(Devarim 32:6) "Would you thus requite the L-rd?" An analogy: A man was standing and taunting a bliustus (a senator) in the market. The bystanders: You fool, do you stand and taunt a bliustus! What if he wanted to beat you, to tear your garment, to imprison you! Could you do anything about it? If he were a kitron, (of higher station), how much more so! If he were an afarkos, (greater than both), even more so!
Variantly: "Would you thus requite the L-rd?" An analogy: one is standing and taunting his father. A bystander: Who are you taunting? Your father? How much toil did he expend on you! How much strength! If you did not honor him in the past, (at least) you should honor him now, so that he not write over all of his holdings to others! Similarly, Moses said to Israel: If you do not remember the miracles and mighty acts that the L-rd performed for you in Egypt, (at least) be mindful all the good that He is destined to bestow upon you in the world to come (if you heed His word).
"a people ignorant": of the past; "and not wise": to (foresee) the future. Similarly, (Isaiah 1:3) "Israel did not know; My people did not understand": "Israel did not know": of the past; "My people did not understand": to (foresee) the future. Variantly: "a people ignorant and not wise": What caused Israel to be ignorant and foolish? Their not reflecting upon words of Torah. And thus is it written (Iyyov 4:21) "Has not their preeminence fled? They will die for lack of wisdom."
"Is He not your Father, your Owner?" R. Shimon b. Chalafta says: If the weaker (i.e., you) were above and the stronger below, could you defeat him? How much more so that the Stronger is above and the weaker below. And thus is it written (Koheleth 5:1) "Be not rash with your mouth, and let your heart not hasten to utter a thing before G-d. For G-d is in the heavens and you are on earth, etc."
Variantly: "Is He not your Father, your Owner?": Moses said to Israel: You are beloved of Me. You are My acquisition, and not My inheritance. An analogy: A man inherited ten fields from his father, and he arose and acquired one of his own — which he loved more than all the fields that his father bequeathed him. Similarly: A man inherited ten country seats from his father, and he arose and acquired one of his own — which he loved more than all the country seats that his father bequeathed him. Thus, Moses said to Israel: You are beloved of Me. You are My acquisitions, and not My inheritance.
"your Owner (kanecha)": This (Israel) is one of the four that are called acquisitions (kinyan) of the L-rd: Torah, Israel, the Temple, and heaven and earth. Torah — (Proverbs 8:22) "The L-rd acquired me (Torah), the beginning of His way." Israel — "Your Father, your Owner." The Temple — (Psalms 78:54) "this mountain (the Temple mount), which His right hand acquired."
"He made you, and He established you (vayechonanecha)": R. Meir says: (Israel is) a city that has everything: its Cohanim, from its midst; its prophets, from its midst; its scribes, from its midst. And thus is it written (Zechariah 10:4) "from him, the cornerstone; from him, the peg, etc." R. Yehudah says (on "vayechonanecha" above): He made you with apertures (chevayin [as in "vayechonanecha"]). R. Shimon b. Yehudah says (on " vayechonanecha"): He settled you on your foundation: He fed you of the spoils of the seven nations; He gave you what He swore to you; and he caused you to inherit what He promised. R. Dostai b. Yehudah says: He made you with internal chambers ("kinunim, kinunim) in such manner that if one of them rises above the other, you will not be able to stand.
(דברים לב ו) הֲלַה׳ תִּגְמְלוּ זֹאת, מָשְׁלוּ מָשָׁל לְמָה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה, לְאֶחָד שֶׁהָיָה עוֹמֵד וְצוֹהֵב כְּנֶגֶד בּוּלְיוּטוֹס בַּשּׁוּק. אָמְרוּ לוֹ הַשּׁוֹמְעִים: שׁוֹטֶה שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, כְּנֶגֶד בּוּלְיוּטוֹס אַתָּה עוֹמֵד וְצוֹהֵב? מָה אִם רָצָה לְהַכּוֹתְךָ אוֹ לִקְרֹעַ אֶת כְּסוּתְךָ אוֹ לְחָבְשְׁךָ בְּבֵית הָאֲסוּרִים, שֶׁמָּא אַתְּ יָכוֹל לוֹ? אִם הָיָה קַטְרוֹן שֶׁגָּדוֹל מִמֶּנּוּ עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה, אִם הָיָה הַפִּתְקוֹס שֶׁגָּדוֹל מִשְּׁנֵיהֶם עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה.
(Devarim 32:6) "Would you thus requite the L-rd?" An analogy: A man was standing and taunting a bliustus (a senator) in the market. The bystanders: You fool, do you stand and taunt a bliustus! What if he wanted to beat you, to tear your garment, to imprison you! Could you do anything about it? If he were a kitron, (of higher station), how much more so! If he were an afarkos, (greater than both), even more so!
דָּבָר אַחֵר: הֲלַה׳ תִּגְמְלוּ זֹאת, מָשָׁל לְמָה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה? לְאֶחָד שֶׁהָיָה עוֹמֵד וְצוֹהֵב כְּנֶגֶד אָבִיו בַּשּׁוּק. אָמְרוּ לוֹ הַשּׁוֹמְעִים: שׁוֹטֶה שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, כְּנֶגֶד מִי אַתָּה עוֹמֵד וְצוֹהֵב? כְּנֶגֶד אָבִיךָ! שְׁמַע כַּמָּה עָמָל עָמַל בְּךָ וְכַמָּה יְגִיעָה יָגַע בְּךָ! אִם לֹא כִבַּדְתּוֹ לְשֶׁעָבַר, צָרִיךְ אַתָּה לְכַבְּדוֹ עַכְשָׁיו, שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא כוֹתֵב כָּל נְכָסָיו לַאֲחֵרִים. כָּךְ אָמַר לָהֶם מֹשֶׁה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל: אִם אֵי אַתֶּם זְכוּרִים נִסִּים וּגְבוּרוֹת שֶׁעָשָׂה לָכֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּמִצְרַיִם, הִזָּכְרוּ כַּמָּה טוֹבוֹת עָתִיד לִתֵּן לָכֶם לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא.
Variantly: "Would you thus requite the L-rd?" An analogy: one is standing and taunting his father. A bystander: Who are you taunting? Your father? How much toil did he expend on you! How much strength! If you did not honor him in the past, (at least) you should honor him now, so that he not write over all of his holdings to others! Similarly, Moses said to Israel: If you do not remember the miracles and mighty acts that the L-rd performed for you in Egypt, (at least) be mindful all the good that He is destined to bestow upon you in the world to come (if you heed His word).
עַם נָבָל וְלֹא חָכָם, נָבָל לְשֶׁעָבַר. וְלֹא חָכָם, לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא. כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ (ישעיה א ג): ״יִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא יָדַע״ לְשֶׁעָבַר, ״עַמִּי לֹא הִתְבּוֹנָן״ לֶעָתִיד, וּמִי גָּרַם לְיִשְׂרָאֵל לִהְיוֹת מְנֻבָּלִים וּמְטֻפָּשִׁים? שֶׁלֹּא הֻחְכְּמוּ בְּדִבְרֵי תוֹרָה, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (איוב ד כא): ״הֲלֹא נִסַּע יִתְרָם בָּם, יָמוּתוּ וְלֹא בְחָכְמָה״.
"a people ignorant": of the past; "and not wise": to (foresee) the future. Similarly, (Isaiah 1:3) "Israel did not know; My people did not understand": "Israel did not know": of the past; "My people did not understand": to (foresee) the future. Variantly: "a people ignorant and not wise": What caused Israel to be ignorant and foolish? Their not reflecting upon words of Torah. And thus is it written (Iyyov 4:21) "Has not their preeminence fled? They will die for lack of wisdom."
הֲלֹא הוּא אָבִיךָ קָּנֶךָ, שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן חֲלַפְתָּא אוֹמֵר: שֶׁאִם הָיָה חַלָּשׁ מִלְּמַעְלָה וְגִבּוֹר מִלְּמַטָּה, מִי נוֹצֵחַ? שֶׁמָּא אַתָּה יָכוֹל לוֹ? וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן שֶׁהַגִּבּוֹר מִלְּמַעְלָה וְהַחַלָּשׁ מִלְּמַטָּה. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (קהלת ה א): ״אַל תְּבַהֵל עַל פִּיךָ וְלִבְּךָ אַל יְמַהֵר לְהוֹצִיא דָבָר לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים כִּי הָאֱלֹהִים בַּשָּׁמַיִם וְאַתָּה עַל הָאָרֶץ״.
"Is He not your Father, your Owner?" R. Shimon b. Chalafta says: If the weaker (i.e., you) were above and the stronger below, could you defeat him? How much more so that the Stronger is above and the weaker below. And thus is it written (Koheleth 5:1) "Be not rash with your mouth, and let your heart not hasten to utter a thing before G-d. For G-d is in the heavens and you are on earth, etc."
הֲלֹא הוּא אָבִיךָ קָּנֶךָ, אָמַר לָהֶם מֹשֶׁה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל: חֲבִיבִים אַתֶּם לוֹ, קִנְיָן אַתֶּם לוֹ, וְאֵי אַתֶּם יְרוּשָּׁה לוֹ. מָשָׁל לְאֶחָד שֶׁהוֹרִישׁוֹ אָבִיו עֶשֶׂר שָׂדוֹת, וְעָמַד וְקָנָה שָׂדֶה אַחַת מִשֶּׁלּוֹ, וְהָיָה אוֹהֵב אוֹתָהּ מִכָּל שָׂדוֹת שֶׁהוֹרִישׁוֹ אָבִיו. וְכֵן מִי שֶׁהוֹרִישׁוֹ אָבִיו עֶשֶׂר פַּלְטֵרְיָאוֹת וְעָמַד וְקָנָה פַּלְטֵרְיָא אַחַת מִשֶּׁלּוֹ, וְאוֹתָהּ הָיָה אוֹהֵב מִכָּל פַּלְטֵרְיָאוֹת שֶׁהִנְחִילוֹ אָבִיו. כָּךְ אָמַר לָהֶם מֹשֶׁה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל: חֲבִיבִים אַתֶּם לוֹ, קִנְיָן אַתֶּם לוֹ, וְאֵי אַתֶּם יְרוּשָּׁה לוֹ.
Variantly: "Is He not your Father, your Owner?": Moses said to Israel: You are beloved of Me. You are My acquisition, and not My inheritance. An analogy: A man inherited ten fields from his father, and he arose and acquired one of his own — which he loved more than all the fields that his father bequeathed him. Similarly: A man inherited ten country seats from his father, and he arose and acquired one of his own — which he loved more than all the country seats that his father bequeathed him. Thus, Moses said to Israel: You are beloved of Me. You are My acquisitions, and not My inheritance.
קָנֶךָ, זֶה אֶחָד מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה שֶׁנִּקְרְאוּ קִנְיָן לַמָּקוֹם: תּוֹרָה נִקְרֵאת קִנְיָן לַמָּקוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי ח כב): ״ה׳ קָנָנִי רֵאשִׁית דַּרְכּוֹ״. יִשְׂרָאֵל נִקְרְאוּ קִנְיָן לַמָּקוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: הֲלֹא הוּא אָבִיךָ קָנֶךָ. בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ נִקְרָא קִנְיָן לַמָּקוֹם, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (תהלים עח נד): ״הַר זֶה קָנְתָה יְמִינוֹ״.
"your Owner (kanecha)": This (Israel) is one of the four that are called acquisitions (kinyan) of the L-rd: Torah, Israel, the Temple, and heaven and earth. Torah — (Proverbs 8:22) "The L-rd acquired me (Torah), the beginning of His way." Israel — "Your Father, your Owner." The Temple — (Psalms 78:54) "this mountain (the Temple mount), which His right hand acquired."
הוּא עָשְׂךָ וַיְכֹנְנֶךָ, הָיָה רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר: כְּרַכָּא דְּכוֹלָּא בֵּיהּ: כֹּהֲנִים מִתּוֹכוֹ, נְבִיאִים מִתּוֹכוֹ, חֲכָמִים מִתּוֹכוֹ, סוֹפְרִים מִתּוֹכוֹ, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (זכריה י ד): ״מִמֶּנּוּ פִנָּה מִמֶּנּוּ יָתֵד״. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: עָשְׂךָ כַּוִּין כַּוִּין. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: הוֹשִׁיבְךָ עַל בְּסִיסְךָ, הִלְעִיטְךָ בִּזַּת שִׁבְעָה עֲמָמִים, וְנָתַן לְךָ מַה שֶּׁנִּשְׁבַּע לְךָ, וְהוֹרִישְׁךָ מַה שֶּׁהִבְטִיחֲךָ. רַבִּי דּוֹסְתַּאי בֶּן יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: עָשְׂךָ כִּנּוּנִים כִּנּוּנִים מִבִּפְנִים, שֶׁאִם תַּעֲלֶה אַחַת מֵהֶם עַל גַּבֵּי חֲבֵרְתָּהּ אִי אַתָּה יָכוֹל לַעֲמֹד.
"He made you, and He established you (vayechonanecha)": R. Meir says: (Israel is) a city that has everything: its Cohanim, from its midst; its prophets, from its midst; its scribes, from its midst. And thus is it written (Zechariah 10:4) "from him, the cornerstone; from him, the peg, etc." R. Yehudah says (on "vayechonanecha" above): He made you with apertures (chevayin [as in "vayechonanecha"]). R. Shimon b. Yehudah says (on " vayechonanecha"): He settled you on your foundation: He fed you of the spoils of the seven nations; He gave you what He swore to you; and he caused you to inherit what He promised. R. Dostai b. Yehudah says: He made you with internal chambers ("kinunim, kinunim) in such manner that if one of them rises above the other, you will not be able to stand.