Chapter 26

1You shall not make idols for yourselves, nor shall you set up a statue or a monument for yourselves. And in your land you shall not place a pavement stone on which to prostrate yourselves, for I am the Lord, your God.   אלֹא־תַֽעֲשׂ֨וּ לָכֶ֜ם אֱלִילִ֗ם וּפֶ֤סֶל וּמַצֵּבָה֙ לֹֽא־תָקִ֣ימוּ לָכֶ֔ם וְאֶ֣בֶן מַשְׂכִּ֗ית לֹ֤א תִתְּנוּ֙ בְּאַרְצְכֶ֔ם לְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲוֹ֖ת עָלֶ֑יהָ כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶֽם:
You shall not make idols for yourselves. [This] is addressed to the one who has been sold [as a servant] to a non-Jew, that he should not say, “Since my master has illicit relations, I will also be like him! Since my master worships idols, I will also be like him! Since my master desecrates the Sabbath, I will also be like him!” This is why these verses are stated here. - [Torath Kohanim 25:106]. Also, the passages [in this whole section (namely, from the beginning of Chapter 25 until the end of Behar),] are written in a meaningful order, [as follows]: At first, Scripture admonishes us to observe [the laws of] Shemittah [and Jubilee (25: 124)]; then, if one covets money and becomes suspect of [unlawfully doing business with produce of] Shemittah (Nachalath Ya’akov), he will eventually [become destitute and] have to sell his personal belongings therefore, Scripture juxtaposes to it, “And when you make a sale [to your fellow-Jew]” (25:14) (What is written therein? “or make a purchase from the hand…,” something that is transferred from hand to hand). If he still does not repent, he will eventually have to sell his ineritance (25:25). If he even then does not repent, he will eventually have to sell his home, and if even then, he does not repent, he will eventually have to borrow money with interest (verses 25:35-38). Now, the later the scenario in this passage, the more severe it is [i.e., first he sells his belongings, then his property, then his home and then even borrowing with interest which is more severe than selling one’s property; (Nachalath Ya’akov) thus, the passage continues accordingly, for] if he still does not repent, he will eventually have to sell himself [to his fellow Jew as a servant] (verses 25:39-46); and [finally,] if he has still not repented, not enough that he had to be sold to his fellow Jew - but he will [be forced to sell himself] even to a non-Jew!- [25:47-55; Kidd. 20a]   לֹא־תַֽעֲשׂוּ לָכֶם אלילים.  כְּנֶגֶד זֶה הַנִּמְכָּר לְגוֹי, שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמַר הוֹאִיל וְרַבִּי מְגַלֶּה עֲרָיוֹת, אַף אֲנִי כְּמוֹתוֹ, הוֹאִיל וְרַבִּי עוֹבֵד עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, אַף אֲנִי כְּמוֹתוֹ, הוֹאִיל וְרַבִּי מְחַלֵּל שַׁבָּת, אַף אֲנִי כְּמוֹתוֹ, לְכָךְ נֶאֶמְרוּ מִקְרָאוֹת הַלָּלוּ; וְאַף הַפָּרָשִׁיּוֹת הַלָּלוּ נֶאֶמְרוּ עַל הַסֵּדֶר: בַּתְּחִלָּה הִזְהִיר עַל הַשְּׁבִיעִית, וְאִם חָמַד מָמוֹן וְנֶחְשַׁד עַל הַשְּׁבִיעִית, סוֹפוֹ לִמְכֹּר מִטַּלְטְלָיו, לְכָךְ סָמַךְ לָהּ וְכִי תִמְכְּרוּ מִמְכָּר — (מַה כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ? אוֹ קָנֹה מִיַּד עֲמִיתֶךָ — דָּבָר הַנִּקְנֶה מִיָּד לְיָד) — לֹא חָזַר בּוֹ, סוֹף מוֹכֵר אֲחֻזָּתוֹ, לֹא חָזַר בּוֹ, סוֹף מוֹכֵר אֶת בֵּיתוֹ, לֹא חָזַר בּוֹ, סוֹף לֹוֶה בְרִבִּית — כָּל אֵלּוּ הָאַחֲרוֹנוֹת קָשׁוֹת מִן הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת — לֹא חָזַר בּוֹ, סוֹף מוֹכֵר אֶת עַצְמוֹ, לֹא חָזַר בּוֹ, לֹא דַיּוֹ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל אֶלָּא אֲפִלּוּ לְגוֹי:
a pavement stone. אֶבֶן מַשְׂכִּית, an expression denoting a covering, as in “And I shall cover (וְשַׂכֹּתִי) [you with] My hand.” (Exod. 33:22). [And the meaning of “covering” is relevant here,] as people use a stone floor to make a covering over the ground.   וְאֶבֶן מַשְׂכִּית.  לְשׁוֹן כִּסּוּי, כְּמוֹ "וְשַׂכֹּתִי כַפִּי" (שמות ל"ג), שֶׁמְּכַסִּין הַקַּרְקַע בְּרִצְפַּת אֲבָנִים:
on which to prostrate yourselves. even to Heaven, for the expression הִשְׁתַּחֲוָאָה, prostration, denotes stretching one’s hands and feet out [on the ground], and the Torah prohibits one to do this outside the Holy Temple [where prostration on a stone floor is permitted]. — [Meg. 22b and see Rashi there]   לְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲוֹת עָלֶיהָ.  אֲפִלּוּ לַשָּׁמַיִם, לְפִי שֶׁהִשְׁתַּחֲוָאָה בְּפִשּׁוּט יָדַיִם וְרַגְלַיִם הִיא וְאָסְרָה תוֹרָה לַעֲשׂוֹת כֵּן חוּץ מִן הַמִּקְדָּשׁ (מגילה כ"ב):
2You shall keep My Sabbaths and fear My Sanctuary. I am the Lord.   באֶת־שַׁבְּתֹתַ֣י תִּשְׁמֹ֔רוּ וּמִקְדָּשִׁ֖י תִּירָ֑אוּ אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָֽה:
I am the Lord. Who is faithful to give reward [to those who fulfill My Torah].   אֲנִי ה'.  נֶאֱמָן לְשַׁלֵּם שָׂכָר:
3If you follow My statutes and observe My commandments and perform them,   גאִם־בְּחֻקֹּתַ֖י תֵּלֵ֑כוּ וְאֶת־מִצְו‍ֹתַ֣י תִּשְׁמְר֔וּ וַֽעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹתָֽם:
If you follow My statutes. I might think that this refers to the fulfillment of the commandments. However, when Scripture says, “and observe My commandments,” the fulfillment of the commandments is [already] stated. So what is the meaning of “If you follow My statutes”? It means that you must toil in the study of Torah [for the word for “follow” here, תֵּלֵכוּ, literally means “walk,” which is a strenuous activity (Gur Aryeh)]. — [Torath Kohanim 26:2]   אִם־בְּחֻקֹּתַי תֵּלֵכוּ.  יָכוֹל זֶה קִיּוּם הַמִּצְווֹת, כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר וְאֶת מִצְוֹתַי תִּשְׁמְרוּ וַעֲשִיתֶם אֹתָם הֲרֵי קִיּוּם הַמִּצְווֹת אָמוּר, הָא מָה אֲנִי מְקַיֵּם אִם בְּחֻקֹּתַי תֵּלֵכוּ? שֶׁתִּהְיוּ עֲמֵלִים בַּתּוֹרָה (ספרא):
and observe My commandments. You shall toil in the study of Torah in order to observe and fulfill [the commandments (Torath Kohanim 26:2). This is similar to, “[Hear, O Israel, the statutes and ordinances…] and learn them, and keep in mind to do them” (Deut. 5:1) [i.e., learn the Torah in order to keep them in your heart and perform them]. — [Sifthei Chachamim]   וְאֶת־מצותי תִּשְׁמְרוּ.  הֱווּ עֲמֵלִים בַּתּוֹרָה עַל מְנָת לִשְׁמֹר וּלְקַיֵּם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וּלְמַדְתֶּם אֹתָם וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם לַעֲשֹׂתָם" (דברים ה'):
4I will give your rains in their time, the Land will yield its produce, and the tree of the field will give forth its fruit.   דוְנָֽתַתִּ֥י גִשְׁמֵיכֶ֖ם בְּעִתָּ֑ם וְנָֽתְנָ֤ה הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ יְבוּלָ֔הּ וְעֵ֥ץ הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה יִתֵּ֥ן פִּרְיֽוֹ:
[I will give your rains] in their time. at a time when people do not usually go out, for example, on Sabbath Eve. — [Ta’anith 23a]   בְּעִתָּם.  בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאֵין דֶּרֶךְ בְּנֵי אָדָם לָצֵאת, כְּגוֹן בְּלֵילֵי שַׁבָּתוֹת (ספרא; תענית כ"ג):
the tree of the field. This refers to trees [planted in the field, as opposed to the orchard,] that do not bear fruit, but are destined to bear fruit in the future. — [Torath Kohanim 26:5]   וְעֵץ הַשָּׂדֶה.  הֵן אִילָנֵי סְרָק, וַעֲתִידִין לַעֲשׂוֹת פֵּרוֹת (ספרא):
5Your threshing will last until the vintage, and the vintage will last until the sowing; you will eat your food to satiety, and you will live in security in your land.   הוְהִשִּׂ֨יג לָכֶ֥ם דַּ֨יִשׁ֙ אֶת־בָּצִ֔יר וּבָצִ֖יר יַשִּׂ֣יג אֶת־זָ֑רַע וַֽאֲכַלְתֶּ֤ם לַחְמְכֶם֙ לָשׂ֔בַע וִֽישַׁבְתֶּ֥ם לָבֶ֖טַח בְּאַרְצְכֶֽם:
Your threshing will last until the vintage [and the vintage will last until the sowing]. For the threshing will be so plentiful that you will be occupied with it until the vintage, and you will be occupied with the vintage until the sowing season. — [Torath Kohanim 26:6]   וְהִשִּׂיג לָכֶם דַּיִשׁ אֶת־בָּצִיר.  שֶׁיְּהֵא הַדַּיִשׁ מְרֻבֶּה, וְאַתֶּם עֲסוּקִים בּוֹ עַד הַבָּצִיר, וּבַבָּצִיר תַּעַסְקוּ עַד שְׁעַת הַזֶּרַע (ספרא):
you will eat your food to satiety. One will eat only a little [food], but it will become blessed in one’s innards. — [Torath Kohanim 26:6]   וַֽאֲכַלְתֶּם לַחְמְכֶם לָשׂבַע.  אוֹכֵל קִמְעָא וְהוּא מִתְבָּרֵךְ בְּמֵעָיו:
6And I will grant peace in the Land, and you will lie down with no one to frighten [you]; I will remove wild beasts from the Land, and no army will pass through your land;   ווְנָֽתַתִּ֤י שָׁלוֹם֙ בָּאָ֔רֶץ וּשְׁכַבְתֶּ֖ם וְאֵ֣ין מַֽחֲרִ֑יד וְהִשְׁבַּתִּ֞י חַיָּ֤ה רָעָה֙ מִן־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְחֶ֖רֶב לֹא־תַֽעֲבֹ֥ר בְּאַרְצְכֶֽם:
And I will grant peace. You might say, “Here is food, and here is drink, but if there is no peace, there is nothing!” Scripture, therefore, states, after all this [blessing], “I will grant peace in the Land.” From here, [we learn] that peace is equal to everything else. And so, [this is illustrated in our morning prayers,] when we say: “[Blessed are You, O Lord…] Who… makes peace and creates everything” [a paraphrase of the verse] (Isaiah 45:7). - [see Ber. 11b; Torath Kohanim 26:7]   וְנָֽתַתִּי שָׁלוֹם.  שֶׁמָּא תֹאמְרוּ, הֲרֵי מַאֲכָל וַהֲרֵי מִשְׁתֶּה, אִם אֵין שָׁלוֹם אֵין כְּלוּם, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר אַחַר כָּל זֹאת "וְנָתַתִּי שָׁלוֹם בָּאָרֶץ"; מִכָּאן שֶׁהַשָּׁלוֹם שָׁקוּל כְּנֶגֶד הַכֹּל, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (ישעיה מ"ה) "עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם וּבוֹרֵא אֶת הַכֹּל":
and no army will pass through your land. It is unnecessary to state that they will not come to wage war, but [they will not come] even to pass through your land from one country to another. — [Torath Kohanim 26:9]   וְחֶרֶב לֹא־תַֽעֲבֹר בְּאַרְצְכֶֽם.  אֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמָר שֶׁלֹּא יָבֹאוּ לַמִּלְחָמָה, אֶלָּא אֲפִלּוּ לַעֲבֹר דֶּרֶךְ אַרְצְכֶם מִמְּדִינָה לִמְדִינָה (ספרא):
7You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you;   זוּרְדַפְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־אֹֽיְבֵיכֶ֑ם וְנָֽפְל֥וּ לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם לֶחָֽרֶב:
[And they will fall] by the sword before you. each man [falling] by the sword of his fellow. — [Torath Kohanim 26:9]   לִפְנֵיכֶם לֶחָֽרֶב.  אִישׁ בְּחֶרֶב רֵעֵהוּ (שם):
8Five of you will pursue a hundred, and a hundred of you will pursue ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.   חוְרָֽדְפ֨וּ מִכֶּ֤ם חֲמִשָּׁה֙ מֵאָ֔ה וּמֵאָ֥ה מִכֶּ֖ם רְבָבָ֣ה יִרְדֹּ֑פוּ וְנָֽפְל֧וּ אֹֽיְבֵיכֶ֛ם לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם לֶחָֽרֶב:
of you will pursue. [It will require only five] of your weakest [to pursue a hundred enemies], and not of your strongest [i.e., מִכֶּם means “the weakest (מָךְ) of you.”]- [Sifthei Chachamim; Torath Kohanim 26:10]   וְרָֽדְפוּ מִכֶּם.  מִן הַחַלָּשִׁים שֶׁבָּכֶם וְלֹא מִן הַגִּבּוֹרִים שֶׁבָּכֶם (שם):
Five… will pursue a hundred, and a hundred of you will pursue ten thousand. But is this calculation correct? [Since five will pursue a hundred, this means that each Jew will pursue twenty enemies;] therefore, should Scripture not have written here: “and a hundred of you will pursue two thousand”? But, [the Torah teaches us that] there is no comparison between a few who fulfill the Torah and many who fulfill the Torah [and thus, here, the larger the group of pursuers, the higher proportionately is the number pursued]. — [Torath Kohanim 26:10]   חֲמִשָּׁה מֵאָה וּמֵאָה מִכֶּם רְבָבָה.  וְכִי כָךְ הוּא הַחֶשְׁבּוֹן? וַהֲלֹא לֹא הָיָה צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר אֶלָּא מֵאָה מִכֶּם שְׁנֵי אֲלָפִים יִרְדֹּפוּ, אֶלָּא אֵינוֹ דּוֹמֶה מֻעֲטִין הָעוֹשִׂים אֶת הַתּוֹרָה לִמְרֻבִּין הָעוֹשִׂין אֶת הַתּוֹרָה (שם):
and your enemies will fall [by the sword before you]. [This promise, already stated in verse 7, is repeated here to teach us (Torath Kohanim 26:10)] that the enemy will fall before you, not in the usual manner [i.e., that many of them will fall by the hand of only a few. — [Rash MiShantz ad loc.]   וְנָֽפְלוּ אֹֽיְבֵיכֶם וגו'.  שֶׁיִּהְיוּ נוֹפְלִין לִפְנֵיכֶם שֶׁלֹּא כְדֶרֶךְ הָאָרֶץ (שם):
9I will turn towards you, and I will make you fruitful and increase you, and I will set up My covenant with you.   טוּפָנִ֣יתִי אֲלֵיכֶ֔ם וְהִפְרֵיתִ֣י אֶתְכֶ֔ם וְהִרְבֵּיתִ֖י אֶתְכֶ֑ם וַֽהֲקִֽימֹתִ֥י אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֖י אִתְּכֶֽם:
I will turn towards you. “I will turn away (אֶפְנֶה) from all My affairs to pay your reward.” To what may this be compared? To a king who hired some workers [only one of whom worked for him for a long time, while all the others did not. When they presented themselves to receive payment, the king quickly paid the others a small amount, while to the one who had worked long, he said, “They worked merely a little for me, but with you, I must now turn my attention to calculate the substantial amount that I owe you.” Likewise, God will quickly pay the nations the small amount He owes them for their little good deeds, and then He will turn His attention, as it were, to the Jewish people, to calculate their great reward,] as is taught in Torath Kohanim 26:11.]   וּפָנִיתִי אֲלֵיכֶם.  אֶפְנֶה מִכָּל עֲסָקַי לְשַׁלֵּם שְׂכַרְכֶם. מָשָׁל לְמָה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה? לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁשָּׂכַר פּוֹעֲלִים וְכוּ', כִּדְאִיתָא בְּתּוֹרַת כֹּהֲנִים:
and I will make you fruitful. [Unlike the usual expression of פִּרְיָה וְרִבְיָה in Scripture, here, the two parts of this expression are separated by the word אֶתְכֶם (Sifthei Chachamim quoting Maharai). The first part, וְהִפְרֵיתִי אֶתְכֶם, refers to the blessing of] being fruitful and multiplying. — [Torath Kohanim 26:12]   וְהִפְרֵיתִי אֶתְכֶם.  בִּפְרִיָּה וּרְבִיָּה:
and increase you. [while the second part,] וְהִרְבֵּיתִי אֶתְכֶם [refers to the blessing of having] dignity of stature [(הִתְרַבְרְבוּת) i.e., being able to hold one’s head up high due to dignity]. — [Mizrachi; Torath Kohanim 26:12]   וְהִרְבֵּיתִי אֶתְכֶם.  בְּקוֹמָה זְקוּפָה (ספרא):
and I will set up My covenant with you. a new covenant, not like the first covenant, which you broke, but a new covenant, which will not be broken, as it is said, “I will form a new covenant with the House of Israel and with the House of Judah-not like the covenant [that I formed with their forefathers… that they broke]” (Jer. 31:30-31). - [Torath Kohanim 26:12]   וַֽהֲקִֽימֹתִי אֶת־בְּרִיתִי אֶתְכֶם.  בְּרִית חֲדָשָׁה, לֹא כַבְּרִית הָרִאשׁוֹנָה שֶׁהֵפַרְתֶּם אוֹתָהּ אֶלָּא בְּרִית חֲדָשָׁה שֶׁלֹּא תּוּפַר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיהו ל"א) "וְכָרַתִּי אֶת בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֶת בֵּית יְהוּדָה בְּרִית חֲדָשָׁה לֹא כַבְּרִית וְגוֹ'" (ספרא):
10You will eat very old [produce], and you will clear out the old from before the new.   י וַֽאֲכַלְתֶּ֥ם יָשָׁ֖ן נוֹשָׁ֑ן וְיָשָׁ֕ן מִפְּנֵ֥י חָדָ֖שׁ תּוֹצִֽיאוּ:
You will eat very old [produce]. [But what blessing is it to eat old food? The Torah, means, however, that] the produce will remain well preserved, growing mellow with age, so that very old produce from three years ago will be better to eat than that of last year. — [B.B. 91b]   וַֽאֲכַלְתֶּם יָשָׁן נוֹשָׁן.  הַפֵּרוֹת יִהְיוּ מִשְׁתַּמְרִין וְטוֹבִים לְהִתְיַשֵּׁן, שֶׁיְּהֵא יָשָׁן הַנּוֹשָׁן שֶׁל שָׁלוֹשׁ שָׁנִים יָפֶה לֶאֱכֹל מִשֶּׁל אֶשְׁתָּקַד (בבא בתרא צ"א):
and you will clear out the old from before the new. The threshing floors will be full of new [grain, which would decay if left there, and, therefore, must be stored]. The storehouses, however, will be filled with the [abundant] old produce. Therefore, you will have to remove what is in the storehouses and take it elsewhere [in your house], in order to put the new produce into them. - [Sifthei Chachamim and see preceding Rashi; B.B. 91b]   וְיָשָׁן מִפְּנֵי חָדָשׁ תּוֹצִֽיאוּ.  שֶׁיִּהְיוּ הַגְּרָנוֹת מְלֵאוֹת חָדָשׁ וְהָאוֹצָרוֹת מְלֵאוֹת יָשָׁן, וּצְרִיכִים אַתֶּם לְפַנּוֹת הָאוֹצָרוֹת לְמָקוֹם אַחֵר, לָתֵת הֶחָדָשׁ לְתוֹכָן (שם):
11And I will place My dwelling in your midst, and My Spirit will not reject you;   יאוְנָֽתַתִּ֥י מִשְׁכָּנִ֖י בְּתֽוֹכְכֶ֑ם וְלֹֽא־תִגְעַ֥ל נַפְשִׁ֖י אֶתְכֶֽם:
And I will place My dwelling. This is the Holy Temple. — [see Er. 2a and Rashi there; Torath Kohanim 26:14]   וְנָֽתַתִּי מִשְׁכָּנִי.  זֶה בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ (ספרא: עירובין ב'):
and My Spirit will not reject you. My Spirit will not be disgusted with you. Every [expression of] גְּעִילָה is an expression of the purging of something that had been absorbed by something else, as in the verse, “For there, the shield of the mighty was rejected (נִגְעֲל),” (II Sam. 1:21), it did not accept that anointment, that [warriors] used to anoint their leather shields with cooked fat, in order to have attacking arrows or spears glide off it, rather than pierce the leather.   וְלֹֽא־תִגְעַל נַפְשִׁי.  אֵין רוּחִי קָצָה בָכֶם; כָּל גְּעִילָה לְשׁוֹן פְּלִיטַת דָּבָר הַבָּלוּעַ בְּדָבָר, כְּמוֹ "כִּי שָׁם נִגְעַל מָגֵן גִּבּוֹרִים" (שמואל ב א') — לֹא קִבֵּל הַמְּשִׁיחָה, שֶׁמּוֹשְׁחִין מָגֵן שֶׁל עוֹר בְּחֵלֶב מְבֻשָּׁל כְּדֵי לְהַחֲלִיק מֵעָלָיו מַכַּת חֵץ אוֹ חֲנִית, שֶׁלֹּא יִקֹּב הָעוֹר:
12I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be My people.   יבוְהִתְהַלַּכְתִּי֙ בְּת֣וֹכְכֶ֔ם וְהָיִ֥יתִי לָכֶ֖ם לֵֽאלֹהִ֑ים וְאַתֶּ֖ם תִּֽהְיוּ־לִ֥י לְעָֽם:
I will walk among you. [God promises a blessing of special spiritual quality, involving intimate knowledge of Him (Zeidah Laderech):] “I will stroll with you in the Garden of Eden, as if I were one of you, and you will not be terrified of Me.” Now, one might think that you will not fear Me [under such “familiar” circumstances]. Scripture, therefore, says here, “and be your God.” - [Torath Kohanim 26: 15]   וְהִתְהַלַּכְתִּי בְּתוֹכְכֶם.  אֲטַיֵּל עִמָּכֶם בְּגַן עֵדֶן כְּאֶחָד מִכֶּם, וְלֹא תִהְיוּ מִזְדַּעְזְעִים מִמֶּנִּי, יָכוֹל לֹא תִירְאוּ מִמֶּנִּי, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "וְהָיִיתִי לָכֶם לֵאלֹהִים" (ספרא):
13I am the Lord, your God, Who took you out of the land of Egypt from being slaves to them; and I broke the pegs of your yoke and led you upright.   יגאֲנִ֞י יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר הוֹצֵ֤אתִי אֶתְכֶם֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם מִֽהְיֹ֥ת לָהֶ֖ם עֲבָדִ֑ים וָֽאֶשְׁבֹּר֙ מֹטֹ֣ת עֻלְּכֶ֔ם וָֽאוֹלֵ֥ךְ אֶתְכֶ֖ם קֽוֹמְמִיּֽוּת:
I am the Lord, your God, [Who took you out of the land of Egypt]. It is worthwhile for you to believe Me that I can do all these things, for indeed “I took you out of the land of Egypt” and performed great miracles for you. — [Torath Kohanim 26:16]   אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם.  כְּדַאי אֲנִי שֶׁתַּאֲמִינוּ בִי שֶׁאֲנִי יָכוֹל לַעֲשׂוֹת כָּל אֵלֶּה, שֶׁהֲרֵי הוֹצֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם וְעָשִׂיתִי לָכֶם נִסִּים גְּדוֹלִים:
the pegs. [A plowing yoke consists of a bar that is placed over the animal’s neck and reins that are placed under its neck and threaded through two holes at each end of the bar. This term מוֹט refers to] a type of peg, which is inserted into the two [holes at the] ends of the yoke. [These pegs therefore jam the reins tightly through the holes,] preventing the reins from coming off the ox’s head and [preventing the] undoing of the knot. [The term is] as [it appears] in the verse, “Make yourself reins and yoke-pegs (מֹטוֹת) ” (Jer. 27:2); cheville in French.   מֹטֹת.  כְּמִין יָתֵד בִּשְׁנֵי רָאשֵׁי הָעֹל הַמְעַכְּבִים הַמּוֹסֵרָה שֶׁלֹּא תֵצֵא מֵרֹאשׁ הַשּׁוֹר וְיַתִּיר הַקֶּשֶׁר, כְּמוֹ "עֲשֵֹה לְךָ מוֹסֵרוֹת וּמֹטוֹת" (ירמיהו כ"ז), קבילייא בְּלַעַז:
upright. Erect in stature [due to relief from bondage]. — [Torath Kohanim 26:17]   קֽוֹמְמִיּֽוּת.  בְּקוֹמָה זְקוּפָה (ספרא):
14But if you do not listen to Me and do not perform all these commandments,   ידוְאִם־לֹ֥א תִשְׁמְע֖וּ לִ֑י וְלֹ֣א תַֽעֲשׂ֔וּ אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַמִּצְוֹ֖ת הָאֵֽלֶּה:
But if you do not listen to Me. to toil in [the study of] Torah in order to know the exposition of the Sages [corresponding to verse 3]. I might think that this refers to fulfilling the commandments. When Scripture says, “and you do not perform all these commandments,” the fulfillment of commandments is [already] stated. So what is the meaning of “if you do not listen to Me”? To toil in [the study of] Torah. And what is the meaning of “to Me”? This is speaking only about someone who knows his Master, and yet willfully rebels against Him (Sanh. 109a). Likewise, regarding Nimrod [whom Scripture calls], “a powerful hunter before the Lord ” (Gen. 10:9), [it means that] he recognized God but intentionally rebelled against Him; likewise, regarding the people of Sodom, [referred to as], “very evil and sinful against the Lord ” (Gen. 13:13)- [it means that] they recognized their Master but intentionally rebelled against Him. — [Torath Kohanim 26:18]   וְאִם־לֹא תִשְׁמְעוּ לִי.  לִהְיוֹת עֲמֵלִים בַּתּוֹרָה, לָדַעַת מִדְרַשׁ חֲכָמִים. יָכוֹל לְקִיּוּם הַמִּצְווֹת? כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר וְלֹא תַעֲשׂוּ וְגוֹ' הֲרֵי קִיּוּם מִצְווֹת אָמוּר, הָא מָה אֲנִי מְקַיֵּם וְאִם לֹא תִשְׁמְעוּ לִי? לִהְיוֹת עֲמֵלִים בַּתּוֹרָה, וּמַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר לִי? אֵין לִי אֶלָּא זֶה הַמַּכִּיר אֶת רִבּוֹנוֹ וּמְכַוֵּן לִמְרֹד בּוֹ, וְכֵן בְּנִמְרוֹד "גִּבּוֹר צַיִד לִפְנֵי ה'" (בראשית י'), שֶׁמַּכִּירוֹ וּמִתְכַּוֵּן לִמְרֹד בּוֹ, וְכֵן בְּאַנְשֵׁי סְדוֹם "רָעִים וְחַטָּאִים לַה' מְאֹד" (שם י"ג), מַכִּירִים אֶת רִבּוֹנָם וּמִתְכַּוְּנִים לִמְרֹד בּוֹ (ספרא):
and do not perform. If you do not learn [the Torah], you will not perform. Scripture hereby enumerates two transgressions [namely, (a) not learning the Torah and therefore (b) not fulfilling its commandments properly]. — [Torath Kohanim 26:18]   וְלֹא תַֽעֲשׂוּ.  מִשֶּׁלֹּא תִלְמְדוּ לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ, הֲרֵי שְׁתֵּי עֲבֵרוֹת:
15and if you despise My statutes and reject My ordinances, not performing any of My commandments, thereby breaking My covenant   טווְאִם־בְּחֻקֹּתַ֣י תִּמְאָ֔סוּ וְאִ֥ם אֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַ֖י תִּגְעַ֣ל נַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם לְבִלְתִּ֤י עֲשׂוֹת֙ אֶת־כָּל־מִצְו‍ֹתַ֔י לְהַפְרְכֶ֖ם אֶת־בְּרִיתִֽי:
and if you despise My statutes. [This refers to one who] despises others who perform [the commandments];- [Torath Kohanim 26:18]   וְאִם־בְּחֻקֹּתַי תִּמְאָסוּ.  מוֹאֵס בַּאֲחֵרִים הָעוֹשִׂים:
and reject My ordinances. [refers to one who] hates the Sages - [Torath Kohanim 26:18]   מִשְׁפָּטַי תִּגְעַל נַפְשְׁכֶם.  שׂוֹנֵא הַחֲכָמִים:
not performing. [refers to someone who] prevents others from fulfilling [the commandments];- [Torath Kohanim 26:18]   לְבִלְתִּי עֲשׂוֹת.  מוֹנֵעַ אֶת אֲחֵרִים מֵעֲשׂוֹת:
any of my commandments. [refers to one who] denies that I [God,] commanded them. This is why the verse says “any of My commandments” and “not any of the commandments.” - [Torath Kohanim 26:18]   אֶת־כָּל־מצותי.  כּוֹפֵר שֶׁלֹּא צִוִּיתִים, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר "אֶת כָּל מִצְוֹתַי" וְלֹא נֶאֱמַר "אֶת כָּל הַמִּצְוֹת":
thereby breaking My covenant. [This refers to one who] denies the main tenet [of Judaism, namely, that God is the Omnipotent Creator of all existence (Torath Kohanim 26:18).] Hence, [this verse has enumerated] seven sins, the first leading to the second, and so on, until the seventh, [and the process of degeneration is] as follows: [First, a person] does not learn [the Torah]; then, he [subsequently] does not fulfill [the commandments]; he then despises others who do [fulfill them]; then, he hates the Sages, prevents others from fulfilling [the commandments], denies the [authenticity of the] commandments and [finally] denies the very omnipotence of God.   לְהַפְרְכֶם אֶת־בְּרִיתִֽי.  כּוֹפֵר בָּעִקָּר; הֲרֵי שֶׁבַע עֲבֵרוֹת, הָרִאשׁוֹנָה גוֹרֶרֶת הַשְּׁנִיָּה, וְכֵן עַד הַשְּׁבִיעִית, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: לֹא לָמַד, וְלֹא עָשָׂה, מוֹאֵס בַּאֲחֵרִים הָעוֹשִׂים, שׂוֹנֵא אֶת הַחֲכָמִים, מוֹנֵעַ אֶת הָאֲחֵרִים, כּוֹפֵר בַּמִּצְווֹת, כּוֹפֵר בָּעִקָּר:
16then I too, will do the same to you; I will order upon you shock, consumption, fever, and diseases that cause hopeless longing and depression. You will sow your seed in vain, and your enemies will eat it.   טזאַף־אֲנִ֞י אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־זֹּ֣את לָכֶ֗ם וְהִפְקַדְתִּ֨י עֲלֵיכֶ֤ם בֶּֽהָלָה֙ אֶת־הַשַּׁחֶ֣פֶת וְאֶת־הַקַּדַּ֔חַת מְכַלּ֥וֹת עֵינַ֖יִם וּמְדִיבֹ֣ת נָ֑פֶשׁ וּזְרַעְתֶּ֤ם לָרִיק֙ זַרְעֲכֶ֔ם וַֽאֲכָלֻ֖הוּ אֹֽיְבֵיכֶֽם:
I will order. I will order upon you.   וְהִפְקַדְתִּי עֲלֵיכֶם.  וְצִוִּיתִי עֲלֵיכֶם:
consumption. This is a disease that consumes the flesh; anpoles in Old French, blisters. [The afflicted] appears like one who has had swellings and whose swellings have abated, thereby causing a sad appearance to his face [due to the stretched skin sagging after the swellings have abated].   הַשַּׁחֶפֶת.  חֹלִי שֶׁמְּשַׁחֵף אֶת הַבָּשָׂר, אנפו"ליש בלעז, דּוֹמֶה לְנָפוּחַ שֶׁהוּקַלָּה נְפִיחָתוֹ וּמַרְאִית פָּנָיו זְעוּפָה:
fever. Heb. קַדַּחַת, an illness that makes the body feverish, heating it up and making it burn, like, “For a fire blazed (קָדְחָה) in My wrath” (Deut. 32:22).   הַקַּדַּחַת.  חֹלִי שֶׁמַּקְדִּיחַ אֶת הַגּוּף וּמְחַמְּמוֹ וּמַבְעִירוֹ, כְּמוֹ "כִּי אֵשׁ קָדְחָה בְאַפִּי" (דברים ל"ב):
that cause hopeless longing and depression. Heb. מְכַלּות עֵינַיִם וּמְדִיבֹת נֶפֶשׁ. The eyes (עֵינַיִם) look with anticipation, longing (כָּלוֹת) to see that the illness will abate, and he will recover, but, he eventually does not recover, and depression (מְדִיבֹת נֶפֶשׁ) falls upon his family members when he dies. Any desire that is not realized or some prolonged yearning [for something], is termed כִּלְיוּן עֵינַיִם.   מְכַלּוֹת עֵינַיִם וּמְדִיבֹת נָפֶשׁ.  הָעֵינַיִם צוֹפוֹת וְכָלוֹת לִרְאוֹת שֶׁיֵּקַל וְיֵרָפֵא, וְסוֹף שֶׁלֹּא יֵרָפֵא, וְיִדְאֲבוּ הַנְּפָשׁוֹת שֶׁל מִשְׁפַּחְתּוֹ בְּמוֹתוֹ; כָּל תַּאֲוָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ בָּאָה וְתוֹחֶלֶת מְמֻשָּׁכָה קְרוּיָה כִלְיוֹן עֵינַיִם:
You will sow [your seed] in vain [and your enemies will eat it]. You will sow, but it will not grow, and if it does grow-“your enemies will eat it.”   וּזְרַעְתֶּם לָרִיק.  תִּזְרְעוּ וְלֹא תִצְמַח, וְאִם תִּצְמַח ואכלהו איביכם:
17I will set My attention against you, and you will be smitten before your enemies. Your enemies will rule over you; you will flee, but no one will be pursuing you.   יזוְנָֽתַתִּ֤י פָנַי֙ בָּכֶ֔ם וְנִגַּפְתֶּ֖ם לִפְנֵ֣י אֹֽיְבֵיכֶ֑ם וְרָד֤וּ בָכֶם֙ שֽׂנְאֵיכֶ֔ם וְנַסְתֶּ֖ם וְאֵֽין־רֹדֵ֥ף אֶתְכֶֽם:
I will set my attention. [The word here פָנַי, means] My leisure. [Thus, God is saying here:] “I will turn (פּוֹנֶה) away from all My affairs, to harm you.”   וְנָֽתַתִּי פָנַי.  פְּנַאי שֶׁלִּי — פּוֹנֶה אֲנִי מִכָּל עֲסָקַי לְהָרַע לָכֶם:
Your enemies will rule over you. Heb. וְרָדוּ. [This expression is to be understood] literally, namely, [that they] will rule over you. Now, the Aggadic explanation of this passage (beginning from verse 16), as taught in Torath Kohanim (26:19-24), is as follows: [16]   וְרָדוּ בָּכֶם שֽׂנְאֵיכֶם.  כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ, יִשְׁלְטוּ בָכֶם: אַגָּדַת תּוֹרַת כֹּהֲנִים מִפָּרָשָׁה זוֹ:
Then I too, will do the same. Heb., אַף אֲנִי אֶעשֶׂה זֹּאת. I will speak only out of wrath (אַף). Likewise, וְהָלַכְתִּי אַף אֲנִי עִמָּכֶם בְּקֶרִי (verse 24 below);   אף אני אעשה זאת.  אֵינִי מְדַבֵּר אֶלָּא בְּאַף, וְכֵן "אַף אֲנִי אֵלֵךְ עִמָּכֶם בְּקֶרִי" (פסוק מ"א):
I will order upon you. Heb., וְהִפְקַדְתִּי עֲלֵיכֶם. The plagues will address (פּוֹקְדוֹת) you one immediately after the other; i.e., the first plague will not have even finished, when I will bring the next one upon you, right next to it.   והפקדתי עליכם.  שֶׁיִּהְיוּ הַמַּכּוֹת פּוֹקְדוֹת אֶתְכֶם מִזוֹ לְזוֹ, עַד שֶׁהָרִאשׁוֹנָה פְקוּדָה אֶצְלְכֶם, אָבִיא אַחֶרֶת וְאֶסְמְכֶנָּה לָהּ:
shock. Heb., בֶּהָלָה. This is a plague that shocks (מַבְהֶלֶת) people. And what is this? A plague [whose cure is anxiously] awaited, [and when the afflicted dies suddenly, people are (נִבְהָלִים) shocked];   בהלה.  מַכָּה הַמְבַהֶלֶת אֶת הַבְּרִיּוֹת, וְאֵי זוֹ? זוֹ מַכַּת מוֹתָן:
Consumption…. Heb. אֶת הַשַּׁחֶפֶת וְאֶת הַקַּדַּחַת מְכַלּוֹת עֵינַיִם וּמְדִיבֹת נָפֶשׁ . Sometimes, a person is sick and lies in bed, but his flesh is well preserved on him-therefore, Scripture states, שַׁחֶפֶת, [a disease that] consumes the flesh. Or occasionally, a person may be worn away [from disease], but is comfortable in that he has no burning fever. Therefore, Scripture states, וְאֶת הַקַדַּחַת, which teaches us that [the afflicted] will be burning with fever. Or sometimes, a person may be burning with fever, but he himself believes that he will survive. Therefore, Scripture states, “[and diseases] that cause hopeless longing” [explained above in Rashi to mean that he will not recover]. Or, although he himself does not believe that he will survive, nevertheless, others may believe that he will. Therefore, Scripture states, מְדִיבוֹת נֶפֶשׁ [explained above in Rashi to mean that the family members of the afflicted will be depressed due to his death];   את השחפת.  יֵשׁ לְךָ אָדָם שֶׁהוּא חוֹלֶה וּמֻטָּל בַּמִּטָּה אֲבָל בְּשָׂרוֹ שָׁמוּר עָלָיו, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "שַׁחֶפֶת", שֶׁהוּא נִשְׁחָף, אוֹ עִתִּים שֶׁהוּא נִשְׁחָף אֲבָל נֹחַ וְאֵינוֹ מַקְדִּיחַ, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "וְאֶת הַקַּדַּחַת", מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהוּא מַקְדִּיחַ, אוֹ עִתִּים שֶׁהוּא מַקְדִּיחַ אֲבָל סָבוּר הוּא בְעַצְמוֹ שֶׁיִּחְיֶה, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "מְכַלּוֹת עֵינַיִם", אוֹ הוּא אֵינוֹ סָבוּר בְּעַצְמוֹ שֶׁיִּחְיֶה, אֲבָל אֲחֵרִים סְבוּרִים שֶׁיִּחְיֶה, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "וּמְדִיבֹת נָפֶשׁ":
You will sow your seed in vain. You will sow your seed, but it will not grow. If this is the case, though, what would your enemies come and eat, that the verse should then state, “and your enemies will eat it”? What circumstance are we speaking about here? You will sow your seed one particular year, and it will not grow [then]; in the following year, however, it will grow, but then, your enemies will come and find the produce for the time of the siege. Thus, those inside [the besieged cities] will be dying of starvation, because they had not gathered in produce from the previous year. Another explanation of “You will sow your seed in vain” is that Scripture here is alluding to sons and daughters, namely, that you will invest hard work in your children, rearing them, but [the punishment of your] sin will come and consume them, as the verse says, “Those whom I have reared and brought up-my enemy has consumed” (Lam. 2:22). [17]   וזרעתם לריק זרעכם.  זוֹרְעָהּ וְאֵינָהּ מַצְמַחַת, וּמֵעַתָּה מָה אוֹיְבֵיכֶם בָּאִים וְאוֹכְלִים? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "וַאֲכָלֻהוּ אֹיְבֵיכֶם", הָא כֵיצַד? זוֹרְעָהּ שָׁנָה רִאשׁוֹנָה וְאֵינָהּ מַצְמַחַת, שָׁנָה שְׁנִיָּה מַצְמַחַת, וְאוֹיְבִים בָּאִים וּמוֹצְאִים תְּבוּאָה לִימֵי הַמָּצוֹר, וְשֶׁבִּפְנִים מֵתִים בָּרָעָב, שֶׁלֹּא לִקְּטוּ תְּבוּאָה אֶשְׁתָּקַד; דָּבָר אַחֵר: "וּזְרַעְתֶּם לָרִיק זַרְעֲכֶם", כְּנֶגֶד הַבָּנִים וְהַבָּנוֹת הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, שֶׁאַתָּה עָמֵל בָּהֶם וּמְגַדְּלָן, וְהַחֵטְא בָּא וּמְכַלֶּה אוֹתָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "אֲשֶׁר טִפַּחְתִּי וְרִבִּיתִי אֹיְבִי כִלָּם" (איכה ב'):
I will set My attention against you. Just as it is said regarding the good, “I will turn towards you” (verse 9), so it is said regarding the bad, “I will set My attention [against you.” Our Sages] drew a parable to a king, who said to his servants [when they had not obeyed him]: “I am now turning my attention away from all my affairs, and I am occupying myself with you, to do [you] harm!”   וְנָֽתַתִּי פָנַי בָּכֶם.  כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בַּטּוֹבָה "וּפָנִיתִי אֲלֵיכֶם", כָּךְ נֶאֱמַר בָּרָעָה "וְנָתַתִּי פָנַי"; מָשְׁלוּ מָשָׁל, לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁאָמַר לַעֲבָדָיו, פּוֹנֶה אֲנִי מִכָּל עֲסָקַי וְעוֹסֵק אֲנִי עִמָּכֶם לְרָעָה:
and you will be smitten before your enemies. Heb. וְנִגַּפְתֶּם, [lit., “and you will fall by the plague before your enemies,”] that the deathly plague will kill you inside [the besieged cities] while your enemies surround you from the outside [and rejoice that you are dying off within, from the plague];- [Sifthei Chachamim]   וְנִגַּפְתֶּם לִפְנֵי אֹֽיְבֵיכֶם.  שֶׁיְּהֵא הַמָּוֶת הוֹרֵג אֶתְכֶם מִבִּפְנִים, וּבַעֲלֵי דְבָבֵיכוֹן מַקִּיפִין אֶתְכֶם מִבַּחוּץ:
Your enemies will rule over you. Heb. וְרָדוּ בָכֶם. I will make your enemies stem from within your very own people. For at the time that the nations stand up against Israel, they seek out only what is visible, as it is said, “And it happened, when Israel sowed, that Midian, Amalek, and the children of the East came up… and they camped against them and destroyed the Land’s produce” (Jud. 6:3-4). However, when I will set up [enemies] against you from within your very own camp, they will seek out your hidden treasures [within]. Thus, says the verse, “who ate the flesh of My people and flayed their skin from upon them [and opened their bones and broke them” (Micah 3:3)-the metaphor of breaking the bone to get to the marrow within, alluding to the enemy seeking out the hidden treasure within (Yosef Hallel)].   וְרָדוּ בָּכֶם שֽׂנְאֵיכֶם.  שֶׁאֵינִי מַעֲמִיד שׂוֹנְאִים אֶלָּא מִכֶּם וּבָכֶם, שֶׁבְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם עוֹמְדִים עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֵינָם מְבַקְּשִׁים אֶלָּא מַה שֶּׁבַּגָּלוּי, שֶׁנֶאֱמַר "וְהָיָה אִם זָרַע יִשְׂרָאֵל וְעָלָה מִדְיָן וַעֲמָלֵק וּבְנֵי קֶדֶם וְגוֹ' וַיַּחֲנוּ עֲלֵיהֶם וַיַּשְׁחִיתוּ אֶת יְבוּל הָאָרֶץ" (שופטים ו'), אֲבָל בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאֲעֲמִיד עֲלֵיכֶם מִכֶּם וּבָכֶם, הֵם מְחַפְּשִׂים אַחַר הַמַּטְמוֹנִיּוֹת שֶׁלָּכֶם, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר "וַאֲשֶׁר אָכְלוּ שְׁאֵר עַמִּי וְעוֹרָם מֵעֲלֵיהֶם הִפְשִׁיטוּ וְגוֹ'" (מיכה ג'):
you will flee. out of fright,   וְנַסְתֶּם.  מִפְּנֵי אֵימָה:
but no one will be pursuing you. for lack of strength [left to pursue you.] - [Torath Kohanim 26:24] [This is the end of the Aggadic explanation given by Torath Kohanim. Now Rashi resumes his commentary, although sometimes quoting Torath Kohanim.]   וְאֵֽין־רֹדֵף אֶתְכֶֽם.  מִבְּלִי כֹחַ (ספרא):
18And if, during these, you will not listen to Me, I will add another seven punishments for your sins:   יחוְאִ֨ם־עַד־אֵ֔לֶּה לֹ֥א תִשְׁמְע֖וּ לִ֑י וְיָֽסַפְתִּי֙ לְיַסְּרָ֣ה אֶתְכֶ֔ם שֶׁ֖בַע עַל־חַטֹּֽאתֵיכֶֽם:
And if, during these. Heb. וְאִםעַדאֵלֶּה, [equivalent to:] וְאִםבְּעוֹדאֵלֶּה, lit., “and if, while (עוֹד) these [are transpiring], you [still] will not listen to Me.”   וְאִם־עַד־אֵלֶּה.  וְאִם בְּעוֹד אֵלֶּה לא תשמעו:
I will add. more sufferings of a different [nature].   וְיָֽסַפְתִּי.  עוֹד יִסּוּרִין אַחֵרִים:
another seven… for your sins. Seven retributions for your seven sins that have been enumerated earlier [not sevenfold for your sins]. — [see Rashi verse 15 above; Torath Kohanim 26:26]   שֶׁבַע עַל־חַטֹּֽאתֵיכֶֽם.  שֶׁבַע פֻּרְעָנֻיּוֹת עַל שֶׁבַע עֲבֵרוֹת הָאֲמוּרוֹת לְמַעְלָה:
19I will break the pride of your strength and make your skies like iron and your land like copper.   יטוְשָֽׁבַרְתִּ֖י אֶת־גְּא֣וֹן עֻזְּכֶ֑ם וְנָֽתַתִּ֤י אֶת־שְׁמֵיכֶם֙ כַּבַּרְזֶ֔ל וְאֶת־אַרְצְכֶ֖ם כַּנְּחֻשָֽׁה:
I will break the pride of your strength. This is the Temple, and so Scripture says, “Behold I am profaning My Sanctuary, the pride of your strength” (Ezek. 24:21). - [Torath Kohanim 26:27]   וְשָֽׁבַרְתִּי אֶת־גְּאוֹן עֻזְּכֶם.  זֶה בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר "הִנְנִי מְחַלֵּל אֶת מִקְדָּשִׁי גְּאוֹן עֻזְּכֶם" (יחזקאל כ"ד):
and make your skies like iron and your land like copper. This is more severe than that of Moses, for there he says, “And your sky above you will be [like] copper and the earth beneath you (like) iron” (Deut. 28:23), that the sky will sweat as copper sweats, and the earth will not sweat, just as iron does not sweat, and therefore, [the earth] will preserve [any of] its [existing] fruit. Here, however, [in this harsher curse, pronounced by God Himself,] the sky will not sweat, just as iron does not sweat, and therefore, there will be drought in the world, while the earth will sweat, just as copper sweats, thus causing its fruits to rot [through its dampness]. — [Torath Kohanim 26:28]   וְנָֽתַתִּי אֶת־שְׁמֵיכֶם כַּבַּרְזֶל וְאֶת־אַרְצְכֶם כַּנְּחֻשָֽׁה.  זוֹ קָשָׁה מִשֶּׁל מֹשֶׁה, שֶׁשָּׁם הוּא אוֹמֵר "וְהָיוּ שָׁמֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר עַל רֹאשְׁךָ נְחֹשֶׁת וְגו'" (דברים כ"ח), שֶׁיִּהְיוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם מַזִּיעִין כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁהַנְּחֹשֶׁת מַזִּיעָה, וְהָאָרֶץ אֵינָהּ מַזִּיעָה כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁאֵין הַבַּרְזֶל מַזִּיעַ, וְהִיא מְשַׁמֶּרֶת פֵּרוֹתֶיהָ, אֲבָל כָּאן הַשָּׁמַיִם לֹא יִהְיוּ מַזִּיעִין כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁאֵין הַבַּרְזֶל מַזִּיעַ, וִיהֵא חֹרֶב בָּעוֹלָם, וְהָאָרֶץ תְּהֵא מַזִּיעָה כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁהַנְּחֹשֶׁת מַזִּיעָה, וְהִיא מְאַבֶּדֶת פֵּרוֹתֶיהָ (ספרא):
20Your strength will be expended in vain; your land will not yield its produce, neither will the tree of the earth give forth its fruit.   כוְתַ֥ם לָרִ֖יק כֹּֽחֲכֶ֑ם וְלֹֽא־תִתֵּ֤ן אַרְצְכֶם֙ אֶת־יְבוּלָ֔הּ וְעֵ֣ץ הָאָ֔רֶץ לֹ֥א יִתֵּ֖ן פִּרְיֽוֹ:
Your strength will be expended in vain. In the case of a man who did not toil, not having plowed, sown, weeded, cut off [the thorns], or hoed-at the time of harvest, if blight comes and ruins everything [that others worked on], it does not affect him at all. However, a man who did toil, who plowed, sowed, weeded, cut off [the thorns], and hoed-if blight comes and ruins everything, this man’s teeth become blunt [i.e., his spirit will surely be broken]! [Thus is the force of the retribution described here]. — [Torath Kohanim 26:28]   וְתַם לָרִיק כֹּֽחֲכֶם.  הֲרֵי אָדָם שֶׁלֹּא עָמַל, שֶׁלֹּא חָרַשׁ, שֶׁלֹּא זָרַע, שֶׁלֹּא נִכֵּשׁ, שֶׁלֹּא כִּסֵּחַ, שֶׁלֹּא עָדַר, וּבִשְׁעַת הַקָּצִיר בָּא שִׁדָּפוֹן וּמַלְקֶה אוֹתוֹ, אֵין בְּכָךְ כְּלוּם, אֲבָל אָדָם שֶׁעָמַל וְחָרַשׁ וְזָרַע וְנִכֵּשׁ וְכִסֵּחַ וְעָדַר וּבָא שִׁדָּפוֹן וּמַלְקֶה אוֹתוֹ, הֲרֵי שִׁנָּיו שֶׁל זֶה קֵהוֹת:
your land will not yield its produce. [Heb. יְבוּלָה. Even [that quantity of seed] that you “bring forth (מוֹבִיל) ” to [the field] at the time of sowing. — Torath Kohanim 26:29]   וְלֹֽא־תִתֵּן אַרְצְכֶם אֶת־יְבוּלָהּ.  אַף מַה שֶּׁאַתָּה מוֹבִיל לָהּ בִּשְׁעַת הַזֶּרַע (ספרא):
and the tree of the earth [will not give forth its fruit]. [Why the expression “tree of the earth”? It means that] the trees will be smitten even from the earth, for they will not be able to put forth their fruits in the season when fruits sprout forth. [The production of fruit originates from the earth in which the tree is rooted. The tree will blossom, but the earth will have no power to bring forth fruit.] - [Sefer Hazikkaron; Torath Kohanim 26:29]   וְעֵץ הָאָרֶץ.  אֲפִלּוּ מִן הָאָרֶץ יְהֵא לָקוּי, שֶׁלֹּא יַחֲנִיט פֵּרוֹתָיו בִּשְׁעַת הַחֲנָטָה (שם):
will not give forth. [This phrase comes after “the tree of the land” and before “its fruit” and must be understood here to] refer to both that [phrase] which is before it and that which comes after it, the trees and the fruits [and therefore, there are two separate retributions specified here (see next Rashi)].   לֹא יִתֵּן.  מְשַׁמֵּשׁ לְמַעְלָה וּלְמַטָּה, אָעֵץ וְאַפְּרִי:
will not give forth its fruit. i.e., if a tree will produce any fruit (Mizrachi), they will drop off (Torath Kohanim 26:29). Thus, this [clause, “the tree of the land will not give forth its fruit”] represents two separate curses and [by so identifying them as two separate curses here, Rashi has shown that verses 19-20 have] now enumerated seven retributions here (see Rashi on verse 18) [namely: (a) Breaking the pride of your strength, (b) making your skies like iron, and (c) your land like copper, (d) that your strength will be expended in vain, (e) your land will not yield its produce, (f) trees will not be able to give forth their fruits altogether (see preceding Rashi), and (g) any fruit produced will drop off the tree]. [Torath Kohanim]   לֹא יִתֵּן פִּרְיֽוֹ.  כְּשֶׁהוּא מַפְרֶה מַשִּׁיר פֵּרוֹתָיו, הֲרֵי שְׁתֵּי קְלָלוֹת, וְיֵשׁ כָּאן שֶׁבַע פֻּרְעָנֻיּוֹת (ספרא):
21And if you treat Me as happenstance, and you do not wish to listen to Me, I will add seven punishments corresponding to your sins:   כאוְאִם־תֵּֽלְכ֤וּ עִמִּי֙ קֶ֔רִי וְלֹ֥א תֹאב֖וּ לִשְׁמֹ֣עַ לִ֑י וְיָֽסַפְתִּ֤י עֲלֵיכֶם֙ מַכָּ֔ה שֶׁ֖בַע כְּחַטֹּֽאתֵיכֶֽם:
And if you treat me as happenstance. Heb. קֶרִי. Our Rabbis said that [this word means] temporary, by chance (מִקְרֶה), something that happens only sometimes. Thus, [our verse means:] “If you treat the commandments as happenstance, a temporary concern.” Menachem [Ben Saruk], (Machbereth, p. 1158) however, explains קֶרִי as refraining. Similar is, “hold back (הֹקֵר) your steps” (Prov. 25:17), and also, “he who keeps back (יְקַר) his breath” (Prov. 17:27). And this explanation [of לָלֶכֶת עִמִּי קֶרִי] resembles Onkelos’s translation, namely, denoting hardness (קשִׁי), i.e., [those who commit the sin of לָלֶכֶת עִמִּי קֶרִי] harden (מַקְשִׁין) their hearts to refrain from coming close to Me.   וְאִם־תֵּֽלְכוּ עִמִּי קֶרִי.  רַבּוֹתֵינוּ אָמְרוּ עֲרַאי, בְּמִקְרֶה, שֶׁאֵינוֹ אֶלָּא לִפְרָקִים, כֵּן תֵּלְכוּ עֲרַאי בְּמִצְווֹת; וּמְנַחֵם פֵּרֵשׁ לְשׁוֹן מְנִיעָה, וְכֵן "הֹקַר רַגְלְךָ" (משלי כ"ה), וְכֵן "יְקַר רוּחַ" (שם י"ז), וְקָרוֹב לָשׁוֹן זֶה לְתַרְגּוּמוֹ שֶׁל אֻנְקְלוֹס, לְשׁוֹן קֹשִׁי, שֶׁמַּקְשִׁין לִבָּם לִמָּנַע מֵהִתְקָרֵב אֵלַי:
I will add seven punishments corresponding to your sins. Seven other punishments, with the number seven, corresponding to your sins. - [Torath Kohanim 26:30]   שֶׁבַע כְּחַטֹּֽאתֵיכֶֽם.  שֶׁבַע פֻּרְעָנֻיּוֹת אֲחֵרִים, בְּמִסְפַּר שֶׁבַע כְּחַטֹּאתֵיכֶם (ספרא):
22I will incite the wild beasts of the field against you, and they will bereave you, utterly destroy your livestock and diminish you, and your roads will become desolate.   כבוְהִשְׁלַחְתִּ֨י בָכֶ֜ם אֶת־חַיַּ֤ת הַשָּׂדֶה֙ וְשִׁכְּלָ֣ה אֶתְכֶ֔ם וְהִכְרִ֨יתָה֙ אֶת־בְּהֶמְתְּכֶ֔ם וְהִמְעִ֖יטָה אֶתְכֶ֑ם וְנָשַׁ֖מּוּ דַּרְכֵיכֶֽם:
I will incite. Heb. הִשְׁלַחְתּי, an expression of inciting.   וְהִשְׁלַחְתִּי.  לְשׁוֹן גֵּרוּי:
and they will bereave you. [From this verse,] I know only that wild beasts will bereave you, for this is their nature. How do I know that domestic animals, which are not accustomed [to kill people, that they too, will kill]? Therefore, Scripture says, “I will incite the teeth of livestock upon them” (Deut. 32:24). Thus, there are two [punishments-both wild beasts and domestic animals attacking people]. How do I know that they will kill through their bite? Because that verse continues, “with the venom of the creatures that slither in the dust”-just as those [snakes] kill through their bite, these also will kill through their bite, and indeed, there were years in the Land of Israel, when [domestic] donkeys used to bite and kill, wild donkeys bit and killed. — [see Rashi Deut. 32:24; Torath Kohanim 26:31] [Be’er Mayim Chayim writes that the wild donkey is basically a domestic animal, but, as Leket Bahir comments, it lives in the wilderness and is therefore considered a wild animal. See also Sefer Hazikkaron. Extant editions of Torath Kohanim read: Donkeys would bite and kill; oxen would bite and kill.]   וְשִׁכְּלָה אֶתְכֶם.  אֵין לִי אֶלָּא חַיָּה מְשַׁכֶּלֶת שֶׁדַּרְכָּהּ בְּכָךְ, בְּהֵמָה שֶׁאֵין דַּרְכָּהּ בְּכָךְ מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "וְשֶׁן בְּהֵמֹת אֲשַׁלַּח בָּם" (דברים ל"ב), הֲרֵי שְׁתַּיִם. וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁתְּהֵא מְמִיתָה בִנְשִׁיכָתָהּ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "עִם חֲמַת זֹחֲלֵי עָפָר" (שם), מָה אֵלּוּ נוֹשְׁכִין וּמְמִיתִין אַף אֵלּוּ נוֹשְׁכִין וּמְמִיתִין, כְּבָר הָיוּ שָׁנִים בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל חֲמוֹר נוֹשֵׁךְ וּמֵמִית, עָרוֹד נוֹשֵׁךְ וּמֵמִית:
and they will bereave you. these are the young children.   וְשִׁכְּלָה אֶתְכֶם.  אֵלּוּ הַקְּטַנִּים:
utterly destroy your livestock. from outside [your city].   וְהִכְרִיתָה אֶת־בְּהֶמְתְּכֶם.  מִבַּחוּץ:
and diminish you. from within [your city].   וְהִמְעִיטָה אֶתְכֶם.  מִבִּפְנִים:
and your roads will become desolate. The major trails and the minor trails. Here you have seven punishments: 1) the teeth of domestic animals, 2) the teeth of wild animals, 3) the venom of the crawling things of the dust, 4) and they will bereave [you], 5) utterly destroy [you], 6) and diminish [you], 7) and [your roads] will become desolate.   וְנָשַׁמּוּ דַּרְכֵיכֶֽם.  שְׁבִילִים גְּדוֹלִים וּשְׁבִילִים קְטַנִּים; הֲרֵי שֶׁבַע פֻּרְעָנֻיּוֹת: שֵׁן בְּהֵמָה, וְשֵׁן חַיָּה, חֲמַת זוֹחֲלֵי עָפָר, וְשִׁכְּלָה, וְהִכְרִיתָה, וְהִמְעִיטָה, וְנָשַׁמּוּ:
23And if, through these, you will still not be chastised [to return] to Me, and if you [continue to] treat Me happenstance,   כגוְאִ֨ם־בְּאֵ֔לֶּה לֹ֥א תִוָּֽסְר֖וּ לִ֑י וַֽהֲלַכְתֶּ֥ם עִמִּ֖י קֶֽרִי:
you will not be chastised to Me. to return to Me.   לֹא תִוָּֽסְרוּ לִי.  לָשׁוּב אֵלַי:
24Then I too, will treat you as happenstance. I will again add seven punishments for your sins:   כדוְהָֽלַכְתִּ֧י אַף־אֲנִ֛י עִמָּכֶ֖ם בְּקֶ֑רִי וְהִכֵּיתִ֤י אֶתְכֶם֙ גַּם־אָ֔נִי שֶׁ֖בַע עַל־חַטֹּֽאתֵיכֶֽם:
25I will bring upon you an army that avenges the avenging of a covenant, and you will gather into your cities. I will incite the plague in your midst, and you will be delivered into the enemy's hands,   כהוְהֵֽבֵאתִ֨י עֲלֵיכֶ֜ם חֶ֗רֶב נֹקֶ֨מֶת֙ נְקַם־בְּרִ֔ית וְנֶֽאֱסַפְתֶּ֖ם אֶל־עָֽרֵיכֶ֑ם וְשִׁלַּ֤חְתִּי דֶ֨בֶר֙ בְּת֣וֹכְכֶ֔ם וְנִתַּתֶּ֖ם בְּיַד־אוֹיֵֽב:
the avenging of a covenant. [Since] there is also an avenging which is not of the covenant [i.e., not stated here in the Torah, such as those] in the manner of other avengings and this is the blinding of the eyes of Zedekiah (see II Kings, 25:7) [i.e., blinding is not one of the punishments enumerated here]. Another explanation of “the avenging of a covenant” : The avenging [here] will be because you broke My covenant [namely, the Torah] (Sifthei Chachamim and Onkelos; Shab. 33a). Wherever the expression of “bringing חֶרֶב ” appears in Scripture, it refers to a war of enemy armies.   נְקַם־בְּרִית.  יֵשׁ נָקָם שֶׁאֵינוֹ בַּבְּרִית, כְּדֶרֶךְ שְׁאָר נְקָמוֹת, וְזֶהוּ סִמּוּי עֵינָיו שֶׁל צִדְקִיָּהוּ (ספרא). דָּבָר אַחֵר: נְקַם־בְּרִית. נִקְמַת בְּרִיתִי אֲשֶׁר עֲבַרְתֶּם. כָּל הֲבָאַת חֶרֶב שֶׁבַּמִּקְרָא הִיא מִלְחֶמֶת חֲיָלוֹת אוֹיְבִים:
and you will gather [into your cities]. from the outside, to the inside of the cities, due to the siege. — [Torath Kohanim 26:33]   וְנֶֽאֱסַפְתֶּם.  מִן הַחוּץ אֶל תּוֹךְ הֶעָרִים מִפְּנֵי הַמָּצוֹר (שם):
I will then incite the plague in your midst [and you will be delivered into the enemy’s hands]. Through this plague, you will be delivered over to the hands of your enemies who are besieging you (see preceding Rashi); because since one may not allow a dead person to remain [unburied] overnight in Jerusalem (B.K. 82b), when they bring out their dead for burial, they will then be “delivered into the enemy’s hands.” - [Torath Kohanim 26:33]   וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי דֶבֶר בְּתוֹכְכֶם.  עַל יְדֵי הַדֶּבֶר ונתתם ביד הָאוֹיְבִים הַצָּרִים עֲלֵיכֶם, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין מְלִינִים אֶת הַמֵּת בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם, וּכְשֶׁהֵם מוֹצִיאִים אֶת הַמֵּת לְקָבְרוֹ נִתָּנִין בְּיַד אוֹיֵב (שם):
26when I break for you the staff of bread, and ten women will bake your bread in one oven, and they will bring back your bread by weight, and you will eat, yet not be satisfied.   כובְּשִׁבְרִ֣י לָכֶם֘ מַטֵּה־לֶ֒חֶם֒ וְ֠אָפ֠וּ עֶ֣שֶׂר נָשִׁ֤ים לַחְמְכֶם֙ בְּתַנּ֣וּר אֶחָ֔ד וְהֵשִׁ֥יבוּ לַחְמְכֶ֖ם בַּמִּשְׁקָ֑ל וַֽאֲכַלְתֶּ֖ם וְלֹ֥א תִשְׂבָּֽעוּ:
the staff of bread. Heb. מַטֵּה. [This expression] denotes [a source of] “support” [namely, food or bread, just as a staff (מַטֵּה) supports a person (Mizrachi)], similar to “staff (מַטֵּה) of strength” (Jer. 48:17).   מַטֵּה־לֶחֶם.  לְשׁוֹן מִשְׁעָן, כְּמוֹ מַטֵּה עֹז (ירמיהו מ"ח):
When I break for you the staff of bread. I will break every support of bread that you have. — [Torath Kohanim 26:34] This refers to “the arrows of hunger” (see Ezek. 5:16 where both of these expressions appear, and Redak identifies the “arrows of hunger” as blight, mildew, and locusts, which destroy some or most of the grain).   בְּשִׁבְרִי לָכֶם מַטֵּה־לֶחֶם.  אֶשְׁבֹּר לָכֶם כָּל מִסְעַד אֹכֶל, וְהֵם חִצֵּי רָעָב (יחזקאל ה'):
and ten women will bake your bread in one oven. because of lack of wood. — [Torath Kohanim 26:34]   וְאָפוּ עֶשֶׂר נָשִׁים לַחְמְכֶם בְּתַנּוּר אֶחָד.  מֵחֹסֶר עֵצִים (ספרא):
and they will bring back your bread by weight. The grain will rot, and the bread will become crumbly, breaking apart inside the oven. The women, therefore, will sit and weigh the broken pieces, to divide them among themselves. — [Torath Kohanim 26:34]   וְהֵשִׁיבוּ לַחְמְכֶם בַּמִּשְׁקָל.  שֶׁתְּהֵא הַתְּבוּאָה נִרְקֶבֶת וְנַעֲשֵׂית פַּת נְפֹלֶת, וּמִשְׁתַּבֶּרֶת בַּתַּנּוּר, וְהֵן יוֹשְׁבוֹת וְשׁוֹקְלוֹת אֶת הַשְּׁבָרִים לְחַלְּקָם בֵּינֵיהֶם (שם):
and you will eat, yet not be satisfied. This describes a curse within the intestines. [Once again,] seven retributions [are enumerated here (verses 25-26) corresponding to the seven sins (see Rashi on verses 15, 18, 20 and 22 above)], namely: (a) the attacking armies, (b) the siege, (c) the plague, (d) the destruction of food supply, (e) a lack of wood, (f) crumbly bread and (g) a curse in the intestines. The clause, “you will be delivered [into the enemy’s hand]” (in verse 25), does not count [as a separate retribution because it] is [part of] the attacking armies.   וַֽאֲכַלְתֶּם וְלֹא תִשְׂבָּֽעוּ.  זֶהוּ מְאֵרָה בְּתוֹךְ הַמֵּעַיִם בַּלֶּחֶם, הֲרֵי שֶׁבַע פֻּרְעָנֻיּוֹת: חֶרֶב, מָצוֹר, דֶּבֶר, שֶׁבֶר מַטֵּה לֶחֶם, חֹסֶר עֵצִים, פַּת נְפֹלֶת, מְאֵרָה בַמֵּעַיִם; וְנִתַּתֶּם אֵינָהּ מִן הַמִּנְיָן, הִיא הַחֶרֶב:
27And if, despite this, you still do not listen to Me, still treating Me as happenstance,   כזוְאִ֨ם־בְּזֹ֔את לֹ֥א תִשְׁמְע֖וּ לִ֑י וַֽהֲלַכְתֶּ֥ם עִמִּ֖י בְּקֶֽרִי:
28I will treat you with a fury of happenstance, adding again seven [chastisements] for your sins:   כחוְהָֽלַכְתִּ֥י עִמָּכֶ֖ם בַּֽחֲמַת־קֶ֑רִי וְיִסַּרְתִּ֤י אֶתְכֶם֙ אַף־אָ֔נִי שֶׁ֖בַע עַל־חַטֹּֽאתֵיכֶֽם:
29You will eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters you will eat.   כטוַֽאֲכַלְתֶּ֖ם בְּשַׂ֣ר בְּנֵיכֶ֑ם וּבְשַׂ֥ר בְּנֹֽתֵיכֶ֖ם תֹּאכֵֽלוּ:
30I will demolish your edifices and cut down your sun idols; I will make your corpses [fall] upon the corpses of your idols, and My Spirit will reject you.   לוְהִשְׁמַדְתִּ֞י אֶת־בָּמֹֽתֵיכֶ֗ם וְהִכְרַתִּי֙ אֶת־חַמָּ֣נֵיכֶ֔ם וְנָֽתַתִּי֙ אֶת־פִּגְרֵיכֶ֔ם עַל־פִּגְרֵ֖י גִּלּֽוּלֵיכֶ֑ם וְגָֽעֲלָ֥ה נַפְשִׁ֖י אֶתְכֶֽם:
your edifices. Towers and castles.   בָּמֹֽתֵיכֶם.  מִגְדָּלִים וּבִירָנִיּוֹת:
your sun-idols. A type of idol that they would place upon the rooftops, and since they would stand in the sun (חַמָּה), they are called “sun idols.” (חַמָּנִים) - [Torath Kohanim 19:7]   חַמָּנֵיכֶם.  מִין עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה שֶׁמַּעֲמִידִין עַל הַגַּגּוֹת, וְעַל שֵׁם שֶׁמַּעֲמִידִין בַּחַמָּה, קְרוּיִין חַמָּנִים (ספרא ויקרא י"ט):
I will make your corpses [fall] upon [the corpses of your idols]. [How so?] The people would be swollen from starvation; [and in a futile gesture of homage,] they would take out their idol from their bosom and kiss it; their bellies would burst open, and they would fall down [dead] on top of it. — [Torath Kohanim 26:36]   וְנָֽתַתִּי אֶת־פִּגְרֵיכֶם.  תְּפוּחֵי רָעָב הָיוּ, וּמוֹצִיאִים יִרְאָתָם מֵחֵיקָם וּמְנַשְּׁקִים אוֹתָם, וּכְרֵיסָן נִבְקַעַת וְנוֹפֵל עָלֶיהָ (ספרא; סנהדרין ס"ג):
and My Spirit will reject you. This is the departure of the Divine Presence. — [Torath Kohanim 26:36]   וְגָֽעֲלָה נַפְשִׁי אֶתְכֶֽם.  זֶה סִלּוּק שְׁכִינָה (ספרא):
31I will lay your cities waste and make your holy places desolate, and I will not partake of your pleasant fragrances.   לאוְנָֽתַתִּ֤י אֶת־עָֽרֵיכֶם֙ חָרְבָּ֔ה וַֽהֲשִׁמּוֹתִ֖י אֶת־מִקְדְּשֵׁיכֶ֑ם וְלֹ֣א אָרִ֔יחַ בְּרֵ֖יחַ נִיחֹֽחֲכֶֽם:
I will lay your cities waste. I might think that this means [desolate] of people [who reside there (Mizrachi)]. When the [next verse] says, “I will make the Land desolate,” [desolation of] people [who reside there] is [already] stated. So what is the meaning of “waste”? [It means that the Land will be desolate] of any passerby. — [Torath Kohanim 26:2]   וְנָֽתַתִּי אֶת־עָֽרֵיכֶם חָרְבָּה.  יָכוֹל מֵאָדָם, כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר וַהֲשִׁמֹּתִי אֲנִי אֶת הָאָרֶץ הֲרֵי אָדָם אָמוּר, הָא מָה אֲנִי מְקַיֵּם חָרְבָּה? מֵעוֹבֵר וָשָׁב:
and make your holy places (מִקְדְּשֵׁיכֶם) desolate. I might think that this means [desolate] of sacrifices. [However,] when [Scripture] states, “and I will not partake [of your pleasant fragrances],” [desolation of] sacrifices is stated. So what is the meaning of “and make your holy places desolate”? It means [desolate] of throngs (Torath Kohanim 26: 4) - these are the caravans of Israelites who prepare themselves (מִתְקַדְּשׁוֹת) and gather to go there [to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem]. [Here also,] seven retributions [are enumerated here (verses 29-31) corresponding to the seven sins (see Rashi on verses 15, 18, 20 and 22 above)], namely: eating the flesh of sons and daughters, edifices being demolished; thus we have two [retributions enumerated]. The cutting down of sun-idols is not [counted as a separate] retribution, but rather, [part of this second one, for] as a consequence of the edifices being demolished, the sun-idols that had been erected on the rooftops (see Rashi verse 30 above) will fall off [these tall buildings] and be destroyed; I will make your corpses [(fall) upon the corpses of your idols]-that makes three; the departure of the Divine Presence-four; the cities being laid waste, the desolation of the holy places from throngs, and I will not partake [of the pleasant fragrances of] your sacrifices-in total, seven [even though the ensuing verses go on to mention several other additional hardships that are not actually part of these seven, but that Israel will have to endure if they sin (Mizrachi)].   וַֽהֲשִׁמּוֹתִי אֶת־מִקְדְּשֵׁיכֶם.  יָכוֹל מִן הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת, כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר וְלֹא אָרִיחַ הֲרֵי קָרְבָּנוֹת אֲמוּרִים, הָא מָה אֲנִי מְקַיֵּם וַהֲשִׁמּוֹתִי אֶת מִקְדְּשֵׁיכֶם? מִן הַגְּדוּדִיּוֹת — שַׁיָּרוֹת שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁהָיוּ מִתְקַדְּשׁוֹת וְנוֹעָדוֹת לָבֹא שָׁם; הֲרֵי שֶׁבַע פֻּרְעָנֻיּוֹת: אֲכִילַת בְּשַׂר בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת וְהַשְׁמָדַת בָּמוֹת הֲרֵי שְׁתַּיִם — כְּרִיתוּת חַמָּנִים אֵין כָּאן פֻּרְעָנוּת, אֶלָּא עַל יְדֵי הַשְׁמָדַת הַבִּירָנִיּוֹת יִפְּלוּ הַחַמָּנִים שֶׁבְּרָאשֵׁי הַגַּגּוֹת וְיִכָּרְתוּ — וְנָתַתִּי אֶת פִּגְרֵיכֶם וְגוֹ' הֲרֵי שָׁלוֹשׁ, סִלּוּק שְׁכִינָה אַרְבַּע, חֻרְבַּן עָרִים, שִׁמְמוֹן מִקְדָּשׁ מִן הַגְּדוּדִיּוֹת, וְלֹא אָרִיחַ קָרְבָּנוֹת, הֲרֵי שֶׁבַע:
32I will make the Land desolate, so that it will become desolate [also] of your enemies who live in it.   לבוַֽהֲשִׁמֹּתִ֥י אֲנִ֖י אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְשָֽׁמְמ֤וּ עָלֶ֨יהָ֙ אֹֽיְבֵיכֶ֔ם הַיּֽשְׁבִ֖ים בָּֽהּ:
I will make the Land desolate. This is actually a good thing for Israel, namely, that since the Land will be desolate of people living in it, the enemies will not find contentment in Israel’s Land [and will have to leave]. — [Sifthei Chachamim; Torath Kohanim 26:38]   וַֽהֲשִׁמֹּתִי אֲנִי אֶת־הָאָרֶץ.  זוֹ מִדָּה טוֹבָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁלֹּא יִמְצְאוּ הָאוֹיְבִים נַחַת רוּחַ בְּאַרְצָם, שֶׁתְּהֵא שׁוֹמֵמָה מִיּוֹשְׁבֶיהָ (ספרא):
33And I will scatter you among the nations, and I will unsheathe the sword after you. Your land will be desolate, and your cities will be laid waste.   לגוְאֶתְכֶם֙ אֱזָרֶ֣ה בַגּוֹיִ֔ם וַֽהֲרִֽיקֹתִ֥י אַֽחֲרֵיכֶ֖ם חָ֑רֶב וְהָֽיְתָ֤ה אַרְצְכֶם֙ שְׁמָמָ֔ה וְעָֽרֵיכֶ֖ם יִֽהְי֥וּ חָרְבָּֽה:
And you, I will scatter among the nations. This [though,] is a harsh thing [for Israel], for when the people of a country are exiled to the same place, they see each other and find solace. However, Israel was scattered as if through a winnowing basket, just as a person who scatters barley through a sieve [so that] not one of them is attached to another. — [Torath Kohanim 26: 39]   וְאֶתְכֶם אֱזָרֶה בַגּוֹיִם.  זוֹ מִדָּה קָשָׁה, שֶׁבְּשָׁעָה שֶׁבְּנֵי הַמְּדִינָה גּוֹלִים לְמָקוֹם אֶחָד, רוֹאִים זֶה אֶת זֶה וּמִתְנַחֲמִין, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל נִזְרוּ כְבַמְּזָרֶה — כְּאָדָם הַזּוֹרֶה שְׂעוֹרִים בְּנָפָה וְאֵין אַחַת מֵהֶן דְּבוּקָה בַחֲבֶרְתָּהּ (שם):
and I will unsheathe. Heb. וַהֲרִיקֹתִי, [lit., “I will empty out,” which means here to unsheathe, because] when one unsheathes a sword, the sheath is emptied out (מִתְרוֹקֵֵן). And the Midrashic explanation [based on the term לְהָרִיק, often used to mean “to empty out water,” is as follows]: The sword that will be taken out against you will not return quickly [to its sheath]. This is like a person who empties out (מֵרִיק) [a pitcher of] water, which does not return [to the pitcher]. — [Torath Kohanim 26:39]   וַֽהֲרִֽיקֹתִי.  כְּשֶׁשּׁוֹלֵף הַחֶרֶב מִתְרוֹקֵן הַנָּדָן; וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ חֶרֶב הַנִּשְׁמֶטֶת אַחֲרֵיכֶם אֵינָהּ חוֹזֶרֶת מַהֵר, כְּאָדָם שֶׁמֵּרִיק אֶת הַמַּיִם וְאֵין סוֹפָן לַחֲזֹר (ספרא):
Your land will be desolate. For you will not hasten to return into it, and subsequently, “your cities will be laid waste,” i.e., they will appear to you as having been [permanently] laid waste. For when a person is exiled from his house, from his vineyard, and from his city, but he [knows that he] will ultimately return, [in his eyes,] it is as though his vineyard and house are not laid waste [whereas here, since Israel will give up hope of returning to their Land, it will appear to them as having been laid waste]; thus is it taught in Torath Kohanim (26:40).   וְהָֽיְתָה אַרְצְכֶם שְׁמָמָה.  שֶׁלֹּא תְמַהֲרוּ לָשׁוּב לְתוֹכָהּ, וּמִתּוֹךְ כָּךְ עָרֵיכֶם יִהְיוּ חָרְבָּה — נִרְאוֹת לָכֶם חֲרֵבוֹת, שֶׁבְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאָדָם גּוֹלֶה מִבֵּיתוֹ וּמִכַּרְמוֹ וּמֵעִירוֹ וְסוֹפוֹ לַחֲזֹר, כְּאִלּוּ אֵין כַּרְמוֹ וּבֵיתוֹ חֲרֵבִים, כָּךְ שְׁנוּיָה בְּתּוֹרַת כֹּהֲנִים:
34Then, the land will be appeased regarding its sabbaticals. During all the days that it remains desolate while you are in the land of your enemies, the Land will rest and thus appease its sabbaticals.   לדאָז֩ תִּרְצֶ֨ה הָאָ֜רֶץ אֶת־שַׁבְּתֹתֶ֗יהָ כֹּ֚ל יְמֵ֣י הָשַּׁמָּ֔ה וְאַתֶּ֖ם בְּאֶ֣רֶץ אֹֽיְבֵיכֶ֑ם אָ֚ז תִּשְׁבַּ֣ת הָאָ֔רֶץ וְהִרְצָ֖ת אֶת־שַׁבְּתֹתֶֽיהָ:
Then, the Land will be appeased. [This verb is in the reflexive form and the meaning is: Then, the Land will be appeased, and in turn,] appease the anger of the Omnipresent, Who had been angry regarding the Land’s Shemittah years (Mizrachi) [and thus appease [God regarding them].   אָז תִּרְצֶה.  תְּפַיֵּס אֶת כַּעַס הַמָּקוֹם שֶׁכָּעַס עַל שְׁמִטּוֹתֶיהָ:
and thus appease. [This verb is in the causative form, meaning: The Land will appease] the King regarding its sabbaticals (Mizrachi).   וְהִרְצָת.  לַמֶּלֶךְ את שבתתיה:
35It will rest during all the days that it remains desolate, whatever it had not rested on your sabbaticals, when you lived upon it.   להכָּל־יְמֵ֥י הָשַּׁמָּ֖ה תִּשְׁבֹּ֑ת אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹא־שָֽׁבְתָ֛ה בְּשַׁבְּתֹֽתֵיכֶ֖ם בְּשִׁבְתְּכֶ֥ם עָלֶֽיהָ:
all the days that it remains desolate. [This word הָשַּׁמָּה is in the passive form, just] like the word הֵעָשׂוֹת [and means “being desolate”]. The [root of the word, שׁמם, actually has two letters מ, and our word should therefore appear as הָשַּׁמָמָּה Since this is difficult to pronounce, however, the first] “mem” is vocalized with a dagesh, which replaces the [second, omitted “mem,” rather than having the full word with a] double [“mem” in it, as in the noun form,] שְׁמָמָה.   כָּל־יְמֵי הָשַּׁמָּה.  לְשׁוֹן הֵעָשׂוֹת, וּמֵ"ם דָּגֵשׁ בִּמְקוֹם כֵּפֶל שְׁמָמָה:
whatever it had not rested on your sabbaticals. The seventy years of the Babylonian exile [i.e., between the destruction of the first Temple and the building of the second,] corresponded to the seventy years of Shemittah and Jubilee years that took place during the years that Israel angered the Omnipresent while in their Land, [a total of] 430 years. Three hundred and ninety years were the years of their sinning from when they entered the land until the Ten Tribes were exiled, and the people of Judah angered Him for forty more years from the time the Ten Tribes were exiled until the destruction of Jerusalem. This is what is referred to in Ezek. (4:4-5) [when God makes Ezekiel figuratively suffer one day for each year Israel sinned, in order to atone for their sins], “And you shall lie on your left side (symbolizing the house of Israel, i.e., the ten tribes)… [Now I have made for you the years of their iniquity by the number of days, three hundred and ninety days, and you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel]. And when you complete these, you shall lie on your right side a second time, and you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah: forty days [a day for a year, a day for a year, I have given it to you].” Now, this prophecy was stated to Ezekiel in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile. And [since the people of Judah] spent another six years [in the Land] until Zedekiah’s exile, totaling forty-six [sinful years of the house of Judah, and hence, of the 850 years the people of Israel spent from the time of their entry into the Land until their eventual exile from it after the destruction of the first Holy Temple, they sinned for a total of 436 years]. Now, you might object, saying that King Manasseh [who was born immediately after the ten tribes were exiled, and who] ruled for fifty-five years [and so, even without taking into account the sinful years during the reigns of all the other kings of Judah, fifty-five years alone is more than forty-six, so surely the calculation is incorrect]! [However,] Manasseh repented [his evil ways] for thirty-three [of the fifty-five] years [of his reign], and thus, his sinful years [amounted to] twenty-two years, as it is written, “and he made an asherah as Ahab, the king of Israel, had made” (II Kings 21:3), and Ahab ruled for twenty-two [sinful] years, [so did Manasseh sin for twenty-two of his fifty-five year reign,] as is taught in the Aggadah of [the eleventh chapter of Tractate Sanh. (103a), entitled] Cheilek. [Thus, the number of years that the house of Judah sinned was: 22 years during the reign of Manasseh,] two during [the reign of] Amon, eleven during [the reign of] Jehoiakim and the same [i.e., another eleven] during [the reign of] Zedekiah [making a total of 46 years. The other kings of Judah are not included in the calculation, because during the righteous Josiah’s reign, Israel did not sin, while Jehoachaz and Jehoiachin each ruled for only three months. Let us now] go and calculate, for the [period of] 436 years [of sin], how many Shemittah and Jubilee years transpired during the years, at a rate of sixteen in every hundred years: 14 Shemittah years and two Jubilee years [totaling 16 sabbatical years]. Therefore, for 400 years, we have 64, and for the remaining 36 years, there are five [cycles of seven years and thus five] Shemittah years, making a total of [64 and 5 =] seventy minus one [i.e., 69 unobserved sabbatical years in that total of 436 sinful years in that period]. And [we must add to this calculation] an extra year-this extra year was the [last sinful] year [of the 436,] which began another Shemittah cycle [and God exiled Israel then and did not wait for the completion of that cycle for them to desecrate the seventieth Shemittah year-out of mercy for them, so that they would not have to endure the punishment of utter destruction, God forbid.] - [see Deut. 4:25 and Rashi there; Sifthei Chachamim] [This extra year, nevertheless, is included in the calculation here, as though another sabbatical had gone by unobserved, thereby] completing the seventy [unobserved sabbatical years of that period]. And for these [unobserved sabbaticals], a full seventy years [of exile] were decreed. And thus is it stated in (II) Chron. (36: 21), “until the Land was appeased regarding its Sabbaths; [for all the days of its desolation it rested,] until the completion of seventy years.” - [See Sefer Hazikkaron for the explanation of this Rashi.]   אֵת אֲשֶׁר לֹא־שָֽׁבְתָה.  שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה שֶׁל גָּלוּת בָּבֶל הֵן הָיוּ כְּנֶגֶד שִׁבְעִים שְׁנוֹת הַשְּׁמִטָּה וְיוֹבֵל שֶׁהָיוּ בַּשָּׁנִים שֶׁהִכְעִיסוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאַרְצָם לִפְנֵי הַמָּקוֹם — אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת וּשְׁלוֹשִׁים שָׁנָה; שְׁלוֹשׁ מֵאוֹת וְתִשְׁעִים הָיוּ שְׁנֵי עֲוֹנָם מִשֶּׁנִּכְנְסוּ לָאָרֶץ עַד שֶׁגָּלוּ עֲשֶׂרֶת הַשְּׁבָטִים, וּבְנֵי יְהוּדָה הִכְעִיסוּ לְפָנָיו אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה מִשֶּׁגָּלוּ עֲשֶׂרֶת הַשְּׁבָטִים עַד חָרְבוֹת יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, הוּא שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בִּיחֶזְקֵאל "וְאַתָּה שְׁכַב עַל צִדְּךָ הַשְּׂמָאלִי וְגוֹ', וְכִלִּיתָ אֶת אֵלֶּה וְגוֹ', וְשָׁכַבְתָּ עַל צִדְּךָ הַיְמָנִי אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם וְנָשָׂאתָ אֶת עֲוֹן בֵּית יְהוּדָה", וּנְבוּאָה זוֹ נֶאֶמְרָה לִיחֶזְקֵאל בַּשָּׁנָה הַחֲמִשִּׁית לְגָלוּת הַמֶּלֶךְ יְהוֹיָכִין, וְעוֹד עָשׂוּ שֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים עַד גָּלוּת צִדְקִיָּהוּ, הֲרֵי אַרְבָּעִים וְשֵׁשׁ; וְאִם תֹּאמַר שְׁנוֹת מְנַשֶּׁה חֲמִשִּׁים וְחָמֵשׁ הָיוּ, מְנַשֶּׁה עָשָֹה תְשׁוּבָה שְׁלוֹשִׁים וְשָׁלוֹשׁ שָׁנָה, וְכָל שְׁנוֹת רִשְׁעוֹ עֶשְֹרִים וּשְׁתַּיִם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ בְּאַגָּדַת חֵלֶק, וְשֶׁל אָמוֹן שְׁתַּיִם, וְאַחַת עֶשְֹרֵה לִיהוֹיָקִים, וּכְנֶגְדָּן לְצִדְקִיָּהוּ; צֵא וַחֲשֹׁב לְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת וּשְׁלוֹשִׁים וְשֵׁשׁ שָׁנָה שְׁמִטִּין וְיוֹבְלוֹת שֶׁבָּהֶם, וְהֵם שֵׁשׁ עֶשְׂרֶה לְמֵאָה — אַרְבַּע עֶשְׂרֵה שְׁמִטִּין וּשְׁנַיִם יוֹבְלוֹת, הֲרֵי לְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה שִׁשִּׁים וְאַרְבַּע, לִשְׁלוֹשִׁים וְשֵׁשׁ שָׁנָה חָמֵשׁ שְׁמִטּוֹת, הֲרֵי שִׁבְעִים חָסֵר אַחַת, וְעוֹד שָׁנָה יְתֵרָה, שֶׁנִּכְנְסָה בַשְּׁמִטָּה הַמַּשְׁלֶמֶת לְשִׁבְעִים, וַעֲלֵיהֶם נִגְזַר שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה שְׁלֵמִים, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר בְּדִבְרֵי הַיָמִים (דברי הימים ב' ל"ו), עַד רָצְתָה הָאָרֶץ אֶת שַׁבְּתוֹתֶיהָ … לְמַלֹּאות שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה (סדר עולם):
36And those of you who survive I will bring fear in their hearts in the lands of their enemies, and the sound of a rustling leaf will pursue them; they will flee as one flees the sword, and they will fall, but there will be no pursuer.   לווְהַנִּשְׁאָרִ֣ים בָּכֶ֗ם וְהֵבֵ֤אתִי מֹ֨רֶךְ֙ בִּלְבָבָ֔ם בְּאַרְצֹ֖ת אֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֑ם וְרָדַ֣ף אֹתָ֗ם ק֚וֹל עָלֶ֣ה נִדָּ֔ף וְנָס֧וּ מְנֻֽסַת־חֶ֛רֶב וְנָֽפְל֖וּ וְאֵ֥ין רֹדֵֽף:
I will bring fear. Heb. מֹרֶךְ, fear and timidity (רֹךְ) of heart (see Torath Kohanim 26:43). The letter “mem” of מֹרֶךְ is [actually part of] the root [of the word, but occasionally] is omitted (see Rashi on Gen. 17:11 and 49:10) [and does not appear in other forms of the word, e.g., אַל יֵרַךְ לְבַבְכֶם (Deut. 20:3)], like the “mem” of מוֹעֵד and מוֹקֵשׁ [where the “mem” is also part of the root, but is omitted in different forms of these words, e.g., וְנוֹעַדְתּי שָׁמָה (Exod. 29:43) and, יָקוּשׁ (Hos. 9:8)]. — [Meira Dachya]   וְהֵבֵאתִי מֹרֶךְ.  פַּחַד וְרֹךְ לֵבָב; מ"ם שֶׁל מֹרֶךְ יְסוֹד נוֹפֵל הוּא, כְּמוֹ מ"ם שֶׁל מוֹעֵד וְשֶׁל מוֹקֵשׁ:
they will flee as one flees the sword. i. e., as if murderers are pursuing them [but only “as if,” because “there will be no pursuer.” - [Mizrachi]   וְנָסוּ מְנֻֽסַת־חֶרֶב.  כְּאִלּוּ רוֹדְפִים הוֹרְגִים אוֹתָם:
a rustling leaf. Heb., עָלֶה נִדָּף, lit., a “ pushed” leaf, that the wind “pushes,” striking it against another leaf, so that it knocks and makes a sound. And so does the Targum [Onkelos] render: קַל טַרְפָא דְשָׁקִיף, an expression of striking, like שְׁדוּפוֹת קָדִים, beaten by the east wind (Gen. 41:6), [which Onkelos renders:] שְׁקִיפָן קִדּוּם, [and it is like] the term מַשְׁקוֹף, lintel, the place where the door slams. Similar is [Onkelos’s] translation of חַבּוּרָה [“bruise” (Exod. 21:25), which he renders:], מַשְׁקוֹפֵי [which actually means “blow,” since the bruise is a result of a blow on the body (see Rashi there)]. [Although the word נִדָּף actually means “pushed,” Onkelos conveys the result of one leaf being pushed against another, namely, that it “strikes” its neighboring leaf. (Mizrachi).]   עָלֶה נִדָּף.  שֶׁהָרוּחַ דּוֹחֲפוֹ וּמַכֵּהוּ עַל עָלֶה אַחֵר וּמְקַשְׁקֵשׁ וּמוֹצִיא קוֹל, וְכֵן תַּרְגּוּמוֹ קַל טַרְפָּא דְשָׁקִיף, לְשׁוֹן חֲבָטָה, "שְׁדוּפוֹת קָדִים" (בראשית מ"א) — שְׁקִיפָן קִדּוּם, לְשׁוֹן מַשְׁקוֹף, מְקוֹם חֲבָטַת הַדֶּלֶת, וְכֵן תַּרְגּוּמוֹ שֶׁל "חַבּוּרָה" (שמות כ"א) — מַשְׁקוֹפֵי:
37Each man will stumble over his brother, [fleeing] as if from the sword, but without a pursuer. You will not be able to stand up against your enemies.   לזוְכָֽשְׁל֧וּ אִֽישׁ־בְּאָחִ֛יו כְּמִפְּנֵי־חֶ֖רֶב וְרֹדֵ֣ף אָ֑יִן וְלֹא־תִֽהְיֶ֤ה לָכֶם֙ תְּקוּמָ֔ה לִפְנֵ֖י אֹֽיְבֵיכֶֽם:
Each man will stumble over his brother. When they run away to flee, they will stumble over each other, because they will flee in panic.   וְכָֽשְׁלוּ אִֽישׁ־בְּאָחִיו.  כְּשֶׁיָּרוּצוּ לָנוּס יִכָּשְׁלוּ זֶה בָזֶה, כִּי יִבָּהֲלוּ לָרוּץ:
as if from the sword. i.e., as if fleeing from [people] who want to kill them, for they will have fear in their hearts, and every moment, they will think that someone is chasing them. And the Midrashic explanation of וְכָשְׁלוּ אִישׁ בְּאָחִיו is: “Each man will stumble because of his brother,” i.e., one person will stumble because of someone else’s sin, because all Jews are guarantors for one another. - [Torath Kohanim 26:45, Sanh. 27b]   כְּמִפְּנֵי־חֶרֶב.  כְּאִלּוּ בּוֹרְחִים מִלִּפְנֵי הוֹרְגִים, שֶׁיְּהֵא בִלְבָבָם פַּחַד, וְכָל שָׁעָה סְבוּרִים שֶׁאָדָם רוֹדְפָם; וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ וְכָשְׁלוּ אִישׁ בְּאָחִיו, זֶה נִכְשָׁל בַּעֲוֹנוֹ שֶׁל זֶה, שֶׁכָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲרֵבִין זֶה לָזֶה (ספרא; סנהדרין כ"ז):
38You will become lost among the nations, and the land of your enemies will consume you.   לחוַֽאֲבַדְתֶּ֖ם בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם וְאָֽכְלָ֣ה אֶתְכֶ֔ם אֶ֖רֶץ אֹֽיְבֵיכֶֽם:
You will become lost among the nations. When you will be scattered, you will become lost from one another.   וַֽאֲבַדְתֶּם בַּגּוֹיִם.  כְּשֶׁתִּהְיוּ פְזוּרִים, תִּהְיוּ אֲבוּדִים זֶה מִזֶּה (עי' ספרא):
and... will consume you. This refers to those [Jews] who will die in the Diaspora.   וְאָֽכְלָה אֶתְכֶם.  אֵלּוּ הַמֵּתִים בַּגּוֹלָה:
39And because of their iniquity, those of you who survive will rot away in the lands of your enemies; moreover, they will rot away because the iniquities of their fathers are still within them.   לטוְהַנִּשְׁאָרִ֣ים בָּכֶ֗ם יִמַּ֨קּוּ֙ בַּֽעֲו‍ֹנָ֔ם בְּאַרְצֹ֖ת אֹֽיְבֵיכֶ֑ם וְאַ֛ף בַּֽעֲו‍ֹנֹ֥ת אֲבֹתָ֖ם אִתָּ֥ם יִמָּֽקּוּ:
because the iniquities of their fathers are still with them. If they hold onto the [evil] practices of their forefathers in their hands. — [Sanh. 27b]   בעונת אֲבֹתָם אִתָּם.  כְּשֶׁעֲווֹנוֹת אֲבוֹתָם אִתָּם — כְּשֶׁאוֹחֲזִים מַעֲשֵׂה אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם בִּידֵיהֶם (שם):
they will rot away. Heb. יִמָּקּוּ, an expression of melting, and has the same meaning as יִמַּסּוּ, “they will melt.” Similar is, “their eyes will melt (תִּמַּקְנָה) in their sockets” (Zech. 14:12), and, “my bruises are… decayed (נָמַקּוּ) ” (Ps. 38:6).   יִמַּקּוּ.  לְשׁוֹן הֲמַסָּה, כְּמוֹ יִמַּסּוּ, וְכָמוֹהוּ "תִּמַּקְנָה בְחֹרֵיהֶן" (זכריה י"ד), "נָמַקּוּ חַבּוּרֹתָי" (תהילים ל"ח):
40They will then confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers their betrayal that they dealt Me, and that they also treated Me as happenstance.   מוְהִתְוַדּ֤וּ אֶת־עֲו‍ֹנָם֙ וְאֶת־עֲוֹ֣ן אֲבֹתָ֔ם בְּמַֽעֲלָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר מָֽעֲלוּ־בִ֑י וְאַ֕ף אֲשֶׁר־הָֽלְכ֥וּ עִמִּ֖י בְּקֶֽרִי:
41Then I too, will treat them as happenstance and bring them [back while] in the land of their enemies. If then, their clogged heart becomes humbled, then, [their sufferings] will gain appeasement for their iniquity,   מאאַף־אֲנִ֞י אֵלֵ֤ךְ עִמָּם֙ בְּקֶ֔רִי וְהֵֽבֵאתִ֣י אֹתָ֔ם בְּאֶ֖רֶץ אֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֑ם אוֹ־אָ֣ז יִכָּנַ֗ע לְבָבָם֙ הֶֽעָרֵ֔ל וְאָ֖ז יִרְצ֥וּ אֶת־עֲו‍ֹנָֽם:
Then I too, will… bring them [… (back while) in the land of their enemies]. “I Myself will bring them [back]!” This is a good thing for Israel, so that they should not say, “Since we have been exiled among the nations, we may as well behave like them!” [Says God in answer to this:] “I will not allow them [to do this]! Rather, I will set up My prophets, and bring them back [to Me] under My very wings!” as it is said, “But what enters your mind shall not come about, [what you say, 'Let us be like the nations, like the families of the lands, serving wood and stone’]. As I live, says the Lord God, surely with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with poured out fury, will I reign over you!” (Ezek. 20:32-33). - [Torath Kohanim 26:48]   וְהֵֽבֵאתִי אֹתָם.  אֲנִי בְעַצְמִי אֲבִיאֵם; זוֹ מִדָּה טוֹבָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיוּ אוֹמְרִים, הוֹאִיל וְגָלִינוּ בֵּין הָאֻמּוֹת נַעֲשֶׂה כְמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם, אֲנִי אֵינִי מַנִּיחָם, אֶלָּא מַעֲמִיד אֲנִי אֶת נְבִיאַי וּמַחֲזִירָן לְתַחַת כְּנָפַי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל כ"א), "וְהָעֹלָה עַל רוּחֲכֶם הָיוֹ לֹא תִהְיֶה וְגוֹ' חַי אָנִי … אִם לֹא בְּיָד חֲזָקָה וְגוֹ'" (ספרא):
If then… becomes humbled. Heb. אוֹ אָז יִכָּנַע [This unusual expression, אוֹ אָז, is] similar to that in the verse, אוֹ נוֹדַע כִּי שׁוֹר נַגָּח הוּא, “If it was known that it was a [habitually] goring bull” (Exod. 21:36). [Thus, the meaning of this verse is: If they want to become like the nations, I will have to take them back to Me against their will] but, if (אוֹ) their clogged heart then (אָז) becomes humbled [without force, their sufferings will atone for them…] (Sifthei Chachamim). Another meaning [of אוֹ אָז is:] Perhaps. [Thus, the verse means:] “Perhaps then, their blocked heart will become humbled….”   אוֹ־אָז יִכָּנַע.  כְּמוֹ "אוֹ נוֹדַע כִּי שׁוֹר נַגָּח הוּא" (שמות כ"א) — אִם אָז יִכָּנַע; לָשׁוֹן אַחֵר אוּלַי — שֶׁמָּא אָז יִכָּנַע לְבָבָם וְגוֹ':
then, [their sufferings] will gain appeasement for their iniquity. [means that] they will gain atonement for their iniquity through their sufferings.   וְאָז יִרְצוּ אֶת־עונם.  יְכַפְּרוּ עַל עֲווֹנָם בְּיִסּוּרֵיהֶם:
42and I will remember My covenant [with] Jacob, and also My covenant [with] Isaac, and also My covenant [with] Abraham I will remember. And I will remember the Land,   מבוְזָֽכַרְתִּ֖י אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֣י יַֽעֲק֑וֹב וְאַף֩ אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֨י יִצְחָ֜ק וְאַ֨ף אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֧י אַבְרָהָ֛ם אֶזְכֹּ֖ר וְהָאָ֥רֶץ אֶזְכֹּֽר:
And I will remember My covenant [with] Jacob. Heb. יַעִקוֹב. [The name יַעִקוֹב is] written in full, [i.e., with a “vav,”] in five places [in Scripture], and [the name] אֵלִיָּהוּ is written defectively [without a “vav,” i.e., אֵלִיָּה also] in five places [in Scripture]. Jacob took a letter [“vav”] from the name of Elijah [the Prophet] as security-that he will come and herald the redemption of his [Jacob’s] children [and since this is Elijah’s mission in life, his name will remain “incomplete,” as it were, until he fulfills it, speedily, in our days. The five instances of the “vav” symbolize the five fingers of the hand; i.e., this security arrangement between Jacob and Elijah was sealed by a handshake (Gur Aryeh)].   וְזָֽכַרְתִּי אֶת־בְּרִיתִי יַֽעֲקוֹב.  בַּחֲמִשָּׁה מְקוֹמוֹת נִכְתַּב מָלֵא, וְאֵלִיָּהוּ חָסֵר בַּחֲמִשָּׁה מְקוֹמוֹת — יַעֲקֹב נָטַל אוֹת מִשְּׁמוֹ שֶׁל אֵלִיָּהוּ עֵרָבוֹן שֶׁיָּבֹא וִיבַשֵּׂר גְּאֻלַּת בָּנָיו:
I will remember My covenant [with] Jacob, and also… Isaac, and also… Abraham]. Why are the forefathers enumerated in reverse order? To inform [you that the youngest patriarch,] Jacob is [alone] worthy of this [i.e., that Israel be redeemed through his merit alone], but if this is not enough, then Isaac is together with him, and if this is not enough, then Abraham is with him, and [Abraham] is certainly worthy. And why is the expression “remembering” not used with Isaac? [Because] Isaac’s ashes (see Rashi on Gen. 22:13; Bereishith Rabbah 56:9; Tanchuma Shelach 14) [always] appear before Me, gathered up and placed upon the altar“ [and therefore, God does not have to ”remember" Isaac, for Isaac is never forgotten]. — [Hagahoth Ubiyurei Hagra on Torath Kohanim]   וְזָֽכַרְתִּי אֶת־בְּרִיתִי יַֽעֲקוֹב.  לָמָּה נִמְנוּ אֲחוֹרַנִּית? כְּלוֹמַר, כְּדַאי הוּא יַעֲקֹב הַקָּטָן לְכָךְ, וְאִם אֵינוֹ כְדַאי, הֲרֵי יִצְחָק עִמּוֹ, וְאִם אֵינוֹ כְדַאי, הֲרֵי אַבְרָהָם עִמּוֹ שֶׁהוּא כְדַאי, וְלָמָּה לֹא נֶאֶמְרָה זְכִירָה בְיִצְחָק? אֶלָּא אֲפָרוֹ שֶׁל יִצְחָק נִרְאֶה לְפָנַי צָבוּר וּמֻנָּח עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ (ספרא):
43[For] the Land will be bereft of them, appeasing its sabbaticals when it had been desolate of them, and they will gain appeasement for their iniquity. This was all in retribution for their having despised My ordinances and in retribution for their having rejected My statutes.   מגוְהָאָ֩רֶץ֩ תֵּֽעָזֵ֨ב מֵהֶ֜ם וְתִ֣רֶץ אֶת־שַׁבְּתֹתֶ֗יהָ בָּהְשַׁמָּה֙ מֵהֶ֔ם וְהֵ֖ם יִרְצ֣וּ אֶת־עֲו‍ֹנָ֑ם יַ֣עַן וּבְיַ֔עַן בְּמִשְׁפָּטַ֣י מָאָ֔סוּ וְאֶת־חֻקֹּתַ֖י גָּֽעֲלָ֥ה נַפְשָֽׁם:
This was all in retribution for. [means:] “In retribution (יַעַן) and in retribution (וּבְיַעַן) [i.e., in retribution] for their having despised My ordinances [and in retribution (וּבְיַעַן) for their having rejected My statutes].”- [Mizrachi]   יַעַן וּבְיַעַן.  גְּמוּל וּבִגְמוּל אֲשֶׁר בְּמִשְׁפָּטַי מָאָסוּ (עי' ספרא):
44But despite all this, while they are in the land of their enemies, I will not despise them nor will I reject them to annihilate them, thereby breaking My covenant that is with them, for I am the Lord their God.   מדוְאַף גַּם־זֹאת בִּֽהְיוֹתָ֞ם בְּאֶ֣רֶץ אֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֗ם לֹֽא־מְאַסְתִּ֤ים וְלֹֽא־גְעַלְתִּים֙ לְכַלֹּתָ֔ם לְהָפֵ֥ר בְּרִיתִ֖י אִתָּ֑ם כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹֽהֵיהֶֽם:
But despite all this. Moreover (אַף), even though (גַּם) I will mete out this (זֹאת) retribution upon them which I have described [for them] when they are in the land of their enemies-nevertheless, I will not despise them… to annihilate them, thereby breaking My covenant that is with them.   וְאַף גַּם־זֹאת.  וְאַף אֲפִלּוּ אֲנִי עוֹשֶׂה עִמָּהֶם זֹאת הַפֻּרְעָנוּת אֲשֶׁר אָמַרְתִּי בהיותם בארץ איביהם, לֹא אֶמְאָסֵם לְכַלֹּתָם וּלְהָפֵר בְּרִיתִי אֲשֶׁר אִתָּם:
45I will remember for them the covenant [made with] the ancestors, whom I took out from the land of Egypt before the eyes of the nations, to be a God to them. I am the Lord.   מהוְזָֽכַרְתִּ֥י לָהֶ֖ם בְּרִ֣ית רִֽאשֹׁנִ֑ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר הוֹצֵֽאתִי־אֹתָם֩ מֵאֶ֨רֶץ מִצְרַ֜יִם לְעֵינֵ֣י הַגּוֹיִ֗ם לִֽהְי֥וֹת לָהֶ֛ם לֵֽאלֹהִ֖ים אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
The covenant [made with] the ancestors. i.e., with the Tribes. — [Torath Kohanim 26:53]   בְּרִית רִֽאשֹׁנִים.  שֶׁל שְׁבָטִים (ספרא):
46These are the statutes, the ordinances, and the laws that the Lord gave between Himself and the children of Israel on Mount Sinai, by the hand of Moses.   מואֵ֠לֶּה הַֽחֻקִּ֣ים וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִים֘ וְהַתּוֹרֹת֒ אֲשֶׁר֙ נָתַ֣ן יְהֹוָ֔ה בֵּינ֕וֹ וּבֵ֖ין בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל בְּהַ֥ר סִינַ֖י בְּיַד־משֶֽׁה:
the laws. וְהַתּוֹרוֹת. [Why the plural form, וְהַתּוֹרוֹת ? This denotes two Torahs -] one Written Torah and one Oral Torah. It teaches us that all were given to Moses on [Mount] Sinai. — [Torath Kohanim 26:54]   וְהַתּוֹרֹת.  אַחַת בִּכְתָב וְאַחַת בְּעַל פֶּה, מַגִּיד שֶׁכֻּלָּם נִתְּנוּ לְמֹשֶׁה בְּסִינַי (שם):