| 39If your brother Israelite living with you becomes destitute, and he is indentured to you as a bondman, you must not work him with labor that makes him appear to be a bondman. |
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לטוְכִֽי־יָמ֥וּךְ אָחִ֛יךָ עִמָּ֖ךְ וְנִמְכַּר־לָ֑ךְ לֹא־תַֽעֲבֹ֥ד בּ֖וֹ עֲבֹ֥דַת עָֽבֶד: |
| עֲבֹדַת עָֽבֶד - (lit.) Labor of a bondman - i.e., degrading work that makes him publicly identified as a bondman: e.g., he must not carry his master’s clothes behind him to the bathhouse or tie his boots for him. |
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עֲבֹדַת עָֽבֶד.
עֲבוֹדָה שֶׁל גְּנַאי שֶׁיְּהֵא נִכָּר בָּהּ כְּעֶבֶד, שֶׁלֹּא יוֹלִיךְ כֵּלָיו אַחֲרָיו לְבֵית הַמֶּרְחָץ וְלֹא יַנְעִיל לוֹ מִנְעָלָיו (עי' ספרא):
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| 40He must be employed by you as an employee or a hired resident. He may only work with you until the Jubilee year. |
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מכְּשָׂכִ֥יר כְּתוֹשָׁ֖ב יִֽהְיֶ֣ה עִמָּ֑ךְ עַד־שְׁנַ֥ת הַיֹּבֵ֖ל יַֽעֲבֹ֥ד עִמָּֽךְ: |
| כְּשָׂכִיר כְּתוֹשָׁב - As an employee or a hired resident - i.e., give him agricultural or craft work; treat him like regular hired workers. |
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כְּשָׂכִיר כְּתוֹשָׁב.
עֲבוֹדַת קַרְקַע וּמְלֶאכֶת אֻמָּנוּת כִּשְׁאָר שְׂכִירִים הִתְנַהֵג בּוֹ:
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| עַד־שְׁנַת הַיֹּבֵל - Until the Jubilee year - i.e., if the Jubilee year occurs before six years have elapsed, the Jubilee releases him from service. |
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עַד־שְׁנַת הַיֹּבֵל.
אִם פָּגַע בּוֹ יוֹבֵל לִפְנֵי שֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים הַיּוֹבֵל מוֹצִיאוֹ:
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| 41He must leave you, he and his children with him. He must return to his family and reassume the social status of his fathers, |
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מאוְיָצָא֙ מֵֽעִמָּ֔ךְ ה֖וּא וּבָנָ֣יו עִמּ֑וֹ וְשָׁב֙ אֶל־מִשְׁפַּחְתּ֔וֹ וְאֶל־אֲחֻזַּ֥ת אֲבֹתָ֖יו יָשֽׁוּב: |
| הוּא וּבָנָיו עִמּוֹ - He and his children with him. Rabbi Shimon asked: Although it has been stated that he himself was sold, who has sold his children, that Scripture should mention their leaving? This is only stated so that we derive from here, as well as from the extra word “he,” that a Hebrew bondman’s master is obligated to feed him and his children as well. |
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הוּא וּבָנָיו עִמּוֹ.
אָמַר רַ' שִׁמְעוֹן אִם הוּא נִמְכַּר, בָּנָיו מִי מְכָרָן? אֶלָּא מִכָּאן שֶׁרַבּוֹ חַיָּב בִּמְזוֹנוֹת בָּנָיו (קידושין כ"ב):
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| וְאֶל־אֲחֻזַּת אֲבֹתָיו - (lit.) And to the inherited property of his fathers - means: to the respected status of his ancestors, meaning that one may not belittle him due to this, i.e., the fact that he was a bondman. |
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וְאֶל־אֲחֻזַּת אֲבֹתָיו.
אֶל כְּבוֹד אֲבוֹתָיו, וְאֵין לְזַלְזְלוֹ בְּכָךְ (ספרא; מכילתא י"ג):
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| אֲחֻזַּת - thus means: here held social position |
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אֲחֻזַּת.
חֲזָקַת:
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| 42for they are My servants, whom I brought out of Egypt. They must not be indentured as a non-Jewish bondservant is sold. |
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מבכִּֽי־עֲבָדַ֣י הֵ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־הוֹצֵ֥אתִי אֹתָ֖ם מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם לֹ֥א יִמָּֽכְר֖וּ מִמְכֶּ֥רֶת עָֽבֶד: |
| כִּֽי־עֲבָדַי הֵם - For they are My servants - i.e., My deed of purchase, so to speak, predates yours. |
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כִּֽי־עֲבָדַי הֵם.
שְׁטָרִי קוֹדֵם (ספרא):
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| לֹא יִמָּֽכְרוּ מִמְכֶּרֶת עָֽבֶד - They must not be indentured as a bondservant is sold - i.e., by public announcement: “Here is a bondservant for sale,” nor may one have him stand on an auction platform. |
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לֹא יִמָּֽכְרוּ מִמְכֶּרֶת עָֽבֶד.
בְּהַכְרָזָה — "כָּאן יֵשׁ עֶבֶד לִמְכֹּר" וְלֹא יַעֲמִידֶנּוּ עַל אֶבֶן הַלֶּקַח (ספרא):
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| 43You must not work him with backbreaking labor; you must fear your God. |
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מגלֹֽא־תִרְדֶּ֥ה ב֖וֹ בְּפָ֑רֶךְ וְיָרֵ֖אתָ מֵֽאֱלֹהֶֽיךָ: |
| לֹֽא־תִרְדֶּה בוֹ בְּפָרֶךְ - You must not work him with backbreaking labor - i.e., unnecessary tasks given only with the purpose of bothering him, e.g., do not tell him: “Heat up this cup” when there is no need for it; or without specifying a time-limit, such as: “Hoe underneath the vine until I come.” Maybe you will say: “No one can know if this matter is necessary or not, so I will tell him that it is necessary”? It is thus a matter that is the personal province of the master, and that is why it says: “you must fear your God.” |
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לֹֽא־תִרְדֶּה בוֹ בְּפָרֶךְ.
מְלָאכָה שֶׁלֹּא לְצֹרֶךְ, כְּדֵי לְעַנּוֹתוֹ, אַל תֹּאמַר לוֹ, הָחֵם לִי אֶת הַכּוֹס הַזֶּה וְהוּא אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ, עֲדֹר תַּחַת הַגֶּפֶן עַד שֶׁאָבֹא; שֶׁמָּא תֹאמַר אֵין מַכִּיר בַּדָּבָר אִם לְצֹרֶךְ אִם לָאו, וְאוֹמֵר אֲנִי לוֹ שֶׁהוּא לְצֹרֶךְ, הֲרֵי הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה מָסוּר לְלִבּוֹ, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר "וְיָרֵאתָ" (שם):
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| 44The bondmen or bondwomen whom you may possess for menial labor must come from the non-Jewish nations around you. You may purchase non-Jewish bondmen or bondwomen from them. |
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מדוְעַבְדְּךָ֥ וַֽאֲמָֽתְךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִֽהְיוּ־לָ֑ךְ מֵאֵ֣ת הַגּוֹיִ֗ם אֲשֶׁר֙ סְבִיבֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם מֵהֶ֥ם תִּקְנ֖וּ עֶ֥בֶד וְאָמָֽה: |
| וְעַבְדְּךָ וַֽאֲמָֽתְךָ אֲשֶׁר יִֽהְיוּ־לָךְ - The bondmen or bondwomen whom you may possess. Should you ask: “Whom then can I use for menial labor? I am not allowed to rule over my Hebrew bondman, and I cannot possess anyone from the nations currently occupying the Land of Israel, for You have warned me regarding them: ‘You must not allow any soul to live.’ 18 Who then will serve me?” |
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וְעַבְדְּךָ וַֽאֲמָֽתְךָ אֲשֶׁר יִֽהְיוּ־לָךְ.
אִם תֹּאמַר אִם כֵּן בְּמָה אֶשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ? בַּעֲבָדַי אֵינִי מוֹשֵׁל, בָּאֻמּוֹת אֵינִי נוֹחֵל, שֶׁהֲרֵי הִזְהַרְתַּנִי לֹא תְחַיֶּה כָּל נְשָׁמָה, אֶלָּא מִי יְשַׁמְּשֵׁנִי?
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| מֵאֵת הַגּוֹיִם - The answer is: “from the nations” - they will be your bondservants. |
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מֵאֵת הַגּוֹיִם.
הֵם יִהְיוּ לְךָ לַעֲבָדִים (שם):
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| אֲשֶׁר סְבִיבֹתֵיכֶם - Around you. but not those who reside within the borders of your land, for about them I said: “you must not allow any soul to live.” |
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אֲשֶׁר סְבִיבֹתֵיכֶם.
וְלֹא שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ גְּבוּל אַרְצְכֶם, שֶׁהֲרֵי בָהֶם אָמַרְתִּי לֹא תְחַיֶּה כָּל נְשָׁמָה:
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| 45You may also purchase bondservants from among the children of female Canaanite residents who live among you, as well as from their family who live among you, to whom they gave birth in your land. They will become part of your estate. |
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מהוְ֠גַ֠ם מִבְּנֵ֨י הַתּֽוֹשָׁבִ֜ים הַגָּרִ֤ים עִמָּכֶם֙ מֵהֶ֣ם תִּקְנ֔וּ וּמִמִּשְׁפַּחְתָּם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִמָּכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר הוֹלִ֖ידוּ בְּאַרְצְכֶ֑ם וְהָי֥וּ לָכֶ֖ם לַֽאֲחֻזָּֽה: |
| וְגַם מִבְּנֵי הַתּֽוֹשָׁבִים - Also…from among the children of residents. who came from the surrounding lands to marry Canaanite women in your land and they had children. The son of such a union follows the father’s non-Canaanite nationality and is thus not included in the statement “you must not allow any soul to live,” and you are permitted to acquire him as a bondservant. |
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וְגַם מִבְּנֵי הַתּֽוֹשָׁבִים.
שֶׁבָּאוּ מִסְּבִיבוֹתֵיכֶם לִשָּׂא נָשִׁים בְּאַרְצְכֶם, וְיָלְדוּ לָהֶם, הַבֵּן הוֹלֵךְ אַחַר הָאָב, וְאֵינוֹ בִּכְלַל לֹא תְחַיֶּה, אֶלָּא אַתָּה מֻתָּר לִקְנוֹתוֹ כְּעֶבֶד (קידושין כ"ז):
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| מֵהֶם תִּקְנוּ - (lit.) You may purchase…from them. means you may buy them. |
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מֵהֶם תִּקְנוּ.
אוֹתָם תִּקְנוּ:
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| 46You may retain ownership of them for your children after you as an inherited estate, and may thus have them work for you forever. But as for your brethren, the Israelites, no man may work his brother Israelite with backbreaking labor. |
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מווְהִתְנַֽחַלְתֶּ֨ם אֹתָ֜ם לִבְנֵיכֶ֤ם אַֽחֲרֵיכֶם֙ לָרֶ֣שֶׁת אֲחֻזָּ֔ה לְעֹלָ֖ם בָּהֶ֣ם תַּֽעֲבֹ֑דוּ וּבְאַ֨חֵיכֶ֤ם בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אִ֣ישׁ בְּאָחִ֔יו לֹֽא־תִרְדֶּ֥ה ב֖וֹ בְּפָֽרֶךְ: |
| וְהִתְנַֽחַלְתֶּם אֹתָם לִבְנֵיכֶם - this is a hitpa’el (reflexive) form, meaning: “hold onto them as heritable possession for the benefit of your children after you.” One cannot explain it as meaning: “bequeath them to your children,” for if so, it should have written: וְהִנְחַלְתֶּם אוֹתָם לִבְנֵיכֶם – a hif’il (causative) form. is thus similar to וְהִתְחַזַּקְתֶּם “you must be courageous.” |
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וְהִתְנַֽחַלְתֶּם אֹתָם לִבְנֵיכֶם.
הַחֲזִיקוּ בָהֶם לְנַחֲלָה לְצֹרֶךְ בְּנֵיכֶם אַחֲרֵיכֶם; וְלֹא יִתָּכֵן לְפָרֵשׁ הַנְחִילוּם לִבְנֵיכֶם, שֶׁאִם כֵּן הָיָה לוֹ לִכְתֹּב "וְהִנְחַלְתֶּם" אוֹתָם לִבְנֵיכֶם, וְהִתְנַחַלְתֶּם כְּמוֹ וְהִתְחַזַּקְתֶּם:
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| אִישׁ בְּאָחִיו - No man [may work] his brother. This prohibition is repeated here to include a tribal prince with respect to his people and a king with respect to his subjects, that they must not have them perform such “backbreaking labor” described above. |
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אִישׁ בְּאָחִיו.
לְהָבִיא נָשִׂיא בְעַמָּיו וּמֶלֶךְ בִּמְשָׁרְתָיו שֶׁלֹּא לִרְדּוֹת בְּפָרֶךְ:
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| 47If a resident alien gains financial means, it will be on account of associating with you, and if your brother Israelite becomes destitute, it may well be on account of associating with him. If your brother Israelite is indentured as a bondman to a resident alien among you, or to an idol of the non-Jewish family of a convert, |
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מזוְכִ֣י תַשִּׂ֗יג יַ֣ד גֵּ֤ר וְתוֹשָׁב֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ וּמָ֥ךְ אָחִ֖יךָ עִמּ֑וֹ וְנִמְכַּ֗ר לְגֵ֤ר תּוֹשָׁב֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ א֥וֹ לְעֵ֖קֶר מִשְׁפַּ֥חַת גֵּֽר: |
| יַד גֵּר וְתוֹשָׁב - although the conjunction ו is used, the phrase refers to one person: an alien who is a resident, as Onkelos translates it עֲרַל תּוֹתָב, and the end of the verse proves this: וְנִמְכַּר לְגֵר תּוֹשָׁב (lit.) “if he is indentured to a resident alien,” as the ו is absent. |
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יַד גֵּר וְתוֹשָׁב.
גֵּר וְהוּא תוֹשָׁב, כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ עָרֵל תוֹתָב, וְסוֹפוֹ מוֹכִיח — וְנִמְכַּר "לְגֵר תּוֹשָׁב":
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| וְכִי תַשִּׂיג יַד גֵּר וְתוֹשָׁב עִמָּךְ - (lit.) If a resident alien gains financial means among you. What caused him to become rich? His association with you. |
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וְכִי תַשִּׂיג יַד גֵּר וְתוֹשָׁב עִמָּךְ.
מִי גָּרַם לוֹ שֶׁיַּעֲשִׁיר? דִּבּוּקוֹ עִמְּךָ.
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| וּמָךְ אָחִיךָ עִמּוֹ - (lit.) And your brother becomes destitute with him. What caused him to become poor? His association with him, in that he followed the non-Jew’s example. |
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וּמָךְ אָחִיךָ עִמּוֹ.
מִי גָּרַם לוֹ שֶׁיָּמוּךְ? דִּבּוּקוֹ עִמּוֹ, עַל יְדֵי שֶׁלָּמַד מִמַּעֲשָׂיו:
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| מִשְׁפַּחַת גֵּר - The family of a convert. This refers to its non-Jewish members. When it says לְעֵקֶר, it refers to someone sold for an actual idol as an attendant for it – not to serve it as a deity, but to chop wood and to draw water for it. |
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מִשְׁפַּחַת גֵּר.
זֶה הַגּוֹי, כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר לְעֵקֶר, זֶה הַנִּמְכָּר לְעֲ"זַ עַצְמָהּ, לִהְיוֹת לָהּ שַׁמָּשׁ, וְלֹא לֶאֱלֹהוּת אֶלָּא לַחֲטֹב עֵצִים וְלִשְׁאֹב מַיִם (ספרא; בבא קמא קי"ג):
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| 48after he is indentured, he must have rights of redemption. One of his brothers must redeem him. |
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מחאַֽחֲרֵ֣י נִמְכַּ֔ר גְּאֻלָּ֖ה תִּֽהְיֶה־לּ֑וֹ אֶחָ֥ד מֵֽאֶחָ֖יו יִגְאָלֶֽנּוּ: |
| גְּאֻלָּה תִּֽהְיֶה־לּוֹ - He must have rights of redemption - immediately. Do not let him become assimilated among non-Jews. |
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גְּאֻלָּה תִּֽהְיֶה־לּוֹ.
מִיָּד, אַל תַּנִּיחֵהוּ שֶׁיִּטָּמַע,
עַד שְׁנַת הַיֹּבֵל שֶׁהֲרֵי כָל עַצְמוֹ לֹא קְנָאוֹ אֶלָּא לְעָבְדוֹ עַד הַיּוֹבֵל, שֶׁהֲרֵי בַיּוֹבֵל יֵצֵא, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר לְמַטָּה וְיָצָא בִּשְׁנַת הַיֹּבֵל; וּבְגוֹי שֶׁתַּחַת יָדְךָ הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר (ספרא; קידושין ט"ז), וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן לֹא תָבֹא עָלָיו בַּעֲקִיפִין מִפְּנֵי חִלּוּל הַשֵּׁם (בבא קמא קי"ג), אֶלָּא כְּשֶׁבָּא לִגָּאֵל, יְדַקְדֵּק בַּחֶשְׁבּוֹן, לְפִי הַמַּגִּיעַ בְּכָל שָׁנָה וְשָׁנָה יְנַכֶּה לוֹ הַגּוֹי מִן דָּמָיו, אִם הָיוּ עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה מִשֶּׁנִמְכַּר עַד הַיּוֹבֵל, וּקְנָאוֹ בְּעֶשְׂרִים מָנֶה, נִמְצָא שֶׁקָּנָה הַגּוֹי עֲבוֹדַת שָׁנָה בְּמָנֶה, וְאִם שָׁהָה זֶה אֶצְלוֹ חָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים, וּבָא לִגָּאֵל, יְנַכֶּה לוֹ חֲמִשָּׁה מָנִים, וְיִתֵּן לוֹ הָעֶבֶד ט"ו מָנִים, וְזֶהוּ והיה כסף ממכרו במספר שנים:
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| 49Either his uncle or his cousin must redeem him; or the closest relative from his family must redeem him; or, when he becomes able to afford it, he can be redeemed on his own. |
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מטאֽוֹ־דֹד֞וֹ א֤וֹ בֶן־דֹּדוֹ֙ יִגְאָלֶ֔נּוּ אֽוֹ־מִשְּׁאֵ֧ר בְּשָׂר֛וֹ מִמִּשְׁפַּחְתּ֖וֹ יִגְאָלֶ֑נּוּ אֽוֹ־הִשִּׂ֥יגָה יָד֖וֹ וְנִגְאָֽל: |
| 50Whoever redeems him must calculate with his purchaser from the year he was indentured to him until the Jubilee year. The purchase price will then be divided by that number of years: the result will then be considered his working rate during his term as a hired worker. |
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נוְחִשַּׁב֙ עִם־קֹנֵ֔הוּ מִשְּׁנַת֙ הִמָּ֣כְרוֹ ל֔וֹ עַ֖ד שְׁנַ֣ת הַיֹּבֵ֑ל וְהָיָ֞ה כֶּ֤סֶף מִמְכָּרוֹ֙ בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר שָׁנִ֔ים כִּימֵ֥י שָׂכִ֖יר יִֽהְיֶ֥ה עִמּֽוֹ: |
| כִּימֵי שָׂכִיר יִֽהְיֶה עִמּֽוֹ - Until the Jubilee year - for in fact he had bought him only to serve him until the Jubilee year, for in the Jubilee year he must leave service, as it says below: “he must leave his employer in the Jubilee year.” Scripture is thus speaking of a non-Jew who is under your jurisdiction. Nevertheless, do not act crookedly toward him, because of the desecration of the Name that this will cause. Rather, when the bondman comes to be redeemed, one must be precise with the calculation, meaning that according to the amount that is due for each year, the non-Jew should deduct for him from his total purchase price: If there were 20 years from the time he was sold until the Jubilee year and he bought him for 20 maneh, the result is that the non-Jew bought the work of each year for a maneh. If he stayed with him for five years and now comes to redeem himself, the non-Jew deducts five maneh and the bondman gives him 15 maneh. This is what is meant by: “his purchase price will then be divided by that number of years: the result will then be considered his working rate during his term as a hired worker,” i.e., in the example above, he must calculate the amount due for each year as if he were hired to him for each year for a maneh, and deduct from the total price accordingly for him. |
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כִּימֵי שָׂכִיר יִֽהְיֶה עִמּֽוֹ.
— חֶשְׁבּוֹן הַמַּגִּיעַ לְכָל שָׁנָה וְשָׁנָה יַחֲשֹׁב, כְּאִלּוּ נִשְׂכַּר עִמּוֹ כָּל שָׁנָה בְּמָנֶה, וִינַכֶּה לוֹ:
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| 51If there are still many years remaining until the Jubilee year, he must accordingly return his redemption money to his purchaser out of the money for which he was purchased. |
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נאאִם־ע֥וֹד רַבּ֖וֹת בַּשָּׁנִ֑ים לְפִיהֶן֙ יָשִׁ֣יב גְּאֻלָּת֔וֹ מִכֶּ֖סֶף מִקְנָתֽוֹ: |
| אִם־עוֹד רַבּוֹת בַּשָּׁנִים - If there are still many years - until the Jubilee year. |
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אִם־עוֹד רַבּוֹת בַּשָּׁנִים.
עַד הַיּוֹבֵל:
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| לְפִיהֶן - (lit.) According to them. This is all to be understood as I explained above. |
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לְפִיהֶן.
הַכֹּל כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי:
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| 52If only a few years remain until the Jubilee year, he must make the same calculation. He must return the redemption money to the purchaser according to his years that remain. |
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נבוְאִם־מְעַ֞ט נִשְׁאַ֧ר בַּשָּׁנִ֛ים עַד־שְׁנַ֥ת הַיֹּבֵ֖ל וְחִשַּׁב־ל֑וֹ כְּפִ֣י שָׁנָ֔יו יָשִׁ֖יב אֶת־גְּאֻלָּתֽוֹ: |
| 53He must be considered as an employee hired on a yearly basis. The purchaser must not oppress him with backbreaking labor in your sight. |
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נגכִּשְׂכִ֥יר שָׁנָ֛ה בְּשָׁנָ֖ה יִֽהְיֶ֣ה עִמּ֑וֹ לֹֽא־יִרְדֶּ֥נּוּ בְּפֶ֖רֶךְ לְעֵינֶֽיךָ: |
| לֹֽא־יִרְדֶּנּוּ בְּפֶרֶךְ לְעֵינֶֽיךָ - [The purchaser] must not oppress him with backbreaking labor (lit.) before your eyes - meaning, when you see it. |
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לֹֽא־יִרְדֶּנּוּ בְּפֶרֶךְ לְעֵינֶֽיךָ.
כְּלוֹמַר וְאַתָּה רוֹאֶה (ספרא):
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| 54If he is not redeemed through any of these ways, he must leave his non-Jewish employer in the Jubilee year, he and his children with him. |
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נדוְאִם־לֹ֥א יִגָּאֵ֖ל בְּאֵ֑לֶּה וְיָצָא֙ בִּשְׁנַ֣ת הַיֹּבֵ֔ל ה֖וּא וּבָנָ֥יו עִמּֽוֹ: |
| וְאִם־לֹא יִגָּאֵל בְּאֵלֶּה - If he is not redeemed through [any of] these [ways]. He can be redeemed only through these ways, but he is not redeemed by six years having elapsed. |
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וְאִם־לֹא יִגָּאֵל בְּאֵלֶּה.
בְּאֵלֶּה הוּא נִגְאָל וְאֵינוֹ נִגְאָל בְּשֵׁשׁ (קידושין ט"ו):
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| הוּא וּבָנָיו עִמּֽוֹ - He and his children with him. The non-Jew is obligated to feed his children, just as an Israelite master is. |
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הוּא וּבָנָיו עִמּֽוֹ.
הַגּוֹי חַיָּב בִּמְזוֹנוֹת בָּנָיו:
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| 55He must be redeemed because the Israelites are servants to Me; they are My servants, whom I brought out of Egypt. I am God, your God. |
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נהכִּי־לִ֤י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ עֲבָדִ֔ים עֲבָדַ֣י הֵ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־הוֹצֵ֥אתִי אוֹתָ֖ם מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶֽם: |
| כִּי־לִי בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲבָדִים - Because the Israelites are servants to Me - i.e., My deed of purchase, so to speak, predates any other. |
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כִּי־לִי בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲבָדִים.
שְׁטָרִי קוֹדֵם:
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| אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶֽם - I am God, your God. This indicates that anyone who enslaves them below is considered as if he enslaves God Above, so to speak. |
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אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶֽם.
כָּל הַמְשַׁעְבְּדָן מִלְּמַטָּה כְּאִלּוּ מְשַׁעְבְּדוֹ מִלְמַעְלָה (ספרא):
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| 1You must not make idols for yourselves, nor may you set up for yourselves a sculpted image or single-stone pedestal. You must not lay a pavement of stones on which to prostrate yourselves in your land, for I am God, your God. |
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אלֹא־תַֽעֲשׂ֨וּ לָכֶ֜ם אֱלִילִ֗ם וּפֶ֤סֶל וּמַצֵּבָה֙ לֹֽא־תָקִ֣ימוּ לָכֶ֔ם וְאֶ֣בֶן מַשְׂכִּ֗ית לֹ֤א תִתְּנוּ֙ בְּאַרְצְכֶ֔ם לְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲוֹ֖ת עָלֶ֑יהָ כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶֽם: |
| לֹא־תַֽעֲשׂוּ לָכֶם אלילים - You must not make idols for yourselves.
These commandments are repeated here, addressing one who was sold to a non-Jew, so that he not say: “Just as my master engages in illicit relations, I, too, will behave like him; just as my master serves idols, I, too will behave like him; just as my master desecrates the Sabbath, I, too, will behave like him” – therefore these verses are stated.
All these above passages are also stated in the order they may typically occur: At first Scripture instructs regarding the seventh year. And if a person desired monetary gain and engaged in suspicious dealings with produce of the seventh year, he will eventually have to sell his movable property. Therefore it juxtaposes to it: וְכִי תִמְכְּרוּ מִמְכָּר “When you sell some possession.” What is written in that verse? אוֹ קָנֹה מִיַּד עֲמִיתֶךָ “or buy (lit.) from the hand of your fellow,” implying something acquired from hand to hand. If he does not repent of his actions, he will eventually have to sell his inherited land. If he still does not repent, he will eventually have to sell his house. If he still does not repent, he will eventually come to borrow on interest – every later situation is worse than the earlier one. If even then he does not repent, he will eventually have to sell himself; and if even then he does not repent, it will not be enough that he was sold to an Israelite, but he will even have to sell himself to a non-Jew.
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לֹא־תַֽעֲשׂוּ לָכֶם אלילים.
כְּנֶגֶד זֶה הַנִּמְכָּר לְגוֹי, שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמַר הוֹאִיל וְרַבִּי מְגַלֶּה עֲרָיוֹת, אַף אֲנִי כְּמוֹתוֹ, הוֹאִיל וְרַבִּי עוֹבֵד עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, אַף אֲנִי כְּמוֹתוֹ, הוֹאִיל וְרַבִּי מְחַלֵּל שַׁבָּת, אַף אֲנִי כְּמוֹתוֹ, לְכָךְ נֶאֶמְרוּ מִקְרָאוֹת הַלָּלוּ; וְאַף הַפָּרָשִׁיּוֹת הַלָּלוּ נֶאֶמְרוּ עַל הַסֵּדֶר: בַּתְּחִלָּה הִזְהִיר עַל הַשְּׁבִיעִית, וְאִם חָמַד מָמוֹן וְנֶחְשַׁד עַל הַשְּׁבִיעִית, סוֹפוֹ לִמְכֹּר מִטַּלְטְלָיו, לְכָךְ סָמַךְ לָהּ וְכִי תִמְכְּרוּ מִמְכָּר — (מַה כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ? אוֹ קָנֹה מִיַּד עֲמִיתֶךָ — דָּבָר הַנִּקְנֶה מִיָּד לְיָד) — לֹא חָזַר בּוֹ, סוֹף מוֹכֵר אֲחֻזָּתוֹ, לֹא חָזַר בּוֹ, סוֹף מוֹכֵר אֶת בֵּיתוֹ, לֹא חָזַר בּוֹ, סוֹף לֹוֶה בְרִבִּית — כָּל אֵלּוּ הָאַחֲרוֹנוֹת קָשׁוֹת מִן הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת — לֹא חָזַר בּוֹ, סוֹף מוֹכֵר אֶת עַצְמוֹ, לֹא חָזַר בּוֹ, לֹא דַיּוֹ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל אֶלָּא אֲפִלּוּ לְגוֹי:
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| וְאֶבֶן מַשְׂכִּית - A pavement of stone. The term מַשְׂכִּית denotes covering, as in וְשַׂכֹּתִי כַפִּי “and I will shield you with My hand,” for the ground is covered with stone flooring. |
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וְאֶבֶן מַשְׂכִּית.
לְשׁוֹן כִּסּוּי, כְּמוֹ "וְשַׂכֹּתִי כַפִּי" (שמות ל"ג), שֶׁמְּכַסִּין הַקַּרְקַע בְּרִצְפַּת אֲבָנִים:
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| לְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲוֹת עָלֶיהָ - On which to prostrate yourselves - even to God in heaven, because prostration involves spreading out one’s hands and feet on the ground, and the Torah forbids one to do this except in the Holy Temple. |
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לְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲוֹת עָלֶיהָ.
אֲפִלּוּ לַשָּׁמַיִם, לְפִי שֶׁהִשְׁתַּחֲוָאָה בְּפִשּׁוּט יָדַיִם וְרַגְלַיִם הִיא וְאָסְרָה תוֹרָה לַעֲשׂוֹת כֵּן חוּץ מִן הַמִּקְדָּשׁ (מגילה כ"ב):
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| 2You must keep My Sabbaths and fear My Sanctuary. I am God.’” |
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באֶת־שַׁבְּתֹתַ֣י תִּשְׁמֹ֔רוּ וּמִקְדָּשִׁ֖י תִּירָ֑אוּ אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָֽה: |
| אֲנִי ה' - I am God - trustworthy to pay reward. End of Parashat Behar |
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אֲנִי ה'.
נֶאֱמָן לְשַׁלֵּם שָׂכָר:
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| 3“If you advance in the knowledge of My rules and safeguard My commandments, and perform them, |
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גאִם־בְּחֻקֹּתַ֖י תֵּלֵ֑כוּ וְאֶת־מִצְוֹתַ֣י תִּשְׁמְר֔וּ וַֽעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹתָֽם: |
| אִם־בְּחֻקֹּתַי תֵּלֵכוּ - If you advance in My rules. I might think that this refers to fulfilling the commandments. However, in saying: “and safeguard My commandments and perform them,” fulfilling the commandments was already stated. How then do I explain: “if you advance in My rules”? That you must toil in studying the Torah beyond the minimal requirement. |
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אִם־בְּחֻקֹּתַי תֵּלֵכוּ.
יָכוֹל זֶה קִיּוּם הַמִּצְווֹת, כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר וְאֶת מִצְוֹתַי תִּשְׁמְרוּ וַעֲשִיתֶם אֹתָם הֲרֵי קִיּוּם הַמִּצְווֹת אָמוּר, הָא מָה אֲנִי מְקַיֵּם אִם בְּחֻקֹּתַי תֵּלֵכוּ? שֶׁתִּהְיוּ עֲמֵלִים בַּתּוֹרָה (ספרא):
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| וְאֶת־מצותי תִּשְׁמְרוּ - And safeguard My commandments - i.e., toil in studying the Torah with intent to safeguard and fulfill the commandments, as it says: “study them and safeguard them by learning how to perform them.” |
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וְאֶת־מצותי תִּשְׁמְרוּ.
הֱווּ עֲמֵלִים בַּתּוֹרָה עַל מְנָת לִשְׁמֹר וּלְקַיֵּם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וּלְמַדְתֶּם אֹתָם וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם לַעֲשֹׂתָם" (דברים ה'):
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| 4I will give you your rains in their time. The land will yield its produce. The naturally barren tree of the field will give forth its fruit. |
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דוְנָֽתַתִּ֥י גִשְׁמֵיכֶ֖ם בְּעִתָּ֑ם וְנָֽתְנָ֤ה הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ יְבוּלָ֔הּ וְעֵ֥ץ הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה יִתֵּ֥ן פִּרְיֽוֹ: |
| בְּעִתָּם - In their time - i.e., at a time that it is not usual for people to go out, such as on Sabbath nights. |
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בְּעִתָּם.
בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאֵין דֶּרֶךְ בְּנֵי אָדָם לָצֵאת, כְּגוֹן בְּלֵילֵי שַׁבָּתוֹת (ספרא; תענית כ"ג):
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| וְעֵץ הַשָּׂדֶה - The tree of the field. These are naturally barren trees, which will miraculously produce fruit in the future. |
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וְעֵץ הַשָּׂדֶה.
הֵן אִילָנֵי סְרָק, וַעֲתִידִין לַעֲשׂוֹת פֵּרוֹת (ספרא):
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| 5Threshing will occupy you until the grape harvest, and harvesting the grapes will occupy you until the time for sowing the fields again for grain. You will eat your food to satiety. You will live in security in your land. |
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הוְהִשִּׂ֨יג לָכֶ֥ם דַּ֨יִשׁ֙ אֶת־בָּצִ֔יר וּבָצִ֖יר יַשִּׂ֣יג אֶת־זָ֑רַע וַֽאֲכַלְתֶּ֤ם לַחְמְכֶם֙ לָשׂ֔בַע וִֽישַׁבְתֶּ֥ם לָבֶ֖טַח בְּאַרְצְכֶֽם: |
| וְהִשִּׂיג לָכֶם דַּיִשׁ אֶת־בָּצִיר - Threshing will occupy you until the grape harvest - i.e., there will be so much to thresh that you will be occupied with it until the grape harvest, and you will be occupied with the grape harvest until the sowing season. |
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וְהִשִּׂיג לָכֶם דַּיִשׁ אֶת־בָּצִיר.
שֶׁיְּהֵא הַדַּיִשׁ מְרֻבֶּה, וְאַתֶּם עֲסוּקִים בּוֹ עַד הַבָּצִיר, וּבַבָּצִיר תַּעַסְקוּ עַד שְׁעַת הַזֶּרַע (ספרא):
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| וַֽאֲכַלְתֶּם לַחְמְכֶם לָשׂבַע - You will eat your food to satiety - i.e., one will be able to eat a small amount and it will be blessed to be unusually satisfying in his stomach. |
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וַֽאֲכַלְתֶּם לַחְמְכֶם לָשׂבַע.
אוֹכֵל קִמְעָא וְהוּא מִתְבָּרֵךְ בְּמֵעָיו:
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| 6I will grant peace in the land. You will lie down and sleep peacefully, for there will be no cause for fear. I will remove wild beasts from the land, and no foreign army will pass through your land. |
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ווְנָֽתַתִּ֤י שָׁלוֹם֙ בָּאָ֔רֶץ וּשְׁכַבְתֶּ֖ם וְאֵ֣ין מַֽחֲרִ֑יד וְהִשְׁבַּתִּ֞י חַיָּ֤ה רָעָה֙ מִן־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְחֶ֖רֶב לֹא־תַֽעֲבֹ֥ר בְּאַרְצְכֶֽם: |
| וְנָֽתַתִּי שָׁלוֹם - I will grant peace. Maybe you will say: There is food, there is drink, but if there is no peace, there is nothing! Scripture therefore states after all this: “I will grant peace in the land.” From here we derive that peace is equivalent to all blessings, and similarly it says: “He makes peace and creates all.” |
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וְנָֽתַתִּי שָׁלוֹם.
שֶׁמָּא תֹאמְרוּ, הֲרֵי מַאֲכָל וַהֲרֵי מִשְׁתֶּה, אִם אֵין שָׁלוֹם אֵין כְּלוּם, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר אַחַר כָּל זֹאת "וְנָתַתִּי שָׁלוֹם בָּאָרֶץ"; מִכָּאן שֶׁהַשָּׁלוֹם שָׁקוּל כְּנֶגֶד הַכֹּל, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (ישעיה מ"ה) "עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם וּבוֹרֵא אֶת הַכֹּל":
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| וְחֶרֶב לֹא־תַֽעֲבֹר בְּאַרְצְכֶֽם - And no army will pass through your land. It is not necessary to say that they will not come to wage war. Therefore, this is only stated to tell us that they will not even seek to pass through your land on the way from one country to another. |
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וְחֶרֶב לֹא־תַֽעֲבֹר בְּאַרְצְכֶֽם.
אֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמָר שֶׁלֹּא יָבֹאוּ לַמִּלְחָמָה, אֶלָּא אֲפִלּוּ לַעֲבֹר דֶּרֶךְ אַרְצְכֶם מִמְּדִינָה לִמְדִינָה (ספרא):
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| 7You will pursue your enemies and they will fall before you by the sword. |
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זוּרְדַפְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־אֹֽיְבֵיכֶ֑ם וְנָֽפְל֥וּ לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם לֶחָֽרֶב: |
| לִפְנֵיכֶם לֶחָֽרֶב - Before you by the sword - i.e., one by the sword of the other. |
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לִפְנֵיכֶם לֶחָֽרֶב.
אִישׁ בְּחֶרֶב רֵעֵהוּ (שם):
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| 8Five of you will pursue a hundred of them. A hundred of you will pursue ten thousand of them. Your enemies will fall before you by the sword. |
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חוְרָֽדְפ֨וּ מִכֶּ֤ם חֲמִשָּׁה֙ מֵאָ֔ה וּמֵאָ֥ה מִכֶּ֖ם רְבָבָ֣ה יִרְדֹּ֑פוּ וְנָֽפְל֧וּ אֹֽיְבֵיכֶ֛ם לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם לֶחָֽרֶב: |
| וְרָֽדְפוּ מִכֶּם - Of you will pursue - i.e., from the weakest among you and not from the strongest among you. |
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וְרָֽדְפוּ מִכֶּם.
מִן הַחַלָּשִׁים שֶׁבָּכֶם וְלֹא מִן הַגִּבּוֹרִים שֶׁבָּכֶם (שם):
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| חֲמִשָּׁה מֵאָה וּמֵאָה מִכֶּם רְבָבָה - Five…a hundred; a hundred…ten thousand. Are these numbers accurate? Based on the ratio in the first phrase, should it not have continued: “a hundred of you will pursue two thousand”? The ratio is different in the second case only because a small number of those abiding by the Torah cannot be compared to a larger number of those abiding by the Torah. |
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חֲמִשָּׁה מֵאָה וּמֵאָה מִכֶּם רְבָבָה.
וְכִי כָךְ הוּא הַחֶשְׁבּוֹן? וַהֲלֹא לֹא הָיָה צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר אֶלָּא מֵאָה מִכֶּם שְׁנֵי אֲלָפִים יִרְדֹּפוּ, אֶלָּא אֵינוֹ דּוֹמֶה מֻעֲטִין הָעוֹשִׂים אֶת הַתּוֹרָה לִמְרֻבִּין הָעוֹשִׂין אֶת הַתּוֹרָה (שם):
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| וְנָֽפְלוּ אֹֽיְבֵיכֶם וגו' - Your enemies will fall…. i.e., they will fall before you in a supernatural manner. |
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וְנָֽפְלוּ אֹֽיְבֵיכֶם וגו'.
שֶׁיִּהְיוּ נוֹפְלִין לִפְנֵיכֶם שֶׁלֹּא כְדֶרֶךְ הָאָרֶץ (שם):
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| 9I will turn My attention to you. I will make you fruitful; I will make you tall. I will establish My covenant with you. |
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טוּפָנִ֣יתִי אֲלֵיכֶ֔ם וְהִפְרֵיתִ֣י אֶתְכֶ֔ם וְהִרְבֵּיתִ֖י אֶתְכֶ֑ם וַֽהֲקִֽימֹתִ֥י אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֖י אִתְּכֶֽם: |
| וּפָנִיתִי אֲלֵיכֶם - I will turn to you - i.e., I will free Myself from all My occupations to pay you your reward for serving Me. To what is this matter comparable? To a king who hired workers… – as stated in Torat Kohanim. |
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וּפָנִיתִי אֲלֵיכֶם.
אֶפְנֶה מִכָּל עֲסָקַי לְשַׁלֵּם שְׂכַרְכֶם. מָשָׁל לְמָה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה? לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁשָּׂכַר פּוֹעֲלִים וְכוּ', כִּדְאִיתָא בְּתּוֹרַת כֹּהֲנִים:
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| וְהִפְרֵיתִי אֶתְכֶם - I will make you fruitful - since this is a unique blessing, in this case “making fruitful” also includes making you numerous, i.e., your progeny will be similarly fertile. |
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וְהִפְרֵיתִי אֶתְכֶם.
בִּפְרִיָּה וּרְבִיָּה:
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| וְהִרְבֵּיתִי אֶתְכֶם - (lit.) I will make you numerous - since numerous quantity was already implied, this term here indicates upright stature, i.e., an increase in strength and quality. |
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וְהִרְבֵּיתִי אֶתְכֶם.
בְּקוֹמָה זְקוּפָה (ספרא):
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| וַֽהֲקִֽימֹתִי אֶת־בְּרִיתִי אֶתְכֶם - I will establish My covenant with you - i.e., a new, permanent form of the covenant, not like the earlier covenant that you broke, but a new covenant that will never be broken, as it says: “I will make with the House of Israel and the House of Judah a new covenant, unlike the covenant I made with their forefathers….” |
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וַֽהֲקִֽימֹתִי אֶת־בְּרִיתִי אֶתְכֶם.
בְּרִית חֲדָשָׁה, לֹא כַבְּרִית הָרִאשׁוֹנָה שֶׁהֵפַרְתֶּם אוֹתָהּ אֶלָּא בְּרִית חֲדָשָׁה שֶׁלֹּא תּוּפַר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיהו ל"א) "וְכָרַתִּי אֶת בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֶת בֵּית יְהוּדָה בְּרִית חֲדָשָׁה לֹא כַבְּרִית וְגוֹ'" (ספרא):
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