַּיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה:
מִמְּךָ מִפָּנֶיךָ - (lit.) Than you from before you. Rearrange the words and thus interpret the verse: To drive out from before you nations that are greater and stronger than you.   מִמְּךָ מִפָּנֶיךָ.  סָרְסֵהוּ וְדָרְשֵׁהוּ: לְהוֹרִישׁ מִפָּנֶיךָ גּוֹיִם גְּדוֹלִים וַעֲצוּמִים מִמְּךָ:
כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּֽה - As today - i.e., as you see today.   כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּֽה.  כַּאֲשֶׁר אַתָּה רוֹאֶה הַיּוֹם:
39You must know today and consider in your heart that God is the only God in heaven above and on earth below; there is nothing else.   לטוְיָֽדַעְתָּ֣ הַיּ֗וֹם וַֽהֲשֵֽׁבֹתָ֘ אֶל־לְבָבֶ֒ךָ֒ כִּ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ ה֣וּא הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם מִמַּ֔עַל וְעַל־הָאָ֖רֶץ מִתָּ֑חַת אֵ֖ין עֽוֹד:
40You must observe His rules and His commandments that I am commanding you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you, and so that you may endure in the land that God, your God, is giving to you forever.”   מוְשָֽׁמַרְתָּ֞ אֶת־חֻקָּ֣יו וְאֶת־מִצְו‍ֹתָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָֽנֹכִ֤י מְצַוְּךָ֙ הַיּ֔וֹם אֲשֶׁר֙ יִיטַ֣ב לְךָ֔ וּלְבָנֶ֖יךָ אַֽחֲרֶ֑יךָ וּלְמַ֨עַן תַּֽאֲרִ֤יךְ יָמִים֙ עַל־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים: