(Devarim 32:15) "And Yeshurun grew fat and it kicked": Satiety breeds rebellion. And thus we find with the men of the generation of the flood — that they rebelled against the L-rd only from (a superabundance of) food and drink and tranquility. What is written of them? (Iyyov 21:9) "Their houses are at peace, without fear. The rod of G-d is not upon them." (see #43 above). And thus we find with the men of the generation of the desert, that they rebelled against the L-rd only from (a superabundance of) food and drink, viz. (Shemoth 32:6) "and the people sat down to eat and drink." What follows? (Ibid. 8) "They have turned quickly from the way that I have commanded them, etc." The Holy One Blessed be He said to Moses: When Israel enters the land, they are destined to rebel from (a superabundance of) food and drink and tranquility, (viz. Devarim 31:20) "For I shall bring them to the land that I have sworn to their fathers, flowing milk and honey, and they shall eat and be sated and grow fat, and they shall turn to other gods, etc." Moses said to Israel: When you enter the land, see to it that you do not rebel against the L-rd through eating, drinking, and tranquility, viz. (Ibid. 8:12-13) "Lest you eat and be sated … and your herds and your flocks increase, etc." What follows? (Ibid. 14) "and your heart be lifted and you forget the L-rd your G-d."
And thus do we find with the sons and daughters of Iyyov, that they were punished only through eating, drinking, and tranquility, viz. (Iyyov 1:18-19) "This one was still speaking when another came and said, 'Your sons were eating and drinking wine, when suddenly a mighty wind came from the wilderness. It struck the four corners of the house, etc.'" And thus do we find with the twelve tribes, that they were exiled only through eating, drinking and tranquility, viz. (Amos 6:4-7) "They lie on ivory beds … they drink (straight) from the wine bowls … therefore, they shall now be exiled at the head of the exiles." And thus do we find before the days of the Messiah, that they are destined to rebel only out of eating, drinking, and tranquility. What is written of them? "And Yeshurun grew fat and it kicked."
An analogy: A man had a calf, which he groomed, curried, and fed vetch — to groom him for plowing! When the calf was grown, his master placed the yoke upon it — at which it bolted, broke the yoke, and snapped its ends, viz. (Jeremiah 28:13) "You broke yokes of wood, etc."
(Devarim, Ibid.) "You grew fat": in the days of Yeravam. "you grew thick": in the days of Achav. "you were covered (with fat)" — all in the days of Yehu.
Variantly: "you grew fat": in the days of Achaz. "you grew thick": in the days of Menasheh. "you were covered (with fat)" — all in the days of Yehoyakim.
Variantly: "you grew fat; you grew thick; you were covered with fat": as one who is fat within and forms fat on the groins, as in (Iyyov 15:27) "when he covers his face with fat and forms roils of blubber on his groins."
Variantly: "you grew fat (1)"; "you grew thick" (2); "you were covered with fat (3)" — three generations before the days of the Messiah, as it is written (Isaiah 2:7-8) "And his land was filled with silver (1)"; "and his land was filled with horses (2)"; "and his land was filled with idols (3)."
"and he forsook the G-d who made him": as in (Isaiah 51:13) "And you have forgotten the L-rd who made you, who spread out the heavens and founded the earth." And (Jeremiah 2:13) "For two evils have My people committed": The Holy One Blessed be He said to them: As you have meted it out to Me have I meted it out to you (Ibid. 12:7) "I have abandoned My house (the Temple); I have forsaken My inheritance," (Psalms 78:60) "and He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh," (Isaiah 2:6) "For you have forsaken your people, house of Jacob."
(Devarim, Ibid.) "and he abased the Rock of his salvation": as in (Ezekiel 8:16) "And He brought me to the inner courtyard of the Temple of the L-rd, and behold, at the entrance of the sanctuary of the L-rd … twenty-five men, their backs to the sanctuary of the L-rd, etc."
R. Dostai b. R. Yehudah says: Read if not "vayenabel" ("and he abased"), but "veyinavel" ("and there be abased"), as in (Jeremiah 14:21) "Do not reject us, for the sake of Your name; let there not be abased the throne of Your glory."
(Devarim, Ibid. 16) "They provoked Him with 'strange'": They went and did "strange" things, viz. (I Kings 15:13) "And (even) Ma'achah, his (grand) mother, he (Asa) removed (from the throne) because she had made an abomination for the asheirah."
(Devarim, Ibid.) "They angered Him with abominations": homosexuality, viz. (Vayikra 18:22) "And with a male you shall not lie the lyings of a woman; it is an abomination," and (I Kings, Ibid. 14:24) "There was also prostitution in the land; they did all the abominations of the nations, etc."
(Devarim, Ibid.) "They sacrificed to demons, which availed naught": If they served the sun, the moon, the stars, the constellations — things which are of need and benefit to the world, His anger would not be "doubled," (as it is now), but they serve others which are of no benefit to them, but are detrimental to them. "to demons" (sheidim): a shed enters a man and overmasters him.
"gods they had not known": the nations did not know them. "new ones, newly come': Whenever a gentile saw it he would say "This is a Jewish image." As it is written (Isaiah 10:10) "Just as my hand has overpowered the kingdoms of the false god — and their graven images are from Jerusalem and Shomron" — whereby we are taught that Jerusalem and Shomron would supply moulds (for images) to all comers.
"your fathers had not dreaded them" (lo se'arum): The hair (sa'aroth) of your forefathers did not stand on end in dread of them, i.e., even though they sacrificed and smoked incense to them, they did not fear them.
Variantly: "Your forefathers lo se'arum": Read it not "lo se'arum," but "lo sha'um" (They had no regard for them, as in (Bereshith 4:5) "But to Cain and his offering lo sha'ah" ("He did not pay heed.")
(דברים לב טו) וַיִּשְׁמַן יְשֻׁרוּן וַיִּבְעָט, לְפִי שֹׂבַע מוֹרְדִים. וְכֵן אַתָּה מוֹצֵא בְּאַנְשֵׁי דוֹר הַמַּבּוּל, שֶׁלֹּא מָרְדוּ בְּהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶלָּא מִתּוֹךְ מַאֲכָל וּמִשְׁתֶּה וּמִתּוֹךְ שַׁלְוָה, וּמַה נֶּאֱמַר בָּהֶם (איוב כא ט) – ״בָּתֵּיהֶם שָׁלוֹם מִפָּחַד״ וְכוּ׳ בָּרַיְתָא כִּי הֵיכִי דִּכְתִיבָא בְּאֵלֶּה הַדְּבָרִים. וְכֵן מָצִינוּ בְּאַנְשֵׁי מִגְדָּל, שֶׁלֹּא מָרְדוּ בְּהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶלָּא מִתּוֹךְ שַׁלְוָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית יא א): ״וַיְהִי כָל הָאָרֶץ שָׂפָה אֶחָת״. וְכֵן מָצִינוּ בְּאַנְשֵׁי סְדוֹם, שֶׁלֹּא מָרְדוּ אֶלָּא מִתּוֹךְ מַאֲכָל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (איוב כח ה): ״אֶרֶץ מִמֶּנָּה יֵצֵא לָחֶם״ וְכוּ׳ מַתְנִי׳. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (יחזקאל טז מח): ״חַי אָנִי נְאֻם ה׳ אִם עָשְׂתָה סְדֹם״. וּכְבָר הָיָה רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲזַרְיָה וְרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא נִכְנָסִים לְרוֹמִי וְכוּ׳ בָּרַיְתָא בְּאֵלֶּה הַדְּבָרִים. וְכֵן אַתָּה מוֹצֵא בְּאַנְשֵׁי מִדְבָּר, שֶׁלֹּא מָרְדוּ אֶלָּא מִתּוֹךְ מַאֲכָל וּמִשְׁתֶּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות לב ו): ״וַיֵּשֶׁב הָעָם לֶאֱכֹל וְשָׁתוֹ וַיָּקֻמוּ לְצַחֵק״. מַה נֶּאֱמַר בָּהֶם (שמות לב ח) – ״סָרוּ מַהֵר מִן הַדֶּרֶךְ״. אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמֹשֶׁה: אֱמֹר לָהֶם לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, כְּשֶׁאַתֶּם נִכְנָסִים לָאָרֶץ אִי אַתֶּם עֲתִידִים לִמְרֹד אֶלָּא מִתּוֹךְ אֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה וּמִתּוֹךְ שַׁלְוָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים לא כ) ״כִּי אֲבִיאֶנּוּ אֶל הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי לַאֲבֹתָיו זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבַשׁ וְאָכַל וְשָׂבַע וְדָשֵׁן וּפָנָה אֶל אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים״. אָמַר לָהֶם מֹשֶׁה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל: כְּשֶׁאַתֶּם נִכְנָסִים לָאָרֶץ אֵין אַתֶּם עֲתִידִים לִמְרֹד אֶלָּא מִתּוֹךְ אֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה וּמִתּוֹךְ שַׁלְוָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים ח יב) ״פֶּן תֹּאכַל וְשָׂבָעְתָּ״, (דברים ח יג) ״וּבְקָרְךָ וְצֹאנְךָ יִרְבְּיֻן״, (דברים ח יד) ״וְרָם לְבָבֶךָ וְשָׁכַחְתָּ אֶת ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ״.
(Devarim 32:15) "And Yeshurun grew fat and it kicked": Satiety breeds rebellion. And thus we find with the men of the generation of the flood — that they rebelled against the L-rd only from (a superabundance of) food and drink and tranquility. What is written of them? (Iyyov 21:9) "Their houses are at peace, without fear. The rod of G-d is not upon them." (see #43 above). And thus we find with the men of the generation of the desert, that they rebelled against the L-rd only from (a superabundance of) food and drink, viz. (Shemoth 32:6) "and the people sat down to eat and drink." What follows? (Ibid. 8) "They have turned quickly from the way that I have commanded them, etc." The Holy One Blessed be He said to Moses: When Israel enters the land, they are destined to rebel from (a superabundance of) food and drink and tranquility, (viz. Devarim 31:20) "For I shall bring them to the land that I have sworn to their fathers, flowing milk and honey, and they shall eat and be sated and grow fat, and they shall turn to other gods, etc." Moses said to Israel: When you enter the land, see to it that you do not rebel against the L-rd through eating, drinking, and tranquility, viz. (Ibid. 8:12-13) "Lest you eat and be sated … and your herds and your flocks increase, etc." What follows? (Ibid. 14) "and your heart be lifted and you forget the L-rd your G-d."
וְכֵן אַתָּה מוֹצֵא בְּבָנָיו וּבִבְנוֹתָיו שֶׁל אִיּוֹב, שֶׁלֹּא בָאָה עֲלֵיהֶם פֻּרְעָנוּת אֶלָּא מִתּוֹךְ מַאֲכָל וּמִשְׁתֶּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (איוב א יח): ״עוֹד זֶה מְדַבֵּר וְזֶה בָא וַיֹּאמַר בָּנֶיךָ וּבְנוֹתֶיךָ אוֹכְלִים וְשׁוֹתִים יַיִן בְּבֵית אֲחִיהֶם הַבְּכוֹר וְהִנֵּה רוּחַ גְּדוֹלָה״, וְכֵן אַתָּה מוֹצֵא בַּעֲשֶׂרֶת הַשְּׁבָטִים שֶׁלֹּא גָלוּ אֶלָּא מִתּוֹךְ מַאֲכָל וּמִשְׁתֶּה וְשַׁלְוָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (עמוס ו ד): ״הַשֹּׁכְבִים עַל מִטּוֹת שֵׁן״, (עמוס ו ו) ״הַשּׁוֹתִים בְּמִזְרְקֵי יַיִן״, (עמוס ו ז) ״לָכֵן עַתָּה יִגְלוּ בְּרֹאשׁ גֹּלִים״. וְכֵן אַתָּה מוֹצֵא לִימוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ שֶׁאֵין עֲתִידִים לִמְרֹד אֶלָּא מִתּוֹךְ אֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיִּשְׁמַן יְשֻׁרוּן וַיִּבְעָט וַיִּטֹּשׁ אֱלוֹהַּ עָשָׂהוּ״.
And thus do we find with the sons and daughters of Iyyov, that they were punished only through eating, drinking, and tranquility, viz. (Iyyov 1:18-19) "This one was still speaking when another came and said, 'Your sons were eating and drinking wine, when suddenly a mighty wind came from the wilderness. It struck the four corners of the house, etc.'" And thus do we find with the twelve tribes, that they were exiled only through eating, drinking and tranquility, viz. (Amos 6:4-7) "They lie on ivory beds … they drink (straight) from the wine bowls … therefore, they shall now be exiled at the head of the exiles." And thus do we find before the days of the Messiah, that they are destined to rebel only out of eating, drinking, and tranquility. What is written of them? "And Yeshurun grew fat and it kicked."
מָשָׁל לְאֶחָד שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ עֵגֶל וְהָיָה מְפַשְׁפְּשׁוֹ וּמְגָרְדוֹ וּמַאֲכִילוֹ כַּרְשִׁינִים בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁיְּהֵא חוֹרֵשׁ בּוֹ. כְּשֶׁהִגְדִּיל הָעֵגֶל נָתַן בְּעָלָיו עֹל עָלָיו וְקִרְטֵעַ וְשִׁבֵּר אֶת הָעֹל וּפָסַק אֶת הַסִּמְלוֹנִים. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (ירמיה כח יג): ״מוֹטֹת עֵץ שָׁבָרְתָּ וְעָשִׂיתָ תַחְתֵּיהֶן מֹטוֹת בַּרְזֶל״.
An analogy: A man had a calf, which he groomed, curried, and fed vetch — to groom him for plowing! When the calf was grown, his master placed the yoke upon it — at which it bolted, broke the yoke, and snapped its ends, viz. (Jeremiah 28:13) "You broke yokes of wood, etc."
שָׁמַנְתָּ בִּימֵי יָרָבְעָם, עָבִיתָ בִּימֵי אַחְאָב, כָּשִׂיתָ הַכֹּל בִּימֵי יֵהוּא.
(Devarim, Ibid.) "You grew fat": in the days of Yeravam. "you grew thick": in the days of Achav. "you were covered (with fat)" — all in the days of Yehu.
דָּבָר אַחֵר: שָׁמַנְתָּ בִּימֵי אָחָז, עָבִיתָ בִּימֵי מְנַשֶּׁה, כָּשִׂיתָ הַכֹּל בִּימֵי צִדְקִיָּהוּ.
Variantly: "you grew fat": in the days of Achaz. "you grew thick": in the days of Menasheh. "you were covered (with fat)" — all in the days of Yehoyakim.
דָּבָר אַחֵר: שָׁמַנְתָּ עָבִיתָ כָּשִׂיתָ – כְּשֶׁאָדָם שָׁמֵן מִבִּפְנִים עוֹשֶׂה כְּסָלִים מִבַּחוּץ, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (איוב טו כז): ״כִּי כִסָּה פָנָיו בְּחֶלְבּוֹ וַיַּעַשׂ פִּימָה עֲלֵי כָסֶל״.
Variantly: "you grew fat; you grew thick; you were covered with fat": as one who is fat within and forms fat on the groins, as in (Iyyov 15:27) "when he covers his face with fat and forms roils of blubber on his groins."
דָּבָר אַחֵר שָׁמַנְתָּ עָבִיתָ כָּשִׂיתָ, אֵלּוּ שְׁלוֹשָׁה דוֹרוֹת שֶׁלִּפְנֵי יְמוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה ב ז-ח): ״וַתִּמָּלֵא אַרְצוֹ סוּסִים וְאֵין קֵצֶה לְמַרְכְּבֹתָיו וַתִּמָּלֵא אַרְצוֹ כֶסֶף וְזָהָב וְאֵין קֵצֶה לְאֹצְרֹתָיו וַתִּמָּלֵא אַרְצוֹ אֱלִילִים לְמַעֲשֵׂה יָדָיו יִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַאֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ אֶצְבְּעֹתָיו״.
Variantly: "you grew fat (1)"; "you grew thick" (2); "you were covered with fat (3)" — three generations before the days of the Messiah, as it is written (Isaiah 2:7-8) "And his land was filled with silver (1)"; "and his land was filled with horses (2)"; "and his land was filled with idols (3)."
וַיִּטֹּשׁ אֱלוֹהַּ עָשָׂהוּ, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (ירמיה ב יג): ״כִּי שְׁתַּיִם רָעוֹת עָשָׂה עַמִּי״. אָמַר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: בְּמִדָּה שֶׁמְּדַדְתֶּם בִּי מָדַדְתִּי לָכֶם (ירמיה יב ז): ״עָזַבְתִּי אֶת בֵּיתִי, נָטַשְׁתִּי אֶת נַחֲלָתִי״, (תהלים עח ס) ״וַיִּטֹּשׁ מִשְׁכַּן שִׁלוֹ״, וְאוֹמֵר (ישעיה ב ו): ״כִּי נָטַשְׁתָּ עַמְּךָ בֵּית יַעֲקֹב״.
"and he forsook the G-d who made him": as in (Isaiah 51:13) "And you have forgotten the L-rd who made you, who spread out the heavens and founded the earth." And (Jeremiah 2:13) "For two evils have My people committed": The Holy One Blessed be He said to them: As you have meted it out to Me have I meted it out to you (Ibid. 12:7) "I have abandoned My house (the Temple); I have forsaken My inheritance," (Psalms 78:60) "and He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh," (Isaiah 2:6) "For you have forsaken your people, house of Jacob."
דָּבָר אַחֵר: וַיִּטֹּשׁ אֱלוֹהַּ עָשָׂהוּ, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל ח טז): ״וַיָּבֵא אֹתִי אֶל חֲצַר בֵּית ה׳ הַפְּנִימִית וְהִנֵּה פֶתַח הֵיכַל ה׳ בֵּין הָאוּלָם וּבֵין הַמִּזְבֵּחַ כְּעֶשְׂרִים וַחֲמִשָּׁה אִישׁ אֲחֹרֵיהֶם אֶל הֵיכַל ה׳״.
(Devarim, Ibid.) "and he abased the Rock of his salvation": as in (Ezekiel 8:16) "And He brought me to the inner courtyard of the Temple of the L-rd, and behold, at the entrance of the sanctuary of the L-rd … twenty-five men, their backs to the sanctuary of the L-rd, etc."
רַבִּי דּוֹסְתַּי בֶּן יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: אַל תְּהִי קוֹרֵא ״וַיִּטֹּשׁ אֱלוֹהַ עָשָׂהוּ וַיְנַבֵּל״ אֶלָּא ״וַיְנַבֵּל צוּר יְשׁוּעָתוֹ״, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה יד כא): ״אַל תִּנְאָץ לְמַעַן שִׁמְךָ אַל תְּנַבֵּל כִּסֵּא כְבוֹדֶךָ״.
R. Dostai b. R. Yehudah says: Read if not "vayenabel" ("and he abased"), but "veyinavel" ("and there be abased"), as in (Jeremiah 14:21) "Do not reject us, for the sake of Your name; let there not be abased the throne of Your glory."
(דברים לב טז) יַקְנִיאֻהוּ בְּזָרִים, שֶׁהָלְכוּ וְעָשׂוּ דְּבָרִים שֶׁל זָרוּת. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (מ״א טו יג): ״וְגַם אֶת מַעֲכָה אִמּוֹ וַיְסִירֶהָ מִגְּבִירָה אֲשֶׁר עָשְׂתָה מִפְלֶצֶת לָאֲשֵׁרָה״.
(Devarim, Ibid. 16) "They provoked Him with 'strange'": They went and did "strange" things, viz. (I Kings 15:13) "And (even) Ma'achah, his (grand) mother, he (Asa) removed (from the throne) because she had made an abomination for the asheirah."
בְּתוֹעֵבוֹת יַכְעִיסוּהוּ, זֶה מִשְׁכַּב זָכוּר, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (ויקרא יח כב): ״וְאֶת זָכָר לֹא תִשְׁכַּב מִשְׁכְּבֵי אִשָּׁה תּוֹעֵבָה הִיא״, וְאוֹמֵר (מ״א יד כד): ״וְגַם קָדֵשׁ הָיָה בָאָרֶץ״.
(Devarim, Ibid.) "They angered Him with abominations": homosexuality, viz. (Vayikra 18:22) "And with a male you shall not lie the lyings of a woman; it is an abomination," and (I Kings, Ibid. 14:24) "There was also prostitution in the land; they did all the abominations of the nations, etc."
(דברים לב יז) יִזְבְּחוּ לַשֵּׁדִים לֹא אֱלֹהַּ, אִלּוּ הָיוּ עוֹבְדִים לַחַמָּה וְלַלְּבָנָה לַכּוֹכָבִים וְלַמַּזָּלוֹת וְלִדְבָרִים שֶׁהֵם צֹרֶךְ לָעוֹלָם וַהֲנָיָה לָעוֹלָם בָּהֶם, לֹא הָיְתָה קִנְאָה כְּפוּלָה, אֶלָּא הֵם עוֹבְדִים לִדְבָרִים שֶׁאֵין מְטִיבִים לָהֶם אֶלָּא מְרֵעִים לָהֶם. לַשֵּׁדִים, מַה דַּרְכּוֹ שֶׁל שֵׁד? נִכְנָס בָּאָדָם וְכוֹפֶה אוֹתוֹ.
(Devarim, Ibid.) "They sacrificed to demons, which availed naught": If they served the sun, the moon, the stars, the constellations — things which are of need and benefit to the world, His anger would not be "doubled," (as it is now), but they serve others which are of no benefit to them, but are detrimental to them. "to demons" (sheidim): a shed enters a man and overmasters him.
אֱלֹהִים לֹא יְדָעוּם, שֶׁאֵין אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם מַכִּירִים אוֹתָם. חֲדָשִׁים מִקָּרוֹב בָּאוּ, שֶׁכָּל זְמַן שֶׁאֶחָד מִן הָאֻמּוֹת רוֹאֶה אוֹתוֹ, אוֹמֵר: צֶלֶם יְהוּדִים הוּא זֶה. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (ישעיה י י): ״כַּאֲשֶׁר מָצְאָה יָדִי לְמַמְלְכוֹת הָאֱלִיל וּפְסִילֵיהֶם מִירוּשָׁלִַם וּמִשֹּׁמְרוֹן״, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁיְּרוּשָׁלִַם וְשֹׁמְרוֹן מְסַפְּקוֹת דְּפוּס לְכָל בָּאֵי הָעוֹלָם.
"gods they had not known": the nations did not know them. "new ones, newly come': Whenever a gentile saw it he would say "This is a Jewish image." As it is written (Isaiah 10:10) "Just as my hand has overpowered the kingdoms of the false god — and their graven images are from Jerusalem and Shomron" — whereby we are taught that Jerusalem and Shomron would supply moulds (for images) to all comers.
לֹא שְׂעָרוּם אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם, שֶׁלֹּא עָמְדָה שַׂעֲרַת אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם בִּפְנֵיהֶם. דָּבָר אַחֵר, לֹא שְׂעָרוּם אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם, שֶׁלֹּא שְׂעָרוּם אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם לֵידַע אִם יֵשׁ בָּהֶם צֹרֶךְ אִם לָאו.
"your fathers had not dreaded them" (lo se'arum): The hair (sa'aroth) of your forefathers did not stand on end in dread of them, i.e., even though they sacrificed and smoked incense to them, they did not fear them.
דָּבָר אַחֵר: לֹא שְׂעָרוּם אֲבֹתֵיכֶם – אַל תְּהִי קוֹרֵא ״לֹא שְׂעָרוּם אֲבֹתֵיכֶם״ אֶלָּא ״לֹא שָׁעוּם אֲבֹתֵיכֶם״, שֶׁאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁמְּזַבְּחִים וּמְקַטְּרִים לָהֶם לֹא הָיוּ יְרֵאִים מֵהֶם, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ד ה): ״וְאֶל קַיִן וְאֶל מִנְחָתוֹ לֹא שָׁעָה״.
Variantly: "Your forefathers lo se'arum": Read it not "lo se'arum," but "lo sha'um" (They had no regard for them, as in (Bereshith 4:5) "But to Cain and his offering lo sha'ah" ("He did not pay heed.")