Saadia's Tafsir on Devarim 1 (Parashat Devarim)

Devarim 1:2

אַחַד עָשָׂר יוֹם מֵחֹרֵב דֶּרֶךְ הַר-שֵׂעִיר עַד קָדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ

. .

At a distance of eleven days from Horeb, by the road of Mount Seir, to Raqim (Kadesh) Barnea.

Devarim 1:3

וַיְהִי בְּאַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה בְּעַשְׁתֵּי-עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ דִּבֶּר מֹשֶׁה אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֹתוֹ אֲלֵהֶם

. . .

And it was in the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, that Moses spoke to the sons of Israel, according to all that God had commanded him to tell them.

Devarim 1:4

אַחֲרֵי הַכֹּתוֹ אֵת סִיחֹן מֶלֶךְ הָאֱמֹרִי אֲשֶׁר יוֹשֵׁב בְּחֶשְׁבּוֹן--וְאֵת עוֹג מֶלֶךְ הַבָּשָׁן אֲשֶׁר-יוֹשֵׁב בְּעַשְׁתָּרֹת בְּאֶדְרֶעִי

. . . .

After his conquering the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who dwelt in Ashtaroth, in Edrei.

Devarim 1:5

בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן בְּאֶרֶץ מוֹאָב הוֹאִיל מֹשֶׁה בֵּאֵר אֶת-הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת לֵאמֹר

. .

Beyond the Jordan, in the land of Moab, Moses set himself earnestly to the expounding of this law, saying:

Devarim 1:6

יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ דִּבֶּר אֵלֵינוּ בְּחֹרֵב לֵאמֹר רַב-לָכֶם שֶׁבֶת בָּהָר הַזֶּה

. .

"God our Lord said to us in Horeb: 'Sufficient for you is the sojourn at this mountain.

Devarim 1:7

פְּנוּ וּסְעוּ לָכֶם וּבֹאוּ הַר הָאֱמֹרִי וְאֶל-כָּל-שְׁכֵנָיו בָּעֲרָבָה בָהָר וּבַשְּׁפֵלָה וּבַנֶּגֶב וּבְחוֹף הַיָּם--אֶרֶץ הַכְּנַעֲנִי וְהַלְּבָנוֹן עַד-הַנָּהָר הַגָּדֹל נְהַר-פְּרָת

. . . . .

Turn and set out, and enter the mountain of the Amorites and all its neighbors — in the valley, in the mountain, in the plain, and in the south, and on the seacoast — the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates.

Devarim 1:8

רְאֵה נָתַתִּי לִפְנֵיכֶם אֶת-הָאָרֶץ בֹּאוּ וּרְשׁוּ אֶת-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע יְהוָה לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶם לְאַבְרָהָם לְיִצְחָק וּלְיַעֲקֹב לָתֵת לָהֶם וּלְזַרְעָם אַחֲרֵיהֶם

. . . .

See — I have set the land before you; go up and take possession of it, as God swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that He would give it to them and to their offspring after them.'"

Devarim 1:9

וָאֹמַר אֲלֵכֶם בָּעֵת הַהִוא לֵאמֹר לֹא-אוּכַל לְבַדִּי שְׂאֵת אֶתְכֶם

. .

And I said to you at that time, saying: 'I am not able alone to bear you.

Devarim 1:10

יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם הִרְבָּה אֶתְכֶם וְהִנְּכֶם הַיּוֹם כְּכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם לָרֹב

. .

Since God your Lord has multiplied you — and behold you are today like the stars of the sky in multitude.

Devarim 1:11

יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵכֶם יֹסֵף עֲלֵיכֶם כָּכֶם--אֶלֶף פְּעָמִים וִיבָרֵךְ אֶתְכֶם כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לָכֶם

. . . .

I ask of God, the God of your fathers, that He increase you a thousandfold more than you are, and that He bless you as He has promised you.

Devarim 1:12

אֵיכָה אֶשָּׂא לְבַדִּי טָרְחֲכֶם וּמַשַּׂאֲכֶם וְרִיבְכֶם

.

How can I alone bear your burden, and your affairs, and your disputes?

Devarim 1:13

הָבוּ לָכֶם אֲנָשִׁים חֲכָמִים וּנְבֹנִים וִידֻעִים--לְשִׁבְטֵיכֶם וַאֲשִׂימֵם בְּרָאשֵׁיכֶם

. . .

Bring men — wise, discerning, and known to your tribes — that I may set them as heads over you.'

Devarim 1:14

וַתַּעֲנוּ אֹתִי וַתֹּאמְרוּ טוֹב-הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר-דִּבַּרְתָּ לַעֲשׂוֹת

.

And you answered me and said: 'How fitting it is that this thing which you have said be done.'

Devarim 1:15

וָאֶקַּח אֶת-רָאשֵׁי שִׁבְטֵיכֶם אֲנָשִׁים חֲכָמִים וִידֻעִים וָאֶתֵּן אוֹתָם רָאשִׁים עֲלֵיכֶם שָׂרֵי אֲלָפִים וְשָׂרֵי מֵאוֹת וְשָׂרֵי חֲמִשִּׁים וְשָׂרֵי עֲשָׂרֹת וְשֹׁטְרִים לְשִׁבְטֵיכֶם

. . . . .

So I took from the heads of your tribes men who were wise and known, and set them as heads over you — heads of thousands and of hundreds and of fifties and of tens, and as overseers for your tribes.

Devarim 1:16

וָאֲצַוֶּה אֶת-שֹׁפְטֵיכֶם בָּעֵת הַהִוא לֵאמֹר שָׁמֹעַ בֵּין-אֲחֵיכֶם וּשְׁפַטְתֶּם צֶדֶק בֵּין-אִישׁ וּבֵין-אָחִיו וּבֵין גֵּרוֹ

. . .

And I charged your judges at that time, saying to them: 'Hear what is between your brothers, and judge with justice between a man and his brother and his guest.

Devarim 1:17

לֹא-תַכִּירוּ פָנִים בַּמִּשְׁפָּט כַּקָּטֹן כַּגָּדֹל תִּשְׁמָעוּן--לֹא תָגוּרוּ מִפְּנֵי-אִישׁ כִּי הַמִּשְׁפָּט לֵאלֹהִים הוּא וְהַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר יִקְשֶׁה מִכֶּם תַּקְרִבוּן אֵלַי וּשְׁמַעְתִּיו

. . . . .

Do not show regard for faces in judgment; hear from the small as from the great; and fear no one — for judgment belongs to God. And any matter that is too hard for you, bring it up to me, that I may look into it.'

Devarim 1:18

וָאֲצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם בָּעֵת הַהִוא אֵת כָּל-הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשׂוּן

.

And I charged you at that time with all the matters that it is obligatory for you to do.

Devarim 1:19

וַנִּסַּע מֵחֹרֵב וַנֵּלֶךְ אֵת כָּל-הַמִּדְבָּר הַגָּדוֹל וְהַנּוֹרָא הַהוּא אֲשֶׁר רְאִיתֶם דֶּרֶךְ הַר הָאֱמֹרִי כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֹתָנוּ וַנָּבֹא עַד קָדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ

. ]] ]] . . .

Then we set out from Horeb and traveled through all that great and fearsome wilderness which you saw, by the road of the mountain of the Amorites, as God our Lord commanded us, until we arrived at Raqim Barnea.

Devarim 1:20

וָאֹמַר אֲלֵכֶם בָּאתֶם עַד-הַר הָאֱמֹרִי אֲשֶׁר-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ נֹתֵן לָנוּ

. .

And I said to you: 'You have come to the mountain of the Amorites, which God our Lord is giving to us.

Devarim 1:21

רְאֵה נָתַן יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְפָנֶיךָ--אֶת-הָאָרֶץ עֲלֵה רֵשׁ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֶיךָ לָךְ--אַל-תִּירָא וְאַל-תֵּחָת

. . . .

See — God your Lord has set the land before you; go up and take possession of it, as God promised your fathers. Do not fear and do not be dismayed.'

Devarim 1:22

וַתִּקְרְבוּן אֵלַי כֻּלְּכֶם וַתֹּאמְרוּ נִשְׁלְחָה אֲנָשִׁים לְפָנֵינוּ וְיַחְפְּרוּ-לָנוּ אֶת-הָאָרֶץ וְיָשִׁבוּ אֹתָנוּ דָּבָר--אֶת-הַדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר נַעֲלֶה-בָּהּ וְאֵת הֶעָרִים אֲשֶׁר נָבֹא אֲלֵיהֶן

. . . . . .

Then many of you came forward to me and said: 'Let us send men ahead of us to scout out the land for us, and to bring back a report to us about the road by which we shall go up, and the towns which we shall enter.'

Devarim 1:23

וַיִּיטַב בְּעֵינַי הַדָּבָר וָאֶקַּח מִכֶּם שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר אֲנָשִׁים אִישׁ אֶחָד לַשָּׁבֶט

. .

And that seemed good to me; so I took from you twelve men, one man from each tribe.

Devarim 1:24

וַיִּפְנוּ וַיַּעֲלוּ הָהָרָה וַיָּבֹאוּ עַד-נַחַל אֶשְׁכֹּל וַיְרַגְּלוּ אֹתָהּ

. .

And they turned and went up to the mountain, and came to the Valley of the Cluster, and explored it.

Devarim 1:25

וַיִּקְחוּ בְיָדָם מִפְּרִי הָאָרֶץ וַיּוֹרִדוּ אֵלֵינוּ וַיָּשִׁבוּ אֹתָנוּ דָבָר וַיֹּאמְרוּ טוֹבָה הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ נֹתֵן לָנוּ

. . . .

And they took with them some of its fruit, and brought it to us, and brought back a report to us, saying: 'The land which God our Lord is giving us is indeed good.'

Devarim 1:26

וְלֹא אֲבִיתֶם לַעֲלֹת וַתַּמְרוּ אֶת-פִּי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

.

But you did not wish to go up to it, and you defied the command of God your Lord.

Devarim 1:27

וַתֵּרָגְנוּ בְאָהֳלֵיכֶם וַתֹּאמְרוּ בְּשִׂנְאַת יְהוָה אֹתָנוּ הוֹצִיאָנוּ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם--לָתֵת אֹתָנוּ בְּיַד הָאֱמֹרִי לְהַשְׁמִידֵנוּ

. . . .

And you murmured secretly in your tents, saying: 'Out of God's hatred for us He has brought us out from the land of Egypt, to hand us over to the Amorites, that they might destroy us.'

Devarim 1:28

אָנָה אֲנַחְנוּ עֹלִים אַחֵינוּ הֵמַסּוּ אֶת-לְבָבֵנוּ לֵאמֹר עַם גָּדוֹל וָרָם מִמֶּנּוּ עָרִים גְּדֹלֹת וּבְצוּרֹת בַּשָּׁמָיִם וְגַם-בְּנֵי עֲנָקִים רָאִינוּ שָׁם

. . . .

Where are we going up? Our brothers have melted our hearts by saying that the people are more numerous and mightier than we, and that their towns are great and fortified, reaching close to the sky — and the sons of the giants we saw there.'

Devarim 1:29

וָאֹמַר אֲלֵכֶם לֹא-תַעַרְצוּן וְלֹא-תִירְאוּן מֵהֶם

.

And I said to you: 'Do not dread them and do not fear them.

Devarim 1:30

יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם הַהֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵיכֶם הוּא יִלָּחֵם לָכֶם כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה אִתְּכֶם בְּמִצְרַיִם--לְעֵינֵיכֶם

. . .

God your Lord — whose light goes before you — He shall fight on your behalf, just as He did for you in Egypt, in your presence.

Devarim 1:31

וּבַמִּדְבָּר אֲשֶׁר רָאִיתָ אֲשֶׁר נְשָׂאֲךָ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ כַּאֲשֶׁר יִשָּׂא-אִישׁ אֶת-בְּנוֹ--בְּכָל-הַדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר הֲלַכְתֶּם עַד-בֹּאֲכֶם עַד-הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה

. . . .

And as you saw in the wilderness, how God your Lord carried you, as a man carries his child out of tenderness, on every road that you traveled, until you came to this place.

Devarim 1:32

וּבַדָּבָר הַזֶּה--אֵינְכֶם מַאֲמִינִם בַּיהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

. .

Yet in this matter you have no faith in God your Lord —

Devarim 1:33

הַהֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵיכֶם בַּדֶּרֶךְ לָתוּר לָכֶם מָקוֹם--לַחֲנֹתְכֶם בָּאֵשׁ לַיְלָה לַרְאֹתְכֶם בַּדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר תֵּלְכוּ-בָהּ וּבֶעָנָן יוֹמָם

. . . .

whose light goes before you on the road, to prepare a place for your encamping, and by fire at night to show you the road on which you are to travel, and by cloud in the daytime.'

Devarim 1:34

וַיִּשְׁמַע יְהוָה אֶת-קוֹל דִּבְרֵיכֶם וַיִּקְצֹף וַיִּשָּׁבַע לֵאמֹר

Then God heard your words, and was wrathful, and swore, saying:

Devarim 1:35

אִם-יִרְאֶה אִישׁ בָּאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה הַדּוֹר הָרָע הַזֶּה--אֵת הָאָרֶץ הַטּוֹבָה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי לָתֵת לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶם

. . .

'Not one man from these people — this wicked generation — shall see the good land which I swore to give to your fathers.

Devarim 1:36

זוּלָתִי כָּלֵב בֶּן-יְפֻנֶּה הוּא יִרְאֶנָּה וְלוֹ-אֶתֵּן אֶת-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר דָּרַךְ-בָּהּ וּלְבָנָיו--יַעַן אֲשֶׁר מִלֵּא אַחֲרֵי יְהוָה

. . .

Except Caleb son of Jephunneh — he shall see it, and to him I shall give the land which he traversed, and to his sons — because he followed the obedience of God.'

Devarim 1:37

גַּם-בִּי הִתְאַנַּף יְהוָה בִּגְלַלְכֶם לֵאמֹר גַּם-אַתָּה לֹא-תָבֹא שָׁם

. .

And against me too God was angered on account of what happened while you delayed, and said: 'You also shall not enter there.'

Devarim 1:38

יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן-נוּן הָעֹמֵד לְפָנֶיךָ הוּא יָבֹא שָׁמָּה אֹתוֹ חַזֵּק כִּי-הוּא יַנְחִלֶנָּה אֶת-יִשְׂרָאֵל

. . .

Rather, Joshua son of Nun, who stands before you — he shall enter it; strengthen him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.

Devarim 1:39

וְטַפְּכֶם אֲשֶׁר אֲמַרְתֶּם לָבַז יִהְיֶה וּבְנֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר לֹא-יָדְעוּ הַיּוֹם טוֹב וָרָע--הֵמָּה יָבֹאוּ שָׁמָּה וְלָהֶם אֶתְּנֶנָּה וְהֵם יִירָשׁוּהָ

. . . . .

And your little ones, whom you supposed would become spoil, and your children, who today do not know good or ill of war — they shall enter it, and to them I shall give it, and they shall take possession of it.

Devarim 1:40

וְאַתֶּם פְּנוּ לָכֶם וּסְעוּ הַמִּדְבָּרָה דֶּרֶךְ יַם-סוּף

.

But as for you — turn and set out into the wilderness, by the road of the Sea of Qulzum (Red Sea).'

Devarim 1:41

וַתַּעֲנוּ וַתֹּאמְרוּ אֵלַי חָטָאנוּ לַיהוָה--אֲנַחְנוּ נַעֲלֶה וְנִלְחַמְנוּ כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר-צִוָּנוּ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ וַתַּחְגְּרוּ אִישׁ אֶת-כְּלֵי מִלְחַמְתּוֹ וַתָּהִינוּ לַעֲלֹת הָהָרָה

. . . . .

And you answered and said to me: 'We have sinned before God; we will go up and fight against its inhabitants, as God our Lord commands us.' And each one of you girded on his weapons of war, and you hastened to go up the mountain.

Devarim 1:42

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֵלַי אֱמֹר לָהֶם לֹא תַעֲלוּ וְלֹא-תִלָּחֲמוּ--כִּי אֵינֶנִּי בְּקִרְבְּכֶם וְלֹא תִּנָּגְפוּ לִפְנֵי אֹיְבֵיכֶם

. . . .

Then God said to me: 'Say to them: Do not go up and do not fight them — for I am not with you; and do not be routed before your enemies.'

Devarim 1:43

וָאֲדַבֵּר אֲלֵיכֶם וְלֹא שְׁמַעְתֶּם וַתַּמְרוּ אֶת-פִּי יְהוָה וַתָּזִדוּ וַתַּעֲלוּ הָהָרָה

. .

So I said that to you, and you did not accept it; rather you defied the command of God, and you were brazen in going up the mountain.

Devarim 1:44

וַיֵּצֵא הָאֱמֹרִי הַיֹּשֵׁב בָּהָר הַהוּא לִקְרַאתְכֶם וַיִּרְדְּפוּ אֶתְכֶם כַּאֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂינָה הַדְּבֹרִים וַיַּכְּתוּ אֶתְכֶם בְּשֵׂעִיר עַד-חָרְמָה

. . . .

And the Amorites who dwell in that mountain came out to meet you, and set upon you as bees sting, and crushed you — from Seir to Hormah.

Devarim 1:45

וַתָּשֻׁבוּ וַתִּבְכּוּ לִפְנֵי יְהוָה וְלֹא-שָׁמַע יְהוָה בְּקֹלְכֶם וְלֹא הֶאֱזִין אֲלֵיכֶם

. .

And you returned weeping before God; but He did not hear your voice, and did not answer you.

Devarim 1:46

וַתֵּשְׁבוּ בְקָדֵשׁ יָמִים רַבִּים כַּיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר יְשַׁבְתֶּם

.

So you remained in Raqim (Kadesh) a long while, like the rest of the time you had remained.