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Share(א) הספר הזה ענינו ידוע שהוא משנה תורה יבאר בו משה רבנו לדור הנכנס בארץ רוב מצות התורה הצריכות לישראל ולא יזכיר בו דבר בתורת כהנים ולא במעשה הקרבנות ולא בטהרת כהנים ובמעשיהם שכבר ביאר אותם להם. והכהנים זריזים הם לא יצטרכו לאזהרה אחר אזהרה אבל בישראל יחזיר המצות הנוהגות בהם פעם להוסיף בהם ביאור ופעם שלא יחזיר אותם רק להזהיר את ישראל ברוב אזהרות כמו שיבאו בספר הזה בעניני עבודת גלולים אזהרות מרובות זו אחר זו בתוכחות וקול פחדים אשר יפחיד אותם בכל ענשי העבירות. ועוד יוסיף בספר הזה כמה מצות שלא נזכרו כלל כגון היבום ודין המוציא שם רע והגרושין באשה ועדים זוממין וזולתו. וכבר נאמרו לו כולן בסיני או באוהל מועד בשנה הראשונה קודם המרגלים כי בערבות מואב לא נתחדשו לו אלא דברי הברית כאשר נתפרש בו. ועל כן לא נאמר בספר הזה וידבר ה' אל משה לאמר צו את בני ישראל או דבר אל בני ישראל ואמרת אליהם מצוה פלונית. אבל לא נכתבו המצות בספרים הראשונים שידבר עם יוצאי מצרים כי אולי לא נהגו באותן המצות רק בארץ אע"פ שהן חובת הגוף. כאשר בא בענין הנסכים או מפני שאינן תדירות לא הזכיר רק בבנים נוחלי הארץ.
(1) ‘EILEH HADEVARIM’1These are the ‘words’ — The fifth book of the Torah thus received its title — Devarim — from the second Hebrew word of the book. The English title Deuteronomy, meaning a restatement of the law, is derived from the Septuagint — the first Greek translation of the Bible — which gave it that name because a major part of the book is devoted to such a restatement. (THESE ARE THE WORDS). This book is known to constitute a review of the Torah, in which Moses our teacher explains to the generation entering the Land most of the commandments of the Torah that pertain to Israelites [as distinguished from the priests]. He does not mention anything relative to the law of the priests, neither about their performance of the offerings nor the ritual purity of the priests and their functions [in the Sanctuary], having already explained these matters to them. The priests, being diligent in their duties,2Shabbath 20a. People who are known for having the quality of diligence in their work need not be reminded of the duties incumbent on them. do not require repeated admonitions. The Israelites, [i.e., the non-priests], however, are admonished time and again about the commandments that apply to them, sometimes to add further clarification and sometimes only to caution the Israelites with multiple warnings. Thus there are in this book many admonitions regarding idolatry that follow one after another, as well as chastisements and a sound of terrors3Job 15:21. Reference is obviously to the words of tochachah (reproof, or threat of punishment) mentioned further, 28:15-68. casting upon them the fear of all the punishments for the transgressions. Additionally, he proclaims commandments which have not been [previously] mentioned at all, such as the levirate marriage,4I.e., the duty to marry the widow of a brother who died without issue (further, 25:5-6). the law concerning the defamation of a virgin bride,5Further, 22:13-19. the divorcing of a wife,6Ibid., 24:1-3. [the punishment of] plotting witnesses,7Ibid., 19:16-20. and others besides. Now all these laws had in fact been declared to Moses, either on Sinai or in the Tent of Meeting within the first year8In the Tur: “In the second year,” i.e., from the exodus. Both versions are, strictly speaking, correct. It was the year of the erection of the Tabernacle, and the “second” from the exodus. See also Leviticus 7:38, (Vol. III, pp. 90-91), where Ramban discusses the problem as to where all of the commandments were declared to Moses. [of the erection of the Tabernacle] before the affair of the spies. Nothing new was revealed to Moses in the plains of Moab [where he held this review of the Torah] except the words of the covenant, as is expressly stated there.9Further, 28:69: These are ‘the words of the covenant’ which the Eternal commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab … In other words, only the words of the covenant were newly declared by the Eternal to Moses in the plains of Moab. All the commandments, however, had previously been declared on Sinai or in the Tabernacle. It is for this reason that this book does not contain such statements as “And G-d spoke to Moses, saying:Command the children of Israel,” or “Speak to the children of Israel and say to them the following commandment” [since no new commandments were given in this book; they had all been previously declared to Moses either on Mount Sinai or in the Tent of Meeting]. These commandments, however, were not written in the preceding books wherein He speaks to those that came forth from Egypt. Perhaps this was because these commandments were obligatory only in the Land even though they affect personal conduct [and do not depend on the Land] such as Scripture mentions with reference to the drink-offerings;10Numbers 15:2. The law of drink-offering is not connected with the soil, yet it was enjoined only when ye are come into the Land of your habitations. or it may be that because these were not of common occurrence, he mentioned them only to the generation, the inheritors of the Land.
(א) אֵ֣ת כׇּל־הַדָּבָ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֤ר אָנֹכִי֙ מְצַוֶּ֣ה אֶתְכֶ֔ם אֹת֥וֹ תִשְׁמְר֖וּ לַעֲשׂ֑וֹת לֹא־תֹסֵ֣ף עָלָ֔יו וְלֹ֥א תִגְרַ֖ע מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ {פ}
(1) *This verse constitutes 12.32 in some editions, so that chapter 13 starts with the next verse. Be careful to observe only that which I enjoin upon you: neither add to it nor take away from it.
(א) כי גם את בניהם ואת בנותיהם ישרפו באש לאלהיהם שהוא דבר מתועב לפני השם לשפוך דם נקי ואף כי להיות אכזרי על פרי בטן לא ירחמו ועל כן אמר (דברים י״ג:א׳) את כל הדבר אשר אנכי מצוה אתכם וגו' להזהיר על מעשה הקרבנות ועבודת המקדש שלא תוסיף עליו ולא תגרע ממנו וזה ענין הפרשה הזאת באמת
(1) TAKE HEED TO THYSELF THAT THOU BE NOT ENSNARED TO FOLLOW THEM, AFTER THEY ARE DESTROYED FROM BEFORE THEE. For even their sons and their daughters do they burn in the fire to their gods,94Verse 31. it being an abominable thing before G-d to shed innocent blood,99Isaiah 59:7. and all the more to be cruel and have no pity on the fruit of the womb.100Ibid., 13:18. [Hence any form of service instituted by people capable of such cruelty is considered an abomination by G-d and no ceremony of theirs is to be adopted by us.] Therefore, he stated All this word which I command you, that shall ye observe to do,101Further, 13:1. the reference being to the performance of the offerings and the Service in the Sanctuary that thou art not to add thereto, nor diminish from it.101Further, 13:1. This is in truth the purport of this section.
(א) את כל הדבר. קַלָּה כַּחֲמוּרָה (שם):
(1) את כל הדבר EVERYTHING [I COMMAND YOU] — light precepts as well as grave ones (Sifrei Devarim 82:1),
(ב) תשמרו לעשות. לִתֵּן לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה עַל עֲשֵׂה הָאֲמוּרִים בַּפָּרָשָׁה, שֶׁכָּל הִשָּׁמֶר לְשׁוֹן לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה הוּא, אֶלָּא שֶׁאֵין לוֹקִין עַל הִשָּׁמֶר שֶׁל עֲשֵׂה (מכות י"ג):
(2) תשמרו לעשות OBSERVE TO DO — This statement is intended to attach also a prohibition (לאו) to the positive commands mentioned in this section (Sifrei Devarim 82:2), for wherever השמר is used it is a term that implies a prohibition, but the difference between this and an ordinary prohibition is that flagellation is not inflicted for infringing a prohibition resulting from the use of the term השמר in connection with a positive command.
(ג) לא תסף עליו. חֲמִשָּׁה טֹטָפוֹת, חֲמִשָּׁה מִינִין בַּלּוּלָב, אַרְבַּע בְּרָכוֹת לְבִרְכַּת כֹּהֲנִים (ספרי):
(3) לא תסף עליו THOU SHALT NOT ADD THERETO — as, for instance, to place five chapters in the Tephillin, to employ five species of fruit and plants in the fulfilment of the command of Lulab, to recite four instead of three blessings in the Benedictions of the priests (Sifrei Devarim 82:4; cf. Rashi on Deuteronomy 4:2).
(ב) לֹ֣א תֹסִ֗פוּ עַל־הַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אָנֹכִי֙ מְצַוֶּ֣ה אֶתְכֶ֔ם וְלֹ֥א תִגְרְע֖וּ מִמֶּ֑נּוּ לִשְׁמֹ֗ר אֶת־מִצְוֺת֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶֽם׃
(2) You shall not add anything to what I command you or take anything away from it, but keep the commandments of your God יהוה that I enjoin upon you.
(א) לא תספו. כְּגוֹן חָמֵשׁ פָּרָשִׁיּוֹת בַּתְּפִלִּין, חֲמֵשֶׁת מִינִין בַּלּוּלָב, וְחָמֵשׁ צִיצִיּוֹת, וְכֵן "לֹא תִגְרְעוּ" (ע' ספרי פ' ראה):
(1) לא תספו YE SHALL NOT ADD — For instance, to place five chapters in the Tephillin, to employ five species of fruit and plants in the fulfilment of the command of Lulab And to place five fringes on one’s garment. Thus, too, must we explain the following words ולא תגרעו, Ye shall not diminish [from it]" (Sifrei Devarim 82:4).
(א) לא תוסיפו כגון חמש פרשיות בתפילין חמשה מינין בלולב חמש ציציות וכן לא תגרעו לשון רש"י (רש"י על דברים ד׳:ב׳) וכך אמרו בספרי (ראה) מנין שלא תוסיף על הלולב ועל הציצית ת"ל לא תוסיפו ומנין שאין פוחתים מהן ת"ל לא תגרעו מנין שאם פתח לברך ברכת כהנים לא יאמר הואיל ופתחתי לברך אומר ה' אלהי אבותיכם יוסף עליכם ת"ל הדבר אפילו דבר לא תוסף עליו אבל לא באלה בלבד אמרו אלא אף הישן בסוכה בשמיני בכונה לוקה כמו שמוזכר במסכת ראש השנה (ראש השנה כ״ח) וכן אם יעשה החג ששה עובר בלאו הזה ולפי דעתי אפילו בדא לעשות מצוה בפני עצמה כגון שעשה חג בחדש שבדא מלבו כירבעם (מלכים א יב לג) עובר בלאו וכך אמרו (מגילה יד) לענין מקרא מגלה מאה ושמונים נביאים עמדו להם לישראל ולא פחתו ולא הוסיפו על מה שכתוב בתורה אפילו אות אחת חוץ ממקרא מגילה מאי דרוש וכו' ובירושלמי (מגילה פ"א ה"ז) שמונים וחמשה זקנים ומהם כמה נביאים היו מצטערים על הדבר אמרו כתוב אלה המצות אשר צוה ה' את משה אלו המצות שנצטוו מפי משה כך אמר לנו משה ואין נביא אחר עתיד לחדש דבר לכם ומרדכי ואסתר רוצים לחדש לנו דבר לא זזו משם נושאין ונותנין בדבר עד שהאיר הקב"ה עיניהם וכו' הרי שהיתה המצוה הזו אסורה להם א"כ היא בכלל לא תוסיף עליו אלא שלא למדנו למוסיף על פי נביא אלא מן הכתוב שאמר אלה המצות אין נביא רשאי לחדש בו דבר מעתה ומה שתקנו חכמים משום גדר כגון שניות לעריות וכיוצא בהן זו היא מצוה מן התורה ובלבד שידע שהם משום הגדר הזה ואינן מפי הקב"ה בתורה:
(1) YE SHALL NOT ADD [UNTO THE WORD WHICH I COMMAND YOU] — “such as placing five sections [of the Torah] in the phylacteries, five species in a lulav,22The four species in the commandment of the lulav are: the palm-branch, the ethrog, the myrtle and the willows. — For phylacteries See Vol. II, p. 168, Note 406. five fringes [in a garment].23Further 22:12. The same principle applies to the prohibition, neither shall ye diminish from it” [by placing three sections of the Torah in the phylacteries etc.]. This is Rashi’s language. And thus the Rabbis said in the Sifre:24Sifre, R’eih 82. “Whence do we know that you are not to add to [the four species in the commandment of] the lulav,22The four species in the commandment of the lulav are: the palm-branch, the ethrog, the myrtle and the willows. — For phylacteries See Vol. II, p. 168, Note 406. nor to the [four] fringes?23Further 22:12. Scripture therefore says, Ye shall not add. And whence do we know that you are not to diminish from them? Because Scripture states, neither shall ye diminish. Whence do we know that if [a priest] began to recite the Priestly Blessing25Numbers 6:24-26. he is not to say: ‘Since I began to bless [the people], I will [further] say, The Eternal, the G-d of your fathers, make you a thousand times so many more as ye are?’26Above, 1:11. Because Scripture states, [Ye shall not add] unto the ‘word’ — even ‘a word’ you are not to add to it.” However, not only concerning these [commandments] have the Rabbis said [that the prohibitions neither to add nor to diminish, apply], but also in the case of someone who sleeps in a Booth on the eighth Day [of the Festival of Tabernacles]27Leviticus 23:42: Ye shall dwell in Booths ‘seven’ days. Thus the Torah specifically states that the commandment to dwell in Booths applies to seven days only, and not to the eighth Day, which is a separate festival (Shemini Atzereth). Sleeping is part of the commandment “to dwell” in a Booth. [However, because of the general rule that he who feels uncomfortable is exempt from sitting in a Booth, sleeping there, in the colder climates in which we live, is practiced only by those who are very strict in religious observance (Orach Chayim 639:2, R’ma).] with the intent [of performing a religious duty] that he is liable to whipping [for having added to the commandment], as is mentioned in Tractate Rosh Hashanah.28Rosh Hashanah 28 b. So also if he were to observe the Festival of Tabernacles for only six days, he would be transgressing this negative commandment [neither shall ye diminish from it].
In my opinion, even if someone devised an independent commandment [rather than altering an existing one] such as establishing a festival in a month which he had devised of his own accord,29I Kings 12:33. as Jeroboam did,29I Kings 12:33. he transgresses the negative commandment [Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you]. And so did the Rabbis say with reference to the reading of the Scroll of Esther [on Purim]:30Megillah 14 a. “One hundred and eighty prophets31In our text of the Talmud: “Forty-eight prophets.” See my Hebrew commentary, page 360. arose in Israel and they did not diminish from nor add even one letter to what was written in the Torah, except for reading the Scroll of Esther [which was instituted by the prophets]. What basis did they have for that? etc.”32“Rabbi Chiya bar Abbin in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korcha said: It is a matter of kal vachomer (reasoning from minor to major): If [when Israel was delivered] from slavery to freedom they sang [in praise of G-d], how much more ought they to do so when they were saved from death [that was decreed upon Israel through the plot of Haman] to life!” (Megillah 14 b). The reading of the Scroll of Esther constitutes the praise to G-d for our deliverance (ibid.). And in the Yerushalmi it is stated:33Yerushalmi Megillah I, 7. On the term “Yerushalmi” see Vol. III, p. 192, Note 44. “Eighty-five elders, among them many prophets, were troubled about the matter [of the new duty to read the Scroll of Esther]. They said, ‘It is written, These are the commandments which the Eternal commanded Moses.34Leviticus 27:34. These are the commandments that [we] were ordered by the mouth of Moses, and Moses told us that no other prophet is destined to establish anything new for you — and Mordecai and Esther want to establish something new for us!’ They did not move from there while discussing the matter, until the Holy One, blessed be He, enlightened their eyes [and they found the new commandment intimated in the Torah, Prophets, and Writings].” Thus you see that [the institution of] this commandment [of reading the Scroll of Esther on Purim] would have been forbidden to them [were it not for the fact that ultimately they found it intimated in the Torah, etc.]; otherwise it would have been included in the principle, thou shalt not add thereto.35Further, 13:1. — It should be noted that at this point Ramban cites the later verse (13:1) instead of the verse here. The reason would seem to be that the verse here relates to adding to, or diminishing from, a Divine commandment, such as placing five sections of the Torah, or only three, in the phylacteries instead of the four sections ordained. The verse of 13:1, however, refers to adding a completely new commandment to the number of Taryag (613) Commandments, or of abolishing altogether one of the Divine precepts. In speaking, therefore, of the prophetic precept of reading the Scroll of Esther on Purim, Ramban thus rightly cites the verse from further on (13:1), for were it not that the prophets and Sages of that time found it intimated in the Torah, the prohibition against instituting such a new commandment would have come under the admonition, thou shalt not add thereto. However, the prohibition against adding [to the Torah] by word of a prophet we derive only from the verse stating, These are the commandments,34Leviticus 27:34. which establishes,36Torath Kohanim, at end of Bechukothai. “From now on, no prophet is permitted to originate anything [in the Torah].” Whatever [laws] the Sages have established in the nature of “a fence [around the Torah],” such as the secondary degrees of forbidden marriages37Yebamoth 21a-b. — that activity of [establishing fences] is itself a requirement of the Torah, provided only that one realizes that these [laws] are a result of a particular fence and that they are not [expressly] from the mouth of the Holy One, blessed be He, in the Torah.38In other words, the duty devolving upon the Sages to establish “fences” [i.e., safeguards against trespassing the law of the Torah] is specifically stated in the Torah, but the precise terms of these “fences” are not written. — The duty of establishing such preventive Rabbinical laws is based on the verse, ushmartem eth mishmarti (and ye shall keep My charge — Leviticus 18:30), tradition interpreting this to mean: “Make a mishmereth (a protection, a fence as a safeguard) l’mishmarti (for My commandment)” (Yebamoth 21 b).
In my opinion, even if someone devised an independent commandment [rather than altering an existing one] such as establishing a festival in a month which he had devised of his own accord,29I Kings 12:33. as Jeroboam did,29I Kings 12:33. he transgresses the negative commandment [Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you]. And so did the Rabbis say with reference to the reading of the Scroll of Esther [on Purim]:30Megillah 14 a. “One hundred and eighty prophets31In our text of the Talmud: “Forty-eight prophets.” See my Hebrew commentary, page 360. arose in Israel and they did not diminish from nor add even one letter to what was written in the Torah, except for reading the Scroll of Esther [which was instituted by the prophets]. What basis did they have for that? etc.”32“Rabbi Chiya bar Abbin in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korcha said: It is a matter of kal vachomer (reasoning from minor to major): If [when Israel was delivered] from slavery to freedom they sang [in praise of G-d], how much more ought they to do so when they were saved from death [that was decreed upon Israel through the plot of Haman] to life!” (Megillah 14 b). The reading of the Scroll of Esther constitutes the praise to G-d for our deliverance (ibid.). And in the Yerushalmi it is stated:33Yerushalmi Megillah I, 7. On the term “Yerushalmi” see Vol. III, p. 192, Note 44. “Eighty-five elders, among them many prophets, were troubled about the matter [of the new duty to read the Scroll of Esther]. They said, ‘It is written, These are the commandments which the Eternal commanded Moses.34Leviticus 27:34. These are the commandments that [we] were ordered by the mouth of Moses, and Moses told us that no other prophet is destined to establish anything new for you — and Mordecai and Esther want to establish something new for us!’ They did not move from there while discussing the matter, until the Holy One, blessed be He, enlightened their eyes [and they found the new commandment intimated in the Torah, Prophets, and Writings].” Thus you see that [the institution of] this commandment [of reading the Scroll of Esther on Purim] would have been forbidden to them [were it not for the fact that ultimately they found it intimated in the Torah, etc.]; otherwise it would have been included in the principle, thou shalt not add thereto.35Further, 13:1. — It should be noted that at this point Ramban cites the later verse (13:1) instead of the verse here. The reason would seem to be that the verse here relates to adding to, or diminishing from, a Divine commandment, such as placing five sections of the Torah, or only three, in the phylacteries instead of the four sections ordained. The verse of 13:1, however, refers to adding a completely new commandment to the number of Taryag (613) Commandments, or of abolishing altogether one of the Divine precepts. In speaking, therefore, of the prophetic precept of reading the Scroll of Esther on Purim, Ramban thus rightly cites the verse from further on (13:1), for were it not that the prophets and Sages of that time found it intimated in the Torah, the prohibition against instituting such a new commandment would have come under the admonition, thou shalt not add thereto. However, the prohibition against adding [to the Torah] by word of a prophet we derive only from the verse stating, These are the commandments,34Leviticus 27:34. which establishes,36Torath Kohanim, at end of Bechukothai. “From now on, no prophet is permitted to originate anything [in the Torah].” Whatever [laws] the Sages have established in the nature of “a fence [around the Torah],” such as the secondary degrees of forbidden marriages37Yebamoth 21a-b. — that activity of [establishing fences] is itself a requirement of the Torah, provided only that one realizes that these [laws] are a result of a particular fence and that they are not [expressly] from the mouth of the Holy One, blessed be He, in the Torah.38In other words, the duty devolving upon the Sages to establish “fences” [i.e., safeguards against trespassing the law of the Torah] is specifically stated in the Torah, but the precise terms of these “fences” are not written. — The duty of establishing such preventive Rabbinical laws is based on the verse, ushmartem eth mishmarti (and ye shall keep My charge — Leviticus 18:30), tradition interpreting this to mean: “Make a mishmereth (a protection, a fence as a safeguard) l’mishmarti (for My commandment)” (Yebamoth 21 b).
(י) וְאָכַלְתָּ֖ וְשָׂבָ֑עְתָּ וּבֵֽרַכְתָּ֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ עַל־הָאָ֥רֶץ הַטֹּבָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָֽתַן־לָֽךְ׃
(10) When you have eaten your fill, give thanks to your God יהוה for the good land given to you.
(א) ואמר ואכלת ושבעת וברכת כי תזכור עבודת מצרים וענוי המדבר וכאשר תאכל ותשבע בארץ הטובה תברך עליה את השם ורבותינו (ברכות מח) קבלו שזו מצות עשה וטעמו ותברך את ה' אלהיך וכן ועשית מעקה לגגך (דברים כ״ב:ח׳) וכן ועשית פסח לה' אלהיך (דברים ט״ז:א׳) ולקחת מראשית כל פרי האדמה (דברים כ״ו:ב׳) ורבים כן וטעם על הארץ הטובה כמו ועל הארץ הטובה יצוה שתברכהו בכל עת שתשבע על השובע ועל הארץ שנתן לך שינחילנה לך לעולמים ותשבע מטובה והנה חיוב המצוה הזאת בכל מקום:
(1) AND THOU SHALT EAT AND BE SATISFIED, AND BLESS THE ETERNAL THY G-D FOR THE GOOD LAND. He is stating that when you remember the bondage in Egypt and the affliction in the wilderness, and you will eat and be satisfied in the good Land, you will bless G-d for it. And our Rabbis have received by tradition that this is a positive commandment,90Berachoth 21a. See “The Commandments,” Vol. I, pp. 26-27. its meaning thus being, “and you shall bless the Eternal your G-d.” Similarly, then thou shalt make a parapet for thy roof;91Further, 22:8. and thou shalt keep the Passover;92Ibid., 16:1. and thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the ground,93Ibid., 26:2. and so also many similar verses [which appear to be mere optional, but are, nevertheless, interpreted as positive commandments]. The meaning of the expression for the good Land is “and for the good Land;” that is, He commands that you are to bless Him at all times for the food you eat to satisfaction, and for the Land that He gave you in order that you might have it forever as an inheritance and be satisfied with its goodness. Thus the obligatory nature of this commandment is in all places [i.e., even outside of the Land of Israel, since the commandment to bless Him for the food we eat is independent of the duty to bless Him for the Land He has given us].