Quotation do Powtórzonego Prawa 11:35
Siddur Ashkenaz
The following two lines are to be said silently:
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Ramban on Deuteronomy
And now he begins the review of the Torah. He told them the Ten Commandments, not changing and not explaining anything in [the first two commandments]: I am the Eternal etc.,133Verse 6. and Thou shalt have no other gods before Me,134Verse 7. for they heard them from the mouth of the Almighty.135Makkoth 24a. So, too, [there are no changes or explanations] in the third commandment136Verse 11: Thou shalt not take the name of the Eternal thy G-d in vain etc. because he already stated [here, as in the text of the third commandment in Exodus 20:7, Thou shalt not take] the Name of the Eternal thy G-d [etc.], as I have explained in the section Ye shall be holy.137Leviticus 19:2. See Ramban there on Verse 12 — Vol. III, p. 287. Then he began to exposit to them, saying ‘Observe’ [the Sabbath-day]138Verse 12 here. instead of ‘Remember’ [the Sabbath-day],139Exodus 20:8. this being in line with the plain meaning of Scripture [i.e., that ‘Observe’ is the explanation of ‘Remember’]. And in the opinion of our Rabbis140Shebuoth 20 b. See also Vol. II, pp. 306-310. “[Remember and Observe] both were spoken in one utterance.” He explained this to them [here] because they all know Remember, and he is thus informing them [now] that Observe was said with it. And so it is by way of the Truth, [the mystic teachings of the Cabala], that they were both spoken in one utterance seeing that the Voice was both in “remembering” and “observing,” for the Torah is an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure,141II Samuel 23:5. and he [i.e., Moses] heard from [the attribute of] Remember while they [i.e., the people, heard] from that of Observe.142L’vush Ha’orah in his commentary to Ricanti quoting the language of Ramban. The student [learned in the mystic teachings of the Cabala] will know this from what we have hinted there.143See Vol. II, pp. 308-309.
He explained [with reference to the commandment that we are to Observe the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy] as the Eternal thy G-d commanded thee138Verse 12 here. — “before the Giving of the Torah, at Marah,144This is Rashi’s language here in Verse 12. [for there it is said], there He made for them a statute and an ordinance.”145Exodus 15:25. — This is Rashi’s language here in Verse 16 on the commandment of honoring father and mother. However, from Ramban’s following comments, it is clear that in his text of Rashi this part, too, of the quotation mentioned in the text was stated in Verse 12, in connection with the commandment on the Sabbath. This is the language of Rashi. But if so, the commandment to honor father and mother was also given at Marah [for in the commandment, to honor parents, too, it is stated as the Eternal thy G-d commanded thee],146Verse 16. but the Rabbi [Rashi] mentioned there [in connection with the verse referring to Marah] only “the Sabbath, the Red Heifer, and the laws of justice” [as having been given at Marah, but not the honoring of parents].147See Vol. II, pp. 208-209.
It appears to me by way of the Truth, [the mystic teachings of the Cabala], concerning this matter [of the Ten Commandments] as well as the whole Book of Deuteronomy that Moses was speaking as if from the mouth of the Almighty, as he said, And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto My commandments which I command you this day, to love the Eternal your G-d, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, that I will give rain for your Land in its season.148Further, 11:13-14. Now Moses is not the one who giveth rain upon the earth,149Job 5:10. nor the one who gives grass in the fields!150See further, 11:15. Rather, the communication of the Torah was given with Remember,151This alludes to the fact that the first four books of the Torah were given in the Great Name [i.e., the Tetragrammaton] whereas Deuteronomy was presented as if spoken by the messenger of the Almighty (Abusaula). See my Hebrew commentary, p. 366; also Vol. II, pp. 282-284. and that of Deuteronomy with Observe.151This alludes to the fact that the first four books of the Torah were given in the Great Name [i.e., the Tetragrammaton] whereas Deuteronomy was presented as if spoken by the messenger of the Almighty (Abusaula). See my Hebrew commentary, p. 366; also Vol. II, pp. 282-284. Therefore, Moses everywhere in Deuteronomy mentions the Eternal thy G-d while in [the first four books of] the Torah he mentions only the Proper Name of G-d [i.e., the Tetragrammaton] except in the Ten Commandments as it is said, And G-d spoke etc.152Exodus 20:1. Understand this.
He explained [with reference to the commandment that we are to Observe the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy] as the Eternal thy G-d commanded thee138Verse 12 here. — “before the Giving of the Torah, at Marah,144This is Rashi’s language here in Verse 12. [for there it is said], there He made for them a statute and an ordinance.”145Exodus 15:25. — This is Rashi’s language here in Verse 16 on the commandment of honoring father and mother. However, from Ramban’s following comments, it is clear that in his text of Rashi this part, too, of the quotation mentioned in the text was stated in Verse 12, in connection with the commandment on the Sabbath. This is the language of Rashi. But if so, the commandment to honor father and mother was also given at Marah [for in the commandment, to honor parents, too, it is stated as the Eternal thy G-d commanded thee],146Verse 16. but the Rabbi [Rashi] mentioned there [in connection with the verse referring to Marah] only “the Sabbath, the Red Heifer, and the laws of justice” [as having been given at Marah, but not the honoring of parents].147See Vol. II, pp. 208-209.
It appears to me by way of the Truth, [the mystic teachings of the Cabala], concerning this matter [of the Ten Commandments] as well as the whole Book of Deuteronomy that Moses was speaking as if from the mouth of the Almighty, as he said, And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto My commandments which I command you this day, to love the Eternal your G-d, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, that I will give rain for your Land in its season.148Further, 11:13-14. Now Moses is not the one who giveth rain upon the earth,149Job 5:10. nor the one who gives grass in the fields!150See further, 11:15. Rather, the communication of the Torah was given with Remember,151This alludes to the fact that the first four books of the Torah were given in the Great Name [i.e., the Tetragrammaton] whereas Deuteronomy was presented as if spoken by the messenger of the Almighty (Abusaula). See my Hebrew commentary, p. 366; also Vol. II, pp. 282-284. and that of Deuteronomy with Observe.151This alludes to the fact that the first four books of the Torah were given in the Great Name [i.e., the Tetragrammaton] whereas Deuteronomy was presented as if spoken by the messenger of the Almighty (Abusaula). See my Hebrew commentary, p. 366; also Vol. II, pp. 282-284. Therefore, Moses everywhere in Deuteronomy mentions the Eternal thy G-d while in [the first four books of] the Torah he mentions only the Proper Name of G-d [i.e., the Tetragrammaton] except in the Ten Commandments as it is said, And G-d spoke etc.152Exodus 20:1. Understand this.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Ramban on Deuteronomy
AND HE COMMANDED JOSHUA THE SON OF NUN. “This [pronoun ‘He’] refers to the Divine Presence [mentioned] above45I.e., Verse 14: And the Eternal said unto Moses … as it is explained [here], into the Land which I swore unto them; and I will be with thee.” This is Rashi’s language. He has explained it well. And in the opinion of Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra:46Found in Ibn Ezra on Verse 15. “And he commanded Joshua — that is, Moses [commanded] by order of G-d, and therefore he said, into the Land which I swore unto them.” Similarly we find that Moses said, And I will give the rain of your Land in its season.47Above, 11:14. So also, And I will give grass in thy fields for thy cattle.48Ibid., Verse 15. Likewise, that ye might know that I am the Eternal your G-d.49Above, 29:5. And so also, The Eternal will send upon thee the scantiness etc. because of the evil doings, whereby thou hast forsaken Me.50Above, 28:20. I have already discussed this.51See above, 5:12.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy