| 1And the Lord said to Moses: "Hew for yourself two stone tablets like the first ones. And I will inscribe upon the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. |
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אוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֔ה פְּסָל־לְךָ֛ שְׁנֵֽי־לֻחֹ֥ת אֲבָנִ֖ים כָּרִֽאשֹׁנִ֑ים וְכָֽתַבְתִּי֙ עַל־הַלֻּחֹ֔ת אֶת־הַ֨דְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָי֛וּ עַל־הַלֻּחֹ֥ת הָרִֽאשֹׁנִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר שִׁבַּֽרְתָּ: |
| Hew for yourself. Heb. פְּסָל לְךָ. He [God] showed him [Moses] a sapphire mine from within his tent, and He said to him, “The [sapphire] chips shall be yours,” and from there Moses became very wealthy. -[from Tanchuma 29, Lev. Rabbah 32:2] |
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פְּסָל־לְךָ.
הֶרְאָהוּ מַחְצַב סַנְפִּירִינוֹן מִתּוֹךְ אָהֳלוֹ וְאָמַר לוֹ הַפְּסֹלֶת יִהְיֶה שֶׁלְּךָ; מִשָּׁם נִתְעַשֵּׁר מֹשֶׁה הַרְבֵּה (תנחומא):
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| Hew for yourself. You broke the first ones. You hew others for yourself. This can be compared to a king who went abroad and left his betrothed with the maidservants. Because of the immoral behavior of the maidservants, she acquired a bad reputation. Her bridesman [the person appointed to defend the bride should any problems arise] arose and tore up her marriage contract. He said, “If the king decides to kill her, I will say to him, ‘She is not yet your wife.’” The king investigated and discovered that only the maidservants were guilty of immoral behavior. He [therefore] became appeased to her. So her bridesman said to him, “Write her another marriage contract because the first one was torn up.” The king replied to him, “You tore it up. You buy yourself another [sheet of] paper, and I will write to her with my [personal] hand [writing].” Likewise, the king represents the Holy One, blessed is He. The maidservants represent the mixed multitude. The bridesman is Moses, and the betrothed of the Holy One, blessed is He, is Israel. That is why it says: “Hew for yourself.” -[from Tanchuma 30] |
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פְּסָל־לְךָ.
אַתָּה שִׁבַּרְתָּ הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת, אַתָּה פְּסָל לְךָ אֲחֵרוֹת, מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁהָלַךְ לִמְדִינַת הַיָּם וְהִנִּיחַ אֲרוּסָתוֹ עִם הַשְּׁפָחוֹת, מִתּוֹךְ קִלְקוּל הַשְּׁפָחוֹת יָצָא עָלֶיהָ שֵׁם רָע, עָמַד שׁוֹשְׁבִינָהּ וְקָרַע כְּתֻבָּתָהּ, אָמַר אִם יֹאמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ לְהָרְגָהּ, אֹמַר לוֹ עֲדַיִן אֵינָהּ אִשְׁתְּךָ; בָּדַק הַמֶּלֶךְ וּמָצָא שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה הַקִּלְקוּל אֶלָּא מִן הַשְּׁפָחוֹת, נִתְרַצָּה לָהּ, אָמַר לוֹ שׁוֹשְׁבִינָהּ כְּתֹב לָהּ כְּתֻבָּה אַחֶרֶת, שֶׁנִּקְרְעָה הָרִאשׁוֹנָה, אָמַר לוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ אַתָּה קָרַעְתָּ אוֹתָהּ אַתָּה קְנֵה לָהּ נְיָר אַחֵר וַאֲנִי אֶכְתֹּב לָהּ בִּכְתָב יָדִי; כֵּן הַמֶּלֶךְ זֶה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, הַשְּׁפָחוֹת אֵלּוּ עֵרֶב רַב, וְהַשּׁוֹשְׁבִין זֶה מֹשֶׁה, אֲרוּסָתוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יִשְׂרָאֵל, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר פְּסָל לְךָ (שם):
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| 2Be prepared for the morning, and in the morning you shall ascend Mount Sinai and stand before Me there on the top of the mountain. |
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בוֶֽהְיֵ֥ה נָכ֖וֹן לַבֹּ֑קֶר וְעָלִ֤יתָ בַבֹּ֨קֶר֙ אֶל־הַ֣ר סִינַ֔י וְנִצַּבְתָּ֥ לִ֛י שָׁ֖ם עַל־רֹ֥אשׁ הָהָֽר: |
| prepared. Heb. נָכוֹן, ready. |
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נָכוֹן.
מְזֻמָּן:
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| 3No one shall ascend with you, neither shall anyone be seen anywhere on the mountain, neither shall the sheep and the cattle graze facing that mountain." |
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גוְאִישׁ֙ לֹא־יַֽעֲלֶ֣ה עִמָּ֔ךְ וְגַם־אִ֥ישׁ אַל־יֵרָ֖א בְּכָל־הָהָ֑ר גַּם־הַצֹּ֤אן וְהַבָּקָר֙ אַל־יִרְע֔וּ אֶל־מ֖וּל הָהָ֥ר הַהֽוּא: |
| No one shall ascend with you. Since the first ones [i.e., tablets] were accompanied by loud noises, sounds, and with a multitude, the evil eye affected them. [Our conclusion is that] there is nothing better than modesty. -[from Tanchuma 30] |
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וְאִישׁ לֹא־יַֽעֲלֶה עִמָּךְ.
הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת עַל יְדֵי שֶׁהָיוּ בִתְשׁוּאוֹת וְקוֹלוֹת וּקְהִלּוֹת, שָׁלְטָה בָהֶן עַיִן רָעָה – אֵין לְךָ יָפֶה מִן הַצְּנִיעוּת (שם):
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| 4So he [Moses] hewed two stone tablets like the first ones, and Moses arose early in the morning and ascended Mount Sinai as the Lord had commanded him, and he took two stone tablets in his hand. |
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דוַיִּפְסֹ֡ל שְׁנֵֽי־לֻחֹ֨ת אֲבָנִ֜ים כָּרִֽאשֹׁנִ֗ים וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨ם משֶׁ֤ה בַבֹּ֨קֶר֙ וַיַּ֨עַל֙ אֶל־הַ֣ר סִינַ֔י כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֹת֑וֹ וַיִּקַּ֣ח בְּיָד֔וֹ שְׁנֵ֖י לֻחֹ֥ת אֲבָנִֽים: |
| 5And the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and He called out in the name of the Lord. |
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הוַיֵּ֤רֶד יְהֹוָה֙ בֶּֽעָנָ֔ן וַיִּתְיַצֵּ֥ב עִמּ֖וֹ שָׁ֑ם וַיִּקְרָ֥א בְשֵׁ֖ם יְהֹוָֽה: |
| and He called out in the name of the Lord. We render: וּקְרָא בִשְׁמָא דַיְיָ, and he called out in the name of the Lord. [from Onkelos] |
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וַיִּקְרָא בְשֵׁם ה'.
מְתַּרְגְּמִינַן וּקְרָא בִשְׁמָא דַה':
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| 6And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed: Lord, Lord, benevolent God, Who is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving kindness and truth, |
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ווַיַּֽעֲבֹ֨ר יְהֹוָ֥ה | עַל־פָּנָיו֘ וַיִּקְרָא֒ יְהֹוָ֣ה | יְהֹוָ֔ה אֵ֥ל רַח֖וּם וְחַנּ֑וּן אֶ֥רֶךְ אַפַּ֖יִם וְרַב־חֶ֥סֶד וֶֽאֱמֶֽת: |
| Lord, Lord. This is God's Attribute of Compassion. [It is repeated,] once for before the person sins, and once for after he sins and repents. |
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ה' ה'.
מִדַּת רַחֲמִים הִיא, אַחַת קֹדֶם שֶׁיֶּחֱטָא, וְאַחַת אַחַר שֶׁיֶּחֱטָא וְיָשׁוּב (ראש השנה י"ז):
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| God. Heb. אֵל. This too is an attribute of compassion [for God], and so he [the Psalmist] says: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (Ps. 22:2). One cannot say to the Divine attribute of justice, “Why have You forsaken me?” I found this in the Mechilta (Exod. 15:2). |
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אֵל.
אַף זוֹ מִדַּת רַחֲמִים, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר אֵלִי אֵלִי לָמָה עֲזַבְתָּנִי (תהילים כ"ב) – וְאֵין לוֹמַר לְמִדַּת הַדִּין לָמָה עֲזַבְתָּנִי, כָּךְ מָצָאתִי בִּמְכִילְתָּא:
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| slow to anger. He puts off His anger and does not hasten to exact retribution, [hoping that] perhaps he [the sinner] will repent. |
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אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם.
מַאֲרִיךְ אַפּוֹ וְאֵינוֹ מְמַהֵר לִפָּרַע, שֶׁמָּא יַעֲשֶׂה תְשׁוּבָה:
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| and abundant in loving-kindness. for those who need loving-kindness because they lack sufficient merits. -[from R.H. 17a] |
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וְרַב־חֶסֶד.
לַצְּרִיכִים חֶסֶד – שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם זְכֻיּוֹת כָּל כָּךְ:
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| and truth. to pay a good reward to those who do His will. |
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וֶֽאֱמֶֽת.
לְשַׁלֵּם שָׂכָר טוֹב לְעוֹשֵׂי רְצוֹנוֹ:
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| 7preserving loving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and rebellion and sin; yet He does not completely clear [of sin] He visits the iniquity of parents on children and children's children, to the third and fourth generations." |
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זנֹצֵ֥ר חֶ֨סֶד֙ לָֽאֲלָפִ֔ים נֹשֵׂ֥א עָוֹ֛ן וָפֶ֖שַׁע וְחַטָּאָ֑ה וְנַקֵּה֙ לֹ֣א יְנַקֶּ֔ה פֹּקֵ֣ד | עֲוֹ֣ן אָב֗וֹת עַל־בָּנִים֙ וְעַל־בְּנֵ֣י בָנִ֔ים עַל־שִׁלֵּשִׁ֖ים וְעַל־רִבֵּעִֽים: |
| preserving loving-kindness. that a person does before Him. |
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נֹצֵר חֶסֶד.
שֶׁהָאָדָם עוֹשֶׂה לְפָנָיו:
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| for thousands. For two thousand generations. |
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לָֽאֲלָפִים.
לִשְׁנֵי אֲלָפִים דּוֹרוֹת:
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| [iniquity and rebellion]. Iniquities (עִוֹנוֹת) are intentional sins. פְּשָׁעִים are sins committed out of rebellion, which a person commits [in order] to anger [God]. -[from Yoma 36b] |
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עָוֹן וָפֶשַׁע.
עֲוֹנוֹת — אֵלּוּ הַזְּדוֹנוֹת, פְּשָׁעִים — אֵלּוּ הַמְּרָדִים שֶׁאָדָם עוֹשֶׂה לְהַכְעִיס:
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| yet He does not completely clear [of sin]. Heb. וְנַקֵּה לֹא יְנַקֶּה. According to its simple interpretation, it means that He does not completely overlook the iniquity but exacts retribution for it little by little. Our Rabbis, however, interpreted [this expression to mean]: He clears those who repent, but does not clear those who do not repent (from Yoma 86a, targumim). |
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וְנַקֵּה לֹא יְנַקֶּה.
לְפִי פְשׁוּטוֹ מַשְׁמָע שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְוַתֵּר עַל הֶעָוֹן לְגַמְרֵי, אֶלָּא נִפְרָע מִמֶּנּוּ מְעַט מְעַט, וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ דָרְשׁוּ מְנַקֶּה הוּא לַשָּׁבִים וְלֹא יְנַקֶּה לְשֶׁאֵינָן שָׁבִים (יומא פ"ו):
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| He visits the iniquity of parents on the children. when they hold onto the deeds of their parents in their hands [i.e., emulate their ways], for He already explained this in another verse, [that it means only] “of those who hate Me” (Exod. 20:5). -[from Ber. 7a] |
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פֹּקֵד עָוֹן אָבוֹת עַל־בָּנִים.
כְּשֶׁאוֹחֲזִים מַעֲשֵׂה אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם בִּידֵיהֶם, שֶׁכְּבָר פֵּרֵשׁ בְּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה לְשֹׂנְאָי (שמות כ'):
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| and fourth generations. Heb. וְעַל רִבֵּעִים, the fourth generation. Thus, the [i.e., God’s] attribute of goodness exceeds the attribute of retribution by a ratio of one to five hundred. Concerning the attribute of goodness, He says: “preserving loving-kindness for thousands.” -[from Tosefta, Sotah 4:1] |
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וְעַל־רִבֵּעִֽים.
דּוֹר רְבִיעִי; נִמְצֵאת מִדָּה טוֹבָה מְרֻבָּה עַל מִדַּת פֻּרְעָנוּת אַחַת לַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת, שֶׁבְּמִדָּה טוֹבָה הוּא אוֹמֵר נֹצֵר חֶסֶד לָאֲלָפִים (תוספתא סוטה ד'):
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| 8And Moses hastened, bowed his head to the ground and prostrated himself, |
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חוַיְמַהֵ֖ר משֶׁ֑ה וַיִּקֹּ֥ד אַ֖רְצָה וַיִּשְׁתָּֽחוּ: |
| And Moses hastened. When Moses saw the Shechinah passing [in front of him] and he heard the voice calling, he immediately prostrated himself. |
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וַיְמַהֵר משֶׁה.
כְּשֶׁרָאָה מֹשֶׁה שְׁכִינָה עוֹבֶרֶת, וְשָׁמַע קוֹל הַקְּרִיאָה, מִיָּד וישתחו:
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| 9and said: "If I have now found favor in Your eyes, O Lord, let the Lord go now in our midst [even] if they are a stiff necked people, and You shall forgive our iniquity and our sin and thus secure us as Your possession." |
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טוַיֹּ֡אמֶר אִם־נָא֩ מָצָ֨אתִי חֵ֤ן בְּעֵינֶ֨יךָ֙ אֲדֹנָ֔י יֵֽלֶךְ־נָ֥א אֲדֹנָ֖י בְּקִרְבֵּ֑נוּ כִּ֤י עַם־קְשֵׁה־עֹ֨רֶף֙ ה֔וּא וְסָֽלַחְתָּ֛ לַֽעֲוֹנֵ֥נוּ וּלְחַטָּאתֵ֖נוּ וּנְחַלְתָּֽנוּ: |
| let the Lord go now in our midst. As You promised us, since You forgive iniquity. [Which means:] and if they are a stiff-necked people, and they rebelled against You, and You have said concerning this, “Lest I destroy you on the way” (Exod. 33:3), You [still] will forgive our iniquity, etc. There are [other instances where] כִּי [is used] instead of אִם if. |
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יֵֽלֶךְ־נָא אֲדֹנָי בְּקִרְבֵּנוּ.
כְּמוֹ שֶׁהִבְטַחְתָּ, מֵאַחַר שֶׁאַתָּה נוֹשֵׂא עָוֹן; וְאִם עַם קְשֵׁה עֹרֶף הוּא וְיַמְרוּ בְךָ וְאָמַרְתָּ עַל זֹאת פֶּן אֲכֶלְךָ בַּדָּרֶךְ, אַתָּה תִסְלַח לַעֲוֹנֵינוּ וְגוֹמֵר; יֵשׁ כִּי בִּמְקוֹם אִם:
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| and thus secure us as Your possession. And You shall give us to Yourself as a special possession. (Other editions read: and You shall give us a special possession.) That is the [same] request of: “Then I and Your people will be distinguished” (Exod. 33:16), [meaning] that the Shechinah should not rest upon the pagan nations. |
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וּנְחַלְתָּֽנוּ.
וְתִתְּנֵנוּ לְךָ לְנַחֲלָה מְיֻחֶדֶת, זוֹ הִיא בַקָּשַׁת וְנִפְלִינוּ אֲנִי וְעַמְּךָ – שֶׁלֹּא תִשְׁרֶה שְׁכִינָתְךָ עַל הָאֻמּוֹת:
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| 10And He said: "Behold! I will form a covenant; in the presence of all your people, I will make distinctions such as have not been created upon all the earth and among all the nations, and all the people in whose midst you are shall see the work of the Lord how awe inspiring it is that which I will perform with you. |
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יוַיֹּ֗אמֶר הִנֵּ֣ה אָנֹכִי֘ כֹּרֵ֣ת בְּרִית֒ נֶ֤גֶד כָּל־עַמְּךָ֙ אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֣ה נִפְלָאֹ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹֽא־נִבְרְא֥וּ בְכָל־הָאָ֖רֶץ וּבְכָל־הַגּוֹיִ֑ם וְרָאָ֣ה כָל־הָ֠עָ֠ם אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּ֨ה בְקִרְבּ֜וֹ אֶת־מַֽעֲשֵׂ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ כִּֽי־נוֹרָ֣א ה֔וּא אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנִ֖י עֹשֶׂ֥ה עִמָּֽךְ: |
| [I will] form a covenant. Concerning this. |
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כֹּרֵת בְּרִית.
עַל זֹאת:
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| in the presence of all your people, I will make distinctions. Heb. נִפְלָאֹת אֶעֱשִֶׂה, an expression related to וְנִפְלִינוּ, “and [we] shall be distinguished” (Exod. 33:16), [meaning] that you shall be separated from all the pagan nations, that My Shechinah shall not rest upon them [these other nations]. |
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אֶֽעֱשֶׂה נִפְלָאֹת.
לְשׁוֹן וְנִפְלִינוּ, שֶׁתִּהְיוּ מֻבְדָּלִים בְּזוֹ מִכָּל הָאֻמּוֹת, שֶׁלֹּא תִשְׁרֶה שְׁכִינָתִי עֲלֵיהֶם:
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| 11Keep carefully what I am commanding you today: Lo! I will drive out from before you the Amorites and the Canaanites, the Hittites and the Perizzites, the Hivvites and the Jebusites. |
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יאשְׁמָ֨ר־לְךָ֔ אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָֽנֹכִ֖י מְצַוְּךָ֣ הַיּ֑וֹם הִֽנְנִ֧י גֹרֵ֣שׁ מִפָּנֶ֗יךָ אֶת־הָֽאֱמֹרִי֙ וְהַכְּנַֽעֲנִ֔י וְהַֽחִתִּי֙ וְהַפְּרִזִּ֔י וְהַֽחִוִּ֖י וְהַיְבוּסִֽי: |
| the Amorites…. Six nations are [enumerated] here [not the proverbial seven], because the Girgashites [i.e., the seventh nation] got up and emigrated because of them [the Israelites]. -[from Lev. Rabbah 17:6, Yerushalmi Sheviith 6:1.] |
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אֵת הָֽאֱמֹרִי וגו'.
ו' אֻמּוֹת יֵשׁ כָּאן, כִּי הַגִּרְגָּשִׁי עָמַד וּפָנָה מִפְּנֵיהֶם:
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| 12Beware lest you form a covenant with the inhabitant[s] of the land into which you are coming, lest it become a snare in your midst. |
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יבהִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֗ פֶּן־תִּכְרֹ֤ת בְּרִית֙ לְיוֹשֵׁ֣ב הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתָּ֖ה בָּ֣א עָלֶ֑יהָ פֶּן־יִֽהְיֶ֥ה לְמוֹקֵ֖שׁ בְּקִרְבֶּֽךָ: |
| 13But you shall demolish their altars, shatter their monuments, and cut down their sacred trees. |
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יגכִּ֤י אֶת־מִזְבְּחֹתָם֙ תִּתֹּצ֔וּן וְאֶת־מַצֵּֽבֹתָ֖ם תְּשַׁבֵּר֑וּן וְאֶת־אֲשֵׁרָ֖יו תִּכְרֹתֽוּן: |
| their sacred trees. This is a tree they worship. |
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אֲשֵׁרָיו.
הוּא אִילָן שֶׁעוֹבְדִים אוֹתוֹ:
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| 14For you shall not prostrate yourself before another god, because the Lord, Whose Name is "Jealous One," is a jealous God. |
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ידכִּ֛י לֹ֥א תִשְׁתַּֽחֲוֶ֖ה לְאֵ֣ל אַחֵ֑ר כִּ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ קַנָּ֣א שְׁמ֔וֹ אֵ֥ל קַנָּ֖א הֽוּא: |
| Whose Name is “Jealous One”. He is zealous to mete out retribution, and He is not indulgent. That is [the meaning of] every expression of jealousy (קִנְאָה) [when used in connection with God]. [It] means that He is steadfast in His superiority [over other deities] and exacts retribution upon those who forsake Him. |
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קַנָּא שְׁמוֹ.
מְקַנֵּא לִפָּרַע וְאֵינוֹ מְוַתֵּר, וְזֶהוּ כָּל לְשׁוֹן קִנְאָה – אוֹחֵז בְּנִצְחוֹנוֹ וּפוֹרֵעַ מֵאוֹיְבָיו:
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| 15Lest you form a covenant with the inhabitant[s] of the land, and they [the gentiles] go astray after their gods, and they offer sacrifices to their gods, and they invite you, and you eat of their slaughtering, |
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טופֶּן־תִּכְרֹ֥ת בְּרִ֖ית לְיוֹשֵׁ֣ב הָאָ֑רֶץ וְזָנ֣וּ | אַֽחֲרֵ֣י אֱלֹֽהֵיהֶ֗ם וְזָבְחוּ֙ לֵאלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔ם וְקָרָ֣א לְךָ֔ וְאָֽכַלְתָּ֖ מִזִּבְחֽוֹ: |
| and you eat of their slaughtering. You [may] think that there is no punishment for eating it, but [when you eat it] I consider it for you as if you endorsed its worship, for through this [eating of the sacrifice] you will come to take from their daughters for your sons. |
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וְאָֽכַלְתָּ מִזִּבְחֽוֹ.
כַּסָּבוּר אַתָּה שֶׁאֵין עֹנֶשׁ בַּאֲכִילָתוֹ, וַאֲנִי מַעֲלֶה עָלֶיךָ כְּמוֹדֶה בַעֲבוֹדָתָם, שֶׁמִּתּוֹךְ כָּךְ אַתָּה בָא וְלוֹקֵחַ מִבְּנוֹתָיו לְבָנֶיךָ (עבודה זרה ח'):
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| 16and you take of their daughters for your sons; then their daughters will go astray after their gods and lead your sons astray after their gods. |
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טזוְלָֽקַחְתָּ֥ מִבְּנֹתָ֖יו לְבָנֶ֑יךָ וְזָנ֣וּ בְנֹתָ֗יו אַֽחֲרֵי֙ אֱלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔ן וְהִזְנוּ֙ אֶת־בָּנֶ֔יךָ אַֽחֲרֵ֖י אֱלֹֽהֵיהֶֽן: |
| 17You shall not make molten gods for yourself. |
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יזאֱלֹהֵ֥י מַסֵּכָ֖ה לֹ֥א תַֽעֲשֶׂה־לָּֽךְ: |
| 18The Festival of Unleavened Cakes you shall keep; seven days you shall eat unleavened cakes which I have commanded you, at the appointed meeting time of the month of spring, for in the month of spring you went out of Egypt. |
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יחאֶת־חַ֣ג הַמַּצּוֹת֘ תִּשְׁמֹר֒ שִׁבְעַ֨ת יָמִ֜ים תֹּאכַ֤ל מַצּוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוִּיתִ֔ךָ לְמוֹעֵ֖ד חֹ֣דֶשׁ הָֽאָבִ֑יב כִּ֚י בְּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָֽאָבִ֔יב יָצָ֖אתָ מִמִּצְרָֽיִם: |
| the month of spring. The month of early ripening, when the grain first ripens. |
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חֹדֶשׁ הָֽאָבִיב.
חֹדֶשׁ הַבִּכּוּר, שֶׁהַתְּבוּאָה מִתְבַּכֶּרֶת בְּבִשּׁוּלָהּ:
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| 19All that opens the womb is Mine, and all your livestock [that] bears a male, [by] the emergence of ox or lamb. |
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יטכָּל־פֶּ֥טֶר רֶ֖חֶם לִ֑י וְכָל־מִקְנְךָ֙ תִּזָּכָ֔ר פֶּ֖טֶר שׁ֥וֹר וָשֶֽׂה: |
| All that opens the womb is Mine. Among humans. |
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כָּל־פֶּטֶר רֶחֶם לִי.
בָּאָדָם:
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| and all your livestock [that] bears a male…. Heb. תִּזָּכָר. And all your livestock that bears a [firstborn] male by the emergence of an ox or lamb [from the womb], meaning that a male will open its womb [i.e., its firstborn is a male]. |
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וְכָל־מִקְנְךָ וגו'.
וְכָל מִקְנְךָ אֲשֶׁר תִּזָּכָר בְּפֶטֶר שׁוֹר וָשֶׂה – אֲשֶׁר יִפְטֹר זָכָר אֶת רַחְמָהּ:
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| emergence. Heb. פֶּטֶר, a word that means opening. Similarly, “The beginning of strife is like letting out (פּוֹטֵר) water” (Prov. 17:14). The “tav” of תִּזָּכָר is an expression of the feminine, referring to the [animal] that gives birth. |
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פֶּטֶר.
לְשׁוֹן פְּתִיחָה, וְכֵן פּוֹטֵר מַיִם רֵאשִׁית מָדוֹן (משלי י"ז); תי"ו שֶׁל תִּזָּכָר לְשׁוֹן נְקֵבָה הִיא, מוּסָב עַל הַיּוֹלֶדֶת:
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| 20And a firstborn donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; if you do not redeem it, you shall decapitate it; every firstborn of your sons you shall redeem, and they shall not appear before Me empty handed. |
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כוּפֶ֤טֶר חֲמוֹר֙ תִּפְדֶּ֣ה בְשֶׂ֔ה וְאִם־לֹ֥א תִפְדֶּ֖ה וַֽעֲרַפְתּ֑וֹ כֹּ֣ל בְּכ֤וֹר בָּנֶ֨יךָ֙ תִּפְדֶּ֔ה וְלֹא־יֵֽרָא֥וּ פָנַ֖י רֵיקָֽם: |
| And a firstborn donkey. But not [the firstborn of] other unclean animals. -[from Bech. 5b] |
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וּפֶטֶר חֲמוֹר.
וְלֹא שְׁאָר בְּהֵמָה טְמֵאָה:
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| you shall redeem with a lamb. [The owner] gives a lamb to the kohen, and it [becomes] the ordinary [unconsecrated] property of the kohen, and the firstborn donkey may be put to work by its owner. -[from Bech. 9b] |
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תִּפְדֶּה בְשֶׂה.
נוֹתֵן שֶׂה לַכֹּהֵן וְהוּא חֻלִּין בְּיַד כֹּהֵן, וּפֶטֶר חֲמוֹר מֻתָּר בַּעֲבוֹדָה לַבְּעָלִים:
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| you shall decapitate it. He decapitates it with a cleaver. [The rationale is:] He caused the kohen to lose his money [by neglecting to give him the redemption lamb]. Therefore, he must lose his own money [by decapitating his donkey]. -[from Bech. 10b, Mechilta on Exod. 13:13] |
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וַֽעֲרַפְתּוֹ.
עוֹרְפוֹ בְּקוֹפִיץ; הוּא הִפְסִיד מָמוֹן כֹּהֵן, לְפִיכָךְ יֻפְסַד מָמוֹנוֹ:
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| every firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. His redemption is established as five selas, as it is said: “And his redemption you shall perform from the age of one month [by the evaluation of five shekels, etc.]” (Num. 18:16). |
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כֹּל בְּכוֹר בָּנֶיךָ תִּפְדֶּה.
חֲמִשָּׁה סְלָעִים פִּדְיוֹנוֹ קָצוּב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וּפְדוּיָו מִבֶּן חֹדֶשׁ תִּפְדֶה (במדבר י"ח):
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| and they shall not appear before Me empty-handed. According to the simple meaning of the verse, this is a separate matter [from the rest of this verse] and is unrelated to the firstborn, because there is no obligation to appear [in the Temple] in the commandment dealing with the firstborn. Instead this is another warning, [meaning] and when you ascend [to the Temple] on the festivals, you shall not appear before Me empty-handed, [but] it is incumbent upon you to bring burnt offerings (Chag. 7a) whenever appearing before God. According to the way it is interpreted by a Baraitha, this is a superfluous verse [for this was already stated in Exod. 23:15], and it is free [i.e., has no additional reason for being here other than] to be used for a גְּזֵרָה שָׁוָה, [i.e.,] an instance of similar wording, to teach [us] about the provisions given a Hebrew slave [when he is freed]-that it is five selas from each kind [i.e., of sheep, grain, and wine], as much as the redemption of a firstborn. [This is elaborated upon] in tractate Kiddushin (17a). |
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וְלֹא־יֵֽרָאוּ פָנַי רקם.
לְפִי פְּשׁוּטוֹ שֶׁל מִקְרָא דָּבָר בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ הוּא, וְאֵינוֹ מוּסָב עַל הַבְּכוֹר – שֶׁאֵין בְּמִצְוַת בְּכוֹר רְאִיַּת פָּנִים – אֶלָּא אַזְהָרָה אַחֶרֶת הִיא, וּכְשֶׁתַּעֲלוּ לָרֶגֶל לֵרָאוֹת לֹא יֵרָאוּ פָנַי רֵיקָם – מִצְוָה עֲלֵיכֶם לְהָבִיא עוֹלַת רְאִיַּת פָּנִים. וּלְפִי מִדְרַשׁ בָּרַיְתָא מִקְרָא יָתֵר הוּא, וּמֻפְנֶה לִגְזֵרָה שָׁוָה, לְלַמֵּד עַל הַעֲנָקָתוֹ שֶׁל עֶבֶד עִבְרִי שֶׁהוּא חֲמִשָּׁה סְלָעִים מִכָּל מִין וָמִין, כְּפִדְיוֹן בְּכוֹר; בְּמַסֶּכֶת קִדּוּשִׁין (דף י"ז):
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| 21Six days you may work, and on the seventh day you shall rest; in plowing and in harvest you shall rest. |
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כאשֵׁ֤שֶׁת יָמִים֙ תַּֽעֲבֹ֔ד וּבַיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י תִּשְׁבֹּ֑ת בֶּֽחָרִ֥ישׁ וּבַקָּצִ֖יר תִּשְׁבֹּֽת: |
| in plowing and in harvest you shall rest. [If this refers to the Sabbath,] why are plowing and harvest mentioned [in particular, and not other kinds of work]? Some of our Rabbis say that this [verse prohibits] plowing before the seventh year [i.e., the sixth year] which enters the seventh year [i.e., plowing that benefits crops that grow in the seventh year], and the harvest of the seventh year that grows after the seventh year [i.e., crops that have at least one third of their growth during the seventh year must be treated with the sanctity of the seventh year]. This is to teach you that we must add from the unholy [the year preceding the seventh year] to the holy [the seventh year]. Accordingly, this is its meaning: “Six days you may work, and on the seventh day you shall rest” -and [concerning] the work of the six days, which I have permitted you, there is a year in which plowing and harvest are prohibited. The plowing and harvest of the seventh year need not be stated, because it already says: “Your field you shall not sow…” (Lev. 25:4). [Consequently, we deduce that this verse means the plowing before the seventh year and the harvest after the seventh year.] Others [of the Rabbis] say that [the verse] speaks only about the [weekly] Sabbath, and the plowing and harvest mentioned in its context are to inform you that just as [the prohibited] plowing is optional [plowing], so is harvest [referred to here] optional [harvesting]. The harvest of the omer [however] is excluded [from this prohibition] because it is mandatory, and [consequently] it supersedes the Sabbath. -[from R.H. 9a] |
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בֶּֽחָרִישׁ וּבַקָּצִיר.
לָמָּה נִזְכָּר חָרִישׁ וְקָצִיר? יֵשׁ מֵרַבּוֹתֵינוּ אוֹמְרִים עַל חָרִישׁ שֶׁל עֶרֶב שְׁבִיעִית הַנִּכְנָס לַשְּׁבִיעִית, וְקָצִיר שֶׁל שְׁבִיעִית הַיּוֹצֵא לְמוֹצָאֵי שְׁבִיעִית, לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁמּוֹסִיפִין מֵחֹל עַל הַקֹּדֶשׁ, וְכָךְ מַשְׁמָעוֹ: שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים תַּעֲבֹד וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי תִּשְׁבֹּת, וַעֲבוֹדַת ו' הַיָּמִים שֶׁהִתַּרְתִּי לְךָ, יֵשׁ שָׁנָה שֶׁהֶחָרִישׁ וְהַקָּצִיר אָסוּר, וְאֵין צֹרֶךְ לוֹמַר חָרִישׁ וְקָצִיר שֶׁל שְׁבִיעִית, שֶׁהֲרֵי כְבָר נֶאֱמַר שָׂדְךָ לֹא תִזְרָע וְגוֹ' (ויקרא כ"ה), וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְדַבֵּר אֶלָּא בַּשַּׁבָּת, וְחָרִישׁ וְקָצִיר שֶׁהֻזְכַּר בּוֹ לוֹמַר לְךָ, מֶה חָרִישׁ רְשׁוּת אַף קָצִיר רְשׁוּת, יָצָא קְצִיר הָעֹמֶר שֶׁהוּא מִצְוָה וְדוֹחֶה אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת (ראש השנה ט'):
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| 22And you shall make for yourself a Festival of Weeks, the first of the wheat harvest, and the festival of the ingathering, at the turn of the year. |
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כבוְחַ֤ג שָֽׁבֻעֹת֙ תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֣ה לְךָ֔ בִּכּוּרֵ֖י קְצִ֣יר חִטִּ֑ים וְחַג֙ הָ֣אָסִ֔יף תְּקוּפַ֖ת הַשָּׁנָֽה: |
| the first of the wheat harvest. [This is the festival] on which you bring the two breads made from the wheat [as in Lev. 23:17]. |
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בִּכּוּרֵי קְצִיר חִטִּים.
שֶׁאַתָּה מֵבִיא בוֹ שְׁתֵּי הַלֶּחֶם מִן הַחִטִּים:
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| the first. For it is the first meal offering brought to Temple from the new wheat crop, because the meal offering of the omer on Passover is brought from the barley. -[from Men. 84a] |
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בִּכּוּרֵי.
שֶׁהִיא מִנְחָה רִאשׁוֹנָה הַבָּאָה מִן הֶחָדָשׁ שֶׁל חִטִּים לַמִּקְדָּשׁ, כִּי מִנְחַת הָעֹמֶר הַבָּאָה בַפֶּסַח, מִן הַשְּׂעוֹרִים הִיא (מנחות פ"ד):
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| and the festival of the ingathering. Heb. וְחַג הָאָָסִיף, [which occurs] at the time you gather your grain from the field into the house. This gathering (אִסִיפָה) is a term denoting bringing into the house, like “you shall take it (וַאִסַפְתּוֹ) into your house” (Deut. 22:2). |
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וְחַג הָאָסִיף.
בִּזְמַן שֶׁאַתָּה אוֹסֵף תְּבוּאָתְךָ מִן הַשָּׂדֶה לַבַּיִת; אֲסִיפָה זוֹ לְשׁוֹן הַכְנָסָה לַבַּיִת, כְּמוֹ וַאֲסַפְתּוֹ אֶל תּוֹךְ בֵּיתֶךָ (דברים כ"ב):
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| at the turn of the year. which is at the return of the year, at the beginning of the coming year. [I.e., it is in the month of Tishri, which is the first month of the year, counting from Creation.] |
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תְּקוּפַת הַשָּׁנָֽה.
שֶׁהִיא בַחֲזָרַת הַשָּׁנָה – בִּתְחִלַּת הַשָּׁנָה הַבָּאָה:
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| at the turn of. Heb. תְּקוּפַת, a term denoting going around and encompassing (הַקָּפָה) [i.e., going in a circle]. |
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תְּקוּפַת.
לְשׁוֹן מְסִבָּה וְהַקָּפָה:
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| 23Three times during the year shall all your male[s] appear directly before the Master, the Lord, the God of Israel. |
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כגשָׁל֥שׁ פְּעָמִ֖ים בַּשָּׁנָ֑ה יֵֽרָאֶה֙ כָּל־זְכ֣וּרְךָ֔ אֶת־פְּנֵ֛י הָֽאָדֹ֥ן | יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל: |
| all your male[s]. Heb. כָּל זְכוּרְךָ, all the males among you. [This is repeated elsewhere as are] many commandments in the Torah, [which] are stated and repeated, many of them three or four times, in order to cause liability and mete out punishment according to the number of the negative commandments they contain and the number of positive commandments they contain. |
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כָּל־זְכוּרְךָ.
כָּל הַזְּכָרִים שֶׁבְּךָ; הַרְבֵּה מִצְוֹת בַּתּוֹרָה נֶאֶמְרוּ וְנִכְפְּלוּ – וְיֵשׁ מֵהֶם שָׁלֹשׁ פְּעָמִים וְאַרְבַּע – לְחַיֵּב וְלַעֲנֹשׁ עַל מִנְיַן לָאוִין שֶׁבָּהֶם וְעַל מִנְיַן עֲשֵׂה שֶׁבָּהֶם:
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| 24When I drive out nations from before you and I widen your border, no one will covet your land when you go up, to appear before the Lord, your God, three times each year. |
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כדכִּֽי־אוֹרִ֤ישׁ גּוֹיִם֙ מִפָּנֶ֔יךָ וְהִרְחַבְתִּ֖י אֶת־גְּבֻלֶ֑ךָ וְלֹֽא־יַחְמֹ֥ד אִישׁ֙ אֶת־אַרְצְךָ֔ בַּֽעֲלֹֽתְךָ֗ לֵֽרָאוֹת֙ אֶת־פְּנֵי֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ שָׁל֥שׁ פְּעָמִ֖ים בַּשָּׁנָֽה: |
| I drive out. Heb. אוֹרִישׁ as the Targum renders: אִתָרֵךְ, I will drive out, and so is “begin to drive out (רָשׁ)” (Deut. 2:31), and so is “and he drove out (וַיוֹרֶשׁ) the Amorites” (Num. 21:32), an expression of driving out. |
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אוֹרִישׁ.
כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ אֲתָרִיךְ, וְכֵן הָחֵל רָשׁ (דברים ב'), וְכֵן וַיּוֹרֶשׁ אֶת הָאֱמֹרִי (במדבר כ"א) – לְשׁוֹן גֵּרוּשִׁין:
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| and I widen your border. And [this way] you will be far from the Temple, and [so] you cannot constantly appear before Me. Therefore, I am setting these three pilgrimage festivals for you. |
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וְהִרְחַבְתִּי אֶת־גְּבֻלֶךָ.
וְאַתָּה רָחוֹק מִבֵּית הַבְּחִירָה, וְאֵינְךָ יָכוֹל לֵרָאוֹת לְפָנַי תָּמִיד, לְכָךְ אֲנִי קוֹבֵעַ לְךָ שָׁלֹֹשׁ רְגָלִים הַלָּלוּ:
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| 25You shall not slaughter [or sprinkle] the blood of My sacrifice with leaven, and the offering of the Passover feast shall not remain overnight until the morning. |
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כהלֹֽא־תִשְׁחַ֥ט עַל־חָמֵ֖ץ דַּם־זִבְחִ֑י וְלֹֽא־יָלִ֣ין לַבֹּ֔קֶר זֶ֖בַח חַ֥ג הַפָּֽסַח: |
| You shall not slaughter…. You shall not slaughter the Passover sacrifice as long as leaven still exists. This is a [specific] warning to the slaughterer, to the one who sprinkles the blood, or to one of the members of the group [bringing this sacrifice]. -[from Pes. 63b] |
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לֹֽא־תִשְׁחַט וגו'.
לֹא תִשְׁחַט אֶת הַפֶּסַח וַעֲדַיִן חָמֵץ קַיָּם; אַזְהָרָה לַשּׁוֹחֵט אוֹ לַזּוֹרֵק אוֹ לְאֶחָד מִבְּנֵי חֲבוּרָה (פסח' ס"ג):
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| shall not remain overnight until the morning. As the Targum [Onkelos] paraphrases: [it shall not remain overnight until the morning away from the altar]. Remaining overnight on top of the altar has no effect [i.e., does not disqualify the sacrifice] (Mechilta, Exodus 23:18), and [the prohibition of] staying overnight is only completed at the break of dawn (Zev. 87a). |
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וְלֹֽא־יָלִין.
כְּתַרְגוּמוֹ; אֵין לִינָה מוֹעֶלֶת בְּרֹאשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְאֵין לִינָה אֶלָּא בְּעַמּוּד הַשַּׁחַר (זבחים פ"ז):
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| and the offering of the Passover feast. [This refers to] its sacrificial parts. From here you learn [to apply this rule to all instances of] burning the fats or the limbs [of sacrifices, namely that it may not be performed after the break of dawn if the sacrificial parts stayed off the altar all night until the break of dawn]. |
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זֶבַח חַג הַפָּֽסַח.
אֵמוּרָיו, וּמִכָּאן אַתָּה לָמֵד לְכָל הֶקְטֵר חֲלָבִים וְאֵבָרִים:
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| 26The choicest of the first of your soil you shall bring to the house of the Lord, your God. You shall not cook a kid in its mother's milk." |
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כורֵאשִׁ֗ית בִּכּוּרֵי֙ אַדְמָ֣תְךָ֔ תָּבִ֕יא בֵּ֖ית יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ לֹֽא־תְבַשֵּׁ֥ל גְּדִ֖י בַּֽחֲלֵ֥ב אִמּֽוֹ: |
| The choicest of the first of your soil. [This refers to the fruits] of the seven species delineated as the praise of your land, “A land of wheat and barley, vines, [figs, and pomegranates, a land of oil-producing olives,] and honey” (Deut. 8:8). That is the honey of dates. -[from Bikkurim 3:1] |
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רֵאשִׁית בִּכּוּרֵי אַדְמָתְךָ.
מִשִּׁבְעַת הַמִּינִין הָאֲמוּרִים בְּשֶׁבַח אַרְצְךָ, אֶרֶץ חִטָּה וּשְׂעֹרָה וְגֶפֶן וְגוֹ' (דברים ח') – וּדְבָשׁ הוּא דְּבַשׁ תְּמָרִים:
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| You shall not cook a kid. This is the warning against [cooking] meat and milk [together]. This commandment is written in the Torah three times (Exod. 23:19, Deut. 14:21), one for eating, one for deriving benefit, and one for the prohibition of cooking. -[from Chul. 115b] |
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לֹֽא־תְבַשֵּׁל גְּדִי.
אַזְהָרָה לְבָשָׂר בְחָלָב, וְשָׁלֹֹשׁ פְעָמִים כָּתוּב בַּתּוֹרָה, אֶחָד לַאֲכִילָה וְאֶחָד לַהֲנָאָה וְאֶחָד לְאִסּוּר בִּשּׁוּל (חולין קט"ו):
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| a kid. Heb. גְּדִי. Any young offspring is meant, even a calf or a lamb. Since [the Torah] had to specify in many places גְּדִי עִזִּים [when a young goat is meant], you learn that [mention of] גְּדִי unqualified means all sucklings. -[from Chul. 113b] |
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גְּדִי.
כָּל וָלָד רַךְ בְּמַשְׁמָע, וְאַף עֵגֶל וָכֶבֶשׂ; מִמַּה שֶּׁהֻצְרַךְ לְפָרֵשׁ בְּכַמָּה מְקוֹמוֹת "גְּדִי עִזִּים" לָמַדְתָּ שֶׁגְּדִי סְתָם כָּל יוֹנְקִים בְּמַשְׁמָע (שם קי"ג):
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| in its mother’s milk. This excludes fowl, which has no milk, which is not prohibited by the Torah but by the decree of the Scribes [the Sages]. -[from Chul. 113a] |
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בַּֽחֲלֵב אִמּֽוֹ.
פְּרָט לָעוֹף שֶׁאֵין לוֹ חָלָב, שֶׁאֵין אִסּוּרוֹ מִן הַתּוֹרָה אֶלָּא מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים (שם):
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| 27The Lord said to Moses: "Inscribe these words for yourself, for according to these words I have formed a covenant with you and with Israel." |
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כזוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֔ה כְּתָב־לְךָ֖ אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה כִּ֞י עַל־פִּ֣י | הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה כָּרַ֧תִּי אִתְּךָ֛ בְּרִ֖ית וְאֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל: |
| these words. But you are not permitted to write down the Oral Torah. -[from Gittin 60b] |
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אֶת־הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה.
וְלֹא אַתָּה רַשַּׁאי לִכְתֹּב תּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה (גיטין ס'):
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| 28He was there with the Lord for forty days and forty nights; he ate no bread and drank no water, and He inscribed upon the tablets the words of the Covenant, the Ten Commandments. |
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כחוַיְהִי־שָׁ֣ם עִם־יְהֹוָ֗ה אַרְבָּעִ֥ים יוֹם֙ וְאַרְבָּעִ֣ים לַ֔יְלָה לֶ֚חֶם לֹ֣א אָכַ֔ל וּמַ֖יִם לֹ֣א שָׁתָ֑ה וַיִּכְתֹּ֣ב עַל־הַלֻּחֹ֗ת אֵ֚ת דִּבְרֵ֣י הַבְּרִ֔ית עֲשֶׂ֖רֶת הַדְּבָרִֽים: |
| 29And it came to pass when Moses descended from Mount Sinai, and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses' hand when he descended from the mountain and Moses did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant while He had spoken with him |
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כטוַיְהִ֗י בְּרֶ֤דֶת משֶׁה֙ מֵהַ֣ר סִינַ֔י וּשְׁנֵ֨י לֻחֹ֤ת הָֽעֵדֻת֙ בְּיַד־משֶׁ֔ה בְּרִדְתּ֖וֹ מִן־הָהָ֑ר וּמשֶׁ֣ה לֹֽא־יָדַ֗ע כִּ֥י קָרַ֛ן ע֥וֹר פָּנָ֖יו בְּדַבְּר֥וֹ אִתּֽוֹ: |
| And it came to pass when Moses descended. when he brought the latter [second] tablets on Yom Kippur. |
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וַיְהִי בְּרֶדֶת משֶׁה.
כְּשֶׁהֵבִיא לוּחוֹת אַחֲרוֹנוֹת בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים:
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| that… had become radiant. Heb. קָרַן, an expression meaning horns (קַרְנַיִם) because light radiates and protrudes like a type of horn. From where did Moses [now] merit these rays of splendor [which he did not have when he descended with the first tablets (Gur Aryeh)]? Our Rabbis said: [Moses received it] from the cave, when the Holy One, blessed is He, placed His hand on his face, as it is said: “and I will cover you with My hand” (Exod. 33:22). -[from Midrash Tanchuma 37] |
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כִּי קָרַן.
לְשׁוֹן קַרְנַיִם, שֶׁהָאוֹר מַבְהִיק וּבוֹלֵט כְּמִין קֶרֶן; וּמֵהֵיכָן זָכָה מֹשֶׁה לְקַרְנֵי הַהוֹד? רַבּוֹתֵינוּ אָמְרוּ מִן הַמְּעָרָה, שֶׁנָּתַן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יָדוֹ עַל פָּנָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְשַׂכֹּתִי כַפִּי (תנחומא):
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| 30that Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses and behold! the skin of his face had become radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. |
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לוַיַּ֨רְא אַֽהֲרֹ֜ן וְכָל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶת־משֶׁ֔ה וְהִנֵּ֥ה קָרַ֖ן ע֣וֹר פָּנָ֑יו וַיִּֽירְא֖וּ מִגֶּ֥שֶׁת אֵלָֽיו: |
| and they were afraid to come near him. Come and see how great the power of sin is! Because when they had not yet stretched out their hands to sin [with the golden calf], what does He say? “And the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire atop the mountain, before the eyes of the children of Israel” (Exod. 24:17), and they were neither frightened nor quaking. But since they had made the calf, even from Moses’ rays of splendor they recoiled and quaked. [from Sifrei Nasso 11, Pesikta d’Rav Kahana, p. 45] |
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וַיִּֽירְאוּ מִגֶּשֶׁת אֵלָֽיו.
בֹּא וּרְאֵה כַּמָּה גָדוֹל כֹּחָהּ שֶׁל עֲבֵרָה שֶׁעַד שֶׁלֹּא פָשְׁטוּ יְדֵיהֶם בַּעֲבֵרָה מַהוּ אוֹמֵר? וּמַרְאֵה כְּבוֹד ה' כְּאֵשׁ אֹכֶלֶת בְּרֹאשׁ הָהָר לְעֵינֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (שמות כ"ד) – וְלֹא יְרֵאִים וְלֹא מִזְדַּעְזְעִים, וּמִשֶּׁעָשׂוּ אֶת הָעֵגֶל אַף מִקַּרְנֵי הוֹדוֹ שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה הָיוּ מַרְתִּיעִים וּמִזְדַּעְזְעִים (ספרי):
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| 31But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the princes of the community returned to him, and Moses would speak to them. |
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לאוַיִּקְרָ֤א אֲלֵהֶם֙ משֶׁ֔ה וַיָּשֻׁ֧בוּ אֵלָ֛יו אַֽהֲרֹ֥ן וְכָל־הַנְּשִׂאִ֖ים בָּֽעֵדָ֑ה וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר משֶׁ֖ה אֲלֵהֶֽם: |
| the princes of the community. Heb. הַנְשִׂאִים בָּעֵדָה lit., the princes in the community, like נְשִׂיאֵי הָעֵדָה, the princes of the community. |
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הַנְּשִׂאִים בָּֽעֵדָה.
כְּמוֹ נְשִׂיאֵי הָעֵדָה:
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| and Moses would speak to them. [sharing] the Omnipresent’s message, and this entire passage is in the present tense. |
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וַיְדַבֵּר משֶׁה אֲלֵהֶם.
שְׁלִיחוּתוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם, וּלְשׁוֹן הֹוֶה הוּא כָל הָעִנְיָן הַזֶּה:
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| 32Afterwards all the children of Israel would draw near, and he would command them everything that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. |
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לבוְאַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֥ן נִגְּשׁ֖וּ כָּל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיְצַוֵּ֕ם אֵת֩ כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֧ר יְהֹוָ֛ה אִתּ֖וֹ בְּהַ֥ר סִינָֽי: |
| Afterwards… would draw near. After he taught the elders, he would repeat and teach the chapter or the halachah to the Israelites. The Rabbis taught: What was the order of teaching? Moses would learn from the mouth of Almighty. Aaron would enter, and Moses would teach him his chapter. Aaron would move away and sit at Moses’ left. His [Aaron’s] sons would enter, and Moses would teach them their chapter. They would move away, and Eleazar would sit at Moses’ right and Ithamar would sit at Aaron’s left. [Then] the elders would enter, and Moses would teach them their chapter. The elders would move away and sit down on the sides. [Then] the entire nation would enter, and Moses would teach them their chapter. Thus, the entire nation possessed one [lesson from Moses], the elders possessed two, Aaron’s sons possessed three, Aaron possessed four, etc., as is stated in Eruvin (54b). |
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וְאַֽחֲרֵי־כֵן נִגְּשׁוּ.
אַחַר שֶׁלִּמֵּד לַזְּקֵנִים, חוֹזֵר וּמְלַמֵּד הַפָּרָשָׁה אוֹ הַהֲלָכָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל; תָּנוּ רַבָּנָן כֵּיצַד סֵדֶר הַמִּשְׁנָה? מֹשֶׁה הָיָה לָמֵד מִפִּי הַגְּבוּרָה, נִכְנַס אַהֲרֹן שָׁנָה לוֹ מֹשֶׁה פִּרְקוֹ, נִסְתַּלֵּק אַהֲרֹן וְיָשַׁב לוֹ לִשְׂמֹאל מֹשֶׁה, נִכְנְסוּ בָנָיו, שָׁנָה לָהֶם מֹשֶׁה פִּרְקָם נִסְתַּלְּקוּ הֵן, יָשַׁב אֶלְעָזָר לִימִין מֹשֶׁה וְאִיתָמָר לִשְׂמֹאל אַהֲרֹן, נִכְנְסוּ זְקֵנִים, שָׁנָה לָהֶם מֹשֶׁה פִּרְקָם, נִסְתַּלְּקוּ זְקֵנִים יָשְׁבוּ לַצְּדָדִין, נִכְנְסוּ כָּל הָעָם, שָׁנָה לָהֶם מֹשֶׁה פִּרְקָם; נִמְצָא בְּיַד כָּל הָעָם אֶחָד, בְּיַד הַזְּקֵנִים שְׁנַיִם, בְּיַד בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן שְׁלֹשָׁה, בְּיַד אַהֲרֹן אַרְבָּעָה וְכוּ'. כִּדְאִיתָא בְעֵרוּבִין (דף נ"ד):
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| 33When Moses had finished speaking with them, he placed a covering over his face. |
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לגוַיְכַ֣ל משֶׁ֔ה מִדַּבֵּ֖ר אִתָּ֑ם וַיִּתֵּ֥ן עַל־פָּנָ֖יו מַסְוֶֽה: |
| he placed a covering over his face. Heb. מַסְוֶה, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders: בֵּיתאַפֵּי. [מַסְוֶה] is an Aramaic expression. In the Talmud (Keth. 62b) [we read]: לִבָּהּ סָוֵי, her heart saw, and also in [tractate] Kethuboth (60a): יְהַוָה קָא מַסְוֶה לְאַפָּה an expression meaning “looking.” He [the nursing infant] was looking at her [his mother]. Here too, מַסְוֶה is a garment placed in front of the face and a covering over the eyes. In honor of the rays of splendor, so that no one would derive pleasure from them, he [Moses] would place the covering in front of them [his eyes] and remove it when he spoke with the Israelites, and when the Omnipresent spoke to him until he left. When he would leave, he would leave without the covering. |
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וַיִּתֵּן עַל־פָּנָיו מַסְוֶֽה.
כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ בֵּית אַפֵּי, לְשׁוֹן אֲרַמִּי הוּא, בַּתַּלְמוּד (כתובות ס"ב) סְוִי לִבָּהּ, וְעוֹד בִּכְתֻבּוֹת (דף ס'), הֲוָה קָא מַסְוֵה לְאַפָּהּ, לְשׁוֹן הַבָּטָה – הָיָה מִסְתַּכֵּל בָּהּ, אַף כָּאן מַסְוֶה בֶּגֶד הַנִּתָּן כְּנֶגֶד הַפַּרְצוּף וּבֵית הָעֵינַיִם; וְלִכְבוֹד קַרְנֵי הַהוֹד – שֶׁלֹּא יִזּוֹנוּ הַכֹּל מֵהֶם – הָיָה נוֹתֵן הַמַּסְוֶה כְּנֶגְדָּן, וְנוֹטְלוֹ בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהָיָה מְדַבֵּר עִם יִשְׂרָאֵל, וּבְשָׁעָה שֶׁהַמָּקוֹם נִדְבָּר עִמּוֹ עַד צֵאתוֹ, וּבְצֵאתוֹ יָצָא בְּלֹא מַסְוֶה:
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| 34When Moses would come before the Lord to speak with Him, he would remove the covering until he left; then he would leave and speak to the children of Israel what he would be commanded. |
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לדוּבְבֹ֨א משֶׁ֜ה לִפְנֵ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ לְדַבֵּ֣ר אִתּ֔וֹ יָסִ֥יר אֶת־הַמַּסְוֶ֖ה עַד־צֵאת֑וֹ וְיָצָ֗א וְדִבֶּר֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֵ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְצֻוֶּֽה: |
| and speak to the children of Israel. And they would see the rays of splendor on his face, and when he would leave them. |
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וְדִבֶּר אֶל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל.
וְרָאוּ קַרְנֵי הַהוֹד בְּפָנָיו; וּכְשֶׁהוּא מִסְתַּלֵּק מֵהֶם …
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| 35Then the children of Israel would see Moses' face, that the skin of Moses' face had become radiant, and [then] Moses would replace the covering over his face until he would come [again] to speak with Him. |
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להוְרָא֤וּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י משֶׁ֔ה כִּ֣י קָרַ֔ן ע֖וֹר פְּנֵ֣י משֶׁ֑ה וְהֵשִׁ֨יב משֶׁ֤ה אֶת־הַמַּסְוֶה֙ עַל־פָּנָ֔יו עַד־בֹּא֖וֹ לְדַבֵּ֥ר אִתּֽוֹ: |
| Moses would replace the covering over his face until he would come [again] to speak with Him.. And when he came to speak with Him, he would remove it from his face. |
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וְהֵשִׁיב משֶׁה אֶת־הַמַּסְוֶה עַל־פָּנָיו עַד־בֹּאוֹ לְדַבֵּר אִתּֽוֹ.
וּכְשֶׁבָּא לְדַבֵּר אִתּוֹ נוֹטְלוֹ מֵעַל פָּנָיו:
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