Saadia's Tafsir on Devarim 4 (Parashat Vaetchanan)

Devarim 4:1

וְעַתָּה יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁמַע אֶל-הַחֻקִּים וְאֶל-הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְלַמֵּד אֶתְכֶם לַעֲשׂוֹת--לְמַעַן תִּחְיוּ וּבָאתֶם וִירִשְׁתֶּם אֶת-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֵיכֶם נֹתֵן לָכֶם

. . . . .

And now, O Israel, hear the statutes and the ordinances which I am teaching you, to do them — so that you may live, and enter and possess the land which God, the God of your fathers, is giving you.

Devarim 4:2

לֹא תֹסִפוּ עַל-הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם וְלֹא תִגְרְעוּ מִמֶּנּוּ--לִשְׁמֹר אֶת-מִצְו‍ֹת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם

. . . .

You shall not add anything to what I command you, nor diminish from it; but keep the commandments of God your Lord which I command you today.

Devarim 4:3

עֵינֵיכֶם הָרֹאוֹת אֵת אֲשֶׁר-עָשָׂה יְהוָה בְּבַעַל פְּעוֹר כִּי כָל-הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר הָלַךְ אַחֲרֵי בַעַל-פְּעוֹר--הִשְׁמִידוֹ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ מִקִּרְבֶּךָ

. . .

And your eyes have seen all that God did with Peor the idol — that every man who followed it, God your Lord drove out from among you.

Devarim 4:4

וְאַתֶּם הַדְּבֵקִים בַּיהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם--חַיִּים כֻּלְּכֶם הַיּוֹם

. .

And you who hold fast in obedience to God your Lord — you are all alive today.

Devarim 4:5

רְאֵה לִמַּדְתִּי אֶתְכֶם חֻקִּים וּמִשְׁפָּטִים כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוַּנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהָי לַעֲשׂוֹת כֵּן--בְּקֶרֶב הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם בָּאִים שָׁמָּה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ

. . . . .

See, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, as God my Lord commanded me, that you should do them in the land to which you are going, to possess it.

Devarim 4:6

וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם וַעֲשִׂיתֶם--כִּי הִוא חָכְמַתְכֶם וּבִינַתְכֶם לְעֵינֵי הָעַמִּים אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁמְעוּן אֵת כָּל-הַחֻקִּים הָאֵלֶּה וְאָמְרוּ רַק עַם-חָכָם וְנָבוֹן הַגּוֹי הַגָּדוֹל הַזֶּה

[[ . . . . . .

So keep them and act by them — for that is your wisdom and your understanding before the nations; for when they hear these statutes, they will surely say: this great assembly is indeed a wise and understanding people.

Devarim 4:7

כִּי מִי-גוֹי גָּדוֹל אֲשֶׁר-לוֹ אֱלֹהִים קְרֹבִים אֵלָיו כַּיהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ בְּכָל-קָרְאֵנוּ אֵלָיו

. . .

For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as God our Lord — whenever we call upon Him?

Devarim 4:8

וּמִי גּוֹי גָּדוֹל אֲשֶׁר-לוֹ חֻקִּים וּמִשְׁפָּטִים צַדִּיקִם כְּכֹל הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי נֹתֵן לִפְנֵיכֶם הַיּוֹם

. . .

And what great nation is there that has statutes and ordinances as just as all this Torah which I am reciting before you today?

Devarim 4:9

רַק הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ וּשְׁמֹר נַפְשְׁךָ מְאֹד פֶּן-תִּשְׁכַּח אֶת-הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר-רָאוּ עֵינֶיךָ וּפֶן-יָסוּרוּ מִלְּבָבְךָ כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ וְהוֹדַעְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ וְלִבְנֵי בָנֶיךָ

. . . .

Only take heed, and guard yourself exceedingly, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your son and to your son's son —

Devarim 4:10

יוֹם אֲשֶׁר עָמַדְתָּ לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּחֹרֵב בֶּאֱמֹר יְהוָה אֵלַי הַקְהֶל-לִי אֶת-הָעָם וְאַשְׁמִעֵם אֶת-דְּבָרָי אֲשֶׁר יִלְמְדוּן לְיִרְאָה אֹתִי כָּל-הַיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר הֵם חַיִּים עַל-הָאֲדָמָה וְאֶת-בְּנֵיהֶם יְלַמֵּדוּן

. . . . .

on the day you stood before God your Lord at Horeb, when God said to me: 'Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.'

Devarim 4:11

וַתִּקְרְבוּן וַתַּעַמְדוּן תַּחַת הָהָר וְהָהָר בֹּעֵר בָּאֵשׁ עַד-לֵב הַשָּׁמַיִם--חֹשֶׁךְ עָנָן וַעֲרָפֶל

. .

And you came forward and stood at the foot of the mountain, while it blazed with fire to the very heart of the sky, enveloped in the blackness of cloud and mist.

Devarim 4:12

וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֲלֵיכֶם מִתּוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ קוֹל דְּבָרִים אַתֶּם שֹׁמְעִים וּתְמוּנָה אֵינְכֶם רֹאִים זוּלָתִי קוֹל

. .

And God spoke to you from within the fire; you were hearing the words, and any likeness you did not see — only the voice alone.

Devarim 4:13

וַיַּגֵּד לָכֶם אֶת-בְּרִיתוֹ אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה אֶתְכֶם לַעֲשׂוֹת--עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים וַיִּכְתְּבֵם עַל-שְׁנֵי לֻחוֹת אֲבָנִים

. .

And He declared to you His covenant, which He commanded you to observe — the Ten Words; and He wrote them upon two tablets of stone.

Devarim 4:14

וְאֹתִי צִוָּה יְהוָה בָּעֵת הַהִוא לְלַמֵּד אֶתְכֶם חֻקִּים וּמִשְׁפָּטִים לַעֲשֹׂתְכֶם אֹתָם--בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם עֹבְרִים שָׁמָּה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ

. . .

And He commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and ordinances, that you should do them in the land to which you are crossing over, to possess it.

Devarim 4:15

וְנִשְׁמַרְתֶּם מְאֹד לְנַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם כִּי לֹא רְאִיתֶם כָּל-תְּמוּנָה בְּיוֹם דִּבֶּר יְהוָה אֲלֵיכֶם בְּחֹרֵב מִתּוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ

. . .

Take great heed therefore for your souls — for you saw no likeness on the day God spoke to you at Horeb from within the fire —

Devarim 4:16

פֶּן-תַּשְׁחִתוּן--וַעֲשִׂיתֶם לָכֶם פֶּסֶל תְּמוּנַת כָּל-סָמֶל תַּבְנִית זָכָר אוֹ נְקֵבָה

.

lest you corrupt yourselves and make for yourselves a graven image in the form of any figure, whether male or female,

Devarim 4:17

תַּבְנִית כָּל-בְּהֵמָה אֲשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ תַּבְנִית כָּל-צִפּוֹר כָּנָף אֲשֶׁר תָּעוּף בַּשָּׁמָיִם

. .

or in the form of any beast of the earth, or in the form of any winged bird that flies in the sky,

Devarim 4:18

תַּבְנִית כָּל-רֹמֵשׂ בָּאֲדָמָה תַּבְנִית כָּל-דָּגָה אֲשֶׁר-בַּמַּיִם מִתַּחַת לָאָרֶץ

. .

or in the form of anything that creeps upon the earth, or in the form of any fish that is in the water beneath the earth —

Devarim 4:19

וּפֶן-תִּשָּׂא עֵינֶיךָ הַשָּׁמַיְמָה וְרָאִיתָ אֶת-הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְאֶת-הַיָּרֵחַ וְאֶת-הַכּוֹכָבִים כֹּל צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם וְנִדַּחְתָּ וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתָ לָהֶם וַעֲבַדְתָּם--אֲשֶׁר חָלַק יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֹתָם לְכֹל הָעַמִּים תַּחַת כָּל-הַשָּׁמָיִם

. . . . . . . .

and lest you lift up your eyes to the sky and behold the sun and the moon and the planets, and the rest of the stars of the sky, and be led astray and bow down to them and serve them — those whose light God your Lord has spread abroad for all the peoples that are under all the sky.

Devarim 4:20

וְאֶתְכֶם לָקַח יְהוָה וַיּוֹצִא אֶתְכֶם מִכּוּר הַבַּרְזֶל מִמִּצְרָיִם לִהְיוֹת לוֹ לְעַם נַחֲלָה כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה

. . .

But you — God chose you out and brought you forth from what resembles a smelting furnace of iron, out of Egypt, to be for Him a chosen people, as on this day.

Devarim 4:21

וַיהוָה הִתְאַנַּף-בִּי עַל-דִּבְרֵיכֶם וַיִּשָּׁבַע לְבִלְתִּי עָבְרִי אֶת-הַיַּרְדֵּן וּלְבִלְתִּי-בֹא אֶל-הָאָרֶץ הַטּוֹבָה אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ נַחֲלָה

. .

Now God was greatly angered with me on your account, and swore that I should not cross the Jordan, and that I should not enter the good land which God your Lord is giving you as an inheritance.

Devarim 4:22

כִּי אָנֹכִי מֵת בָּאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת אֵינֶנִּי עֹבֵר אֶת-הַיַּרְדֵּן וְאַתֶּם עֹבְרִים וִירִשְׁתֶּם אֶת-הָאָרֶץ הַטּוֹבָה הַזֹּאת

. . .

For I am dying in this land; I shall not cross the Jordan — but you are crossing it, and you shall possess that good land.

Devarim 4:23

הִשָּׁמְרוּ לָכֶם פֶּן-תִּשְׁכְּחוּ אֶת-בְּרִית יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר כָּרַת עִמָּכֶם וַעֲשִׂיתֶם לָכֶם פֶּסֶל תְּמוּנַת כֹּל אֲשֶׁר צִוְּךָ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ

. . .

Take heed, lest you forget the covenant of God your Lord which He made with you, and make for yourselves a graven image in the likeness of anything that God your Lord has forbidden you.

Devarim 4:24

כִּי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֵשׁ אֹכְלָה הוּא אֵל קַנָּא

.

For the punishment of God your Lord is a consuming fire — He is the one possessed of power, the Punisher.

Devarim 4:25

כִּי-תוֹלִיד בָּנִים וּבְנֵי בָנִים וְנוֹשַׁנְתֶּם בָּאָרֶץ וְהִשְׁחַתֶּם וַעֲשִׂיתֶם פֶּסֶל תְּמוּנַת כֹּל וַעֲשִׂיתֶם הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה-אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְהַכְעִיסוֹ

. . . . .

When you beget sons and grandsons, and grow old in the land, and you corrupt yourselves by making a graven image of any likeness, and do evil before God your Lord and provoke Him —

Devarim 4:26

הַעִידֹתִי בָכֶם הַיּוֹם אֶת-הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת-הָאָרֶץ כִּי-אָבֹד תֹּאבֵדוּן מַהֵר מֵעַל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם עֹבְרִים אֶת-הַיַּרְדֵּן שָׁמָּה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ לֹא-תַאֲרִיכֻן יָמִים עָלֶיהָ כִּי הִשָּׁמֵד תִּשָּׁמֵדוּן

. . . . .

I call to witness against you today the heavens and the earth: you shall surely perish swiftly from the land to which you are crossing the Jordan to possess it; you shall not prolong your time in it, but shall utterly be wiped out.

Devarim 4:27

וְהֵפִיץ יְהוָה אֶתְכֶם בָּעַמִּים וְנִשְׁאַרְתֶּם מְתֵי מִסְפָּר בַּגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר יְנַהֵג יְהוָה אֶתְכֶם שָׁמָּה

. . .

And He will scatter you among the nations, and you shall remain a group that can be counted among the nations to which God drives you.

Devarim 4:28

וַעֲבַדְתֶּם-שָׁם אֱלֹהִים מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵי אָדָם עֵץ וָאֶבֶן--אֲשֶׁר לֹא-יִרְאוּן וְלֹא יִשְׁמְעוּן וְלֹא יֹאכְלוּן וְלֹא יְרִיחֻן

. . . .

And there you shall serve objects of worship made by human hands — of wood and stone — which neither see nor hear, neither eat nor smell.

Devarim 4:29

וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּם מִשָּׁם אֶת-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ וּמָצָאתָ כִּי תִדְרְשֶׁנּוּ בְּכָל-לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל-נַפְשֶׁךָ

. .

And from there you shall seek God your Lord and find Him, when you search for Him with a whole heart and soul.

Devarim 4:30

בַּצַּר לְךָ--וּמְצָאוּךָ כֹּל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה בְּאַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים וְשַׁבְתָּ עַד-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ וְשָׁמַעְתָּ בְּקֹלוֹ

. . . .

When you are in distress and all these things come upon you in the end of days, then turn back to God your Lord and accept His command.

Devarim 4:31

כִּי אֵל רַחוּם יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לֹא יַרְפְּךָ וְלֹא יַשְׁחִיתֶךָ וְלֹא יִשְׁכַּח אֶת-בְּרִית אֲבֹתֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לָהֶם

. .

For God your Lord is possessed of power, compassionate — He will not forsake you nor abandon you, and He will not forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.

Devarim 4:32

כִּי שְׁאַל-נָא לְיָמִים רִאשֹׁנִים אֲשֶׁר-הָיוּ לְפָנֶיךָ לְמִן-הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אָדָם עַל-הָאָרֶץ וּלְמִקְצֵה הַשָּׁמַיִם וְעַד-קְצֵה הַשָּׁמָיִם הֲנִהְיָה כַּדָּבָר הַגָּדוֹל הַזֶּה אוֹ הֲנִשְׁמַע כָּמֹהוּ

. . . .

And now — inquire about the former days that were before your time, from the day God created Adam upon the earth, and from one end of the sky to the other: has there ever been anything like this great thing, or has the like of it been heard?

Devarim 4:33

הֲשָׁמַע עָם קוֹל אֱלֹהִים מְדַבֵּר מִתּוֹךְ-הָאֵשׁ כַּאֲשֶׁר-שָׁמַעְתָּ אַתָּה--וַיֶּחִי

. .

Has a nation ever heard the voice of God speaking to it from within fire, as you heard — and lived?

Devarim 4:34

אוֹ הֲנִסָּה אֱלֹהִים לָבוֹא לָקַחַת לוֹ גוֹי מִקֶּרֶב גּוֹי בְּמַסֹּת בְּאֹתֹת וּבְמוֹפְתִים וּבְמִלְחָמָה וּבְיָד חֲזָקָה וּבִזְרוֹעַ נְטוּיָה וּבְמוֹרָאִים גְּדֹלִים כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר-עָשָׂה לָכֶם יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם בְּמִצְרַיִם--לְעֵינֶיךָ

. . . . ]] . .

Or has God raised a banner for anyone, appearing in order to deliver for him a nation from the midst of another — by signs and wonders and proofs, and by battle, and a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and great terrors — as all that God your Lord did for you in Egypt before your eyes?

Devarim 4:35

אַתָּה הָרְאֵתָ לָדַעַת כִּי יְהוָה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים אֵין עוֹד מִלְּבַדּוֹ

. .

You are therefore obliged to know that God is the God — there is no other beside Him, and none beside Him.

Devarim 4:36

מִן-הַשָּׁמַיִם הִשְׁמִיעֲךָ אֶת-קֹלוֹ לְיַסְּרֶךָּ וְעַל-הָאָרֶץ הֶרְאֲךָ אֶת-אִשּׁוֹ הַגְּדוֹלָה וּדְבָרָיו שָׁמַעְתָּ מִתּוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ

. ]] .

From the sky He let you hear His voice to instruct you; and upon the earth He showed you His great fire, and you heard His words from within it.

Devarim 4:37

וְתַחַת כִּי אָהַב אֶת-אֲבֹתֶיךָ וַיִּבְחַר בְּזַרְעוֹ אַחֲרָיו וַיּוֹצִאֲךָ בְּפָנָיו בְּכֹחוֹ הַגָּדֹל מִמִּצְרָיִם

. . . ]] ]]

And that was because He loved your fathers and chose their offspring after them, and brought you out by His will, in His great power, from Egypt —

Devarim 4:38

לְהוֹרִישׁ גּוֹיִם גְּדֹלִים וַעֲצֻמִים מִמְּךָ--מִפָּנֶיךָ לַהֲבִיאֲךָ לָתֶת-לְךָ אֶת-אַרְצָם נַחֲלָה--כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה

. . . . .

to dispossess nations greater and mightier than you before you, to bring you in and give you their land as an inheritance, as you see this day.

Devarim 4:39

וְיָדַעְתָּ הַיּוֹם וַהֲשֵׁבֹתָ אֶל-לְבָבֶךָ כִּי יְהוָה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים בַּשָּׁמַיִם מִמַּעַל וְעַל-הָאָרֶץ מִתָּחַת אֵין עוֹד

. . . .

Know this therefore, and turn it over in your heart: that God is the God in the heavens above and the earth below — there is none other.

Devarim 4:40

וְשָׁמַרְתָּ אֶת-חֻקָּיו וְאֶת-מִצְו‍ֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִיטַב לְךָ וּלְבָנֶיךָ אַחֲרֶיךָ--וּלְמַעַן תַּאֲרִיךְ יָמִים עַל-הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ כָּל-הַיָּמִים

. . . . . . .

And keep His statutes and His commandments which I command you today, so that it may go well for you and for your children after you, and so that your span of days may be long in the land which God your Lord is giving you for all time.

Devarim 4:41

אָז יַבְדִּיל מֹשֶׁה שָׁלֹשׁ עָרִים בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן מִזְרְחָה שָׁמֶשׁ

.

At that time Moses set apart three towns on the eastern side of the Jordan,

Devarim 4:42

לָנֻס שָׁמָּה רוֹצֵחַ אֲשֶׁר יִרְצַח אֶת-רֵעֵהוּ בִּבְלִי-דַעַת וְהוּא לֹא-שֹׂנֵא לוֹ מִתְּמֹל שִׁלְשֹׁם וְנָס אֶל-אַחַת מִן-הֶעָרִים הָאֵל--וָחָי

. . .

so that every slayer who kills his fellow without intent — he not having been hostile to him from yesterday and before — might flee to one of them and live.

Devarim 4:43

אֶת-בֶּצֶר בַּמִּדְבָּר בְּאֶרֶץ הַמִּישֹׁר לָראוּבֵנִי וְאֶת-רָאמֹת בַּגִּלְעָד לַגָּדִי וְאֶת-גּוֹלָן בַּבָּשָׁן לַמְנַשִּׁי

. . .

Bostra in the wilderness, in the land of the plain, from the land of Reuben; and Ramoth in Gerash, from the land of Gad; and Golan in Bathaniyya, from the land of Manasseh.

Devarim 4:44

וְזֹאת הַתּוֹרָה אֲשֶׁר-שָׂם מֹשֶׁה לִפְנֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

.

And this is the teaching which Moses recited before the sons of Israel.

Devarim 4:45

אֵלֶּה הָעֵדֹת וְהַחֻקִּים וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִים--אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר מֹשֶׁה אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּצֵאתָם מִמִּצְרָיִם

. . .

These are the testimonies and the statutes and the ordinances which Moses commanded to the sons of Israel at their going forth from Egypt —

Devarim 4:46

בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן בַּגַּיְא מוּל בֵּית פְּעוֹר בְּאֶרֶץ סִיחֹן מֶלֶךְ הָאֱמֹרִי אֲשֶׁר יוֹשֵׁב בְּחֶשְׁבּוֹן--אֲשֶׁר הִכָּה מֹשֶׁה וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּצֵאתָם מִמִּצְרָיִם

. . . . .

on that side of the Jordan, in the valley facing Beth Peor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites who dwelt in Heshbon, whom Moses and the sons of Israel struck down at their going forth from Egypt.

Devarim 4:47

וַיִּירְשׁוּ אֶת-אַרְצוֹ וְאֶת-אֶרֶץ עוֹג מֶלֶךְ-הַבָּשָׁן שְׁנֵי מַלְכֵי הָאֱמֹרִי אֲשֶׁר בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן--מִזְרַח שָׁמֶשׁ

. . .

And they took possession of his land and the land of Og king of Bathaniyya — the two kings of the Amorites who were on the eastern side of the Jordan.

Devarim 4:48

מֵעֲרֹעֵר אֲשֶׁר עַל-שְׂפַת-נַחַל אַרְנֹן וְעַד-הַר שִׂיאֹן--הוּא חֶרְמוֹן

. .

From Aroer, which is on the bank of the valley of Arnon, as far as Mount Sion — that is Hermon —

Devarim 4:49

וְכָל-הָעֲרָבָה עֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן מִזְרָחָה וְעַד יָם הָעֲרָבָה--תַּחַת אַשְׁדֹּת הַפִּסְגָּה

. . .

and all the Ghor on the eastern side of the Jordan, as far as the Sea of Tiberias, below the outlet of the fortress.