Commento su Deuteronomio 10:15

בכם [AND HE CHOSE …] YOU, even as you see yourselves the object of His pleasure מכל העמים, כיום הזה MORE THAN ALL OTHER PEOPLES THIS DAY.

רק באבותיך חשק, and this is why He performed miracles which interfered with natural law; these miracles were for your benefit, but were orchestrated only because of His fondness for them. Clearly, G’d’s purpose must have been that there should arise on earth someone even more perfect than any other creature, i.e. a perfect human being, one that realises his full potential, will resemble Me to the maximum extent that a creature can resemble its Creator, i.e. בצלמנו כדמותנו (Genesis 1,26).

כיום הזה, as of this day. Moses means that the Jewish people are a worthy community as he had already testified in Deut. 4,4 that "you all cleaved to G'd and stayed alive." The message is that were it not for that merit, the mere fact that they were the descendants of the patriarchs whom G'd had liked would not have helped them if they had been wicked. The best proof for the truth of this statement is the fact that Ishmael, also a son of Abraham, or Esau, a son of Isaac and a grandson of Abraham were not chosen and only some of the descendants of Isaac developed into the Jewish people. (compare Nedarim 31).

רק באבותיך חשק ...ויבחר בזרעם, “Only your forefathers did Hashem cherish, to love them, so that He chose their offspring, etc.” Moses means that the Jewish people are the choicest of their forefathers’ offspring, as opposed to Ishmael, Avraham’s sons from Ketura, and Esau.

Just as you see yourselves desired, etc. Rashi is answering the question: Why is the word בכם (you) needed? The verse only needed to say, “He chose their descendants after them from all, etc.” Therefore Rashi explains: “Just as you see yourselves desired, etc.” In other words, “In yourselves you can see that Hashem chose you and your descendants, for you see yourselves desired above all nations.” And Rashi says היום הזה (this day) instead of כיום הזה (like this day), because he explains the word בכם (you) literally, and they [who, “you,” is referring to] were actually present “this day.” The prefix כ (like) is not disregarded, for it is connected to, “He chose their descendants after them.” As if it says, “And He chose their descendants after them, like this day, from all the peoples.”

AS IT IS THIS DAY. The meaning thereof is that thus it will be with their seed forever [that they will be His chosen ones]. I have already explained²⁴⁶Above, 7:6. the terms “delight” and “choosing.” And the expression the heaven of heavens²⁴⁴Verse 14. refers to the spherical bodies of the four elements [fire, water, earth and air] which are in the potential of the heavens below them,²⁴⁷See Vol. I, pp. 36-37. similar to what is said, the earth, with all that therein is.²⁴⁴Verse 14. And so it is said in the psalm: Praise ye the Eternal from the heavens; praise Him in the heights,²⁴⁸Psalms 148:1. and continues to mention His angels, His host,²⁴⁹Ibid., Verse 2. and the stars of light,²⁵⁰Ibid., Verse 3. and afterwards, Praise Him, ye heaven of heavens.²⁵¹Ibid., Verse 4.

ויבחר בזרעם אחריהם, בכם, He chose their seeds after them, i.e. “whom did He choose” “you;” this is the meaning of the verse, as Rashi explains, based on the prefix ב in the word בכם. You, i.e. your generation, are the generation of the patriarchs’ seed that He has chosen. Rashi focuses on the words: כיום הזה, “as of now,” at the end of our verse.

ביום הזה, “as of this day.” This is a formula meaning that what is true and applicable on this day concerning this subject, will continue to remain true and applicable.