Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, Moshe Rabbeinu continues his address to Klal Yisrael, recalling the immense growth of the nation and the sheer weight of leading them. He describes how he could not bear the burden, the trouble, and the bickering of the people alone, which prompted the need to establish a structured system of leadership.

Moshe recounts how he instructed the nation to choose wise, understanding, and well-known men from each tribe. He then details the appointment of these leaders as officers and judges over the people, charging them to judge with absolute righteousness, without fear of any man, and to bring the most difficult cases directly to him.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

פָּסוּק א

Pasuk 1

יְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֵיthe God ofאֲבוֹתֵכֶםyour fathersיֹסֵףshall addעֲלֵיכֶםupon youכָּכֶםlike youאֶלֶףa thousandפְּעָמִיםtimesוִיבָרֵךְand He shall blessאֶתְכֶםyouכַּאֲשֶׁרjust asדִּבֶּרHe spokeלָכֶם׃to you

רַשִׁ״י

יסףMay He addעליכםupon youככםlike youאלףa thousandפעמים.timesמַהוּwhat isשׁוּבfurtherויברךand may He blessאתכםyouכאשרasדברHe spokeלכםto you?אֶלָּאratherאָמְרוּthey saidלוֹ,to himמֹשֶׁהMosheאַתָּהyouנוֹתֵןare settingקִצְבָּהa limitלְבִרְכוֹתֵינוּ?to our blessingsכְּבָרalreadyהִבְטִיחַpromisedהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy One blessed be Heאֶת—אַבְרָהָםAvraham"אֲשֶׁרthatאִםifיוּכַלcanאִישׁa manלִמְנוֹתto countוְגוֹ'"etcבראשיתBereishisי"ג13,אָמַרhe saidלָהֶםto themזוֹthisמִשֶּׁלִּיis from mineהִיא,itאֲבָלbutהוּאHeיְבָרֵךְwill blessאֶתְכֶםyouכַּאֲשֶׁרasדִּבֶּרHe spokeלָכֶםto youספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

אֵיכָהHowאֶשָּׂאcan I bearלְבַדִּיaloneטָרְחֲכֶםyour troubleוּמַשַּׂאֲכֶםand your burdenוְרִיבְכֶם׃and your bickering

רַשִׁ״י

איכהHowאשאcan I bearלבדי.myself aloneאִםIfאֹמַרI were to sayלְקַבֵּלto receiveשָׂכָר,rewardלֹאnotאוּכַל,I am ableזוֹThisהִיאisשֶׁאָמַרְתִּיwhat I saidלָכֶםto youלֹאnotמֵעַצְמִיof myselfאֲנִיdo Iאוֹמֵרsayלָכֶםto youאֶלָּאbutמִפִּיfrom the mouth ofהַקָּבָּ"ה:the Holy One

רַשִׁ״י

טרחכם.Your cumbranceמְלַמֵּדteachesשֶׁהָיוּthat they wereיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelטַרְחָנִיןtroublesome–הָיָהwasאֶחָדoneמֵהֶםof themרוֹאֶהseeingאֶת—בַּעַלthe litigantדִּינוֹof his caseנוֹצֵחַwinningבַּדִּין,in the judgmentאוֹמֵרhe would sayיֵשׁthere areלִיto meעֵדִיםwitnessesלְהָבִיא,to bringיֵשׁthere areלִיto meרְאָיוֹתproofsלְהָבִיא,to bringמוֹסִיףaddאֲנִיI willעֲלֵיכֶםupon youדַּיָּנִין:judges

רַשִׁ״י

ומשאכם.And your burdenמְלַמֵּדteachesשֶׁהָיוּthat they wereאֶפִּיקוֹרְסִין,EpicorsimהִקְדִּיםIf went earlyמֹשֶׁהMosheלָצֵאת,to go outאָמְרוּthey saidמָהwhatרָאָהsawבֶןthe son ofעַמְרָםAmramלָצֵאת?to go outשֶׁמָּאperhapsאֵינוֹhe is notשָׁפוּיat easeבְּתוֹךְinsideבֵּיתוֹ;his houseאֵחַרIf he delayedלָצֵאת,to go outאָמְרוּthey saidמָהwhatרָאָהsawבֶןthe son ofעַמְרָםAmramשֶׁלֹּאnotלָצֵאת?to go outמָהwhatאַתֶּםdo youסְבוּרִים?thinkיוֹשֵׁבhe sitsוְיוֹעֵץand devisesעֲלֵיכֶםagainst youעֵצוֹתschemesרָעוֹתevilוְחוֹשֵׁבand plotsעֲלֵיכֶםagainst youמַחֲשָׁבוֹת:thoughts

רַשִׁ״י

ורבכם.And your strifeמְלַמֵּדteachesשֶׁהָיוּthat they wereרוֹגְנִיםcontentiousספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

הָבוּProvideלָכֶםfor yourselvesאֲנָשִׁיםmenחֲכָמִיםwiseוּנְבֹנִיםand understandingוִידֻעִיםand knownלְשִׁבְטֵיכֶםto your tribesוַאֲשִׂימֵםand I will place themבְּרָאשֵׁיכֶם׃at your heads

רַשִׁ״י

הבוGiveלכם.to yourselvesהַזְמִינוּprepareעַצְמְכֶםyourselvesלַדָּבָר:for the matter

רַשִׁ״י

אנשים.Menוְכִיand wouldתַעֲלֶהit ariseעַלuponדַּעְתְּךָyour mindנָשִׁים,womenמַהwhatתַּ"לֹdoes the teaching sayאֲנָשִׁים?menצַדִּיקִים,righteousכְּסוּפִים:desirable

רַשִׁ״י

חכמיםWiseונבנים.and understandingמְבִינִיםwho understandדָבָרa matterמִתּוֹךְfrom withinדָּבָר;a matterזוֹThisהִיאisשֶׁשָּׁאַלthat askedאֲרִיּוֹסAriusאֶת—רַבִּיRabbiיוֹסֵיYoseiמַהwhatבֵּיןis betweenחֲכָמִיםwise menלִנְבוֹנִים?to understanding menחָכָםA wise manדּוֹמֶהis similarלְשֻׁלְחָנִיto a money changerעָשִׁיר,richכְּשֶׁמְּבִיאִיןwhen they bringלוֹto himדִּינָרִיןdinarsלִרְאוֹתto examineרוֹאֶה,he examinesוּכְשֶׁאֵיןand when notמְבִיאִיןthey bringלוֹto himיוֹשֵׁבhe sitsוְתוֹהֵא,and does nothingנָבוֹןAn understanding manדּוֹמֶהis similarלְשֻׁלְחָנִיto a money changerתַּגָּר,merchantכְּשֶׁמְּבִיאִיןwhen they bringלוֹto himמָעוֹתcoinsלִרְאוֹתto examineרוֹאֶה,he examinesוּכְשֶׁאֵיןand when notמְבִיאִיןthey bringלוֹ,to himהוּאheמְחַזֵּרgoes aroundוּמֵבִיאand bringsמִשֶּׁלּוֹfrom his ownספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

וידעיםAnd knownלשבטיכם.to your tribesשֶׁהֵםthat theyנִכָּרִיםare recognizedלָכֶם,to youשֶׁאִםfor ifבָּאhe comesלְפָנַיbefore meמְעֻטָּףwrappedבְּטַלִּיתוֹ,in his cloakאֵינִיI do notיוֹדֵעַknowמִיwhoהוּאhe isוּמֵאֵיand from whichזֶהthisשֵׁבֶטtribeהוּא,he isוְאִםand ifהָגוּןworthyהוּא,he isאֲבָלbutאַתֶּםyouמַכִּירִיןknowבּוֹ,himשֶׁאַתֶּםfor youגִּדַּלְתֶּםraisedאוֹתוֹ,himלְכָךְthereforeנֶאֱמַרit is saidוִידֻעִיםand knownלְשִׁבְטֵיכֶםto your tribesספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

בראשיכם.at your headsרָאשִׁיםas chiefsוּמְכֻבָּדִיםand honored onesעֲלֵיכֶםover you–שֶׁתִּהְיוּthat you shouldנוֹהֲגִיןbehavingבָּהֶםtoward themכָּבוֹדwith respectוְיִרְאָה:and reverence

רַשִׁ״י

ואשמם.And I will place them as guiltyחָסֵרis missingיוֹ"ד,the letter yudלִמֵּדit teachesשֶׁאַשְׁמוֹתֵיהֶםthat the guilt ofשֶׁל·יִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelתְּלוּיוֹתis suspendedבְּרָאשֵׁיupon the heads ofדַּיָּנֵיהֶם,their judgesשֶׁהָיָהbecause it wasלָהֶםupon themלִמְחוֹתto protestוּלְכַוֵּןand to directאוֹתָםthemלַדֶּרֶךְto the pathהַיְשָׁרָהthe straightספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

וַתַּעֲנוּAnd you answeredאֹתִיmeוַתֹּאמְרוּand you saidטוֹבgood isהַדָּבָרthe thingאֲשֶׁרwhichדִּבַּרְתָּyou spokeלַעֲשׂוֹת׃to do

רַשִׁ״י

ותענוAnd you answeredאתיmeוגו'.etc.חֲלַטְתֶּםyou decidedאֶת—הַדָּבָרthe matterלַהֲנָאַתְכֶם;for your benefitהָיָהit wasלָכֶםfor youלְהָשִׁיב,to replyרַבֵּנוּour teacherמֹשֶׁה,Mosheמִמִּיfrom whomנָאֶהis it fittingלִלְמֹד,to learnמִמְּךָfrom youאוֹorמִתַּלְמִידְךָ?from your discipleלֹאis it notמִמְּךָfrom youשֶׁנִּצְטַעַרְתָּwho took painsעָלֶיהָ?over itאֶלָּאbutיָדַעְתִּיI knewמַחְשְׁבוֹתֵיכֶם,your thoughtsהֱיִיתֶםyou wereאוֹמְרִיםsayingעַכְשָׁוnowיִתְמַנּוּthere will be appointedעָלֵינוּover usדַּיָּנִיןjudgesהַרְבֵּה,manyאִםifאֵיןthere is notמַכִּירֵנוּ,one who knows usאָנוּweמְבִיאִיןwill bringלוֹto himדוֹרוֹןa giftוְהוּאand heנוֹשֵׂאwill lift upלָנוּfor usפָנִיםfavorשםthere:

רַשִׁ״י

לעשות.to doאִםifהָיִיתִיI wasמִתְעַצֵּל,lazyאַתֶּםyouאוֹמְרִיםwould sayעֲשֵׂהdoמְהֵרָהquicklyשםthere:

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

וָאֶקַּחAnd I tookאֶת—רָאשֵׁיthe heads ofשִׁבְטֵיכֶםyour tribesאֲנָשִׁיםmenחֲכָמִיםwiseוִידֻעִיםand well-knownוָאֶתֵּןand I placedאֹתָםthemרָאשִׁיםheadsעֲלֵיכֶםover youשָׂרֵיofficers ofאֲלָפִיםthousandsוְשָׂרֵיand officers ofמֵאוֹתhundredsוְשָׂרֵיand officers ofחֲמִשִּׁיםfiftiesוְשָׂרֵיand officers ofעֲשָׂרֹתtensוְשֹׁטְרִיםand administratorsלְשִׁבְטֵיכֶם׃for your tribes

רַשִׁ״י

ואקחAnd I tookאת—ראשיthe heads ofשבטיכם.your tribesמְשַׁכְתִּיםI drew them–אַשְׁרֵיכֶם,happy are youעַלoverמִיwhomבָּאתֶםare you comingלְהִתְמַנּוֹת?to be appointedעַלoverבְּנֵיthe sons ofאַבְרָהָםAvrahamיִצְחָקYitzchakוְיַעֲקֹב,and Yaakovעַלoverבְּנֵיthe sons ofאָדָםmanשֶׁנִּקְרְאוּwho are calledאַחִיםbrethrenוְרֵעִים,and friendsחֵלֶקportionוְנַחֲלָה,and inheritanceוְכָלand everyלְשׁוֹןexpression ofחִבָּהaffectionשםthere:

רַשִׁ״י

אנשיםmenחכמיםwiseוידעים.and knownאֲבָלbutנְבוֹנִיםunderstandingלֹאnotמָצָאתִי;did I findזוֹthisאַחַתoneמִשֶּׁבַעof sevenמִדּוֹתqualificationsשֶׁאָמַרwhich saidיִתְרוֹYisroלְמֹשֶׁהto Mosheוְלֹאand notמָצָאdid he findאֶלָּאexceptשָׁלוֹשׁ,threeאנשיםmenצַדִּיקִים,righteousחכמים,wiseוידעיםand knownשםthere:

רַשִׁ״י

ראשיםHeadsעליכם.over youשֶׁתִּנְהֲגוּthat you behaveבָהֶםtoward them withכָּבוֹד,respectרָאשִׁיםfirstבְּמֶקַח,in buyingרָאשִׁיםfirstבְּמִמְכָּר,in sellingרָאשִׁיםfirstבְּמַשָּׂאin businessוּמַתָּן,dealingsנִכְנָסenteringאַחֲרוֹןlastוְיוֹצֵאand leavingרִאשׁוֹןfirstשםthere:

רַשִׁ״י

שריofficers ofאלפים.thousandsאֶחָדoneמְמֻנֶּהappointedעַלoverאֶלֶף:a thousand

רַשִׁ״י

שריchiefs ofמאות.hundredsאֶחָדoneמְמֻנֶּהappointedעַלoverמֵאָה:one hundred

רַשִׁ״י

ושטרים.and court officersמִנִּיתִיI appointedעֲלֵיכֶםover youלשבטיכםaccording to your tribes–אֵלּוּtheseהַכּוֹפְתִיןwho bindוְהַמַּכִּיןand who strikeבִּרְצוּעָהwith a strapעַלbyפִּיthe word ofהַדַּיָּנִיןthe judgesעי'seeשםthere:

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

וָאֲצַוֶּהAnd I commandedאֶת—שֹׁפְטֵיכֶםyour judgesבָּעֵתat the timeהַהִואthatלֵאמֹרsayingשָׁמֹעַHearבֵּיןbetweenאֲחֵיכֶםyour brothersוּשְׁפַטְתֶּםand judgeצֶדֶקrighteousnessבֵּיןbetweenאִישׁa manוּבֵיןand betweenאָחִיוhis brotherוּבֵיןand betweenגֵּרוֹ׃his stranger

רַשִׁ״י

ואצוהAnd I commandedאת—שפטיכם.your judgesאָמַרְתִּיI saidלָהֶםto themהֱווּbeמְתוּנִיןdeliberateבַּדִּיןin judgment–אִםifבָּאcomesדִּיןa caseלְפָנֶיךָbefore youפַּעַםtimeאַחַת,oneשְׁתַּיִם,twiceוְשָׁלוֹשׁ,and three timesאַלdo notתֹּאמַרsayכְּבָרalreadyבָּאcameדִּיןcaseזֶהthisלְפָנַיbefore meפְּעָמִיםtimesהַרְבֵּה,manyאֶלָּאratherהֱיוּbeנוֹשְׂאִיםdiscussingוְנוֹתְנִיםand debatingבּוֹin itשםthere:

רַשִׁ״י

בעתAt the timeההוא.thatמִשֶּׁמִּנִּיתִיםas soon as I appointed themאָמַרְתִּיI saidלָהֶםto themאֵיןit is notעַכְשָׁיוnowכִּלְשֶׁעָבַר,as in the pastלְשֶׁעָבַרin the pastהֱיִיתֶםyou wereבִּרְשׁוּתunder the authority ofעַצְמְכֶם,yourselvesעַכְשָׁוnowהֲרֵיbeholdאַתֶּםyouמְשֻׁעְבָּדִיםare subjugatedלַצִּבּוּרto the communityשםthere:

רַשִׁ״י

שמע.hearלְשׁוֹןis an expression ofהֹוֶה,continuous actionאודנ"טoyantבְּלַעַז,in foreign tongueכְּמוֹjust likeזָכוֹר,rememberשָׁמוֹר:keep

רַשִׁ״י

וביןand betweenגרו.his opponentזֶהthisבַּעַלthe master ofדִּינוֹhis lawsuitשֶׁאוֹגֵרwho heaps upעָלָיוagainst himדְּבָרִים;wordsדָּ"אַanother explanationוביןand betweenגרוhis dwelling-neighbor,אַףevenעַלconcerningעִסְקֵיmatters ofדִּירָהa dwellingבֵּיןsuch asחֲלֻקַּתthe division ofאַחִים,brothersאֲפִלּוּevenבֵּיןbetweenתַּנּוּרan ovenלְכִירַיִםand a stoveשם;thereסנהדריןSanhedrinז'7b:

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

לֹאYou shall notתַכִּירוּrecognizeפָנִיםfacesבַּמִּשְׁפָּטin judgmentכַּקָּטֹןlike the smallכַּגָּדֹלlike the greatתִּשְׁמָעוּןyou shall hearלֹאyou shall notתָגוּרוּfearמִפְּנֵיbecause ofאִישׁany manכִּיforהַמִּשְׁפָּטthe judgmentלֵאלֹהִיםto Godהוּאit belongsוְהַדָּבָרand the matterאֲשֶׁרthatיִקְשֶׁהis too hardמִכֶּםfor youתַּקְרִבוּןyou shall bringאֵלַיto meוּשְׁמַעְתִּיו׃and I will hear it

רַשִׁ״י

לאDo notתכירוrecognizeפניםfacesבמשפט.in judgmentזֶהthisהַמְמֻנֶּהis the one appointedלְהוֹשִׁיבto seatהַדַּיָּנִים,the judgesשֶׁלֹּאthat notיֹאמַרhe should sayאִישׁmanפְּלוֹנִיso-and-soנָאֶהis handsomeאוֹorגִּבּוֹר,strongאוֹשִׁיבֶנּוּI will seat himדַיָּן,as a judgeאִישׁmanפְּלוֹנִיso-and-soקְרוֹבִי,is my relativeאוֹשִׁיבֶנּוּI will seat himדַּיָּןas a judgeבָּעִיר,in the cityוְהוּאand heאֵינוֹis notבָּקִיexpertבְדִינִין,in the lawsנִמְצָאit turns outמְחַיֵּבhe obligatesאֶת—הַזַּכַּאיthe innocent oneוּמְזַכֶּהand acquitsאֶת—הַחַיָּב,the guilty oneמַעֲלֶהreckonאֲנִיIעַלuponמִיwhoeverשֶׁמִּנָּהוּappointed himכְּאִלּוּas ifהִכִּירhe recognizedפָּנִיםfacesבַּדִּין:in the judgment

רַשִׁ״י

כקטןAs the smallכגדלas the greatתשמעון.you shall hearשֶׁיְּהֵאthat it should beחָבִיבdearעָלֶיךָupon youדִּיןa judgmentשֶׁלofפְּרוּטָהa perutahכְּדִיןlike a judgmentשֶׁלofמֵאָהone hundredמָנֶה,manehשֶׁאִםthat ifקָדַםit came firstוּבָאand cameלְפָנֶיךָ,before youלֹאdo notתְסַלְּקֶנּוּpush it asideלָאַחֲרוֹן.to the lastדָּ"אַAnother explanation—כקטןAs the smallכגדלas the greatתשמעוןyou shall hearכְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ,like its Targumשֶׁלֹּאthat you notתֹאמַרsayזֶהthisעָנִיa poor manהוּאisוַחֲבֵרוֹand his fellowעָשִׁירis richוּמְצֻוֶּהand is commandedלְפַרְנְסוֹ,to support himאֲזַכֶּהI will acquitאֶת—הֶעָנִיthe poor manוְנִמְצָאand he turns outמִתְפַּרְנֵסsupportedבִּנְקִיּוּת;in cleanlinessדָּ"אַAnother explanation—שֶׁלֹּאthat you notתֹאמַרsayהֵיאַךְhowאֲנִיdo Iפּוֹגֵםdamageכְּבוֹדוֹthe honorשֶׁלofעָשִׁירa rich manזֶהthisבִּשְׁבִילbecause ofדִּינָר,a dinarאֲזַכֶּנּוּI will acquit himעַכְשָׁיו,nowוּכְשֶׁיּוֹצֵאand when he goesלַחוּץoutsideאֹמַרI will sayלוֹto himתֵּןgiveלוֹto himשֶׁאַתָּהfor youחַיָּבoweלוֹto himשםthere:

רַשִׁ״י

לאDo notתגורוfearמפניbeforeאיש.any manלֹאdo notתִּירְאוּ;fearדָּ"אַanother explanation—לאdo notתגורוgather inלֹאdo notתַכְנִיסhold backדְּבָרֶיךָyour wordsמִפְּנֵיbeforeאִישׁ,any manלְשׁוֹןan expression of"אֹגֵרgatheringבַּקַּיִץ"in the summerמשליMishleiי'ten:

רַשִׁ״י

כיForהמשפטthe judgmentלאלהיםis to Godהוא.itמַהwhatשֶּׁאַתָּהthat youנוֹטֵלtakeמִזֶּהfrom this oneשֶׁלֹּאnotכַדִּין,according to lawאַתָּהyouמַזְקִיקֵנִיcompel Meלְהַחֲזִירto returnלוֹ,to himנִמְצָאit turns outשֶׁהִטֵּיתָthat you pervertedעָלַיagainst Meהַמִּשְׁפָּטthe judgmentסנהדריןSanhedrinח'8a:

רַשִׁ״י

תקרבוןbringאלי.to meעַלon account ofדָּבָרstatementזֶהthisנִסְתַּלֵּקdepartedמִמֶּנּוּfrom himמִשְׁפַּטthe law ofבְּנוֹתthe daughters ofצְלָפְחָדTzelofchadשםthere;וְכֵןand likewiseשְׁמוּאֵלShmuelאָמַרsaidלְשָׁאוּלto ShaulשמואלShmuelאIט'9"אָנֹכִיI amהָרוֹאֶה",the seerאָמַרsaidלוֹto himהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy Oneחַיֶּיךָby your lifeשֶׁאֲנִיthat Iמוֹדִיעֲךָwill inform youשֶׁאֵיןthat notאַתָּהyouרוֹאֶה,are a seerוְאֵימָתַיand whenהוֹדִיעוֹ?did He inform himכְּשֶׁבָּאwhen he cameלִמְשֹׁחַto anointאֶת—דָּוִדDovidשמואלShmuelאIט"ז16"וַיַּרְאand he sawאֶת—אֱלִיאָבEliabוַיֹּאמֶרand he saidאַךְsurelyנֶגֶדbeforeה'Hashemמְשִׁיחוֹ",is His anointedאָמַרsaidלוֹto himהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy Oneוְלֹאand did notאָמַרְתָּyou sayאָנֹכִיI amהָרֹאֶה?the seer"אַלdo notתַּבֵּטlookאֶלatמַרְאֵהוּ"his appearanceספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק ח

Pasuk 8

וָאֲצַוֶּהAnd I commandedאֶתְכֶםyouבָּעֵתat the timeהַהִואthatאֵת—כָּלallהַדְּבָרִיםthe thingsאֲשֶׁרwhichתַּעֲשׂוּן׃you should do

רַשִׁ״י

את—כלall ofהדבריםthe thingsאשרthatתעשון.you shall doאֵלּוּthese areעֲשֶׂרֶתthe tenהַדְּבָרִיםthingsשֶׁבֵּיןthat are betweenדִּינֵיlaws ofמָמוֹנוֹתmonetary casesלְדִינֵיto laws ofנְפָשׁוֹתcapital casesשםthere:

פָּסוּק ט

Pasuk 9

וַנִּסַּעAnd we journeyedמֵחֹרֵבfrom Chorevוַנֵּלֶךְand we wentאֵת—כָּלall ofהַמִּדְבָּרthe wildernessהַגָּדוֹלthe greatוְהַנּוֹרָאand the awesomeהַהוּאthatאֲשֶׁרwhichרְאִיתֶםyou sawדֶּרֶךְby way ofהַרthe mountain ofהָאֱמֹרִיthe EmoriכַּאֲשֶׁרasצִוָּהcommandedיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֵינוּour Godאֹתָנוּusוַנָּבֹאand we cameעַדuntilקָדֵשׁKadeshבַּרְנֵעַ׃Barnea

רַשִׁ״י

המדברthe wildernessהגדולgreatוהנורא.and fearfulשֶׁהָיוּthat there wereבוֹin itנְחָשִׁיםserpentsכְּקוֹרוֹת,like beamsוְעַקְרַבִּיםand scorpionsכִּקְשָׁתוֹתlike bowsשםthere:

פָּסוּק י

Pasuk 10

וָאֹמַרAnd I saidאֲלֵכֶםto youבָּאתֶםyou have comeעַדtoהַרthe mountain ofהָאֱמֹרִיthe AmoriteאֲשֶׁרwhichיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֵינוּour Godנֹתֵןis givingלָנוּ׃to us

פָּסוּק יא

Pasuk 11

רְאֵהseeנָתַןhas givenיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godלְפָנֶיךָbefore youאֶת—הָאָרֶץthe landעֲלֵהgo upרֵשׁpossessכַּאֲשֶׁרasדִּבֶּרspokeיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֵיGod ofאֲבֹתֶיךָyour fathersלָךְto youאַלdo notתִּירָאfearוְאַלand do notתֵּחָת׃be dismayed

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah transitions from the appointment of the judges to the journey toward the Promised Land. Moshe Rabbeinu describes how Klal Yisrael traveled through the great and terrifying wilderness from Chorev until they reached Kadesh-barnea. There, Moshe encouraged the nation to go up and inherit the land that Hashem had placed before them, urging them not to fear or be discouraged as they prepared to take possession of their inheritance.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

In this parsha, Moshe Rabbeinu recalls how he appointed judges and leaders over Klal Yisrael, warning them: "You shall not be partial in judgment: hear out low and high alike. Fear no one, for judgment is God’s." Rashi explains that this is a warning to a judge not to say, "I am afraid of this wealthy or powerful person, lest he harm me or my family." The Torah demands absolute truth, reminding us that when we stand up for what is right, we are doing the work of Hashem Himself, and He is our ultimate protection.

This is not just a lesson for a Beis Din; it is a guide for our daily lives. How often do we find ourselves in situations where we hesitate to speak the truth, to stand up for a friend, or to do the right thing because we are afraid of what people will say? We worry about social pressure, our reputation, or the reaction of someone influential. The Torah tells us: "Fear no one, for judgment is God's." When you act with integrity and truth, you are aligned with Hashem, and you have nothing to fear from any human being.

Today, when you face a situation where doing the right thing or speaking the truth feels uncomfortable or socially risky, pause and remind yourself that you answer only to Hashem. Speak and act with quiet, gentle confidence, knowing that Hashem is with you.