Le Deutéronome 31:11 Commentaire : Rashi, Chizkuni & Kli Yakar

תקרא את התורה הזאת [WHEN ALL ISRAEL IS COME TO APPEAR BEFORE THE LORD …] THOU SHALT READ THIS LAW [BEFORE ALL ISRAEL] — The king read from the beginning of the section “These are the words” (Deuteronomy 1:1), — as is set forth in Treatise Sotah 41a — upon a wooden platform that was erected in the forecourt.

תקרא את התורה הזאת, “you shall read out publicly this Torah;” this commandment was addressed to Joshua. This is why he is also referred to as the king.

“You shall read this Torah opposite [neged] all of Israel in their ears.” Behold, anyone who reads to their fellow in their ears does not stand opposite them, but rather at their side. Perhaps from here our Rabbis learned (Sotah 41) that at the conclusion of the first holiday of the festival [Sukkot], they would make a wooden platform for the king in the Temple courtyard, etc., and he would read from the beginning of These are the words [of Deuteronomy], etc. And from where did they learn to say that he begins from These are the words, for it would have been more appropriate to say that he begins from Moses began to explain this Torah (Deuteronomy 1:5). Rather, they learned this from what is written opposite [neged, which also means opposing] all of Israel, because the entire verse of These are the words was challenging for all of Israel, as it hinted at all the places where they angered the Holy One, blessed be He, [but was said in hints] out of respect for Israel. And something said in a hint is like whispering in someone’s ear, where the listeners do not understand anything except for the one who feels in themselves that they sinned in that matter, who understands that hint. And regarding this it says that he should read this Torah which is opposite all of Israel in their ears, meaning the Torah that challenges Israel and is said in their ears as a hint. And there it says, These are the words which Moses spoke to all of Israel. Therefore it says here opposite all of Israel. For at this assembly, it is impossible that all of Israel from across the land would be there, but rather it speaks of Moses’s speech which was in the presence of all of Israel.