Pisqa’ 35169H:363-364; JN2:428 1. “They will teach70Hebrew: yoru (“instruct”). The root, y-r-h, stands behind the word for “instruction”—torah. In the construction, hora’ah, it defines official instruction having the force of law, as in the present exegesis of Dt.33:10. Your judgments to Jacob” (Dt.33:10)— this teaches that binding instructions (horayot) are issued only on [levitical] authority (mi-pihem),71Heb: pihem; literally, “their mouths.” Prepositions provide nuance, thus, mi-pihem (“from the mouth of,” “on the authority of”) and `al pihem (“on the mouth of,” “at their order”). as it is stated: “And at their order (`al pihem) shall every dispute be adjudicated, and the status of every plague-sign” (Dt.21:5). “Dispute”— such as [procedural] disputes over the burning of the [red] Heifer (Nu.19:1ff.), over the Broken-necked Calf (Dt.21:1ff.) and over the Suspected Wife (Nu.5:11ff.). “Plague-sign”— such as plague-signs affecting humans (Lv.13:1ff.), affecting garments (Lv.13:47ff.). and affecting houses (Lv.14:22ff.)72Cf. Pisqa’ 152.1
2. “And your Instructions (torotekha)73Torot is the plural form of torah. Here, as we have seen in a number of cases, a plural noun is read as a dual. This permits the idea of two Torahs to flow easily from the biblical text itself. to Israel” (Dt.33:10)— this teaches that two Torahs were given to Israel, one transmitted orally (bifeh) and one inscribed in a text (bikhtav). Agnitus,74Mss and editions copy the name variously. H:509, Pisqa’ 351, ns.6-7 suggests several possibilities. the Roman general, inquired of Rabban Gamliel: Just how many Torahs were given to Israel? He replied: Two— one transmitted orally and one inscribed in a text.
3. “They shall offer incense to appease Your anger” (Dt.33:10)— this refers to the incense offered within the inner-most [Chamber]. “Entirely consumed on Your altar” (Dt.33:10)— this refers to the Priestly Flour-offering, as it is said: “And every Priestly Flour-offering must be entirely consumed [by fire]” (Lv.6:16)
Another word: “They shall offer incense to appease Your anger” (Dt.33:10)— this refers to the incense offered within the inner-most [Chamber]. “Entirely consumed on Your altar” (Dt.33:10)— this refers to the organs of the Holocaust-offering (Lv.16:24-27). [which are completely consumed in fire.]
(דברים לג י) יוֹרוּ מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ לְיַעֲקֹב, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁכָּל הוֹרָיוֹת אֵינָן יוֹצְאוֹת אֶלָּא מִפִּיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כא ה): ״וְעַל פִּיהֶם יִהְיֶה כָּל רִיב וְכָל נָגַע״, ״רִיב״ אֵלּוּ רִיבֵי פָרָה וְרִיבֵי עֶגְלָה וְרִיבֵי סוֹטָה; ״נָגַע״ אֵלּוּ נִגְעֵי אָדָם וְנִגְעֵי בְגָדִים וְנִגְעֵי בָתִּים.
Pisqa’ 35169H:363-364; JN2:428
1. “They will teach70Hebrew: yoru (“instruct”). The root, y-r-h, stands behind the word for “instruction”—torah. In the construction, hora’ah, it defines official instruction having the force of law, as in the present exegesis of Dt.33:10. Your judgments to Jacob” (Dt.33:10)—
this teaches that
binding instructions (horayot) are issued
only on [levitical] authority (mi-pihem),71Heb: pihem; literally, “their mouths.” Prepositions provide nuance, thus, mi-pihem (“from the mouth of,” “on the authority of”) and `al pihem (“on the mouth of,” “at their order”).
as it is stated:
“And at their order (`al pihem)
shall every dispute be adjudicated,
and the status of every plague-sign” (Dt.21:5).
“Dispute”—
such as [procedural] disputes
over the burning of the [red] Heifer (Nu.19:1ff.),
over the Broken-necked Calf (Dt.21:1ff.)
and over the Suspected Wife (Nu.5:11ff.).
“Plague-sign”—
such as plague-signs
affecting humans (Lv.13:1ff.),
affecting garments (Lv.13:47ff.).
and affecting houses (Lv.14:22ff.)72Cf. Pisqa’ 152.1
וְתוֹרָתְךָ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל. מְלַמֵּד שֶׁשְּׁתֵּי תוֹרוֹת נִתְּנוּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, אַחַת בַּפֶּה וְאַחַת בִּכְתָב. שָׁאַל אַגְנִיטוֹס הֶגְמוֹן אֶת רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל, אָמַר לוֹ: כַּמָּה תוֹרוֹת נִתְּנוּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל? אָמַר לוֹ: שְׁתַּיִם, אַחַת בַַּפֶּה וְאַחַת בִּכְתָב.
2. “And your Instructions (torotekha)73Torot is the plural form of torah. Here, as we have seen in a number of cases, a plural noun is read as a dual. This permits the idea of two Torahs to flow easily from the biblical text itself. to Israel” (Dt.33:10)—
this teaches that
two Torahs were given to Israel,
one transmitted orally (bifeh) and one inscribed in a text (bikhtav).
Agnitus,74Mss and editions copy the name variously. H:509, Pisqa’ 351, ns.6-7 suggests several possibilities. the Roman general, inquired of Rabban Gamliel:
Just how many Torahs were given to Israel?
He replied:
Two—
one transmitted orally and one inscribed in a text.
יָשִׂימוּ קְטוֹרָה בְּאַפֶּךָ, זוֹ קְטֹרֶת שֶׁלִּפְנַי לִפְנִים, וְכָלִיל עַל מִזְבְּחֶךָ זוֹ מִנְחַת כֹּהֵן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא ו טז): ״וְכָל מִנְחַת כֹּהֵן כָּלִיל תִּהְיֶה״.
3. “They shall offer incense to appease Your anger” (Dt.33:10)—
this refers to the incense
offered within the inner-most [Chamber].
“Entirely consumed on Your altar” (Dt.33:10)—
this refers to the Priestly Flour-offering,
as it is said:
“And every Priestly Flour-offering
must be entirely consumed [by fire]” (Lv.6:16)
דָּבָר אַחֵר: יָשִׂימוּ קְטוֹרָה בְּאַפֶּךָ, זוֹ קְטֹרֶת שֶׁלִּפְנַי לִפְנִים, וְכָלִיל עַל מִזְבְּחֶךָ, אֵלּוּ אֵיבְרֵי עוֹלָה.
Another word:
“They shall offer incense to appease Your anger” (Dt.33:10)—
this refers to the incense
offered within the inner-most [Chamber].
“Entirely consumed on Your altar” (Dt.33:10)—
this refers to the organs
of the Holocaust-offering (Lv.16:24-27).
[which are completely consumed in fire.]