Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה
Lichoira, we might think that the great brachos of the Torah are only promised for the most lofty, difficult mitzvos. In this first aliyah of Parshas Eikev, Moshe Rabbeinu is mechadesh to Klal Yisrael that if they are careful to keep even the seemingly minor mitzvos—the ones a person might easily step on with his heels—Hashem will faithfully keep His covenant and shower them with incredible brachos. The Torah promises that Hashem will bless their children, their crops, and their livestock, and remove all sickness from their midst.
We also find a powerful chizuk here regarding the upcoming conquest of Eretz Yisrael. Moshe Rabbeinu addresses the natural fear that the Yidden might have when facing nations more numerous than themselves. He reminds them of the great nissim Hashem performed in Mitzrayim, assuring them that Hashem will fight for them and drive out the nations little by little, while warning them to completely destroy the avodah zarah of the land and not to bring any of its gold or silver into their homes.
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
וְהָיָהAnd it shall beעֵקֶבbecauseתִּשְׁמְעוּןyou will hearkenאֵת—הַמִּשְׁפָּטִיםthe ordinancesהָאֵלֶּהtheseוּשְׁמַרְתֶּםand you will keepוַעֲשִׂיתֶםand you will doאֹתָםthemוְשָׁמַרand He will keepיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godלְךָfor youאֶת—הַבְּרִיתthe covenantוְאֶתand —הַחֶסֶדthe kindnessאֲשֶׁרwhichנִשְׁבַּעHe sworeלַאֲבֹתֶיךָ׃to your fathers
פָּסוּק ב
Pasuk 2
וַאֲהֵבְךָAnd He will love youוּבֵרַכְךָand bless youוְהִרְבֶּךָand multiply youוּבֵרַךְand He will blessפְּרִיthe fruit ofבִטְנְךָyour wombוּפְרִיand the fruit ofאַדְמָתֶךָyour landדְּגָנְךָyour grainוְתִירֹשְׁךָand your wineוְיִצְהָרֶךָand your oilשְׁגַרthe offspring ofאֲלָפֶיךָyour cattleוְעַשְׁתְּרֹתand the young ofצֹאנֶךָyour sheepעַלuponהָאֲדָמָהthe landאֲשֶׁרwhichנִשְׁבַּעHe sworeלַאֲבֹתֶיךָto your fathersלָתֶתto giveלָךְ׃to you
פָּסוּק ג
Pasuk 3
בָּרוּךְBlessedתִּהְיֶהyou shall beמִכָּלabove allהָעַמִּיםthe peoplesלֹאthere shall notיִהְיֶהbeבְךָamong youעָקָרa sterile maleוַעֲקָרָהor a sterile femaleוּבִבְהֶמְתֶּךָ׃or among your livestock
פָּסוּק ד
Pasuk 4
וְהֵסִירAnd He will removeיְהוָהHashemמִמְּךָfrom youכָּלallחֹלִיillnessוְכָלand allמַדְוֵיthe sicknesses ofמִצְרַיִםMitzrayimהָרָעִיםthe evil onesאֲשֶׁרwhichיָדַעְתָּyou knewלֹאHe will notיְשִׂימָםplace themבָּךְupon youוּנְתָנָםand He will put themבְּכָלupon all ofשֹׂנְאֶיךָ׃your enemies
פָּסוּק ה
Pasuk 5
וְאָכַלְתָּAnd you shall consumeאֶת—כָּלallהָעַמִּיםthe peoplesאֲשֶׁרwhomיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godנֹתֵןis givingלָךְto youלֹאnotתָחֹסshall pityעֵינְךָyour eyeעֲלֵיהֶםthemוְלֹאand you shall notתַעֲבֹדworshipאֶת—אֱלֹהֵיהֶםtheir godsכִּיforמוֹקֵשׁa snareהוּאitלָךְ׃is to you
פָּסוּק ו
Pasuk 6
כִּיIfתֹאמַרyou shall sayבִּלְבָבְךָin your heartרַבִּיםmore numerousהַגּוֹיִםthe nationsהָאֵלֶּהtheseמִמֶּנִּיthan Iאֵיכָהhowאוּכַלwill I be ableלְהוֹרִישָׁם׃to dispossess them
פָּסוּק ז
Pasuk 7
לֹאnotתִירָאyou shall fearמֵהֶםof themזָכֹרrememberingתִּזְכֹּרyou shall rememberאֵת—אֲשֶׁרthat whichעָשָׂהdidיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godלְפַרְעֹהto Pharaohוּלְכָלand to all ofמִצְרָיִם׃Mitzrayim
פָּסוּק ח
Pasuk 8
הַמַּסֹּתthe trialsהַגְּדֹלֹתthe greatאֲשֶׁרwhichרָאוּsawעֵינֶיךָyour eyesוְהָאֹתֹתand the signsוְהַמֹּפְתִיםand the wondersוְהַיָּדand the handהַחֲזָקָהthe strongוְהַזְּרֹעַand the armהַנְּטוּיָהthe outstretchedאֲשֶׁרwith whichהוֹצִאֲךָbrought you outיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godכֵּןsoיַעֲשֶׂהwill doיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godלְכָלto allהָעַמִּיםthe peoplesאֲשֶׁרwhomאַתָּהyouיָרֵאfearמִפְּנֵיהֶם׃of them
פָּסוּק ט
Pasuk 9
וְגַםAnd alsoאֶת—הַצִּרְעָהthe hornetיְשַׁלַּחwill sendיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godבָּםamong themעַדuntilאֲבֹדthe perishing ofהַנִּשְׁאָרִיםthose who remainוְהַנִּסְתָּרִיםand those who hideמִפָּנֶיךָ׃from before you
פָּסוּק י
Pasuk 10
לֹאDo notתַעֲרֹץdreadמִפְּנֵיהֶםbefore themכִּיforיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godבְּקִרְבֶּךָis in your midstאֵלa Godגָּדוֹלgreatוְנוֹרָא׃and awesome
פָּסוּק יא
Pasuk 11
וְנָשַׁלAnd will cast outיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godאֶת—הַגּוֹיִםthe nationsהָאֵלtheseמִפָּנֶיךָfrom before youמְעַטlittleמְעָטby littleלֹאnotתוּכַלwill you be ableכַּלֹּתָםto destroy themמַהֵרquicklyפֶּןlestתִּרְבֶּהwill multiplyעָלֶיךָagainst youחַיַּתthe beast ofהַשָּׂדֶה׃the field
פָּסוּק יב
Pasuk 12
וּנְתָנָםAnd He will deliver themיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godלְפָנֶיךָbefore youוְהָמָםand He will throw them into panicמְהוּמָהa panicגְדֹלָהgreatעַדuntilהִשָּׁמְדָם׃their destruction
פָּסוּק יג
Pasuk 13
וְנָתַןAnd He will deliverמַלְכֵיהֶםtheir kingsבְּיָדֶךָinto your handוְהַאֲבַדְתָּand you shall destroyאֶת—שְׁמָםtheir nameמִתַּחַתfrom underהַשָּׁמָיִםthe heavensלֹאnotיִתְיַצֵּבshall stand upאִישׁany manבְּפָנֶיךָbefore youעַדuntilהִשְׁמִדְךָyour wiping outאֹתָם׃them
פָּסוּק יד
Pasuk 14
פְּסִילֵיThe graven images ofאֱלֹהֵיהֶםtheir godsתִּשְׂרְפוּןyou shall burnבָּאֵשׁin the fireלֹאdo notתַחְמֹדcovetכֶּסֶףsilverוְזָהָבand goldעֲלֵיהֶםupon themוְלָקַחְתָּand takeלָךְfor yourselfפֶּןlestתִּוָּקֵשׁyou be ensnaredבּוֹby itכִּיforתוֹעֲבַתan abomination ofיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godהוּא׃it is
פָּסוּק טו
Pasuk 15
וְלֹאand you shall notתָבִיאbringתוֹעֵבָהan abominationאֶלintoבֵּיתֶךָyour houseוְהָיִיתָand you will beחֵרֶםbannedכָּמֹהוּlike itשַׁקֵּץutterly detestתְּשַׁקְּצֶנּוּyou shall detest itוְתַעֵבand utterly abhorתְּתַעֲבֶנּוּyou shall abhor itכִּיforחֵרֶםbannedהוּא׃it is
פָּסוּק טז
Pasuk 16
כָּלAllהַמִּצְוָהthe commandmentאֲשֶׁרthatאָנֹכִיIמְצַוְּךָcommand youהַיּוֹםtodayתִּשְׁמְרוּןyou shall safeguardלַעֲשׂוֹתto performלְמַעַןso thatתִּחְיוּןyou may liveוּרְבִיתֶםand multiplyוּבָאתֶםand enterוִירִשְׁתֶּםand possessאֶת—הָאָרֶץthe landאֲשֶׁרthatנִשְׁבַּעsworeיְהוָהHashemלַאֲבֹתֵיכֶם׃to your forefathers
פָּסוּק יז
Pasuk 17
וְזָכַרְתָּAnd you shall rememberאֶת—כָּלallהַדֶּרֶךְthe wayאֲשֶׁרthatהֹלִיכֲךָled youיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godזֶהtheseאַרְבָּעִיםfortyשָׁנָהyearsבַּמִּדְבָּרin the wildernessלְמַעַןin orderעַנֹּתְךָto afflict youלְנַסֹּתְךָto test youלָדַעַתto knowאֶת—אֲשֶׁרwhat wasבִּלְבָבְךָin your heartהֲתִשְׁמֹרwhether you would keepמצותוHis commandmentמִצְוֺתָיוHis commandmentsאִםorלֹא׃not
פָּסוּק יח
Pasuk 18
וַיְעַנְּךָAnd He afflicted youוַיַּרְעִבֶךָand He starved youוַיַּאֲכִלְךָand He fed youאֶת—הַמָּןthe mannaאֲשֶׁרwhichלֹאnotיָדַעְתָּdid you knowוְלֹאand notיָדְעוּןdid they knowאֲבֹתֶיךָyour fathersלְמַעַןin orderהוֹדִעֲךָto make you knowכִּיthatלֹאnotעַלbyהַלֶּחֶםthe breadלְבַדּוֹaloneיִחְיֶהdoes liveהָאָדָםmanכִּיbutעַלbyכָּלeverythingמוֹצָאproceeding fromפִיthe mouth ofיְהוָהHashemיִחְיֶהdoes liveהָאָדָם׃man
פָּסוּק יט
Pasuk 19
שִׂמְלָתְךָYour clothingלֹאdid notבָלְתָהwear outמֵעָלֶיךָfrom upon youוְרַגְלְךָand your footלֹאdid notבָצֵקָהswellזֶהtheseאַרְבָּעִיםfortyשָׁנָה׃years
פָּסוּק כ
Pasuk 20
וְיָדַעְתָּAnd you shall knowעִםwithלְבָבֶךָyour heartכִּיthatכַּאֲשֶׁרjust asיְיַסֵּרdisciplinesאִישׁa manאֶת—בְּנוֹhis sonיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godמְיַסְּרֶךָּ׃disciplines you
פָּסוּק כא
Pasuk 21
וְשָׁמַרְתָּAnd you shall keepאֶת—מִצְוֺתthe commandments ofיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godלָלֶכֶתto walkבִּדְרָכָיוin His waysוּלְיִרְאָהand to fearאֹתוֹ׃Him
פָּסוּק כב
Pasuk 22
כִּיForיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godמְבִיאֲךָis bringing youאֶלtoאֶרֶץa landטוֹבָהgoodאֶרֶץa land ofנַחֲלֵיstreams ofמָיִםwaterעֲיָנֹתspringsוּתְהֹמֹתand depthsיֹצְאִיםflowing forthבַּבִּקְעָהin the valleyוּבָהָר׃and in the mountain
פָּסוּק כג
Pasuk 23
אֶרֶץa land ofחִטָּהwheatוּשְׂעֹרָהand barleyוְגֶפֶןand vinesוּתְאֵנָהand figsוְרִמּוֹןand pomegranatesאֶרֶץa land ofזֵיתolives ofשֶׁמֶןoilוּדְבָשׁ׃and honey
פָּסוּק כד
Pasuk 24
אֶרֶץa landאֲשֶׁרthatלֹאnotבְמִסְכֵּנֻתwith povertyתֹּאכַלyou will eatבָּהּin itלֶחֶםbreadלֹאnotתֶחְסַרyou will lackכֹּלanythingבָּהּin itאֶרֶץa landאֲשֶׁרwhoseאֲבָנֶיהָstones areבַרְזֶלironוּמֵהֲרָרֶיהָand from its hillsתַּחְצֹבyou will mineנְחֹשֶׁת׃copper
פָּסוּק כה
Pasuk 25
וְאָכַלְתָּAnd you shall eatוְשָׂבָעְתָּand you shall be satisfiedוּבֵרַכְתָּand you shall blessאֶת—יְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godעַלforהָאָרֶץthe landהַטֹּבָהthe goodאֲשֶׁרthatנָתַןHe gaveלָךְ׃to you
Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם
The aliyah begins with the promise of immense brachos, health, and agricultural abundance if Klal Yisrael keeps the mitzvos. Moshe Rabbeinu reassures the people not to fear the nations of Canaan, reminding them of the miracles of Mitzrayim and explaining that Hashem will drive out the inhabitants gradually to prevent wild beasts from multiplying. He strictly forbids keeping any silver or gold from the Canaanite idols, warning that bringing such abominations into one's home makes a person proscribed like them. Finally, the Torah commands the Yidden to remember the forty years in the midbar—where Hashem tested them with hunger, fed them the manna to teach them that man lives by Hashem's word, and miraculously preserved their clothing and feet—before describing the beautiful, fertile nature of Eretz Yisrael and commanding the mitzvah of Birkas HaMazon to thank Hashem after eating.
לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home
The Torah is telling us a major yesod about how Hashem runs the world. When we look at our parnassah, our health, or our daily struggles, we naturally think that we live "on bread alone", meaning, we think we are completely dependent on the natural, physical means of survival. If we don't have the bread, if the doctor's report looks bad, or if the business deal falls through, we panic. We ask ourselves, "How can I survive this?"
But the Torah is mechadesh a deep emunah lesson from the forty years in the midbar. Hashem fed us the manna, which was completely outside of nature, to teach us "ki lo al halechem levado yihyeh ha'adam", a person does not live on bread alone, but on whatever Hashem decrees. The bread is just a garment, a levush. The real source of your life and your sustenance is the direct word of Hashem. If He wills it, you can thrive in a barren desert with clothes that never wear out.
When you worry about how things will work out, remember that your survival does not depend on the natural "bread" you see in front of you. It depends solely on Hashem's ratzon. When you internalize this, the pressure of the physical world melts away, and you realize you are always in the hands of a loving Father.
Today, when you sit down to eat or make a blessing, pause for ten seconds before saying the brachah. Remind yourself that it is not the food itself that sustains you, but the word of Hashem that gives this food the power to keep you alive.