Chumashחומש

יסף עליכם ככם אלף פעמים. מַהוּ שׁוּב ויברך אתכם כאשר דבר לכם? אֶלָּא אָמְרוּ לוֹ, מֹשֶׁה אַתָּה נוֹתֵן קִצְבָּה לְבִרְכוֹתֵינוּ? כְּבָר הִבְטִיחַ הַקָּבָּ"ה אֶת אַבְרָהָם "אֲשֶׁר אִם יוּכַל אִישׁ לִמְנוֹת וְגוֹ'" (בראשית י"ג), אָמַר לָהֶם זוֹ מִשֶּׁלִּי הִיא, אֲבָל הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶתְכֶם כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לָכֶם (ספרי):

יסף עליכם ככם אלף פעמים MAY HE ADD TO YOU A THOUSAND TIMES AS MANY MORE AS YE ARE — What is the force of saying further: ויברך אתכם כאשר דבר לכם AND MAY HE BLESS YOU EVEN AS HE HATH SPOKEN CONCERNING YOU? But the explanation is: They said to him, “Moses, you are setting a limit to our blessings (only a thousand times)! The Holy One, blessed be He, has already made a boundless promise to Abraham (Genesis 13:16) “… if one can count [the dust of the earth, then can thy seed also be counted]"! Moses replied to them: This (a thousand times) is from me (it is my blessing); but may He bless you even as He hath spoken concerning you!" (Sifrei Devarim 11).

איכה אשא לבדי. אִם אֹמַר לְקַבֵּל שָׂכָר, לֹא אוּכַל, זוֹ הִיא שֶׁאָמַרְתִּי לָכֶם לֹא מֵעַצְמִי אֲנִי אוֹמֵר לָכֶם אֶלָּא מִפִּי הַקָּבָּ"ה:

איכה אשא לבדי HOW CAN I MYSELF ALONE BEAR [YOUR CUMBRANCE, etc.]? — If I were to say, "I will do so in order to receive a reward for it", I may not do so. This is what I have already said to you: not of myself do I tell you that I am not able to bear you, but by the bidding of the Holy One, blessed be He (see Rashi v. 9).

טרחכם. מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל טַרְחָנִין – הָיָה אֶחָד מֵהֶם רוֹאֶה אֶת בַּעַל דִּינוֹ נוֹצֵחַ בַּדִּין, אוֹמֵר יֵשׁ לִי עֵדִים לְהָבִיא, יֵשׁ לִי רְאָיוֹת לְהָבִיא, מוֹסִיף אֲנִי עֲלֵיכֶם דַּיָּנִין:

טרחכם YOUR CUMBRANCE — Moses' use of this word regarding them teaches us that the Israelites were troublesome: if one of them perceived that his opponent in a law suit was about to be victor in the case he would say: I have witnesses to bring, further proof to adduce, I will add judges to you who are sitting (Sifrei Devarim 12:1) .

ומשאכם. מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהָיוּ אֶפִּיקוֹרְסִין, הִקְדִּים מֹשֶׁה לָצֵאת, אָמְרוּ מָה רָאָה בֶן עַמְרָם לָצֵאת? שֶׁמָּא אֵינוֹ שָׁפוּי בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ; אֵחַר לָצֵאת, אָמְרוּ מָה רָאָה בֶן עַמְרָם שֶׁלֹּא לָצֵאת? מָה אַתֶּם סְבוּרִים? יוֹשֵׁב וְיוֹעֵץ עֲלֵיכֶם עֵצוֹת רָעוֹת וְחוֹשֵׁב עֲלֵיכֶם מַחֲשָׁבוֹת:

ומשאכם YOUR BURDEN — this teaches that they were Epicorsim (that they treated the judges with scant respect): if Moses went forth early from his tent they said, “Why does the son of Amram leave so early? Perhaps he is not at ease at home?" If he left late, they said, “What do you think? He is sitting and devising evil schemes against you, and is plotting against you" (Sifrei Devarim 12:2).

ורבכם. מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהָיוּ רוֹגְנִים (ספרי):

וריבכם AND YOUR STRIFE — this teaches that they were always contentious (Sifrei Devarim 12:3).

הבו לכם. הַזְמִינוּ עַצְמְכֶם לַדָּבָר:

הבו לכם means GET YOURSELVES READY for the matter (cf. Rashi on Genesis 11:3).

אנשים. וְכִי תַעֲלֶה עַל דַּעְתְּךָ נָשִׁים, מַה תַּ"לֹ אֲנָשִׁים? צַדִּיקִים, כְּסוּפִים:

אנשים MEN — But would it enter your mind that he would take women? Why then does it state here men? It means that he should take righteous, desirable men (cf. Sifrei Devarim 13:2).

חכמים ונבנים. מְבִינִים דָבָר מִתּוֹךְ דָּבָר; זוֹ הִיא שֶׁשָּׁאַל אֲרִיּוֹס אֶת רַבִּי יוֹסֵי מַה בֵּין חֲכָמִים לִנְבוֹנִים? חָכָם דּוֹמֶה לְשֻׁלְחָנִי עָשִׁיר, כְּשֶׁמְּבִיאִין לוֹ דִּינָרִין לִרְאוֹת רוֹאֶה, וּכְשֶׁאֵין מְבִיאִין לוֹ יוֹשֵׁב וְתוֹהֵא, נָבוֹן דּוֹמֶה לְשֻׁלְחָנִי תַּגָּר, כְּשֶׁמְּבִיאִין לוֹ מָעוֹת לִרְאוֹת רוֹאֶה, וּכְשֶׁאֵין מְבִיאִין לוֹ, הוּא מְחַזֵּר וּמֵבִיא מִשֶּׁלּוֹ (ספרי):

חכמים ונבנים WISE AND UNDERSTANDING [MEN] — i.e. men who can understand a matter out of (i.e. by comparison with) another matter. — This is what Arius asked R. Jose: what is the difference between wise men and understanding men? A wise man is like a rich money changer: when people bring him dinars to examine (to value) he examines them; and when they do not bring to him, he sits and does nothing (he does not go out to seek any). An understanding man, however, is like a merchant money changer: when they bring him coins to examine, he examines them; and when they do not bring to him, he goes about and brings of his own money (i.e. he himself buys coins) (cf. Sifrei Devarim 13:3).

וידעים לשבטיכם. שֶׁהֵם נִכָּרִים לָכֶם, שֶׁאִם בָּא לְפָנַי מְעֻטָּף בְּטַלִּיתוֹ, אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ מִי הוּא וּמֵאֵי זֶה שֵׁבֶט הוּא, וְאִם הָגוּן הוּא, אֲבָל אַתֶּם מַכִּירִין בּוֹ, שֶׁאַתֶּם גִּדַּלְתֶּם אוֹתוֹ, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר וִידֻעִים לְשִׁבְטֵיכֶם (ספרי):

וידעים לשבטיכם AND [MEN] KNOWN AMONGST YOUR TRIBES — i.e. men who are known to you. For if he were to come before me wrapped in his robe, “I" would not know who he is and of what tribe he is, and whether he is fitted for the office: but you know him for you have been brought up with him. On this account it states: known amongst your tribes (Sifrei Devarim 13:4).

בראשיכם. רָאשִׁים וּמְכֻבָּדִים עֲלֵיכֶם – שֶׁתִּהְיוּ נוֹהֲגִין בָּהֶם כָּבוֹד וְיִרְאָה:

בראשיכם [AND I WILL PLACE THEM] AT YOUR HEADS — as chiefs and persons honoured by you., i.e., that ye should pay them respect and reverence.

ואשמם. חָסֵר יוֹ"ד, לִמֵּד שֶׁאַשְׁמוֹתֵיהֶם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל תְּלוּיוֹת בְּרָאשֵׁי דַּיָּנֵיהֶם, שֶׁהָיָה לָהֶם לִמְחוֹת וּלְכַוֵּן אוֹתָם לַדֶּרֶךְ הַיְשָׁרָה (ספרי):

ואשמם — This word lacks the letter י (after the ש: our editions, however, have it): this teaches that Israel's transgressions (אשם) are placed upon the heads of their judges, because it is their duty to prevent them from sinning, and to direct them into the right path (Sifrei Devarim 13:6).

ותענו אתי וגו'. חֲלַטְתֶּם אֶת הַדָּבָר לַהֲנָאַתְכֶם; הָיָה לָכֶם לְהָשִׁיב, רַבֵּנוּ מֹשֶׁה, מִמִּי נָאֶה לִלְמֹד, מִמְּךָ אוֹ מִתַּלְמִידְךָ? לֹא מִמְּךָ שֶׁנִּצְטַעַרְתָּ עָלֶיהָ? אֶלָּא יָדַעְתִּי מַחְשְׁבוֹתֵיכֶם, הֱיִיתֶם אוֹמְרִים עַכְשָׁו יִתְמַנּוּ עָלֵינוּ דַּיָּנִין הַרְבֵּה, אִם אֵין מַכִּירֵנוּ, אָנוּ מְבִיאִין לוֹ דוֹרוֹן וְהוּא נוֹשֵׂא לָנוּ פָנִים (שם):

ותענו אתי וגו׳ AND YE ANSWERED ME, etc. — You at once decided the matter to your benefit. You should really have replied: Our teacher, Moses! From whom is it more fitting to learn, from you or from your disciple? Is it not from you who have taken such pains about it? But I knew your thoughts: you said, “Many judges will now be appointed over us; if one of them does not happen to be an acquaintance of ours, we shall bring him a gift and he will show us favour (Sifrei Devarim 14).

לעשות. אִם הָיִיתִי מִתְעַצֵּל, אַתֶּם אוֹמְרִים עֲשֵׂה מְהֵרָה (שם):

לעשות TO DO — If I showed myself remiss, you said: act quickly (Sifrei Devarim 14).

ואקח את ראשי שבטיכם. מְשַׁכְתִּים – אַשְׁרֵיכֶם, עַל מִי בָּאתֶם לְהִתְמַנּוֹת? עַל בְּנֵי אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב, עַל בְּנֵי אָדָם שֶׁנִּקְרְאוּ אַחִים וְרֵעִים, חֵלֶק וְנַחֲלָה, וְכָל לְשׁוֹן חִבָּה (שם):

ואקח את ראשי שבטיכם SO I TOOK THE HEADS OF YOUR TRIBES — I took them by fine words: Happy are you! Over whom are you about to be appointed? Over the sons of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob — over the sons of people who are called God's brethren and friends, God's portion and inheritance and to whom is applied every other expression denoting affection (Sifrei Devarim 15:1; cf. Targum Jonathan).

אנשים חכמים וידעים. אֲבָל נְבוֹנִים לֹא מָצָאתִי; זוֹ אַחַת מִשֶּׁבַע מִדּוֹת שֶׁאָמַר יִתְרוֹ לְמֹשֶׁה וְלֹא מָצָא אֶלָּא שָׁלוֹשׁ, אנשים צַדִּיקִים, חכמים, וידעים (שם):

אנשים חכמים וידעים [AND I TOOK] MEN, WISE AND KNOWN — but understanding men I could not find (Nedarim 20b). This, too, was one of the seven qualifications which Jethro mentioned to Moses, but he found only three: men, i.e. righteous men, wise and known (Sifrei Devarim 15:2).

ראשים עליכם. שֶׁתִּנְהֲגוּ בָהֶם כָּבוֹד, רָאשִׁים בְּמֶקַח, רָאשִׁים בְּמִמְכָּר, רָאשִׁים בְּמַשָּׂא וּמַתָּן, נִכְנָס אַחֲרוֹן וְיוֹצֵא רִאשׁוֹן (שם):

ראשים עליכם [AND I MADE THEM] HEADS OVER YOU — i.e. that you should pay them respect — regard them as first in buying, first in selling, first in all matters of business — coming into the Synagogue and House of Study last and leave first (so that all should rise out of respect) (cf. Sifrei Devarim 15:3).

שרי אלפים. אֶחָד מְמֻנֶּה עַל אֶלֶף:

שרי אלפים means, one officer who is appointed over one thousand.

שרי מאות. אֶחָד מְמֻנֶּה עַל מֵאָה:

שרי מאות means, one who is appointed over one hundred.

ושטרים. מִנִּיתִי עֲלֵיכֶם לשבטיכם – אֵלּוּ הַכּוֹפְתִין וְהַמַּכִּין בִּרְצוּעָה עַל פִּי הַדַּיָּנִין (עי' שם):

ושטרים AND COURT-OFFICERS — i.e., and also I appointed court-officers over you, לשבטיכם ACCORDING TO YOUR TRIBES — these are they who bind and flog with the lash at the bidding of the judges (cf. Sifrei Devarim 15:5).

ואצוה את שפטיכם. אָמַרְתִּי לָהֶם הֱווּ מְתוּנִין בַּדִּין – אִם בָּא דִּין לְפָנֶיךָ פַּעַם אַחַת, שְׁתַּיִם, וְשָׁלוֹשׁ, אַל תֹּאמַר כְּבָר בָּא דִּין זֶה לְפָנַי פְּעָמִים הַרְבֵּה, אֶלָּא הֱיוּ נוֹשְׂאִים וְנוֹתְנִים בּוֹ (שם):

ואצוה את שפטיכם AND I COMMANDED YOUR JUDGES — I said to them: be deliberate in judgment: if a certain point of law comes before you once, twice, three times, do not say, "This point of law has already come before me several times”, but discuss it well on that occasion also (Sifrei Devarim 16:1).

בעת ההוא. מִשֶּׁמִּנִּיתִים אָמַרְתִּי לָהֶם אֵין עַכְשָׁיו כִּלְשֶׁעָבַר, לְשֶׁעָבַר הֱיִיתֶם בִּרְשׁוּת עַצְמְכֶם, עַכְשָׁו הֲרֵי אַתֶּם מְשֻׁעְבָּדִים לַצִּבּוּר (שם):

בעת ההוא [AND I COMMANDED YOUR JUDGES] AT THAT TIME — As soon as I appointed them, I said to them, "It is not now as heretofore: heretofore you were your own masters (lit., under your own control), now you are in the service of the Community!” (Sifrei Devarim 16:2).

שמע. לְשׁוֹן הֹוֶה, אודנ"ט בְּלַעַז, כְּמוֹ זָכוֹר, שָׁמוֹר:

שמע — This grammatical form expresses constant doing: oyant in old French, be hearing, just as זכור and שמור (see Rashi on Numbers 25:17).

ובין גרו. זֶה בַּעַל דִּינוֹ שֶׁאוֹגֵר עָלָיו דְּבָרִים; דָּ"אַ ובין גרו, אַף עַל עִסְקֵי דִּירָה בֵּין חֲלֻקַּת אַחִים, אֲפִלּוּ בֵּין תַּנּוּר לְכִירַיִם (שם; סנהדרין ז'):

ובין גרו AND BETWEEN HIS גר — this is his opponent in the lawsuit who merely heaps up (אוגר) words against him. Another explanation of AND BETWEEN HIS גר — also in a matter concerning a dwelling house (גור = to dwell), — in the division of property amongst brothers, even if it be a dispute about an oven and a kitchen range (cf. Sifrei Devarim 16:8-9; Sanhedrin 7b).

לא תכירו פנים במשפט. זֶה הַמְמֻנֶּה לְהוֹשִׁיב הַדַּיָּנִים, שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמַר אִישׁ פְּלוֹנִי נָאֶה אוֹ גִּבּוֹר, אוֹשִׁיבֶנּוּ דַיָּן, אִישׁ פְּלוֹנִי קְרוֹבִי, אוֹשִׁיבֶנּוּ דַּיָּן בָּעִיר, וְהוּא אֵינוֹ בָּקִי בְדִינִין, נִמְצָא מְחַיֵּב אֶת הַזַּכַּאי וּמְזַכֶּה אֶת הַחַיָּב, מַעֲלֶה אֲנִי עַל מִי שֶׁמִּנָּהוּ כְּאִלּוּ הִכִּיר פָּנִים בַּדִּין:

לא תכירו פנים במשפט YE SHALL NOT RESPECT PERSONS IN JUDGMENT — This is addressed to him whose office it is to appoint judges — that he should not say, Mr. So-and-so is a fine or a strong man, I will make him a judge; Mr. So-and-so is my relative, I will make him a judge in the city, — while in reality he is not expert in the laws, and consequently he will condemn the innocent and acquit the guilty — I will account it unto him who appointed him as though he had shown favor in judgment (Sifrei Devarim 17:1).

כקטן כגדל תשמעון. שֶׁיְּהֵא חָבִיב עָלֶיךָ דִּין שֶׁל פְּרוּטָה כְּדִין שֶׁל מֵאָה מָנֶה, שֶׁאִם קָדַם וּבָא לְפָנֶיךָ, לֹא תְסַלְּקֶנּוּ לָאַחֲרוֹן. דָּ"אַ — כקטן כגדל תשמעון כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, שֶׁלֹּא תֹאמַר זֶה עָנִי הוּא וַחֲבֵרוֹ עָשִׁיר וּמְצֻוֶּה לְפַרְנְסוֹ, אֲזַכֶּה אֶת הֶעָנִי וְנִמְצָא מִתְפַּרְנֵס בִּנְקִיּוּת; דָּ"אַ — שֶׁלֹּא תֹאמַר הֵיאַךְ אֲנִי פּוֹגֵם כְּבוֹדוֹ שֶׁל עָשִׁיר זֶה בִּשְׁבִיל דִּינָר, אֲזַכֶּנּוּ עַכְשָׁיו, וּכְשֶׁיּוֹצֵא לַחוּץ אֹמַר לוֹ תֵּן לוֹ שֶׁאַתָּה חַיָּב לוֹ (שם):

כקטן כגדל תשמעון YE SHALL HEAR THE SMALL AS WELL AS THE GREAT, i.e. that a lawsuit regarding a peruta shall be as dear to you (shall be as of equal importance) as a lawsuit regarding a hundred maneh — that if it (the former) comes before you first, you should not set it aside until the last (Sanhedrin 8a). — Another explanation of YE SHALL HEAR THE SMALL AS WELL AS THE GREAT — Understand it as the Targum has it: Ye shall hearken unto the words of the small as to those of the great — i.e. that you should not say: This is a poor man and his fellow (opponent) is rich, and is in any case bidden to support him; I will find in favour of the poor man, and he will consequently obtain some support in a respectable fashion (see Rashi on Leviticus 19:15). — Another explanation is: that you should not say, “How can I offend against the honour of this rich man because of one dinar? I will for the moment decide in his favour, and when he goes outside (leaves the court) I will say to him, ‘Give it to him because in fact you owe it to him'" (Sifrei Devarim 17:3).

לא תגורו מפני איש. לֹא תִּירְאוּ; דָּ"אַ — לא תגורו לֹא תַכְנִיס דְּבָרֶיךָ מִפְּנֵי אִישׁ, לְשׁוֹן "אֹגֵר בַּקַּיִץ" (משלי י'):

לא תגורו מפני איש means: YE SHALL NOT FEAR [ANY MAN]. — Another explanation of לא תגורו: Ye shall not gather in (shall not restrain) your words before any man. The word has the same meaning as in (Proverbs 10:5), "Gathering (אוגר) in summer” (cf. Sanhedrin 8a).

כי המשפט לאלהים הוא. מַה שֶּׁאַתָּה נוֹטֵל מִזֶּה שֶׁלֹּא כַדִּין, אַתָּה מַזְקִיקֵנִי לְהַחֲזִיר לוֹ, נִמְצָא שֶׁהִטֵּיתָ עָלַי הַמִּשְׁפָּט (סנהדרין ח'):

כי המשפט לאלהים הוא FOR THE JUDGMENT IS GOD’S — Whatever you take from this man unjustly you will compel Me to restore to him; it follows, therefore, that you have wrested judgment against Me (Sanhedrin 8a).

תקרבון אלי. עַל דָּבָר זֶה נִסְתַּלֵּק מִמֶּנּוּ מִשְׁפַּט בְּנוֹת צְלָפְחָד (שם); וְכֵן שְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר לְשָׁאוּל (שמואל א ט') "אָנֹכִי הָרוֹאֶה", אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּבָּ"ה חַיֶּיךָ שֶׁאֲנִי מוֹדִיעֲךָ שֶׁאֵין אַתָּה רוֹאֶה, וְאֵימָתַי הוֹדִיעוֹ? כְּשֶׁבָּא לִמְשֹׁחַ אֶת דָּוִד (שמואל א ט"ז) "וַיַּרְא אֶת אֱלִיאָב וַיֹּאמֶר אַךְ נֶגֶד ה' מְשִׁיחוֹ", אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּבָּ"ה וְלֹא אָמַרְתָּ אָנֹכִי הָרֹאֶה? "אַל תַּבֵּט אֶל מַרְאֵהוּ" (ספרי):

תקרבון אלי [AND THE CAUSE THAT IS TOO HARD FOR YOU] BRING TO ME [AND I WILL HEAR IT] — On account of this utterance (that he could decide difficult cases) the law regarding the daughters of Zelophehad evaded him (Sanhedrin 8a; see Rashi on Numbers 27:5). Similarly, Samuel said to Saul (I Samuel 9:19), “I” am the seer. Whereupon the Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, “By your life, I will let you know that you are not a seer”. And when did he let him know this? When he came to anoint David. For Scripture states, (I Samuel 16:6, 7) “And when he saw Eliab he said, Surely before the Lord stands his anointed one”. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: "Did you not say, “I” am the seer? Look not at the outward appearance” (Sifrei Devarim 17:7).

את כל הדברים אשר תעשון. אֵלּוּ עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁבֵּין דִּינֵי מָמוֹנוֹת לְדִינֵי נְפָשׁוֹת (שם):

את כל הדברים אשר תעשון [AND I COMMANDED YOU …] ALL THE THINGS THAT YE SHOULD DO — These are the ten things that constitute the difference between civil cases and capital cases (Sifrei Devarim 18:1; cf. Sanhedrin 32a).

המדבר הגדול והנורא. שֶׁהָיוּ בוֹ נְחָשִׁים כְּקוֹרוֹת, וְעַקְרַבִּים כִּקְשָׁתוֹת (שם):

המדבר הגדול והנורא [THAT]. GREAT AND FEARFUL WILDERNESS — [It is termed fearful] because there were in it serpents thick as beams and scorpions as bows (Sifrei Devarim 18:2).