כ״ח
ז׳יִתֵּ֨ן יְהֹוָ֤ה אֶת־אֹיְבֶ֙יךָ֙ הַקָּמִ֣ים עָלֶ֔יךָ נִגָּפִ֖ים לְפָנֶ֑יךָ בְּדֶ֤רֶךְ אֶחָד֙ יֵצְא֣וּ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וּבְשִׁבְעָ֥ה דְרָכִ֖ים יָנ֥וּסוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃
7GOD will put to rout before youayou Addressing the nation’s militia. the enemies who attack you; they will march out against you by a single road, but flee from you by manybmany Lit. “seven.” roads.
ובשבעה דרכים ינוסו לפניך. כֵּן דֶּרֶךְ הַנִּבְהָלִים לִבְרֹחַ, מִתְפַּזְּרִין לְכָל צַד:
ובשבעה דרכים ינוסו לפניך AND THEY SHALL RUN AWAY BEFORE THEE SEVEN WAYS — Such is the manner of all who flee out of fear: they scatter in every direction.
ח׳יְצַ֨ו יְהֹוָ֤ה אִתְּךָ֙ אֶת־הַבְּרָכָ֔ה בַּאֲסָמֶ֕יךָ וּבְכֹ֖ל מִשְׁלַ֣ח יָדֶ֑ךָ וּבֵ֣רַכְךָ֔ בָּאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽךְ׃
8GOD will ordain blessings for you upon your barns and upon all your undertakings: you will be blessed in the land that the ETERNAL your God is giving you.
ט׳יְקִֽימְךָ֨ יְהֹוָ֥ה לוֹ֙ לְעַ֣ם קָד֔וֹשׁ כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר נִֽשְׁבַּֽע־לָ֑ךְ כִּ֣י תִשְׁמֹ֗ר אֶת־מִצְוֺת֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ וְהָלַכְתָּ֖ בִּדְרָכָֽיו׃
9As the ETERNAL swore to you, you will be established as a holy people if you keep the commandments of the ETERNAL your God, walking in those ways.
י׳וְרָאוּ֙ כׇּל־עַמֵּ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ כִּ֛י שֵׁ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה נִקְרָ֣א עָלֶ֑יךָ וְיָֽרְא֖וּ מִמֶּֽךָּ׃
10And all the peoples of the earth shall see that GOD’s name is proclaimed over you,cGOD’s name is proclaimed over you I.e., GOD is responsible for your protection; cf. Isa. 4.1; Jer. 14.9; 2 Sam. 12.28. and they shall stand in fear of you.
י״אוְהוֹתִרְךָ֤ יְהֹוָה֙ לְטוֹבָ֔ה בִּפְרִ֧י בִטְנְךָ֛ וּבִפְרִ֥י בְהֶמְתְּךָ֖ וּבִפְרִ֣י אַדְמָתֶ֑ךָ עַ֚ל הָאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִשְׁבַּ֧ע יְהֹוָ֛ה לַאֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ לָ֥תֶת לָֽךְ׃
11GOD will give you abounding prosperity in your issue from the womb, the offspring of your cattle, and the produce of your soil in the land that GOD swore to your fathersdfathers See note at 1.35. to assign to you.
י״ביִפְתַּ֣ח יְהֹוָ֣ה ׀ לְ֠ךָ֠ אֶת־אוֹצָר֨וֹ הַטּ֜וֹב אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם לָתֵ֤ת מְטַֽר־אַרְצְךָ֙ בְּעִתּ֔וֹ וּלְבָרֵ֕ךְ אֵ֖ת כׇּל־מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יָדֶ֑ךָ וְהִלְוִ֙יתָ֙ גּוֹיִ֣ם רַבִּ֔ים וְאַתָּ֖ה לֹ֥א תִלְוֶֽה׃
12GOD will open for you that bounteous store, the heavens, to provide rain for your land in season and to bless all your undertakings. You will be creditor to many nations, but debtor to none.
י״גוּנְתָֽנְךָ֨ יְהֹוָ֤ה לְרֹאשׁ֙ וְלֹ֣א לְזָנָ֔ב וְהָיִ֙יתָ֙ רַ֣ק לְמַ֔עְלָה וְלֹ֥א תִהְיֶ֖ה לְמָ֑טָּה כִּֽי־תִשְׁמַ֞ע אֶל־מִצְוֺ֣ת ׀ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָנֹכִ֧י מְצַוְּךָ֛ הַיּ֖וֹם לִשְׁמֹ֥ר וְלַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃
13GOD will make you the head, not the tail; you will always be at the top and never at the bottom—if only you obey and faithfully observe the commandments of the ETERNAL your God that I enjoin upon you this day,
י״דוְלֹ֣א תָס֗וּר מִכׇּל־הַדְּבָרִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָנֹכִ֜י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֛ם הַיּ֖וֹם יָמִ֣ין וּשְׂמֹ֑אול לָלֶ֗כֶת אַחֲרֵ֛י אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִ֖ים לְעׇבְדָֽם׃ {פ}
14and do not deviate to the right or to the left from any of the commandments that I enjoin upon you this day and turn to the worship of other gods.
ט״ווְהָיָ֗ה אִם־לֹ֤א תִשְׁמַע֙ בְּקוֹל֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לִשְׁמֹ֤ר לַעֲשׂוֹת֙ אֶת־כׇּל־מִצְוֺתָ֣יו וְחֻקֹּתָ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּ֑וֹם וּבָ֧אוּ עָלֶ֛יךָ כׇּל־הַקְּלָל֥וֹת הָאֵ֖לֶּה וְהִשִּׂיגֽוּךָ׃
15But if you do not obey the ETERNAL your God to observe faithfully all the commandments and laws that I enjoin upon you this day, all these curses shall come upon you and take effect:
ט״זאָר֥וּר אַתָּ֖ה בָּעִ֑יר וְאָר֥וּר אַתָּ֖ה בַּשָּׂדֶֽה׃
16Cursed shall you be in the city and cursed shall you be in the country.
י״זאָר֥וּר טַנְאֲךָ֖ וּמִשְׁאַרְתֶּֽךָ׃
17Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.
י״חאָר֥וּר פְּרִֽי־בִטְנְךָ֖ וּפְרִ֣י אַדְמָתֶ֑ךָ שְׁגַ֥ר אֲלָפֶ֖יךָ וְעַשְׁתְּרֹ֥ת צֹאנֶֽךָ׃
18Cursed shall be your issue from the womb and your produce from the soil, the calving of your herd and the lambing of your flock.
י״טאָר֥וּר אַתָּ֖ה בְּבֹאֶ֑ךָ וְאָר֥וּר אַתָּ֖ה בְּצֵאתֶֽךָ׃
19Cursed shall you be in your comings and cursed shall you be in your goings.
כ׳יְשַׁלַּ֣ח יְהֹוָ֣ה ׀ בְּ֠ךָ֠ אֶת־הַמְּאֵרָ֤ה אֶת־הַמְּהוּמָה֙ וְאֶת־הַמִּגְעֶ֔רֶת בְּכׇל־מִשְׁלַ֥ח יָדְךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּעֲשֶׂ֑ה עַ֣ד הִשָּׁמֶדְךָ֤ וְעַד־אֲבׇדְךָ֙ מַהֵ֔ר מִפְּנֵ֛י רֹ֥עַ מַֽעֲלָלֶ֖יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עֲזַבְתָּֽנִי׃
20GOD will let loose against you calamity, panic, and frustration in all the enterprises you undertake, so that you shall soon be utterly wiped out because of your evildoing in forsaking Me.
המארה. חִסָּרוֹן, כְּמוֹ "צָרַעַת מַמְאֶרֶת" (ויקרא י"ג):
המארה means PAUCITY, similar to (Leviticus 13:51) “a fretting leprosy (ממארה)” (a leprosy that frets the flesh, thus attenuating it).
המהומה. שִׁגּוּשׁ, קוֹל בֶּהָלוֹת:
המהומה — Onkelos renders this by שגוש which means: A TERRIFYING SOUND.
כ״איַדְבֵּ֧ק יְהֹוָ֛ה בְּךָ֖ אֶת־הַדָּ֑בֶר עַ֚ד כַּלֹּת֣וֹ אֹֽתְךָ֔ מֵעַל֙ הָאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּ֥ה בָא־שָׁ֖מָּה לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃
21GOD will make pestilence cling to you, thus putting an end to you in the land that you are entering to possess.
כ״ביַכְּכָ֣ה יְ֠הֹוָ֠ה בַּשַּׁחֶ֨פֶת וּבַקַּדַּ֜חַת וּבַדַּלֶּ֗קֶת וּבַֽחַרְחֻר֙ וּבַחֶ֔רֶב וּבַשִּׁדָּפ֖וֹן וּבַיֵּרָק֑וֹן וּרְדָפ֖וּךָ עַ֥ד אׇבְדֶֽךָ׃
22GOD will strike you with consumption, fever, and inflammation,econsumption, fever, and inflammation Exact nature of these afflictions uncertain. with scorching heat and drought, with blight and mildew; they shall hound you until you perish.
בשחפת. שֶׁבְּשָׂרוֹ נִשְׁחָף וְנָפוּחַ:
בשחפת — This is a disease whereby one’s flesh becomes worn away and swollen.
ובקדחת. לְשׁוֹן "כִּי אֵשׁ קָדְחָה בְאַפִּי" (דברים ל"ב), וְהוּא אֵשׁ שֶׁל חוֹלִים, מלו"וי בְּלַעַז, שֶׁהִיא חַמָּה מְאֹד:
ובקדחת AND WITH FEVER — The word is similar in meaning to the verb in (Deuteronomy 32:22) “For a fire burns (קדחה) in My nostrils”. It is the heat felt by sick people, mal du feu in old French, which is a very high temperature.
ובדלקת. חַמָּה יוֹתֵר מִקַּדַּחַת, וּמִינֵי חֳלָאִים הֵם:
ובדלקת — This is a fever even hotter than קדחת. — All these terms denote different kinds of diseases, but of a similar character.
ובחרחר. חֹלִי הַמְחַמְמוֹ תּוֹךְ הַגּוּף וְצָמֵא תָּמִיד לַמַּיִם, וּבְלַעַז אישטרד"ימנט, לְשׁוֹן "וְעַצְמִי חָרָה מִנִּי חֹרֶב" (איוב ל') "נָחַר מַפֻּחַ מֵאֵשׁ" (ירמיהו ו'):
ובחרחר — a disease that makes one burning hot inside the body, so that one is continually thirsting for water; in old French astrandement. The word is of the same meaning as the verbs in (Job 30:30) “My bones are burnt (חרה) because of heat”, and in (Jeremiah 6:29) “The bellows are burnt (נחר) by the fire”.
ובחרב. יָבִיא עָלֶיךְ גְּיָסוֹת:
ובחרב AND WITH THE SWORD — i.e. He will bring hostile troops against you.
ובשדפון ובירקון. מַכַּת תְּבוּאָה שֶׁבַּשָּׂדוֹת:
ובשדפון ובירקון AND WITH BLASTING AND WITH MILDEW — these are diseases that afflict grain which is yet in the field (yet growing).
שדפון. רוּחַ קָדִים, אשלי"דה בְּלַעַז:
שדפון is the hot east-wind, hale in old French
ירקון. יֹבֶשׁ, וּפְנֵי הַתְּבוּאָה מַכְסִיפִין וְנֶהְפָּכִין לְיֵרָקוֹן, קמ"א (נ"א — קרו"א) בְּלַעַז:
ירקון is drought. The symptoms are that the surface of the grain becomes pale and ultimately turns yellow; chaume in old French
עד אבדך. תַּרְגּוּם "עַד דְּתֵיבָד", כְּלוֹמַר עַד אֲבֹד אוֹתְךָ — שֶׁתִּכְלֶה מֵאֵלֶיךָ:
עד אבדך — The Targum renders this by עד דתיבד, meaning “until you perish”, i.e. until you will perish on your own.
כ״גוְהָי֥וּ שָׁמֶ֛יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־רֹאשְׁךָ֖ נְחֹ֑שֶׁת וְהָאָ֥רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־תַּחְתֶּ֖יךָ בַּרְזֶֽל׃
23The skies above your head shall be copper and the earth under you iron.
והיו שמיך אשר על ראשך נחשת. קְלָלוֹת הַלָּלוּ מֹשֶׁה מִפִּי עַצְמוֹ אֲמָרָן, וְשֶׁבְּהַר סִינַי מִפִּי הַקָּבָּ"ה אֲמָרָן, כְּמַשְׁמָעָן, וְכֵן נֶאֱמַר (ויקרא כ"ו) "וְאִם לֹא תִשְׁמְעוּ לִי … וְאִם תֵּלְכוּ עִמִּי קֶרִי", וְכָאן הוּא אוֹמֵר "בְּקוֹל ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ … יַדְבֵּק ה' בְּךָ … יַכְּכָה ה'", הֵקֵל מֹשֶׁה בְקִלְלוֹתָיו לְאָמְרָן בִּלְשׁוֹן יָחִיד. וְגַם כֵּן בִּקְלָלָה זוֹ הֵקֵל, שֶׁבָּרִאשׁוֹנוֹת הוּא אוֹמֵר "אֶת שְׁמֵיכֶם כַּבַּרְזֶל וְאֶת אַרְצְכֶם כַּנְּחֻשָּׁה" — שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם מַזִּיעִין כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁאֵין הַבַּרְזֶל מַזִּיעַ וּמִתּוֹךְ כָּךְ יְהִי חֹרֶב בָּעוֹלָם וְהָאָרֶץ תְּהִי מַזַּעַת כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁהַנְּחֹשֶׁת מַזִּיעַ וְהִיא מַרְקֶבֶת פֵּרוֹתֶיהָ, וְכָאן הוּא אוֹמֵר "שָׁמֶיךָ נְחֹשֶׁת וְאַרְצְךָ בַּרְזֶל" — שֶׁיִהְיוּ שָׁמַיִם מַזִּיעִין, אַעַ"פִּ שֶׁלֹּא יָרִיקוּ מָטָר, מִכָּל מָקוֹם לֹא יִהְיֶה חֹרֶב שֶׁל אֲבַדּוֹן בָּעוֹלָם, וְהָאָרֶץ לֹא תִהְיֶה מַזִּיעָה, כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁאֵין הַבַּרְזֶל מַזִּיעַ, וְאֵין הַפֵּרוֹת מַרְקִיבִין, וּמִכָּל מָקוֹם קְלָלָה הִיא, בֵּין שֶׁהִיא כַּנְּחֹשֶׁת בֵּין שֶׁהִיא כַבַּרְזֶל לֹא תוֹצִיא פֵּרוֹת, וְכֵן הַשָּׁמַיִם לֹא יָרִיקוּ מָטָר (ספרא ויקרא כ"ו):
והיו שמיך אשר על ראשך נחשת AND THY HEAVEN WHICH IS OVER THY HEAD SHALL BE COPPER — These curses (i.e. all the curses contained in this chapter) Moses expressed them as though they came from his own mouth (Megillah 31b) whilst those he spoke on Mount Sinai (Leviticus 26), he expressed them as though from the mouth of the Holy One, blessed be He, as indeed is implied by them (by the expressions used), for so it states there: “And if ye will not hearken unto Me”; “And if ye walk contrary to Me”, whilst here it says: “[And if thou wilt not obey] the voice of the Lord thy God”; “The Lord shall make cleave unto thee”; “The Lord shall smite thee”. Moses was milder in his curses, expressing them in the singular (“The Lord shall smite thee”, not “you”, the entire people), and similarly in this curse, too, he was milder, for in the former curses (those in Leviticus) it states, (Leviticus 26:19) “[I will make] your heaven as iron and your earth as copper”, i.e., that the heaven would not exude moisture, just as iron does not exude, and there would therefore be drought in the world, whilst the earth would exude moisture (be humid) just as copper sweats, and it would consequently rot the fruits. Here, however, it states, “Thy heaven shall be copper and thy earth shall be iron”, i.e. that the heavens would exude moisture: even though they might not pour with rain, at any rate there would be no ruinous drought in the world; whilst the earth would not exude moisture just as iron does not sweat, and consequently the fruits would not perish. Nevertheless this is a curse: for whether it (the earth) be as copper or whether it be as iron it will produce no fruit, and the heaven, too, will not pour with rain (give rain in abundance) (cf. Sifra, Bechukotai, Chapter 5 3 on Leviticus 26:19).
כ״דיִתֵּ֧ן יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־מְטַ֥ר אַרְצְךָ֖ אָבָ֣ק וְעָפָ֑ר מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ יֵרֵ֣ד עָלֶ֔יךָ עַ֖ד הִשָּׁמְדָֽךְ׃
24GOD will make the rain of your land dust, and sand shall drop on you from the sky, until you are wiped out.
מטר ארצך אבק ועפר. "זִיקָא דְבָתַר מִטְרָא", מָטָר יוֹרֵד וְלֹא כָל צָרְכּוֹ, וְאֵין בּוֹ כְּדֵי לְהַרְבִּיץ אֶת הֶעָפָר, וְהָרוּחַ בָּאָה וּמַעֲלָה אֶת הָאָבָק וּמְכַסֶּה אֶת עֵשֶׂב הַזְּרָעִים שֶׁהֵם לַחִים מִן הַמַּיִם וְנִדְבָּק בָּהֶם, וְנַעֲשֶׂה טִיט וּמִתְיַבֵּשׁ וּמַרְקִיבִין (תענית ג'):
מטר ארצך אבק ועפר [GOD SHALL MAKE] THE RAIN OF THY LAND POWDER AND DUST, through “a wind that comes after the rain” as the Talmud says (Taanit 3b); rain will fall but not as much as is needed, so that there will not be sufficient of it to lay the dust; the wind will come and blow the dust about and cover the leaves of the vegetation which are still wet from the water and it will adhere to them and so become mud which will afterwards become dry, and they will rot (Taanit 3b).
כ״היִתֶּנְךָ֨ יְהֹוָ֥ה ׀ נִגָּף֮ לִפְנֵ֣י אֹיְבֶ֒יךָ֒ בְּדֶ֤רֶךְ אֶחָד֙ תֵּצֵ֣א אֵלָ֔יו וּבְשִׁבְעָ֥ה דְרָכִ֖ים תָּנ֣וּס לְפָנָ֑יו וְהָיִ֣יתָ לְזַֽעֲוָ֔ה לְכֹ֖ל מַמְלְכ֥וֹת הָאָֽרֶץ׃
25GOD will put youfyou See the first note at v. 7. to rout before your enemies; you shall march out against them by a single road, but flee from them by manygmany Lit. “seven.” roads; and you shall become a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.
לזעוה. לְאֵימָה וּלְזִיעַ, שֶׁיָּזוּעוּ כָּל שׁוֹמְעֵי מַכּוֹתֶיךָ מִמְּךָ וְיֹאמְרוּ "אוֹי לָנוּ שֶׁלֹּא יָבֹא עָלֵינוּ כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁבָּא עַל אֵלּוּ":
לזעוה [AND THOU SHALT] BECOME A זעוה, i.e. a cause of fright and trembling: it means that all who will hear of thy afflictions will tremblingly move away from you and will say, “Woe upon us, would that there should not befall us as has befallen them!”
כ״ווְהָיְתָ֤ה נִבְלָֽתְךָ֙ לְמַֽאֲכָ֔ל לְכׇל־ע֥וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וּלְבֶהֱמַ֣ת הָאָ֑רֶץ וְאֵ֖ין מַחֲרִֽיד׃
26Your carcasses shall become food for all the birds of the sky and all the animals of the earth, with none to frighten them off.
כ״זיַכְּכָ֨ה יְהֹוָ֜ה בִּשְׁחִ֤ין מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ (ובעפלים) [וּבַטְּחֹרִ֔ים] וּבַגָּרָ֖ב וּבֶחָ֑רֶס אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־תוּכַ֖ל לְהֵרָפֵֽא׃
27GOD will strike you with the Egyptian inflammation,hthe Egyptian inflammation See Exod. 9.9–10. with hemorrhoids, boil-scars, and itch, from which you shall never recover.
בשחין מצרים. רַע הָיָה מְאֹד, לַח מִבִּפְנִים וְיָבֵשׁ מִבַּחוּץ, כִּדְאִיתָא בִּבְכוֹרוֹת (דף מ"א):
בשחין מצרים [THE LORD WILL SMITH THEE] WITH THE BOILS OF EGYPT — This was very bad, being wet inside and dry on the surface, as is stated in Treatise Bechorot 41a.
גרב. שְׁחִין לַח:
גרב is a wet boil,
חרס. שְׁחִין יָבֵשׁ כַּחֶרֶס:
חרס is a boil dry as a potsherd (חרס identical with חרש, a potsherd cf. Rashi on Leviticus 21:20).
כ״חיַכְּכָ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּשִׁגָּע֖וֹן וּבְעִוָּר֑וֹן וּבְתִמְה֖וֹן לֵבָֽב׃
28GOD will strike you with madness, blindness, and dismay.idismay Lit. “numbness of heart.”
ובתמהון לבב. אֹטֶם הַלֵּב, אשטור"דישון בְּלַעַז:
ובתמהון לבב means “clogging of the heart”; etourdison in old French
כ״טוְהָיִ֜יתָ מְמַשֵּׁ֣שׁ בַּֽצׇּהֳרַ֗יִם כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר יְמַשֵּׁ֤שׁ הַֽעִוֵּר֙ בָּאֲפֵלָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א תַצְלִ֖יחַ אֶת־דְּרָכֶ֑יךָ וְהָיִ֜יתָ אַ֣ךְ עָשׁ֧וּק וְגָז֛וּל כׇּל־הַיָּמִ֖ים וְאֵ֥ין מוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃
29You shall grope at noon as the blind grope in the dark; you shall not prosper in your ventures, but shall be constantly abused and robbed, with none to give help.
עשוק. בְּכָל מַעֲשֶׂיךָ יִהְיֶה עִרְעוּר:
עשוק [THOU SHALT BE] WRONGED — i.e. against every action of yours there will be dispute.
ל׳אִשָּׁ֣ה תְאָרֵ֗שׂ וְאִ֤ישׁ אַחֵר֙ (ישגלנה) [יִשְׁכָּבֶ֔נָּה] בַּ֥יִת תִּבְנֶ֖ה וְלֹא־תֵשֵׁ֣ב בּ֑וֹ כֶּ֥רֶם תִּטַּ֖ע וְלֹ֥א תְחַלְּלֶֽנּוּ׃
30If youjyou Addressing the typical man among you; see note at 5.18 and cf. 20.7. pay the bride-price for a wife, another man shall enjoy her.If youkyou Addressing the head of a stereotypical household; cf. 20.5. build a house, you shall not live in it. If you plant a vineyard, you shall not harvest it.lIf you plant a vineyard … harvest it Cf. 20.6.
ישגלנה. לְשׁוֹן שֵׁגַל, פִּלֶגֶשׁ, וְהַכָּתוּב כִּנָּהוּ לְשֶׁבַח ישכבנה, וְתִקּוּן סוֹפְרִים הוּא זֶה:
ישגלנה is connected in meaning with the noun שגל, a concubine; Scripture, however, paraphrases it by using a more decent, expression, viz., ישכבנה (i.e. the קרי is ישכבנה). This is a variation such as writers make to avoid an indecent expression (Megillah 25b; cf. Rashi on Genesis 18:22 and Note p. 266).
תחללנו. בַּשָּׁנָה הָרְבִיעִית לֶאֱכֹל פִּרְיוֹ (מגילה כ"ה):
תחללנו THOU SHALT NOT MAKE IT חולין in the fourth year so as to be able to eat its fruits (cf. Rashi on Deuteronomy 20:6).
ל״אשׁוֹרְךָ֞ טָב֣וּחַ לְעֵינֶ֗יךָ וְלֹ֣א תֹאכַל֮ מִמֶּ֒נּוּ֒ חֲמֹֽרְךָ֙ גָּז֣וּל מִלְּפָנֶ֔יךָ וְלֹ֥א יָשׁ֖וּב לָ֑ךְ צֹֽאנְךָ֙ נְתֻנ֣וֹת לְאֹיְבֶ֔יךָ וְאֵ֥ין לְךָ֖ מוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃
31Your ox shall be slaughtered before your eyes, but you shall not eat of it; your donkey shall be seized in front of you, and it shall not be returned to you; your flock shall be delivered to your enemies, with none to help you.
ל״בבָּנֶ֨יךָ וּבְנֹתֶ֜יךָ נְתֻנִ֨ים לְעַ֤ם אַחֵר֙ וְעֵינֶ֣יךָ רֹא֔וֹת וְכָל֥וֹת אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם כׇּל־הַיּ֑וֹם וְאֵ֥ין לְאֵ֖ל יָדֶֽךָ׃
32Your sons and daughters shall be delivered to another people, while you look on; and your eyes shall strain for them constantly, but you shall be helpless.
וכלות אליהם. מְצַפּוֹת אֲלֵיהֶם שֶׁיָּשׁוּבוּ וְאֵינָם שָׁבִים; כָּל תּוֹחֶלֶת שֶׁאֵינָהּ בָּאָה קְרוּיָה כִּלְיוֹן עֵינַיִם:
וכלות אליהם [AND THINE EYES SHALL SEE] AND LONG FOR THEM — i.e. they will look expectantly for them (the children) that they should return home, but they will not return. — Any desire that does not come to fulfillment is termed a “failing of the eyes” (cf. Deuteronomy 28:65).
ל״גפְּרִ֤י אַדְמָֽתְךָ֙ וְכׇל־יְגִ֣יעֲךָ֔ יֹאכַ֥ל עַ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־יָדָ֑עְתָּ וְהָיִ֗יתָ רַ֛ק עָשׁ֥וּק וְרָצ֖וּץ כׇּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃
33A people you do not know shall eat up the produce of your soil and all your gains; you shall be abused and downtrodden continually,
ל״דוְהָיִ֖יתָ מְשֻׁגָּ֑ע מִמַּרְאֵ֥ה עֵינֶ֖יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּרְאֶֽה׃
34until you are driven mad by what your eyes behold.
ל״היַכְּכָ֨ה יְהֹוָ֜ה בִּשְׁחִ֣ין רָ֗ע עַל־הַבִּרְכַּ֙יִם֙ וְעַל־הַשֹּׁקַ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־תוּכַ֖ל לְהֵרָפֵ֑א מִכַּ֥ף רַגְלְךָ֖ וְעַ֥ד קׇדְקֳדֶֽךָ׃
35GOD will afflict you at the knees and thighs with a severe inflammation, from which you shall never recover—from the sole of your foot to the crown of your head.
ל״ויוֹלֵ֨ךְ יְהֹוָ֜ה אֹתְךָ֗ וְאֶֽת־מַלְכְּךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תָּקִ֣ים עָלֶ֔יךָ אֶל־גּ֕וֹי אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־יָדַ֖עְתָּ אַתָּ֣ה וַאֲבֹתֶ֑יךָ וְעָבַ֥דְתָּ שָּׁ֛ם אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִ֖ים עֵ֥ץ וָאָֽבֶן׃
36GOD will drive you, and the king you have set over you, to a nation unknown to you or your ancestors, where you shall serve other gods, of wood and stone.
ל״זוְהָיִ֣יתָ לְשַׁמָּ֔ה לְמָשָׁ֖ל וְלִשְׁנִינָ֑ה בְּכֹל֙ הָֽעַמִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־יְנַהֶגְךָ֥ יְהֹוָ֖ה שָֽׁמָּה׃
37You shall be a consternation, a proverb, and a byword among all the peoples to which GOD will drive you.
לשמה. כְּמוֹ תִּמָּהוֹן, אש"ו אשטורדישו"ן, כָּל הָרוֹאֶה אוֹתְךָ יִשֹּׁם עָלֶיךָ:
לשמה [THOU SHALT] BECOME AN OBJECT OF ASTONISHMENT — This word means the same as תמהון, etourdison in old French, English astonishment. — Whoever will see you will be astonished about you.
למשל. כְּשֶׁתָּבֹא מַכָּה רָעָה עַל אָדָם יֹאמְרוּ זוֹ דוֹמָה לְמַכַּת פְּלוֹנִי:
למשל [THOU SHALT] BECOME A PROVERB — i.e., when an extraordinary misfortune comes upon a man people will say: “This is like the misfortune that befell Mr. So-and-so!”
ולשנינה. לְשׁוֹן "וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם" (דברים ו'), יְדַבְּרוּ בְךָ, וְכֵן תַּרְגּוּמוֹ "וּלְשׁוֹעֵי", לְשׁוֹן סִפּוּר וְאִשְׁתָּעִי:
ולשנינה AND A BYWORD — This is an expression of the same meaning as (Deuteronomy 6:7) ושננתם, “And thou shalt speak often”. — “And thou shalt become a ״שנינה therefore means: they (people) will talk about you (make you the topic of their conversation). Onkelos, too, renders it thus: ולשועי, which has the meaning of “relating about a matter”, just as ואשתעי is the Targum rendering of ויספר, “and he related”.
ל״חזֶ֥רַע רַ֖ב תּוֹצִ֣יא הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה וּמְעַ֣ט תֶּאֱסֹ֔ף כִּ֥י יַחְסְלֶ֖נּוּ הָאַרְבֶּֽה׃
38Though you take much seed out to the field, you shall gather in little, for the locust shall consume it.
יחסלנו. יְכַלֶּנּוּ, וְעַל שֵׁם כָּךְ נִקְרָא חָסִיל, שֶׁמְּכַלֶּה אֶת הַכֹּל:
יחסלנו [THE LOCUST] WILL CROP IT OFF — The word means: it will make an end of it. It is for this reason that it (the locust) is also called חסיל (cf. e.g. Joel 1:4) because it consumes all the vegetation, etc. (חסל in Aramaic means “to end”; cf. Talmud Yerushalmi Taanit 3:6).
ל״טכְּרָמִ֥ים תִּטַּ֖ע וְעָבָ֑דְתָּ וְיַ֤יִן לֹֽא־תִשְׁתֶּה֙ וְלֹ֣א תֶאֱגֹ֔ר כִּ֥י תֹאכְלֶ֖נּוּ הַתֹּלָֽעַת׃
39Though you plant vineyards and till them, you shall have no wine to drink or store, for the worm shall devour them.
מ׳זֵיתִ֛ים יִהְי֥וּ לְךָ֖ בְּכׇל־גְּבוּלֶ֑ךָ וְשֶׁ֙מֶן֙ לֹ֣א תָס֔וּךְ כִּ֥י יִשַּׁ֖ל זֵיתֶֽךָ׃
40Though you have olive trees throughout your territory, you shall have no oil for anointment, for your olives shall drop off.
ישל. יַשִּׁיר פֵּרוֹתָיו, לְשׁוֹן וְנָשַׁל הַבַּרְזֶל (דברים י"ט):
ישל means, it (the olivetree) shall drop its fruits. It is similar in meaning to the verb in (Deuteronomy 19:5), "And the iron falleth off (ונשל).
מ״אבָּנִ֥ים וּבָנ֖וֹת תּוֹלִ֑יד וְלֹא־יִהְי֣וּ לָ֔ךְ כִּ֥י יֵלְכ֖וּ בַּשֶּֽׁבִי׃
41Though you beget sons and daughters, they shall not remain with you, for they shall go into captivity.
מ״בכׇּל־עֵצְךָ֖ וּפְרִ֣י אַדְמָתֶ֑ךָ יְיָרֵ֖שׁ הַצְּלָצַֽל׃
42The cricket shall take over all the trees and produce of your land.
יירש הצלצל. יַעֲשֶׂנּוּ הָאַרְבֶּה רָשׁ מִן הַפְּרִי:
יירש הצלצל means, the locust will make it (the tree) bare (lit., will impoverish it) of its fruits.
יירש. יַעֲנִי:
יירש means, it will impoverish.
צלצל. מִין אַרְבֶּה. וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לְפָרֵשׁ יְיָרֵשׁ לְשׁוֹן יְרֻשָּׁה, שֶׁאִם כֵּן הָיָה לוֹ לִכְתֹּב "יִירַשׁ", וְלֹא לְשׁוֹן הוֹרָשָׁה וְגֵרוּשִׁין, שֶׁאִם כֵּן הָיָה לוֹ לִכְתֹּב "יוֹרִישׁ":
צלצל is a species of locust. — One cannot explain יְָירֵשׁ as meaning "inheriting" ("taking possesion of", as the Targum does), for if so it ought to have written יִירַשׁ (cf. Genesis 21:10). Nor can it have the meaning of “driving out” and “expelling”, for then it ought to have written יוריש.
מ״גהַגֵּר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּקִרְבְּךָ֔ יַעֲלֶ֥ה עָלֶ֖יךָ מַ֣עְלָה מָּ֑עְלָה וְאַתָּ֥ה תֵרֵ֖ד מַ֥טָּה מָּֽטָּה׃
43The strangers in your midst shall rise above you higher and higher, while you sink lower and lower:
מ״דה֣וּא יַלְוְךָ֔ וְאַתָּ֖ה לֹ֣א תַלְוֶ֑נּוּ ה֚וּא יִהְיֶ֣ה לְרֹ֔אשׁ וְאַתָּ֖ה תִּֽהְיֶ֥ה לְזָנָֽב׃
44they shall be your creditors, but you shall not be theirs; they shall be the head and you the tail.
מ״הוּבָ֨אוּ עָלֶ֜יךָ כׇּל־הַקְּלָל֣וֹת הָאֵ֗לֶּה וּרְדָפ֙וּךָ֙ וְהִשִּׂיג֔וּךָ עַ֖ד הִשָּׁמְדָ֑ךְ כִּי־לֹ֣א שָׁמַ֗עְתָּ בְּקוֹל֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לִשְׁמֹ֛ר מִצְוֺתָ֥יו וְחֻקֹּתָ֖יו אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוָּֽךְ׃
45All these curses shall befall you; they shall pursue you and overtake you, until you are wiped out, because you did not heed the ETERNAL your God and keep the commandments and laws enjoined upon you.
מ״ווְהָי֣וּ בְךָ֔ לְא֖וֹת וּלְמוֹפֵ֑ת וּֽבְזַרְעֲךָ֖ עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃
46They shall serve as signs and proofs against you and your offspring for all time.
מ״זתַּ֗חַת אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹא־עָבַ֙דְתָּ֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בְּשִׂמְחָ֖ה וּבְט֣וּב לֵבָ֑ב מֵרֹ֖ב כֹּֽל׃
47Because you would not serve the ETERNAL your God in joy and gladness over the abundance of everything,
מרב כל. בְּעוֹד שֶׁהָיָה לְךָ כָּל טוּב:
מרב כל means: while you possessed all good things.
מ״חוְעָבַדְתָּ֣ אֶת־אֹיְבֶ֗יךָ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְשַׁלְּחֶ֤נּוּ יְהֹוָה֙ בָּ֔ךְ בְּרָעָ֧ב וּבְצָמָ֛א וּבְעֵירֹ֖ם וּבְחֹ֣סֶר כֹּ֑ל וְנָתַ֞ן עֹ֤ל בַּרְזֶל֙ עַל־צַוָּארֶ֔ךָ עַ֥ד הִשְׁמִיד֖וֹ אֹתָֽךְ׃
48you shall have to serve—in hunger and thirst, naked and lacking everything—the enemies whom GOD will let loose against you. An iron yoke will be put upon your neck until you are wiped out.
מ״טיִשָּׂ֣א יְהֹוָה֩ עָלֶ֨יךָ גּ֤וֹי מֵֽרָחֹק֙ מִקְצֵ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר יִדְאֶ֖ה הַנָּ֑שֶׁר גּ֕וֹי אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־תִשְׁמַ֖ע לְשֹׁנֽוֹ׃
49GOD will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, that will swoop down like the eagle—a nation whose language you do not understand,
כאשר ידאה הנשר. פִּתְאֹם וְדַרְכּוֹ מַצְלַחַת וְיֵקַלּוּ סוּסָיו:
כאשר ידאה הנשר [THE LORD WILL BRING A NATION AGAINST YOU FROM AFAR], AS THE EAGLE SWOOPS DOWN — i.e. suddenly, and by a successful march, and its horses will be swift.
לא תשמע לשנו. לֹא תַכִּיר לְשׁוֹנוֹ, וְכֵן "תִּשְׁמַע חֲלוֹם לִפְתֹּר אֹתוֹ" (בראשית מ"א), וְכֵן "כִּי שֹׁמֵעַ יוֹסֵף" (שם מ"ב), אינטינד"רי:
לא תשמע לשנו means, a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand. Similar is, (Genesis 41:15) “You understand (תשמע) a dream to interpret it”, and so, too, (Genesis 42:23) “that Joseph understood (שמע)”; entendre in old French
נ׳גּ֖וֹי עַ֣ז פָּנִ֑ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹא־יִשָּׂ֤א פָנִים֙ לְזָקֵ֔ן וְנַ֖עַר לֹ֥א יָחֹֽן׃
50a ruthless nation, that will show the old no regard and the youngmthe old…the young Or “the influential…the vulnerable.” no mercy.
נ״אוְ֠אָכַ֠ל פְּרִ֨י בְהֶמְתְּךָ֥ וּפְרִֽי־אַדְמָתְךָ֮ עַ֣ד הִשָּׁמְדָךְ֒ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹא־יַשְׁאִ֜יר לְךָ֗ דָּגָן֙ תִּיר֣וֹשׁ וְיִצְהָ֔ר שְׁגַ֥ר אֲלָפֶ֖יךָ וְעַשְׁתְּרֹ֣ת צֹאנֶ֑ךָ עַ֥ד הַאֲבִיד֖וֹ אֹתָֽךְ׃
51It shall devour the offspring of your cattle and the produce of your soil, until you have been wiped out, leaving you nothing of new grain, wine, or oil, of the calving of your herds and the lambing of your flocks, until it has brought you to ruin.
נ״בוְהֵצַ֨ר לְךָ֜ בְּכׇל־שְׁעָרֶ֗יךָ עַ֣ד רֶ֤דֶת חֹמֹתֶ֙יךָ֙ הַגְּבֹהֹ֣ת וְהַבְּצֻר֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתָּ֛ה בֹּטֵ֥חַ בָּהֵ֖ן בְּכׇל־אַרְצֶ֑ךָ וְהֵצַ֤ר לְךָ֙ בְּכׇל־שְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ בְּכׇ֨ל־אַרְצְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֛ן יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ לָֽךְ׃
52It shall shut you up in all your towns throughout your land until every mighty, towering wall in which you trust has come down. And when you are shut up in all your towns throughout your land that the ETERNAL your God has assigned to you,
עד רדת חמתיך. לְשׁוֹן רִדּוּי וְכִבּוּשׁ:
עד רדת חמתיך — The word רדת means subjugation (רדוי) and conquest (cf. Rashi on Deuteronomy 20:20).
נ״גוְאָכַלְתָּ֣ פְרִֽי־בִטְנְךָ֗ בְּשַׂ֤ר בָּנֶ֙יךָ֙ וּבְנֹתֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַן־לְךָ֖ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ בְּמָצוֹר֙ וּבְמָצ֔וֹק אֲשֶׁר־יָצִ֥יק לְךָ֖ אֹיְבֶֽךָ׃
53you shall eat your own issue, the flesh of your sons and daughters that the ETERNAL your God has assigned to you, because of the desperate straits to which your enemy shall reduce you.
ואכלת … בשר בניך … במצור. מֵחֲמַת שֶׁיִּהְיוּ צָרִים עַל הָעִיר וְיִהְיֶה שָׁם מָצוֹק, עֲקַת רְעָבוֹן:
ואכלת … בשר בניך … במצור AND THOU SHALT EAT … THE FLESH OF THY SONS … IN THE SIEGE, [AND IN THE DISTRESS] — Because they (the enemies) will besiege the city and there will consequently be distress— i.e. the stress of famine.
נ״דהָאִישׁ֙ הָרַ֣ךְ בְּךָ֔ וְהֶעָנֹ֖ג מְאֹ֑ד תֵּרַ֨ע עֵינ֤וֹ בְאָחִיו֙ וּבְאֵ֣שֶׁת חֵיק֔וֹ וּבְיֶ֥תֶר בָּנָ֖יו אֲשֶׁ֥ר יוֹתִֽיר׃
54The mannman See note at 1.31. who is most tender and fastidious among you shall be too mean to his brother and his mateohis mate Lit. “the wife of his bosom.” and the children he has spared
הרך בך והענג. הוּא הָרַךְ הוּא הֶעָנֹג — לְשׁוֹן פִּנּוּק, וּמֵהִתְעַנֵּג וּמֵרֹךְ מוֹכִיחַ עֲלֵיהֶם שֶׁשְּׁנֵיהֶם אֶחָד; אַעַ"פִּ שֶׁהוּא מְפֻנָּק וְדַעְתּוֹ קָצָה בְּדָבָר מָאוּס, יִמְתַּק לוֹ לְרַעֲבוֹנוֹ בְּשַׂר בָּנָיו וּבְנוֹתָיו, עַד כִּי תרע עינו בְּבָנָיו הַנּוֹתָרִים מתת לאחד מהם מבשר בניו אֲחֵיהֶם אשר יאכל. דָּ"אַ — הרך בך, הָרַחֲמָנִי וְרַךְ הַלֵּבָב מֵרֹב רַעֲבָנוּת יִתְאַכְזְרוּ וְלֹא יִתְּנוּ מִבְּשַׂר בְּנֵיהֶם הַשְּׁחוּטִים לִבְנֵיהֶם הַנּוֹתָרִים:
הרך בך והענג THE MOST TENDER AMONG YOU AND THE DELICATE — רך and ענג are one and the same person; the words denote delicate living. The expressions in v. 56 ומהתענג ומרך prove regarding them that both of them (the two descriptive terms) refer to one person. The meaning of the verse is: Although he may be fastidious and his nature sickens at anything nauseous, yet the flesh of his sons and daughters will be so pleasant to him on account of his hunger, that תרע עינו HIS EYE WILL BE EVIL towards his remaining children, מתת לאחד מהם מבשר בניו THAT HE WILL NOT GIVE TO ANY OF THEM THE FLESH OF HIS CHILDREN — their brothers, אשר יאכל WHOM HE WILL EAT. — Another explanation of הרך בך is: the merciful and tender-hearted will become cruel because of the great hunger and will not give of the flesh of their children who have been killed to their remaining children.
נ״המִתֵּ֣ת ׀ לְאַחַ֣ד מֵהֶ֗ם מִבְּשַׂ֤ר בָּנָיו֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֹאכֵ֔ל מִבְּלִ֥י הִשְׁאִֽיר־ל֖וֹ כֹּ֑ל בְּמָצוֹר֙ וּבְמָצ֔וֹק אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָצִ֥יק לְךָ֛ אֹיִבְךָ֖ בְּכׇל־שְׁעָרֶֽיךָ׃
55to share with any of them the flesh of the children that he eats, because he has nothing else left as a result of the desperate straits to which your enemy shall reduce you in all your towns.
נ״והָרַכָּ֨ה בְךָ֜ וְהָעֲנֻגָּ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־נִסְּתָ֤ה כַף־רַגְלָהּ֙ הַצֵּ֣ג עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ מֵהִתְעַנֵּ֖ג וּמֵרֹ֑ךְ תֵּרַ֤ע עֵינָהּ֙ בְּאִ֣ישׁ חֵיקָ֔הּ וּבִבְנָ֖הּ וּבְבִתָּֽהּ׃
56And she who is most tender and dainty among you, so tender and dainty that she would never venture to set a foot on the ground, shall begrudge her mate,pher mate Lit. “the husband of her bosom.” and her son and her daughter,
תרע עינה באיש חיקה ובבנה ובבתה. הַגְּדוֹלִים:
תרע עינה באיש חיקה ובבנה ובבתה HER EYE SHALL BE EVIL TOWARDS THE HUSBAND OF HER BOSOM, AND TOWARDS HER SON, AND TOWARDS HER DAUGHTER — i.e. the adult sons and daughters,
נ״זוּֽבְשִׁלְיָתָ֞הּ הַיּוֹצֵ֣ת ׀ מִבֵּ֣ין רַגְלֶ֗יהָ וּבְבָנֶ֙יהָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֵּלֵ֔ד כִּֽי־תֹאכְלֵ֥ם בְּחֹסֶר־כֹּ֖ל בַּסָּ֑תֶר בְּמָצוֹר֙ וּבְמָצ֔וֹק אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָצִ֥יק לְךָ֛ אֹיִבְךָ֖ בִּשְׁעָרֶֽיךָ׃
57the afterbirth that issues from between her legs and the babies she bears; she shall eat them secretly, because of utter want, in the desperate straits to which your enemy shall reduce you in your towns.
ובשליתה. בָּנֶיהָ הַקְּטַנִּים — בְּכֻלָּן תְּהֵא עֵינָהּ צָרָה כְּשֶׁתֹּאכַל אֶת הָאֶחָד מִלִּתֵּן לַאֲשֶׁר אֶצְלָהּ מִן הַבָּשָׂר:
ובשליתה AND TOWARDS HER שליה — i.e. towards her little children; towards all these will her eye be evil when she eats one of them so that she will not give of the flesh to those that are still with her (to those that are still living).
נ״חאִם־לֹ֨א תִשְׁמֹ֜ר לַעֲשׂ֗וֹת אֶת־כׇּל־דִּבְרֵי֙ הַתּוֹרָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את הַכְּתֻבִ֖ים בַּסֵּ֣פֶר הַזֶּ֑ה לְ֠יִרְאָ֠ה אֶת־הַשֵּׁ֞ם הַנִּכְבָּ֤ד וְהַנּוֹרָא֙ הַזֶּ֔ה אֵ֖ת יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃
58If you fail to observe faithfully all the terms of this Teaching that are written in this book, to reverence this honored and awesome Name, the ETERNAL your God,
נ״טוְהִפְלָ֤א יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־מַכֹּ֣תְךָ֔ וְאֵ֖ת מַכּ֣וֹת זַרְעֶ֑ךָ מַכּ֤וֹת גְּדֹלֹת֙ וְנֶ֣אֱמָנ֔וֹת וׇחֳלָיִ֖ם רָעִ֥ים וְנֶאֱמָנִֽים׃
59the ETERNAL will inflict extraordinary plagues upon you and your offspring, strange and lasting plagues, malignant and chronic diseases—
והפלא ה' את מכתך. מֻפְלָאוֹת וּמֻבְדָּלוֹת מִשְּׁאָר מַכּוֹת:
והפלא ה' את מכתך THEN THE LORD WILL DISTINGUISH THY PLAGUES — He will afflict you with plagues exceptional and quite different from other plagues.
ונאמנות. לְיַסֶּרְךָ, לְקַיֵּם שְׁלִיחוּתָן:
ונאמנות (lit., trustworthy, reliable), i.e. certain to chastise you — certain to perform the task entrusted to them.
ס׳וְהֵשִׁ֣יב בְּךָ֗ אֵ֚ת כׇּל־מַדְוֵ֣ה מִצְרַ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָגֹ֖רְתָּ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם וְדָבְק֖וּ בָּֽךְ׃
60bringing back upon you all the sicknesses of Egypt that you dreaded so, and they shall cling to you.
אשר יגרת מפניהם. מִפְּנֵי הַמַּכּוֹת. כְּשֶׁהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל רוֹאִין מַכּוֹת מְשֻׁנּוֹת הַבָּאוֹת עַל מִצְרַיִם, הָיוּ יְרֵאִים מֵהֶם שֶׁלֹּא יָבֹאוּ גַּם עֲלֵיהֶם. תֵּדַע שֶׁכֵּן כָּתוּב "אִם שָׁמוֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע וְגוֹ' כָּל הַמַּחֲלָה אֲשֶׁר שַׂמְתִּי בְמִצְרַיִם לֹא אָשִׂים עָלֶיךָ" (שמות ט"ו) — אֵין מְיָרְאִין אֶת הָאָדָם אֶלָּא בְּדָבָר שֶׁהוּא יָגוֹר מִמֶּנּוּ:
אשר יגרת מפניהם [HE WILL BRING UPON THEE ALL THE DISEASES OF EGYPT] OF WHICH THOU ART AFRAID — i.e. afraid of the plagues (not of Egypt). When the Israelites saw the strange plagues that came upon the Egyptians they were afraid of them — that they might not befall them also. You may know this, for so it states, (Exodus 15:26) “If thou wilt indeed hearken [to the voice of the Lord …], none of the diseases which I have put upon Egypt, will I put on you”, since one threatens a person only with things of which he is afraid.
ס״אגַּ֤ם כׇּל־חֳלִי֙ וְכׇל־מַכָּ֔ה אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹ֣א כָת֔וּב בְּסֵ֖פֶר הַתּוֹרָ֣ה הַזֹּ֑את יַעְלֵ֤ם יְהֹוָה֙ עָלֶ֔יךָ עַ֖ד הִשָּׁמְדָֽךְ׃
61Moreover, GOD will bring upon you all the other diseases and plagues that are not mentioned in this book of Teaching, until you are wiped out.
יעלם. לְשׁוֹן עֲלִיָּה:
יעלם is a form from the root עלה (not from עלם).
ס״בוְנִשְׁאַרְתֶּם֙ בִּמְתֵ֣י מְעָ֔ט תַּ֚חַת אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֱיִיתֶ֔ם כְּכוֹכְבֵ֥י הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם לָרֹ֑ב כִּֽי־לֹ֣א שָׁמַ֔עְתָּ בְּק֖וֹל יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃
62You shall be left a scant few, after having been as numerous as the stars in the skies, because you did not heed the command of the ETERNAL your God.
ונשארתם במתי מעט תחת וגו'. מֻעָטִין חֵלֶף מְרֻבִּים:
ונשארתם במתי מעט תחת וגו׳ AND YOU SHALL REMAIN FEW IN NUMBER WHEREAS [YOU WERE ONCE AS NUMEROUS AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN] — i.e. a few instead of many.
ס״גוְ֠הָיָ֠ה כַּאֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֨שׂ יְהֹוָ֜ה עֲלֵיכֶ֗ם לְהֵיטִ֣יב אֶתְכֶם֮ וּלְהַרְבּ֣וֹת אֶתְכֶם֒ כֵּ֣ן יָשִׂ֤ישׂ יְהֹוָה֙ עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם לְהַאֲבִ֥יד אֶתְכֶ֖ם וּלְהַשְׁמִ֣יד אֶתְכֶ֑ם וְנִסַּחְתֶּם֙ מֵעַ֣ל הָאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּ֥ה בָא־שָׁ֖מָּה לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃
63And as GOD once delighted in making you prosperous and many, so will GOD now delight in causing you to perish and in wiping you out; you shall be torn from the land that you are about to enter and possess.
כן ישיש ה'. אֶת אוֹיְבֵיכֶם עליכם להאביד וגו':
'כן ישיש ה SO WILL THE LORD MAKE your enemies REJOICE עליכם OVER YOU, להאביד וגו׳ TO DESTROY [YOU] (Megillah 10b).
ונסחתם. לְשׁוֹן עֲקִירָה וְכֵן (משלי ט"ו) "בֵּית גֵּאִים יִסַּח ה'":
ונסחתם is an expression denoting “uprooting”. Similar is, (Proverbs 15:25) “The Lord will uproot (יסח) the house of the haughty”.
ס״דוֶהֱפִֽיצְךָ֤ יְהֹוָה֙ בְּכׇל־הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים מִקְצֵ֥ה הָאָ֖רֶץ וְעַד־קְצֵ֣ה הָאָ֑רֶץ וְעָבַ֨דְתָּ שָּׁ֜ם אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹא־יָדַ֛עְתָּ אַתָּ֥ה וַאֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ עֵ֥ץ וָאָֽבֶן׃
64GOD will scatter you among all the peoples from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods, wood and stone, whom neither you nor your ancestors have experienced.qwhom neither you nor your ancestors have experienced See note at 11.28.
ועבדתם שם אלהים אחרים. כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ — לֹא עֲבוֹדַת אֱלֹהוּת מַמָּשׁ אֶלָּא מַעֲלִים מַס וְגֻלְגֹּלִיּוֹת לְכוּמְרֵי עֲ"זָ:
ועבדתם שם אלהים אחרים AND YE WILL SERVE THERE OTHER GODS — Understand this as the Targum does: (ye will serve the peoples that worship idols); not actually that they shall serve idols, but they will have to pay tribute and poll-taxes to the priests of the idols.
ס״הוּבַגּוֹיִ֤ם הָהֵם֙ לֹ֣א תַרְגִּ֔יעַ וְלֹא־יִהְיֶ֥ה מָנ֖וֹחַ לְכַף־רַגְלֶ֑ךָ וְנָתַן֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה לְךָ֥ שָׁם֙ לֵ֣ב רַגָּ֔ז וְכִלְי֥וֹן עֵינַ֖יִם וְדַאֲב֥וֹן נָֽפֶשׁ׃
65Yet even among those nations you shall find no peace, nor shall your foot find a place to rest. GOD will give you there an anguished heart and eyes that pine and a despondent spirit.
לא תרגיע. לֹא תָנוּחַ, כְּמוֹ "וְזֹאת הַמַּרְגֵּעָה" (ישעיהו כ"ח):
לא תרגיע means, THOU SHALT FIND NO REST, as (Isaiah 28:12) “This is the rest (המרגעה)
לב רגז. לֵב חָרֵד, כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ "דָּחֵל", כְּמוֹ (ישעיהו י"ד) "שְׁאוֹל מִתַּחַת רָגְזָה לָךְ" (שמות ט"ו) "שָׁמְעוּ עַמִּים יִרְגָּזוּן", (שמואל ב כ"ב) "מוֹסְדוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם יִרְגָּזוּ":
לב רגז means, A TREMBLING HEART, as the Targum has it: דחל, fearing. It is similar in meaning to (Isaiah 14:9) “The nether-world from beneath trembleth (רגזה) for thee”; (Exodus 15:14) “The peoples have heard, they trembled”; (II Samuel 22:8) “The foundations of heaven trembled”.
וכליון עינים. מְצַפֶּה לִישׁוּעָה וְלֹא תָבֹא:
וכליון עינים AND A FAILING OF THE EYES — The phrase is used of one who expectantly looks for help and it does not come (cf. v. 32).
ס״ווְהָי֣וּ חַיֶּ֔יךָ תְּלֻאִ֥ים לְךָ֖ מִנֶּ֑גֶד וּפָֽחַדְתָּ֙ לַ֣יְלָה וְיוֹמָ֔ם וְלֹ֥א תַאֲמִ֖ין בְּחַיֶּֽיךָ׃
66The life you face shall be precarious; you shall be in terror, night and day, with no assurance of survival.
חייך תלאים לך. עַל הַסָּפֵק, כָּל סָפֵק קָרוּי תָּלוּי, שֶׁמָּא אָמוּת הַיּוֹם בַּחֶרֶב הַבָּאָה עָלֵינוּ. וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ דָרְשׁוּ זֶה הַלּוֹקֵחַ תְּבוּאָה מִן הַשּׁוּק:
חייך תלאים לך THY LIFE SHALL HANG BEFORE THEE — because of uncertainty. — Anything that is uncertain may be termed תלוי (“hanging”); You will always be saying: “Perhaps I shall die to-day through the sword that is coming upon us”. — Our Rabbis interpreted this to refer to one who is obliged to buy produce in the market (who does not possess any of his own),
ולא תאמין בחייך. זֶה הַסּוֹמֵךְ עַל הַפַּלְטֵר (עי' מנחות ק"ג):
ולא תאמין בחייך AND THOU SHALT HAVE NONE ASSURANCE OF THY LIFE — this they refer to one who must rely on the baker (cf. Menachot 103b).
ס״זבַּבֹּ֤קֶר תֹּאמַר֙ מִֽי־יִתֵּ֣ן עֶ֔רֶב וּבָעֶ֥רֶב תֹּאמַ֖ר מִֽי־יִתֵּ֣ן בֹּ֑קֶר מִפַּ֤חַד לְבָֽבְךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּפְחָ֔ד וּמִמַּרְאֵ֥ה עֵינֶ֖יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּרְאֶֽה׃
67In the morning you shall say, “If only it were evening!” and in the evening you shall say, “If only it were morning!”—because of what your heart shall dread and your eyes shall see.
בבקר תאמר מי יתן ערב. וְיִהְיֶה הָעֶרֶב שֶׁל אֶמֶשׁ:
בבקר תאמר מי יתן ערב IN THE MORNING THOU SHALT SAY, WOULD IT WERE EVEN! — i.e. would that it were again yesterday evening,
ובערב תאמר מי יתן בקר. שֶׁל שַׁחֲרִית, שֶׁהַצָּרוֹת מִתְחַזְּקוֹת תָּמִיד וְכָל שָׁעָה מְרֻבָּה קִלְלָתָהּ מִשֶּׁלְּפָנֶיהָ (עי' סוטה מ"ט):
ובערב תאמר מי יתן בקר AND AT EVEN THOU SHALT SAY, WOULD IT WERE MORNING! — i.e. the morning of today, because the misery will constantly grow more severe, and the curse of each hour will be greater than that of the preceding (cf. Sotah 49a).
ס״חוֶהֱשִֽׁיבְךָ֨ יְהֹוָ֥ה ׀ מִצְרַ֘יִם֮ בׇּאֳנִיּוֹת֒ בַּדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֣רְתִּֽי לְךָ֔ לֹא־תֹסִ֥יף ע֖וֹד לִרְאֹתָ֑הּ וְהִתְמַכַּרְתֶּ֨ם שָׁ֧ם לְאֹיְבֶ֛יךָ לַעֲבָדִ֥ים וְלִשְׁפָח֖וֹת וְאֵ֥ין קֹנֶֽה׃ {ס}
68GOD will send you back to Egypt in galleys, by a route that I told you you should not see again. There you shall offer yourselves for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but none will buy.
באניות. בִּסְפִינוֹת — בַּשִּׁבְיָה:
באניות [AND THE LORD WILL BRING THEE INTO EGYPT AGAIN] באניות — the latter word means, in ships, i.e. He will bring you again into captivity to Egypt.
והתמכרתם שם לאיביך. אַתֶּם מְבַקְשִׁים לִהְיוֹת נִמְכָּרִים לָהֶם לַעֲבָדִים וְלִשְׁפָחוֹת:
והתמכרתם שם לאיביך means, you will seek to be sold to them for slaves and handmaids (i.e. YOU WILL OFFER YOURSELVES FOR SALE),
ואין קנה. כִּי יִגְזְרוּ עָלֶיךָ הֶרֶג וְכִלָּיוֹן:
ואין קנה AND NO MAN WILL BUY YOU — because they will pass upon you the doom of death and extermination.
והתמכרתם. בְּלַעַז איפורוונדרי"ץ וו"ש, וְלֹא יִתָּכֵן לְפָרֵשׁ "וְהִתְמַכַּרְתֶּם" בִּלְשׁוֹן וְנִמְכַּרְתֶּם עַל יְדֵי מוֹכְרִים אֲחֵרִים מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר אַחֲרָיו "וְאֵין קוֹנֶה":
והתמכרתם — “et pour vendrez yous” in old French It would not, however, be correct to explain והתמכרתם in the sense of ונמכרתם “and you will be sold” — i.e. by sellers other than yourselves, for it adds afterwards: “but no one will buy you”.
ס״טאֵ֩לֶּה֩ דִבְרֵ֨י הַבְּרִ֜ית אֲֽשֶׁר־צִוָּ֧ה יְהֹוָ֣ה אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֗ה לִכְרֹ֛ת אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מוֹאָ֑ב מִלְּבַ֣ד הַבְּרִ֔ית אֲשֶׁר־כָּרַ֥ת אִתָּ֖ם בְּחֹרֵֽב׃ {פ}
69rThis verse is labeled as 29.1 in some editions. These are the terms of the covenant that GOD commanded Moses to conclude with the Israelites in the land of Moab, in addition to the covenant that was made with them at Horeb.
לכרת את בני ישראל. שֶׁיְּקַבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם אֶת הַתּוֹרָה בְּאָלָה וּבִשְׁבוּעָה:
לכרת את בני ישראל [THE COVENANT WHICH THE LORD COMMANDED …] TO MAKE WITH THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL — that they will take upon themselves the observance of the Torah under an imprecation and oath (cf. Deuteronomy 29:11).
מלבד הברית. קְלָלוֹת שֶׁבְּתוֹרַת כֹּהֲנִים שֶׁנֶּאֶמְרוּ בְסִינַי:
מלבד הברית BESIDES THE COVENANT — i.e. the curses in Torath Cohanim (Leviticus 26:14 ff.) which were spoken at Sinai (Horeb).