1Everything I command you—that is what you must be careful to do; you must neither add to it nor detract from it. |
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אאֵ֣ת כָּל־הַדָּבָ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֤ר אָֽנֹכִי֙ מְצַוֶּ֣ה אֶתְכֶ֔ם אֹת֥וֹ תִשְׁמְר֖וּ לַֽעֲשׂ֑וֹת לֹֽא־תֹסֵ֣ף עָלָ֔יו וְלֹ֥א תִגְרַ֖ע מִמֶּֽנּוּ: |
אֵת כָּל־הַדָּבָר - Everything - i.e., a “light” commandment to the same extent as a more severe one. |
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אֵת כָּל־הַדָּבָר.
קַלָּה כַּחֲמוּרָה (שם):
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תִשְׁמְרוּ לַֽעֲשׂוֹת - You must be careful to do. This expression adds a passive commandment to the active commandments mentioned in this passage, for wherever הִשָּׁמֶר is stated, it denotes a passive commandment. Nevertheless, no lashes are given for the violation of a prohibition phrased with the word הִשָּׁמֶר when it is associated with an active commandment. |
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תִשְׁמְרוּ לַֽעֲשׂוֹת.
לִתֵּן לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה עַל עֲשֵׂה הָאֲמוּרִים בַּפָּרָשָׁה, שֶׁכָּל הִשָּׁמֶר לְשׁוֹן לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה הוּא, אֶלָּא שֶׁאֵין לוֹקִין עַל הִשָּׁמֶר שֶׁל עֲשֵׂה (מכות י"ג):
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לֹֽא־תֹסֵף עָלָיו - You must not add to it - e.g., by making five compartments as reminders in tefilin instead of four, by taking five plant parts for the commandment of lulav instead of four, or by reciting four blessings in the priestly blessing instead of three. |
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לֹֽא־תֹסֵף עָלָיו.
חֲמִשָּׁה טֹטָפוֹת, חֲמִשָּׁה מִינִין בַּלּוּלָב, אַרְבַּע בְּרָכוֹת לְבִרְכַּת כֹּהֲנִים (ספרי):
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2If there will arise among you a prophet or dreamer, and he gives you a sign or a marvel, |
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בכִּֽי־יָק֤וּם בְּקִרְבְּךָ֙ נָבִ֔יא א֖וֹ חֹלֵ֣ם חֲל֑וֹם וְנָתַ֥ן אֵלֶ֛יךָ א֖וֹת א֥וֹ מוֹפֵֽת: |
וְנָתַן אֵלֶיךָ אוֹת - And he gives you a sign - in heaven, like that which is stated regarding Gideon: “perform a sign for me,” and it says: “let only the fleece be dry, but on the entire ground let there be dew.” |
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וְנָתַן אֵלֶיךָ אוֹת.
בַּשָּׁמַיִם, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּגִדְעוֹן (שופטים ו') "וְעָשִׂיתָ לִּי אוֹת" וְאוֹמֵר "יְהִי נָא חֹרֶב אֶל הַגִּזָּה" וְגוֹ':
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אוֹ מוֹפֵֽת - Or a marvel - on earth. Nevertheless do not listen to him. If you ask: If so, why does the Holy One, blessed be He, give him the authority to perform a sign? The answer is: “Because God, your God, is testing you.” |
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אוֹ מוֹפֵֽת.
בָּאָרֶץ:
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וְנָתַן אֵלֶיךָ אוֹת - and he gives you a sign. in the heavens, as is written, “and they shall be for signs (לְאֹתֹת) and for seasons” |
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וְנָתַן אֵלֶיךָ אוֹת. בשמים דכתיב והיו לאותות ולמועדים:
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אוֹ מוֹפֵֽת - or a marvel. on the earth, as is written, “If there will be dew on the fleece only, and upon all the ground, dry”. Even so, you shall not listen to him. But if you say, “Why then does the Holy One, blessed is He, give him the power to perform a sign? ”for the Lord, your God, is testing you". - [Sifrei; San. 90a] |
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אוֹ מוֹפֵֽת.
בארץ דכתיב אם טל יהיה על הגזה לבדה ועל כל הארץ חורב)
, אַף עַל פִּי כֵן לֹא תִשְׁמַע לוֹ, וְאִם תֹּאמַר מִפְּנֵי מָה נוֹתֵן לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מֶמְשָׁלָה לַעֲשׂוֹת אוֹת? כי מנסה ה' אלהיכם אתכם (ספרי; עי' סנהדרין צ'):
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3and the sign or the marvel of which he spoke to you takes place, and he says, ‘Let us follow other peoples’ deities, which you have not known, and let us worship them,’ |
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גוּבָ֤א הָאוֹת֙ וְהַמּוֹפֵ֔ת אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר אֵלֶ֖יךָ לֵאמֹ֑ר נֵֽלְכָ֞ה אַֽחֲרֵ֨י אֱלֹהִ֧ים אֲחֵרִ֛ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יְדַעְתָּ֖ם וְנָֽעָבְדֵֽם: |
4you must not heed the words of that prophet or dreamer, because God, your God, is testing you to ascertain whether you really love God, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul. |
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דלֹ֣א תִשְׁמַ֗ע אֶל־דִּבְרֵי֙ הַנָּבִ֣יא הַה֔וּא א֛וֹ אֶל־חוֹלֵ֥ם הַֽחֲל֖וֹם הַה֑וּא כִּ֣י מְנַסֶּ֞ה יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙ אֶתְכֶ֔ם לָדַ֗עַת הֲיִשְׁכֶ֤ם אֹֽהֲבִים֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם בְּכָל־לְבַבְכֶ֖ם וּבְכָל־נַפְשְׁכֶֽם: |
5You must follow God, your God; fear Him; safeguard His commandments; heed His voice; worship Him; and cleave to Him. |
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האַֽחֲרֵ֨י יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֛ם תֵּלֵ֖כוּ וְאֹת֣וֹ תִירָ֑אוּ וְאֶת־מִצְוֹתָ֤יו תִּשְׁמֹ֨רוּ֙ וּבְקֹל֣וֹ תִשְׁמָ֔עוּ וְאֹת֥וֹ תַֽעֲבֹ֖דוּ וּב֥וֹ תִדְבָּקֽוּן: |
וְאֶת־מצותיו תִּשְׁמֹרוּ - Safeguard His commandments - i.e., given in the law of Moses, not any the false prophet bids you keep. |
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וְאֶת־מצותיו תִּשְׁמֹרוּ.
תּוֹרַת מֹשֶׁה:
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וּבְקֹלוֹ תִשְׁמָעוּ - Heed His voice - i.e., the voice of the legitimate prophets, not that of false prophets. |
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וּבְקֹלוֹ תִשְׁמָעוּ.
בְּקוֹל הַנְּבִיאִים:
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וְאֹתוֹ תַֽעֲבֹדוּ - Worship Him - with the prescribed practices in His Temple, not using any other practices the false prophet suggests. |
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וְאֹתוֹ תַֽעֲבֹדוּ.
בְּמִקְדָּשׁוֹ (ספרי):
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וּבוֹ תִדְבָּקֽוּן - And cleave to Him - i.e., adhere to His ways: carry out acts of kindness beyond what is required by law, e.g., bury the dead and visit the sick, just as the Holy One, blessed be He, did. |
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וּבוֹ תִדְבָּקֽוּן.
הִדַּבֵּק בִּדְרָכָיו – גְּמֹל חֲסָדִים, קְבֹר מֵתִים, בַּקֵּר חוֹלִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁעָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא (סוטה י"ד):
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6That prophet or dreamer must be put to death because he spoke deceptively about God, your God, who took you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slaves, in order to lead you astray from the way in which God, your God, commanded you to go. So must you eliminate this evil from your midst. |
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ווְהַנָּבִ֣יא הַה֡וּא א֣וֹ חֹלֵם֩ הַֽחֲל֨וֹם הַה֜וּא יוּמָ֗ת כִּ֣י דִבֶּר־סָ֠רָ֠ה עַל־יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֜ם הַמּוֹצִ֥יא אֶתְכֶ֣ם | מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֗יִם וְהַפֹּֽדְךָ֙ מִבֵּ֣ית עֲבָדִ֔ים לְהַדִּֽיחֲךָ֙ מִן־הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֧ר צִוְּךָ֛ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ לָלֶ֣כֶת בָּ֑הּ וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥ הָרָ֖ע מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ: |
סָרָה - i.e., something that is removed from the world, for it never existed, was never created, and I never instructed him to say it; “destolude” in Old French. |
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סָרָה.
דָּבָר הַמּוּסָר מִן הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה וְלֹא נִבְרָא וְלֹא צִוִּיתִיו לְדַבֵּר כֵּן, דישטו"רנורא בְּלַעַז:
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וְהַפֹּֽדְךָ מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים - And redeemed you from the house of slaves. Even if His only claim upon you is that He redeemed you, that is sufficient. |
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וְהַפֹּֽדְךָ מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים.
אֲפִלּוּ אֵין לוֹ עָלֶיךָ אֶלָּא שֶׁפְּדָאֲךָ — דַּיּוֹ (ספרי):
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7If your brother, the son of your mother; your son; your daughter; the wife who lies in your embrace; or your friend as dear to you as your own soul; incites you in secret, saying, ‘Let us go and worship other peoples’ deities, which neither you nor your forefathers have known,’ |
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זכִּ֣י יְסִֽיתְךָ֡ אָחִ֣יךָ בֶן־אִ֠מֶּ֠ךָ אֽוֹ־בִנְךָ֨ אֽוֹ־בִתְּךָ֜ א֣וֹ | אֵ֣שֶׁת חֵיקֶ֗ךָ א֧וֹ רֵֽעֲךָ֛ אֲשֶׁ֥ר כְּנַפְשְׁךָ֖ בַּסֵּ֣תֶר לֵאמֹ֑ר נֵֽלְכָ֗ה וְנַֽעַבְדָה֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְתָּ אַתָּ֖ה וַֽאֲבֹתֶֽיךָ: |
כִּי יְסִֽיתְךָ - If he incites you. The term הֲסָתָה means nothing else than inciting, as it says: “if God incited you (הֱסִיתְךָ) against me”; “ametra” in Old French, meaning that he induces him to do so. |
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כִּי יְסִֽיתְךָ.
אֵין הֲסָתָה אֶלָּא גֵּרוּי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ש"מ כ"ו) אִם ה' הֱסִיתְךָ בִּי, אנסיטר"א בְּלַעַז, שֶׁמַּשִּׂיאוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת כֵּן:
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אָחִיךָ - Your brother - from your father, or |
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אָחִיךָ.
מֵאָב:
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בֶן־אִמֶּךָ - the son of your mother - i.e., your brother from your mother. |
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בֶן־אִמֶּךָ.
מֵאֵם:
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חֵיקֶךָ - (lit.) The wife of your bosom. i.e., who lies in your bosom and is attached to you; “afichiede” in Old French. Similarly we find: וּמֵחֵיק הָאָרֶץ (lit.) “and from the bosom of the earth,” i.e., from the base adjacent to the earth. |
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חֵיקֶךָ.
הַשּׁוֹכֶבֶת בְּחֵיקְךָ וּמְחֻקָּה בְּךָ, אפקיי"דא בְּלַעַז, וְכֵן (יחזקאל מ"ג), "וּמֵחֵיק הָאָרֶץ" – מִיסוֹד הַתָּקוּעַ בָּאָרֶץ:
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אֲשֶׁר כְּנַפְשְׁךָ - [As dear to you] as your own soul. This refers to your father. Scripture specifies those who are dear to you, and all the more does this apply to others. |
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אֲשֶׁר כְּנַפְשְׁךָ.
זֶה אָבִיךָ, פֵּרֵשׁ לְךָ הַכָּתוּב אֶת הַחֲבִיבִין לְךָ, קַל וָחֹמֶר לַאֲחֵרִים:
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בַּסֵּתֶר - In secret. Scripture speaks of what commonly occurs, for he who incites others to sin generally speaks only in secret. Similarly, King Solomon says regarding those who entice to sin: “in the twilight, as the day darkens, in the black of night and darkness.” |
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בַּסֵּתֶר.
דִּבֵּר הַכָּתוּב בַּהוֹוֶה, שֶׁאֵין דִּבְרֵי מֵסִית אֶלָּא בַּסֵּתֶר, וְכֵן שְׁלֹמֹה הוּא אוֹמֵר (משלי ז') "בְּנֶשֶׁף בְּעֶרֶב יוֹם בְּאִישׁוֹן לַיְלָה וַאֲפֵלָה":
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אֲשֶׁר לֹא יָדַעְתָּ אַתָּה וַֽאֲבֹתֶֽיךָ - Which neither you nor your forefathers have known. Such an idea should be greatly shameful for you, since even the other nations do not abandon the traditions handed down to them by their fathers, yet this person tells you to forsake that which your fathers have handed down to you. |
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אֲשֶׁר לֹא יָדַעְתָּ אַתָּה וַֽאֲבֹתֶֽיךָ.
דָּבָר זֶה גְּנַאי גָּדוֹל הוּא לְךָ – שֶׁאַף הָאֻמּוֹת אֵין מַנִּיחִין מַה שֶּׁמָּסְרוּ לָהֶם אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם, וְזֶה אוֹמֵר לְךָ עֲזֹב מַה שֶּׁמָּסְרוּ לְךָ אֲבוֹתֶיךָ (ספרי):
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8from among the deities of the peoples around you, near you or far away from you, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth; |
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חמֵֽאֱלֹהֵ֣י הָֽעַמִּ֗ים אֲשֶׁר֙ סְבִיבֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם הַקְּרֹבִ֣ים אֵלֶ֔יךָ א֖וֹ הָֽרְחֹקִ֣ים מִמֶּ֑ךָּ מִקְצֵ֥ה הָאָ֖רֶץ וְעַד־קְצֵ֥ה הָאָֽרֶץ: |
הַקְּרֹבִים אֵלֶיךָ אוֹ הָֽרְחֹקִים - Near you or far away. Why does Scripture specify both those near and far? Scripture only means to say thus: From the nature of the deities worshiped nearby, you can infer the nature of those far away; just as you see that those worshiped nearby have no substance, those far away likewise have no substance. |
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הַקְּרֹבִים אֵלֶיךָ אוֹ הָֽרְחֹקִים.
לָמָּה פֵּרֵט קְרוֹבִים וּרְחוֹקִים? אֶלָּא כָּךְ אָמַר הַכָּתוּב: מִטִּיבָן שֶׁל קְרוֹבִים אַתָּה לָמֵד טִיבָן שֶׁל רְחוֹקִים, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאֵין מַמָּשׁ בַּקְּרוֹבִים, כָּךְ אֵין מַמָּשׁ בָּרְחוֹקִים (סנהדרין ס"א):
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מִקְצֵה הָאָרֶץ - From one end of the earth. This refers to the sun, the moon, and all the host of heaven, which travel from one end of the world to the other. |
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מִקְצֵה הָאָרֶץ.
זוֹ חַמָּה וּלְבָנָה וּצְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם שֶׁהֵן מְהַלְּכִין מִסּוֹף הָעוֹלָם וְעַד סוֹפוֹ (ספרי):
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9you must not love him; you must not hearken to him; you must not pity him; you must not have mercy; you must not cover up for him. |
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טלֹֽא־תֹאבֶ֣ה ל֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א תִשְׁמַ֖ע אֵלָ֑יו וְלֹֽא־תָח֤וֹס עֵֽינְךָ֙ עָלָ֔יו וְלֹֽא־תַחְמֹ֥ל וְלֹֽא־תְכַסֶּ֖ה עָלָֽיו: |
לֹֽא־תֹאבֶה לוֹ - You must not (lit.) consent to him - means: you must not show any desire (תָּאֵב) for him, i.e., you must not love him, for since it says: “you must love your fellow as yourself,” Scripture teaches us here that you may not love this person. |
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לֹֽא־תֹאבֶה לוֹ.
לֹא תְהֵא תָאֵב לוֹ, לֹא תֶּאֱהָבֶנּוּ, לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא י"ט) וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ – אֶת זֶה לֹא תֶאֱהַב:
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וְלֹא תִשְׁמַע אֵלָיו - You must not hearken to him - when he pleads for his life to be forgiven, for since it says: “you must help him,” Scripture teaches us here that you may not help this person. |
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וְלֹא תִשְׁמַע אֵלָיו.
בְּהִתְחַנְּנוֹ עַל נַפְשׁוֹ לִמְחֹל לוֹ, לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כ"ג) עָזֹב תַּעֲזֹב עִמּוֹ – לָזֶה לֹא תַעֲזֹב:
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וְלֹא תָחוֹס עֵֽינְךָ עָלָיו - You must not pity him. Since it says: “You must not stand by when you see your fellow’s blood being shed,” Scripture teaches us here that you may not pity this person. |
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וְלֹא תָחוֹס עֵֽינְךָ עָלָיו.
לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא י"ט) לֹא תַעֲמֹד עַל דַּם רֵעֶךָ – עַל זֶה לֹא תָחֹס:
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וְלֹא תַחְמֹל - You must not have mercy - i.e., do not argue to exonerate him. |
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וְלֹא תַחְמֹל.
לֹא תַהֲפֹךְ בִּזְכוּתוֹ:
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וְלֹא תְכַסֶּה עָלָיו - You must not cover up for him - i.e., if you know something that would incriminate him, you are not allowed to remain silent. |
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וְלֹא תְכַסֶּה עָלָיו.
אִם אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ לוֹ חוֹבָה אֵינְךָ רַשַּׁאי לִשְׁתֹּק (ספרי):
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10Rather, you must kill him. Your hand must be the first against him to put him to death, and afterwards he must die at the hand of all the people. |
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יכִּ֤י הָרֹג֙ תַּֽהַרְגֶ֔נּוּ יָֽדְךָ֛ תִּֽהְיֶה־בּ֥וֹ בָרִֽאשׁוֹנָ֖ה לַֽהֲמִית֑וֹ וְיַ֥ד כָּל־הָעָ֖ם בָּאַֽחֲרֹנָֽה: |
כִּי הָרֹג תַּֽהַרְגֶנּוּ - Rather, you must kill him. If he left the court exonerated, bring him back if there is cause to incriminate him; if he left the court condemned, do not bring him back if there is cause to exonerate him. |
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כִּי הָרֹג תַּֽהַרְגֶנּוּ.
אִם יָצָא מִבֵּית דִּין זַכַּאי הַחֲזִירֵהוּ לְחוֹבָה, יָצָא מִבֵּית דִּין חַיָּב אַל תַּחֲזִירֵהוּ לִזְכוּת (שם):
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יָֽדְךָ תִּֽהְיֶה־בּוֹ בָרִֽאשׁוֹנָה - Your hand must be the first against him. The obligation to kill him devolves upon the one whom he attempted to incite, and only if he does not die by his hand must he die at the hand of others, as it says: “and afterwards the hand of all the people.” |
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יָֽדְךָ תִּֽהְיֶה־בּוֹ בָרִֽאשׁוֹנָה.
מִצְוָה בְּיַד הַנִּסָּת לַהֲמִיתוֹ. לֹא מֵת בְּיָדוֹ, יָמוּת בְּיַד אֲחֵרִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ויד כל העם וגו' (עי' ספרי):
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11You must pelt him with stones so that he dies, because he sought to lead you astray from God, your God, who took you out of Egypt, out of the house of slaves. |
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יאוּסְקַלְתּ֥וֹ בָֽאֲבָנִ֖ים וָמֵ֑ת כִּי בִקֵּ֗שׁ לְהַדִּֽיחֲךָ֙ מֵעַל֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ הַמּוֹצִֽיאֲךָ֛ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם מִבֵּ֥ית עֲבָדִֽים: |
12All Israel must listen to the case so that they be afraid to do likewise, and so that they never again commit any evil such as this in your midst. |
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יבוְכָ֨ל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל יִשְׁמְע֖וּ וְיִֽרָא֑וּן וְלֹֽא־יוֹסִ֣פוּ לַֽעֲשׂ֗וֹת כַּדָּבָ֥ר הָרָ֛ע הַזֶּ֖ה בְּקִרְבֶּֽךָ: |
13If you hear people in one of your residential cities that God, your God, is giving you, saying, |
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יגכִּֽי־תִשְׁמַ֞ע בְּאַחַ֣ת עָרֶ֗יךָ אֲשֶׁר֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֛ לָשֶׁ֥בֶת שָׁ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר: |
לָשֶׁבֶת שָׁם - (lit.) To live there. This excludes Jerusalem, which was the setting for the Temple service and not designated for residence. |
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לָשֶׁבֶת שָׁם.
פְּרָט לִירוּשָׁלַיִם שֶׁלֹּא נִתְּנָה לְדִירָה (שם):
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כִּֽי־תִשְׁמַע לֵאמֹֽר - If you hear…saying. i.e., who say the following: יָצְאוּ אֲנָשִׁים וגו׳ “Men who are unfaithful have gone forth….” |
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כִּֽי־תִשְׁמַע לֵאמֹֽר.
אוֹמְרִים כֵּן יָצְאוּ וְגוֹ' –
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14‘Men who are unfaithful have gone forth from among you and have led the inhabitants of their city astray, saying, “Let us go and worship other peoples’ deities, which you have not known,”’ |
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ידיָֽצְא֞וּ אֲנָשִׁ֤ים בְּנֵֽי־בְלִיַּ֨עַל֙ מִקִּרְבֶּ֔ךָ וַיַּדִּ֛יחוּ אֶת־יֽשְׁבֵ֥י עִירָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר נֵֽלְכָ֗ה וְנַֽעַבְדָ֛ה אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יְדַעְתֶּֽם: |
אֲנָשִׁים - Men - and not women. |
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אֲנָשִׁים.
וְלֹא נָשִׁים:
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בְּנֵֽי־בְלִיַּעַל - means: those without a yoke (בְּלִי עֹל), i.e., who threw off the yoke of the Omnipresent. |
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בְּנֵֽי־בְלִיַּעַל.
בְּלִי עֹל, שֶׁפָּרְקוּ עֻלּוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם (שם):
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יֽשְׁבֵי עִירָם - The inhabitants of their city - but not inhabitants of another city. Our sages derived from here that a city cannot become subject to the laws of an idolatrous city unless it was men who lead it astray, and these inciters are inhabitants of that city. |
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יֽשְׁבֵי עִירָם.
וְלֹא יוֹשְׁבֵי עִיר אַחֶרֶת, מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ אֵין נַעֲשֵׂית עִיר הַנִּדַּחַת עַד שֶׁיַּדִּיחוּהָ אֲנָשִׁים וְעַד שֶׁיִּהְיוּ מַדִּיחֶיהָ מִתּוֹכָהּ (סנהדרין קי"א):
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15you must inquire, investigate, and question the witnesses thoroughly. If it is indeed true, the matter is certain, that this abomination has been committed in your midst, |
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טווְדָֽרַשְׁתָּ֧ וְחָֽקַרְתָּ֛ וְשָֽׁאַלְתָּ֖ הֵיטֵ֑ב וְהִנֵּ֤ה אֱמֶת֙ נָכ֣וֹן הַדָּבָ֔ר נֶֽעֶשְׂתָ֛ה הַתּוֹעֵבָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את בְּקִרְבֶּֽךָ: |
וְדָֽרַשְׁתָּ וְחָֽקַרְתָּ וְשָֽׁאַלְתָּ הֵיטֵב - You must inquire, investigate, and question thoroughly. From here – from the many terms used – our sages learned that seven investigative questions must be asked. Here, there are three terms: “inquire,” “investigate,” and “thoroughly.” The term וְשָׁאַלְתָּ “question” is not counted, since the examinations relating to additional details are derived from there. Elsewhere it says: וְדָרְשׁוּ הַשֹּׁפְטִים הֵיטֵב “The judges must investigate thoroughly” denoting two questions; and in yet another place it says: וְדָרַשְׁתָּ הֵיטֵב “and you investigate thoroughly” also denoting two – making a total of seven. Our sages then applied an analogy (גְּזֵרָה שָׁוָה), using the word הֵיטֵב stated in all three places, to apply that which is stated in one place to the others. |
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וְדָֽרַשְׁתָּ וְחָֽקַרְתָּ וְשָֽׁאַלְתָּ הֵיטֵב.
מִכָּאן לָמְדוּ שֶׁבַע חֲקִירוֹת מֵרִבּוּי הַמִּקְרָא, כָּאן יֵשׁ ג' – דְּרִישָׁה וַחֲקִירָה וְהֵיטֵב, וְשָׁאַלְתָּ אֵינוֹ מִן הַמִּנְיָן, וּמִמֶּנּוּ לָמְדוּ בְּדִיקוֹת – וּבְמָקוֹם אַחֵר הוּא אוֹמֵר (דברים י"ט) "וְדָרְשׁוּ הַשּׁוֹפְטִים הֵיטֵב", וְעוֹד בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר הוּא אוֹמֵר (שם י"ז) "וְדָרַשְׁתָּ הֵיטֵב", לָמְדוּ 'הֵיטֵב' 'הֵיטֵב' לִגְזֵרָה שָׁוָה, לִתֵּן הָאָמוּר שֶׁל זֶה בָּזֶה (סנהדרין מ'):
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16you must strike down the inhabitants of that city by the edge of the sword, destroying it along with all that is in it and its animals by the edge of the sword. |
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טזהַכֵּ֣ה תַכֶּ֗ה אֶת־יֽשְׁבֵ֛י הָעִ֥יר הַהִ֖וא לְפִי־חָ֑רֶב הַֽחֲרֵ֨ם אֹתָ֧הּ וְאֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֛הּ וְאֶת־בְּהֶמְתָּ֖הּ לְפִי־חָֽרֶב: |
הַכֵּה תַכֶּה - You must strike down. If you are unable to put them to death in the manner prescribed for them, kill them in some other way. |
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הַכֵּה תַכֶּה.
אִם אֵינְךָ יָכוֹל לַהֲמִיתָם בַּמִּיתָה הַכְּתוּבָה בָּהֶם, הֲמִיתֵם בְּאַחֶרֶת (ספרי; בבא מציעא ל"א):
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17You must gather all its spoils into the midst of its open square and completely burn the city and all its spoils in fire in honor of God, your God. It must be a heap of destruction forever, never to be rebuilt. |
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יזוְאֶת־כָּל־שְׁלָלָ֗הּ תִּקְבֹּץ֘ אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ רְחֹבָהּ֒ וְשָֽׂרַפְתָּ֣ בָאֵ֗שׁ אֶת־הָעִ֤יר וְאֶת־כָּל־שְׁלָלָהּ֙ כָּלִ֔יל לַֽיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ וְהָֽיְתָה֙ תֵּ֣ל עוֹלָ֔ם לֹ֥א תִבָּנֶ֖ה עֽוֹד: |
לה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ - (lit.) To God, your God - i.e., for the honor of His Name and for His sake. |
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לה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ.
לִשְׁמוֹ וּבִשְׁבִילוֹ:
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18Nothing that is doomed to destruction may remain in your possession, so that God may turn from His fierce wrath and inspire others to treat you with compassion, be compassionate with you, and multiply you, as He swore to your forefathers— |
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יחוְלֹֽא־יִדְבַּ֧ק בְּיָֽדְךָ֛ מְא֖וּמָה מִן־הַחֵ֑רֶם לְמַ֩עַן֩ יָשׁ֨וּב יְהֹוָ֜ה מֵֽחֲר֣וֹן אַפּ֗וֹ וְנָֽתַן־לְךָ֤ רַֽחֲמִים֙ וְרִֽחַמְךָ֣ וְהִרְבֶּ֔ךָ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבַּ֖ע לַֽאֲבֹתֶֽיךָ: |
לְמַעַן יָשׁוּב ה' - So that God may turn. This refers back to: “you must strike down.” |
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לְמַעַן יָשׁוּב ה'.
מוּסָב עַל "הַכֵּה תַכֶּה“:
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מֵֽחֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ - From His fierce wrath. For whenever idolatry is practiced in the world, God displays anger in the world. |
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לְמַעַן יָשׁוּב ה' מֵֽחֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ.
שֶׁכָּל זְמַן שֶׁעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה בָעוֹלָם חֲרוֹן אַף בָּעוֹלָם (ספרי):
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19provided that you hearken to the voice of God, your God, by keeping all His commandments that I am commanding you today, in order that you may do that which is proper in the eyes of God, your God. |
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יטכִּ֣י תִשְׁמַ֗ע בְּקוֹל֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לִשְׁמֹר֙ אֶת־כָּל־מִצְוֹתָ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָֽנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּ֑וֹם לַֽעֲשׂוֹת֙ הַיָּשָׁ֔ר בְּעֵינֵ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ: |