Commentaire de citation sur Le Deutéronome 4:30

As noted by Radak (Melachim II 3:10), the war with Moav presents a great opportunity for Yehoram to rally the Bnei Yisrael of the north to return to the Torah ways advocated and observed by their ally and family member Yehoshafat Melech Yehudah. Devarim 4:30 records that “BaTzar Lecha VeShavta Ad Hashem,” “when we encounter trouble we will return to Hashem.” Yehoram recognizes that Hashem has placed him in a position of great difficulty. However, he fails to return completely. Elisha’s dismay with Yehoram highlights Yehoram’s failure to achieve his and his subjects’ spiritual potential. Yehoram remains unmoved, and the ending debacle of the battle of Moav ensues.

The fifth attribute of repentance is when someone has regret for his sins because he has troubles, yet the Holy One accepts his repentance, as the verse says, “when you are in distress because all these things have befallen you and in the end, return to the Lord your God” [Deuteronomy, 4:30]. This means, when you will have troubles and you will repent, the Holy One will forgive you.

A Midrashic approach (based on Tanchuma). The choice of the word וכי ימוך suggest that the economic eclipse suffered by the person mentioned in our verse is due to his being “soft” מכין in his מצוה-performance. The words “and he sells part of his possessions,” imply that they are sold to Gentiles who may have demanded payment of debts. The redeemer mentioned refers to G’d who is described in Jeremiah 50,34 as “their Redeemer is mighty, His name is the Lord of Hosts.” The words הקרוב אליו also refer to G’d seeing that in Psalms 145,18 G’d is described as “near” all those who “call upon Him.” The words אלך אשובה אל מקומי, in Hoseah 5,15 meaning: “I will go and return to My abode,” instead of אלך ואשובה, are the difference between something final and something temporary. The wording without the letter ו in front of the word אשובה means that G’d’s turning away from Israel is not final and absolute but that due to the troubles which will afflict the people once G’d turns His back on them they will repent and G’d will once again embrace them as is written in Deut. 4,30: בצר לך ומצאוך, “when you are in trouble and they have found you (the afflictions) you will return to the Lord your G’d.” When that happens, says G’d through the prophet, “I too will restore My Presence, Shechinah.”

and He relented in accordance with His abundant kindness On account of the end, when He heard, “Save us, etc.” Moses, too, included them in one verse (Deut. 4:30): “In this distress that will befall you etc.”