Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”L

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Blessings for Dan, Naftali, Asher and Message to the Nation

Dan's Blessing

Like Gad, Dan's territory was also located near the border of Israel so Moshe similarly compares that tribe to a lion.

Moshe says that this "lion" is "streaming from Bashan".

Bashan was located east of the Jordan River so this is a reference to the area called Leshem, which was located to the North East of Israel which the tribe of Dan conquered which contained the Paneas cave which was where the Jordan river emerged from.

An alternative understanding of the imagery of "streaming from Bashan" that Rashi teaches is that just as water flows from one source and separates into two different directions, so too did the tribe of Dan begin with one territory and ended up taking two, since not only did the tribe of Dan conquer Leshem, but they conquered Ekron and its surrounding areas (which was located north west of Israel) as well.

Rashi delineates the flow of the Jordan River which emerged from the Paneas cave in the North East and then went southwards ending at the Dead Sea which was part of Yehuda's territory.

Naftali's Blessing

Moshe blesses Naftali that his land will completely satisfy those who live there.

The territory of Naftali was located to the North and West of the Kinneret sea as well as a strip at the south of the sea that was wide enough for them to pull in their fishing nets.

Asher's Blessing

Moshe blesses Asher's tribe with sons. Rashi cites Sifrei who teaches that no other tribe was blessed with sons the way Asher was, however Rashi confesses that he does not know how so.

Asher provided the other tribes with "Onpakinon oil", which was unripe oil used for anointing the skin as well as delicacies

And of Asher he said: "May Asher be blessed with sons. He will be pleasing to his brothers, and immerse his foot in oil". In exchange, the other tribes would pay him with grain.

Alternatively, the reference to olive oil is alluding to the fact that the women from the tribe of Asher were beautiful and in high demand for marriage and married to Kohanim Gedolim who were anointed with olive oil.

Rashi relates a story from the gemara (Menachos 85b) which illustrates the tremendous amount of olive oil that flowed through the tribe of Asher's land: One time, the people of Laodicea needed oil so they sent out an agent all over until he found an olive farmer in Gush Chalev (in the territory of Asher). This olive farmer brought the agent to his home, where after washing himself, he dipped his hands and feet in olive oil and gave the agent 1,118,000 maneh worth of olive oil.

Moshe Addresses the Nation

Moshe now speaks to the entire nation of Israel, referencing their strong men who lived in the border cities, protecting the Land from enemy invaders. As if the Land were locked up with bolts made from iron and copper. Or alternatively, the scripture means to say that the land is "locked in" by mountains from which iron and copper were mined. According to this latter explanation, Asher's territory which contained these mountains was considered the "lock" of Israel.

Moshe blesses the nation that their old age (which usually involves pain and decline) should be like their youth. Or alternatively, they will be blessed that the nations of the world will send gold and silver abundantly into the Land of Israel in exchange for the fruits of the Land which will sustain the entire world. These nations will send in so much gold and silver it will deplete the world's supply.

Moshe concludes saying that there is no G-d like G-d amongst all the deities of the world and that the same G-d who rides in the heavens is the one who helps them.

Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”L

To sponsor an episode please visit: https://itistaught.com/support-this-project/To get the daily chumash summaries in your email click here  https://substack.com/profile/182692001-sarede-rachel-switzer?utm_source=profile-page.Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsPlease consider leaving a review on the platform of your choice! For comments and inquiries, email [email protected]

Zevulun, Yissaschar and Gad's Blessings

The last five tribes which Moshe blessed were: Zevulun, Gad, Dan, Naftali and Asher. These were the weakest of all the tribes, which is why Yosef presented them to Pharoah so that their weak appearance would deter Pharoah from appointing them as army officials.

Due to their relative weakness, these tribes names are repeated in their blessings as a way for Moshe to give them strength and power.

Zevulun and Yissaschar's Blessings

Zevulun and Yissaschar had an arrangement whereby the tribe of Zevulun would live near the sea and sail out to make money which would support the tribe of Issaschar who were devoted to learning Torah.

Moshe blesses the tribe of Zevulun with prosperity in their trade, and Yissachar with success in their studies to be able to calculate and declare the months and leap years in the Sanheidrin.

All of the tribes would offer sacrifices on the Mount of Moriah during the festivals of pilgrimage.

Moshe blesses these two tribes with abundance from Zevulun's business dealings so that they will have time to spare to study Torah.

Zevulun complained to G-d about the territory he was given, which was by the sea in contrast to the other tribes which were given fields and vineyards. G-d replied that his territory would actually be sought after by his brothers as it would be replete with hidden treasures from the sea or sand. Indeed the territory of Yissaschar and Zevulun had a kind of fish called a tarit (or torino), the snail which blue dye was made from and "white glass".

Zevulun's trade would cause merchants from other nations to travel to him. Since Zevulun's territory was located at the border, after the trouble they went through to travel there, they would be inspired to travel further to Jerusalem to learn about the G-d of Israel and be inspired to convert to Judaism as a result of seeing the Jewish practices and worship of One G-d.

Gad's Blessing

Gad's territory extended far into the east. Being close to the border, Moshe blesses this tribe to be compared to a lion which must be tough to protect against attack. Indeed the tribe of Gad's victims were recognizable as they would cut off their enemy's head and arm with one blow.

Moshe describes how Gad took his own portion for himself right at the beginning of their conquest of the Land, in the land of Sichon and Og.

He describes how Gad knew prophetically that Moshe was destined to be buried within their territory. The spot where Moshe is buried is concealed from all of creation.

Moshe describes how Gad marched before the rest of the army of Israel and kept their promise as to cross the Jordan to help the other tribes conquer and divide up the land.

Scripture praises this tribe for doing so saying that this was "righteous in the eyes of G-d". Alternatively according to Rashi, this description of being "righteous in the eyes of G-d" could be referring to Moshe.

Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”L

To sponsor an episode please visit: https://itistaught.com/support-this-project/To get the daily chumash summaries in your email click here  https://substack.com/profile/182692001-sarede-rachel-switzer?utm_source=profile-page.Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsPlease consider leaving a review on the platform of your choice! For comments and inquiries, email [email protected]

Yosef's Blessing

Moshe relates the blessing given to Yosef - that his land would be blessed by G-d and indeed Yosef's land was most filled with goodness than that of the other tribes. The specifics of this blessing included:

* The "sweetness of the heavens" (i.e. dew)

* the waters below the earth. Yaakov similarly blessed Yosef with having the waters below the ground (see Breishis 49:25)

* The sweetness of the "produce of the sun" - i.e. his land was exposed to the sun which sweetened its fruit.

* The sweetness of the moon's yield - referring to those fruits which are ripened by the moon (i.e. cucumbers and gourds) or alternatively, this refers to fruits which the earth emits from it's mouth (יֶרַח - the same word for "moon").

* The crops of early mountains - i.e. that his mountains will produce the first fruits. Or alternatively, this verse is describing that the mountain's in Yosef's territory were created before all others.

* The land will have the "sweetness of perennial hills" - i.e his hills will perpetually produce fruit, with or without rain.

Moshe goes on to declare how G-d shall happily bless the land of Yosef who's brothers' sold him.

Moshe now says that a king, namely Yehoshua will descend from Yosef and through Yehoshua, Moshe will transfer some of his majesty to the tribe of Yosef.

Moshe blesses Yosef to be as strong as an ox, being able to conquer many kings and as beautiful as a re'em (an ox is powerful but does not have beautiful horns and a re'em does have beautiful horns but is not powerful - Moshe blessed Yosef here with both power and beauty).

Moshe alludes to a few manifestations of Yosef's soon to be glory:

* The 31 kings Yehoshua (who was descendant from Ephraim, Yosef's son) was to conquer in the land of Israel. The land of Israel was considered superior to all lands so all kings and rulers had a palace in Israel even if they officially ruled over another country.

* The thousand of Midianites killed by Gideon (who was descendant from Menashe - Yosef's other son).

Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”L

To sponsor an episode please visit: https://itistaught.com/support-this-project/To get the daily chumash summaries in your email click here  https://substack.com/profile/182692001-sarede-rachel-switzer?utm_source=profile-page.Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsPlease consider leaving a review on the platform of your choice! For comments and inquiries, email [email protected]

Levi and Binyamin's Blessings

Levi's Blessing

Moshe addresses the Shechina, saying that the Urim V'Tumim belong to the Levites since they did not complain when the others did. Moshe boasts how the Levites were tested at the waters of the Merivah and emerged faithful. Alternatively, this portion of the text can be read to mean that G-d held the tribe of Levi to such high standards that Miriam and Aaron, who represented the entire tribe of Levi were punished on account of Moshe's sin regarding the waters of Merivah with not being allowed to enter into the Land of Israel.

Moshe recalls how the Levites refrained from participating in the sin of the golden calf with the rest of the nation. At this time, Moshe ordered the Levites to kill any who were guilty of worshipping the calf, even their own mother's father or maternal brother, or the son of his daughter (if they were not Levites).

Also, the Levites were unique in that not only did they circumcise themselves, but also their sons who were born in the desert, whereas the ordinary Israelites who were born in the desert did not circumcise their sons.

The Levites have merited to teach G-d's law and Torah to the nation and burn incense and burnt offerings to G-d on His altar.

Moshe blesses the Levites with G-d favorably accepting their work and striking the loins of any who rise against them, so they are unable to recover . Rashi comments that this is referring to times when people rose up who contested the priesthood. Or alternatively, Moshe prophesied how the Hashmonean and his twelve sons and Elazar were going to fight against the much bigger Greek army and this was his prayer for them.

Binyamin's Blessing

Binyamin's blessing follows that of Levi since while Levi's blessing involves his service in the temple, whereas Binyamin's blessing involves his building the Temple in his territory.

Yosef's blessing to them immediately follows since he also had a sanctuary built in his territory, i.e the Mishkan of Shiloh. Although Yosef was older, the Temple is more dear to G-d than the Mishkan however, which is why the blessing of Binyamin proceeds that of Yosef.

Moshe states how G-d protects the tribe of Binyamin forever, insofar as the Divine Presence dwells there since Jerusalem was chosen to be built there.

Whereas it was David's intention to build the Temple at the highest point of Binyamin's land, level with the Eitam Well, they told David that they should build it 23 cubits below that well. Rashi explains this since just as the shoulders are the finest cuts of meat, which are just below the head, the Holy Temple was built just below the highest point.

Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”L

To sponsor an episode please visit: https://itistaught.com/support-this-project/To get the daily chumash summaries in your email click here  https://substack.com/profile/182692001-sarede-rachel-switzer?utm_source=profile-page.Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsPlease consider leaving a review on the platform of your choice! For comments and inquiries, email [email protected]

Blessings

This section of Chumash deals with the blessing Moshe gave to the Israelites soon before he died.

Moshe starts off the blessing praising G-d, in which he included Israel's merits, to illustrate that they were worthy of these blessings and then follows this with speaking about Israel's needs.

This praise began with Moshe recalling how G-d approached them when they stood at the foot of Mount Sinai, as a groom goes forth to greet his bride.

Before arriving at Mount Sinai, G-d first offered the Torah to Esav's children who lived in Seir as well as to Ishmael's children in Paran, however they didn't want to accept it.

In approaching the Israelites, G-d only had some (not even most) of the myriads of his angels. Rashi cites Sifrei who points out that this is unlike mortal kings who bring their entire entourage with them.

The Torah was originally written in letters of black fire on a background of white fire, however G-d gave it to the Israelites inscribed on tablets. According to the Targum, it was given from within the fire.

At the time when G-d blessed Yaakov that a "nation and multitude of nations shall come into existence from you,", only Binyamin was destined to be born. This is why only the tribe of Binyamin is called a "nation" (while a "multitude of nations" was a reference to Ephraim and Menashe"). The remainder of the nations were each known as "a people". G-d displayed great affection for all of them.

Moshe references the souls of the righteous which are hidden away with G-d, a privilege which Israel merits for having placed themselves right in the middle of the bottom of Mount Sinai (figuratively at G-d's feet) and having taken upon themselves the yoke of Torah.

Even when G-d showed other nations affection and delivered Israel into their hands, G-d still showed Israel love, and Israel's righteous and good people cleaved to and stuck with G-d and G-d protected them.

This protection was given to them since they happily accepted and declared their acceptance of G-d's decrees and laws.

Moshe tells how the yoke of G-d's kingship was always upon them whenever the nation gathered together. According to Sifrei (as cited by Rashi), this is alluding to to the idea that when the Jews gather together as a unified group in peace, G-d is their king, but when they fight amongst themselves, G-d is not.

Moshe blesses Reuven with life in this world and that the incident with Bilhah (see Rashi for Breishis 35:22) should not be held against him in granting him life in the world to come as well as in being counted amongst his brothers.

Moshe blesses Yehuda next, (despite Levi being next in line chronologically), as both Reuven and Yehuda confessed for their wrongdoings (see Iyov 15:18-19 which is an allusion to this). In fact, Yehudah gets credit for Reuven's confession, as his (Yehudah's) confession was the impetus for Reuven to confess. During the entire forty years of Israel's travels in the desert, Yehudah's bones were rolling in his coffin due to his self decreed excommunication in which he took the responsibility of Binyamin upon himself. Moshe prays here that Yehudah's bones should finally come to rest.

Moshe pleads that G-d listen to the prayers of Yehuda's descendants, David, Shlomo, Asa (re the Ethiopians), Yehoshaphat (re the Ammonites) and Chezekiayah (re Sancheiriv).

Moshe pleads that G-d help Yehoshafat (one of Yehuda's descendants) in the battle of Ramoth Gilead. Alternatively, according to the Shocher Tov (as cited by Rashi), this section of Yehuda's blessing includes a blessing for Shimon (by virtue of the word שְׁמַע in the text which is the root of Shimon - שִׁמְעוֹן). When the land was divided up amongst the tribes, similarly was Shimon's portion taken from out of Yehudah's. Shimon was not given his own individual blessing due to the sin in Shittim regarding Zimri who was the leader of the tribe of Shimon (see Bamidbar 25:1-14 for details).

Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”L

To sponsor an episode please visit: https://itistaught.com/support-this-project/To get the daily chumash summaries in your email click here  https://substack.com/profile/182692001-sarede-rachel-switzer?utm_source=profile-page.Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsPlease consider leaving a review on the platform of your choice! For comments and inquiries, email [email protected]

Moshe Prepares to Die

The leadership was in the process of being transferred from Moshe to Yehoshua, so that Shabbos, the Israelites had two leaders.

At that time, Moshe appointed a spokesman for Yehoshua to relay Yehoshua’s words to the nation so that the nation could not later accuse Yehoshua of not speaking up during Moshe’s lifetime.

In this way, both Moshe and Yehoshua (through his spokesman), concluded relating the song to the people.

In this section, Yehoshua is referred to as Hoshea, even though his name had been changed to Yehoshua awhile back (see Bamidbar 13:16) to indicate that Yehoshua maintained his humility in spite of his new higher status.

After concluding the song, Moshe tells them to direct their eyes, heart and ears to the words of the Torah. Rashi cites Sifrei who cites a quote from Yechezkiel (40:4) to teach a kal v’chomer regarding this. The quote from Yechezkiel is an instruction to direct one’s eyes, ears and heart upon the Temple. If this directive is necessary in regards to the Temple which is so tangible and readily visible, how much more necessary is it for something so subtle and complex as the Torah.

Moshe assures them that their toil in Torah will not be in vain but rather they will be rewarded with life for such exertion.

Alternatively, Moshe is teaching them here that every word of Torah without exception has a reward attached to it if properly expounded upon. Rashi gives an example of this in regards to Loton, the price of seir’s sister Timna. Scripture relates that she was Eliphaz ( the son of Esav)’s concubine. Rashi says this is told in order for us to know the high esteem of Avraham that rulers wanted to be connected to his family somehow.

There are three places in scripture where the words בְּעֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה (lit. “in the middle of that very day”) are used:

* In regards to Noah entering the ark (Breishis 7:13) – this was to serve as an affront to those who threatened to prevent Noah from entering the ark and to split it open with axes and hatchets.

* In regards to the Israelites leaving Egypt (Shmos 12:51) – as an affront to those Egyptians who said that they would stop the Israelites if they saw them leaving and kill them with weapons.

* Here, in regards to Moshe’s death (Devarim 32:48) – in contrast to those Israelites who said that if they saw Moshe ascending the mountain to die they would prevent him from doing so.

So G-d instructs Moshe to ascend this Mount Avarim to Mount Nevo, which is within Moav, facing Yericho.

He tells him to see the Land of Canaan which He is giving to the Israelites and then die upon that mountain and be gathered to his people.

Moshe’s death is to resemble that of Aaron’s on Mount Chor, which is what Moshe yearned for, wherein Moshe removed Aaron’s garments one by one and dressed Aaron’s son (Eleazar) with them. Aaron then followed the directive of Moshe one by one to: go up on the bed, stretch out his hands, close his eyes and finally to close his mouth, after which he passed away.

G-d tells Moshe that this is happening due to Moshe having caused the nation to rebel against G-d and because Moshe didn’t sanctify G-d when he hit the rock rather than speak to the rock as G-d had commanded. Had Moshe spoken to and not hit the rock, this would have been a sanctification of G-d, since the Israelites would have learned to obey G-d by witnessing that even a rock that is neither punished nor rewarded from its deeds, fulfills the will of G-d.

G-d tells Moshe that this is his last opportunity to see the land which G-d is giving to the Israelites. G-d knows how dear the Land is to Moshe which is why he is giving him this opportunity to see it.

Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”L

To sponsor an episode please visit: https://itistaught.com/support-this-project/To get the daily chumash summaries in your email click here  https://substack.com/profile/182692001-sarede-rachel-switzer?utm_source=profile-page.Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsPlease consider leaving a review on the platform of your choice! For comments and inquiries, email [email protected]

G-d Is in Charge

Moshe continues with his song, saying that if the other nations were wise, they would understand that they are not the cause of Israel's problems. Nor did the victories of these nations come from their deities. These problems are punishments from G-d. Only G-d has the power to deliver the Jews into the hands of other nations.

G-d punishes these Israelites for acting in ways like Sodom and Amora.

Moshe's song likens the punishment Israel will receive here to wine which is bitter like serpents and a ruthless cobra. Cobras are a fitting imagery for an enemy seeking revenge since they are ruthless when they bite

The Israelites mislead themselves into thinking that G-d forgets their sins but He stores these "fruits from their bitter vines and bitter produce".

G-d does cast vengeance upon those who deserve it and will mete it out when the merit of their forefather's expires, which they had been relying upon.

Vengeance is poised with Me, and it will pay at the time their foot stumbles. For the appointed day of their reckoning is near, and what is destined for them hastens.

Moshe's song here switches from words of rebuke which it had been till now to words of comfort, which will be their ultimate fate.

When G-d sees that the enemy is growing stronger and stronger against Israel, He will change His mind, and say "Where are the idols you worshipped and trusted to protect them now?" G-d mocks how these deities would eat the fat of their sacrifices and drink the wine of their libations - let these deities protect them.

Rather, G-d proclaims, that they should now realize from all of the punishments they suffered which no one could save them from, that it is G-d alone who has the power to bring someone down or lift them up and none are exempt from His judgement.

Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”L

To sponsor an episode please visit: https://itistaught.com/support-this-project/To get the daily chumash summaries in your email click here  https://substack.com/profile/182692001-sarede-rachel-switzer?utm_source=profile-page.Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsPlease consider leaving a review on the platform of your choice! For comments and inquiries, email [email protected]

G-d's Revenge

Moshe continues with his song, speaking on behalf of G-d who said that His anger will bring Him to make an oath to himself that He will avenge His adversaries by shifting away from his attribute of mercy to his attribute of jugement.

G-d says that He will intoxicate His arrows with the blood of the enemy and their flesh will be consumed by His sword. This will all be punishment for their attacks on Israel - regarding those they killed and took captive. They will be punished not only for their sins but for the very first act of harm they did against Israel. As it is G-d's way to punish the nations of the world not only for their sins, but for those of their ancestors as well.

The song then goes on to describe how after G-d punishes the nations, avenging the blood of Israel, and appeases Israel for their suffering, these nations will then praise Israel for having attached themselves to G-d throughout all of their suffering and still appreciate His goodness.

Rashi now comments this entire section which encompasses verses 28-43. While Rashi had explained verses 28-32 as referring to Israel's enemies and verse 33-43 as referring to Israel, Rashi notes that according to Rabbi Yehudah, this entire section of verses is referring to Israel as a rebuke for them going away from G-d's Torah while Rabbi Nechemia understood the whole section to be referring to the other nations, as a way of describing how they lack guidance.

Rashi now backtracks from verse 32 onwards (which he had already commentated upon in the previous aliya for this week) and explains this section according to Rabbi Nechemia's understanding that it is all about the other nations.

The vines of the other nations are likened to Sodom and their fields to Gemorrah, in that they don't attribute any of their greatness to G-d. Their anger against Israel poisoned them and made them bitter so in exchange their grape clusters and wine will be bitter and they will be forced to eat these bitter grapes and drink this bitter wine.

Eventually these wicked people will fall and when He sees that the enemy nations are growing, G-d will plead on behalf of Israel.

At that time, the nations will ask where Israel's G-d is and they will be shamed by seeing G-d's righteousness when He reveals that He is the source of good and evil that befalls them.

While G-d has the power to punish the nations immediately, He will wait to punish future generations as He is eternal. Also, while a mortal king rushes to exact revenge so that neither he nor his enemy dies before he does so, G-d is immortal and is capable of punishing both the living and dead, so He is not in a rush to exact revenge.

Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”L

To sponsor an episode please visit: https://itistaught.com/support-this-project/To get the daily chumash summaries in your email click here  https://substack.com/profile/182692001-sarede-rachel-switzer?utm_source=profile-page.Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsPlease consider leaving a review on the platform of your choice! For comments and inquiries, email [email protected]

G-d Laments

Moshe continues with his song, saying that G-d saw the way the Israelites betrayed him and got angry and said that He would hide His face from them and see what will come to them in the end. G-d bemoans that the Israelites transform G-d's will to do good into anger and that they are no longer recognizable and deviated from how He reared them to be.

G-d laments how the Israelites incited his anger with a false deity and says that in response he will cause them to be angry with a "false" nation (i..e with nations that don't deserve to exist - namely the "Chaldeans" (i.e. the Babylonians) who destroyed the first Temple) and Esav's descendants (Rome) who destroyed the second Temple).

The fire in G-d's anger burned till the very foundation of the Israelites, consuming their land and produce and setting Jerusalem (which is surrounded by mountains) ablaze.

G-d warns that He will mete evil with evil and use up all of His arrows on them. Rashi notes here that this "curse" like all the others stated is really an implicit blessing. Although G-d's arrows come to an end, Israel never will.

The famine they experience will be so severe they will grow hair on their skin* (according to Rashi, this is what happens to an emaciated person), be attacked by demons, excised by a particular demon named Meriri, at one point be bitten to death by sheep and be attacked by snake venom.

*Side note: Or alternatively, according to Onkelos, the famine will calls them to become swollen. However Rashi notes that he does not see any Scriptural evidence to support this.

Enemy troops from outside of the city will kill their young men, women, babies and elders. And in attempting to run away, their hearts within them will pound out of fear, eventually killing them. Or alternatively, there will be a perpetual fear of plague.

Alternatively, Oneklos explains the references to "outside" and "inside" verse as meaning that they will be killed for what they did out on the street in public as well as what they did inside in the privacy of their homes.

G-d said to Himself that he would bring an end to them, removing all memory of them. An alternative reading of this verse is that He would cast them away as ownerless.

G-d notes that if the Israelites were to be defeated by their enemies' anger, these enemy nations would attribute their greatness to their false deities rather than to G-d.

In so doing, these nations display that they are lacking in guidance and do not have any understanding.

Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”L

To sponsor an episode please visit: https://itistaught.com/support-this-project/To get the daily chumash summaries in your email click here  https://substack.com/profile/182692001-sarede-rachel-switzer?utm_source=profile-page.Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsPlease consider leaving a review on the platform of your choice! For comments and inquiries, email [email protected]

Beware Too Much Abundance

Moshe continues with his song to the Israelites.

He relates how G-d brought the Israelites to the land of Israel and let them eat produce of the field, suckle honey and (olive) oil from a rock.

He also alludes to Israel being the highest of all of the countries in the world and having fruit which are quicker to bud and ripen than anywhere else.

He likens the land of Israel to being like "sucking honey from a rock" which Rashi explains by way of a story that happened in a place in Israel named Sichni, where a man asked his son to bring him pressed figs from a certain barrel. The son went over to the barrel and instead of figs he saw that the barrel was overflowing with honey. His father told him to dig his hands deeper into it and he will bring up pressed figs which are as hard as a rock. This story is Rashi's way of illustrating that the land of Israel which is as hard as a rock similarly brings forth an abundance of honey.

It is also a land that produces olive oil from olives grown in Giscala, an area of the Galilee.

Moshe now alludes to different eras when the Israelites were blessed with abundance:

* During the time of King Shlomo when he was blessed with:

* "The cream of the cattle and the milk of sheep" - i.e King Shlomo when his daily supply of cattle and sheep was 10 fat cattle and 20 cattle from the pasture and 100 sheep.

* "The fat kidneys of wheat" - when King Shlomo's daily supply consisted of 30 kor of fine flour per day. These kernels of wheat were as fat as kidneys.

* The period of the Northern Kingdom of Israel which was blessed with the "fat of lambs and rams (from Bashan - the rams in Bashan were fat)" and the finest wines.

Moshe goes on to say that all of this abundance led the Israelites (here referred to as Yeshurun) to grow fat and rebel against G-d.

They rebelled by committing abominable deeds such as homosexuality and sorcery which caused G-d to become angry.

They sacrificed to false gods which had no power and were so recent that even non Jewish nations were unfamiliar with them (to the extent that if a non jew saw such an idol he would refer to it as a "jewish idol"). These false gods were entities which their ancestors didn't fear.

They sacrificed to demons, which have no power, deities they did not know, new things that only recently came, which your forefathers did not fear as they did not create these demons.

Moshe bemoans that in so forgetting G-d, who redeemed them. This incites G-d's anger and weakens His power to do good to them.