| 7God will cause your enemies who rise up against you to be beaten by you. They will attack you from one direction, but they will flee from you in seven directions. |
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זיִתֵּ֨ן יְהֹוָ֤ה אֶת־אֹֽיְבֶ֨יךָ֙ הַקָּמִ֣ים עָלֶ֔יךָ נִגָּפִ֖ים לְפָנֶ֑יךָ בְּדֶ֤רֶךְ אֶחָד֙ יֵֽצְא֣וּ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וּבְשִׁבְעָ֥ה דְרָכִ֖ים יָנ֥וּסוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ: |
| וּבְשִׁבְעָה דְרָכִים יָנוּסוּ לְפָנֶיךָ - But they will flee from you in seven directions - for the way of those who flee in terror is that they scatter in all directions. |
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וּבְשִׁבְעָה דְרָכִים יָנוּסוּ לְפָנֶיךָ.
כֵּן דֶּרֶךְ הַנִּבְהָלִים לִבְרֹחַ, מִתְפַּזְּרִין לְכָל צַד:
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| 8God will command the blessing of success to accompany you in your granaries and in all your endeavors. He will bless you in the land that God, your God, is giving you. |
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חיְצַ֨ו יְהֹוָ֤ה אִתְּךָ֙ אֶת־הַבְּרָכָ֔ה בַּֽאֲסָמֶ֕יךָ וּבְכֹ֖ל מִשְׁלַ֣ח יָדֶ֑ךָ וּבֵ֣רַכְךָ֔ בָּאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽךְ: |
| 9God will establish you as His holy people, as He swore to you, if you safeguard the commandments of God, your God, by studying how to perform them properly, and walk in His ways. |
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טיְקִֽימְךָ֙ יְהֹוָ֥ה לוֹ֙ לְעַ֣ם קָד֔וֹשׁ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר נִשְׁבַּע־לָ֑ךְ כִּ֣י תִשְׁמֹ֗ר אֶת־מִצְוֹת֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ וְהָֽלַכְתָּ֖ בִּדְרָכָֽיו: |
| 10Then all the peoples of the earth will see that the Name of God is associated only with you, and they will fear you. |
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יוְרָאוּ֙ כָּל־עַמֵּ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ כִּ֛י שֵׁ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה נִקְרָ֣א עָלֶ֑יךָ וְיָֽרְא֖וּ מִמֶּֽךָּ: |
| 11God will make you superior to them with regard to children, the fruit of your womb; with regard to your cattle, the fruit of your domestic animals; and with regard to your produce, the fruit of your soil, on the land that God swore to your forefathers to give you. |
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יאוְהוֹתִֽרְךָ֤ יְהֹוָה֙ לְטוֹבָ֔ה בִּפְרִ֧י בִטְנְךָ֛ וּבִפְרִ֥י בְהֶמְתְּךָ֖ וּבִפְרִ֣י אַדְמָתֶ֑ךָ עַ֚ל הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִשְׁבַּ֧ע יְהֹוָ֛ה לַֽאֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ לָ֥תֶת לָֽךְ: |
| 12God will open up His good treasury—heaven—for you, in order to provide your land with its rain in its right time and thereby bless everything you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will not need to borrow. |
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יביִפְתַּ֣ח יְהֹוָ֣ה | לְ֠ךָ֠ אֶת־אֽוֹצָר֨וֹ הַטּ֜וֹב אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם לָתֵ֤ת מְטַר־אַרְצְךָ֙ בְּעִתּ֔וֹ וּלְבָרֵ֕ךְ אֵ֖ת כָּל־מַֽעֲשֵׂ֣ה יָדֶ֑ךָ וְהִלְוִ֨יתָ֙ גּוֹיִ֣ם רַבִּ֔ים וְאַתָּ֖ה לֹ֥א תִלְוֶֽה: |
| 13God will place you at the head of the world, as leaders, and not at the tail, as subordinates; and you will be only at the top in all senses, and not at the bottom, if you obey the commandments of God, your God, regarding which I am commanding you today to safeguard them by studying how to perform them, and to perform them. |
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יגוּנְתָֽנְךָ֙ יְהֹוָ֤ה לְרֹאשׁ֙ וְלֹ֣א לְזָנָ֔ב וְהָיִ֨יתָ֙ רַ֣ק לְמַ֔עְלָה וְלֹ֥א תִֽהְיֶ֖ה לְמָ֑טָּה כִּֽי־תִשְׁמַ֞ע אֶל־מִצְוֹ֣ת | יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָֽנֹכִ֧י מְצַוְּךָ֛ הַיּ֖וֹם לִשְׁמֹ֥ר וְלַֽעֲשֽׂוֹת: |
| 14You must veer neither right nor left from all of the matters about which I am commanding you today, by following other peoples’ deities and worshiping them. |
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ידוְלֹ֣א תָס֗וּר מִכָּל־הַדְּבָרִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָֽנֹכִ֜י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֛ם הַיּ֖וֹם יָמִ֣ין וּשְׂמֹ֑אול לָלֶ֗כֶת אַֽחֲרֵ֛י אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִ֖ים לְעָבְדָֽם: |
| 15If, on the other hand, you do not obey God, your God—neglecting to safeguard His commandments by studying the Torah’s instructions regarding how to properly perform all His commandments and rules that I am commanding you to perform today—all the following curses will pursue you and overtake you: |
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טווְהָיָ֗ה אִם־לֹ֤א תִשְׁמַע֙ בְּקוֹל֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לִשְׁמֹ֤ר לַֽעֲשׂוֹת֙ אֶת־כָּל־מִצְוֹתָ֣יו וְחֻקֹּתָ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָֽנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּ֑וֹם וּבָ֧אוּ עָלֶ֛יךָ כָּל־הַקְּלָל֥וֹת הָאֵ֖לֶּה וְהִשִּׂיגֽוּךָ: |
| 16You will be cursed both in the city and in the field. |
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טזאָר֥וּר אַתָּ֖ה בָּעִ֑יר וְאָר֥וּר אַתָּ֖ה בַּשָּׂדֶֽה: |
| 17Cursed will be your food basket and your kneading bowl. |
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יזאָר֥וּר טַנְאֲךָ֖ וּמִשְׁאַרְתֶּֽךָ: |
| 18Cursed will be your children, the fruit of your womb; your crops, the fruit of your soil; as well as the offspring of your cattle and the choice of your flocks. |
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יחאָר֥וּר פְּרִֽי־בִטְנְךָ֖ וּפְרִ֣י אַדְמָתֶ֑ךָ שְׁגַ֥ר אֲלָפֶ֖יךָ וְעַשְׁתְּרֹ֥ת צֹאנֶֽךָ: |
| 19You will be cursed when you enter your home and you will be cursed when you leave it. |
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יטאָר֥וּר אַתָּ֖ה בְּבֹאֶ֑ךָ וְאָר֥וּר אַתָּ֖ה בְּצֵאתֶֽךָ: |
| 20God will send shortages, pandemonium, and self-rebuke against you in all of your endeavors that you undertake, until you are destroyed and quickly vanish, because of the evil you did in forsaking Me. |
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כיְשַׁלַּ֣ח יְהֹוָ֣ה | בְּ֠ךָ֠ אֶת־הַמְּאֵרָ֤ה אֶת־הַמְּהוּמָה֙ וְאֶת־הַמִּגְעֶ֔רֶת בְּכָל־מִשְׁלַ֥ח יָֽדְךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֑ה עַ֣ד הִשָּֽׁמֶדְךָ֤ וְעַד־אֲבָדְךָ֙ מַהֵ֔ר מִפְּנֵ֛י רֹ֥עַ מַֽעֲלָלֶ֖יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עֲזַבְתָּֽנִי: |
| הַמְּאֵרָה - means: scarcity, similar to צָרַעַת מַמְאֶרֶת “onerous tzara’at.” |
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הַמְּאֵרָה.
חִסָּרוֹן, כְּמוֹ "צָרַעַת מַמְאֶרֶת" (ויקרא י"ג):
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| הַמְּהוּמָה - means: confusion - a sound of turmoil. |
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הַמְּהוּמָה.
שִׁגּוּשׁ, קוֹל בֶּהָלוֹת:
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| 21God will infect you with a disease that will spread like an epidemic and that will persist until it has eradicated you from the land that you are entering in order to possess. |
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כאיַדְבֵּ֧ק יְהֹוָ֛ה בְּךָ֖ אֶת־הַדָּ֑בֶר עַ֚ד כַּלֹּת֣וֹ אֹֽתְךָ֔ מֵעַל֙ הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּ֥ה בָא־שָׁ֖מָּה לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ: |
| 22God will strike you with diseases accompanied by consumption and blisters, regular fever, high fever, and unquenchable thirst; with the sword of invading armies; with a crop-destroying east wind and with drought; and they all will pursue you until you perish. |
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כביַכְּכָ֣ה יְ֠הֹוָ֠ה בַּשַּׁחֶ֨פֶת וּבַקַּדַּ֜חַת וּבַדַּלֶּ֗קֶת וּבַֽחַרְחֻר֙ וּבַחֶ֔רֶב וּבַשִּׁדָּפ֖וֹן וּבַיֵּֽרָק֑וֹן וּרְדָפ֖וּךָ עַ֥ד אָבְדֶֽךָ: |
| בַּשַּׁחֶפֶת - Consumption and blisters - from which his flesh becomes wasted and swollen. |
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בַּשַּׁחֶפֶת.
שֶׁבְּשָׂרוֹ נִשְׁחָף וְנָפוּחַ:
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| וּבַקַּדַּחַת - Fever - related to: “for My wrath kindled (קָדְחָה) a fire.” It is the fever of the sick, “malveid” in Old French, which is very hot. |
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וּבַקַּדַּחַת.
לְשׁוֹן "כִּי אֵשׁ קָדְחָה בְאַפִּי" (דברים ל"ב), וְהוּא אֵשׁ שֶׁל חוֹלִים, מלו"וי בְּלַעַז, שֶׁהִיא חַמָּה מְאֹד:
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| וּבַדַּלֶּקֶת - High fever - is hotter than קַדַּחַת. These are all types of sickness. |
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וּבַדַּלֶּקֶת.
חַמָּה יוֹתֵר מִקַּדַּחַת, וּמִינֵי חֳלָאִים הֵם:
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| וּבַֽחַרְחֻר - Unquenchable thirst. A sickness that creates an internal fever, making one perpetually thirsty for water, “esardemant” in Old French. It is related to: “my bones are dried out (חָרָה) by the scorching heat”; “the bellows are heated (נָחַר) by the fire.” |
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וּבַֽחַרְחֻר.
חֹלִי הַמְחַמְמוֹ תּוֹךְ הַגּוּף וְצָמֵא תָּמִיד לַמַּיִם, וּבְלַעַז אישטרד"ימנט, לְשׁוֹן "וְעַצְמִי חָרָה מִנִּי חֹרֶב" (איוב ל') "נָחַר מַפֻּחַ מֵאֵשׁ" (ירמיהו ו'):
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| וּבַחֶרֶב - With the sword - i.e., He will bring enemy troops against you. |
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וּבַחֶרֶב.
יָבִיא עָלֶיךְ גְּיָסוֹת:
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| וּבַשִּׁדָּפוֹן וּבַיֵּֽרָקוֹן - An east wind and drought - these are types of damage to produce in the fields. |
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וּבַשִּׁדָּפוֹן וּבַיֵּֽרָקוֹן.
מַכַּת תְּבוּאָה שֶׁבַּשָּׂדוֹת:
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| שִּׁדָּפוֹן - is an east wind; “hasle” in Old French. |
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שִּׁדָּפוֹן.
רוּחַ קָדִים, אשלי"דה בְּלַעַז:
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| יֵּֽרָקוֹן - is dryness, where the produce loses its color and turns yellow, “cro” in Old French (“saffron”). |
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יֵּֽרָקוֹן.
יֹבֶשׁ, וּפְנֵי הַתְּבוּאָה מַכְסִיפִין וְנֶהְפָּכִין לְיֵרָקוֹן, קמ"א (נ"א — קרו"א) בְּלַעַז:
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| עַד אָבְדֶֽךָ - is translated by Onkelos as עַד דְּתֵיבָד, i.e., it is an intransitive verb meaning: until you perish, fading away of your own accord. |
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עַד אָבְדֶֽךָ.
תַּרְגּוּם "עַד דְּתֵיבָד", כְּלוֹמַר עַד אֲבֹד אוֹתְךָ — שֶׁתִּכְלֶה מֵאֵלֶיךָ:
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| 23Your skies above you will be like copper, and the earth below you will be like iron. |
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כגוְהָי֥וּ שָׁמֶ֛יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־רֹֽאשְׁךָ֖ נְח֑שֶׁת וְהָאָ֥רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־תַּחְתֶּ֖יךָ בַּרְזֶֽל: |
| וְהָיוּ שָׁמֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר עַל־רֹֽאשְׁךָ נְחשֶׁת - Your skies above you will be like copper. These curses were said by Moses in his own words, but those stated at Mount Sinai in parashat Bechukotai he said not in his own words, but by repeating the words of the Holy One, blessed be He – as is indicated by the statements: “But if you do not listen to Me”; “If, in your stubbornness, you walk with Me irregularly”; whereas here it says: “you do not obey God, your God”; “God will infect you”; “God will strike you.” We see that Moses was less severe in his curses by stating them in the singular, implying that they need to apply to the entire people. In this particular curse, too, he was less severe, for in the earlier curses it says: “your skies will be like iron and your land like copper,” implying that the skies will not be moist, just as iron does not have moisture, and as a result, the world will suffer drought, but the earth will be moist, just as copper has moisture, causing any existing produce to rot. But here, it says: “your skies…copper, the earth…iron,” implying that the skies will be moist, so even though they will not be dripping with rain, there will at least not be a destructive drought in the world; and the earth will not be moist, just as iron does not have moisture, so the produce will not rot. It is nevertheless a curse, for whether the earth is like copper or like iron, it will not yield produce, and similarly, the skies will not pour forth rain. |
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וְהָיוּ שָׁמֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר עַל־רֹֽאשְׁךָ נְחשֶׁת.
קְלָלוֹת הַלָּלוּ מֹשֶׁה מִפִּי עַצְמוֹ אֲמָרָן, וְשֶׁבְּהַר סִינַי מִפִּי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֲמָרָן, כְּמַשְׁמָעָן, וְכֵן נֶאֱמַר (ויקרא כ"ו) "וְאִם לֹא תִשְׁמְעוּ לִי … וְאִם תֵּלְכוּ עִמִּי קֶרִי", וְכָאן הוּא אוֹמֵר "בְּקוֹל ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ … יַדְבֵּק ה' בְּךָ … יַכְּכָה ה'", הֵקֵל מֹשֶׁה בְקִלְלוֹתָיו לְאָמְרָן בִּלְשׁוֹן יָחִיד. וְגַם כֵּן בִּקְלָלָה זוֹ הֵקֵל, שֶׁבָּרִאשׁוֹנוֹת הוּא אוֹמֵר "אֶת שְׁמֵיכֶם כַּבַּרְזֶל וְאֶת אַרְצְכֶם כַּנְּחֻשָּׁה" — שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם מַזִּיעִין כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁאֵין הַבַּרְזֶל מַזִּיעַ וּמִתּוֹךְ כָּךְ יְהִי חֹרֶב בָּעוֹלָם וְהָאָרֶץ תְּהִי מַזַּעַת כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁהַנְּחֹשֶׁת מַזִּיעַ וְהִיא מַרְקֶבֶת פֵּרוֹתֶיהָ, וְכָאן הוּא אוֹמֵר "שָׁמֶיךָ נְחֹשֶׁת וְאַרְצְךָ בַּרְזֶל" — שֶׁיִהְיוּ שָׁמַיִם מַזִּיעִין, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא יָרִיקוּ מָטָר, מִכָּל מָקוֹם לֹא יִהְיֶה חֹרֶב שֶׁל אֲבַדּוֹן בָּעוֹלָם, וְהָאָרֶץ לֹא תִהְיֶה מַזִּיעָה, כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁאֵין הַבַּרְזֶל מַזִּיעַ, וְאֵין הַפֵּרוֹת מַרְקִיבִין, וּמִכָּל מָקוֹם קְלָלָה הִיא, בֵּין שֶׁהִיא כַּנְּחֹשֶׁת בֵּין שֶׁהִיא כַבַּרְזֶל לֹא תוֹצִיא פֵּרוֹת, וְכֵן הַשָּׁמַיִם לֹא יָרִיקוּ מָטָר (ספרא ויקרא כ"ו):
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| 24God will turn the rain of your land into a cause of dust and mud. It will rain down upon you from the sky until you are destroyed for lack of food. |
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כדיִתֵּ֧ן יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־מְטַ֥ר אַרְצְךָ֖ אָבָ֣ק וְעָפָ֑ר מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֨יִם֙ יֵרֵ֣ד עָלֶ֔יךָ עַ֖ד הִשָּֽׁמְדָֽךְ: |
| מְטַר אַרְצְךָ אָבָק וְעָפָר - The rain of your land into dust and mud - i.e., through the wind that follows the rain, as the rain that falls is insufficient and unable to weigh down the soil. Wind then comes and blows the dust so that it covers the plants dampened by the rain. It sticks to them and turns into mud, which dries out and causes the plants to rot. |
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מְטַר אַרְצְךָ אָבָק וְעָפָר.
"זִיקָא דְבָתַר מִטְרָא", מָטָר יוֹרֵד וְלֹא כָל צָרְכּוֹ, וְאֵין בּוֹ כְּדֵי לְהַרְבִּיץ אֶת הֶעָפָר, וְהָרוּחַ בָּאָה וּמַעֲלָה אֶת הָאָבָק וּמְכַסֶּה אֶת עֵשֶׂב הַזְּרָעִים שֶׁהֵם לַחִים מִן הַמַּיִם וְנִדְבָּק בָּהֶם, וְנַעֲשֶׂה טִיט וּמִתְיַבֵּשׁ וּמַרְקִיבִין (תענית ג'):
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| 25God will cause you to be beaten by your enemy: you will attack them from one direction, but you will flee from them in seven directions. You, as an example, will become a source of terror for all the kingdoms on earth. |
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כהיִתֶּנְךָ֨ יְהֹוָ֣ה | נִגָּף֘ לִפְנֵ֣י אֹֽיְבֶ֒יךָ֒ בְּדֶ֤רֶךְ אֶחָד֙ תֵּצֵ֣א אֵלָ֔יו וּבְשִׁבְעָ֥ה דְרָכִ֖ים תָּנ֣וּס לְפָנָ֑יו וְהָיִ֣יתָ לְזַֽעֲוָ֔ה לְכֹ֖ל מַמְלְכ֥וֹת הָאָֽרֶץ: |
| לְזַֽעֲוָה - denotes dread and trembling, implying that all who hear about your afflictions will tremble and say: “Woe to us, lest such a thing befall us as befell these people!” |
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לְזַֽעֲוָה.
לְאֵימָה וּלְזִיעַ, שֶׁיָּזוּעוּ כָּל שׁוֹמְעֵי מַכּוֹתֶיךָ מִמְּךָ וְיֹאמְרוּ "אוֹי לָנוּ שֶׁלֹּא יָבֹא עָלֵינוּ כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁבָּא עַל אֵלּוּ":
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| 26Your corpse will be food for all the birds of the sky and the beasts of the earth, and no one will frighten them. |
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כווְהָֽיְתָ֤ה נִבְלָֽתְךָ֙ לְמַֽאֲכָ֔ל לְכָל־ע֥וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וּלְבֶֽהֱמַ֣ת הָאָ֑רֶץ וְאֵ֖ין מַֽחֲרִֽיד: |
| 27God will strike you with the horrible boils of Egypt, with hemorrhoids, with oozing boils, and with dry boils, from all of which you will be unable to be healed. |
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כזיַכְּכָ֨ה יְהֹוָ֜ה בִּשְׁחִ֤ין מִצְרַ֨יִם֙ וּבַטְחֹרִ֔ים (כתיב ובעפלים) וּבַגָּרָ֖ב וּבֶחָ֑רֶס אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־תוּכַ֖ל לְהֵֽרָפֵֽא: |
| בִּשְׁחִין מִצְרַיִם - With the boils of Egypt. They were extremely severe, moist on the outside but dry on the inside, as stated in Tractate Bechorot. |
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בִּשְׁחִין מִצְרַיִם.
רַע הָיָה מְאֹד, לַח מִבִּפְנִים וְיָבֵשׁ מִבַּחוּץ, כִּדְאִיתָא בִּבְכוֹרוֹת (דף מ"א):
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| גָּרָב - is a moist boil. |
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גָּרָב.
שְׁחִין לַח:
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| חָרֶס - is a dry boil, hard as earthenware (חֶרֶס). |
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חָרֶס.
שְׁחִין יָבֵשׁ כַּחֶרֶס:
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| 28God will strike you with insanity, blindness, and bewilderment. |
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כחיַכְּכָ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּשִׁגָּע֖וֹן וּבְעִוָּר֑וֹן וּבְתִמְה֖וֹן לֵבָֽב: |
| וּבְתִמְהוֹן לֵבָֽב - indicates numbness of the heart; “estordison” in Old French. |
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וּבְתִמְהוֹן לֵבָֽב.
אֹטֶם הַלֵּב, אשטור"דישון בְּלַעַז:
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| 29You will grope at midday as the blind man gropes in the dark, and you will be unsuccessful in your undertakings. You will be nothing but constantly contested in whatever you do and robbed, and there will be no one who will rescue you. |
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כטוְהָיִ֜יתָ מְמַשֵּׁ֣שׁ בַּצָּֽהֳרַ֗יִם כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר יְמַשֵּׁ֤שׁ הָֽעִוֵּר֙ בָּֽאֲפֵלָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א תַצְלִ֖יחַ אֶת־דְּרָכֶ֑יךָ וְהָיִ֜יתָ אַ֣ךְ עָשׁ֧וּק וְגָז֛וּל כָּל־הַיָּמִ֖ים וְאֵ֥ין מוֹשִֽׁיעַ: |
| עָשׁוּק - i.e., all your undertakings will be challenged. |
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עָשׁוּק.
בְּכָל מַעֲשֶׂיךָ יִהְיֶה עִרְעוּר:
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| 30You will betroth a woman, but another man will fornicate with her. You will build a house, but you will not live in it. You will plant a vineyard, but you will not redeem its fourth-year fruits. |
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לאִשָּׁ֣ה תְאָרֵ֗שׂ וְאִ֤ישׁ אַחֵר֙ יִשְׁכָּבֶ֔נָּה (כתיב ישגלנה) בַּ֥יִת תִּבְנֶ֖ה וְלֹֽא־תֵשֵׁ֣ב בּ֑וֹ כֶּ֥רֶם תִּטַּ֖ע וְלֹ֥א תְחַלְּלֶֽנּוּ: |
| יִשְׁגָּלֶנָּה - is a verb derived from שֵׁגָל “concubine,” but Scripture dictates the word be read with a more decent term: יִשְׁכָּבֶנָּה “will lie with her.” This is an adjustment, such as writers make. |
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יִשְׁגָּלֶנָּה.
לְשׁוֹן שֵׁגַל, פִּלֶגֶשׁ, וְהַכָּתוּב כִּנָּהוּ לְשֶׁבַח ישכבנה, וְתִקּוּן סוֹפְרִים הוּא זֶה:
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| תְחַלְּלֶֽנּוּ - Redeem it - in the fourth year, to eat its fruits. |
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תְחַלְּלֶֽנּוּ.
בַּשָּׁנָה הָרְבִיעִית לֶאֱכֹל פִּרְיוֹ (מגילה כ"ה):
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| 31Your work-bull will be slaughtered before your eyes, but you will not eat from it. Your donkey will be robbed from you right in front of you, and it will not return to you. Your flock will be given over to your enemies, and there will be no one who will rescue it for you. |
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לאשֽׁוֹרְךָ֞ טָב֣וּחַ לְעֵינֶ֗יךָ וְלֹ֣א תֹאכַל֘ מִמֶּ֒נּוּ֒ חֲמֹֽרְךָ֙ גָּז֣וּל מִלְּפָנֶ֔יךָ וְלֹ֥א יָשׁ֖וּב לָ֑ךְ צֹֽאנְךָ֙ נְתֻנ֣וֹת לְאֹֽיְבֶ֔יךָ וְאֵ֥ין לְךָ֖ מוֹשִֽׁיעַ: |
| 32Your sons and daughters will be given over to another people as your own eyes see it happen; you will long for them all day long, but be powerless to do anything about it. |
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לבבָּנֶ֨יךָ וּבְנֹתֶ֜יךָ נְתֻנִ֨ים לְעַ֤ם אַחֵר֙ וְעֵינֶ֣יךָ רֹא֔וֹת וְכָל֥וֹת אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם כָּל־הַיּ֑וֹם וְאֵ֥ין לְאֵ֖ל יָדֶֽךָ: |
| וְכָלוֹת אֲלֵיהֶם - Long for them - i.e., your eyes look for them to return, but they do not. Any hope that remains unrealized is termed כִּלְיוֹן עֵינַיִם. |
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וְכָלוֹת אֲלֵיהֶם.
מְצַפּוֹת אֲלֵיהֶם שֶׁיָּשׁוּבוּ וְאֵינָם שָׁבִים; כָּל תּוֹחֶלֶת שֶׁאֵינָהּ בָּאָה קְרוּיָה כִּלְיוֹן עֵינַיִם:
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| 33A people unknown to you will consume the fruit of your soil and the results of all your toil. You will be nothing but constantly contested in whatever you do, and crushed. |
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לגפְּרִ֤י אַדְמָֽתְךָ֙ וְכָל־יְגִ֣יעֲךָ֔ יֹאכַ֥ל עַ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־יָדָ֑עְתָּ וְהָיִ֗יתָ רַ֛ק עָשׁ֥וּק וְרָצ֖וּץ כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים: |
| 34You will go insane from the vision that you will behold before your eyes. |
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לדוְהָיִ֖יתָ מְשֻׁגָּ֑ע מִמַּרְאֵ֥ה עֵינֶ֖יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּרְאֶֽה: |
| 35God will strike you on the knees and on the legs with a terrible skin eruption, from which you will be unable to be healed; it will eventually cover you from the sole of your foot to the top of your head. |
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להיַכְּכָ֨ה יְהֹוָ֜ה בִּשְׁחִ֣ין רָ֗ע עַל־הַבִּרְכַּ֨יִם֙ וְעַל־הַשֹּׁקַ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־תוּכַ֖ל לְהֵֽרָפֵ֑א מִכַּ֥ף רַגְלְךָ֖ וְעַ֥ד קָדְקֳדֶֽךָ: |
| 36God will lead you and your king, whom you will have appointed over yourself, to a nation unknown to you or your fathers; there, you will serve those who serve other peoples’ deities of wood and stone. |
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לויוֹלֵ֨ךְ יְהֹוָ֜ה אֹֽתְךָ֗ וְאֶת־מַלְכְּךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תָּקִ֣ים עָלֶ֔יךָ אֶל־גּ֕וֹי אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יָדַ֖עְתָּ אַתָּ֣ה וַֽאֲבֹתֶ֑יךָ וְעָבַ֥דְתָּ שָּׁ֛ם אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִ֖ים עֵ֥ץ וָאָֽבֶן: |
| 37You will become an object of astonishment, an archetype of extraordinary misfortune, and a topic of discussion among all the peoples to whose lands God will lead you. |
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לזוְהָיִ֣יתָ לְשַׁמָּ֔ה לְמָשָׁ֖ל וְלִשְׁנִינָ֑ה בְּכֹל֙ הָֽעַמִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־יְנַֽהֶגְךָ֥ יְהֹוָ֖ה שָֽׁמָּה: |
| לְשַׁמָּה - means: “estordison” in Old French (“astonishment”); whoever sees you will be astonished at you. |
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לְשַׁמָּה.
כְּמוֹ תִּמָּהוֹן, אש"ו אשטורדישו"ן, כָּל הָרוֹאֶה אוֹתְךָ יִשֹּׁם עָלֶיךָ:
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| לְמָשָׁל - An archetype - i.e., when an extraordinary misfortune befalls a person, people will say: “This is like the misfortune that befell so-and-so.” |
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לְמָשָׁל.
כְּשֶׁתָּבֹא מַכָּה רָעָה עַל אָדָם יֹאמְרוּ זוֹ דוֹמָה לְמַכַּת פְּלוֹנִי:
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| וְלִשְׁנִינָה - is related to: וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם “you will study them,” thus indicating: “they will discuss you.” This is also how Onkelos translates it: וּלְשׁוֹעֵי, denoting a story, as in the Aramaic word וְאִשְׁתָּעִי “he related.” |
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וְלִשְׁנִינָה.
לְשׁוֹן "וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם" (דברים ו'), יְדַבְּרוּ בְךָ, וְכֵן תַּרְגּוּמוֹ "וּלְשׁוֹעֵי", לְשׁוֹן סִפּוּר וְאִשְׁתָּעִי:
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| 38You will take out a great deal of seed to sow in the field, yet you will gather in little produce, for the locusts will finish it off. |
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לחזֶ֥רַע רַ֖ב תּוֹצִ֣יא הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה וּמְעַ֣ט תֶּֽאֱסֹ֔ף כִּ֥י יַחְסְלֶ֖נּוּ הָֽאַרְבֶּֽה: |
| יַחְסְלֶנּוּ - means: it will annihilate it. For this reason, the locust is called חָסִיל, for it annihilates all vegetation. |
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יַחְסְלֶנּוּ.
יְכַלֶּנּוּ, וְעַל שֵׁם כָּךְ נִקְרָא חָסִיל, שֶׁמְּכַלֶּה אֶת הַכֹּל:
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| 39You will plant vineyards and work them, but you will neither drink their wine nor gather their grapes, for the worms will devour them. |
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לטכְּרָמִ֥ים תִּטַּ֖ע וְעָבָ֑דְתָּ וְיַ֤יִן לֹֽא־תִשְׁתֶּה֙ וְלֹ֣א תֶֽאֱגֹ֔ר כִּ֥י תֹֽאכְלֶ֖נּוּ הַתֹּלָֽעַת: |
| 40You will have olive trees throughout all your boundaries, but you will not anoint yourself with their oil, for your olive tree will drop all its fruit before it ripens. |
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מזֵיתִ֛ים יִֽהְי֥וּ לְךָ֖ בְּכָל־גְּבוּלֶ֑ךָ וְשֶׁ֨מֶן֙ לֹ֣א תָס֔וּךְ כִּ֥י יִשַּׁ֖ל זֵיתֶֽךָ: |
| יִשַּׁל - means: It will shed its fruit, related to: וְנָשַׁל הַבַּרְזֶל “the iron flies off the handle.” |
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יִשַּׁל.
יַשִּׁיר פֵּרוֹתָיו, לְשׁוֹן וְנָשַׁל הַבַּרְזֶל (דברים י"ט):
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| 41You will bear sons and daughters, but they will not remain yours, for they will go into captivity. |
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מאבָּנִ֥ים וּבָנ֖וֹת תּוֹלִ֑יד וְלֹא־יִֽהְי֣וּ לָ֔ךְ כִּ֥י יֵֽלְכ֖וּ בַּשֶּֽׁבִי: |
| 42The locust will denude all your trees of their fruit and all your fields of the fruit of your soil. |
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מבכָּל־עֵֽצְךָ֖ וּפְרִ֣י אַדְמָתֶ֑ךָ יְיָרֵ֖שׁ הַצְּלָצַֽל: |
| יְיָרֵשׁ הַצְּלָצַֽל - means: the locust will render it deprived of its fruit. |
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יְיָרֵשׁ הַצְּלָצַֽל.
יַעֲשֶׂנּוּ הָאַרְבֶּה רָשׁ מִן הַפְּרִי:
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| יְיָרֵשׁ - הַצְּלָצַל - means: “it will impoverish”; |
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יְיָרֵשׁ.
יַעֲנִי:
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| צלצל - הַצְּלָצַל. is a type of locust. One cannot explain יְיָרֵשׁ as related to inheritance (יְרֻשָּׁה), for then it would have said יִירַשׁ; nor as related to dispossessing and expulsion, for then it would have said יוֹרִישׁ. |
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צלצל.
מִין אַרְבֶּה. וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לְפָרֵשׁ יְיָרֵשׁ לְשׁוֹן יְרֻשָּׁה, שֶׁאִם כֵּן הָיָה לוֹ לִכְתֹּב "יִירַשׁ", וְלֹא לְשׁוֹן הוֹרָשָׁה וְגֵרוּשִׁין, שֶׁאִם כֵּן הָיָה לוֹ לִכְתֹּב "יוֹרִישׁ":
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| 43The resident alien who lives among you will rise higher and higher in wealth and stature above you, while you descend lower and lower. |
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מגהַגֵּר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּקִרְבְּךָ֔ יַֽעֲלֶ֥ה עָלֶ֖יךָ מַ֣עְלָה מָּ֑עְלָה וְאַתָּ֥ה תֵרֵ֖ד מַ֥טָּה מָּֽטָּה: |
| 44He will lend to you, but you will not lend to him. He will be at the head, while you will be at the tail. |
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מדה֣וּא יַלְוְךָ֔ וְאַתָּ֖ה לֹ֣א תַלְוֶ֑נּוּ ה֚וּא יִֽהְיֶ֣ה לְרֹ֔אשׁ וְאַתָּ֖ה תִּֽהְיֶ֥ה לְזָנָֽב: |
| 45All these curses will befall you, pursuing you and overtaking you until they destroy you, because you did not obey God, your God, neglecting to safeguard His commandments and rules concerning which He commanded you, by studying how to perform them. |
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מהוּבָ֨אוּ עָלֶ֜יךָ כָּל־הַקְּלָל֣וֹת הָאֵ֗לֶּה וּרְדָפ֨וּךָ֙ וְהִשִּׂיג֔וּךָ עַ֖ד הִשָּֽׁמְדָ֑ךְ כִּי־לֹ֣א שָׁמַ֗עְתָּ בְּקוֹל֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לִשְׁמֹ֛ר מִצְוֹתָ֥יו וְחֻקֹּתָ֖יו אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוָּֽךְ: |
| 46These curses will serve as a sign and a marvel for you and your descendants forever. |
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מווְהָי֣וּ בְךָ֔ לְא֖וֹת וּלְמוֹפֵ֑ת וּבְזַרְעֲךָ֖ עַד־עוֹלָֽם: |
| 47Since you did not serve God, your God, with joy and with heartfelt gladness when you had an abundance of everything— |
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מזתַּ֗חַת אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־עָבַ֨דְתָּ֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בְּשִׂמְחָ֖ה וּבְט֣וּב לֵבָ֑ב מֵרֹ֖ב כֹּֽל: |
| מֵרֹב כֹּֽל - means: when you still had every benefit. |
|
מֵרֹב כֹּֽל.
בְּעוֹד שֶׁהָיָה לְךָ כָּל טוּב:
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| 48you will instead serve your enemies, whom God will send against you, when you are in hunger, thirst, nakedness, and lacking everything. Your enemy will place an iron yoke upon your neck, working you until he has destroyed you. |
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מחוְעָֽבַדְתָּ֣ אֶת־אֹֽיְבֶ֗יךָ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְשַׁלְּחֶ֤נּוּ יְהֹוָה֙ בָּ֔ךְ בְּרָעָ֧ב וּבְצָמָ֛א וּבְעֵירֹ֖ם וּבְחֹ֣סֶר כֹּ֑ל וְנָתַ֞ן עֹ֤ל בַּרְזֶל֙ עַל־צַוָּארֶ֔ךָ עַ֥ד הִשְׁמִיד֖וֹ אֹתָֽךְ: |
| 49God will bring upon you a nation from afar, from the end of the earth, who will conquer you the way the griffon vulture swoops down upon its prey. It will be a nation whose language you will not understand, |
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מטיִשָּׂ֣א יְהֹוָה֩ עָלֶ֨יךָ גּ֤וֹי מֵֽרָחֹק֙ מִקְצֵ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר יִדְאֶ֖ה הַנָּ֑שֶׁר גּ֕וֹי אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־תִשְׁמַ֖ע לְשֹׁנֽוֹ: |
| כַּֽאֲשֶׁר יִדְאֶה הַנָּשֶׁר - The way the griffon vulture swoops down - i.e., suddenly, successfully, and with swift horses. |
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כַּֽאֲשֶׁר יִדְאֶה הַנָּשֶׁר.
פִּתְאֹם וְדַרְכּוֹ מַצְלַחַת וְיֵקַלּוּ סוּסָיו:
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| לֹֽא־תִשְׁמַע לְשֹׁנֽוֹ - means: whose language you will not understand. Similar cases are: “you can understand (תִּשְׁמַע) a dream and interpret it,” and also: “that Joseph understood (שֹׁמֵעַ)”; “entendre” in Old French. |
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לֹֽא־תִשְׁמַע לְשֹׁנֽוֹ.
לֹא תַכִּיר לְשׁוֹנוֹ, וְכֵן "תִּשְׁמַע חֲלוֹם לִפְתֹּר אֹתוֹ" (בראשית מ"א), וְכֵן "כִּי שֹׁמֵעַ יוֹסֵף" (שם מ"ב), אינטינד"רי:
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| 50a brazen nation who neither respects the elderly nor shows favor to the young. |
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נגּ֖וֹי עַ֣ז פָּנִ֑ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־יִשָּׂ֤א פָנִים֙ לְזָקֵ֔ן וְנַ֖עַר לֹ֥א יָחֹֽן: |
| 51They will devour your young domestic animals, the fruit of your domestic animals; and your produce, the fruit of your soil; until they destroy you through starvation. They will be a nation who will not leave you any grain, wine, oil, the offspring of your cattle, or the choice of your flocks, until they annihilate you through starvation. |
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נאוְאָכַ֠ל פְּרִ֨י בְהֶמְתְּךָ֥ וּפְרִֽי־אַדְמָֽתְךָ֘ עַ֣ד הִשָּֽׁמְדָךְ֒ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־יַשְׁאִ֜יר לְךָ֗ דָּגָן֙ תִּיר֣וֹשׁ וְיִצְהָ֔ר שְׁגַ֥ר אֲלָפֶ֖יךָ וְעַשְׁתְּרֹ֣ת צֹאנֶ֑ךָ עַ֥ד הַֽאֲבִיד֖וֹ אֹתָֽךְ: |
| 52They will besiege you in all your cities, until your high and fortified walls in which you trust are overcome throughout all your land. They will besiege you in all your cities of the land that God, your God, has given you. |
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נבוְהֵצַ֨ר לְךָ֜ בְּכָל־שְׁעָרֶ֗יךָ עַ֣ד רֶ֤דֶת חֹֽמֹתֶ֨יךָ֙ הַגְּבֹהֹ֣ת וְהַבְּצֻר֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתָּ֛ה בֹּטֵ֥חַ בָּהֵ֖ן בְּכָל־אַרְצֶ֑ךָ וְהֵצַ֤ר לְךָ֙ בְּכָל־שְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ בְּכָ֨ל־אַרְצְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֛ן יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ לָֽךְ: |
| עַד רֶדֶת חֹֽמֹתֶיךָ - Your walls are overcome. רֶדֶת denotes dominion and conquest. |
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עַד רֶדֶת חֹֽמֹתֶיךָ.
לְשׁוֹן רִדּוּי וְכִבּוּשׁ:
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| 53You will eat your children, the fruit of your womb, the flesh of your sons and daughters, whom God, your God, gave you, on account of the siege and the oppression of famine to which your enemies will subject you. |
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נגוְאָֽכַלְתָּ֣ פְרִֽי־בִטְנְךָ֗ בְּשַׂ֤ר בָּנֶ֨יךָ֙ וּבְנֹתֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָֽתַן־לְךָ֖ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ בְּמָצוֹר֙ וּבְמָצ֔וֹק אֲשֶׁר־יָצִ֥יק לְךָ֖ אֹֽיְבֶֽךָ: |
| וְאָֽכַלְתָּ … בְּשַׂר בָּנֶיךָ … בְּמָצוֹר - You will eat the fruit of your womb…on account of the siege. i.e., because they will be besieging the city, resulting in מָצוֹק oppressive famine. |
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וְאָֽכַלְתָּ … בְּשַׂר בָּנֶיךָ … בְּמָצוֹר.
מֵחֲמַת שֶׁיִּהְיוּ צָרִים עַל הָעִיר וְיִהְיֶה שָׁם מָצוֹק, עֲקַת רְעָבוֹן:
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| 54The most tender and delicate man among you will begrudge his own brother, the wife of his embrace, and the rest of his surviving children, |
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נדהָאִישׁ֙ הָרַ֣ךְ בְּךָ֔ וְהֶֽעָנֹ֖ג מְאֹ֑ד תֵּרַ֨ע עֵינ֤וֹ בְאָחִיו֙ וּבְאֵ֣שֶׁת חֵיק֔וֹ וּבְיֶ֥תֶר בָּנָ֖יו אֲשֶׁ֥ר יוֹתִֽיר: |
| הָרַךְ בְּךָ וְהֶֽעָנֹג - The most tender and delicate. רַךְ and עָנֹג are synonymous, both denoting daintiness. מֵהִתְעַנֵּג וּמֵרֹךְ “out of delicateness and tenderness” proves that the two mean the same. Even though he is delicate and is revolted by anything disgusting, he will relish the flesh of his sons and daughters because of his hunger – so much that he will begrudge his remaining children and not give any of them of the flesh of his children, their brothers, that he will eat. Another explanation: הָרַךְ בְּךָ means: even the compassionate and soft-hearted will become cruel due to extreme hunger and not give of the flesh of their slaughtered children to their remaining children. |
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הָרַךְ בְּךָ וְהֶֽעָנֹג.
הוּא הָרַךְ הוּא הֶעָנֹג — לְשׁוֹן פִּנּוּק, וּמֵהִתְעַנֵּג וּמֵרֹךְ מוֹכִיחַ עֲלֵיהֶם שֶׁשְּׁנֵיהֶם אֶחָד; אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא מְפֻנָּק וְדַעְתּוֹ קָצָה בְּדָבָר מָאוּס, יִמְתַּק לוֹ לְרַעֲבוֹנוֹ בְּשַׂר בָּנָיו וּבְנוֹתָיו, עַד כִּי תרע עינו בְּבָנָיו הַנּוֹתָרִים מתת לאחד מהם מבשר בניו אֲחֵיהֶם אשר יאכל. דָּבָר אַחֵר — הרך בך, הָרַחֲמָנִי וְרַךְ הַלֵּבָב מֵרֹב רַעֲבָנוּת יִתְאַכְזְרוּ וְלֹא יִתְּנוּ מִבְּשַׂר בְּנֵיהֶם הַשְּׁחוּטִים לִבְנֵיהֶם הַנּוֹתָרִים:
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| 55of giving any one of them any of the flesh of his children that he is eating, because nothing will remain for him, on account of the siege and the oppression of famine to which your enemies will subject you in all your cities. |
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נהמִתֵּ֣ת | לְאַחַ֣ד מֵהֶ֗ם מִבְּשַׂ֤ר בָּנָיו֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֹאכֵ֔ל מִבְּלִ֥י הִשְׁאִֽיר־ל֖וֹ כֹּ֑ל בְּמָצוֹר֙ וּבְמָצ֔וֹק אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָצִ֥יק לְךָ֛ אֹֽיִבְךָ֖ בְּכָל־שְׁעָרֶֽיךָ: |
| 56The most tender and delicate woman among you, who would not venture to set her foot upon the ground out of delicateness and tenderness, will begrudge the husband of her embrace, her own grown son and grown daughter, |
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נוהָֽרַכָּ֨ה בְךָ֜ וְהָֽעֲנֻגָּ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־נִסְּתָ֤ה כַף־רַגְלָהּ֙ הַצֵּ֣ג עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ מֵֽהִתְעַנֵּ֖ג וּמֵרֹ֑ךְ תֵּרַ֤ע עֵינָהּ֙ בְּאִ֣ישׁ חֵיקָ֔הּ וּבִבְנָ֖הּ וּבְבִתָּֽהּ: |
| תֵּרַע עֵינָהּ בְּאִישׁ חֵיקָהּ וּבִבְנָהּ וּבְבִתָּֽהּ - Will begrudge the husband of her embrace, her own son and daughter - i.e., the grown ones |
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תֵּרַע עֵינָהּ בְּאִישׁ חֵיקָהּ וּבִבְנָהּ וּבְבִתָּֽהּ.
הַגְּדוֹלִים:
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| 57the newborn infants who emerge from between her legs, and her own small children whom she will bear, for out of destitution she will eat them in secret, on account of the siege and the oppression of famine to which your enemies will subject you in your cities. |
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נזוּבְשִׁלְיָתָ֞הּ הַיּוֹצֵ֣ת | מִבֵּ֣ין רַגְלֶ֗יהָ וּבְבָנֶ֨יהָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֵּלֵ֔ד כִּי־תֹֽאכְלֵ֥ם בְּחֹֽסֶר־כֹּ֖ל בַּסָּ֑תֶר בְּמָצוֹר֙ וּבְמָצ֔וֹק אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָצִ֥יק לְךָ֛ אֹֽיִבְךָ֖ בִּשְׁעָרֶֽיךָ: |
| וּבְשִׁלְיָתָהּ - And (lit.) her afterbirth - i.e., her small children. When she eats one of them, she will begrudge all the rest of them and not give any of the flesh to those left with her. |
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וּבְשִׁלְיָתָהּ.
בָּנֶיהָ הַקְּטַנִּים — בְּכֻלָּן תְּהֵא עֵינָהּ צָרָה כְּשֶׁתֹּאכַל אֶת הָאֶחָד מִלִּתֵּן לַאֲשֶׁר אֶצְלָהּ מִן הַבָּשָׂר:
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| 58If you do not safeguard God’s commandments by studying how to fulfill all the words of this Torah, which are written in this scroll, thereby learning how to revere this glorious and awesome Name, that of God, your God, |
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נחאִם־לֹ֨א תִשְׁמֹ֜ר לַֽעֲשׂ֗וֹת אֶת־כָּל־דִּבְרֵי֙ הַתּוֹרָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את הַכְּתֻבִ֖ים בַּסֵּ֣פֶר הַזֶּ֑ה לְ֠יִרְאָ֠ה אֶת־הַשֵּׁ֞ם הַנִּכְבַּ֤ד וְהַנּוֹרָא֙ הַזֶּ֔ה אֵ֖ת יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ: |
| 59God will intensify the plagues that He will bring upon you and your offspring beyond other plagues, afflicting you with terrible, unyielding plagues and evil, unyielding sicknesses. |
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נטוְהִפְלָ֤א יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־מַכֹּ֣תְךָ֔ וְאֵ֖ת מַכּ֣וֹת זַרְעֶ֑ךָ מַכּ֤וֹת גְּדֹלֹת֙ וְנֶ֣אֱמָנ֔וֹת וָֽחֳלָיִ֥ם רָעִ֖ים וְנֶֽאֱמָנִֽים: |
| וְהִפְלָא ה' אֶת־מַכֹּתְךָ - God will intensify the plagues upon you - i.e., they will be exceptional and different from other plagues. |
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וְהִפְלָא ה' אֶת־מַכֹּתְךָ.
מֻפְלָאוֹת וּמֻבְדָּלוֹת מִשְּׁאָר מַכּוֹת:
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| וְנֶאֱמָנוֹת - (lit.) Faithful - to punish you and carry out their mission. |
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וְנֶאֱמָנוֹת.
לְיַסֶּרְךָ, לְקַיֵּם שְׁלִיחוּתָן:
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| 60He will bring back upon you all the diseases of Egypt that you dreaded when you were in Egypt, and they will cleave to you. |
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סוְהֵשִׁ֣יב בְּךָ֗ אֵ֚ת כָּל־מַדְוֵ֣ה מִצְרַ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָגֹ֖רְתָּ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם וְדָֽבְק֖וּ בָּֽךְ: |
| אֲשֶׁר יָגֹרְתָּ מִפְּנֵיהֶם - That you dreaded - i.e., the plagues. When the Israelites saw the Egyptians being inflicted with extraordinary plagues, they were afraid that they not befall them also. You can be certain of this, for so it is written: “If you diligently heed…I will bring none of the illnesses that I brought upon Egypt upon you” – one frightens a person only with something he dreads. |
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אֲשֶׁר יָגֹרְתָּ מִפְּנֵיהֶם.
מִפְּנֵי הַמַּכּוֹת. כְּשֶׁהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל רוֹאִין מַכּוֹת מְשֻׁנּוֹת הַבָּאוֹת עַל מִצְרַיִם, הָיוּ יְרֵאִים מֵהֶם שֶׁלֹּא יָבֹאוּ גַּם עֲלֵיהֶם. תֵּדַע שֶׁכֵּן כָּתוּב "אִם שָׁמוֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע וְגוֹ' כָּל הַמַּחֲלָה אֲשֶׁר שַׂמְתִּי בְמִצְרַיִם לֹא אָשִׂים עָלֶיךָ" (שמות ט"ו) — אֵין מְיָרְאִין אֶת הָאָדָם אֶלָּא בְּדָבָר שֶׁהוּא יָגוֹר מִמֶּנּוּ:
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| 61In addition, God will bring upon you every disease and plague that is not written in the scroll of this Torah in order to destroy you. |
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סאגַּ֤ם כָּל־חֳלִי֙ וְכָל־מַכָּ֔ה אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹ֣א כָת֔וּב בְּסֵ֖פֶר הַתּוֹרָ֣ה הַזֹּ֑את יַעְלֵ֤ם יְהֹוָה֙ עָלֶ֔יךָ עַ֖ד הִשָּֽׁמְדָֽךְ: |
| יַעְלֵם - (lit.) Will bring them. This is related to עֲלִיָּה “ascent.” |
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יַעְלֵם.
לְשׁוֹן עֲלִיָּה:
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| 62You will remain few in number instead of being how you once were—as numerous as the stars of the heavens—because you did not obey God, your God. |
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סבוְנִשְׁאַרְתֶּם֙ בִּמְתֵ֣י מְעָ֔ט תַּ֚חַת אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֱיִיתֶ֔ם כְּכֽוֹכְבֵ֥י הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם לָרֹ֑ב כִּי־לֹ֣א שָׁמַ֔עְתָּ בְּק֖וֹל יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ: |
| וְנִשְׁאַרְתֶּם בִּמְתֵי מְעָט תַּחַת וגו' - You will remain few in number instead of [being how you once were…]. i.e., few instead of many. |
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וְנִשְׁאַרְתֶּם בִּמְתֵי מְעָט תַּחַת וגו'.
מֻעָטִין חֵלֶף מְרֻבִּים:
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| 63Just as God rejoiced over you to do good for you and to make you numerous, so will God make your enemies rejoice over you as they proceed to annihilate you and destroy you. You will be uprooted from the land that you are entering in order to possess. |
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סגוְהָיָ֠ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֨שׂ יְהֹוָ֜ה עֲלֵיכֶ֗ם לְהֵיטִ֣יב אֶתְכֶם֘ וּלְהַרְבּ֣וֹת אֶתְכֶם֒ כֵּ֣ן יָשִׂ֤ישׂ יְהֹוָה֙ עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם לְהַֽאֲבִ֥יד אֶתְכֶ֖ם וּלְהַשְׁמִ֣יד אֶתְכֶ֑ם וְנִסַּחְתֶּם֙ מֵעַ֣ל הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּ֥ה בָא־שָׁ֖מָּה לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ: |
| כֵּן יָשִׂישׂ ה' - So will God make rejoice – i.e., your enemies - “over you to annihilate you….” |
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כֵּן יָשִׂישׂ ה'.
אֶת אוֹיְבֵיכֶם עליכם להאביד וגו':
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| וְנִסַּחְתֶּם - this denotes uprooting, similar to: “God will uproot (יִסַּח) the house of the haughty.” |
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וְנִסַּחְתֶּם.
לְשׁוֹן עֲקִירָה וְכֵן (משלי ט"ו) "בֵּית גֵּאִים יִסַּח ה'":
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| 64God will scatter you among all the nations, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you will serve those who serve other peoples’ deities, which were unknown to you or your forefathers—deities of wood and stone. |
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סדוֶֽהֱפִֽיצְךָ֤ יְהֹוָה֙ בְּכָל־הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים מִקְצֵ֥ה הָאָ֖רֶץ וְעַד־קְצֵ֣ה הָאָ֑רֶץ וְעָבַ֨דְתָּ שָּׁ֜ם אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹֽא־יָדַ֛עְתָּ אַתָּ֥ה וַֽאֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ עֵ֥ץ וָאָֽבֶן: |
| ועבדתם שָּׁם אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים - And there you will (lit.) serve other peoples’ deities. Its meaning is as Onkelos translates it: וְתִפְלַח תַּמָּן לְעַמְמַיָּא פָּלְחֵי טָעֲוָתָא “and there you will serve nations who serve idols,” i.e., the reference is not to actual idol-worship, but to paying tributes and poll taxes to idolatrous priests. |
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ועבדתם שָּׁם אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים.
כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ — לֹא עֲבוֹדַת אֱלֹהוּת מַמָּשׁ אֶלָּא מַעֲלִים מַס וְגֻלְגֹּלִיּוֹת לְכוּמְרֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה:
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| 65You will find no respite among those nations, nor will your foot find any rest. There, God will give you a frightened, trembling heart, dashed hopes, and a depressed soul. |
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סהוּבַגּוֹיִ֤ם הָהֵם֙ לֹ֣א תַרְגִּ֔יעַ וְלֹא־יִֽהְיֶ֥ה מָנ֖וֹחַ לְכַף־רַגְלֶ֑ךָ וְנָתַן֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה לְךָ֥ שָׁם֙ לֵ֣ב רַגָּ֔ז וְכִלְי֥וֹן עֵינַ֖יִם וְדַֽאֲב֥וֹן נָֽפֶשׁ: |
| לֹא תַרְגִּיעַ - means: you will not rest, related to: וְזֹאת הַמַּרְגֵּעָה “and this is repose.” |
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לֹא תַרְגִּיעַ.
לֹא תָנוּחַ, כְּמוֹ "וְזֹאת הַמַּרְגֵּעָה" (ישעיהו כ"ח):
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| לֵב רַגָּז - means: A frightened heart - as Onkelos translates it: דָּחֵל, as we find: “The grave beneath shuddered (רָגְזָה) for you”; “Nations heard; they shudder (יִרְגָּזוּן)”; “the foundations of heaven trembled (יִרְגָּזוּ).” |
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לֵב רַגָּז.
לֵב חָרֵד, כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ "דָּחֵל", כְּמוֹ (ישעיהו י"ד) "שְׁאוֹל מִתַּחַת רָגְזָה לָךְ" (שמות ט"ו) "שָׁמְעוּ עַמִּים יִרְגָּזוּן", (שמואל ב כ"ב) "מוֹסְדוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם יִרְגָּזוּ":
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| וְכִלְיוֹן עֵינַיִם - Dashed hopes - means: he yearns for help, but it does not materialize. |
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וְכִלְיוֹן עֵינַיִם.
מְצַפֶּה לִישׁוּעָה וְלֹא תָבֹא:
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| 66Your life will hang in suspense before you. You will be afraid night and day, and you will not believe in the reliability of your own life. |
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סווְהָי֣וּ חַיֶּ֔יךָ תְּלֻאִ֥ים לְךָ֖ מִנֶּ֑גֶד וּפָֽחַדְתָּ֙ לַ֣יְלָה וְיוֹמָ֔ם וְלֹ֥א תַֽאֲמִ֖ין בְּחַיֶּֽיךָ: |
| חַיֶּיךָ תְּלֻאִים לְךָ - Your life will hang in suspense - i.e., in doubt – any doubt is termed תָּלוּי “hanging” – You will say: Maybe I will die today by the sword that is attacking us. But our rabbis expounded: This refers to one who buys grain from the market. |
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חַיֶּיךָ תְּלֻאִים לְךָ.
עַל הַסָּפֵק, כָּל סָפֵק קָרוּי תָּלוּי, שֶׁמָּא אָמוּת הַיּוֹם בַּחֶרֶב הַבָּאָה עָלֵינוּ. וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ דָרְשׁוּ זֶה הַלּוֹקֵחַ תְּבוּאָה מִן הַשּׁוּק:
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| וְלֹא תַֽאֲמִין בְּחַיֶּֽיךָ - And you will not believe in your life. This refers to one who must rely on the baker for bread. |
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וְלֹא תַֽאֲמִין בְּחַיֶּֽיךָ.
זֶה הַסּוֹמֵךְ עַל הַפַּלְטֵר (עי' מנחות ק"ג):
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| 67You will say in the morning, ‘If only it were last night!’ and you will say in the night, ‘If only it were this morning!’ because of the fear in your heart that you will experience over the future and because of the sights that you will behold. |
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סזבַּבֹּ֤קֶר תֹּאמַר֙ מִֽי־יִתֵּ֣ן עֶ֔רֶב וּבָעֶ֥רֶב תֹּאמַ֖ר מִֽי־יִתֵּ֣ן בֹּ֑קֶר מִפַּ֤חַד לְבָֽבְךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּפְחָ֔ד וּמִמַּרְאֵ֥ה עֵינֶ֖יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּרְאֶֽה: |
| בַּבֹּקֶר תֹּאמַר מִֽי־יִתֵּן עֶרֶב - You will say in the morning, “If only it were night” - i.e., that it be last night. |
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בַּבֹּקֶר תֹּאמַר מִֽי־יִתֵּן עֶרֶב.
וְיִהְיֶה הָעֶרֶב שֶׁל אֶמֶשׁ:
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| וּבָעֶרֶב תֹּאמַר מִֽי־יִתֵּן בֹּקֶר - And you will say in the night, “If only it were morning” - i.e., the morning of that day, for the troubles will constantly intensify, and each hour’s curse will surpass that of the one before it. |
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וּבָעֶרֶב תֹּאמַר מִֽי־יִתֵּן בֹּקֶר.
שֶׁל שַׁחֲרִית, שֶׁהַצָּרוֹת מִתְחַזְּקוֹת תָּמִיד וְכָל שָׁעָה מְרֻבָּה קִלְלָתָהּ מִשֶּׁלְּפָנֶיהָ (עי' סוטה מ"ט):
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| 68God will bring you back to Egypt in slave-ships, via the path about which I said to you, ‘You will never see it again.’ There, you will offer yourselves for sale to your other enemies as slaves and bondwomen; but there will be no buyer.” |
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סחוֶֽהֱשִֽׁיבְךָ֙ יְהֹוָ֥ה | מִצְרַ֘יִם֘ בָּֽאֳנִיּוֹת֒ בַּדֶּ֨רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֣רְתִּי לְךָ֔ לֹֽא־תֹסִ֥יף ע֖וֹד לִרְאֹתָ֑הּ וְהִתְמַכַּרְתֶּ֨ם שָׁ֧ם לְאֹֽיְבֶ֛יךָ לַֽעֲבָדִ֥ים וְלִשְׁפָח֖וֹת וְאֵ֥ין קֹנֶֽה: |
| בָּֽאֳנִיּוֹת - means: in ships as captives. |
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בָּֽאֳנִיּוֹת.
בִּסְפִינוֹת — בַּשִּׁבְיָה:
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| וְהִתְמַכַּרְתֶּם שָׁם לְאֹֽיְבֶיךָ - There, you will offer yourselves for sale to your enemies - i.e., you will request your captors to let you be sold to these others as slaves and bondwomen. |
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וְהִתְמַכַּרְתֶּם שָׁם לְאֹֽיְבֶיךָ.
אַתֶּם מְבַקְשִׁים לִהְיוֹת נִמְכָּרִים לָהֶם לַעֲבָדִים וְלִשְׁפָחוֹת:
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| וְאֵין קֹנֶֽה - But there will be no buyer - for they will have sentenced you to death and annihilation. |
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וְאֵין קֹנֶֽה.
כִּי יִגְזְרוּ עָלֶיךָ הֶרֶג וְכִלָּיוֹן:
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| וְהִתְמַכַּרְתֶּם - is “e porvandrez vos” in Old French (“and you will sell yourselves”). It is impossible to explain וְהִתְמַכַּרְתֶּם to mean “you will actually be sold,” i.e., by others, for it says afterward: וְאֵין קֹנֶה “but there will be no buyer.” |
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וְהִתְמַכַּרְתֶּם.
בְּלַעַז איפורוונדרי"ץ וו"ש, וְלֹא יִתָּכֵן לְפָרֵשׁ "וְהִתְמַכַּרְתֶּם" בִּלְשׁוֹן וְנִמְכַּרְתֶּם עַל יְדֵי מוֹכְרִים אֲחֵרִים מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר אַחֲרָיו "וְאֵין קוֹנֶה":
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| 69These are the words that constitute the covenant that God commanded Moses to make with the Israelites in Moab, in addition to the covenant of blessings and curses that He made with them at Mount Horeb. |
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סטאֵ֩לֶּה֩ דִבְרֵ֨י הַבְּרִ֜ית אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֧ה יְהֹוָ֣ה אֶת־משֶׁ֗ה לִכְרֹ֛ת אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מוֹאָ֑ב מִלְּבַ֣ד הַבְּרִ֔ית אֲשֶׁר־כָּרַ֥ת אִתָּ֖ם בְּחֹרֵֽב: |
| לִכְרֹת אֶת־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - To make with the Israelites - that they accept the Torah upon themselves subject to this curse and oath. |
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לִכְרֹת אֶת־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל.
שֶׁיְּקַבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם אֶת הַתּוֹרָה בְּאָלָה וּבִשְׁבוּעָה:
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| מִלְּבַד הַבְּרִית - In addition to the covenant - i.e., the curses recorded in Leviticus that were said at Mount Sinai. |
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מִלְּבַד הַבְּרִית.
קְלָלוֹת שֶׁבְּתוֹרַת כֹּהֲנִים שֶׁנֶּאֶמְרוּ בְסִינַי:
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