Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה
In this aliyah, Moshe Rabbeinu warns the Bnei Yisrael not to follow the ways of the goyim who turn to sorcerers and diviners to predict the future. Instead, Hashem promises to establish a true navi from among the Jewish people, just like Moshe, to guide them with the word of Hashem. This was exactly what the nation had requested at Har Sinai when they were afraid of dying from hearing Hashem's voice directly.
We also learn the halachos of the Arei Miklat, the cities of refuge. Moshe commands the Bnei Yisrael to set aside three cities in Eretz Yisrael for an accidental killer to flee to, ensuring that the roads are prepared and accessible. The Torah also looks ahead to the future, commanding that three additional cities be added when Hashem expands the borders of the land.
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
כִּיForהַגּוֹיִםthe nationsהָאֵלֶּהtheseאֲשֶׁרwhomאַתָּהyouיוֹרֵשׁare dispossessingאוֹתָםthemאֶלtoמְעֹנְנִיםastrologersוְאֶלand toקֹסְמִיםdivinersיִשְׁמָעוּthey listenוְאַתָּהbut youלֹאnotכֵןsoנָתַןhas permittedלְךָto youיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָ׃your God
פָּסוּק ב
Pasuk 2
נָבִיאA prophetמִקִּרְבְּךָfrom your midstמֵאַחֶיךָfrom your brothersכָּמֹנִיlike meיָקִיםwill raise upלְךָfor youיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godאֵלָיוto himתִּשְׁמָעוּן׃you shall listen
פָּסוּק ג
Pasuk 3
כְּכֹלAccording to allאֲשֶׁרthatשָׁאַלְתָּyou askedמֵעִםfromיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godבְּחֹרֵבat Chorevבְּיוֹםon the day ofהַקָּהָלthe assemblyלֵאמֹרsayingלֹאLet me notאֹסֵףcontinueלִשְׁמֹעַto hearאֶת—קוֹלthe voice ofיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהָיmy Godוְאֶתand —הָאֵשׁthe fireהַגְּדֹלָהgreatהַזֹּאתthisלֹאlet me notאֶרְאֶהseeעוֹדanymoreוְלֹאso that notאָמוּת׃I die
פָּסוּק ד
Pasuk 4
וַיֹּאמֶרAnd saidיְהוָהHashemאֵלָיto meהֵיטִיבוּthey have done wellאֲשֶׁרthat whichדִּבֵּרוּ׃they spoke
פָּסוּק ה
Pasuk 5
נָבִיאA prophetאָקִיםI will raise upלָהֶםfor themמִקֶּרֶבfrom amongאֲחֵיהֶםtheir brothersכָּמוֹךָlike youוְנָתַתִּיand I will putדְבָרַיMy wordsבְּפִיוin his mouthוְדִבֶּרand he shall speakאֲלֵיהֶםto themאֵת—כָּלallאֲשֶׁרthatאֲצַוֶּנּוּ׃I command him
פָּסוּק ו
Pasuk 6
וְהָיָהand it shall beהָאִישׁthe manאֲשֶׁרwhoלֹאnotיִשְׁמַעwill hearkenאֶלtoדְּבָרַיMy wordsאֲשֶׁרwhichיְדַבֵּרhe shall speakבִּשְׁמִיin My nameאָנֹכִיIאֶדְרֹשׁwill requireמֵעִמּוֹ׃from him
פָּסוּק ז
Pasuk 7
אַךְButהַנָּבִיאthe prophetאֲשֶׁרwhoיָזִידwill willfully presumeלְדַבֵּרto speakדָּבָרa wordבִּשְׁמִיin My nameאֵת—אֲשֶׁרwhichלֹאnotצִוִּיתִיוI commanded himלְדַבֵּרto speakוַאֲשֶׁרor whoיְדַבֵּרwill speakבְּשֵׁםin the name ofאֱלֹהִיםgodsאֲחֵרִיםotherוּמֵתshall dieהַנָּבִיאthe prophetהַהוּא׃that
פָּסוּק ח
Pasuk 8
וְכִיAnd whenתֹאמַרyou will sayבִּלְבָבֶךָin your heartאֵיכָהhowנֵדַעwill we knowאֶת—הַדָּבָרthe wordאֲשֶׁרwhichלֹאnotדִבְּרוֹspoke itיְהוָה׃Hashem
פָּסוּק ט
Pasuk 9
אֲשֶׁרwhichיְדַבֵּרwill speakהַנָּבִיאthe prophetבְּשֵׁםin the name ofיְהוָהHashemוְלֹאand notיִהְיֶהwill beהַדָּבָרthe wordוְלֹאand notיָבוֹאwill comeהוּאitהַדָּבָרis the wordאֲשֶׁרwhichלֹאnotדִבְּרוֹspoke itיְהוָהHashemבְּזָדוֹןwith presumptionדִּבְּרוֹspoke itהַנָּבִיאthe prophetלֹאdo notתָגוּרfearמִמֶּנּוּ׃of him
פָּסוּק י
Pasuk 10
כִּיWhenיַכְרִיתwill cut downיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godאֶת—הַגּוֹיִםthe nationsאֲשֶׁרwhomיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godנֹתֵןis givingלְךָto youאֶת—אַרְצָםtheir landוִירִשְׁתָּםand you dispossess themוְיָשַׁבְתָּand you settleבְעָרֵיהֶםin their citiesוּבְבָתֵּיהֶם׃and in their houses
פָּסוּק יא
Pasuk 11
שָׁלוֹשׁthreeעָרִיםcitiesתַּבְדִּילyou shall separateלָךְfor yourselfבְּתוֹךְin the midst ofאַרְצְךָyour landאֲשֶׁרwhichיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godנֹתֵןis givingלְךָto youלְרִשְׁתָּהּ׃to possess it
פָּסוּק יב
Pasuk 12
תָּכִיןYou shall prepareלְךָfor yourselfהַדֶּרֶךְthe wayוְשִׁלַּשְׁתָּand you shall divide into threeאֶת—גְּבוּלthe border ofאַרְצְךָyour landאֲשֶׁרwhichיַנְחִילְךָwill cause you to inheritיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godוְהָיָהand it shall beלָנוּסto fleeשָׁמָּהthereכָּלeveryרֹצֵחַ׃murderer
פָּסוּק יג
Pasuk 13
וְזֶהAnd thisדְּבַרis the matter ofהָרֹצֵחַthe murdererאֲשֶׁרwhoיָנוּסshall fleeשָׁמָּהthereוָחָיand liveאֲשֶׁרwhoיַכֶּהshall strikeאֶת—רֵעֵהוּhis fellowבִּבְלִיwithoutדַעַתknowledgeוְהוּאand heלֹאwas notשֹׂנֵאan enemyלוֹto himמִתְּמֹלfrom yesterdayשִׁלְשֹׁם׃or the day before
פָּסוּק יד
Pasuk 14
וַאֲשֶׁרAnd whoeverיָבֹאshall enterאֶתwithרֵעֵהוּhis fellowבַיַּעַרinto the forestלַחְטֹבto chopעֵצִיםwoodוְנִדְּחָהand swingsיָדוֹhis handבַגַּרְזֶןwith the axלִכְרֹתto cut downהָעֵץthe treeוְנָשַׁלand slipsהַבַּרְזֶלthe ironמִןfromהָעֵץthe woodוּמָצָאand strikesאֶת—רֵעֵהוּhis fellowוָמֵתand he diesהוּאheיָנוּסshall fleeאֶלtoאַחַתone ofהֶעָרִיםthe citiesהָאֵלֶּהtheseוָחָי׃and live
פָּסוּק טו
Pasuk 15
פֶּןlestיִרְדֹּףwill pursueגֹּאֵלthe redeemer ofהַדָּםthe bloodאַחֲרֵיafterהָרֹצֵחַthe murdererכִּיwhenיֵחַםwill grow hotלְבָבוֹhis heartוְהִשִּׂיגוֹand overtake himכִּיbecauseיִרְבֶּהis longהַדֶּרֶךְthe wayוְהִכָּהוּand strike himנָפֶשׁmortallyוְלוֹand to himאֵיןthere is noמִשְׁפַּטjudgment ofמָוֶתdeathכִּיsinceלֹאnotשֹׂנֵאan enemyהוּאheלוֹto himמִתְּמוֹלfrom yesterdayשִׁלְשׁוֹם׃the day before
פָּסוּק טז
Pasuk 16
עַלThereforeכֵּן·אָנֹכִיIמְצַוְּךָcommand youלֵאמֹרsayingשָׁלֹשׁthreeעָרִיםcitiesתַּבְדִּילyou shall separateלָךְ׃for yourself
פָּסוּק יז
Pasuk 17
וְאִםAnd ifיַרְחִיבwill enlargeיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godאֶת—גְּבֻלְךָyour boundaryכַּאֲשֶׁרasנִשְׁבַּעHe sworeלַאֲבֹתֶיךָto your fathersוְנָתַןand He givesלְךָto youאֶת—כָּלall ofהָאָרֶץthe landאֲשֶׁרwhichדִּבֶּרHe spokeלָתֵתto giveלַאֲבֹתֶיךָ׃to your fathers
פָּסוּק יח
Pasuk 18
כִּיifתִשְׁמֹרyou will keepאֶת—כָּלall ofהַמִּצְוָהthe commandmentהַזֹּאתthisלַעֲשֹׂתָהּto perform itאֲשֶׁרwhichאָנֹכִיIמְצַוְּךָcommand youהַיּוֹםtodayלְאַהֲבָהto loveאֶת—יְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godוְלָלֶכֶתand to walkבִּדְרָכָיוin His waysכָּלallהַיָּמִיםthe daysוְיָסַפְתָּthen you shall addלְךָfor yourselfעוֹדmoreשָׁלֹשׁthreeעָרִיםcitiesעַלuponהַשָּׁלֹשׁthe threeהָאֵלֶּה׃these
פָּסוּק יט
Pasuk 19
וְלֹאand notיִשָּׁפֵךְwill be shedדָּםblood ofנָקִיan innocentבְּקֶרֶבin the midst ofאַרְצְךָyour landאֲשֶׁרwhichיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godנֹתֵןis givingלְךָto youנַחֲלָהas an inheritanceוְהָיָהand there will beעָלֶיךָupon youדָּמִים׃bloodguilt
פָּסוּק כ
Pasuk 20
וְכִיAnd ifיִהְיֶהthere will beאִישׁa manשֹׂנֵאwho hatesלְרֵעֵהוּhis fellowוְאָרַבand lies in waitלוֹfor himוְקָםand rises upעָלָיוagainst himוְהִכָּהוּand strikes himנֶפֶשׁmortallyוָמֵתand he diesוְנָסand he fleesאֶלtoאַחַתone ofהֶעָרִיםthe citiesהָאֵל׃these
פָּסוּק כא
Pasuk 21
וְשָׁלְחוּand they shall sendזִקְנֵיthe elders ofעִירוֹhis cityוְלָקְחוּand they shall takeאֹתוֹhimמִשָּׁםfrom thereוְנָתְנוּand they shall deliverאֹתוֹhimבְּיַדinto the hand ofגֹּאֵלthe redeemer ofהַדָּםthe bloodוָמֵת׃and he shall die
פָּסוּק כב
Pasuk 22
לֹאnotתָחוֹסshall pityעֵינְךָyour eyeעָלָיוupon himוּבִעַרְתָּand you shall purgeדַםthe blood ofהַנָּקִיthe innocentמִיִּשְׂרָאֵלfrom Yisraelוְטוֹבand it will be wellלָךְ׃with you
Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם
The aliyah begins by forbidding the Bnei Yisrael from consulting sorcerers, promising instead that Hashem will send true nevi'im whose words must be obeyed, while warning that a navi sheker who speaks falsely in Hashem's name or in the name of avodah zarah faces the death penalty. The Torah then transitions to the halachos of the Arei Miklat, detailing how a person who kills accidentally—such as an iron ax-head flying off the handle during woodcutting—can flee there to be safe from the go'el hadam. Finally, the Torah contrasts this with a deliberate murderer who tries to hide in a city of refuge, ruling that the elders must extradite him to face justice, thereby purging innocent blood from Yisrael.
לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home
The Torah is telling us that when a person kills b'shogeg, by accident, he must flee to an Ir Miklat. But look at the extreme care the Torah demands of us beforehand: "Tachin lecha haderech", you must prepare the way, clear the roads, and set up clear signposts so the fleeing person doesn't get lost or delayed. Lichoira, we are talking about someone who was careless, whose ax-head flew off and caused a tragedy. Yet, Hashem commands the entire community to pave a smooth, unobstructed path for him to find safety.
This is a massive chiddush in how we look at a fellow Yid who has stumbled. When someone around us makes a mistake, slips up in their ruchniyus, or experiences a spiritual breakdown, our natural reaction might be to judge them or distance ourselves. We might think, "They brought this on themselves through their own carelessness." But the Torah teaches us the exact opposite. Our avodah is to "prepare the road" for them, to make the path of teshuvah and recovery as clear, accessible, and welcoming as possible.
If we leave obstacles in their way, whether through cold shoulders, harsh judgment, or reminding them of their past, we are making their journey harder, and we share in the responsibility. A true Torah community is one that builds signposts of warmth and encouragement, showing every struggling neshama exactly which way to run to find safety and closeness to Hashem once again.
Today, if you see someone who has stumbled or is struggling socially or spiritually, do not look away or judge. Make an active effort to "pave the way" for them by offering a warm smile, a kind word, or a non-judgmental ear to make their path back a little easier.