Saadia's Tafsir on Devarim 11 (Parashat Eikev)

Devarim 11:1

וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ וְשָׁמַרְתָּ מִשְׁמַרְתּוֹ וְחֻקֹּתָיו וּמִשְׁפָּטָיו וּמִצְו‍ֹתָיו--כָּל-הַיָּמִים

. .

So love God your Lord, and keep what He has entrusted you to keep — His statutes, His commandments, and His ordinances — all the time.

Devarim 11:2

וִידַעְתֶּם הַיּוֹם כִּי לֹא אֶת-בְּנֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר לֹא-יָדְעוּ וַאֲשֶׁר לֹא-רָאוּ אֶת-מוּסַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֶת-גָּדְלוֹ--אֶת-יָדוֹ הַחֲזָקָה וּזְרֹעוֹ הַנְּטוּיָה

. . . . .

And know from this day that the obligation does not fall upon your children, who have not known and have not seen the discipline of God your Lord, and His greatness, and His mighty hand, and His outstretched arm —

Devarim 11:3

וְאֶת-אֹתֹתָיו וְאֶת-מַעֲשָׂיו אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה בְּתוֹךְ מִצְרָיִם--לְפַרְעֹה מֶלֶךְ-מִצְרַיִם וּלְכָל-אַרְצוֹ

. .

and His signs and His works which He performed in the midst of Egypt, against Pharaoh king of Egypt and against all the people of his land —

Devarim 11:4

וַאֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לְחֵיל מִצְרַיִם לְסוּסָיו וּלְרִכְבּוֹ אֲשֶׁר הֵצִיף אֶת-מֵי יַם-סוּף עַל-פְּנֵיהֶם בְּרָדְפָם אַחֲרֵיכֶם וַיְאַבְּדֵם יְהוָה עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה

. . . .

and what He did to the army of Egypt and its horsemen and its chariots, over whose faces the waters of the Sea of Qulzum (Red Sea) swept when they pursued you — and God destroyed them, unto this day of ours —

Devarim 11:5

וַאֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לָכֶם בַּמִּדְבָּר עַד-בֹּאֲכֶם עַד-הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה

.

and what He did for you in the wilderness, until you came to this place —

Devarim 11:6

וַאֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לְדָתָן וְלַאֲבִירָם בְּנֵי אֱלִיאָב בֶּן-רְאוּבֵן אֲשֶׁר פָּצְתָה הָאָרֶץ אֶת-פִּיהָ וַתִּבְלָעֵם וְאֶת-בָּתֵּיהֶם וְאֶת-אָהֳלֵיהֶם--וְאֵת כָּל-הַיְקוּם אֲשֶׁר בְּרַגְלֵיהֶם בְּקֶרֶב כָּל-יִשְׂרָאֵל

. . . . .

and what He did to Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab son of Reuben — when the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their houses and their tents, and all the people who were with them, in the midst of all the sons of Israel.

Devarim 11:7

כִּי עֵינֵיכֶם הָרֹאֹת אֶת-כָּל-מַעֲשֵׂה יְהוָה הַגָּדֹל אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה

. .

Rather, it is your own eyes that saw all the great work of God which He performed.

Devarim 11:8

וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת-כָּל-הַמִּצְוָה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם--לְמַעַן תֶּחֶזְקוּ וּבָאתֶם וִירִשְׁתֶּם אֶת-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם עֹבְרִים שָׁמָּה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ

. . .

So keep all the law which I command you today, that you may be strong, and enter and take possession of the land to which you are going to take possession of it.

Devarim 11:9

וּלְמַעַן תַּאֲרִיכוּ יָמִים עַל-הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע יְהוָה לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶם לָתֵת לָהֶם וּלְזַרְעָם--אֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבָשׁ

. . . .

And that your span of time in it may be long — as He swore to your fathers that He would give it to them and to their offspring — it being a land flowing with milk and honey.

Devarim 11:10

כִּי הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה בָא-שָׁמָּה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ--לֹא כְאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם הִוא אֲשֶׁר יְצָאתֶם מִשָּׁם אֲשֶׁר תִּזְרַע אֶת-זַרְעֲךָ וְהִשְׁקִיתָ בְרַגְלְךָ כְּגַן הַיָּרָק

. . . . .

And know that the land to which you are going to take possession of it is not like the land of Egypt which you left — where you used to sow your seed and water it with your foot, like gardens of vegetables.

Devarim 11:11

וְהָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם עֹבְרִים שָׁמָּה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ--אֶרֶץ הָרִים וּבְקָעֹת לִמְטַר הַשָּׁמַיִם תִּשְׁתֶּה-מָּיִם

. . .

But the land to which you are crossing over to take possession of it is a land of mountains and valleys; from the rain of the sky it drinks water.

Devarim 11:12

אֶרֶץ אֲשֶׁר-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ דֹּרֵשׁ אֹתָהּ תָּמִיד עֵינֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בָּהּ--מֵרֵשִׁית הַשָּׁנָה וְעַד אַחֲרִית שָׁנָה

. .

It is a land which God your Lord has taken under His care, and His provision for it is constant, from the beginning of the year to its end.

Devarim 11:13

וְהָיָה אִם-שָׁמֹעַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ אֶל-מִצְו‍ֹתַי אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם הַיּוֹם--לְאַהֲבָה אֶת-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם וּלְעָבְדוֹ בְּכָל-לְבַבְכֶם וּבְכָל-נַפְשְׁכֶם

. . .

If you hearken faithfully to My commandments which I command you today — to love God your Lord and to serve Him sincerely, with all your hearts and all your souls —

Devarim 11:14

וְנָתַתִּי מְטַר-אַרְצְכֶם בְּעִתּוֹ יוֹרֶה וּמַלְקוֹשׁ וְאָסַפְתָּ דְגָנֶךָ וְתִירֹשְׁךָ וְיִצְהָרֶךָ

. .

I shall send down rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the late rain, and you shall gather in your grain and your juice and your oil.

Devarim 11:15

וְנָתַתִּי עֵשֶׂב בְּשָׂדְךָ לִבְהֶמְתֶּךָ וְאָכַלְתָּ וְשָׂבָעְתָּ

.

And I shall cause grass to grow in your wilderness for your beasts, and you shall eat and be satisfied.

Devarim 11:16

הִשָּׁמְרוּ לָכֶם פֶּן יִפְתֶּה לְבַבְכֶם וְסַרְתֶּם וַעֲבַדְתֶּם אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶם לָהֶם

. . .

But take care lest your hearts be deceived, so that you stray and worship other objects of worship and bow down to them.

Devarim 11:17

וְחָרָה אַף-יְהוָה בָּכֶם וְעָצַר אֶת-הַשָּׁמַיִם וְלֹא-יִהְיֶה מָטָר וְהָאֲדָמָה לֹא תִתֵּן אֶת-יְבוּלָהּ וַאֲבַדְתֶּם מְהֵרָה מֵעַל הָאָרֶץ הַטֹּבָה אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה נֹתֵן לָכֶם

. . . . .

For then the wrath of God shall intensify against you, and He shall withhold the rain from the sky, and the earth shall not bring forth its yield — and you shall perish swiftly from the good land which God is giving you.

Devarim 11:18

וְשַׂמְתֶּם אֶת-דְּבָרַי אֵלֶּה עַל-לְבַבְכֶם וְעַל-נַפְשְׁכֶם וּקְשַׁרְתֶּם אֹתָם לְאוֹת עַל-יֶדְכֶם וְהָיוּ לְטוֹטָפֹת בֵּין עֵינֵיכֶם

. . .

And set these words of Mine in your hearts and in your souls; and bind them as a sign upon your hands, and let them be displayed between your eyes.

Devarim 11:19

וְלִמַּדְתֶּם אֹתָם אֶת-בְּנֵיכֶם לְדַבֵּר בָּם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ בְּבֵיתֶךָ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ בַדֶּרֶךְ וּבְשָׁכְבְּךָ וּבְקוּמֶךָ

. .

And teach them to your children, and study them in the state of your sitting in your dwelling and your walking on your way, and at your lying down and your rising up.

Devarim 11:20

וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל-מְזוּזוֹת בֵּיתֶךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶיךָ

And write them upon the doorposts of the openings of your dwellings and your gates.

Devarim 11:21

לְמַעַן יִרְבּוּ יְמֵיכֶם וִימֵי בְנֵיכֶם עַל הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע יְהוָה לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶם לָתֵת לָהֶם--כִּימֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם עַל-הָאָרֶץ

. .

That your days and the days of your children may be long in the land which God swore to your fathers that He would give them — like the days of the sky over the earth.

Devarim 11:22

כִּי אִם-שָׁמֹר תִּשְׁמְרוּן אֶת-כָּל-הַמִּצְוָה הַזֹּאת אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם--לַעֲשֹׂתָהּ לְאַהֲבָה אֶת-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם לָלֶכֶת בְּכָל-דְּרָכָיו--וּלְדָבְקָה-בוֹ

. . .

For if you keep all these commandments which I command you and act by them — loving God your Lord, and walking in all His ways and cleaving to them —

Devarim 11:23

וְהוֹרִישׁ יְהוָה אֶת-כָּל-הַגּוֹיִם הָאֵלֶּה מִלִּפְנֵיכֶם וִירִשְׁתֶּם גּוֹיִם גְּדֹלִים וַעֲצֻמִים מִכֶּם

. . .

then God shall cut away all these nations from before you, and you shall inherit nations more numerous and stronger than yourselves.

Devarim 11:24

כָּל-הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר תִּדְרֹךְ כַּף-רַגְלְכֶם בּוֹ--לָכֶם יִהְיֶה מִן-הַמִּדְבָּר וְהַלְּבָנוֹן מִן-הַנָּהָר נְהַר-פְּרָת וְעַד הַיָּם הָאַחֲרוֹן--יִהְיֶה גְּבֻלְכֶם

. . .

Every place upon which your foot treads shall be yours — from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river Euphrates and the great sea shall be your border.

Devarim 11:25

לֹא-יִתְיַצֵּב אִישׁ בִּפְנֵיכֶם פַּחְדְּכֶם וּמוֹרַאֲכֶם יִתֵּן יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם עַל-פְּנֵי כָל-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר תִּדְרְכוּ-בָהּ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לָכֶם

. . . .

No one shall stand before you; rather, your terror and your dread shall God your Lord cast upon all the land through which you pass, as He has promised you.

Devarim 11:26

רְאֵה אָנֹכִי נֹתֵן לִפְנֵיכֶם--הַיּוֹם בְּרָכָה וּקְלָלָה

. .

See — I am reciting over you today blessings and curses:

Devarim 11:27

אֶת-הַבְּרָכָה--אֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁמְעוּ אֶל-מִצְו‍ֹת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם הַיּוֹם

.

as for the blessings — if you accept the commandments of God your Lord which I command you today;

Devarim 11:28

וְהַקְּלָלָה אִם-לֹא תִשְׁמְעוּ אֶל-מִצְו‍ֹת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם וְסַרְתֶּם מִן-הַדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם הַיּוֹם לָלֶכֶת אַחֲרֵי אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים--אֲשֶׁר לֹא-יְדַעְתֶּם

. . . . .

and as for the curses — if you do not accept the commandments of God your Lord, and you stray from the way which I command you today, and you follow other objects of worship which you have not known.

Devarim 11:29

וְהָיָה כִּי יְבִיאֲךָ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֶל-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר-אַתָּה בָא-שָׁמָּה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ--וְנָתַתָּה אֶת-הַבְּרָכָה עַל-הַר גְּרִזִים וְאֶת-הַקְּלָלָה עַל-הַר עֵיבָל

. . . .

And when God your Lord brings you into the land to which you are going to take possession of it, then recite the blessings upon Mount Gerizim and the curses upon Mount Ebal.

Devarim 11:30

הֲלֹא-הֵמָּה בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן אַחֲרֵי דֶּרֶךְ מְבוֹא הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ בְּאֶרֶץ הַכְּנַעֲנִי הַיֹּשֵׁב בָּעֲרָבָה--מוּל הַגִּלְגָּל אֵצֶל אֵלוֹנֵי מֹרֶה

. . . . .

Are they not on the western side of the Jordan, behind the road of the setting of the sun, by the land of the Canaanite who dwells in the valley, near Gilgal, by the meadow of Moreh?

Devarim 11:31

כִּי אַתֶּם עֹבְרִים אֶת-הַיַּרְדֵּן לָבֹא לָרֶשֶׁת אֶת-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם נֹתֵן לָכֶם וִירִשְׁתֶּם אֹתָהּ וִישַׁבְתֶּם-בָּהּ

. .

For you are crossing the Jordan to enter and to take possession of the land which God your Lord is giving you; and when you have taken possession of it and settled in it —

Devarim 11:32

וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם לַעֲשׂוֹת אֵת כָּל-הַחֻקִּים וְאֶת-הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי נֹתֵן לִפְנֵיכֶם הַיּוֹם

. .

keep and act according to all the statutes and the ordinances which I am reciting over you today.