Saadia's Tafsir on Vayikra 26 (Parashat Behar-Bechukotai)

Vayikra 26:1

לֹא-תַעֲשׂוּ לָכֶם אֱלִילִם וּפֶסֶל וּמַצֵּבָה לֹא-תָקִימוּ לָכֶם וְאֶבֶן מַשְׂכִּית לֹא תִתְּנוּ בְּאַרְצְכֶם לְהִשְׁתַּחֲו‍ֹת עָלֶיהָ כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

. . . . .

Do not make for yourselves idols; and a carved thing and a standing-stone do not erect for yourselves; and an ornamental stone do not make in your lands to bow down to it. I am God, your Lord, the One.

Vayikra 26:2

אֶת-שַׁבְּתֹתַי תִּשְׁמֹרוּ וּמִקְדָּשִׁי תִּירָאוּ אֲנִי יְהוָה

[[ . .

My sabbaths — keep them; and My sanctuary — hold it in awe. I am God; I shall recompense you with good.

Vayikra 26:3

אִם-בְּחֻקֹּתַי תֵּלֵכוּ וְאֶת-מִצְו‍ֹתַי תִּשְׁמְרוּ וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אֹתָם

. .

Only if you walk in My statutes, and keep My commandments, and act according to them —

Vayikra 26:4

וְנָתַתִּי גִשְׁמֵיכֶם בְּעִתָּם וְנָתְנָה הָאָרֶץ יְבוּלָהּ וְעֵץ הַשָּׂדֶה יִתֵּן פִּרְיוֹ

. .

I shall send down your rains in their seasons, and the earth shall bring forth its yield, and the trees of the wilderness shall bring forth their fruit;

Vayikra 26:5

וְהִשִּׂיג לָכֶם דַּיִשׁ אֶת-בָּצִיר וּבָצִיר יַשִּׂיג אֶת-זָרַע וַאֲכַלְתֶּם לַחְמְכֶם לָשֹׂבַע וִישַׁבְתֶּם לָבֶטַח בְּאַרְצְכֶם

. . .

until the threshing shall overtake for you the harvest, and the harvest shall overtake the sowing; and you shall eat your food with pleasure, and you shall dwell secure in your land.

Vayikra 26:6

וְנָתַתִּי שָׁלוֹם בָּאָרֶץ וּשְׁכַבְתֶּם וְאֵין מַחֲרִיד וְהִשְׁבַּתִּי חַיָּה רָעָה מִן-הָאָרֶץ וְחֶרֶב לֹא-תַעֲבֹר בְּאַרְצְכֶם

. . .

And I shall establish peace for you in the land, so that you shall lie down with nothing to disturb you; and I shall cause the harm of the destructive beast to cease from the land; and no sword shall pass through your land.

Vayikra 26:7

וּרְדַפְתֶּם אֶת-אֹיְבֵיכֶם וְנָפְלוּ לִפְנֵיכֶם לֶחָרֶב

.

And when you hunt down your enemies, they shall fall before you under your swords.

Vayikra 26:8

וְרָדְפוּ מִכֶּם חֲמִשָּׁה מֵאָה וּמֵאָה מִכֶּם רְבָבָה יִרְדֹּפוּ וְנָפְלוּ אֹיְבֵיכֶם לִפְנֵיכֶם לֶחָרֶב

. . .

Until five of you shall hunt down hundreds, and a hundred of you shall hunt down a multitude; and your enemies shall fall before you under your swords.

Vayikra 26:9

וּפָנִיתִי אֲלֵיכֶם--וְהִפְרֵיתִי אֶתְכֶם וְהִרְבֵּיתִי אֶתְכֶם וַהֲקִימֹתִי אֶת-בְּרִיתִי אִתְּכֶם

. .

And I shall turn toward you, and make you fruitful and multiply you, and I shall fulfil My covenant with you.

Vayikra 26:10

וַאֲכַלְתֶּם יָשָׁן נוֹשָׁן וְיָשָׁן מִפְּנֵי חָדָשׁ תּוֹצִיאוּ

.

And you shall eat the aged, long-stored; and you shall bring out the aged to make room for the new.

Vayikra 26:11

וְנָתַתִּי מִשְׁכָּנִי בְּתוֹכְכֶם וְלֹא-תִגְעַל נַפְשִׁי אֶתְכֶם

.

And I shall set My dwelling-place among you, and I shall not loathe you.

Vayikra 26:12

וְהִתְהַלַּכְתִּי בְּתוֹכְכֶם וְהָיִיתִי לָכֶם לֵאלֹהִים וְאַתֶּם תִּהְיוּ-לִי לְעָם

. .

And I shall cause My light to move among you, and I shall be the God for you, and you shall be for Me a special people.

Vayikra 26:13

אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם מִהְיֹת לָהֶם עֲבָדִים וָאֶשְׁבֹּר מֹטֹת עֻלְּכֶם וָאוֹלֵךְ אֶתְכֶם קוֹמְמִיּוּת

. . . .

I am God your Lord, who brought you out from the land of Egypt, from being slaves to them; and I broke the yoke-bars of your bonds, and led you forth as free people.

Vayikra 26:14

וְאִם-לֹא תִשְׁמְעוּ לִי וְלֹא תַעֲשׂוּ אֵת כָּל-הַמִּצְו‍ֹת הָאֵלֶּה

. .

But if you do not hearken to Me and obey, and do not act according to all these commandments —

Vayikra 26:15

וְאִם-בְּחֻקֹּתַי תִּמְאָסוּ וְאִם אֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי תִּגְעַל נַפְשְׁכֶם לְבִלְתִּי עֲשׂוֹת אֶת-כָּל-מִצְו‍ֹתַי לְהַפְרְכֶם אֶת-בְּרִיתִי

. .

but rather you have turned away from My statutes, and your souls have come to loathe My ordinances so as not to act according to My commandments, and you break My covenant —

Vayikra 26:16

אַף-אֲנִי אֶעֱשֶׂה-זֹּאת לָכֶם וְהִפְקַדְתִּי עֲלֵיכֶם בֶּהָלָה אֶת-הַשַּׁחֶפֶת וְאֶת-הַקַּדַּחַת מְכַלּוֹת עֵינַיִם וּמְדִיבֹת נָפֶשׁ וּזְרַעְתֶּם לָרִיק זַרְעֲכֶם וַאֲכָלֻהוּ אֹיְבֵיכֶם

. . . .

I too shall do to you these punishments: I shall set over you in haste the fever of consumption and the burning heat, which make your eyes stare and drain away your souls; and you shall sow your seed for nothing, and your enemies shall eat it.

Vayikra 26:17

וְנָתַתִּי פָנַי בָּכֶם וְנִגַּפְתֶּם לִפְנֵי אֹיְבֵיכֶם וְרָדוּ בָכֶם שֹׂנְאֵיכֶם וְנַסְתֶּם וְאֵין-רֹדֵף אֶתְכֶם

. . .

And I shall bring My wrath upon you, so that you shall be struck down before your enemies; and those who hate you shall rule over you, and you shall flee with none pursuing you.

Vayikra 26:18

וְאִם-עַד-אֵלֶּה--לֹא תִשְׁמְעוּ לִי וְיָסַפְתִּי לְיַסְּרָה אֶתְכֶם שֶׁבַע עַל-חַטֹּאתֵיכֶם

. .

And if you still do not accept from Me with all this, I shall increase your chastisement sevenfold upon your sins.

Vayikra 26:19

וְשָׁבַרְתִּי אֶת-גְּאוֹן עֻזְּכֶם וְנָתַתִּי אֶת-שְׁמֵיכֶם כַּבַּרְזֶל וְאֶת-אַרְצְכֶם כַּנְּחֻשָׁה

. .

And I shall break the might of your pride, and make your sky like iron and your earth like copper.

Vayikra 26:20

וְתַם לָרִיק כֹּחֲכֶם וְלֹא-תִתֵּן אַרְצְכֶם אֶת-יְבוּלָהּ וְעֵץ הָאָרֶץ לֹא יִתֵּן פִּרְיוֹ

. .

And your strength shall perish for nothing; and your land shall not bring forth its yield, and the trees of the wilderness shall not bring forth their fruit.

Vayikra 26:21

וְאִם-תֵּלְכוּ עִמִּי קֶרִי וְלֹא תֹאבוּ לִשְׁמֹעַ לִי--וְיָסַפְתִּי עֲלֵיכֶם מַכָּה שֶׁבַע כְּחַטֹּאתֵיכֶם

. .

And if you have walked with Me in contention, and have not been willing to hearken to Me, I shall add upon you a blow — sevenfold upon your sins.

Vayikra 26:22

וְהִשְׁלַחְתִּי בָכֶם אֶת-חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה וְשִׁכְּלָה אֶתְכֶם וְהִכְרִיתָה אֶת-בְּהֶמְתְּכֶם וְהִמְעִיטָה אֶתְכֶם וְנָשַׁמּוּ דַּרְכֵיכֶם

. . . .

And I shall release against you the beasts of the wilderness, and they shall bereave you of your children, and cut down your cattle, and reduce your number; and your roads shall become desolate.

Vayikra 26:23

וְאִם-בְּאֵלֶּה--לֹא תִוָּסְרוּ לִי וַהֲלַכְתֶּם עִמִּי קֶרִי

And if you are not disciplined toward Me by these punishments, and you walk with Me in contention —

Vayikra 26:24

וְהָלַכְתִּי אַף-אֲנִי עִמָּכֶם בְּקֶרִי וְהִכֵּיתִי אֶתְכֶם גַּם-אָנִי שֶׁבַע עַל-חַטֹּאתֵיכֶם

.

I too shall walk with you in contention, and I shall smite you sevenfold upon your sins.

Vayikra 26:25

וְהֵבֵאתִי עֲלֵיכֶם חֶרֶב נֹקֶמֶת נְקַם-בְּרִית וְנֶאֱסַפְתֶּם אֶל-עָרֵיכֶם וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי דֶבֶר בְּתוֹכְכֶם וְנִתַּתֶּם בְּיַד-אוֹיֵב

. . . .

And I shall recompense you with a sword that avenges the vengeance of the covenant; and you shall gather into your towns, and I shall send pestilence among you, and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

Vayikra 26:26

בְּשִׁבְרִי לָכֶם מַטֵּה-לֶחֶם וְאָפוּ עֶשֶׂר נָשִׁים לַחְמְכֶם בְּתַנּוּר אֶחָד וְהֵשִׁיבוּ לַחְמְכֶם בַּמִּשְׁקָל וַאֲכַלְתֶּם וְלֹא תִשְׂבָּעוּ

. .

And I shall break for you the spring of food, so that many women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall return it by weight; and you shall eat and not be satisfied.

Vayikra 26:27

וְאִם-בְּזֹאת--לֹא תִשְׁמְעוּ לִי וַהֲלַכְתֶּם עִמִּי בְּקֶרִי

. .

And if you do not hearken to Me and obey, with all these punishments, and you walk with Me in contention —

Vayikra 26:28

וְהָלַכְתִּי עִמָּכֶם בַּחֲמַת-קֶרִי וְיִסַּרְתִּי אֶתְכֶם אַף-אָנִי שֶׁבַע עַל-חַטֹּאתֵיכֶם

.

I too shall walk with you with the punishments of contention, and I shall discipline you sevenfold upon your sins.

Vayikra 26:29

וַאֲכַלְתֶּם בְּשַׂר בְּנֵיכֶם וּבְשַׂר בְּנֹתֵיכֶם תֹּאכֵלוּ

Until you eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters.

Vayikra 26:31

וְנָתַתִּי אֶת-עָרֵיכֶם חָרְבָּה וַהֲשִׁמּוֹתִי אֶת-מִקְדְּשֵׁיכֶם וְלֹא אָרִיחַ בְּרֵיחַ נִיחֹחֲכֶם

. .

And I shall make your towns a ruin, and cause desolation in your sanctuaries, and I shall neither accept nor be pleased with your offerings.

Vayikra 26:32

וַהֲשִׁמֹּתִי אֲנִי אֶת-הָאָרֶץ וְשָׁמְמוּ עָלֶיהָ אֹיְבֵיכֶם הַיֹּשְׁבִים בָּהּ

. .

And I shall desolate the land of you, and your enemies who dwell in it shall be desolated of it.

Vayikra 26:33

וְאֶתְכֶם אֱזָרֶה בַגּוֹיִם וַהֲרִיקֹתִי אַחֲרֵיכֶם חָרֶב וְהָיְתָה אַרְצְכֶם שְׁמָמָה וְעָרֵיכֶם יִהְיוּ חָרְבָּה

. . . .

And I shall scatter you among the nations, and I shall draw the sword after you; and your land shall become a waste, and your towns a ruin.

Vayikra 26:34

אָז תִּרְצֶה הָאָרֶץ אֶת-שַׁבְּתֹתֶיהָ כֹּל יְמֵי הָשַּׁמָּה וְאַתֶּם בְּאֶרֶץ אֹיְבֵיכֶם אָז תִּשְׁבַּת הָאָרֶץ וְהִרְצָת אֶת-שַׁבְּתֹתֶיהָ

. . . .

At that time the land shall receive its rest — all the days of its desolation — while you are in the land of your enemies; at that time the land shall be left fallow, and receive its rest.

Vayikra 26:35

כָּל-יְמֵי הָשַּׁמָּה תִּשְׁבֹּת אֵת אֲשֶׁר לֹא-שָׁבְתָה בְּשַׁבְּתֹתֵיכֶם בְּשִׁבְתְּכֶם עָלֶיהָ

.

And the reason for the length of the days of its desolation is that it shall rest, even as you did not let it rest in its rest-times while you were dwelling upon it.

Vayikra 26:36

וְהַנִּשְׁאָרִים בָּכֶם--וְהֵבֵאתִי מֹרֶךְ בִּלְבָבָם בְּאַרְצֹת אֹיְבֵיהֶם וְרָדַף אֹתָם קוֹל עָלֶה נִדָּף וְנָסוּ מְנֻסַת-חֶרֶב וְנָפְלוּ וְאֵין רֹדֵף

. . . .

And those of you who remain — I shall bring cowardice into their hearts in the lands of their enemies, so that even if the sound of a driven leaf overtook them, they would flee as one fleeing from the sword, and they would fall with none pursuing them.

Vayikra 26:37

וְכָשְׁלוּ אִישׁ-בְּאָחִיו כְּמִפְּנֵי-חֶרֶב וְרֹדֵף אָיִן וְלֹא-תִהְיֶה לָכֶם תְּקוּמָה לִפְנֵי אֹיְבֵיכֶם

. . .

And they shall stumble over one another, as happens before the sword, with none pursuing; and you shall have no power to stand before your enemies.

Vayikra 26:38

וַאֲבַדְתֶּם בַּגּוֹיִם וְאָכְלָה אֶתְכֶם אֶרֶץ אֹיְבֵיכֶם

.

And some of you shall perish among the nations, and the land of your enemies shall consume you.

Vayikra 26:39

וְהַנִּשְׁאָרִים בָּכֶם יִמַּקּוּ בַּעֲו‍ֹנָם בְּאַרְצֹת אֹיְבֵיכֶם וְאַף בַּעֲו‍ֹנֹת אֲבֹתָם אִתָּם יִמָּקּוּ

. . .

And those of you who remain shall be humbled by their sins in the lands of your enemies; and also by the sins of their fathers who are with them they shall be humbled.

Vayikra 26:40

וְהִתְוַדּוּ אֶת-עֲו‍ֹנָם וְאֶת-עֲו‍ֹן אֲבֹתָם בְּמַעֲלָם אֲשֶׁר מָעֲלוּ-בִי וְאַף אֲשֶׁר-הָלְכוּ עִמִּי בְּקֶרִי

. .

But if they confess their sins and the sins of their fathers — in their treachery with which they were treacherous against Me, and in that they walked with Me in contention and did not repent —

Vayikra 26:41

אַף-אֲנִי אֵלֵךְ עִמָּם בְּקֶרִי וְהֵבֵאתִי אֹתָם בְּאֶרֶץ אֹיְבֵיהֶם אוֹ-אָז יִכָּנַע לְבָבָם הֶעָרֵל וְאָז יִרְצוּ אֶת-עֲו‍ֹנָם

. . .

I too shall walk with them in contention, and I shall bring them into the lands of their enemies again; or until their obdurate heart is subdued, or until they have paid the full price of their sins.

Vayikra 26:42

וְזָכַרְתִּי אֶת-בְּרִיתִי יַעֲקוֹב וְאַף אֶת-בְּרִיתִי יִצְחָק וְאַף אֶת-בְּרִיתִי אַבְרָהָם אֶזְכֹּר--וְהָאָרֶץ אֶזְכֹּר

. . .

Then I shall remember for them My covenant with Jacob, and also My covenant with Isaac, and also My covenant with Abraham — I shall remember it for them and for their offspring.

Vayikra 26:43

וְהָאָרֶץ תֵּעָזֵב מֵהֶם וְתִרֶץ אֶת-שַׁבְּתֹתֶיהָ בָּהְשַׁמָּה מֵהֶם וְהֵם יִרְצוּ אֶת-עֲו‍ֹנָם יַעַן וּבְיַעַן--בְּמִשְׁפָּטַי מָאָסוּ וְאֶת-חֻקֹּתַי גָּעֲלָה נַפְשָׁם

. . . . .

And the land that was left of them, and received its rest through being desolated of them — and they, for their part, paid the full price of their sins, as their recompense and part of their recompense — since they had turned away from My ordinances, and their souls had loathed My statutes.

Vayikra 26:44

וְאַף-גַּם-זֹאת בִּהְיוֹתָם בְּאֶרֶץ אֹיְבֵיהֶם לֹא-מְאַסְתִּים וְלֹא-גְעַלְתִּים לְכַלֹּתָם--לְהָפֵר בְּרִיתִי אִתָּם כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם

. . . .

And also, along with all these things — even while they are in the lands of their enemies — I shall not turn away from them, nor shall I loathe them to destroy them, nor shall I annul My covenant with them; for I am God their Lord.

Vayikra 26:45

וְזָכַרְתִּי לָהֶם בְּרִית רִאשֹׁנִים אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִי-אֹתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם לְעֵינֵי הַגּוֹיִם לִהְיוֹת לָהֶם לֵאלֹהִים--אֲנִי יְהוָה

. . .

And I shall remember for them the covenant of the first ones, whom I brought out from the land of Egypt in the presence of the nations, to be their God. I am God, true to My promise.

Vayikra 26:46

אֵלֶּה הַחֻקִּים וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִים וְהַתּוֹרֹת אֲשֶׁר נָתַן יְהוָה בֵּינוֹ וּבֵין בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל--בְּהַר סִינַי בְּיַד-מֹשֶׁה

. . .

These are the statutes and the ordinances and the guiding principles which God established between Him and the sons of Israel, upon Mount Sinai, by the hand of Moses.