| 1You shall not accept a false report; do not place your hand with a wicked person to be a false witness. |
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אלֹ֥א תִשָּׂ֖א שֵׁ֣מַע שָׁ֑וְא אַל־תָּ֤שֶׁת יָֽדְךָ֙ עִם־רָשָׁ֔ע לִֽהְיֹ֖ת עֵ֥ד חָמָֽס: |
| You shall not accept a false report: Heb. לֹא תִשָׂא, as the Targum [Onkelos renders]: You shall not accept a false report. [This is] a prohibition against accepting slander (Mechilta, Pes. 118a, Mak. 23a), and for a judge [it dictates] that he should not hear the plea of one litigant until his opponent arrives (Mechilta, Sanh. 7b). |
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לֹא תִשָּׂא שֵׁמַע שָׁוְא:
כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, לָא תְקַבֵּל שְׁמַע דִשְׁקָר, אַזְהָרָה לִמְקַבֵּל לָשׁוֹן הָרָע וְלַדַּיָּן שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁמַע דִּבְרֵי בַעַל דִּין עַד שֶׁיָּבֹא בַּעַל דִּין חֲבֵרוֹ (שם):
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| do not place your hand with a wicked person: who files a false claim against his neighbor, for whom he had promised to be a false witness. |
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אַל־תָּשֶׁת יָֽדְךָ עִם־רָשָׁע:
הַטּוֹעֵן אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ תְּבִיעַת שֶׁקֶר, שֶׁתַּבְטִיחֵהוּ לִהְיוֹת לוֹ עֵד חָמָס:
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| 2You shall not follow the majority for evil, and you shall not respond concerning a lawsuit to follow many to pervert [justice]. |
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בלֹא־תִֽהְיֶ֥ה אַֽחֲרֵֽי־רַבִּ֖ים לְרָעֹ֑ת וְלֹא־תַֽעֲנֶ֣ה עַל־רִ֗ב לִנְטֹ֛ת אַֽחֲרֵ֥י רַבִּ֖ים לְהַטֹּֽת: |
| You shall not follow the majority for evil: There are [halachic] interpretations for this verse given by the Sages of Israel, but the language of the verse does not fit its context according to them. From here they [the Sages] expounded that we may not decide unfavorably [for the defendant] by a majority created by one judge. They interpreted the end of the verse: אַחִרֵי רַבִּים לְהַטֹת, “after the majority to decide,” [to mean] that if those [judges] voting [that the defendant is] guilty outnumber those voting [that the defendant is] innocent by two, the verdict is to be decided unfavorably according to their [the majority’s] opinion. The text speaks of capital cases [i.e., in regard to the death penalty] (Sanh. 2a). [Note that in monetary cases, the court requires a majority of only one judge in order to convict someone.] The middle of the verse וְלֹא-תַעִנֶה עַל-רִב, they [the Rabbis] interpreted like וְלֹא-תַעִנֶה עַל-רַב [and you shall not speak up against a master], meaning that we may not differ with the greatest of the court. Therefore, in capital cases they [the judges] commence [the roll call] from the side, meaning that they first ask the smallest [least esteemed] of them to express his opinion (Sanh. 32a). According to the words of our Sages, this is the interpretation of the verse: You shall not follow the majority for evil
to condemn [a person] to death because of one judge, by whom those who declare [the defendant] guilty outnumber those who declare [him] innocent. And you shall not speak up against a master to deviate from his words. Because the “yud” [of רִיב, meaning quarrel] is missing, they interpreted it (רִב) in this manner [i.e., like (רַב)].
After the majority to decide [signifies that] there is, however, a majority after whom you do decide [the verdict]. When? If those [judges] who declare [the defendant] guilty outnumber by two those who declare him innocent. And since it says: “You shall not follow the majority for evil,” I deduce that you shall follow them [the majority] for good. From here they [the Rabbis] deduced that in capital cases, we decide through [a majority of] one for an acquittal and through [a majority of] two for a conviction. Onkelos renders [this verse]: Do not refrain from teaching what appears to you concerning a judgment. The Hebrew wording according to the Targum is interpreted as follows: And you shall not respond concerning a quarrel by turning away. If someone asks you something concerning the law, do not answer by turning aside and distancing yourself from the quarrel, but judge it honestly. I, however, say, [differing from the Rabbis and Onkelos] that it [the verse] should be according to its context. This is its interpretation: |
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לֹא־תִֽהְיֶה אַֽחֲרֵֽי־רַבִּים לְרָעֹת:
יֵשׁ בְּמִקְרָא זֶה מִדְרְשֵׁי חַכְמֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֲבָל אֵין לְשׁוֹן הַמִּקְרָא מְיֻשָּׁב בָּהֶן עַל אָפְנָיו. מִכָּאן דָּרְשׁוּ שֶׁאֵין מַטִּין לְחוֹבָה בְּהַכְרָעַת דַּיָּן אֶחָד, וְסוֹף הַמִּקְרָא דָּרְשׁוּ אחרי רבים להטת, שֶׁאִם יֵשׁ שְׁנַיִם מְחַיְּבִין יוֹתֵר עַל הַמְזַכִּין הַטֵּה הַדִּין עַל פִּיהֶם לְחוֹבָה – וּבְדִינֵי נְפָשׁוֹת הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר – וְאֶמְצַע הַמִּקְרָא דָּרְשׁוּ לא תענה על רב – עַל רַב, שֶׁאֵין חוֹלְקִין עַל מֻפְלָא שֶׁבְּבֵית דִּין, לְפִיכָךְ מַתְחִילִין בְּדִינֵי נְפָשׁוֹת מִן הַצַּד – לַקְּטַנִּים שֶׁבָּהֶם שׁוֹאֲלִין תְּחִלָּה שֶׁיֹּאמְרוּ אֶת דַּעְתָּם – וּלְפִי דִּבְרֵי רַבּוֹתֵינוּ כָּךְ פִּתְרוֹן הַמִּקְרָא, לֹא־תִֽהְיֶה אַֽחֲרֵֽי־רַבִּים לְרָעֹת לְחַיֵּב מִיתָה בִּשְׁבִיל דַּיָּן אֶחָד שֶׁיִּרְבּוּ מְחַיְּבִין עַל הַמְזַכִּין, וְלֹא תַעֲנֶה עַל הָרַב לִנְטוֹת מִדְּבָרָיו – וּלְפִי שֶׁהוּא חָסֵר יוֹ"ד דָּרְשׁוּ בוֹ כֵּן – אחרי רבים להטת, יֵשׁ רַבִּים שֶׁאַתָּה נוֹטֶה אַחֲרֵיהֶם, וְאֵימָתַי? בִּזְמַן שֶׁהֵן שְׁנַיִם הַמַּכְרִיעִין בַּמְחַיְּבִין יוֹתֵר מִן הַמְזַכִּין; וּמִמַּשְׁמָע שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר לא תהיה אחרי רבים לרעת שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי אֲבָל הֱיֵה עִמָּהֶם לְטוֹבָה, מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ דִּינֵי נְפָשׁוֹת מַטִּין עַל פִּי אֶחָד לִזְכוּת וְעַל פִּי שְׁנַיִם לְחוֹבָה. וְאֻנְקְלוֹס תִּרְגֵּם לָא תִתְמְנַע מִלְּאַלָּפָא מָה דְמִתְבְּעֵי לָךְ (דִבְעֵינָךְ) עַל דִּינָא, וּלְשׁוֹן הָעִבְרִי לְפִי הַתַּרְגּוּם כָּךְ הוּא נִדְרָשׁ לֹא־תַֽעֲנֶה עַל־רִב לִנְטֹת
אִם יִשְׁאָלוּךָ דָּבָר לַמִּשְׁפָּט לֹא תַעֲנֶה לִנְטוֹת לְצַד אֶחָד וּלְסַלֵּק עַצְמְךָ מִן הָרִיב, אֶלָּא הֱוֵי דָן אוֹתוֹ לַאֲמִתּוֹ. וַאֲנִי אוֹמֵר לְיַשְּׁבוֹ עַל אָפְנָיו כִּפְשׁוּטוֹ כָךְ פִּתְרוֹנוֹ:
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| You shall not follow the majority for evil: If you see wicked people perverting justice, do not say, “Since they are many, I will follow them.” |
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לֹא־תִֽהְיֶה אַֽחֲרֵֽי־רַבִּים לְרָעֹת:
אִם רָאִיתָ רְשָׁעִים מַטִּין מִשְׁפָּט, לֹא תֹאמַר, הוֹאִיל וְרַבִּים הֵם הִנְנִי נוֹטֶה אַחֲרֵיהֶם:
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| and you shall not respond concerning a lawsuit to follow, etc.: And if the litigant asks you about that [corrupted] judgment, do not answer him concerning the lawsuit with an answer that follows those many to pervert the judgment from its true ruling But tell the judgment as it is, and let the neck iron hang on the neck of the many. [I.e., let the many bear the punishment for their perversion of justice.] |
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וְלֹא־תַֽעֲנֶה עַל־רִב לִנְטֹת וגו':
וְאִם יִשְׁאָלְךָ הַנִּדּוֹן עַל אוֹתוֹ הַמִּשְׁפָּט, אַל תַּעֲנֶנּוּ עַל הָרִיב דָּבָר הַנּוֹטֶה אַחֲרֵי אוֹתָן רַבִּים לְהַטּוֹת אֶת הַמִּשְׁפָּט מֵאֲמִתּוֹ, אֶלָּא אֱמֹר אֶת הַמִּשְׁפָּט כַּאֲשֶׁר הוּא וְקוֹלָר יְהֵא תָלוּי בְּצַוַּאר הָרַבִּים (סנהדרין ז'):
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| 3Neither shall you glorify a poor man in his lawsuit. |
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גוְדָ֕ל לֹ֥א תֶהְדַּ֖ר בְּרִיבֽוֹ: |
| Neither shall you glorify: You shall not bestow honor upon him [the destitute man] by deciding in his favor in his lawsuit, saying, “He is a poor man; I will decide in his favor and honor him.” |
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לֹא תֶהְדַּר:
לֹא תַחֲלֹק לוֹ כָבוֹד לְזַכּוֹתוֹ בַדִּין וְלומַר דַּל הוּא אֲזַכֶּנּוּ וַאֲכַבְּדֶנּוּ:
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| 4If you come upon your enemy's bull or his stray donkey, you shall surely return it to him. |
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דכִּ֣י תִפְגַּ֞ע שׁ֧וֹר אֹֽיִבְךָ֛ א֥וֹ חֲמֹר֖וֹ תֹּעֶ֑ה הָשֵׁ֥ב תְּשִׁיבֶ֖נּוּ לֽוֹ: |
| 5If you see your enemy's donkey lying under its burden would you refrain from helping him? You shall surely help along with him. |
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הכִּֽי־תִרְאֶ֞ה חֲמ֣וֹר שׂנַֽאֲךָ֗ רֹבֵץ֙ תַּ֣חַת מַשָּׂא֔וֹ וְחָֽדַלְתָּ֖ מֵֽעֲזֹ֣ב ל֑וֹ עָזֹ֥ב תַּֽעֲזֹ֖ב עִמּֽוֹ: |
| If you see your enemy’s donkey: Heb. כִּי תִרְאֶה. [The word] כִּי serves as an expression of “perhaps,” which is [one] of the four meanings for which כִּי is used (R.H. 3a). This is its meaning: Will you perhaps see his donkey lying under its burden…? - |
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כִּֽי־תִרְאֶה חֲמוֹר שׂנַֽאֲךָ וגו':
הֲרֵי כִי מְשַׁמֵּשׁ לְשׁוֹן דִּלְמָא, שֶׁהוּא מֵאַרְבַּע לְשׁוֹנוֹת שֶׁל שִׁמּוּשֵׁי כִי, וְכֹה פִּתְרוֹנוֹ: שֶׁמָּא תִרְאֶה חֲמוֹרוֹ רֹבֵץ תַּחַת מַשָּׂאוֹ:
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| would you refrain from helping him?: This is the interrogative. |
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וְחָדַלְתָּ מֵעֲזֹב לוֹ: בִּתְמִיהָ:
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| You shall surely help along with him: Heb. עָזֹב תַּעִזֹב עִמוֹ. This עִזִיבָה is an expression of help, and similarly, “restrained or assisted (וְעָזוּב) ” (Deut. 32:36, I Kings 14:10), and similarly, “and they strengthened (וַיַּעַזְבוּ) Jerusalem until the… wall” (Neh. 3:8), [which means] they filled it with earth to strengthen and reinforce the strength of the wall. Similarly, [following Rashi’s rendering that the word כִּי means “perhaps,”] “Will you perhaps כִּי say in your heart, ‘These nations are more numerous than I’” (Deut. 7:17) ? Will you perhaps say so? This is the interrogative. [The verse thus tells you:] “Do not fear them.” Midrashically, our Rabbis interpreted it [the verse] as follows: If you see…, you may refrain; [meaning that] sometimes you may refrain [from helping someone], and sometimes you must help. How so [can this be judged]? An elder who [finds it] beneath his dignity [to unload a donkey]- “You may refrain” (Mechilta d’Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai, Midrash Hagadol). Or if the animal belongs to a gentile and the burden belongs to an Israelite, you may refrain. -[From Mechilta, B.M. 32b] |
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עָזֹב תַּֽעֲזֹב עִמּֽוֹ:
עֲזִיבָה זוֹ לְשׁוֹן עֶזְרָה, וְכֵן עָצוּר וְעָזוּב (דברים ל"ב), וְכֵן וַיַּעַזְבוּ יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עַד הַחוֹמָה (נחמיה ג') – מִלְּאוּהָ עָפָר לַעֲזֹר וּלְסַיֵּעַ אֶת חֹזֶק הַחוֹמָה. כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ כִּי תֹאמַר בִּלְבָבְךָ רַבִּים הַגּוֹיִם הָאֵלֶּה מִמֶּנִּי וְגוֹ' (דברים ז'), שֶׁמָּא תֹּאמַר כֵּן, בִּתְמִיהָ? לֹא תִירָא מֵהֶם. וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ כָּךְ דָּרְשׁוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ: כִּי תִרְאֶה וְחָדַלְתָּ, פְּעָמִים שֶׁאַתָּה חוֹדֵל, וּפְעָמִים שֶׁאַתָּה עוֹזֵר, הָא כֵיצַד? זָקֵן וְאֵינוֹ לְפִי כְּבוֹדוֹ וְחָדַלְתָּ, אוֹ בֶהֱמַת גוֹי וּמַשָּׂאוֹ שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְחָדַלְתָּ (מכילתא):
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| You shall surely help along with him: to unload the burden (Mechilta, B.M. 32a). [Onkelos renders לוֹ מֵעִזֹב] מִלְמִשְׁקַל לֵה, from taking the burden off it. |
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עָזֹב תַּֽעֲזֹב עִמּֽוֹ:
לְפָרֵק הַמַּשָּׂא; מִלְּמִשְׁקַל לֵיהּ – מִלִּטֹּל מַשָּׂאוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ:
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| 6You shall not pervert the judgment of your poor man in his lawsuit. |
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ולֹ֥א תַטֶּ֛ה מִשְׁפַּ֥ט אֶבְיֹֽנְךָ֖ בְּרִיבֽוֹ: |
| your poor man: Heb. אֶבְיֹנְךָ, an expression of desiring אוֹבֶה, [meaning] one who is impoverished and desires all good things. -[From Mechilta] |
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אֶבְיֹֽנְךָ:
לְשׁוֹן אוֹבֶה, שֶׁהוּא מְדֻלְדָּל וְתָאֵב לְכָל טוֹבָה:
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| 7Distance yourself from a false matter; and do not kill a truly innocent person or one who has been declared innocent, for I will not vindicate a guilty person. |
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זמִדְּבַר־שֶׁ֖קֶר תִּרְחָ֑ק וְנָקִ֤י וְצַדִּיק֙ אַל־תַּֽהֲרֹ֔ג כִּ֥י לֹֽא־אַצְדִּ֖יק רָשָֽׁע: |
| and do not kill a truly innocent person or one who has been declared innocent: How do we know that if one emerges from the court guilty [and is given the death sentence], and one [of the judges] says, “I have a way to prove his innocence,” we must bring him back [to the court and retry him]? Because the Torah states: “and do not kill a truly innocent person.” Although he was not declared innocent-for he was not vindicated by the court-he is, nevertheless, free from the death penalty, because you have reason to acquit him. And how do we know that if one emerges from the court innocent, and one [of the judges] says, “I have a way to prove his guilt,” we do not bring him back to the court [to retry him]? Because the Torah states: “and do not kill… one who is declared innocent.” And this one is innocent because he was vindicated by the court. -[From Mechilta, Sanh. 33b] |
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וְנָקִי וְצַדִּיק אַל־תַּֽהֲרֹג:
מִנַּיִן לַיּוֹצֵא מִבֵּית דִּין חַיָּב וְאָמַר אֶחָד יֵשׁ לִי לְלַמֵּד עָלָיו זְכוּת שֶׁמַּחֲזִירִין אוֹתוֹ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר וְנָקִי אַל תַּהֲרֹג, וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינוֹ צַדִּיק, שֶׁלֹּא נִצְטַדֵּק בְּבֵית דִּין, מִכָּל מָקוֹם נָקִי הוּא מִדִּין מִיתָה שֶׁהֲרֵי יֵשׁ לְךָ לְזַכּוֹתוֹ. וּמִנַּיִן לַיּוֹצֵא מִבֵּית דִּין זַכַּאי וְאָמַר אֶחָד יֵשׁ לִי לְלַמֵּד עָלָיו חוֹבָה שֶׁאֵין מַחֲזִירִין אוֹתוֹ לְבֵית דִּין? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר וְצַדִּיק אַל תַּהֲרֹג, וְזֶה צַדִּיק הוּא שֶׁנִּצְטַדֵּק בְּבֵית דִּין (סנהדרין ל"ג):
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| for I will not vindicate a guilty person: It is not incumbent upon you to return him [to court] for I will not vindicate him in My law. If he emerges innocent from your hand [i.e., from the courts], I have many agents to put him to death-with the death penalty he deserves. -[From Mechilta, Sanh. 33b] |
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כִּי לֹֽא־אַצְדִּיק רָשָֽׁע:
אֵין עָלֶיךָ לְהַחֲזִירוֹ, כִּי אֲנִי לֹא אַצְדִּיקֶנּוּ בְדִינִי, אִם יָצָא מִיָּדְךָ זַכַּאי יֵשׁ לִי שְׁלוּחִים הַרְבֵּה לַהֲמִיתוֹ בַמִּיתָה שֶׁנִּתְחַיֵּב בָּהּ (מכילתא):
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| 8You shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe will blind the clear sighted and corrupt words that are right. |
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חוְשֹׁ֖חַד לֹ֣א תִקָּ֑ח כִּ֤י הַשֹּׁ֨חַד֙ יְעַוֵּ֣ר פִּקְחִ֔ים וִֽיסַלֵּ֖ף דִּבְרֵ֥י צַדִּיקִֽים: |
| You shall not accept a bribe: Even [in order] to judge fairly, and surely [not] to pervert the judgment, for [in fact, taking a bribe] in order to pervert the judgment is already mentioned: “You shall not pervert judgment” (Deut. 16:19). -[From Keth. 105a] |
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וְשֹׁחַד לֹא תִקָּח:
אֲפִלּוּ לִשְׁפֹּט אֱמֶת, וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן כְּדֵי לְהַטּוֹת אֶת הַדִּין, שֶׁהֲרֵי לְהַטּוֹת אֶת הַדִּין נֶאֱמַר כְּבָר (דברים ט"ז) לֹא תַטֶּה מִשְׁפָּט (כתובות ק"ה):
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| for a bribe will blind the clear-sighted: Even if one is wise in Torah, and he accepts a bribe, he will eventually become deranged, forget his studies, and lose his eyesight. -[From Keth. 105a, Mechilta] |
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יְעַוֵּר פִּקְחִים:
אֲפִלּוּ חָכָם בַּתּוֹרָה וְנוֹטֵל שֹׁחַד סוֹף שֶׁתִּטָּרֵף דַּעְתּוֹ עָלָיו וְיִשְׁתַּכַּח תַּלְמוּדוֹ וְיִכְהֶה מְאוֹר עֵינָיו (שם):
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| and corrupt: Heb. וִיסַלֵף, as the Targum [Onkelos and Jonathan] renders: וּמְקַלְקֵל, [meaning] and spoils. |
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וִֽיסַלֵּף:
כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ וּמְקַלְקֵל:
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| words that are right: Heb. דִבְרֵי צַדִּיקִים, words that are just, true judgments, and so is its Aramaic translation: פִּתְגָמִין תְּרִיצִין, [meaning words that are] straight. |
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דִּבְרֵי צַדִּיקִֽים:
דְּבָרִים הַמְצֻדָּקִים, מִשְׁפְּטֵי אֱמֶת, וְכֵן תַּרְגּוּמוֹ פִּתְגָמִין תְּרִיצִין – יְשָׁרִים:
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| 9And you shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of the stranger, since you were strangers in the land of Egypt. |
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טוְגֵ֖ר לֹ֣א תִלְחָ֑ץ וְאַתֶּ֗ם יְדַעְתֶּם֙ אֶת־נֶ֣פֶשׁ הַגֵּ֔ר כִּֽי־גֵרִ֥ים הֱיִיתֶ֖ם בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם: |
| And you shall not oppress a stranger -: In many places the Torah warns about the stranger [convert] because he has a strong temptation [to return to his former bad ways]. -[From B.M. 59b] |
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וְגֵר לֹא תִלְחָץ:
בְּהַרְבֵּה מְקוֹמוֹת הִזְהִירָה תּוֹרָה עַל הַגֵּר מִפְּנֵי שֶׁסּוּרוֹ רָע (בבא מציעא נ"ט):
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| the feelings of the stranger: How hard it is for him when people oppress him. |
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אֶת־נֶפֶשׁ הַגֵּר:
כַּמָּה קָשֶׁה לוֹ כְּשֶׁלּוֹחֲצִים אוֹתוֹ:
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| 10Six years you may sow your land and gather in its produce. |
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יוְשֵׁ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים תִּזְרַ֣ע אֶת־אַרְצֶ֑ךָ וְאָֽסַפְתָּ֖ אֶת־תְּבֽוּאָתָֽהּ: |
| and gather in its produce: Heb. וְאָסַפְתָּ, an expression of bringing into the house, like “And you shall bring it (וַאִסַפְתּוֹ) into your house” (Deut. 22:2). |
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וְאָֽסַפְתָּ אֶת־תְּבֽוּאָתָֽהּ:
לְשׁוֹן הַכְנָסָה לַבַּיִת, כְּמוֹ וַאֲסַפְתּוֹ אֶל תּוֹךְ בֵּיתֶךָ (דברים כ"ב):
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| 11But in the seventh [year] you shall release it and abandon it; the poor of your people shall eat [it], and what they leave over, the beasts of the field shall eat. So shall you do to your vineyard [and] to your olive tree[s]. |
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יאוְהַשְּׁבִיעִ֞ת תִּשְׁמְטֶ֣נָּה וּנְטַשְׁתָּ֗הּ וְאָֽכְלוּ֙ אֶבְיֹנֵ֣י עַמֶּ֔ךָ וְיִתְרָ֕ם תֹּאכַ֖ל חַיַּ֣ת הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה כֵּֽן־תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֥ה לְכַרְמְךָ֖ לְזֵיתֶֽךָ: |
| you shall release it: from work. |
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תִּשְׁמְטֶנָּה:
מֵעֲבוֹדָה:
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| and abandon it: from eating it after the time of the removal (see Mechilta). Another interpretation: from real work, such as plowing and sowing, and abandon it from fertilizing and hoeing. |
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וּנְטַשְׁתָּהּ:
מֵאֲכִילָה אַחַר זְמַן הַבִּעוּר. דָּבָר אַחֵר, תִּשְׁמְטֶנָּה – מֵעֲבוֹדָה גְמוּרָה, כְּגוֹן חֲרִישָׁה וּזְרִיעָה, וּנְטַשְׁתָּהּ – מִלְּזַבֵּל וּמִלְּקַשְׁקֵשׁ (סוכה מ"ד):
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| and what they leave over, the beasts of the field shall eat: [This is written in order] to liken the food of the poor to the food of the beast. Just as the beast eats without tithing, so do the poor eat without tithing. From here [we derive] that there are no tithes in the seventh year. -[From Mechilta] |
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וְיִתְרָם תֹּאכַל חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה:
לְהַקִּישׁ מַאֲכַל אֶבְיוֹן לְמַאֲכַל חַיָּה, מַה חַיָּה אוֹכֶלֶת בְּלֹא מַעֲשֵׂר, אַף אֶבְיוֹנִים אוֹכְלִים בְלֹא מַעֲשֵׂר; מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ אֵין מַעֲשֵׂר בַּשְּׁבִיעִית (מכילתא):
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| So shall you do to your vineyard: And the beginning of the verse is speaking of a grain field, as is stated above [verse 10]: “You may sow your land.” |
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כֵּֽן־תַּֽעֲשֶׂה לְכַרְמְךָ:
וּתְחִלַּת הַמִּקְרָא מְדַבֵּר בִּשְׂדֵה הַלָּבָן, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמוּר לְמַעְלָה הֵימֶנּוּ תִּזְרַע אֶת אַרְצֶךָ:
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| 12Six days you may do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest, in order that your ox and your donkey shall rest, and your maidservant's son and the stranger shall be refreshed. |
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יבשֵׁ֤שֶׁת יָמִים֙ תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֣ה מַֽעֲשֶׂ֔יךָ וּבַיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י תִּשְׁבֹּ֑ת לְמַ֣עַן יָנ֗וּחַ שֽׁוֹרְךָ֙ וַֽחֲמֹרֶ֔ךָ וְיִנָּפֵ֥שׁ בֶּן־אֲמָֽתְךָ֖ וְהַגֵּֽר: |
| but on the seventh day you shall rest: Even in the seventh year, the weekly Sabbath, commemorating the Creation, shall not be uprooted, [so] that you shall not say that since the entire year is referred to as “Sabbath,” the weekly Sabbath need not be observed in it [the Sabbatical Year]. -[From Mechilta] |
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וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי תִּשְׁבֹּת:
אַף בַּשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִית לֹא תֵעָקֵר שַׁבַּת בְּרֵאשִׁית מִמְּקוֹמָהּ, שֶׁלֹּא תֹאמַר, הוֹאִיל וְכָל הַשָּׁנָה קְרוּיָה שַׁבָּת לֹא תִנְהַג בָּהּ שַׁבַּת בְּרֵאשִׁית (שם):
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| in order that your ox and your donkey shall rest: Give it rest, to permit it to tear up and eat grass from the earth. Or perhaps it [this verse] means that one must confine it indoors? [But] you must say that this [confining them indoors] would not be rest but discomfort. -[From Mechilta] |
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לְמַעַן יָנוּחַ שֽׁוֹרְךָ וַֽחֲמֹרֶךָ:
תֵּן לוֹ נִיחַ, לְהַתִּיר שֶׁיְּהֵא תוֹלֵשׁ וְאוֹכֵל עֲשָׂבִים מִן הַקַּרְקַע; אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא יַחְבְּשֶׁנּוּ בְּתוֹךְ הַבַּיִת? אָמַרְתָּ אֵין זֶה נִיחַ אֶלָּא צַעַר:
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| your maidservant’s son: The text is speaking of an uncircumcised slave. [From Mechilta] |
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בֶּן־אֲמָֽתְךָ:
בְּעֶבֶד עָרֵל הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר:
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| and the stranger: This refers to a resident alien. -[From Mechilta] |
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וְהַגֵּֽר:
גֵּר תּוֹשָׁב:
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| 13Concerning all that I have said to you you shall beware, and the name of the gods of others you shall not mention; it shall not be heard through your mouth. |
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יגוּבְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־אָמַ֥רְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶ֖ם תִּשָּׁמֵ֑רוּ וְשֵׁ֨ם אֱלֹהִ֤ים אֲחֵרִים֙ לֹ֣א תַזְכִּ֔ירוּ לֹ֥א יִשָּׁמַ֖ע עַל־פִּֽיךָ: |
| Concerning all that I have said to you you shall beware: Heb. תִּשָׁמֵרוּ. [This verse comes] to give every positive commandment the stringency of a prohibition [i.e., negative commandment], for every exhortation to beware (שְׁמִירָה) in the Torah is a prohibition, [and it appears] instead of a negative expression. |
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וּבְכֹל אֲשֶׁר־אָמַרְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶם תִּשָּׁמֵרוּ:
לַעֲשׂוֹת כָּל מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה בְּאַזְהָרָה, שֶׁכָּל שְׁמִירָה שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה אַזְהָרָה הִיא בִּמְקוֹם לָאו (מנחות ל"ו):
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| you shall not mention: That one should not say to another, “Wait for me beside such-and-such an idol,” or “Meet me on the day [dedicated to] such-and-such an idol” (Mechilta, Sanh. 63b). Another explanation: Concerning all that I have said to you, you shall beware, and the name of the gods of strangers you shall not mention -[this comes] to teach you that idolatry is tantamount to all the commandments [combined], and whoever is careful with it is considered as if he has observed them all. -[see Kid. 40a, Ned. 25a, Shev. 29a, Chul. 5a, Rashi on Num. 15:23, Deut. 12:28, Er. 69b] |
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לֹא תַזְכִּירוּ:
שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמַר לוֹ שְׁמֹר לִי בְּצַד עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה פְּלוֹנִית, אוֹ תַעֲמֹד עִמִּי בְּיוֹם עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה פְּלוֹנִית; דָּבָר אַחֵר — וּבְכֹל אֲשֶׁר אָמַרְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶם תִּשָּׁמֵרוּ וְשֵׁם אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים לֹא תַזְכִּירוּ, לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁשְּׁקוּלָה עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה כְּנֶגֶד כָּל הַמִּצְווֹת כֻּלָּן (הוריות ח'), וְהַנִּזְהָר בָּהּ כְּשׁוֹמֵר אֶת כֻּלָּן:
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| it shall not be heard: from the gentile. |
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לֹא יִשָּׁמַע:
מִן הַגוֹי:
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| through your mouth: [Meaning] that you shall not enter a partnership with a gentile, so that he would swear to you by his pagan deity. The result [if he does swear] will be that you will indirectly cause it [the deity] to be mentioned through yourself [i.e., through a claim you made against him]. -[From Sanh. 63b] I.e., the occasion may arise that the gentile partner is required to swear something to his Jewish partner, and he will swear by his deity. [From Sanh. 63b] |
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עַל־פִּיךָ:
שֶׁלֹּא תַעֲשֶׂה שֻׁתָּפוּת עִם גוֹי וְיִשָּׁבַע לְךָ בְּעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה שֶׁלּוֹ נִמְצֵאתָ שֶׁאַתָּה גּוֹרֵם שֶׁיִּזָּכֵר עַל יָדְךָ (סנהדרין ס"ז):
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| 14Three times you shall slaughter sacrifices to Me during the year. |
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ידשָׁל֣שׁ רְגָלִ֔ים תָּחֹ֥ג לִ֖י בַּשָּׁנָֽה: |
| times: Heb. רְגָלִים, [synonymous with] פְּעָמִים, times, and similarly, “that you have struck me already three times (רְגָלִים) ” (Num. 22:28). |
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רְגָלִים:
פְּעָמִים; וְכֵן כִּי הִכִּיתַנִי זֶה שָׁלֹשׁ רְגָלִים (במדבר כ"ב):
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| 15You shall observe the festival of unleavened bread; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread as I have commanded you, at the appointed time of the month of springtime, for then you left Egypt, and they shall not appear before Me empty handed. |
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טואֶת־חַ֣ג הַמַּצּוֹת֘ תִּשְׁמֹר֒ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִים֩ תֹּאכַ֨ל מַצּ֜וֹת כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוִּיתִ֗ךָ לְמוֹעֵד֙ חֹ֣דֶשׁ הָֽאָבִ֔יב כִּי־ב֖וֹ יָצָ֣אתָ מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וְלֹא־יֵֽרָא֥וּ פָנַ֖י רֵיקָֽם: |
| the month of springtime: Heb. חֹדֶשׁ הָאָבִיב, [the month] in which the grain fills out in its greenness (בְּאִבֶּיהָ). [Alternatively,] אָבִיב is an expression [related to the word for] a father אָב, the firstborn and the earliest [month] to ripen fruits. |
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חֹדֶשׁ הָֽאָבִיב:
שֶׁהַתְּבוּאָה מִתְמַלֵּאת בּוֹ בְּאִבֶּיהָ. אָבִיב לְשׁוֹן אָב, בְּכוֹר וְרִאשׁוֹן לְבַשֵּׁל פֵּרוֹת:
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| and they shall not appear before Me empty-handed: When you come to appear before Me on the festivals, bring Me burnt offerings. -[From Mechilta, Chag. 7a] |
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וְלֹא־יֵֽרָאוּ פָנַי רֵיקָֽם:
כְּשֶׁתָּבֹאוּ לִרְאוֹת פָּנַי בָּרְגָלִים, הָבִיאוּ לִי עוֹלוֹת (מכילתא):
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| 16And the festival of the harvest, the first fruits of your labors, which you will sow in the field, and the festival of the ingathering at the departure of the year, when you gather in [the products of] your labors from the field. |
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טזוְחַ֤ג הַקָּצִיר֙ בִּכּוּרֵ֣י מַֽעֲשֶׂ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּזְרַ֖ע בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה וְחַ֤ג הָֽאָסִף֙ בְּצֵ֣את הַשָּׁנָ֔ה בְּאָסְפְּךָ֥ אֶת־מַֽעֲשֶׂ֖יךָ מִן־הַשָּׂדֶֽה: |
| And the festival of the harvest: That is the feast of Shavuoth. |
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וְחַג הַקָּצִיר:
הוּא חַג שָׁבוּעוֹת:
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| the first fruits of your labors: which is the time of the bringing of the first fruits for the two breads, which are brought on Shavuoth [and serve to] permit the new grain [to be used] for meal offerings and [also] to bring the first fruits to the Sanctuary, as it is said: “And on the day of the first fruits, etc.” (Num. 28:26). |
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בִּכּוּרֵי מַֽעֲשֶׂיךָ:
שֶׁהוּא זְמַן הֲבָאַת בִּכּוּרִים, שֶׁשְּׁתֵי הַלֶּחֶם הַבָּאִין בַּעֲצֶרֶת הָיוּ מַתִּירִין הֶחָדָשׁ לַמְּנָחוֹת וּלְהָבִיא בִכּוּרִים לַמִּקְדָּשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וּבְיוֹם הַבִּכּוּרִים וְגוֹ' (במדבר כ"ח):
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| and the festival of the ingathering: That is the festival of Succoth. |
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וְחַג הָֽאָסִף:
הוּא חַג הַסֻּכּוֹת:
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| when you gather in [the products of] your labors: For during the entire summer, the grain dries out in the fields, and on the festival [of Succoth], they gather it into the house because of the rains [that are about to fall]. |
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בְּאָסְפְּךָ אֶת־מַֽעֲשֶׂיךָ:
שֶׁכָּל יְמוֹת הַחַמָּה הַתְּבוּאָה מִתְיַבֶּשֶׁת בַּשָּׂדוֹת, וּבֶחָג אוֹסְפִים אוֹתָהּ אֶל הַבַּיִת מִפְּנֵי הַגְּשָׁמִים:
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| 17Three times during the year, all your males shall appear before the Master, the Lord. |
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יזשָׁל֥שׁ פְּעָמִ֖ים בַּשָּׁנָ֑ה יֵֽרָאֶה֙ כָּל־זְכ֣וּרְךָ֔ אֶל־פְּנֵ֖י הָֽאָדֹ֥ן | יְהֹוָֽה: |
| Three times, etc.: Since the context deals with the seventh year, it was necessary to say that the three pilgrimage festivals would not be uprooted from their place. -[From Mechilta] |
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שָׁלשׁ פְּעָמִים וגו':
לְפִי שֶׁהָעִנְיָן מְדַבֵּר בַּשְּׁבִיעִית, הֻצְרַךְ לוֹמַר שֶׁלֹּא יִסְתָּרְסוּ רְגָלִים מִמְּקוֹמָן:
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| all your males: Heb. כָּל-זְכוּרְךָ. All the males among you. |
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כָּל־זְכוּרְךָ:
הַזְּכָרִים שֶׁבְּךָ:
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| 18You shall not sacrifice the blood of My sacrifice with leaven, and the fat of My festive sacrifice shall not stay overnight until morning. |
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יחלֹֽא־תִזְבַּ֥ח עַל־חָמֵ֖ץ דַּם־זִבְחִ֑י וְלֹֽא־יָלִ֥ין חֵֽלֶב־חַגִּ֖י עַד־בֹּֽקֶר: |
| You shall not sacrifice the blood of My sacrifice with leaven: You shall not slaughter the Passover sacrifice on the fourteenth of Nissan until you have done away with the leaven. -[From Mechilta, Pes. 63a] |
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לֹֽא־תִזְבַּח עַל־חָמֵץ וגו':
לֹא תִשְׁחַט אֶת הַפֶּסַח בְּי"ד בְּנִיסָן עַד שֶׁתְּבַעֵר הֶחָמֵץ (מכילתא):
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| and the fat of My festive sacrifice shall not stay overnight: off the altar. -[From Mechilta] |
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וְלֹֽא־יָלִין חֵֽלֶב־חַגִּי:
חוּץ לַמִּזְבֵּחַ:
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| until morning: One may think that even on the altar pyre it would become disqualified. Therefore, the Torah states: “on its pyre on the altar all night” (Lev. 6:2). |
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עַד־בֹּֽקֶר:
יָכוֹל אַף עַל הַמַּעֲרָכָה יִפָּסֵל בְּלִינָה, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר עַל מוֹקְדָה עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ כָּל הַלַּיְלָה (ויקרא ו'):
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| shall not stay overnight: Only at dawn is it considered [as if the fat of the sacrifice had been] staying overnight, as it is said: “until morning,” but all night he may pick it [the fat] up from the floor [and return it] onto the altar. -[From Zev. 87a] |
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וְלֹֽא־יָלִין:
אֵין לִינָה אֶלָּא בְעַמּוּד הַשַּׁחַר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר עַד בֹּקֶר, אֲבָל כָּל הַלַּיְלָה יָכוֹל לְהַעֲלוֹתוֹ מִן הָרִצְפָּה לַמִּזְבֵּחַ (מגילה כ'):
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| 19The choicest of the first fruits of your soil you shall bring to the house of the Lord, your God. You shall not cook a kid in its mother's milk. |
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יטרֵאשִׁ֗ית בִּכּוּרֵי֙ אַדְמָ֣תְךָ֔ תָּבִ֕יא בֵּ֖ית יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ לֹֽא־תְבַשֵּׁ֥ל גְּדִ֖י בַּֽחֲלֵ֥ב אִמּֽוֹ: |
| The choicest of the first fruits of your soil: Even in the seventh year, the offering of bikkurim is obligatory. Therefore, it is stated here, too: “the first fruits of your soil.” How are the bikkurim chosen? A person enters his field and sees a fig that has ripened. He winds a blade of grass around it as a sign and sanctifies it. Bikkurim are [brought as an offering] only from the seven species enumerated in Scripture: “A land of wheat and barley, and vines and figs and pomegranates, a land of oil-yielding olives and honey” (Deut. 8:8). -[From Bik. 3:1] |
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רֵאשִׁית בִּכּוּרֵי אַדְמָתְךָ:
אַף הַשְּׁבִיעִית חַיֶּבֶת בְּבִכּוּרִים, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר אַף כָּאן בִּכּוּרֵי אַדְמָתְךָ. כֵּיצַד? אָדָם נִכְנָס לְתוֹךְ שָׂדֵהוּ, רוֹאֶה תְּאֵנָה שֶׁבִּכְּרָה, כּוֹרֵךְ עָלֶיהָ גְּמִי לְסִימָן וּמַקְדִּישָׁהּ, וְאֵין בִּכּוּרִים אֶלָּא בְּשִׁבְעַת הַמִּינִין הָאֲמוּרִין בַּמִּקְרָא – אֶרֶץ חִטָּה וּשְׂעֹרָה וְגוֹ' (בכורים פ"א):
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| You shall not cook a kid: Heb. גְּדִי. A calf and a lamb are also included in [the term] גְּדִי, for גְּדִי is only an expression of a tender young animal. [This you know] from what you find in many places in the Torah where גְּדִי is written, and it was necessary to write after it עִזִים [to qualify it as a kid], for example, “I will send you a kid גְּדִי עִזִים ” (Gen. 38:17); “the kid גְּדִי הָעִזִים ” (Gen. 38:20); “two kids עִזִים גְּדָיֵי ” (Gen. 27:9); to teach you that wherever גְּדִי is mentioned unqualified, it also means a calf and a lamb. This [prohibition] is written in three places in the Torah, one for the prohibition of eating [meat with milk], one for the prohibition of deriving any benefit [from meat with milk], and one for the prohibition of cooking [meat with milk]. -[From Chul. 113b, 115b] |
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לֹֽא־תְבַשֵּׁל גְּדִי:
אַף עֵגֶל וְכֶבֶשׂ בִּכְלַל גְּדִי, שֶׁאֵין גְּדִי אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן וָלָד רַךְ, מִמַּה שֶּׁאַתָּה מוֹצֵא בְּכַמָּה מְקוֹמוֹת בַּתּוֹרָה שֶׁכָּתוּב גְּדִי וְהֻצְרַךְ לְפָרֵשׁ אַחֲרָיו עִזִּים, כְּגוֹן אָנֹכִי אֲשַׁלַּח גְּדִי עִזִּים (בראשית ל"ח), אֶת גְּדִי הָעִזִּים (שם), שְׁנֵי גְּדָיֵי עִזִּים (שם כ"ז), לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁכָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר גְּדִי סְתָם אַף עֵגֶל וְכֶבֶשׂ בְּמַשְׁמָע. וּבְג' מְקוֹמוֹת נִכְתַּב בַּתּוֹרָה, אֶחָד לְאִסּוּר אֲכִילָה, וְאֶחָד לְאִסּוּר הֲנָאָה, וְאֶחָד לְאִסּוּר בִּשּׁוּל (מכילתא, חולין קט"ו):
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| 20Behold, I am sending an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. |
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כהִנֵּ֨ה אָֽנֹכִ֜י שֹׁלֵ֤חַ מַלְאָךְ֙ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ לִשְׁמָרְךָ֖ בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ וְלַֽהֲבִ֣יאֲךָ֔ אֶל־הַמָּק֖וֹם אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֲכִנֹֽתִי: |
| Behold, I am sending an angel before you: Here they were informed that they were destined to sin, and the Shechinah would say to them, “for I will not ascend in your midst” (Exod. 33: 3). -[From Exod. Rabbah 32:3] |
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הִנֵּה אָֽנֹכִי שֹׁלֵחַ מַלְאָךְ:
כָּאן נִתְבַּשְּׂרוּ שֶׁעֲתִידִין לַחֲטֹא, וּשְׁכִינָה אוֹמֶרֶת לָהֶם כִּי לֹא אֶעֱלֶה בְּקִרְבְּךָ (שמות ל"ג):
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| that I have prepared: to give to you. This is its simple meaning. Its midrashic interpretation is: "That I have prepared": My place is already recognizable opposite it. This is one of the verses that state that the heavenly Temple is directly opposite the earthly Temple. [From Midrash Tanchuma 18] |
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אֲשֶׁר הֲכִנֹֽתִי:
אֲשֶׁר זִמַּנְתִּי לָתֵת לָכֶם, זֶהוּ פְּשׁוּטוֹ; וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ אל המקום אשר הכנתי כְּבָר מְקוֹמִי כְּנֶגְדּוֹ, וְזֶה אֶחָד מִן הַמִּקְרָאוֹת שֶׁאוֹמְרִים שֶׁבֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ שֶׁל מַעְלָה מְכֻוָּן כְּנֶגֶד שֶׁל מַטָּה (תנחומא):
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| 21Beware of him and obey him; do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your transgression, for My Name is within him. |
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כאהִשָּׁ֧מֶר מִפָּנָ֛יו וּשְׁמַ֥ע בְּקֹל֖וֹ אַל־תַּמֵּ֣ר בּ֑וֹ כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יִשָּׂא֙ לְפִשְׁעֲכֶ֔ם כִּ֥י שְׁמִ֖י בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ: |
| do not rebel against him: Heb. תַּמֵּר, an expression of rebellion הַמְרָאָה, like “Any man who rebels (יַמְרֶה) against your orders” (Josh. 1:18). |
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אַל־תַּמֵּר בּוֹ:
לְשׁוֹן הַמְרָאָה, כְּמוֹ אֲשֶׁר יַמְרֶה אֶת פִּיךָ (יהושע א'):
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| for he will not forgive your transgression: He is not accustomed to that [i.e., forgiving], for he is of the group that do not sin. And moreover, he is a messenger, and he can do only his mission. -[From Midrash Tanchuma 18] |
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כִּי לֹא יִשָּׂא לְפִשְׁעֲכֶם:
אֵינוֹ מְלֻמָּד בְּכָךְ, שֶׁהוּא מִן הַכַּת שֶׁאֵין חוֹטְאִין, וְעוֹד שֶׁהוּא שָׁלִיחַ וְאֵינוֹ עוֹשֶׂה אֶלָּא שְׁלִיחוּתוֹ:
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| for My Name is within him: [This clause] is connected to the beginning of the verse: Beware of him because My Name is associated with him. Our Sages, however, said: This is [the angel] Metatron, whose name is like the name of his Master (Sanh. 38b). The numerical value of מֵטַטְרוֹן [314] equals that of שַׁדַּי [314]. -[From Tikunei Zohar 66b] |
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כִּי שְׁמִי בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ:
מְחֻבָּר לְרֹאשׁ הַמִּקְרָא – השמר מפניו כי שמי מְשֻׁתָּף בּוֹ. וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ אָמְרוּ זֶה מְטַטְרוֹן שֶׁשְּׁמוֹ כְשֵׁם רַבּוֹ, מְטַטְרוֹן בְּגִימַטְרִיָּא שַׁדַּי (סנהדרין ל"ח):
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| 22For if you hearken to his voice and do all that I say, I will hate your enemies and oppress your adversaries. |
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כבכִּ֣י אִם־שָׁמ֤וֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע֙ בְּקֹל֔וֹ וְעָשִׂ֕יתָ כֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲדַבֵּ֑ר וְאָֽיַבְתִּי֙ אֶת־אֹ֣יְבֶ֔יךָ וְצַרְתִּ֖י אֶת־צֹֽרְרֶֽיךָ: |
| and oppress: Heb. וְצַרְתִּי, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders: וְאָעֵיק, and I will cause distress. |
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וְצַרְתִּי:
כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ וְאָעִיק:
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| 23For My angel will go before you, and bring you to the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivvites, and the Jebusites, and I will destroy them. |
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כגכִּֽי־יֵלֵ֣ךְ מַלְאָכִי֘ לְפָנֶ֒יךָ֒ וֶֽהֱבִֽיאֲךָ֗ אֶל־הָֽאֱמֹרִי֙ וְהַ֣חִתִּ֔י וְהַפְּרִזִּי֙ וְהַכְּנַֽעֲנִ֔י הַֽחִוִּ֖י וְהַיְבוּסִ֑י וְהִכְחַדְתִּֽיו: |
| 24You shall not prostrate yourself before their gods, and you shall not worship them, and you shall not follow their practices, but you shall tear them down and you shall utterly shatter their monuments. |
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כדלֹֽא־תִשְׁתַּֽחֲוֶ֤ה לֵאלֹֽהֵיהֶם֙ וְלֹ֣א תָֽעָבְדֵ֔ם וְלֹ֥א תַֽעֲשֶׂ֖ה כְּמַֽעֲשֵׂיהֶ֑ם כִּ֤י הָרֵס֙ תְּהָ֣רְסֵ֔ם וְשַׁבֵּ֥ר תְּשַׁבֵּ֖ר מַצֵּבֹֽתֵיהֶֽם: |
| but you shall tear them down: Those gods. |
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הָרֵס תְּהָרְסֵם:
לְאוֹתָם אֱלוֹהוּת:
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| their monuments: Heb. מַצֵּבֹתֵיהֶם. Stones they erect (מַצִּיבִין) upon which to prostate themselves before them [idols]. |
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מַצֵּבֹֽתֵיהֶֽם:
אֲבָנִים שֶׁהֵם מַצִּיבִין לְהִשְׁתַּחֲווֹת לָהֶם:
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| 25And you shall worship the Lord, your God, and He will bless your food and your drink, and I will remove illness from your midst. |
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כהוַֽעֲבַדְתֶּ֗ם אֵ֚ת יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם וּבֵרַ֥ךְ אֶת־לַחְמְךָ֖ וְאֶת־מֵימֶ֑יךָ וַֽהֲסִֽרֹתִ֥י מַֽחֲלָ֖ה מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ: |
| 26There will be no bereaved or barren woman in your land; I will fill the number of your days. |
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כולֹ֥א תִֽהְיֶ֛ה מְשַׁכֵּלָ֥ה וַֽעֲקָרָ֖ה בְּאַרְצֶ֑ךָ אֶת־מִסְפַּ֥ר יָמֶ֖יךָ אֲמַלֵּֽא: |
| There will be no bereaved… woman: if you comply with My will. |
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לֹא תִֽהְיֶה מְשַׁכֵּלָה:
אִם תַּעֲשֶׂה רְצוֹנִי:
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| bereaved… woman: Heb. מְשַׁכֵּלָה. [A woman who] miscarries or buries her children is called מְשַׁכֵּלָה. |
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מְשַׁכֵּלָה:
מַפֶּלֶת נְפָלִים אוֹ קוֹבֶרֶת אֶת בָּנֶיהָ קְרוּיָה מְשַׁכֵּלָה:
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| 27I will send My fear before you, and I will confuse all the people among whom you shall come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. |
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כזאֶת־אֵֽימָתִי֙ אֲשַׁלַּ֣ח לְפָנֶ֔יךָ וְהַמֹּתִי֙ אֶת־כָּל־הָעָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר תָּבֹ֖א בָּהֶ֑ם וְנָֽתַתִּ֧י אֶת־כָּל־אֹֽיְבֶ֛יךָ אֵלֶ֖יךָ עֹֽרֶף: |
| and I will confuse: Heb. וְהַמֹּתִי, like הָמַמְתִּי (I will confound), and its Aramaic translation is וֶאשַׁגֵּשׁ. Likewise, any word whose verb root has the last letter doubled, when it is converted to speak in the פָעַלְתִּי form [i.e., the first person past tense], in some instances the doubled letter is dropped [i.e., the third letter of the root], and a “dagesh” is placed into the [second] letter, and it is vowelized with a “melupum” [a “cholam”], like וְהַמֹּתִי [in this verse is] from the same root as in “and the wheel of his wagon shall be confused (וְהָמַם)” (Isa. 28:28); “And I turned about (וְסַבּוֹתִי)” (Eccl. 2:20), [which is] from the same root as “and go around (וְסָבַב)” (I Sam. 7:16); “I was poor (דַּלוֹתִי)” (Ps. 116:6), from the same root as “became impoverished (דָלְלוּ)” (Isa. 19:6); “have I engraved you (חַקֹתִיךְ)” (Isa. 49:16), from the same root as “resolves of (חִקְקֵי) heart” (Jud. 5:15); “whom did I oppress (רַצֹּתִי)” (I Sam. 12:3), from the same root as “When he oppressed רִצַץ, he abandoned the poor” (Job 20:19). The one who translates וְהַמֹּתִי as וְאֶקְטַל, “and I will kill,” is in error, because if this was from the same root as מִיתָה, death, the “hey” of this word would not be vowelized with a “pattach,” and the “mem” would not be punctuated with a “dagesh” and not be vowelized with a “melupum,” rather וְהֵמַתִּי (with a “tzeirei,”) like “and You will kill (וְהֵמַתָּה) this nation” (Num. 14:15), and the “tav” would be punctuated with a “dagesh,” because it would represent two “tav” s, one a root letter (מוּת) and one [“tav”] a suffix, like “I said, (אָמַרְתִּי)” “I sinned (חָטָאתִי),” “I did (עָשִׂיתִי),” and so, in “and I will give (וְנָתַתִּי),” the “tav” is punctuated with a “dagesh,” because it comes instead of two [“tav” s], because there should have been three “tav” s, two of the root, like “on the day the Lord delivered up (תֵּת)” (Josh. 10:12), “it is a gift of (מַתַּת) God” (Eccl. 3:13), and the third [“tav”] as a suffix. |
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וְהַמֹּתִי:
כְּמוֹ וְהָמַמְתִּי, וְתַרְגּוּמוֹ וֶאֱשַׁגֵּשׁ. וְכֵן כָּל תֵּבָה שֶׁפֹּעַל שֶׁלָּהּ בְּכֶפֶל אוֹת אַחֲרוֹנָה, כְּשֶׁתֵּהָפֵךְ לְדַבֵּר בִּלְשׁוֹן פָּעַלְתִּי, יֵשׁ מְקוֹמוֹת שֶׁנּוֹטֵל אוֹת הַכְּפוּלָה וּמַדְגִּישׁ אֶת הָאוֹת וְנוֹקְדוֹ בִּמְלָאפוּם כְּגוֹן וְהַמֹּתִי מִגִּזְרַת וְהָמַם גִּלְגַּל עֶגְלָתוֹ (ישעיהו כ"ח), וְסַבּוֹתִי (קהלת ב'), מִגִּזְרַת וְסָבַב בֵּית אֵל (שמואל א ז׳:ט״ז), דַּלֹּתִי (תהילים קט"ז), מִגִּזְרַת דָּלְלוּ וְחָרְבוּ (ישעיהו י"ט), עַל כַּפַּיִם חַקֹּתִיךְ (ישעיהו מ״ט:ט״ז), מִגִּזְרַת חִקְקֵי לֵב (שופטים ה'), אֶת מִי רַצּוֹתִי (שמואל א י״ב:ג׳), מִגִּזְרַת רִצַּץ עָזַב דַּלִּים (איוב כ'). וְהַמְתַרְגֵּם וְהַמֹּתִי וְאֶקְטַל, טוֹעֶה הוּא, שֶׁאִלּוּ מִגִּזְרַת מִיתָה הָיָה, אֵין הֵ"א שֶׁלָּהּ בְּפַתָּח וְלֹא מֵ"ם שֶׁלָּהּ מֻדְגֶּשֶׁת וְלֹא נְקוּדָה מְלָאפוּם, אֶלָּא וְהֵמַתִּי כְּגוֹן וְהֵמַתָּה אֶת הָעָם הַזֶּה (במדבר י״ד:ט״ו), וְהַתָּי"ו מֻדְגֶּשֶׁת לְפִי שֶׁתָּבֹא בִּמְקוֹם שְׁתֵּי תָוִי"ן, הָאַחַת נִשְׁרֶשֶׁת – לְפִי שֶׁאֵין מִיתָה בְּלֹא תָי"ו – וְהָאַחֶרֶת מְשַׁמֶּשֶׁת, כְּמוֹ אָמַרְתִּי, חָטָאתִי, עָשִׂיתִי, וְכֵן וְנָתַתִּי הַתָּי"ו מֻדְגֶּשֶׁת, שֶׁהִיא בָאָה בִּמְקוֹם שְׁתַּיִם, לְפִי שֶׁהָיָה צָרִיךְ שָׁלֹשׁ תָּוִי"ן – שְׁתַּיִם לִיסוֹד, כְּמוֹ בְּיוֹם תֵּת ה' (יהושע י'), מַתַּת אֱלֹהִים הִיא (קהלת ג'), וְהַשְּׁלִישִׁית לְשִׁמּוּשׁ:
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| their backs: That they will flee from before you and turn their backs to you. |
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עֹֽרֶף:
שֶׁיָּנוּסוּ מִפָּנֶיךָ וְיַהַפְכוּ לְךָ עָרְפָּם:
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| 28And I will send the tzir'ah before you, and it will drive out the Hivvites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites from before you. |
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כחוְשָׁלַֽחְתִּ֥י אֶת־הַצִּרְעָ֖ה לְפָנֶ֑יךָ וְגֵֽרְשָׁ֗ה אֶת־הַֽחִוִּ֧י אֶת־הַכְּנַֽעֲנִ֛י וְאֶת־הַֽחִתִּ֖י מִלְּפָנֶֽיךָ: |
| the tzir’ah: [This was] a kind of flying insect, which would strike them [people] in their eyes, inject venom into them, and they would die (Tanchuma 18). The tzir’ah did not cross the Jordan, and the Hittites and the Canaanites are [those of] the land of Sihon and Og. Therefore, out of all the seven nations [the Torah] did not count [any] but these. As for the Hivvites, although they were on the other side of the Jordan, in tractate Sotah (36a) our Rabbis taught: It stood on the bank of the Jordan and cast venom upon them. |
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הַצִּרְעָה:
מִין שֶׁרֶץ הָעוֹף, וְהָיְתָה מַכָּה אוֹתָם בְּעֵינֵיהֶם וּמַטִּילָה בָהֶם אֶרֶס וְהֵם מֵתִים. וְהַצִּרְעָה לֹא עָבְרָה אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן, וְהַחִתִּי וְהַכְּנַעֲנִי הֵם אֶרֶץ סִיחוֹן וְעוֹג, לְפִיכָךְ מִכָּל שֶׁבַע אֻמּוֹת לֹא מָנָה כָאן אֶלָּא אֵלּוּ, וְחִוִּי אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא מֵעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן וָהָלְאָה, שָׁנוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ בְמַסֶּכֶת סוֹטָה (דף ל"ו), עַל שְׂפַת הַיַּרְדֵּן עָמְדָה וְזָרְקָה בָהֶם מָרָה:
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| 29I will not drive them away from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field outnumber you. |
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כטלֹ֧א אֲגָֽרְשֶׁ֛נּוּ מִפָּנֶ֖יךָ בְּשָׁנָ֣ה אֶחָ֑ת פֶּן־תִּֽהְיֶ֤ה הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ שְׁמָמָ֔ה וְרַבָּ֥ה עָלֶ֖יךָ חַיַּ֥ת הַשָּׂדֶֽה: |
| desolate: Empty of human beings, since you are few and there are not enough of you to fill it [the land]. |
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שְׁמָמָה:
רֵקָנִית מִבְּנֵי אָדָם, לְפִי שֶׁאַתֶּם מְעַט וְאֵין בָּכֶם כְּדֵי לְמַלֹּאות אוֹתָהּ:
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| and… outnumber you: Heb. וְרַבָּה, and will outnumber you. [The word וְרַבָּה is not an adjective, but a verb in the past tense. The “vav” converts it to the future.] |
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וְרַבָּה עָלֶיךָ:
וְתִרְבֶּה עָלֶיךָ:
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| 30I will drive them out from before you little by little, until you have increased and can occupy the land. |
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למְעַ֥ט מְעַ֛ט אֲגָֽרְשֶׁ֖נּוּ מִפָּנֶ֑יךָ עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּפְרֶ֔ה וְנָֽחַלְתָּ֖ אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ: |
| until you have increased: Heb. ךְתִּפְרֶה. You will increase, an expression of fruit, similar to “Be fruitful (פְּרוּ) and multiply” (Gen. 1:28). |
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עַד אֲשֶׁר תִּפְרֶה:
תִּרְבֶּה, לְשׁוֹן פְּרִי, כְּמוֹ פְּרוּ וּרְבוּ (בראשית א'):
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| 31And I will make your boundary from the Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the river, for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hands, and you shall drive them out from before you. |
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לאוְשַׁתִּ֣י אֶת־גְּבֻֽלְךָ֗ מִיַּם־סוּף֙ וְעַד־יָ֣ם פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וּמִמִּדְבָּ֖ר עַד־הַנָּהָ֑ר כִּ֣י | אֶתֵּ֣ן בְּיֶדְכֶ֗ם אֵ֚ת יֽשְׁבֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ וְגֵֽרַשְׁתָּ֖מוֹ מִפָּנֶֽיךָ: |
| And I will make: Heb. וְשַׁךְתִּי, an expression of הִשָׁתָה, [meaning] placing. The “tav” is punctuated with a “dagesh” because it represents two “tav” s, since there is no [expression of] placing [or making, שִׁיתָה] without a “tav,” and the second one is [needed] for a suffix. |
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וְשַׁתִּי:
לְשׁוֹן הֲשָׁתָה, וְהַתָּי"ו מֻדְגֶּשֶׁת מִפְּנֵי שֶׁבָּאָה תַּחַת שְׁתַּיִם, שֶׁאֵין שִׁיתָה בְּלֹא תָי"ו, וְהָאַחַת לְשִׁמּוּשׁ:
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| to the river: [Meaning] the Euphrates. — [from targumim] |
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עַד־הַנָּהָר:
פְּרָת:
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| and you shall drive them out: Heb. וְגֵרַשְׁךְתָּמוֹ, [the equivalent of] וּתְגָרְשֵׁם, and you shall drive them out. |
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וְגֵֽרַשְׁתָּמוֹ:
וּתְגָרְשֵׁם:
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| 32You shall not form a covenant for them or for their gods. |
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לבלֹֽא־תִכְרֹ֥ת לָהֶ֛ם וְלֵאלֹֽהֵיהֶ֖ם בְּרִֽית: |
| 33They shall not dwell in your land, lest they cause you to sin against Me, that you will worship their gods, which will be a snare for you. |
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לגלֹ֤א יֵֽשְׁבוּ֙ בְּאַרְצְךָ֔ פֶּן־יַֽחֲטִ֥יאוּ אֹֽתְךָ֖ לִ֑י כִּ֤י תַֽעֲבֹד֙ אֶת־אֱלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔ם כִּי־יִֽהְיֶ֥ה לְךָ֖ לְמוֹקֵֽשׁ: |
| that you will worship, etc.: Heb. תַעִבֹד וְגוֹ כִּי-יִהְיֶה וְגוֹ כִּי. These [instances of] כִּי are used instead of אִשֶׁר [i.e.,] that, and so it is in many places. This is [similar to] the usage of אִי, if, which is one of the four expressions for which כִּי is used (Rosh Hashanah 3a). We also find אִם used as an expression of כַּאִשֶׁר, when, in many places, such as “And when (וְאִם) you offer up an offering of first fruits (Lev. 2:14), which is obligatory [and not optional]. |
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כִּי תַֽעֲבֹד וגו':
הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ כִּי מְשַׁמְּשִׁין בִּמְקוֹם אֲשֶׁר, וְכֵן בְּכַמָּה מְקוֹמוֹת, וְזֶהוּ לְשׁוֹן אִי שֶׁהוּא אֶחָד מֵאַרְבַּע לְשׁוֹנוֹת שֶׁהַכִּי מְשַׁמֵּשׁ, וְגַם מָצִינוּ בְּהַרְבֵּה מְקוֹמוֹת אִם מְשַׁמֵּשׁ בִּלְשׁוֹן אֲשֶׁר, כְּמוֹ וְאִם תַּקְרִיב מִנְחַת בִּכּוּרִים (ויקרא ב'), שֶׁהִיא חוֹבָה:
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