LET ME PLEASE CROSS OVER AND SEE THE GOOD LAND OVER THE JORDAN, THIS GOOD MOUNTAIN AND THE LEBANON (Devarim 4:25).
Since Moshe is asking to enter the Land, what is added by requesting to "see" it? Obviously he would then see it!
Moshe is pleading that his seeing would be a benefit to the Jewish people. Seeing the Land from a "good"perspective, resulting from his blessing, will enhance the nation's security. But G-d in His wisdom has His own reasons for allowing the Jews to be vulnerable to exile (Sforno).
Although Moshe was not permitted to enter the Land, we can learn from here the great value in having a positive outlook.
Another possible answer is that Moshe was hoping to see the Land even if refused entry. This part of the request was actually granted (4:27).
LEST YOU LIFT YOUR EYES TOWARDS THE SKY AND SEE THE SUN, MOON AND STARS, ALL THE HEAVENLY HOST, AND BE SWEPT INTO BOWING AND SERVING THOSE THAT G-D YOUR L-RD HAS APPORTIONED TO ALL THE NATIONS (Devarim 4:19).
Surely G-d does not permit non-Jews to worship stars! In what sense did He apportion the luminaries to them?
Rashi says, He has given them for light to the nations.
Ramban: The nations are guided by the natural forces, on earth and above. The Jewish people are guided by G-d directly.
Rav Hirsch: The luminaries do not rule over the nations. Rather, the nations are instructed to use physical forces for human progress. But G-d is the master of these forces, which must be used by man only according to His will. The nations must be careful not to become slaves to nature.
REMEMBER THAT YOU WERE SLAVES IN EGYPT AND G-D YOUR L-RD TOOK YOU OUT FROM THERE WITH A STRONG HAND AND OUTSTRETCHED ARM. THEREFORE G-D YOUR L-RD COMMANDED YOU TO KEEP THE SHABBOS DAY (5:15).
What does slavery and Exodus have to do with Shabbos? We keep Shabbos to testify that G-d created the world and rested on the seventh day!
The Exodus is evidence of a Creator. The wonders He did show the world exists according to His will and He can overpower nature. This is the idea of Shabbos (Ramban).
DO THEM [COMMANDMENTS] IN THE LAND I GIVE THEM TO POSSESS (6:28).
G-d's commandments apply everywhere on earth. Why does Torah stress that the mitzvos must be fulfilled when in the Land of Israel?
Laws of justice are necessary to establish the Jewish settlement in the Land. Also, some commandments apply only in the Land. Furthermore, the essential fulfillment of any mitzva is in the Land (Ramban 4:5).
The Land does not have value apart from the realization of Torah. The Land is for the commandments (Rav Hirsch).
So Rav Hirsch is saying the Land is only for the commandments, and Ramban is saying the commandments are (ultimately) only for the Land.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Devarim
SEE I HAVE GIVEN BEFORE YOU THE LAND. COME AND POSSESS THE LAND G-D SWORE TO YOUR FATHERS, AVRAHAM, YITZCHAK AND YAAKOV, TO GIVE TO THEM AND THEIR DESCENDANTS AFTER THEM...
HOW CAN I ALONE BEAR YOUR STRIFE, BURDENS AND QUARRELS? PROVIDE FOR YOURSELVES WISE AND UNDERSTANDING MEN, KNOWN TO YOUR TRIBES, AND PLACE THEM AS YOUR HEADS (Devarim 1:5, 12-13).
These statements seem unrelated. After recounting that G-d desired to bring the Jewish people into the Land, shortly after the encampment at Sinai, why mention the contentiousness of the Israelites which necessitated more judges?
When G-d promised to bring them to the Land, without a battle, their focus should have been on big things. Instead they allowed themselves to sink into pettiness, resulting in interpersonal conflicts. Narrow vision leads people to miss important things for unimportant things. Nearly forty years later, Moshe is rebuking the nation for this (Sforno).
YOU MURMURED IN YOUR TENTS, SAYING "IN G-D'S HATRED FOR US HE TOOK US OUT OF EGYPT TO PLACE US IN THE AMORITES' HAND, TO DESTROY US...
AND IN THE DESERT YOU SAW HOW G-D YOUR L-RD CARRIED YOU AS A MAN CARRIES HIS SON ON THE WHOLE WAY YOU WENT UNTIL YOU CAME TO THIS PLACE (Devarim 1: 27, 31).
Why did they think G-d hated them?
Because they had worshiped Egyptian gods. The people's perception is refuted by the fact that G-d lovingly bore them through the desert, without vengeance (Sforno).
We see it is a huge mistake for a person to despair because of a sin done in the past. This leads a person to discount the kindnesses G-d shows a person and interpret G-d's actions in the worst possible light ("G-d hates me"). One must not lose faith in G-d's compassion and overlook His acts of love.
HOW CAN I ALONE BEAR YOUR STRIFE, BURDENS AND QUARRELS? PROVIDE FOR YOURSELVES WISE AND UNDERSTANDING MEN, KNOWN TO YOUR TRIBES, AND PLACE THEM AS YOUR HEADS (Devarim 1:5, 12-13).
These statements seem unrelated. After recounting that G-d desired to bring the Jewish people into the Land, shortly after the encampment at Sinai, why mention the contentiousness of the Israelites which necessitated more judges?
When G-d promised to bring them to the Land, without a battle, their focus should have been on big things. Instead they allowed themselves to sink into pettiness, resulting in interpersonal conflicts. Narrow vision leads people to miss important things for unimportant things. Nearly forty years later, Moshe is rebuking the nation for this (Sforno).
YOU MURMURED IN YOUR TENTS, SAYING "IN G-D'S HATRED FOR US HE TOOK US OUT OF EGYPT TO PLACE US IN THE AMORITES' HAND, TO DESTROY US...
AND IN THE DESERT YOU SAW HOW G-D YOUR L-RD CARRIED YOU AS A MAN CARRIES HIS SON ON THE WHOLE WAY YOU WENT UNTIL YOU CAME TO THIS PLACE (Devarim 1: 27, 31).
Why did they think G-d hated them?
Because they had worshiped Egyptian gods. The people's perception is refuted by the fact that G-d lovingly bore them through the desert, without vengeance (Sforno).
We see it is a huge mistake for a person to despair because of a sin done in the past. This leads a person to discount the kindnesses G-d shows a person and interpret G-d's actions in the worst possible light ("G-d hates me"). One must not lose faith in G-d's compassion and overlook His acts of love.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Balak
G-D CAME TO BILAM AT NIGHT, SAYING TO HIM, "IF THE MEN CAME TO SUMMON YOU, ARISE AND GO WITH THEM. BUT ONLY THE WORDS I SPEAK TO YOU SHALL YOU DO." BILAM AROSE IN THE MORNING, SADDLED HIS DONKEY, AND WENT WITH THE OFFICERS OF MOAV. G-D'S ANGER FLARED BECAUSE HE WAS GOING... (Bamidbar 22:20-21).
Why was G-d angry with Bilam if He permitted Bilam to go?
Bilam did not tell the officers of Moav of G-d's condition for going. This was a desecration of G-d's name, for it seemed as if G-d wanted Bilam to curse the Jews. When G-d later did not permit such cursing, it seemed as if G-d is fickle like a human being. Because of Bilam's great desire to go, he did not want to reveal G-d's condition (Ramban).
Why was G-d angry with Bilam if He permitted Bilam to go?
Bilam did not tell the officers of Moav of G-d's condition for going. This was a desecration of G-d's name, for it seemed as if G-d wanted Bilam to curse the Jews. When G-d later did not permit such cursing, it seemed as if G-d is fickle like a human being. Because of Bilam's great desire to go, he did not want to reveal G-d's condition (Ramban).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)