Shabbat Parashat Nitzavim - 5781

Shabbat Parashat Nitzavim - 5781

Rabbi Hal Miller

Then Hashem your God will return your captivity and have mercy upon you and He will return you and gather you from all the peoples to which Hashem your God has scattered you. [Devarim 30:3] This verse uses some strange wording, considering the context. What does it mean that "God will return your captivity and have mercy upon you"? It sounds like these might mean opposite things, since having mercy is not often considered to be in the same category as holding someone captive. The Hebrew is v'shav Hashem Elokeicha shivuteicha v'rachameicha. This last word is easy, meaning "and have mercy upon you". We know what "Hashem Elokeicha" means. Why does the Torah use v'shav and shivuteicha? Rashi says that rather than v'shav, "return", it should have written v'heishiv as "He will return you", and that this is an indication that God Himself is with Israel and will return with them. Rav Hirsch says exactly the opposite, that it means when the time comes, the people will return to God, not that God is returning Himself nor causing us to return anywhere. Others concentrate on the word translated here as captivity. The Septuagent calls it "turn your turnings", and says it means changing someone's fortunes, but this is not supported in any way in the Hebrew. Onkelos writes "God will return your captives", implying that Jews will be held captive in other lands, but God will free them and bring them home, which is well supported by the remainder of the verse. He adds that this may be so massive a task that only God will be able to do it, and we are not going to be able to free ourselves. Talelei Oros follows Onkelos, more or less. He says, "God will return your returnees" which is a very literal translation. He says this indicates those who desire to return. The second part of the verse, then, that "He will return you and gather you" is a promise that those who are too comfortable in exile will be included, even despite their desires. We will be returning home, something to think about with the upcoming Rosh Hashanah.