Portrait of Hacham Shimon Agassi

Portrait of Hacham Shimon Agassi
Portrait of Hacham Agassi painted by Mrs Ruth Gila, Beit Meir , Israel

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

   Deuteronomy 3. 28- דברים


28. ’And command Joshua, and strengthen him and encourage him for he shall cross over before this People and he shall cause them to inherit the Land which you shall see

- וְצַו אֶת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְחַזְּקֵהוּ וְאַמְּצֵהוּ כִּי הוּא יַעֲבֹר לִפְנֵי הָעָם הַזֶּה וְהוּא יַנְחִיל אוֹתָם אֶת הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר תִּרְאֶה

(4177 = 19 =10=1 or 6107=14=8 counting final Zaddik and Mems as 900 and 600).

The verse can be divided so:
·         And command Joshua, and strengthen him and encourage him- וְצַו אֶת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְחַזְּקֵהוּ וְאַמְּצֵהוּ (1174+5 words=18);
·         For he shall cross over before this People and he shall cause them to inherit the Land which you shall see- כִּי הוּא יַעֲבֹר לִפְנֵי הָעָם הַזֶּה וְהוּא יַנְחִיל אוֹתָם אֶת הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר תִּרְאֶה (3003+11 words=3014=8).
Rashi comments here that the Charge given to Joshua included the troubles and the burdens and the disagreements (Sifrei-Pinchas 136). So that his heart should not be weakened Joshua was to be encouraged with these words that he would inherit the Land (unlike Moses his Master). Joshua had to physically cross before them in order for them to inherit the Land. This is learned from the capture of the city of Ai-עי (80=8=1 word=81) that failed at first, as Joshua did not lead them into battle (Joshua 7.5-7.10).

Thus it says (Sifrei 29):

If he crosses they cross, but if not, they do not cross
      
אם הוא עובר עוברין ואם לאו אין עוברין

1152+8 words=1160=8

4222=10=1

No comments:

Post a Comment