Kommentar zu Dewarim 12:19

השמר לך TAKE HEED TO THYSELF [LEST THOU FORSAKE THE LEVITE] — This is intended in addition to the positive command expressed in the previous verse, to attach to it (the neglect of the Levite) a negative command, also.

כל ימיך על אדמתך, for all the years that you dwell in your land.

כל ימיך על אדמתך, “all your days on your land.” The specific command not to abandon the Levite is applicable only in the Holy Land. Levites in the Diaspora do not enjoy preferred status regarding receipt of charity from their brethren.

This places a negative commandment over the matter. As I explained above (v. 13). For anywhere it says, “Take heed, etc.” Rashi is answering the question: Why is the verse, “Watch yourself,” needed? It is already written above (v. 12), “And the Levite who is in you cities, etc.” If so, why does this need to be written twice? Rashi answers: “This places a negative commandment over the matter.” In other words: Over the matter mentioned above, “And the Levite who is in your cities, etc.” This is why Rashi chose to say, “Over the matter.”

V. 19. השמר לך וגו׳ (siehe V. 12). Bei der bevorstehenden Dezentralisierung der sich im Lande ansiedelnden Nation ist das zerstreute Wohnen der Leviten in Mitte des Volkes von größter Bedeutung. Sie sind gleichsam die vom Zentrum des Heiligtums ausgehenden lebendigen Nerven und Adern, die den geistigen Zusammenhang der Glieder mit dem Gehirn und Herzen des Volkes vermitteln. Sie sind die Repräsentanten des Gesetzesheiligtums mitten im Volke. Unter einer dem Landbau, der Viehzucht und der damit verbundenen Industrie sich hingebenden Bevölkerung können leicht solche unproduktive Levitenglieder als Bürde der Kommunen der Verkennung und Verachtung verfallen und in ihrer vitalen Bedeutung für die geistige und sittliche und nationale Gesamtwohlfahrt unterschätzt bleiben. Daher die wiederholte Warnung vor Vernachlässigung des Levi כל ימיך על אדמתך: die Dauer deines Bleibens auf eigenem Boden ist wesentlich durch die Wertschätzung des Levi und den Einfluss bedingt, den du ihm auf deine geistige und sittliche Entwicklung gestattest.

כל ימיך על אדמתך, “as long as you live on your land.” According to the plain meaning of the verse, the choice of the word אדמה, “soil, earth,” here instead of ארצך “your land,” may have been dictated by the fact that the Levites did not get any ancestral land, and the other tribes therefore had to see to it that they could have a livelihood, i.e. you who have soil have to look after your brethren who have not been given soil.

כל ימיך, “as long as you live.” This includes even the years of sh’mittah and Jubilee years when no crops are harvested. (Sifri)

על אדמתך [TAKE HEED TO THYSELF LEST THOU FORSAKE THE LEVITE] UPON THY GROUND — but in exile (outside the Holy Land) you are not admonished as regards him more than as regards the poor of the ordinary Israelites (Sifrei Devarim 74:9; Talmud Yerushalmi Horayot end).

In the diaspora, however, you are not admonished, etc. The reason is because in the Land of Israel, the Israelites received portions in the Land whereas the Levites did not. Therefore, they must attend to the Levites. But in the diaspora, the Israelites, just as the Levites, did not receive any portion of the land.

על אדמתך, “on your soil.” Seeing that only the ordinary Israelites possess ancestral land in Israel, as distinct from the Levites, the Israelites are obligated to look after the needs of the Levites as long as they are on their own land, but not when all the Jews are in exile, and the ordinary Israelites do not enjoy the advantage of owning ancestral land.