Time to Seek, Time to Keep
Commentary on the Torah and Koheles
by
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DEVARIM1
Review Vayikra says the nation will transgress and not observe shmittah. They will be exiled from the land until the shmittah years are repaid and they repent their sins. (Vayikra 26.34-35) In the last five weeks of his life, Moshe gave discourses to strengthen Yisrael to follow Hashem and observe the Torah so they would keep the land. (A) A brief summary of their travels. “In the Arabah, over against Suf, between Paran and Tophel, and Lavan and Hazeroth, and Di Zahab.” (Devarim 1.1) “In the Arabah over against Suf” is their current location near the Jordan River. “Paran” was where the spies went out to explore the land. (Bamidbar 12.16; 13.1-2) “Tophel” has the same root as contempt. (Rashi ibid) This was the first stop after they left Har Sinai, where they complained the journey was too hard. (Bamidbar 11.1) “Lavan” means white and refers to the second stop where Miriam was struck with tzaraas, which caused the skin to be white. (Bamidbar 12.10)
“Hazeroth” was the third stop after Miriam returned to the camp. (Bamidbar 12.16) “Di Zahab” refers to the gold taken after Sihon, Og and the Midianites were defeated. (Bamidbar 32.51) “It is eleven days from Horev by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea.” (Devarim 1.2) This tells how long the journey should take. “And it was in the fortieth year in the eleventh month.” (Devarim 1.3) This tells when the discources began. “To explain this law.” (Devarim 1.5) Rashi says he explained it in seventy languages. (ibid) Since they are destined to lose the land, perhaps this indicates the Torah can be learned in any language. Their inability to understand Hebrew should not stop them from learning Torah and returning to Hashem.
(B) The land was promised to the forefathers. “Go in and possess the land which Hashem swore to your fathers,
to Avraham, to Yitzchak, to Yaakov.” (Devarim 1.8) The Torah wrote fathers and their names. This indicates they were the disciples of Hashem. The 1 For the first four books, a word or phrase is the source to explain an idea. For Devarim, each parsha is the source to explain an idea that encompasses the entire book. For Koheles also, each chapter is the sourse to explain an idea that encompasses the entire book. 160 Devarim Torah should be taught diligently to your children. (Devarim 6.7) Disciples are called children. (Rashi ibid) The nation is inheriting the land because their forefathers were disciples of Hashem. Yisrael are the children (disciples) of their forefathers and should also follow Hashem. The land will be kept as long as this is done. “As the stars of heaven for multitude.” (Devarim 1.10) Moshe compared Yisrael to the stars while Yaakov compared them to the sand of the sea. (Beresheis 32.13) Perhaps Yaakov compared them to sand which is pure but far from Hashem, since they were going down to Mitzrim. Perhaps Moshe compared them to stars, which are pure and close to Hashem, since they received the Torah and built the Mishkan. (C) A court system was established to govern the land. Current legal system doesn’t work. “How can I alone bear your troublemaking, your burden and your strife?” (Devarim 1.12) The day after
Moshe brought down the second luchos, he sat as judge for the people. (Shmos 18.13) The litigants were constantly fighting each other. If one saw his opponent winning he would say I have witnesses and proofs to bring. (Rashi Devarim 1.12) Moshe realized it was too difficult for one person to judge the nation. (Devarim 1.9)
New legal system suggested. Yisro suggested judges should be appointed. They should be “able, g-d fearing men, who are truthful and hate unjust gain.” (Shmos 18.21) Moshe passed this to the tribes and changed
their qualifications to “wise men, known to the tribes and acceptable as leaders.” (Devarim 1.13) New legal system accepted. The idea was acceptable and the tribes agreed to the plan. (Devarim 1.14) Moshe then appointed the men the tribes recommended. (Devarim 1.15) He gave them instructions: “don’t respect the litigants, treat them equally and don’t be afraid of anyone for the judgment is Hashem.” (Devarim 1.17) “And the cause that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me.” (Devarim 1.17) Rashi says Moshe was punished for saying this and forgot the answer to the question the daughters of Zelophehad asked. Rashi ibid) It seems Moshe passed several questions to Hashem for answers. He asked on behalf of the men who couldn’t bring the Korban Pesach. (Bamidbar 9.8) He asked on behalf of people bitten by the fiery serpents. (Bamidbar 21.7-8) He asked to pick a leader to succeed him. (Bamidbar 27.16-17) (D) Wandering in the wilderness.
The wandering began with the spies. “They arrived at Kadesh Barnea.” (Devarim 1.19) Moshe told them to take the land Hashem promised the nation. Instead, the people wanted to send spies to scout the land. (Devarim 1.22) Twelve princes were chosen, one from each tribe.
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About the Book
Twenty years ago I asked a simple question which became the foundation to this book. What makah coincided with Rosh Hashanah when Yisrael was exempt from doing slave labor? That question took over two years to answer and was the first of many that followed. The search for answers that touched all facets of the question taught me to think creatively and find solutions by combining commentaries from the sages into concepts that go beyond what one person said. My experience as an accountant for an international real estate company gave me the tools to see problems often had multiple facets and solutions involved linking diverse concepts together into one comprehensive idea that needed to be presented clearly and concisely.
This book gives an understanding to the Torah from a new perspective. Some commentaries are simple while others are linked to other parshas and sefers. I have endeavored to write all the commentaries concisely so the reader won’t be confused. This book was written because as Kli Yakar says, these ideas are too precious to lose. Time to Seek, Time to Keep will broaden your understanding of the Torah and introduce you to new ideas to ponder and consider.