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Chumashחומש

דברים י״ב:י״א-כ״ח

Monday, August 3, 2026

י״ב

י״אוְהָיָ֣ה הַמָּק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַר֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֥ם בּוֹ֙ לְשַׁכֵּ֤ן שְׁמוֹ֙ שָׁ֔ם שָׁ֣מָּה תָבִ֔יאוּ אֵ֛ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י מְצַוֶּ֣ה אֶתְכֶ֑ם עוֹלֹתֵיכֶ֣ם וְזִבְחֵיכֶ֗ם מַעְשְׂרֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ וּתְרֻמַ֣ת יֶדְכֶ֔ם וְכֹל֙ מִבְחַ֣ר נִדְרֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּדְּר֖וּ לַיהֹוָֽה׃

11then you must bring everything that I command you to the site where the ETERNAL your God will choose to establish the divine name: your burnt offerings and other sacrifices, your tithes and contributions,eyour…contributions See note at v. 6. and all the choice votive offerings that you vow to GOD.

רש״י

והיה המקום וגו'. בְּנוּ לָכֶם בֵּית הַבְּחִירָה בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר בְּדָוִד "וַיְהִי כִּי יָשַׁב הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּבֵיתוֹ וַה' הֵנִיחַ לוֹ מִסָּבִיב מִכָּל אוֹיְבָיו וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶל נָתָן הַנָּבִיא רְאֵה אָנֹכִי יוֹשֵׁב בְּבֵית אֲרָזִים, וַאֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים יֹשֵׁב בְּתוֹךְ הַיְרִיעָה" (שמואל ב ז'):

והיה המקום וגו׳ IT SHALL BE [THAT YE SHALL BRING TO] THE PLACE [WHICH THE LORD YOUR GOD SHALL CHOOSE … EVEN THITHER YE SHALL BRING ALL THAT I COMMAND YOU] — then build the “Chosen House” for yourselves in Jerusalem. And so indeed it states of David, (II Samuel 7:1, 2): “And it came to pass when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies, that the king said unto Nathan the prophet, ‘See now, I dwell in the house of cedar, but the Ark of God dwelleth within curtains …'” (Sifrei Devarim 67:3; cf. Rashi on that verse).

שמה תביאו וגו'. לְמַעְלָה אָמוּר לְעִנְיַן שִׁילֹה וְכָאן אָמוּר לְעִנְיַן יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, וּלְכָךְ חִלְּקָם הַכָּתוּב לִתֵּן הֶתֵּר בֵּין זוֹ לְזוֹ, מִשֶּׁחָרְבָה שִׁילֹה וּבָאוּ לְנֹב וְחָרְבָה נֹב וּבָאוּ לְגִבְעוֹן הָיוּ הַבָּמוֹת מֻתָּרוֹת עַד שֶׁבָּאוּ לִירוּשָׁלַיִם (זבחים קיט):

שמה תביאו THITHER SHALL YE BRING [ALL THAT I COMMAND YOU] — Above (v. 6) it (the same expression) is said in reference to Shiloh, but here it is said in reference to Jerusalem. It is for the following reason that Scripture divides the matter into two paragraphs: to give permission to offer on a Bamah in the intermediate period between the existence of the one sanctuary and the other; viz., that after Shiloh was destroyed and they came to Nob and erected the Tabernacle there, and then again when Nob was destroyed and they came to Gibeon, sacrificing on the Bamah was allowed until they finally came to Jerusalem (Zevachim 119a and Mishnah Zevachim 14:1).

מבחר נדריכם. מְלַמֵּד שֶׁיָּבִיא מִן הַמֻּבְחָר (ספרי):

מבחר נדריכם YOUR CHOICE VOWS — This teaches that one should bring one’s offerings from the choicest (Sifrei Devarim 68:4).

י״בוּשְׂמַחְתֶּ֗ם לִפְנֵי֮ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֒ אַתֶּ֗ם וּבְנֵיכֶם֙ וּבְנֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם וְעַבְדֵיכֶ֖ם וְאַמְהֹתֵיכֶ֑ם וְהַלֵּוִי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּשַֽׁעֲרֵיכֶ֔ם כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין ל֛וֹ חֵ֥לֶק וְנַחֲלָ֖ה אִתְּכֶֽם׃

12And youfyou See note at v. 5. shall rejoice before the ETERNAL your God with your sons and daughters and with your male and female slaves, along with the Levitegthe Levite I.e., he and his household. in your settlements, for he has no territorial allotment among you.

י״גהִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֔ פֶּֽן־תַּעֲלֶ֖ה עֹלֹתֶ֑יךָ בְּכׇל־מָק֖וֹם אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּרְאֶֽה׃

13Take care not to sacrifice your burnt offerings in any place you like,

רש״י

השמר לך. לִתֵּן לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה עַל הַדָּבָר:

השמר לך TAKE HEED TO THYSELF [LEST THOU OFFER THY BURNT OFFERINGS IN EVERY PLACE THAT THOU SEEST] — This negative form of the positive command in v. 11, is stated in order to attach a negative command (לאו) to this matter (Sifrei Devarim 70:1).

בכל מקום אשר תראה. אֲשֶׁר יַעֲלֶה בְּלִבְּךָ, אֲבָל אַתָּה מַקְרִיב עַ"פִּ נָבִיא, כְּגוֹן אֵלִיָּהוּ בְּהַר הַכַּרְמֶל (שם):

בכל מקום אשר תראה IN EVERY PLACE THAT “THOU” SEEST — i.e., that enters thy mind, but thou mayest offer anywhere by the command of a prophet, as, for instance, Elijah did on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:21 ff.) (Sifrei Devarim 70:3).

י״דכִּ֣י אִם־בַּמָּק֞וֹם אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ בְּאַחַ֣ד שְׁבָטֶ֔יךָ שָׁ֖ם תַּעֲלֶ֣ה עֹלֹתֶ֑יךָ וְשָׁ֣ם תַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י מְצַוֶּֽךָּ׃

14but only in the place that GOD will choose in one of your tribal territories. There youhyou See note at v. 5. shall sacrifice your burnt offerings and there you shall observe all that I enjoin upon you.

רש״י

באחד שבטיך. בְּחֶלְקוֹ שֶׁל בִּנְיָמִין, וּלְמַעְלָה הוּא אוֹמֵר "מִכָּל שִׁבְטֵיכֶם", הָא כֵיצַד? כְּשֶׁקָּנָה דָּוִד אֶת הַגֹּרֶן מֵאֲרַוְנָה הַיְבוּסִי גָּבָה הַזָּהָב מִכָּל הַשְּׁבָטִים, וּמִכָּל מָקוֹם הַגֹּרֶן בְּחֶלְקוֹ שֶׁל בִּנְיָמִין הָיָה (שם):

באחד שבטיך [BUT IN THE PLACE WHICH THE LORD SHALL CHOOSE] IN ONE OF THY TRIBES — namely in the allotment of Benjamin (in whose territory the Temple stood). But above (v. 5) it states, “the place which the Lord … shall choose from all your tribes”? How can this be reconciled with that? In the following manner: when David bought the threshing-floor from Araunah the Jebusite (II Samuel 24:24) to build the Temple thereon, he collected money from all the tribes; however, the threshing-floor itself was situated in the territory of Benjamin (Sifrei Devarim 62:3).

ט״ורַק֩ בְּכׇל־אַוַּ֨ת נַפְשְׁךָ֜ תִּזְבַּ֣ח ׀ וְאָכַלְתָּ֣ בָשָׂ֗ר כְּבִרְכַּ֨ת יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָֽתַן־לְךָ֖ בְּכׇל־שְׁעָרֶ֑יךָ הַטָּמֵ֤א וְהַטָּהוֹר֙ יֹאכְלֶ֔נּוּ כַּצְּבִ֖י וְכָאַיָּֽל׃

15But whenever you desire, you may slaughter and eat meat in any of your settlements, according to the blessing that the ETERNAL your God has granted you. The impure and the pure alike may partake of it, as of the gazelle and the deer.igazelle…deer I.e., animals that may be eaten (cf. 14.5; Lev. 11.1ff.), but not sacrificed (Lev. 1.1ff.).

רש״י

רק בכל אות נפשך. בַּמֶּה הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר? אִם בִּבְשַׂר תַּאֲוָה לְהַתִּירָהּ לָהֶם בְּלֹא הַקְרָבַת אֵמוּרִים הֲרֵי אָמוּר בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר (פסוק כ') "כִּי יַרְחִיב ה' אֶת גְּבוּלְךָ וְגוֹ' וְאָמַרְתָּ אֹכְלָה בָשָׂר וְגוֹ'", בַּמֶּה זֶה מְדַבֵּר? בְּקָדָשִׁים שֶׁנָּפַל בָּהֶם מוּם שֶׁיִּפָּדוּ וְיֵאָכְלוּ בְּכָל מָקוֹם, יָכוֹל יִפָּדוּ עַל מוּם עוֹבֵר? תַּ"לֹ "רַק" (ספרי):

רק בכל אות נפשך HOWEVER [THOU MAYEST SLAUGHTER AND EAT FLESH IN ALL THY GATES] IN EVERY LONGING OF THY SOUL — About what is Scripture here speaking? If you say that it speaks about בשר תאוה (flesh eaten for satisfying the appetite — an ordinary meal of meat and not a sacrificial meal) and that this verse is intended to permit it to them without offering the fat portions on the altar, behold, it states in another passage (v. 20) “When the Lord thy God shall enlarge thy boundary … and thou shalt say, I will eat flesh, [because thy soul longeth to eat flesh; thou mayest eat flesh in every longing of thy soul]”! About what, then, is this verse speaking? About consecrated animals which had become blemished, — that they must be redeemed and may then be eaten in anyplace (בכל שעריך). One might think that they may be redeemed and thus divested of their holy character also on account of a transitory blemish! Scripture, however, uses the expression רק (which word has a limitative force) (Sifrei Devarim 71:1).

תזבח ואכלת. אֵין לְךָ בָהֶם הֶתֵּר גִּזָּה וְחָלָב אֶלָּא אֲכִילָה עַל יְדֵי זְבִיחָה (בכ' ו'):

תזבח ואכלת THOU MAYEST SLAUGHTER AND EAT [FLESH] — You have no permission to use their fleece or milk (those of consecrated animals that had become blemished), but only the eating of their flesh after ritual slaughtering is permitted (cf. Sifrei Devarim 71:2-3; Bekhorot 15b).

הטמא והטהר. לְפִי שֶׁבָּאוּ מִכֹּחַ קָדָשִׁים שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בָּהֶם "וְהַבָּשָׂר אֲשֶׁר יִגַּע בְּכָל טָמֵא לֹא יֵאָכֵל" (ויקרא ז'), הֻצְרַךְ לְהַתִּיר בּוֹ שֶׁטָּמֵא וְטָהוֹר אוֹכְלִים בִּקְעָרָה אַחַת:

הטמא והטהור THE UNCLEAN AND THE CLEAN [MAY EAT THEREOF] — Because they (the consecrated animals that had become blemished) came to their present status by virtue of once having been consecrated animals, of which it is stated, (Leviticus 7:19) “And the flesh of offerings that toucheth any unclean thing shall not be eaten”, it felt it necessary explicitly to permit in their case that an unclean and a clean person may eat out of the same dish (i.e. together) (cf. Sifrei Devarim 71:7),

כצבי וכאיל. שֶׁאֵין קָרְבָּן בָּא מֵהֶם:

כצבי וכאיל AS OF THE GAZELLE AND OF THE HART of which no sacrifice is ever brought.

כצבי וכאיל. לְפָטְרָן מִן הַזְּרוֹעַ וְהַלְּחָיַיִם וְהַקֵּבָה (ספרי):

כצבי וכאיל AS OF THE GAZELLE, AND OF THE HART — These apparently redundant words are intended to exempt them (the פסולי המקדשין שנפדו) from the dues of “the shoulder, the two cheeks and the maw” (Deuteronomy 18:3) which are compulsory gifts to the priests in the case of non-holy (חולין) animals (Chullin 130a; Sifrei Devarim 71:9).

ט״זרַ֥ק הַדָּ֖ם לֹ֣א תֹאכֵ֑לוּ עַל־הָאָ֥רֶץ תִּשְׁפְּכֶ֖נּוּ כַּמָּֽיִם׃

16But you must not partake of the blood; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.

רש״י

רק הדם לא תאכלו. אַעַ"פִּ שֶׁאָמַרְתִּי שֶׁאֵין לְךָ בוֹ זְרִיקַת דָּם בַּמִּזְבֵּח, לֹא תֹּאכְלֶנּוּ:

רק הדם לא תאכלו ONLY YE SHALL NOT EAT THE BLOOD — Although I have told you that there is no sprinkling of blood on the altar in its case (it being blemished and thus unfit for the altar), you shall nevertheless not eat it.

תשפכנו כמים. לוֹמַר לְךָ שֶׁאֵין צָרִיךְ כִּסּוּי (ספרי; חולין פ"ד). דָּ"אַ — הֲרֵי הוּא כַמַּיִם לְהַכְשִׁיר אֶת הַזְּרָעִים (שם ל"ה):

תשפכנו כמים YE SHALL POUR IT [UPON THE EARTH] AS WATER — This latter word is intended to tell you that although they are compared to these חיות, yet it (the blood) requires no covering with dust as prescribed in the case of these חיות in Leviticus 17:13 (Sifrei Devarim 71:15; Chullin 84a). Another explanation is that the word כמים is intended to suggest: It is like water in so far as to make seed (food) receptive to uncleanness just as water does (cf. Leviticus 11:38) (Sifrei Devarim 71:15; Chullin 35b).

י״זלֹֽא־תוּכַ֞ל לֶאֱכֹ֣ל בִּשְׁעָרֶ֗יךָ מַעְשַׂ֤ר דְּגָֽנְךָ֙ וְתִירֹשְׁךָ֣ וְיִצְהָרֶ֔ךָ וּבְכֹרֹ֥ת בְּקָרְךָ֖ וְצֹאנֶ֑ךָ וְכׇל־נְדָרֶ֙יךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּדֹּ֔ר וְנִדְבֹתֶ֖יךָ וּתְרוּמַ֥ת יָדֶֽךָ׃

17You may not partake in your settlements of the tithes of your new grain or wine or oil, or of the firstlings of your herds and flocks, or of any of the votive offerings that you vow, or of your freewill offerings, or of your contributions.jyour contributions See note at v. 6.

רש״י

לא תוכל. בָּא הַכָּתוּב לִתֵּן לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה עַל הַדָּבָר:

לא תוכל THOU MAYEST NOT [EAT WITHIN THY GATES THE TITHE OF THY CORN etc.] — Scripture thereby intends to attach to this matter (the eating of מעשר בכור etc. outside the walls of Jerusalem) a negative command also (the positive command being contained in v. 11).

לא תוכל. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן קָרְחָה אוֹמֵר יָכוֹל אַתָּה, אֲבָל אֵינְךָ רַשַּׁאי, כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ (יהושע ט"ו) "וְאֶת הַיְבוּסִי יוֹשְׁבֵי יְרוּשָׁלַיִם לֹא יָכְלוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (יְהוּדָה) לְהוֹרִישָׁם", יְכוֹלִים הָיוּ, אֶלָּא שֶׁאֵינָן רַשָּׁאִין לְפִי שֶׁכָּרַת לָהֶם אַבְרָהָם בְּרִית כְּשֶׁלָּקַח מֵהֶם מְעָרַת הַמַּכְפֵּלָה; וְלֹא יְבוּסִים הָיוּ, אֶלָּא חִתִּיִּים הָיוּ, אֶלָּא עַל שֵׁם הָעִיר שֶׁשְּׁמָהּ יְבוּס, כָּךְ מְפֹרָשׁ בְּפִרְקֵי דְּרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר (פ' ל"ו), וְהוּא שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "כִּי אִם הֱסִירְךָ הָעִוְרִים וְהַפִּסְחִים" (שמואל ב ה') – צְלָמִים שֶׁכָּתְבוּ עֲלֵיהֶם אֶת הַשְּׁבוּעָה:

לא תוכל THOU MAYEST NOT (lit., thou canst not) [EAT etc.] — Rabbi Joshua the son of Korcha said: You can, but you are not allowed to (i.e. לא תוכל does not mean: you are unable for some reason or another to do so, but it expresses the inability to do it because of a legal restriction). A similar case we have in (Joshua 15:63) “As to the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out” — they could have done so, but they were not allowed to (Sifrei Devarim 72:1); because Abraham had made a covenant with them when he bought from them the cave of Machpelah that they would be spared at the conquest of the Land. — As a matter fact they were not Jebusites but Hittites (the people mentioned in Genesis 23 at the purchase of the cave), but they were called Jebusites after the city the name of which was Jebus. Thus is it explained in the Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 36. And this is the meaning of what is stated, that when David was about to drive out the Jebusites, they said to him (II Samuel 5:6) “Except thou take away the blind and the lame [thou shalt not come in hither]” — by “the blind and the lame” they meant the idols (that stood at the gates) upon which they had written the oath which Abraham had taken.

ובכרת בקרך. אַזְהָרָה לַכֹּהֲנִים:

ובכרת בקרך [THOU MAYEST NOT EAT WITHIN THY GATES THE TITHE OF THY CORN …] AND THE FIRSTLINGS OF THY HERD — This, in contradistinction to מעשר דגנך וכו׳, is of course a prohibition addressed to the priests (since the Israelites were not at all permitted to eat firstlings; cf. Zevachim 5:1: הבכור נאכל לכהנים והמעשר לכל אדם).

ותרומת ידך. אֵלּוּ הַבִּכּוּרִים (ספרי; מכות י"ז):

‎ ותרומת ידך AND THE HEAVE-OFFERINGS OF THY HAND — This refers to the first-fruits (cf. Deuteronomy 26:4) (Sifrei Devarim 72:9; Makkot 17a).

י״חכִּ֡י אִם־לִפְנֵי֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ תֹּאכְלֶ֗נּוּ בַּמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִבְחַ֜ר יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֘יךָ֮ בּוֹ֒ אַתָּ֨ה וּבִנְךָ֤ וּבִתֶּ֙ךָ֙ וְעַבְדְּךָ֣ וַאֲמָתֶ֔ךָ וְהַלֵּוִ֖י אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּשְׁעָרֶ֑יךָ וְשָׂמַחְתָּ֗ לִפְנֵי֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בְּכֹ֖ל מִשְׁלַ֥ח יָדֶֽךָ׃

18These you must consume before the ETERNAL your God in the place that the ETERNAL your God will choose—youkyou See note at v. 5. and your sons and your daughters, your male and female slaves, and the Levitelthe Levite See the second note at v. 12. in your settlements—happy before the ETERNAL your God in all your undertakings.

רש״י

לפני ה'. לִפְנִים מִן הַחוֹמָה:

לפני ה׳ [BUT THOU MUST EAT THEM] BEFORE THE LORD — i.e. within the walls of the city of Jerusalem.

והלוי אשר בשעריך. אִם אֵין לְךָ לָתֵת לוֹ מֵחֶלְקוֹ, כְּגוֹן מַעֲשֵׂר רִאשׁוֹן, תֵּן לוֹ מַעְשַׂר עָנִי, אֵין לְךָ מַעְשַׂר עָנִי, הַזְמִינֵהוּ עַל שְׁלָמֶיךָ (ספרי):

והלוי אשר בשעריך [BUT THOU MUST EAT THEM BEFORE THE LORD, THOU …] AND THE LEVITE THAT IS WITHIN THY GATES — If you have nought to give him that is due to him as his portion, as, for instance, the first tithe, give him the “tithe of the poor” (the tithe that replaces the “second tithe” in the 3rd and 6th year of the Sabbatical period); and if you have no “tithe of the poor”, invite him to your feast-offering meal (Sifrei Devarim 74:5).

י״טהִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֔ פֶּֽן־תַּעֲזֹ֖ב אֶת־הַלֵּוִ֑י כׇּל־יָמֶ֖יךָ עַל־אַדְמָתֶֽךָ׃ {ס}

19Be sure not to neglect the Levite as long as you live in your land.

רש״י

השמר לך. לִתֵּן לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה עַל הַדָּבָר (ספרי):

השמר לך TAKE HEED TO THYSELF [LEST THOU FORSAKE THE LEVITE] — This is intended in addition to the positive command expressed in the previous verse, to attach to it (the neglect of the Levite) a negative command, also.

על אדמתך. אֲבָל בַּגּוֹלָה אֵינְךָ מֻזְהָר עָלָיו יוֹתֵר מֵעֲנִיֵּי יִשְׂרָאֵל (שם):

על אדמתך [TAKE HEED TO THYSELF LEST THOU FORSAKE THE LEVITE] UPON THY GROUND — but in exile (outside the Holy Land) you are not admonished as regards him more than as regards the poor of the ordinary Israelites (Sifrei Devarim 74:9; Talmud Yerushalmi Horayot end).

כ׳כִּֽי־יַרְחִיב֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֥יךָ אֶֽת־גְּבֻלְךָ֮ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֶּר־לָךְ֒ וְאָמַרְתָּ֙ אֹכְלָ֣ה בָשָׂ֔ר כִּֽי־תְאַוֶּ֥ה נַפְשְׁךָ֖ לֶאֱכֹ֣ל בָּשָׂ֑ר בְּכׇל־אַוַּ֥ת נַפְשְׁךָ֖ תֹּאכַ֥ל בָּשָֽׂר׃

20When GOD enlarges your territory, as promised, and you say, “I shall eat some meat,” for you have the urge to eat meat, you may eat meat whenever you wish.

רש״י

כי ירחיב וגו'. לִמְּדָה תוֹרָה דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ שֶׁלֹּא יִתְאַוֶּה אָדָם לֶאֱכֹל בָּשָׂר אֶלָּא מִתּוֹךְ רַחֲבַת יָדַיִם וְעֹשֶׁר (חולין פ"ד):

כי ירחיב וגו׳ WHEN [THE LORD THY GOD] SHALL ENLARGE [YOUR BOUNDARY … AND YOU SHALL SAY, I WILL EAT FLESH … YOU MAY EAT FLESH] — The Torah teaches the proper rule of life — that one should not desire to eat flesh unless he lives amidst abundance and wealth (cf. Sifrei Devarim 75:5; Chullin 84a; see also Rashi on Leviticus 17:13).

כל אות נפשך וגו'. אֲבָל בַּמִּדְבָּר נֶאֱסַר לָהֶם בְּשַׂר חֻלִּין אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן מַקְדִּישָׁהּ וּמַקְרִיבָהּ שְׁלָמִים (שם ט"ז):

בכל אות נפשך וגו׳ [YOU MAY EAT FLESH] IN EVERY LONGING OF YOUR SOUL — In the wilderness, however, the flesh of a non-holy animal was forbidden to them as food, unless one first dedicated it to the altar and offered it as a peace-offering (Sifrei Devarim 75:4; Chullin 16b).

כ״אכִּֽי־יִרְחַ֨ק מִמְּךָ֜ הַמָּק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִבְחַ֜ר יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֘יךָ֮ לָשׂ֣וּם שְׁמ֣וֹ שָׁם֒ וְזָבַחְתָּ֞ מִבְּקָרְךָ֣ וּמִצֹּֽאנְךָ֗ אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֤ן יְהֹוָה֙ לְךָ֔ כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר צִוִּיתִ֑ךָ וְאָֽכַלְתָּ֙ בִּשְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ בְּכֹ֖ל אַוַּ֥ת נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃

21If the place where GOD has chosen to establish the divine name is too far from you, you may slaughter any of the cattle or sheep that GOD gives you, as I have instructed you; and you may eat to your heart’s content in your settlements.

רש״י

כי ירחק ממך המקום. וְלֹא תוּכַל לָבֹא וְלַעֲשׂוֹת שְׁלָמִים בְּכָל יוֹם כְּמוֹ עַכְשָׁו שֶׁהַמִּשְׁכָּן הוֹלֵךְ עִמָּכֶם:

כי ירחק ממך המקום IF THE PLACE [WHICH THE LORD THY GOD HAS CHOSEN TO PUT HIS NAME THERE] BE TOO FAR FROM THEE and thou therefore art unable to come and prepare peace-offerings at any time, as thou doest now when the Tabernacle accompanies you,

וזבחת … כאשר צויתך. לָמַדְנוּ שֶׁיֵּשׁ צִוּוּי בַּזְּבִיחָה הֵיאַךְ יִשְׁחֹט, וְהֵן הִלְכוֹת שְׁחִיטָה שֶׁנֶּאֶמְרוּ לְמֹשֶׁה בְּסִינַי (שם כ"ח):

וזבחת … כאשר צויתך THEN THOU MAYEST SLAUGHTER … AS I HAVE COMMANDED THEE — This teaches us that there was already a commandment regarding the slaughtering of animals — as to how one should slaughter; it is not written in the Torah but it comprises the traditional regulations regarding the slaughter of animals that were given orally (נאמרו) to Moses on Mount Sinai (Sifrei Devarim 75:7; Chullin 28a).

כ״באַ֗ךְ כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר יֵאָכֵ֤ל אֶֽת־הַצְּבִי֙ וְאֶת־הָ֣אַיָּ֔ל כֵּ֖ן תֹּאכְלֶ֑נּוּ הַטָּמֵא֙ וְהַטָּה֔וֹר יַחְדָּ֖ו יֹאכְלֶֽנּוּ׃

22Eat it, however, as the gazelle and the deer are eaten: the impure may eat it together with the pure.

רש״י

אך כאשר יאכל את הצבי וגו'. אֵינְךָ מֻזְהָר לְאָכְלָן בְּטָהֳרָה, אִי מַה צְּבִי וְאַיָּל חֶלְבָּן מֻתָּר אַף חֻלִּין חֶלְבָּן מֻתָּר? תַּ"לֹ "אַךְ":

אך כאשר יאכל את הצבי וגו׳ BUT ONLY AS THE GAZELLE [AND THE HART] IS EATEN, [SO THOU SHALT EAT THEM] — i.e. thou art not admonished to eat them in a state of cleanness as is the case with sacrifices which you slaughter in a holy place; if, however, you will argue: How is the case with the gazelle and the hart? Their fat is permitted as food; so, too, is the fat of non-consecrated domestic animals (חולין) permitted! Then I reply: Scripture says אך (which word has a limitative force and thus indicates that חולין are not to be treated like the gazelle and the hart in every respect) (cf. Bekhorot 15a).

כ״גרַ֣ק חֲזַ֗ק לְבִלְתִּי֙ אֲכֹ֣ל הַדָּ֔ם כִּ֥י הַדָּ֖ם ה֣וּא הַנָּ֑פֶשׁ וְלֹא־תֹאכַ֥ל הַנֶּ֖פֶשׁ עִם־הַבָּשָֽׂר׃

23But make sure that you do not partake of the blood; for the blood is the life, and you must not consume the life with the flesh.

רש״י

רק חזק לבלתי אכל הדם. מִמַּה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר חֲזַק אַתָּה לָמֵד שֶׁהָיוּ שְׁטוּפִים בַּדָּם לְאָכְלוֹ, לְפִיכָךְ הֻצְרַךְ לוֹמַר חֲזַק דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יְהוּדָה, רַ' שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן עֲזַאי אוֹמֵר לֹא בָא הַכָּתוּב אֶלָּא לְהַזְהִירְךָ וּלְלַמֶּדְךָ עַד כַּמָּה אַתָּה צָרִיךְ לְהִתְחַזֵּק בַּמִּצְווֹת, אִם הַדָּם שֶׁהוּא קַל לְהִשָּׁמֵר מִמֶּנּוּ שֶׁאֵין אָדָם מִתְאַוֶּה לוֹ, הֻצְרַךְ לְחַזֶּקְךָ בְאַזְהָרָתוֹ, קַ"וָ לִשְׁאָר מִצְווֹת (עי' ספרי):

רק חזק לבלתי אכל הדם ONLY BE STRONG THAT THOU EAT NOT THE BLOOD — From the fact that it states, “Be strong” (make a special effort), you may learn that they had a prediliction to blood — to the eating of it; it was therefore necessary to state, “be strong”. This is the view of R. Judah. R. Simeon, the son of Azzai, however, says: Scripture merely intends to caution you and to teach you to what great an extent you must strive to fulfil the divine commandments in general. If, as regards blood from which one can easily keep aloof since one does not long for it, it felt it necessary to insist on a strong effort on your part when forbidding it to you, how much the more is it necessary for you to make great efforts in keeping other commands [the fulfillment of which requires much moral strength] (cf. Sifrei Devarim 76:1-3).

ולא תאכל הנפש עם הבשר. אַזְהָרָה לְאֵבֶר מִן הַחַי (חולין ק"ב):

ולא תאכל הנפש עם הבשר AND THOU MAYEST NOT EAT THE LIFE WITH THE FLESH — This is a prohibition of אבר מן החי, the eating of a limb cut from a living animal (Sifrei Devarim 76:5; Chullin 102a; cf. Rashi on Genesis 9:4).

כ״דלֹ֖א תֹּאכְלֶ֑נּוּ עַל־הָאָ֥רֶץ תִּשְׁפְּכֶ֖נּוּ כַּמָּֽיִם׃

24You must not partake of it; you must pour it out on the ground like water:

רש״י

לא תאכלנו. אַזְהָרָה לְדַם הַתַּמְצִית (כריתות ד'):

לא תאכלנו THOU SHALT NOT EAT IT — This is a prohibition against the eating of דם התמצית (the last blood oozing through the cut of a vein: תמצית from מצה “to squeeze”) (Keritot 4b).

כ״הלֹ֖א תֹּאכְלֶ֑נּוּ לְמַ֨עַן יִיטַ֤ב לְךָ֙ וּלְבָנֶ֣יךָ אַחֲרֶ֔יךָ כִּֽי־תַעֲשֶׂ֥ה הַיָּשָׁ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃

25you must not partake of it, in order that it may go well with you and with your descendants to come, for you will be doing what is right in GOD’s sight.

רש״י

לא תאכלנו. אַזְהָרָה לְדַם הָאֵבָרִים (שם):

לא תאכלנו THOU SHALT NOT EAT IT — This is a prohibition against eating of the blood contained in the limbs (Keritot 4b).

למען ייטב לך וגו'. צֵא וּלְמַד מַתַּן שְׂכָרָן שֶׁל מִצְווֹת, אִם הַדָּם שֶׁנַּפְשׁוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם קָצָה מִמֶּנּוּ, הַפּוֹרֵשׁ מִמֶּנּוּ זוֹכֶה לוֹ וּלְבָנָיו אַחֲרָיו, קַל וָחֹמֶר לְגֶזֶל וַעֲרָיוֹת שֶׁנַּפְשׁוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם מִתְאַוָּה לָהֶם (מכות כ"ג):

למען ייטב לך וגו׳ THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH THEE, etc. — Go and learn how great is the grant of reward for keeping the divine commandments: if in the case of blood for which the soul of man feels a loathing, he who keeps aloof from it obtains merit for himself and for his children after him, how much the more is it so in the case of robbery or forbidden sexual relations for which the soul of man may feel a longing (Makkot 23b).

כ״ורַ֧ק קׇֽדָשֶׁ֛יךָ אֲשֶׁר־יִהְי֥וּ לְךָ֖ וּנְדָרֶ֑יךָ תִּשָּׂ֣א וּבָ֔אתָ אֶל־הַמָּק֖וֹם אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה׃

26But such sacred and votive donations as you may have shall be taken by youmshall be taken by you Lit. “you shall pick up and come.” to the site that GOD will choose.

רש״י

רק קדשיך. אַעַ"פִּ שֶׁאַתָּה מֻתָּר לִשְׁחֹט חֻלִּין, לֹא הִתַּרְתִּי לְךָ לִשְׁחֹט אֶת הַקֳּדָשִׁים וּלְאָכְלָן בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ בְּלֹא הַקְרָבָה, אֶלָּא הֲבִיאֵם לְבֵית הַבְּחִירָה:

רק קדשיך ONLY (i.e. however) THY HOLY THINGS [… THOU SHALT BEAR AND GO UNTO THE PLACE WHICH THE LORD SHALL CHOOSE] — This means: although you are permitted to slaughter non-holy animals I do not permit you to slaughter consecrated animals and to eat them in thy gates (i.e. wherever you please) without sacrificing them on the altar, but bring them to the “House of Choice” (the Sanctuary).

כ״זוְעָשִׂ֤יתָ עֹלֹתֶ֙יךָ֙ הַבָּשָׂ֣ר וְהַדָּ֔ם עַל־מִזְבַּ֖ח יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ וְדַם־זְבָחֶ֗יךָ יִשָּׁפֵךְ֙ עַל־מִזְבַּח֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ וְהַבָּשָׂ֖ר תֹּאכֵֽל׃

27YounYou See note at v. 5. shall offer your burnt offerings, both the flesh and the blood, on the altar of the ETERNAL your God; and of your other sacrifices, the blood shall be poured out on the altar of the ETERNAL your God, and you shall eat the flesh.

רש״י

ועשית עלתיך. אִם עוֹלוֹת הֵן, תֵּן הַבָּשָׂר וְהַדָּם עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּח, וְאִם זִבְחֵי שְׁלָמִים הֵם, "דַּם זְבָחֶיךָ יִשָּׁפֵךְ" עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ תְּחִלָּה וְאַחַר כָּךְ "וְהַבָּשָׂר תֹּאכֵל". וְעוֹד דָּרְשׁוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ, "רַק קָדָשֶׁיךָ" בָּא לְלַמֵּד עַל הַקֳּדָשִׁים שֶׁבְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ, וּלְלַמֵּד עַל הַתְּמוּרוֹת וְעַל וַלְדוֹת קָדָשִׁים שֶׁיִּקְרְבוּ (ספרי; בכורות י"ד):

ועשית עלתיך AND THOU SHALT OFFER THY BURNT OFFERINGS — i.e. if they (thy sacrifices) be burnt offerings, put the flesh as well as the blood on the altar, but if they are peace offerings, then “the blood of thy sacrifices shall be poured” first on the altar and afterwards you may eat the flesh. Furthermore did our Rabbis deduce that [the words] “thy sacrifices, however, [thou shalt bear, etc.]” are intended to teach with regard to consecrated animals that are outside the Land (abroad) as well as regards such animals that have been exchanged for other consecrated animals, and finally regarding the young of consecrated animals that [all] such must [also] be offered [in Jerusalem] (Sifrei Devarim 77:1; Bekhorot 14b).

כ״חשְׁמֹ֣ר וְשָׁמַעְתָּ֗ אֵ֚ת כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י מְצַוֶּ֑ךָּ לְמַ֩עַן֩ יִיטַ֨ב לְךָ֜ וּלְבָנֶ֤יךָ אַחֲרֶ֙יךָ֙ עַד־עוֹלָ֔ם כִּ֤י תַעֲשֶׂה֙ הַטּ֣וֹב וְהַיָּשָׁ֔ר בְּעֵינֵ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃ {ס}

28Be careful to heed all these commandments that I enjoin upon you; thus it will go well with you and with your descendants after you forever, for you will be doing what is good and right in the sight of the ETERNAL your God.

רש״י

שמר. זוֹ מִשְׁנָה שֶׁאַתָּה צָרִיךְ לְשָׁמְרָהּ בְּבִטְנְךָ שֶׁלֹּא תִשְׁכַּח, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי כ"ב) "כִּי נָעִים כִּי תִשְׁמְרֵם בְּבִטְנֶךָ", וְאִם שָׁנִיתָ אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁתִּשְׁמַע וּתְקַיֵּם, הָא כָל שֶׁאֵינוֹ בִּכְלַל מִשְׁנָה אֵינוֹ בִּכְלַל מַעֲשֶׂה (עי' ספרי):

שמר KEEP [AND HEAR (understand) ALL THESE WORDS WHICH I COMMAND THEE] — This (the word שמר) implies the studying of the oral law — that you must keep it within you that it should not be forgotten, just as it is said, (Proverbs 22:18) “[And apply thy heart unto my knowledge] for it is a pleasant thing if thou keep (תשמרם) them within thee”, and only if thou learnest is it possible that thou wilt understand and fulfil the commands, but one who is not amongst those who study (lit., who is not included in learning) cannot be amongst those who act correctly (cf. Sifrei Devarim 79:3; see also Rashi on Deuteronomy 4:6). (The translation is: keep, i.e. study and retain your learning in mind: ושמעת, and then thou wilt understand how to observe the commands).

את כל הדברים. שֶׁתְּהֵא חֲבִיבָה עָלֶיךָ מִצְוָה קַלָּה כְּמִצְוָה חֲמוּרָה (שם):

את כל הדברים [KEEP …] ALL WORDS [WHICH I COMMAND THEE] — This implies that a light precept should be as dear to you as a grave precept (Sifrei Devarim 79:4).

הטוב. בְּעֵינֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם:

הטוב [THAT IT MAY GO WELL WITH THEE … WHEN THOU DOEST] WHAT IS GOOD — This refers to an action that is proper in the eyes of the Heavenly Father.

והישר. בְּעֵינֵי אָדָם:

והישר AND WHAT IS RIGHT — this refers to an action that appears to be proper in the eyes of men (Sifrei Devarim 79:5).

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