Le Deutéronome 33:3 Commentaire : Rashi, Chizkuni, Ramban & Ibn Ezra

אף חבב עמים YEA, HE LOVED THE PEOPLES — Also He loved the tribes with exceeding love. — Each individual tribe may be termed עם (or גוי), “a people”, for, you see, Benjamin alone was yet to be born when the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Jacob, (Genesis 25:11, see Rashi thereon) “A nation and a congregation of nations shall be of you."

אף חובב עמים, “Lover, indeed of the peoples;” (the twelve tribes of Israel are termed “peoples). We know that the Israelites were viewed as “special” by G-d when He said to us in Exodus 19,5: והייתם לי סגולה, “you will be for Me a treasure;” Why is this so? It is because all of His holy beings are under His direct supervision. How does this work in practice? “והם תוכו לרגליו, “they are sitting between His feet;” Compare Exodus 19,17: ויתיצבו בתחתית ההר, “they had taken up their positions at the base of the Mountain.” (Sinai). An alternate interpretation: even at times when G-d is fond of the gentile nations and delivers the sinful Israelites into their hands, they still remain under His direct supervision, (though they may not be aware of it.)

APH CHOVEIV AMIM.’ Commentators have explained³⁵It is so explained by Rashi and Ibn Ezra. that the word choveiv is of the Aramaic language [as Onkelos rendered and ye shall be Mine ‘segulah’]:³⁶Exodus 19:5. “and you shall be chavivin (beloved) before Me.” The verse [here] is thus stating: “Yea, He loves Israel which consists of many peoples” [i.e., tribes], similar to what is stated, after thee, Benjamin, among thy peoples.³⁷Judges 5:14. And all His holy ones³⁸In Verse 3 before us. of Israel, namely, the Levites, are in Thy hand,³⁸In Verse 3 before us. for You have brought them near You to encamp around the ark.³⁹Numbers 3:23, and 29, 35, 38.
It appears to me that the word choveiv is from the same root as by hiding ‘b’chubi’ (in my bosom) mine iniquity,⁴⁰Job 31:33. related to the expressions: into an inner chamber ‘l’heichavei’ (to hide thyself);⁴¹II Chronicles 18:24. and there is ‘chevyon’ (the hiding of) His power.⁴²Habakkuk 3:4. He is thus stating [here]: “You are also hiding and protecting with Your hand the peoples — all the holy ones of Israel.” The above-mentioned [phrase] suggests that all the congregation are holy, every one of them,⁴³Numbers 16:3. and G-d protects them with His hand, similar in meaning to the verse, And I have put My words in thy mouth, and have covered thee in the shadow of My hand,⁴⁴Isaiah 51:16. and like the expression, Thou art my hiding place and my shield.⁴⁵Psalms 119:114. Similarly, and they take counsel against Thy hidden ones.⁴⁶Ibid., 83:4. This alludes to what he said, inasmuch as Thou Eternal art seen face to face, and Thy cloud standeth over them.⁴⁷Numbers 14:14. And similarly he said in the Song [of Ha’azinu], He compassed him about, He cared for him, He kept him as the apple of His eye.⁴⁸Above, 32:10.