​Shabbat Parashat Devarim - 5781

​Shabbat Parashat Devarim - 5781

Rabbi Hal Miller Hashem our God spoke to us in Choreiv saying, "You have had much dwelling by this mountain. [Devarim 1:6] On its own, this verse is difficult to understand. The words in Hebrew are: rav lachem shevet ba'har ha'zeh. Individually, the words mean: much to/for you dwell/reside/sit on/with this mountain. Beginning with the last portion, it wouldn't make a lot of sense to be doing anything 'with' a mountain, so we can assume it means 'on this mountain.' That's the easy part. Lachem means to you (plural), for you, belongs to you. We'll get back to this. Rav means much. The key here is that the verse does not tell us to what the much refers. It has to be linked with shevet, but how? Much dwelling or much sitting? The point of the verse is locked in this phrase. Rashi says to interpret it according to its simple meaning, that all y'all have dwelt here much. Sifsei Chachamim reads it as "it is time for you to move on." Onkelos is close to this, with "You have dwelt long enough at this mountain". The difference is that Sifsei Chachamim is saying you've delayed, now get moving, but Onkelos is saying, you have accomplished much here, but it's time to move on. Rashi also notes that the people achieved much eminence and reward for all the accomplishments at Choreiv. Rav Hirsch joins in the "you have done much" group, but Malbim understands that God is annoyed with the delays, such as the golden calf episode and is insisting that they move on. The verse could mean, you have gained much merit BECAUSE you were dwelling here. It could mean, you sat here for too long already and should stop delaying. Perhaps context will help. The next two verses tell of the new travel plans and God's giving them the land. At first glance, the first interpretation seems to fit better, that the people had gained enough merit to enter the land. But we could also read the second interpretation as positive, not to quit delaying, but in fact that God is anxious to give the people the land as soon as possible. In any event God is telling the nation it's time to journey forward.