Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, Moshe Rabbeinu continues his powerful shirah, calling upon Klal Yisrael to look back at history and recognize Hashem's constant hashgacha. He tells them to ask their fathers and elders to explain the generations of old, showing how Hashem set the very boundaries of the nations of the world with Klal Yisrael in mind.

We then learn of Hashem's incredible love and care for His people, whom He chose as His own portion. The shirah describes how Hashem found us in the desolate wilderness, surrounded us with His clouds of glory, and guarded us with the utmost tenderness, like the pupil of an eye.

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

זְכֹרRememberיְמוֹתthe days ofעוֹלָםoldבִּינוּunderstandשְׁנוֹתthe years ofדּוֹרgenerationוָדוֹרand generationשְׁאַלaskאָבִיךָyour fatherוְיַגֵּדְךָand he will tell youזְקֵנֶיךָyour eldersוְיֹאמְרוּand they will sayלָךְ׃to you

רַשִׁ״י

זכרRememberימותthe days ofעולם.oldמֶהwhatעָשָׂהHe didבָרִאשׁוֹנִיםto the first generationsשֶׁהִכְעִיסוּwho angeredלְפָנָיו:before Him

רַשִׁ״י

בינוunderstandשנותthe years ofדרgenerationודר.and generationדּוֹרthe generation ofאֱנוֹשׁEnoshשֶׁהֵצִיףwhom He floodedעֲלֵיהֶםupon themמֵיthe waters ofאוֹקְיָנוּסthe oceanוְדוֹרand the generation ofהַמַּבּוּלthe floodשֶׁשְּׁטָפָם.whom He washed awayדָּ"אַanother explanation—לֹאnotנְתַתֶּםyou have setלְבַבְכֶםyour heartעַלuponשֶׁעָבַר,that which passedבינוunderstandשנותthe years ofדרgenerationודרand generation—לְהַכִּירto recognizeלְהַבָּא,for the futureשֶׁיֵּשׁthat there isבְּיָדוֹin His handלְהֵיטִיבto do goodלָכֶםto youוּלְהַנְחִילand to make inheritלָכֶםto youיְמוֹתthe days ofהַמָּשִׁיחַthe Messiahוְהָעוֹלָםand the worldהַבָּאto comeעי'seeספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

שאלAskאביך.your fatherאֵלּוּthese areהַנְּבִיאִיםthe prophetsשֶׁנִּקְרָאִיםwho are calledאָבוֹת,fathersכְּמוֹjust asשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרthat it is saidמלכיםKingsבIIב'2בְּאֵלִיָּהוּregarding Eliyahu"אָבִיMy fatherאָבִיmy fatherרֶכֶבthe chariot ofיִשְׂרָאֵל"YisraelספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

זקניך.your eldersאֵלּוּthese areהַחֲכָמִים:the sages

רַשִׁ״י

ויאמרוand they will tellלך.theeהָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת:the former events

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

בְּהַנְחֵלwhen giving inheritanceעֶלְיוֹןthe Most Highגּוֹיִםto nationsבְּהַפְרִידוֹwhen He separatedבְּנֵיthe children ofאָדָםmanיַצֵּבHe establishedגְּבֻלֹתthe boundaries ofעַמִּיםpeoplesלְמִסְפַּרaccording to the number ofבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yisrael

רַשִׁ״י

בהנחלWhen dividingעליוןthe Most Highגוים.nationsכְּשֶׁהִנְחִילwhen He gave inheritanceהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy One blessed be Heלְמַכְעִיסָיוto those who anger Himאֶת—חֵלֶקthe portion ofנַחֲלָתָןtheir inheritanceהֱצִיפָןHe flooded themוּשְׁטָפָם:and washed them away

רַשִׁ״י

בהפרידוWhen He separatedבניthe sons ofאדם.Adamכְּשֶׁהֵפִיץwhen He scatteredדּוֹרthe generation ofהַפַּלָּגָהthe dispersionהָיָהit wasבְיָדוֹin His powerלְהַעֲבִירָםto remove themמִןfromהָעוֹלָם,the worldלֹאnotעָשָׂהdid He doכֵןsoאֶלָּאbutיצבHe establishedגבלתthe boundaries ofעמיםnations,קִיְּמָםHe preserved themוְלֹאand did notאִבְּדָם:destroy them

רַשִׁ״י

למספרAccording to the number ofבניthe children ofישראל.Yisraelבִּשְׁבִילfor the sake ofמִסְפַּרthe number ofבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelשֶׁעֲתִידִיןwho are destinedלָצֵאתto emergeמִבְּנֵיfrom the sons ofשֵׁם,Shemוּלְמִסְפַּרand according to the number ofשִׁבְעִיםseventyנֶפֶשׁsoulsשֶׁלofבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelשֶׁיָּרְדוּwho went downלְמִצְרַיִםto MitzrayimהִצִּיבHe establishedגבלתthe boundaries ofעמיםnations—שִׁבְעִיםseventyלָשׁוֹן:languages

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

כִּיForחֵלֶקthe portion ofיְהֹוָהHashemעַמּוֹis His peopleיַעֲקֹבYaakovחֶבֶלis the lot ofנַחֲלָתוֹ׃His inheritance

רַשִׁ״י

כיForחלקthe portion ofה'Hashemעמו.is His peopleלָמָּהwhyכָּלallזֹאת?thisלְפִיbecauseשֶׁהָיָהthat wasחֶלְקוֹHis portionכָּבוּשׁhiddenבֵּינֵיהֶםamong themוְעָתִידand destinedלָצֵאת,to emergeוּמִיand whoהוּאisחֶלְקוֹ?His portionעמו.His peopleוּמִיand whoהוּאisעַמּוֹ?His people

רַשִׁ״י

יעקבYaakovחבלthe rope ofנחלתו.His inheritanceוְהוּאand heהַשְּׁלִישִׁיis the thirdבָּאָבוֹת,among the Patriarchsהַמְשֻׁלָּשׁwho is tripledבְּשָׁלוֹשׁwith threeזְכֻיּוֹת,meritsזְכוּתthe merit ofאֲבִיthe father ofאָבִיוhis fatherוּזְכוּתand the merit ofאָבִיוhis fatherוּזְכוּתוֹ,and his own meritהֲרֵיbeholdג',threeכַּחֶבֶלlike the ropeהַזֶּהthisשֶׁהוּאwhich isעָשׂוּיmadeבְּג'of threeגְּדִילִים,strandsוְהוּאand heוּבָנָיוand his sonsהָיוּwereלוֹto Himלְנַחֲלָה,for an inheritanceוְלֹאand notיִשְׁמָעֵאלYishmaelבֶּןthe son ofאַבְרָהָם,Avrahamוְלֹאand notעֵשָׂוEsavבְּנוֹthe sonשֶׁלofיִצְחָקYitzchakעי'seeספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

יִמְצָאֵהוּHe found themבְּאֶרֶץin a land ofמִדְבָּרdesertוּבְתֹהוּand in desolationיְלֵלhowling ofיְשִׁמֹןwildernessיְסֹבְבֶנְהוּHe encompassed themיְבוֹנְנֵהוּHe bestowed understanding on themיִצְּרֶנְהוּHe guarded themכְּאִישׁוֹןas the pupil ofעֵינוֹ׃His eye

רַשִׁ״י

ימצאהוHe found himבארץin a land ofמדבר.desertאוֹתָם— themמָצָאHe foundלוֹfor Himselfנֶאֱמָנִיםfaithfulבְּאֶרֶץin the land ofהַמִּדְבָּר,the desertשֶׁקִּבְּלוּwhen they acceptedעֲלֵיהֶםupon themselvesתּוֹרָתוֹHis Torahוּמַלְכוּתוֹand His sovereigntyוְעֻלּוֹ,and His yokeמַהwhichשֶּׁלֹּאthat notעָשׂוּdidיִשְׁמָעֵאלYishmaelוְעֵשָׂו,and Esavשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidדבריםDevarimל"ג33"וְזָרַחAnd He shoneמִשֵּׂעִירfrom Seirלָמוֹto themהוֹפִיעַHe appearedמֵהַרfrom Mountפָּארָן":Paran

רַשִׁ״י

ובתהוAnd in the wasteיללhowlingישמן.wildernessאֶרֶץa land ofצִיָּהdroughtוּשְׁמָמָה,and desolationמְקוֹםa place ofיִלְלַתthe howling ofתַּנִּינִיםmonstersוּבְנוֹתand daughters ofיַעֲנָה,the ostrichאַףevenשָׁםthereנִמְשְׁכוּthey followedאַחַרafterהָאֱמוּנָה,the faithוְלֹאand did notאָמְרוּsayלְמֹשֶׁהto Mosheהֵיאַךְhowנֵצֵאshall we go outלַמִּדְבָּרוֹתinto the wildernessesמְקוֹםa place ofצִיָּהdroughtוְשִׁמָּמוֹן?and desolationכָּעִנְיָןlike the matterשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרthat is statedירמיהוYirmeyahuב'two,"לֶכְתֵּךְyour goingאַחֲרַיafter Meבַּמִּדְבָּר":in the wilderness

רַשִׁ״י

יסבבנהו.He surrounded himשָׁםthereסִבְּבָםHe surrounded themוְהִקִּיפָםand encompassed themבַּעֲנָנִיםwith cloudsוְסִבְּבָםand He surrounded themבִּדְגָלִיםwith bannersלְאַרְבַּעon fourרוּחוֹתsidesוְסִבְּבָןand He surrounded themבְּתַחְתִּיתat the underside ofהָהָרthe mountainשֶׁכָּפָהוּwhich He archedעֲלֵיהֶםover themכְּגִיגִיתlike a caskעי'seeספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

יבוננהו.He instructed himשָׁםthereבְּתוֹרָהin Torahוּבִינָה:and understanding

רַשִׁ״י

יצרנהו.He guarded himמִנָּחָשׁfrom snakeשָׂרָףfiery serpentוְעַקְרָבand scorpionוּמִןand fromהָאֻמּוֹת:the nations

רַשִׁ״י

כאישוןas the pupilעינו.of his eyeהוּאit isהַשָּׁחֹרthe blackשֶׁבָּעַיִןthat is in the eyeשֶׁהַמָּאוֹרfrom which the lightיוֹצֵאcomes outהֵימֶנּוּ.from itוְאֻנְקְלוֹסand OnkelosתִּרְגֵּםtranslatedיִמְצָאֵהוּHe found him—"יַסְפִּיקֵהוּHe provided himכָּלallצָרְכּוֹhis needבַמִּדְבָּר",in the wildernessכְּמוֹlikeבמדברBamidbarי"אeleven"מָצָאsufficeלָהֶם",for themיהושעYehoshuaי"זseventeen"לֹאnotיִמָּצֵאis enoughלָנוּfor usהָהָר":the hill

רַשִׁ״י

יסבבנהו.He surrounded them"אַשְׁרִינוּןHe settled themסְחוֹרaroundסְחוֹרaroundלִשְׁכִנְתֵּיהּ",His Divine Presenceאֹהֶלthe Tent ofמוֹעֵדMeetingבָּאֶמְצָעin the middleוְאַרְבָּעָהand fourדְגָלִיםbannersלְאַרְבַּעon the fourרוּחוֹת:directions

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

כְּנֶשֶׁרLike an eagleיָעִירhe awakensקִנּוֹhis nestעַלoverגּוֹזָלָיוhis fledglingsיְרַחֵףhe hoversיִפְרֹשׂhe spreadsכְּנָפָיוhis wingsיִקָּחֵהוּhe takes himיִשָּׂאֵהוּhe carries himעַלonאֶבְרָתוֹ׃his pinion

רַשִׁ״י

כנשרAs an eagleיעירstirreth upקנו.its nestנִהֲגָםHe guided themבְּרַחֲמִיםwith mercyוּבְחֶמְלָה,and with pityכַּנֶּשֶׁרlike the eagleהַזֶּהthisרַחְמָנִיwhich is mercifulעַלuponבָּנָיו,its youngוְאֵינוֹand does notנִכְנָסenterלְקִנּוֹto its nestפִּתְאֹםsuddenlyעַדuntilשֶׁהוּאthat itמְקַשְׁקֵשׁbeatsוּמְטָרֵףand flapsעַלaboveבָּנָיוits youngבִּכְנָפָיוwith its wingsבֵּיןbetweenאִילָןtreeלְאִילָן,to treeבֵּיןbetweenשׂוֹכָהbranchלַחֲבֶרְתָּהּ,to its fellowכְּדֵיin orderשֶׁיֵּעוֹרוּthat may awakeבָּנָיוits youngוִיהֵאand there will beבָהֶםin themכֹּחַstrengthלְקַבְּלוֹto receive itספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

יעירHe awakensקנו.His nestיְעוֹרֵרHe stirs upבָּנָיו:His children

רַשִׁ״י

עלOverגוזליוits youngירחף.it hoversאֵינוֹit does notמַכְבִּידpress heavilyעַצְמוֹitselfעֲלֵיהֶםupon themאֶלָּאbutמְחוֹפֵףhovers—נוֹגֵעַtouchingוְאֵינוֹand notנוֹגֵעַtouchingתלמודTalmudירושלמיYerushalmiחגיגהChagigahב'2—אַףSo tooהַקָּבָּ"הּ,the Holy One"שַׁדַּיthe Almightyלֹאnotמְצָאנֻהוּwe found Himשַׂגִּיאgreat inכֹחַ"strengthאיובIyovל"ז37כְּשֶׁבָּאwhen He cameלִתֵּןto giveתּוֹרָהTorahלֹאnotנִגְלָהHe revealed Himselfעֲלֵיהֶםto themמֵרוּחַfrom a sideאַחַתoneאֶלָּאbutמֵאַרְבַּעfrom fourרוּחוֹת,sidesשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is said"ה'Hashemמִסִּינַיfrom Sinaiבָּאcameוְזָרַחand shone forthמִשֵּׂעִירfrom Seirלָמוֹto themהוֹפִיעַHe appearedמֵהַרfrom Mountפָּארָן"ParanדבריםDevarimל"ג33,"אֱלוֹהַּGodמִתֵּימָןfrom Temanיָבוֹא"will comeחבקוקChavakukג'3—זוֹthis isרוּחַsideרְבִיעִיתthe fourthספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

יפרשHe spreadethכנפיוhis wingsיקחהו.he taketh itכְּשֶׁבָּאwhen he comesלִטְּלָםto take themמִמָּקוֹםfrom a placeלְמָקוֹםto a placeאֵינוֹhe does notנוֹטְלָןtake themבְּרַגְלָיוwith his feetכִּשְׁאָרlike the rest ofעוֹפוֹת,birdsלְפִיbecauseשֶׁשְּׁאָרthat the rest ofעוֹפוֹתbirdsיְרֵאִיםare afraidמִןofהַנֶּשֶׁרthe eagleשֶׁהוּאwhich heמַגְבִּיהַּsoars highלָעוּףto flyוּפוֹרֵחַand fliesעֲלֵיהֶם,above themלְפִיכָךְthereforeנוֹשְׂאָןthey carry themבְּרַגְלָיו,with their feetמִפְּנֵיbecause ofהַנֶּשֶׁר,the eagleאֲבָלbutהַנֶּשֶׁרthe eagleאֵינוֹis notיָרֵאafraidאֶלָּאexceptמִןofהַחֵץ,the arrowלְפִיכָךְthereforeנוֹשְׂאָןhe carries themעַלuponכְּנָפָיו,his wingsאוֹמֵרsayingמוּטָבit is betterשֶׁיִּכָּנֵסthat should enterהַחֵץthe arrowבִּיinto meוְלֹאand notיִכָּנֵסenterבְּבָנַי,into my childrenאַףso tooהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy One blessed be HeשמותShemosי"ט19"וָאֶשָּׂאand I boreאֶתְכֶםyouעַלuponכַּנְפֵיwings ofנְשָׁרִים"eagles—כְּשֶׁנָּסְעוּwhen they journeyedמִצְרַיִםMitzrayimאַחֲרֵיהֶםafter themוְהִשִּׂיגוּםand overtook themעַלbyהַיָּםthe Seaהָיוּthey wereזוֹרְקִיםthrowingבָּהֶםat themחִצִּיםarrowsוְאַבְנֵיand stones ofבָּלִיסְטְרָאוֹת,catapultsמִיָּדimmediately"וַיִּסַּעand journeyedמַלְאַךְthe angel ofהָאֱלֹהִיםGodוְגוֹ'etc.וַיָּבֹאand he cameבֵּיןbetweenמַחֲנֵהthe camp ofמִצְרַיִםMitzrayimוְגוֹ'"etc.שמותShemosי"ד14:

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

יְהוָהHashemבָּדָדaloneיַנְחֶנּוּdid guide themוְאֵיןand there is notעִמּוֹwith Himאֵלa god ofנֵכָר׃strangeness

רַשִׁ״י

ה'Hashemבדדaloneינחנו.guided themנִהֲגָםHe guided themבַּמִּדְבָּרin the wildernessבָּדָדaloneוּבֶטַח:and in security

רַשִׁ״י

ואיןand there was notעמוwith Himאלa godנכר.strangeלֹאnotהָיָהwas thereכֹחַpowerבְּאֶחָדin oneמִכָּלof allאֱלֹהֵיthe gods ofהַגּוֹיִםthe nationsלְהַרְאוֹתto showכֹּחוֹhis powerוּלְהִלָּחֵםand to warעִמָּהֶם.with themוְרַבּוֹתֵינוּand our Rabbisדְרָשׁוּהוּexpounded itעַלconcerningהֶעָתִידthe futureוְכֵןand soתִּרְגֵּםtranslatedאֻנְקְלוֹס,Onkelosוַאֲנִיbut Iאוֹמֵרsayדִּבְרֵיwords ofתּוֹכֵחָהreproofהֵםthey areלְהָעִידto call as witnessהַשָּׁמַיִםthe heavensוְהָאָרֶץand the earthוּתְהֵאand that should beהַשִּׁירָהthe songלָהֶםfor themלְעֵדas a witnessשֶׁסּוֹפָןthat their endלִבְגֹּדis to rebelוְלֹאand notיִזְכְּרוּwill they rememberלֹאneitherהָרִאשׁוֹנוֹתthe first thingsשֶׁעָשָׂהthat He didלָהֶםfor themוְלֹאnorהַנּוֹלָדוֹתthe future eventsשֶׁהוּאthat Heעָתִידis destinedלַעֲשׂוֹתto doלָהֶם,for themלְפִיכָךְthereforeצָרִיךְit is necessaryלְיַשֵּׁבto settleהַדָּבָרthe matterלְכָאןto hereוּלְכָאן.and to thereוְכָלand the entireהָעִנְיָןtopicמוּסָבis directedעַלuponזכרrememberימותthe days ofעולםoldבינוconsiderשנותthe years ofדרgenerationודרafter generation,כֵּןsoעָשָׂהHe didלָהֶםfor themוְכֵןand soעָתִידHe is destinedלַעֲשׂוֹת,to doכָּלallזֶהthisהָיָהit wasלָהֶםfor themלִזְכֹּר:to remember

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah begins with the charge to remember the days of old and consult our elders to understand Hashem's guiding hand throughout history, specifically how He established the boundaries of the nations according to the number of Bnei Yisrael. Moshe Rabbeinu describes Klal Yisrael as Hashem's personal portion and allotment, recounting how Hashem protected them in the howling desert waste, carrying them safely and guiding them alone without any other power involved, just like an eagle hovering over its nest and carrying its young on its wings.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

The Torah is telling us in this Shirah a tremendous yesod about how Hashem runs the world. When the nations of the world were being established and boundaries were being set, the whole thing was done b'davka with one calculation in mind: "to the number of the Children of Israel." The entire world, with all its massive geopolitical movements and history, is only a backdrop for Hashem's relationship with us. You are "chelek Hashem," His actual portion, and He watches over you like the pupil of His eye.

Sometimes a Yid looks around at the world and feels completely overwhelmed by the noise, the politics, and the sheer size of everything out there. We can easily fall into a coldness, thinking we are just small, insignificant players in a massive world. But the Tanna is teaching us the exact opposite. The entire world is only there to serve as the stage for your avodas Hashem. When Hashem guides you, He does so with the gentle care of an eagle hovering over its nest, protecting its young from above.

This means that whatever is happening in your life today is not a side effect of some random global event or someone else's decisions. Hashem is guiding you personally, "badad yanchenu," with individual hashgacha pratis. Every detail of your day is custom-tailored by Hashem to help you build your connection to Him.

Today, when you hear the news or feel overwhelmed by the busy world around you, stop and remind yourself: "Hashem runs the entire universe just to create the perfect setting for my avodah." Take one minute to speak to Hashem in your own words, thanking Him for His personal, loving hashgacha over your life.