Torah Reading for Vayelech

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First Portion

Devarim (Deuteronomy) Chapter 31

1Moses went and spoke the following words to all Israel.		אוַיֵּ֖לֶךְ משֶׁ֑ה וַיְדַבֵּ֛ר אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה אֶל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
2He said to them, “Today I am 120 years old. I am no longer allowed to come and go before you, for God said to me, ‘You will not cross this Jordan River.’		בוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֗ם בֶּן־מֵאָה֩ וְעֶשְׂרִ֨ים שָׁנָ֤ה אָֽנֹכִי֙ הַיּ֔וֹם לֹֽא־אוּכַ֥ל ע֖וֹד לָצֵ֣את וְלָב֑וֹא וַֽיהֹוָה֙ אָמַ֣ר אֵלַ֔י לֹ֥א תַֽעֲבֹ֖ר אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֥ן הַזֶּֽה:
וילך משה וגו', לֹֽא־אוּכַל עוֹד לָצֵאת וְלָבוֹא - Moses went…I can no longer go or come. One might think [this means] that Moses’ strength had ebbed [and that is why he could no longer go or come]. Scripture [however] states [regarding Moses], “His eye had not dimmed, nor had he lost his [natural] moisture” (Deut. 34:7) [which teaches us that his powers were intact even on the day of his passing]. So what then is [the meaning of] “I can no longer”? [Here it means:] “I am not permitted,” because authority was taken from him and granted to Joshua.		וילך משה וגו', לֹֽא־אוּכַל עוֹד לָצֵאת וְלָבוֹא. יָכוֹל שֶׁתָּשַׁשׁ כֹּחוֹ, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר "לֹא כָהֲתָה עֵינוֹ וְלא נָס לֵחֹה", אֶלָּא מַהוּ לא אוכל? אֵינִי רַשַּׁאי, שֶׁנִּטְּלָה מִמֶּנִּי הָרְשׁוּת וְנִתְּנָה לִיהוֹשֻׁעַ.
וה' אָמַר אֵלַי - and the Lord said to me. This is the meaning of “I can no longer go or come,” because “the Lord said to me….”		וה' אָמַר אֵלַי. זֶהוּ פֵּרוּשׁ לא אוכל עוד לצאת ולבוא — לְפִי שֶׁה' אמר אלי:
אָֽנֹכִי הַיּוֹם - Today I am [one-hundred and twenty years old]. [That is to say,] today [is the exact day that] my days and my years have become complete; on this very day [the seventh of Adar] I was born, and on this day I will die. — [Sotah 13b] Another interpretation of “[I can no longer] go or come” is: [I can no longer figuratively go and come, i.e., I can no longer negotiate] in matters of Torah. This teaches us that the channels of transmission and the well-springs of wisdom were closed up from him [i.e., from Moses on that day]. — [Sotah 13b] [That is the order of the early editions and should be preserved. Rashi means that according to the first interpretation, that God did not permit him to go and come before the people, we do not explain the beginning of the verse to mean that Moses’ days were completed, but that God had taken away the authority from Moses. According to the Talmud, which states that Moses’ days were completed, we explain that he could not go and come in matters of Torah, and according to that interpretation, we do not explain that “the Lord said to me” as the meaning for “I can no longer go or come,” but another reason for Moses’ inability to cross the Jordan.]		אָֽנֹכִי הַיּוֹם. הַיּוֹם מָלאוּ יָמַי וּשְׁנוֹתַי, בְּיוֹם זֶה נוֹלַדְתִּי וּבְיוֹם זֶה אָמוּת (סוטה י"ג). דָּבָר אַחֵר — לצאת ולבוא. בְּדִבְרֵי תוֹרָה, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁנִּסְתְּמוּ מִמֶּנּוּ מָסוֹרוֹת וּמַעְיְנוֹת הַחָכְמָה (סוטה י"ג):
3God, your God—He will cross the river ahead of you; He will destroy these nations from before you, and you will dispossess them. Joshua—he will cross the river ahead of you, as God has spoken.		גיְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ ה֣וּא \| עֹבֵ֣ר לְפָנֶ֗יךָ הֽוּא־יַשְׁמִ֞יד אֶת־הַגּוֹיִ֥ם הָאֵ֛לֶּה מִלְּפָנֶ֖יךָ וִֽירִשְׁתָּ֑ם יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ ה֚וּא עֹבֵ֣ר לְפָנֶ֔יךָ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה:

Second Portion

Devarim (Deuteronomy) Chapter 31

4God will do to them as He did to the Amorite kings Sichon and Og, and to the people of their land, whom He destroyed.		דוְעָשָׂ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ לָהֶ֔ם כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֗ה לְסִיח֥וֹן וּלְע֛וֹג מַלְכֵ֥י הָֽאֱמֹרִ֖י וּלְאַרְצָ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִשְׁמִ֖יד אֹתָֽם:
5When God delivers them before you, you must do to them in accordance with all the commandments that I have commanded you concerning them.		הוּנְתָנָ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה לִפְנֵיכֶ֑ם וַֽעֲשִׂיתֶ֣ם לָהֶ֔ם כְּכָ֨ל־הַמִּצְוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוִּ֖יתִי אֶתְכֶֽם:
6Be strong and courageous! Neither fear nor be discouraged because of them, for God, your God—He is the one who is accompanying you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you.”		וחִזְק֣וּ וְאִמְצ֔וּ אַל־תִּֽירְא֥וּ וְאַל־תַּֽעַרְצ֖וּ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם כִּ֣י \| יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ ה֚וּא הַֽהֹלֵ֣ךְ עִמָּ֔ךְ לֹ֥א יַרְפְּךָ֖ וְלֹ֥א יַֽעַזְבֶֽךָּ:
לֹא יַרְפְּךָ - means: He will not allow you to slip, being abandoned by Him.		לֹא יַרְפְּךָ. לֹא יִתֵּן לְךָ רִפְיוֹן לִהְיוֹת נֶעֱזָב מִמֶּנּוּ:

Third Portion

Devarim (Deuteronomy) Chapter 31

7Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must enter, with this people, the land that God swore to their forefathers to give them. You must apportion it to the people as an inheritance.		זוַיִּקְרָ֨א משֶׁ֜ה לִֽיהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו לְעֵינֵ֣י כָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֘ חֲזַ֣ק וֶֽאֱמָץ֒ כִּ֣י אַתָּ֗ה תָּבוֹא֙ אֶת־הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה אֶל־הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִשְׁבַּ֧ע יְהֹוָ֛ה לַֽאֲבֹתָ֖ם לָתֵ֣ת לָהֶ֑ם וְאַתָּ֖ה תַּנְחִילֶ֥נָּה אוֹתָֽם:
כִּי אַתָּה תָּבוֹא אֶת־הָעָם הַזֶּה - Onkelos translates this as: אֲרֵי אַתְּ תֵּעוֹל עִם עַמָּא הָדֵין – “for you will enter with this people” i.e., Moses said to Joshua: “The elders of the generation will be with you, meaning that they will assist you. Do everything according to their opinion and advice.” But the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Joshua: כִּי אַתָּה תָּבִיא אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי לָהֶם “for you will bring the Israelites into the land that I have sworn to them,” 1 i.e., you will bring them, even against their will. Everything is dependent upon you. Take a stick and beat them over the head, if necessary. There is one leader for the generation, not two or more leaders for the generation.		כִּי אַתָּה תָּבוֹא אֶת־הָעָם הַזֶּה. "אֲרֵי אַתְּ תֵּעוּל עִם עַמָּא הָדֵין": מֹשֶׁה אָמַר לוֹ לִיהוֹשֻׁעַ זְקֵנִים שֶׁבַּדּוֹר יִהְיוּ עִמְּךָ, הַכֹּל לְפִי דַעְתָּן וַעֲצָתָן, אֲבָל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אָמַר לִיהוֹשֻׁעַ "כִּי אַתָּה תָּבִיא אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי לָהֶם" — תָּבִיא עַל כָּרְחָם, הַכֹּל תָּלוּי בְּךָ, טֹל מַקֵּל וְהַךְ עַל קָדְקֳדָן, דַּבָּר אֶחָד לְדוֹר וְלֹא שְׁנֵי דַבָּרִים לְדוֹר (סנהדרין ח'):
8God—He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you. Do not fear and do not be daunted.”		חוַֽיהֹוָ֞ה ה֣וּא \| הַֽהֹלֵ֣ךְ לְפָנֶ֗יךָ ה֚וּא יִֽהְיֶ֣ה עִמָּ֔ךְ לֹ֥א יַרְפְּךָ֖ וְלֹ֥א יַֽעַזְבֶ֑ךָּ לֹ֥א תִירָ֖א וְלֹ֥א תֵחָֽת:
9Moses wrote down this entire Torah, and gave it to the priests as the representatives of the Levites, who carried the Ark of the Covenant of God, and to all the elders of Israel.		טוַיִּכְתֹּ֣ב משֶׁה֘ אֶת־הַתּוֹרָ֣ה הַזֹּאת֒ וַיִּתְּנָ֗הּ אֶל־הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ בְּנֵ֣י לֵוִ֔י הַנֹּ֣שְׂאִ֔ים אֶת־אֲר֖וֹן בְּרִ֣ית יְהֹוָ֑ה וְאֶל־כָּל־זִקְנֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
וַיִּכְתֹּב משֶׁה וַיִּתְּנָהּ - Moses wrote…and gave it. i.e., when it was fully completed, he gave it to the priests as representatives of the members of his tribe.		וַיִּכְתֹּב משֶׁה וַיִּתְּנָהּ. כְּשֶׁנִּגְמְרָה כֻּלָּהּ נְתָנָהּ לִבְנֵי שִׁבְטוֹ (עי' ספרי דברים ל"ד):

Footnotes

Deuteronomy 31:23.

Fourth Portion

Devarim (Deuteronomy) Chapter 31

10Moses then commanded them, saying, “At the end of every seven years, at an appointed time after the year of release, on the Festival of Sukot,		יוַיְצַ֥ו משֶׁ֖ה אוֹתָ֣ם לֵאמֹ֑ר מִקֵּ֣ץ \| שֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֗ים בְּמֹעֵ֛ד שְׁנַ֥ת הַשְּׁמִטָּ֖ה בְּחַ֥ג הַסֻּכּֽוֹת:
מִקֵּץ שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים - At the end of seven years - i.e., in the first year of the new sabbatical cycle, i.e., in the eighth year of the previous cycle. And why does Scripture call it שְׁנַת הַשְּׁמִטָּה “the year of release”? For some laws of the year of release still apply then, regarding the harvest of the seventh-year produce that takes place in the year following the seventh.		מִקֵּץ שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים. בְּשָׁנָה רִאשׁוֹנָה שֶׁל שְׁמִטָּה — בַּשְּׁמִינִית, וְלָמָּה קוֹרֵא אוֹתָהּ שנת השמטה? שֶׁעֲדַיִּן שְׁבִיעִית נוֹהֶגֶת בָּהּ, בַּקָּצִיר שֶׁל שְׁבִיעִית הַיּוֹצֵא לְמוֹצָאֵי שְׁבִיעִית:
11when all Israel comes to appear before God, your God, in the place He will choose, i.e., the Temple, you must read from this Torah before all Israel, so they hear it with their ears.		יאבְּב֣וֹא כָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לֵֽרָאוֹת֙ אֶת־פְּנֵי֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בַּמָּק֖וֹם אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִבְחָ֑ר תִּקְרָ֞א אֶת־הַתּוֹרָ֥ה הַזֹּ֛את נֶ֥גֶד כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּאָזְנֵיהֶֽם:
תִּקְרָא אֶת־הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת - You must read this Torah. The king would read from the beginning of the Book of Deuteronomy, as stated in Tractate Sotah, 1 on a wooden platform that was erected in the Courtyard so that all could hear.		תִּקְרָא אֶת־הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת. הַמֶּלֶךְ הָיָה קוֹרֵא מִתְּחִלַּת "אֵלֶּה הַדְּבָרִים", כִּדְאִיתָא בְמַסֶּכֶת סוֹטָה (דף מ"א) עַל בִּימָה שֶׁל עֵץ שֶׁהָיוּ עוֹשִׂין בָּעֲזָרָה:
12Assemble the people—the men, women, and children, including your converts, whom you have accepted into your cities—in order that they hear, in order that they learn the Torah, and revere God, your God. Thus, they will safeguard the Torah by studying its instructions regarding how to do all that is taught in the words of this Torah.		יבהַקְהֵ֣ל אֶת־הָעָ֗ם הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֤ים וְהַנָּשִׁים֙ וְהַטַּ֔ף וְגֵֽרְךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּשְׁעָרֶ֑יךָ לְמַ֨עַן יִשְׁמְע֜וּ וּלְמַ֣עַן יִלְמְד֗וּ וְיָֽרְאוּ֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם וְשָֽׁמְר֣וּ לַֽעֲשׂ֔וֹת אֶת־כָּל־דִּבְרֵ֖י הַתּוֹרָ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת:
הָֽאֲנָשִׁים - The men - come to learn.		הָֽאֲנָשִׁים. לִלְמֹד:
וְהַנָּשִׁים - The women - come just to hear.		וְהַנָּשִׁים. לִשְׁמֹעַ:
וְהַטַּף - And the children. Why do they come? So that those who bring them be rewarded for doing so.		וְהַטַּף. לָמָּה בָא? לָתֵת שָׂכָר לִמְבִיאֵיהֶם (חגיגה ג'):
13Their children, who did not know about the importance of religious behavior, must hear and learn to revere God, your God, all the days that you live in the land that you are crossing the Jordan River to possess.”		יגוּבְנֵיהֶ֞ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־יָֽדְע֗וּ יִשְׁמְעוּ֙ וְלָ֣מְד֔וּ לְיִרְאָ֖ה אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֑ם כָּל־הַיָּמִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַתֶּ֤ם חַיִּים֙ עַל־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַתֶּ֜ם עֹֽבְרִ֧ים אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֛ן שָׁ֖מָּה לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ:

Footnotes

Sotah 41a.

Fifth Portion

Devarim (Deuteronomy) Chapter 31

14God said to Moses, “Behold, the end of your days are approaching; you are about to die. Summon Joshua and stand in the Tent of Meeting, and I will encourage him.” So Moses and Joshua went and stood in the Tent of Meeting.		ידוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־משֶׁ֗ה הֵ֣ן קָֽרְב֣וּ יָמֶ֘יךָ֘ לָמוּת֒ קְרָ֣א אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ וְהִתְיַצְּב֛וּ בְּאֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵ֖ד וַֽאֲצַוֶּ֑נּוּ וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ משֶׁה֙ וִֽיהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ וַיִּתְיַצְּב֖וּ בְּאֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד:
וַֽאֲצַוֶּנּוּ - means here: I will encourage him.		וַֽאֲצַוֶּנּוּ. וַאֲזָרְזֶנּוּ:
15God appeared in the Tent of Meeting in a pillar of cloud. The pillar of cloud rested above the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.		טווַיֵּרָ֧א יְהֹוָ֛ה בָּאֹ֖הֶל בְּעַמּ֣וּד עָנָ֑ן וַיַּֽעֲמֹ֛ד עַמּ֥וּד הֶֽעָנָ֖ן עַל־פֶּ֥תַח הָאֹֽהֶל:
16God said to Moses: “Behold, you are about to lie with your forefathers, and after you do so, this nation will rise up and stray after the deities of the nations occupying the land that they are entering. They will forsake Me and violate My covenant that I made with them.		טזוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֔ה הִנְּךָ֥ שֹׁכֵ֖ב עִם־אֲבֹתֶ֑יךָ וְקָם֩ הָעָ֨ם הַזֶּ֜ה וְזָנָ֣ה \| אַֽחֲרֵ֣י \| אֱלֹהֵ֣י נֵֽכַר־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר ה֤וּא בָא־שָׁ֨מָּה֙ בְּקִרְבּ֔וֹ וַֽעֲזָבַ֕נִי וְהֵפֵר֙ אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר כָּרַ֖תִּי אִתּֽוֹ:
נֵֽכַר־הָאָרֶץ - means: the alien nations of the land.		נֵֽכַר־הָאָרֶץ. גּוֹיֵי הָאָרֶץ:
17My fury will rage against them on that day, and I will abandon them—and I will figuratively ‘hide My face’ from them, acting as if I do not see their suffering. They will become prey to their enemies, and many evils and misfortunes will befall them. They will say on that day, ‘Is it not because our God is no longer among us that these evils have befallen us?’		יזוְחָרָ֣ה אַפִּ֣י ב֣וֹ בַיּֽוֹם־הַ֠ה֠וּא וַֽעֲזַבְתִּ֞ים וְהִסְתַּרְתִּ֨י פָנַ֤י מֵהֶם֙ וְהָיָ֣ה לֶֽאֱכֹ֔ל וּמְצָאֻ֛הוּ רָע֥וֹת רַבּ֖וֹת וְצָר֑וֹת וְאָמַר֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא הֲלֹ֗א עַ֣ל כִּי־אֵ֤ין אֱלֹהַי֙ בְּקִרְבִּ֔י מְצָא֖וּנִי הָֽרָע֥וֹת הָאֵֽלֶּה:
וְהִסְתַּרְתִּי פָנַי - I will hide My face - acting as if I do not see their troubles.		וְהִסְתַּרְתִּי פָנַי. כְּמוֹ שֶׁאֵינִי רוֹאֶה בְּצָרָתָם:
18I will hide, yes, hide My face on that day because of all the evil they committed by turning to other peoples’ deities.		יחוְאָֽנֹכִ֗י הַסְתֵּ֨ר אַסְתִּ֤יר פָּנַי֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא עַ֥ל כָּל־הָֽרָעָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה כִּ֣י פָנָ֔ה אֶל־אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֲחֵרִֽים:
19So now, write for yourselves this poem that I am about to dictate to you and teach it to the Israelites. Place it into their mouths, in order that this poem be a witness for Me to the Israelites.		יטוְעַתָּ֗ה כִּתְב֤וּ לָכֶם֙ אֶת־הַשִּׁירָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את וְלַמְּדָ֥הּ אֶת־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל שִׂימָ֣הּ בְּפִיהֶ֑ם לְמַ֨עַן תִּֽהְיֶה־לִּ֜י הַשִּׁירָ֥ה הַזֹּ֛את לְעֵ֖ד בִּבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
אֶת־הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת - This poem - i.e., from הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם “Listen, heaven” until וְכִפֶּר אַדְמָתוֹ עַמּוֹ “and appease His land by appeasing His people.” 1		אֶת־הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת. "הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם" עַד "וְכִפֶּר אַדְמָתוֹ עַמּוֹ":

Footnotes

Deuteronomy 32:1-43.

Sixth Portion

Devarim (Deuteronomy) Chapter 31

20When I bring them to the land that I swore to their forefathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and date- and fig-honey, they will eat, be satiated, and grow fat, and turn to other peoples’ deities and serve them, provoking Me and violating My covenant.		כ כִּֽי־אֲבִיאֶ֜נּוּ אֶל־הָֽאֲדָמָ֣ה \| אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתִּי לַֽאֲבֹתָ֗יו זָבַ֤ת חָלָב֙ וּדְבַ֔שׁ וְאָכַ֥ל וְשָׂבַ֖ע וְדָשֵׁ֑ן וּפָנָ֞ה אֶל־אֱלֹהִ֤ים אֲחֵרִים֙ וַֽעֲבָד֔וּם וְנִ֣אֲצ֔וּנִי וְהֵפֵ֖ר אֶת־בְּרִיתִֽי:
וְנִאֲצוּנִי - means: and anger Me. Similarly, every instance of the verb נאץ denotes provocation to anger.		וְנִאֲצוּנִי. וְהִכְעִיסוּנִי, וְכֵן כָּל נִאוּץ לְשׁוֹן כַּעַס:
21When many evils and troubles befall them, this poem will bear witness against them, because I promise that it will not be forgotten from the mouths of their offspring. This poem is necessary because I know their evil inclination, including what they are planning to do today, even before I bring them into the land that I have sworn to give them.”		כאוְהָיָ֠ה כִּֽי־תִמְצֶ֨אןָ אֹת֜וֹ רָע֣וֹת רַבּוֹת֘ וְצָרוֹת֒ וְ֠עָֽנְתָ֠ה הַשִּׁירָ֨ה הַזֹּ֤את לְפָנָיו֙ לְעֵ֔ד כִּ֛י לֹ֥א תִשָּׁכַ֖ח מִפִּ֣י זַרְע֑וֹ כִּ֧י יָדַ֣עְתִּי אֶת־יִצְר֗וֹ אֲשֶׁ֨ר ה֤וּא עֹשֶׂה֙ הַיּ֔וֹם בְּטֶ֣רֶם אֲבִיאֶ֔נּוּ אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבָּֽעְתִּי:
וְעָֽנְתָה הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת לְפָנָיו לְעֵד - This poem will bear witness against them - that I warned them there about all that has befallen them.		וְעָֽנְתָה הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת לְפָנָיו לְעֵד. שֶׁהִתְרֵיתִי בוֹ בְתוֹכָהּ עַל כָּל הַמּוֹצְאוֹת אוֹתוֹ:
כִּֽי־לֹא תִשָּׁכַח מִפִּי זַרְעוֹ - Because it will not be forgotten from the mouths of their offspring. This is a promise to Israel that the Torah will never be completely forgotten by their descendants.		כִּֽי־לֹא תִשָּׁכַח מִפִּי זַרְעוֹ. הֲרֵי זוֹ הַבְטָחָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁאֵין תּוֹרָה מִשְׁתַּכַּחַת מִזַּרְעָם לְגַמְרֵי:
22So Moses wrote down this poem on that day and taught it to the Israelites.		כבוַיִּכְתֹּ֥ב משֶׁ֛ה אֶת־הַשִּׁירָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וַיְלַמְּדָ֖הּ אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
23God encouraged Joshua son of Nun and said: “Be strong and courageous! For you will bring the Israelites into the land that I have sworn to give to them, and I will be with you.”		כגוַיְצַ֞ו אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ בִּן־נ֗וּן וַיֹּ֘אמֶר֘ חֲזַ֣ק וֶֽאֱמָץ֒ כִּ֣י אַתָּ֗ה תָּבִיא֙ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתִּי לָהֶ֑ם וְאָֽנֹכִ֖י אֶֽהְיֶ֥ה עִמָּֽךְ:
וַיְצַו אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן־נוּן - He encouraged Joshua son of Nun. This statement is referring back to above, and the subject is the Divine Presence, as is clear from the later phrase: “to the land that I have sworn to them.”		וַיְצַו אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן־נוּן. מוּסָב לְמַעְלָה כְּלַפֵּי שְׁכִינָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּפֹרָשׁ "אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי לָהֶם":
24When Moses completely finished writing down the words of this Torah in a scroll,		כדוַיְהִ֣י \| כְּכַלּ֣וֹת משֶׁ֗ה לִכְתֹּ֛ב אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֥י הַתּוֹרָֽה־הַזֹּ֖את עַל־סֵ֑פֶר עַ֖ד תֻּמָּֽם:

Seventh Portion

Devarim (Deuteronomy) Chapter 31

25Moses commanded the Levites, who carried the Ark of the Covenant of God, saying:		כהוַיְצַ֤ו משֶׁה֙ אֶת־הַֽלְוִיִּ֔ם נֹֽשְׂאֵ֛י אֲר֥וֹן בְּרִֽית־יְהֹוָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר:
26“Take this Torah scroll and place it alongside the Ark of the Covenant of God, your God, so that it remain there as a witness to you.		כולָקֹ֗חַ אֵ֣ת סֵ֤פֶר הַתּוֹרָה֙ הַזֶּ֔ה וְשַׂמְתֶּ֣ם אֹת֔וֹ מִצַּ֛ד אֲר֥וֹן בְּרִֽית־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֑ם וְהָֽיָה־שָׁ֥ם בְּךָ֖ לְעֵֽד:
לָקֹחַ - Take. Although the Hebrew word is the infinitive, it has an ongoing imperative sense, just as: זָכוֹר “remember”; 1 שָׁמוֹר “observe”; 2 הָלוֹךְ “go.” 3		לָקֹחַ. כְּמוֹ זָכוֹר (שמות כ') שָׁמוֹר (דברים ה'), הָלוֹךְ (ירמיהו ב'):
מִצַּד אֲרוֹן בְּרִֽית־ה' - Alongside the Ark of the Covenant of God. The sages of Israel differ regarding this in Bava Batra. 4 Some say that a shelf protruded from the Ark on which the scroll was placed. Others say that it was next to the Tablets, inside the Ark.		מִצַּד אֲרוֹן בְּרִֽית־ה'. נֶחְלְקוּ בוֹ חַכְמֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּבָבָא בָּתְרָא (דף י"ד), יֵשׁ מֵהֶם אוֹמְרִים דַּף הָיָה בוֹלֵט מִן הָאָרוֹן מִבַּחוּץ וְשָׁם הָיָה מֻנָּח, וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים מִצַּד הַלּוּחוֹת הָיָה מֻנָּח בְּתוֹךְ הָאָרוֹן:
27For I know your rebellious spirit and your stubbornness. Even while I am still alive with you today, you are rebelling against God, so you will surely rebel after my death!		כזכִּ֣י אָֽנֹכִ֤י יָדַ֨עְתִּי֙ אֶת־מֶרְיְךָ֔ וְאֶת־עָרְפְּךָ֖ הַקָּשֶׁ֑ה הֵ֣ן בְּעוֹדֶ֩נִּי֩ חַ֨י עִמָּכֶ֜ם הַיּ֗וֹם מַמְרִ֤ים הֱיִתֶם֙ עִם־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְאַ֖ף כִּי־אַֽחֲרֵ֥י מוֹתִֽי:
28Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and your sheriffs, and I will speak these words, i.e., the words of the following poem, into their ears, and I will call upon heaven and earth as witnesses to the covenant, to testify against them if they deny it.		כחהַקְהִ֧ילוּ אֵלַ֛י אֶת־כָּל־זִקְנֵ֥י שִׁבְטֵיכֶ֖ם וְשֹֽׁטְרֵיכֶ֑ם וַֽאֲדַבְּרָ֣ה בְאָזְנֵיהֶ֗ם אֵ֚ת הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וְאָעִ֣ידָה בָּ֔ם אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ:
הַקְהִילוּ אֵלַי - Assemble before me. On that day they did not blow the trumpets in order to assemble the congregation, since it says: “make for yourself,” 5 and God did not give Joshua full authority during Moses’ lifetime by having him use them. Even during Moses’ lifetime, before the day of his death, they had been stored away, to fulfill that which it says: “and there is no sovereignty on the day of death.” 6		הַקְהִילוּ אֵלַי. וְלֹא תָקְעוּ אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם בַּחֲצוֹצְרוֹת לְהַקְהִיל אֶת הַקָּהָל, לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר י') "עֲשֵׂה לְךָ", וְלֹא הִשְׁלִיט יְהוֹשֻׁעַ עֲלֵיהֶם, וְאַף בְּחַיָּיו נִגְנְזוּ — בְּיוֹם מוֹתוֹ — לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר (קהלת ח') "וְאֵין שִׁלְטוֹן בְּיוֹם הַמָּוֶת" (תנחומא ויחי ובהעלותך):
וְאָעִידָה בָּם אֶת־הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ - And I will call upon heaven and earth as witnesses against them. If you ask: Had he not already named them witnesses above: “I invoke heaven and earth today as witnesses for you” ?7 The answer is that there, he was telling the Israelites that they would be reminders, but he had not yet spoken to heaven and earth themselves, but now he came to say: “Listen, heaven….” 8		וְאָעִידָה בָּם אֶת־הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ. וְאִם תֹּאמַר הֲרֵי כְּבָר הֵעִיד לְמַעְלָה — "הַעִדֹתִי בָכֶם הַיּוֹם וְגוֹ'"? הָתָם לְיִשְׂרָאֵל אָמַר, אֲבָל לַשָּׁמַיִם וְלָאָרֶץ לֹא אָמַר, וְעַכְשָׁו בָּא לוֹמַר "הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְגוֹ'"(דברים ל"ב):
29For I know that after my death, you will surely become corrupt and deviate from the way that I had commanded you. Consequently, the evil will befall you at the end of days, because you did evil in the eyes of God, to provoke Him to anger through your idols, the work of your hands.”		כטכִּ֣י יָדַ֗עְתִּי אַֽחֲרֵ֤י מוֹתִי֙ כִּֽי־הַשְׁחֵ֣ת תַּשְׁחִת֔וּן וְסַרְתֶּ֣ם מִן־הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוִּ֖יתִי אֶתְכֶ֑ם וְקָרָ֨את אֶתְכֶ֤ם הָֽרָעָה֙ בְּאַֽחֲרִ֣ית הַיָּמִ֔ים כִּי־תַֽעֲשׂ֤וּ אֶת־הָרַע֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה לְהַכְעִיס֖וֹ בְּמַֽעֲשֵׂ֥ה יְדֵיכֶֽם:
אַֽחֲרֵי מוֹתִי כִּי הַשְׁחֵת תשחיתון - That after my death you will surely become corrupt. But surely throughout the lifetime of Joshua they did not become corrupt, as it says: “Israel served God throughout the lifetime of Joshua” ?9 From here we learn that a person’s student is as dear to him as his own self. Thus, as long as Joshua was alive, it seemed to Moses as if he himself was still alive.		אַֽחֲרֵי מוֹתִי כִּי הַשְׁחֵת תשחיתון. וַהֲרֵי כָּל יְמוֹת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ לֹא הִשְׁחִיתוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וַיַּעַבְדוּ הָעָם אֶת ה' כֹּל יְמֵי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ" (שופטים ב')? מִכָּאן שֶׁתַּלְמִידוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם חָבִיב עָלָיו כְּגוּפוֹ, כָּל זְמַן שֶׁיְּהוֹשֻׁעַ חַי הָיָה נִרְאֶה לְמֹשֶׁה כְּאִלּוּ הוּא חַי:
30Then, Moses recited the words of the following poem to their very end into the ears of the entire assembly of Israel.		לוַיְדַבֵּ֣ר משֶׁ֗ה בְּאָזְנֵי֙ כָּל־קְהַ֣ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֖י הַשִּׁירָ֣ה הַזֹּ֑את עַ֖ד תֻּמָּֽם:

Footnotes

Bava Batra 14b.

Maftir Portion

Devarim (Deuteronomy) Chapter 31

28Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and your sheriffs, and I will speak these words, i.e., the words of the following poem, into their ears, and I will call upon heaven and earth as witnesses to the covenant, to testify against them if they deny it.		כחהַקְהִ֧ילוּ אֵלַ֛י אֶת־כָּל־זִקְנֵ֥י שִׁבְטֵיכֶ֖ם וְשֹֽׁטְרֵיכֶ֑ם וַֽאֲדַבְּרָ֣ה בְאָזְנֵיהֶ֗ם אֵ֚ת הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וְאָעִ֣ידָה בָּ֔ם אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ:
הַקְהִילוּ אֵלַי - Assemble before me. On that day they did not blow the trumpets in order to assemble the congregation, since it says: “make for yourself,” 1 and God did not give Joshua full authority during Moses’ lifetime by having him use them. Even during Moses’ lifetime, before the day of his death, they had been stored away, to fulfill that which it says: “and there is no sovereignty on the day of death.” 2		הַקְהִילוּ אֵלַי. וְלֹא תָקְעוּ אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם בַּחֲצוֹצְרוֹת לְהַקְהִיל אֶת הַקָּהָל, לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר י') "עֲשֵׂה לְךָ", וְלֹא הִשְׁלִיט יְהוֹשֻׁעַ עֲלֵיהֶם, וְאַף בְּחַיָּיו נִגְנְזוּ — בְּיוֹם מוֹתוֹ — לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר (קהלת ח') "וְאֵין שִׁלְטוֹן בְּיוֹם הַמָּוֶת" (תנחומא ויחי ובהעלותך):
וְאָעִידָה בָּם אֶת־הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ - And I will call upon heaven and earth as witnesses against them. If you ask: Had he not already named them witnesses above: “I invoke heaven and earth today as witnesses for you” ?3 The answer is that there, he was telling the Israelites that they would be reminders, but he had not yet spoken to heaven and earth themselves, but now he came to say: “Listen, heaven….” 4		וְאָעִידָה בָּם אֶת־הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ. וְאִם תֹּאמַר הֲרֵי כְּבָר הֵעִיד לְמַעְלָה — "הַעִדֹתִי בָכֶם הַיּוֹם וְגוֹ'"? הָתָם לְיִשְׂרָאֵל אָמַר, אֲבָל לַשָּׁמַיִם וְלָאָרֶץ לֹא אָמַר, וְעַכְשָׁו בָּא לוֹמַר "הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְגוֹ'"(דברים ל"ב):
29For I know that after my death, you will surely become corrupt and deviate from the way that I had commanded you. Consequently, the evil will befall you at the end of days, because you did evil in the eyes of God, to provoke Him to anger through your idols, the work of your hands.”		כטכִּ֣י יָדַ֗עְתִּי אַֽחֲרֵ֤י מוֹתִי֙ כִּֽי־הַשְׁחֵ֣ת תַּשְׁחִת֔וּן וְסַרְתֶּ֣ם מִן־הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוִּ֖יתִי אֶתְכֶ֑ם וְקָרָ֨את אֶתְכֶ֤ם הָֽרָעָה֙ בְּאַֽחֲרִ֣ית הַיָּמִ֔ים כִּי־תַֽעֲשׂ֤וּ אֶת־הָרַע֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה לְהַכְעִיס֖וֹ בְּמַֽעֲשֵׂ֥ה יְדֵיכֶֽם:
אַֽחֲרֵי מוֹתִי כִּי הַשְׁחֵת תשחיתון - That after my death you will surely become corrupt. But surely throughout the lifetime of Joshua they did not become corrupt, as it says: “Israel served God throughout the lifetime of Joshua” ?5 From here we learn that a person’s student is as dear to him as his own self. Thus, as long as Joshua was alive, it seemed to Moses as if he himself was still alive.		אַֽחֲרֵי מוֹתִי כִּי הַשְׁחֵת תשחיתון. וַהֲרֵי כָּל יְמוֹת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ לֹא הִשְׁחִיתוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וַיַּעַבְדוּ הָעָם אֶת ה' כֹּל יְמֵי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ" (שופטים ב')? מִכָּאן שֶׁתַּלְמִידוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם חָבִיב עָלָיו כְּגוּפוֹ, כָּל זְמַן שֶׁיְּהוֹשֻׁעַ חַי הָיָה נִרְאֶה לְמֹשֶׁה כְּאִלּוּ הוּא חַי:
30Then, Moses recited the words of the following poem to their very end into the ears of the entire assembly of Israel.		לוַיְדַבֵּ֣ר משֶׁ֗ה בְּאָזְנֵי֙ כָּל־קְהַ֣ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֖י הַשִּׁירָ֣ה הַזֹּ֑את עַ֖ד תֻּמָּֽם:

Footnotes

Haftarah

Hoshea (Hosea) Chapter 14

2Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled in your iniquity.		בשׁוּבָה יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַ֖ד יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ כִּ֥י כָשַׁ֖לְתָּ בַּֽעֲו‍ֹנֶֽךָ:
Return, O Israel. You, who are in the land of Judah, lest what happens to Samaria happens to you. Therefore, the topics are juxtaposed. This can be compared to a king against whom a province rebelled. The king sent a general and commanded him to destroy it. That general was expert and deliberate. He said to them, “Take for yourselves days (sic); otherwise, I will do to you as I have done to such-and-such a province and to its allies, and to such-and-such a prefecture and to its allies.” Therefore it says, “Samaria shall be accounted guilty,” and then Scripture says: “Return, O Israel.” As is found in Sifrei in the section commencing. (Num. 25:1), “And Israel abode in Shittim.”		שובה ישראל. שבארץ יהודה פן יקרה אתכם כשומרון לכך נסמכו העניינים, משל למלך שמרדה עליו מדינה שלח המלך פולימרכוס ואמר להחריבה היה אותו פולימרכוס בקי ומיושב אמר להם טלו לכם ימים ואם לאו אני עושה לכם כדרך שעשיתי למדינה פלונית ולחברותיה ולאיפרכיא פלונית ולחברותיה לכך נאמר תאשם שומרון ואומר שובה ישראל עד ה' אלהיך כדאיתא בסיפרי בפ' וישב ישראל בשטים:
to the Lord your God. One taught in the name of Rabbi Meir: Return, O Israel, while He is still יהוה, with the Divine Attribute of Mercy; otherwise, He is אֶלֹהֶי with the Divine Attribute of Justice, before the defense becomes the prosecution. [from Pesikta d’Rav Kahana, p. 164a]		עד ה' אלהיך. תני בשם רבי מאיר שובה ישראל בעוד שהוא ה' במדת הרחמים ואם לאו אלהיך מדת הדין עד דלא יתעבד סניגוריא קטיגוריא:
for you have stumbled in your iniquity. Obstacles have come to you because of your iniquity.		כי כשלת. באו לך מכשולים בעד עווניך:
3Take words with yourselves and return to the Lord. Say, "You shall forgive all iniquity and teach us [the] good [way], and let us render [for] bulls [the offering of] our lips.		גקְח֚וּ עִמָּכֶם֙ דְּבָרִ֔ים וְשׁ֖וּבוּ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֑ה אִמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו כָּל־תִּשָּׂ֚א עָו‍ֹן֙ וְקַח־ט֔וֹב וּנְשַׁלְּמָ֥ה פָרִ֖ים שְׂפָתֵֽינוּ:
You shall forgive all iniquity. Heb. כָּל-תִּשָׂא עָוֹן. Forgive all our iniquities.		כל תשא עון. כל עוונותינו סלח:
and teach [us the] good [way]. Heb. וְקַח-טוֹב. And teach us the good way. Another explanation: The few good deeds in our hands take in Your hand and judge us accordingly. And so does David say (Psalms 17:2): “Let my sentence come forth from before You, may Your eyes behold the right.” Another explanation: And accept good And accept confession from us, as it is said (Psalms 92:2): “It is good to confess to the Lord.”		וקח טוב. ולמדנו דרך טוב, דבר אחר מעט מעשים טובים שבידינו קח בידך ושפטנו אחריהם וכן דוד אומר מלפניך משפטי יצא עיניך תחזינה מישרים (תהילים י״ז:ב׳) דבר אחר וקח טוב וקבל הודיה מאתנו שנאמר טוב להודות לה' (שם צב):
and let us render [for] bulls. that we should have sacrificed before you, let us render them with the placation of the words of our lips.		ונשלמה פרים. שהיה לנו להקריב לפניך נשלם אותם בריצוי דברי שפתינו:
4Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride on horses, nor will we say any longer, our gods, to the work of our hands, for in You, by Whom the orphan is granted mercy."		דאַשּׁ֣וּר \| לֹ֣א יֽוֹשִׁיעֵ֗נוּ עַל־סוּס֙ לֹ֣א נִרְכָּ֔ב וְלֹֽא־נֹ֥אמַר ע֛וֹד אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ לְמַֽעֲשֵׂ֣ה יָדֵ֑ינוּ אֲשֶׁר־בְּךָ֖ יְרֻחַ֥ם יָתֽוֹם:
Assyria shall not save us. Say this also before Him, “We no longer seek the aid of man, neither from Assyria nor from Egypt.”		אשור לא יושיענו. עוד זאת אמרו לפניו לא נבקש עוד עזרת אדם לא מאשור ולא ממצרים:
we will not ride on horses. This is the aid from Egypt, who would send them horses, as they said to Isaiah (30:16), “No, but on horses will we flee… And on swift steeds will we ride.”		על סוס לא נרכב. זו היא עזרת מצרים שהיו שולחים להם סוסים כמו שאמרו לישעיה (נ) לא כי על סוס ננוס ועל קל נרכב: ולא נאמר עוד:
nor will we say any longer. to the work of our hands that they are our gods.		למעשה ידינו. שהם אלהינו:
for in You. alone shall our hope be, You Who grant mercy to the orphans.		אשר בך. לבדך תהיה תקותינו המרחם יתומים:
5I will remedy their backsliding; I will love them freely, for My wrath has turned away from them.		האֶרְפָּא֙ מְשׁ֣וּבָתָ֔ם אֹֽהֲבֵ֖ם נְדָבָ֑ה כִּ֛י שָׁ֥ב אַפִּ֖י מִמֶּֽנּוּ:
I will remedy their backsliding. Said the prophet: So has the Holy Spirit said to me. After they say this before Me, I will remedy their backsliding, and I will love them with My charitable spirit. Although they do not deserve the love, I will love them charitably since My wrath has turned away from them.		ארפא משובתם. אמר הנביא כך אמר לי רוח הקודש מאחר שיאמרו לפני כן ארפא משובתם ואוהבם בנדבת רוחי אעפ"י שאינן ראויין לאהבה אתנדב לאהבתם כי שב אפי ממנו:
6I will be like dew to Israel, they shall blossom like a rose, and it shall strike its roots like the Lebanon.		ואֶֽהְיֶ֚ה כַטַּל֙ לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל יִפְרַ֖ח כַּשּֽׁוֹשַׁנָּ֑ה וְיַ֥ךְ שָׁרָשָׁ֖יו כַּלְּבָנֽוֹן:
and it shall strike. I.e. the dew shall strike its roots and cause them to prosper.		ויך. הטל את שרשיו ויצליחם:
like the Lebanon. like the roots of the trees of the Lebanon, which are large.		כלבנון. כשרשי אילני הלבנון שהם גדולים:
7Its branches shall go forth, and its beauty shall be like the olive tree, and its fragrance like the Lebanon.		זיֵֽלְכוּ֙ יֽוֹנְקוֹתָ֔יו וִיהִ֥י כַזַּ֖יִת הוֹד֑וֹ וְרֵ֥יחַֽ ל֖וֹ כַּלְּבָנֽוֹן:
Its branches shall go forth. Sons and daughters shall increase.		ילכו יונקותיו. יסגון בנין ובנן:
and it shall be. Their beauty shall be like the beauty of the menorah of the Temple, and their fragrance like the fragrance of the incense.		ויהי. כזיו מנרתא דקודשא זיוהון וריחהון כריח קטרת בוסמיא:
like the Lebanon. Like the Temple.		כלבנון. כבית מקדשא:
8Those who dwelt in its shade shall return; they shall revive [like] corn and blossom like the vine; its fragrance shall be like the wine of Lebanon.		חיָשֻׁ֙בוּ֙ יֹֽשְׁבֵ֣י בְצִלּ֔וֹ יְחַיּ֥וּ דָגָ֖ן וְיִפְרְח֣וּ כַגָּ֑פֶן זִכְר֖וֹ כְּיֵ֥ין לְבָנֽוֹן:
Those who dwelt in its shade shall return. Those who already dwelt in the shade of the Lebanon, to which He compared Israel and the Temple, and now were exiled there from, shall return to it.		ישובו יושבי בצלו. אותן שהיו כבר יושבים בצל הלבנון שדימה בו ישראל ובית המקדש ועכשיו גלו מעמו ישובו אליו:
its fragrance shall be like the wine of Lebanon. Jonathan renders: Like the remembrance of the blasts of the trumpets over the old wine poured for libations in the Temple. For they would blow the trumpets over the libations when the Levites would recite the song.		זכרו כיין לבנון. כדוכרן יבבות חצוצרתא דעל חמר עתיק דמתנסך בבית מקדשא שהיו תוקעין בחצוצרות על הנסכים כשהלוים אומרים בשיר:
9Ephraim; What more do I need the images? I will answer him and I will look upon him: I am like a leafy cypress tree; from Me your fruit is found.		טאֶפְרַ֕יִם מַה־לִּ֥י ע֖וֹד לָֽעֲצַבִּ֑ים אֲנִ֧י עָנִ֣יתִי וַֽאֲשׁוּרֶ֗נּוּ אֲנִי֙ כִּבְר֣וֹשׁ רַֽעֲנָ֔ן מִמֶּ֖נִּי פֶּרְיְךָ֥ נִמְצָֽא:
Ephraim. will say, “What more do I need to follow the images?” And they will turn away from idolatry.		אפרים. יאמר מה לי עוד ללכת אתרי העצבים וישובו מעכו"ם:
I will answer him. I will answer him from his trouble.		אני אענהו. מצרתו:
and I will look upon him. I will look upon his affliction.		ואשורנו. אראה בעניו:
I am like a leafy cypress tree. I will bend down for him to hold his hand on Me as the leafy cypress which is bent down to the ground, which a man holds by its branches; i.e., I will be accessible to him.		אני כברוש רענן. אני לו נכפף להיות אוחז ידו בי כברוש רענן הנכפף לארץ שאדם אוחז בענפיו כלומר אהיה מצוי לו:
from Me your fruit is found. Am I not He? For all your good emanates from Me.		ממני פריך נמצא. והלא אני הוא שכל טובתך מאתי באה:
10Who is wise and will understand these, discerning and will know them; for the ways of the Lord are straight, and the righteous shall walk in them, and the rebellious shall stumble on them.		ימִ֚י חָכָם֙ וְיָ֣בֵֽן אֵ֔לֶּה נָב֖וֹן וְיֵֽדָעֵ֑ם כִּֽי־יְשָׁרִ֞ים דַּרְכֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֗ה וְצַדִּקִים֙ יֵ֣לְכוּ בָ֔ם וּפֹֽשְׁעִ֖ים יִכָּ֥שְׁלוּ בָֽם:
Who is wise and will understand these. Who among you is wise and will ponder to put his heart to all these and return to Me?		מי חכם. בכם ויבן אלה. מי חכם בכם ויתבונן לתת לב לכל אלה וישוב אלי:
and the rebellious shall stumble on them. i.e., because of them, because they did not walk in them. Jonathan renders in this manner.		ופושעים יכשלו בם. בשבילם על שלא הלכו בהן כן תרגם יונתן:

Michah (Micah) Chapter 7

18Who is a God like You, Who forgives iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not maintain His anger forever, for He desires loving-kindness.		יחמִי־אֵ֣ל כָּמ֗וֹךָ נֹשֵׂ֚א עָו‍ֹן֙ וְעֹבֵ֣ר עַל־פֶּ֔שַׁע לִשְׁאֵרִ֖ית נַֽחֲלָת֑וֹ לֹֽא־הֶֽחֱזִ֚יק לָעַד֙ אַפּ֔וֹ כִּֽי־חָפֵ֥ץ חֶ֖סֶד הֽוּא:
19He shall return and grant us compassion; He shall hide our iniquities, and You shall cast into the depths of the sea all their sins.		יטיָשׁ֣וּב יְרַֽחֲמֵ֔נוּ יִכְבֹּ֖שׁ עֲו‍ֹֽנֹתֵ֑ינוּ וְתַשְׁלִ֛יךְ בִּמְצֻל֥וֹת יָ֖ם כָּל־חַטֹּאתָֽם:
20You shall give the truth of Jacob, the loving-kindness of Abraham, which You swore to our forefathers from days of yore.		כתִּתֵּ֚ן אֱמֶת֙ לְיַֽעֲקֹ֔ב חֶ֖סֶד לְאַבְרָהָ֑ם אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֥עְתָּ לַֽאֲבֹתֵ֖ינוּ מִ֥ימֵי קֶֽדֶם:
You shall give the truth of Jacob. Jonathan paraphrases: You shall give the truth of Jacob to his sons, as You swore to him in Bethel; the loving-kindness of Abraham to his seed after him, as you swore to him ‘between the parts.’ You shall remember for us the binding of Isaac, etc. Give us the truth that You promised Jacob. Cause to come true Your word that You promised Jacob (Gen. 28:15): “For I will not forsake you.”		תתן אמת ליעקב. ת"י תתיהב קושטיה דיעקב לבנוהי כמה דקיימתא ליה בבית אל טבות אברהם לזרעיה בתרוהי כמה דקיימתא ליה בין בתריא תדכר לנא עקידת יצחק תתן לנו באמת אשר הבטחת ליעקב האמת לנו דבריך אשר הבטחת ליעקב כי לא אעזבך (בראשית כט):
the loving-kindness of Abraham. The reward for the loving-kindness of Abraham, [out of] which he commanded his sons to keep the way of the Lord: to perform righteousness and justice. Therefore, it does not say, “And the loving-kindness,” but “the loving-kindness.” The truth - that you will make come true the promise to Jacob - that will be the payment of the reward for Abraham’s loving-kindness.		חסד לאברהם. שכר חסד אשר לאברהם אשר צוה לבניו לשמור דרך ה' לעשו' צדקה ומשפט ולכך לא נאמר וחסד אלא חסד האמת שתאמת לנו את הבטחת יעקב היא תהיה תשלום גמול חסדו של אברהם:
which you swore. at the binding of Isaac, (Gen 22:16) “I swore by Myself, says the Lord, that because you did this thing, etc.”		אשר נשבעת. בעקידתו של יצחק בי נשבעתי נאם ה' יען אשר עשית וגומר:

Translation of Chumash and Rashi courtesy Chabad House Publications’ forthcoming English Chumash with an annotated translation of Rashi based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, published by Kehot Publications Society. Translated and adapted by Rabbi Moshe Wisnefsky, Editor-in-Chief. Rabbi Chaim N. Cunin, Director and General Editor.

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