יא הִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֔ פֶּן־תִּשְׁכַּ֖ח אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ לְבִלְתִּ֨י שְׁמֹ֤ר מִצְוֹוֹתָיו֙ וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֣יו וְחֻקֹּתָ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָֽנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּֽוֹם׃
יב פֶּן־תֹּאכַ֖ל וְשָׂבָ֑עְתָּ וּבָתִּ֥ים טֹבִ֛ים תִּבְנֶ֖ה וְיָשָֽׁבְתָּ׃
יג וּבְקָֽרְךָ֤ וְצֹֽאנְךָ֙ יִרְבְּיֻ֔ן[1] וְכֶ֥סֶף וְזָהָ֖ב יִרְבֶּה־לָּ֑ךְ וְכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־לְךָ֖ יִרְבֶּֽה׃
יד וְרָ֖ם לְבָבֶ֑ךָ וְשָֽׁכַחְתָּ֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ הַמּוֹצִֽיאֲךָ֛ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם מִבֵּ֥ית עֲבָדִֽים׃
[תלמוד סוטה ד, ב] [תלמוד סוטה ה, א]
טו הַמּוֹלִ֨יכְךָ֜ בַּמִּדְבָּ֣ר ׀ הַגָּדֹ֣ל וְהַנּוֹרָ֗א נָחָ֤שׁ ׀ שָׂרָף֙ וְעַקְרָ֔ב וְצִמָּא֖וֹן אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֵֽין־מָ֑יִם הַמּוֹצִ֤יא לְךָ֙ מַ֔יִם מִצּ֖וּר הַֽחַלָּמִֽישׁ׃
טז הַמַּאֲכִ֨לְךָ֥ מָן֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יָדְע֖וּן אֲבֹתֶ֑יךָ לְמַ֣עַן עַנֹּֽתְךָ֗ וּלְמַ֨עַן֙ נַסֹּתֶ֔ךָ לְהֵיטִֽבְךָ֖ בְּאַֽחֲרִיתֶֽךָ׃
יז וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֖ בִּלְבָבֶ֑ךָ כֹּחִי֙ וְעֹ֣צֶם יָדִ֔י עָ֥שָׂה לִ֖י אֶת־הַחַ֥יִל הַזֶּֽה[2]׃
יח וְזָֽכַרְתָּ֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ כִּ֣י ה֗וּא הַנֹּתֵ֥ן לְךָ֛ כֹּ֖חַ לַֽעֲשׂ֣וֹת חָ֑יִל לְמַ֨עַן הָקִ֧ים אֶת־בְּרִית֛וֹ אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֥ע לַֽאֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ כַּיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ {פ}
יט וְהָיָ֗ה אִם־שָׁכֹ֤חַ תִּשְׁכַּח֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ וְהָֽלַכְתָּ֗ אַֽחֲרֵי֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וַֽעֲבַדְתָּ֖ם וְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲוִ֣יתָ לָהֶ֑ם הַֽעִדֹ֤תִי בָכֶם֙ הַיּ֔וֹם[3] כִּ֥י אָבֹ֖ד תֹּֽאבֵדֽוּן׃
כ כַּגּוֹיִ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר יְהוָה֙ מַֽאֲבִ֣יד מִפְּנֵיכֶ֔ם כֵּ֖ן תֹּֽאבֵד֑וּן עֵ֚קֶב לֹ֣א תִשְׁמְע֔וּן בְּק֖וֹל יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶֽם׃ {פ}
דברים פרק ט
א שְׁמַ֣ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אַתָּ֨ה עֹבֵ֤ר הַיּוֹם֙ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן לָבֹא֙ לָרֶ֣שֶׁת גּוֹיִ֔ם גְּדֹלִ֥ים וַֽעֲצֻמִ֖ים מִמֶּ֑ךָּ עָרִ֛ים גְּדֹלֹ֥ת וּבְצֻרֹ֖ת בַּשָּׁמָֽיִם׃
(א) גדולים ועצומים ממך - אתה עצום, והם עצומים ממך:
ב עַֽם־גָּד֥וֹל וָרָ֖ם בְּנֵ֣י עֲנָקִ֑ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַתָּ֤ה יָדַ֨עְתָּ֙ וְאַתָּ֣ה שָׁמַ֔עְתָּ מִ֣י יִתְיַצֵּ֔ב לִפְנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י עֲנָֽק׃
ג וְיָֽדַעְתָּ֣ הַיּ֗וֹם כִּי֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ הֽוּא־הָעֹבֵ֤ר לְפָנֶ֨יךָ֙ אֵ֣שׁ אֹֽכְלָ֔ה ה֧וּא יַשְׁמִידֵ֛ם וְה֥וּא יַכְנִיעֵ֖ם לְפָנֶ֑יךָ וְהֽוֹרַשְׁתָּ֤ם וְהַֽאֲבַדְתָּם֙ מַהֵ֔ר כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה לָֽךְ׃
Today we are learning the second aliyah of Parshas Eikev. We will be reading through the pesukim and discussing the warnings that Moshe Rabbeinu gives to the Jewish people about not forgetting Hashem when they come into Eretz Yisroel and become successful. We will see how Moshe emphasizes the dangers of becoming complacent and arrogant, and the importance of remembering all that Hashem has done for us, including taking us out of Mitzrayim and leading us through the desert. We will also touch on the consequences of forgetting Hashem and following other gods, and the assurance that Hashem will help us conquer the nations in Eretz Yisroel.
יא הִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֔ פֶּן־תִּשְׁכַּ֖ח אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ לְבִלְתִּ֨י שְׁמֹ֤ר מִצְוֹוֹתָיו֙ וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֣יו וְחֻקֹּתָ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָֽנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּֽוֹם׃
The pasuk says: "Be careful for yourself, lest you forget Hashem your God, not to keep His mitzvos, His judgments, and His statutes that I command you today." Moshe Rabbeinu is warning the Jewish people to be vigilant, to guard themselves so that they do not forget Hashem. Forgetting Hashem is not just a matter of memory, but it means neglecting to keep the mitzvos, mishpatim, and chukim that Hashem commands. The warning is that when things are going well, it is easy to become lax and forget about Hashem's commandments. Moshe is telling them to be on guard against this, to make sure that their success does not lead them to forget Hashem and stop keeping the Torah and mitzvos.
יב פֶּן־תֹּאכַ֖ל וְשָׂבָ֑עְתָּ וּבָתִּ֥ים טֹבִ֛ים תִּבְנֶ֖ה וְיָשָֽׁבְתָּ׃
The next pasuk says: "Lest you eat and be satisfied, and good houses you will build and dwell in them." Here, Moshe continues the warning. He is describing what will happen when the Jewish people come into Eretz Yisroel and experience prosperity. They will have plenty to eat, they will be satisfied, and they will build nice houses and live comfortably. The concern is that this comfort and satisfaction can lead to forgetting Hashem. When people are struggling, they tend to turn to Hashem, but when they are comfortable and have everything they need, there is a danger that they will become complacent and forget about the One who gave them all these blessings.
יג וּבְקָֽרְךָ֤ וְצֹֽאנְךָ֙ יִרְבְּיֻ֔ן וְכֶ֥סֶף וְזָהָ֖ב יִרְבֶּה־לָּ֑ךְ וְכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־לְךָ֖ יִרְבֶּֽה׃
The pasuk continues: "And your cattle and your sheep will increase, and silver and gold will increase for you, and all that you have will increase." Moshe is painting a picture of abundance and blessing. Not only will they have food and houses, but their livestock will multiply, their wealth will grow, and everything they own will increase. Again, the point is that with all this success, there is a risk that they will forget Hashem. The Torah is warning us that material success can be a test, and we must remember that it all comes from Hashem.
יד וְרָ֖ם לְבָבֶ֑ךָ וְשָֽׁכַחְתָּ֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ הַמּוֹצִֽיאֲךָ֛ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם מִבֵּ֥ית עֲבָדִֽים׃
The next pasuk says: "And your heart will become haughty, and you will forget Hashem your God, who took you out of the land of Mitzrayim, from the house of slavery." Here, Moshe spells out the danger: when a person becomes successful and everything is going well, there is a tendency for his heart to become proud. He starts to think that it is his own strength and wisdom that brought him success, and he forgets about Hashem. Moshe reminds them that it was Hashem who took them out of Mitzrayim, from being slaves. All of their success is only because of Hashem's kindness and miracles. The warning is not to let success go to your head and cause you to forget Hashem and where you came from.
[תלמוד סוטה ד, ב] [תלמוד סוטה ה, א]
טו הַמּוֹלִ֨יכְךָ֜ בַּמִּדְבָּ֣ר ׀ הַגָּדֹ֣ל וְהַנּוֹרָ֗א נָחָ֤שׁ ׀ שָׂרָף֙ וְעַקְרָ֔ב וְצִמָּא֖וֹן אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֵֽין־מָ֑יִם הַמּוֹצִ֤יא לְךָ֙ מַ֔יִם מִצּ֖וּר הַֽחַלָּמִֽישׁ׃
The pasuk says: "Who leads you in the great and awesome desert, with snakes, fiery serpents, and scorpions, and thirst where there is no water; who brings forth water for you from the flinty rock." Moshe is reminding the Jewish people of all the miracles that Hashem did for them in the desert. The desert was a dangerous place, with snakes, fiery serpents, and scorpions, and there was no water. Yet Hashem protected them and provided for them, even bringing water out of a rock. This is to remind them that everything they have comes from Hashem, and they must not forget Him when they enter the land and become prosperous. The miracles in the desert are proof that Hashem is always taking care of them, and they must continue to rely on Him and keep His mitzvos.
טז הַמַּאֲכִ֨לְךָ֥ מָן֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יָדְע֖וּן אֲבֹתֶ֑יךָ לְמַ֣עַן עַנֹּֽתְךָ֗ וּלְמַ֨עַן֙ נַסֹּתֶ֔ךָ לְהֵיטִֽבְךָ֖ בְּאַֽחֲרִיתֶֽךָ׃
This verse is talking about how Hashem fed you the mon in the desert, which your fathers did not know. The purpose was to afflict you and to test you, in order to do good for you in your end. The teacher explains that Hashem gave the mon in the desert, something that was completely new and unknown to your ancestors. This was not just to provide food, but to humble you and to test you, to see if you would trust in Hashem and follow His will. The ultimate goal was to benefit you in the end, to prepare you for a better future. The teacher emphasizes that the challenges and tests in the desert were for the sake of your improvement and growth, so that you would be worthy of Hashem's goodness later on.
יז וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֖ בִּלְבָבֶ֑ךָ כֹּחִי֙ וְעֹ֣צֶם יָדִ֔י עָ֥שָׂה לִ֖י אֶת־הַחַ֥יִל הַזֶּֽה׃
This verse warns that you might say in your heart, 'My strength and the might of my hand made me all this wealth.' The teacher points out that after all the blessings and success, a person might become arrogant and think that it was his own power and effort that brought him all his achievements. This is a danger that comes with prosperity, where a person forgets Hashem and attributes everything to himself. The teacher highlights the importance of remembering that it is not your own strength, but Hashem who gives you everything.
יח וְזָֽכַרְתָּ֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ כִּ֣י ה֗וּא הַנֹּתֵ֥ן לְךָ֛ כֹּ֖חַ לַֽעֲשׂ֣וֹת חָ֑יִל לְמַ֨עַן הָקִ֧ים אֶת־בְּרִית֛וֹ אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֥ע לַֽאֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ כַּיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ {פ}
This verse commands you to remember Hashem your God, because He is the one who gives you the strength to make wealth, in order to establish His covenant that He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. The teacher explains that you must always keep in mind that it is Hashem who gives you the ability and the power to succeed. The reason Hashem gives you this strength is to fulfill the promise He made to your ancestors. The teacher stresses that all your success and prosperity are part of Hashem's plan to keep His covenant with the Jewish people, and you should never forget that your abilities come from Him.
יט וְהָיָ֗ה אִם־שָׁכֹ֤חַ תִּשְׁכַּח֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ וְהָֽלַכְתָּ֗ אַֽחֲרֵי֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וַֽעֲבַדְתָּ֖ם וְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲוִ֣יתָ לָהֶ֑ם הַֽעִדֹ֤תִי בָכֶם֙ הַיּ֔וֹם כִּ֥י אָבֹ֖ד תֹּֽאבֵדֽוּן׃
This verse says that if you forget Hashem your God and go after other gods, serving them and bowing to them, Hashem testifies against you today that you will surely perish. The teacher explains that there is a clear warning here: if you turn away from Hashem and serve other gods, you are putting yourself in danger of destruction. The teacher emphasizes the seriousness of this warning, that Hashem Himself is testifying against you, and that forgetting Hashem and following other gods leads to being lost and destroyed.
כ כַּגּוֹיִ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר יְהוָה֙ מַֽאֲבִ֣יד מִפְּנֵיכֶ֔ם כֵּ֖ן תֹּֽאבֵד֑וּן עֵ֚קֶב לֹ֣א תִשְׁמְע֔וּן בְּק֖וֹל יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶֽם׃ {פ}
This verse continues the warning, saying that just as the nations that Hashem is destroying before you, so too will you perish if you do not listen to the voice of Hashem your God. The teacher explains that the fate of the nations that Hashem is removing from before the Jewish people is a lesson and a warning. If you do not listen to Hashem, you will meet the same end as those nations. The teacher stresses that obedience to Hashem is what keeps you safe and allows you to remain in the land, and if you fail to listen, you will be destroyed just like the other nations.
דברים פרק ט
א שְׁמַ֣ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אַתָּ֨ה עֹבֵ֤ר הַיּוֹם֙ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן לָבֹא֙ לָרֶ֣שֶׁת גּוֹיִ֔ם גְּדֹלִ֥ים וַֽעֲצֻמִ֖ים מִמֶּ֑ךָּ עָרִ֛ים גְּדֹלֹ֥ת וּבְצֻרֹ֖ת בַּשָּׁמָֽיִם׃
The verse says, "Hear, Yisroel, today you are crossing the Yarden to come to inherit nations greater and mightier than you, cities great and fortified up to the heavens." The teacher explains that Moshe is telling the Jewish people that they are about to cross the Yarden today, and they are going to face nations that are much greater and stronger than them. These are not just regular nations; they are described as being greater and mightier than the Jewish people themselves. The cities they will encounter are not just large, but they are fortified—built up to the heavens, meaning they are extremely well-defended and imposing. Moshe is emphasizing the challenge ahead, that the Jewish people are going to face something that, on their own, they would not be able to overcome. This sets the stage for understanding that their success will not be due to their own strength, but because Hashem is with them.
(א) גדולים ועצומים ממך - אתה עצום, והם עצומים ממך:
On the words "gedolim ve'atzumim mimecha"—greater and mightier than you—Rashi explains: you are mighty, but they are mightier than you. The teacher points out that the Torah is not saying the Jewish people are weak; rather, they are strong, but these nations are even stronger. This highlights the miracle that will occur: even though the Jewish people are strong, they are still outmatched by these nations, and yet, with Hashem's help, they will be able to conquer them. The emphasis is on the contrast between the strength of the Jewish people and the even greater strength of the nations they are about to face.
ב עַֽם־גָּד֥וֹל וָרָ֖ם בְּנֵ֣י עֲנָקִ֑ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַתָּ֤ה יָדַ֨עְתָּ֙ וְאַתָּ֣ה שָׁמַ֔עְתָּ מִ֣י יִתְיַצֵּ֔ב לִפְנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י עֲנָֽק׃
The verse continues: "A great and tall people, the children of Anakim, whom you know and you have heard—who can stand before the children of Anak?" The teacher explains that these people are not only great in number and strength, but they are also very tall—the children of the Anakim, a race of giants. Moshe reminds the people that they already know about these giants and have heard about them; their reputation is well known. The question is asked: who can possibly stand up to the children of Anak? This is meant to impress upon the Jewish people just how formidable these enemies are, and to reinforce the idea that, naturally, no one could stand up to them. It is only with Hashem's help that they will be able to succeed.
ג וְיָֽדַעְתָּ֣ הַיּ֗וֹם כִּי֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ הֽוּא־הָעֹבֵ֤ר לְפָנֶ֨יךָ֙ אֵ֣שׁ אֹֽכְלָ֔ה ה֧וּא יַשְׁמִידֵ֛ם וְה֥וּא יַכְנִיעֵ֖ם לְפָנֶ֑יךָ וְהֽוֹרַשְׁתָּ֤ם וְהַֽאֲבַדְתָּם֙ מַהֵ֔ר כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה לָֽךְ׃
The verse says: "And you will know today that Hashem your God is the One who passes before you, a consuming fire. He will destroy them and He will subdue them before you, and you will drive them out and make them perish quickly, as Hashem has spoken to you." The teacher explains that Moshe is telling the people not to be afraid, because Hashem Himself is going before them like a consuming fire. It is not their own power that will defeat these nations, but Hashem who will destroy and subdue them. The teacher emphasizes that Hashem will make it possible for the Jewish people to drive out these nations and destroy them quickly, just as Hashem promised. The message is that their victory is guaranteed, not because of their own strength, but because Hashem is leading the way and will ensure their success.