SH-O-V-V-Y-M. שובבים
Shmot (Names). שמות
Va'Era (I appeared) וארא
Bo (Come). בא
B'Shallach (In the Sending). בשלח
Yitro (Jethro). יתרו
Mishpatim (Laws). משפטים
Parshat Yitro is arguably the central parsha of the whole Torah, since it contains the story of the giving of Torah itself. The scene is powerful - the mountain quaking, thunder, lightning, the shofar's blast, synesthaesia. According to tradition, only the aleph of anochi ("I am") was uttered by God. Since God's own voice was too powerful for the people to bear, the rest was given over by Moses.
Rabbi David Wolfe-Blank maps the Torah portions onto the sefirot of the Tree of Life. As the 17th parsha, Yitro is Tiferet within Tiferet - the very heart of the Tree itself.
(א) וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֱלֹקִ֔ים אֵ֛ת כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה לֵאמֹֽר׃ {ס}
(ב) אָֽנֹכִ֖י֙ ה' אֱלֹקֶ֑֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֧ר הוֹצֵאתִ֛יךָ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם מִבֵּ֣֥ית עֲבָדִ֑͏ֽים׃ (ג) לֹֽ֣א־יִהְיֶ֥͏ֽה־לְךָ֛֩ אֱלֹקִ֥֨ים אֲחֵרִ֖֜ים עַל־פָּנָֽ͏ַ֗י׃ (ד) לֹֽ֣א־תַֽעֲשֶׂ֨ה־לְךָ֥֣ פֶ֣֙סֶל֙ ׀ וְכׇל־תְּמוּנָ֔֡ה אֲשֶׁ֤֣ר בַּשָּׁמַ֣֙יִם֙ ׀ מִמַּ֔֡עַל וַֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר֩ בָּאָ֖֨רֶץ מִתָּ֑͏ַ֜חַת וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּמַּ֖֣יִם ׀ מִתַּ֥֣חַת לָאָֽ֗רֶץ׃ (ה) לֹֽא־תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥֣ה לָהֶ֖ם֮ וְלֹ֣א תׇעׇבְדֵ֑ם֒ כִּ֣י אָֽנֹכִ֞י ה' אֱלֹקֶ֙יךָ֙ אֵ֣ל קַנָּ֔א פֹּ֠קֵ֠ד עֲוֺ֨ן אָבֹ֧ת עַל־בָּנִ֛ים עַל־שִׁלֵּשִׁ֥ים וְעַל־רִבֵּעִ֖ים לְשֹׂנְאָֽ֑י׃ (ו) וְעֹ֥֤שֶׂה חֶ֖֙סֶד֙ לַאֲלָפִ֑֔ים לְאֹהֲבַ֖י וּלְשֹׁמְרֵ֥י מִצְוֺתָֽי׃ {ס}
(ז) לֹ֥א תִשָּׂ֛א אֶת־שֵֽׁם־ה' אֱלֹקֶ֖יךָ לַשָּׁ֑וְא כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יְנַקֶּה֙ ה' אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־יִשָּׂ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ לַשָּֽׁוְא׃ {פ}
(ח) זָכ֛וֹר֩ אֶת־י֥֨וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֖֜ת לְקַדְּשֽׁ֗וֹ׃ (ט) שֵׁ֤֣שֶׁת יָמִ֣ים֙ תַּֽעֲבֹ֔ד֮ וְעָשִׂ֖֣יתָ כׇּֿל־מְלַאכְתֶּֽךָ֒׃ (י) וְי֨וֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔֜י שַׁבָּ֖֣ת ׀ לַה' אֱלֹקֶ֑֗יךָ לֹֽ֣א־תַעֲשֶׂ֣֨ה כׇל־מְלָאכָ֜֡ה אַתָּ֣ה ׀ וּבִנְךָ֣͏ֽ־וּ֠בִתֶּ֗ךָ עַבְדְּךָ֤֨ וַאֲמָֽתְךָ֜֙ וּבְהֶמְתֶּ֔֗ךָ וְגֵרְךָ֖֙ אֲשֶׁ֥֣ר בִּשְׁעָרֶֽ֔יךָ׃ (יא) כִּ֣י שֵֽׁשֶׁת־יָמִים֩ עָשָׂ֨ה ה' אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם וְאֶת־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֶת־הַיָּם֙ וְאֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֔ם וַיָּ֖נַח בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֑י עַל־כֵּ֗ן בֵּרַ֧ךְ ה' אֶת־י֥וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֖ת וַֽיְקַדְּשֵֽׁהוּ׃ {ס}
(יב) כַּבֵּ֥ד אֶת־אָבִ֖יךָ וְאֶת־אִמֶּ֑ךָ לְמַ֙עַן֙ יַאֲרִכ֣וּן יָמֶ֔יךָ עַ֚ל הָאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־ה' אֱלֹקֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽךְ׃ {ס} (יג) לֹ֥֖א תִּֿרְצָ֖͏ֽח׃ {ס} לֹ֣֖א תִּֿנְאָ֑͏ֽף׃ {ס} לֹ֣֖א תִּֿגְנֹֽ֔ב׃ {ס} לֹֽא־תַעֲנֶ֥ה בְרֵעֲךָ֖ עֵ֥ד שָֽׁקֶר׃ {ס} לֹא תַחְמֹד, בֵּית רֵעֶךָ; {ס} לֹא-תַחְמֹד אֵשֶׁת רֵעֶךָ, וְעַבְדּוֹ וַאֲמָתוֹ וְשׁוֹרוֹ וַחֲמֹרוֹ, וְכֹל, אֲשֶׁר לְרֵעֶךָ.
(1) God spoke all these words, saying:
(2) I ה' am your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, the house of bondage: (3) You shall have no other gods besides Me. (4) You shall not make for yourself a sculptured image, or any likeness of what is in the heavens above, or on the earth below, or in the waters under the earth. (5) You shall not bow down to them or serve them. For I your God ה' am an impassioned God, visiting the guilt of the parents upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generations of those who reject Me. (6) but showing kindness to the thousandth generation of those who love Me and keep My commandments. (7) You shall not swear falsely by the name of your God ה'; for ה' will not clear one who swears falsely by God’s name. (8) Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy. (9) Six days you shall labor and do all your work, (10) but the seventh day is a sabbath of your God ה': you shall not do any work—you, your son or daughter, your male or female slave, or your cattle, or the stranger who is within your settlements. (11) For in six days ה' made heaven and earth and sea—and all that is in them—and then rested on the seventh day; therefore ה' blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it. (12) Honor your father and your mother, that you may long endure on the land that your God ה' is assigning to you. (13) You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (14) You shall not covet your neighbour's house; {S} you shall not covet your neighbour's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is your neighbour's.
What are the emphases here? Does anything particularly strike you as strange or interesting?
(ו) אָֽנֹכִ֖י֙ ה' אֱלֹקֶ֑֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֧ר הוֹצֵאתִ֛יךָ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם מִבֵּ֣֥ית עֲבָדִ֑͏ֽים׃ (ז) לֹ֣א־יִהְיֶ֥͏ֽה־לְךָ֛֩ אֱלֹקִ֥֨ים אֲחֵרִ֖֜ים עַל־פָּנָֽ͏ַ֗י׃ (ח) לֹֽ֣א־תַעֲשֶֽׂ֨ה־לְךָ֥֣ פֶ֣֙סֶל֙ ׀ כׇּל־תְּמוּנָ֔֡ה אֲשֶׁ֤֣ר בַּשָּׁמַ֣֙יִם֙ ׀ מִמַּ֔֡עַל וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר֩ בָּאָ֖֨רֶץ מִתָּ֑͏ַ֜חַת וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּמַּ֖֣יִם ׀ מִתַּ֥֣חַת לָאָֽ֗רֶץ׃ (ט) לֹא־תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥֣ה לָהֶ֖ם֮ וְלֹ֣א תׇעׇבְדֵ֑ם֒ כִּ֣י אָנֹכִ֞י ה' אֱלֹקֶ֙יךָ֙ אֵ֣ל קַנָּ֔א פֹּ֠קֵ֠ד עֲוֺ֨ן אָב֧וֹת עַל־בָּנִ֛ים וְעַל־שִׁלֵּשִׁ֥ים וְעַל־רִבֵּעִ֖ים לְשֹׂנְאָֽ֑י׃ (י) וְעֹ֥֤שֶׂה חֶ֖֙סֶד֙ לַֽאֲלָפִ֑֔ים לְאֹהֲבַ֖י וּלְשֹׁמְרֵ֥י (מצותו) [מִצְוֺתָֽי]׃ {ס}
(יא) לֹ֥א תִשָּׂ֛א אֶת־שֵֽׁם־ה' אֱלֹקֶ֖יךָ לַשָּׁ֑וְא כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יְנַקֶּה֙ ה' אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־יִשָּׂ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ לַשָּֽׁוְא׃ {ס}
(יב) שָׁמ֛֣וֹר אֶת־י֥וֹם֩ הַשַּׁבָּ֖֨ת לְקַדְּשׁ֑֜וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוְּךָ֖֣ ׀ ה' אֱלֹקֶֽ֗יךָ׃ (יג) שֵׁ֤֣שֶׁת יָמִ֣ים֙ תַּֽעֲבֹ֔ד֮ וְעָשִׂ֖֣יתָ כׇּֿל־מְלַאכְתֶּֽךָ֒׃ (יד) וְי֨וֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔֜י שַׁבָּ֖֣ת ׀ לַה' אֱלֹקֶ֑֗יךָ לֹ֣א תַעֲשֶׂ֣ה כׇל־מְלָאכָ֡ה אַתָּ֣ה וּבִנְךָֽ־וּבִתֶּ֣ךָ וְעַבְדְּךָֽ־וַ֠אֲמָתֶ֠ךָ וְשׁוֹרְךָ֨ וַחֲמֹֽרְךָ֜ וְכׇל־בְּהֶמְתֶּ֗ךָ וְגֵֽרְךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּשְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ לְמַ֗עַן יָנ֛וּחַ עַבְדְּךָ֥ וַאֲמָתְךָ֖ כָּמֽ֑וֹךָ׃ (טו) וְזָכַרְתָּ֗֞ כִּ֣י־עֶ֤֥בֶד הָיִ֣֙יתָ֙ ׀ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔֗יִם וַיֹּצִ֨אֲךָ֜֩ ה' אֱלֹקֶ֤֙יךָ֙ מִשָּׁ֔ם֙ בְּיָ֥֤ד חֲזָקָ֖ה֙ וּבִזְרֹ֣עַ נְטוּיָ֑֔ה עַל־כֵּ֗ן צִוְּךָ֙ ה' אֱלֹקֶ֔יךָ לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת אֶת־י֥וֹם הַשַּׁבָּֽת׃ {ס}
(טז) כַּבֵּ֤ד אֶת־אָבִ֙יךָ֙ וְאֶת־אִמֶּ֔ךָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוְּךָ֖ ה' אֱלֹקֶ֑יךָ לְמַ֣עַן ׀ יַאֲרִיכֻ֣ן יָמֶ֗יךָ וּלְמַ֙עַן֙ יִ֣יטַב לָ֔ךְ עַ֚ל הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־ה' אֱלֹקֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽךְ׃ {ס}
(יז) לֹ֥֖א תִּֿרְצָ֖͏ֽח׃ {ס}
וְלֹ֣֖א תִּֿנְאָ֑͏ֽף׃ {ס}
וְלֹ֣֖א תִּֿגְנֹֽ֔ב׃ {ס}
וְלֹֽא־תַעֲנֶ֥ה בְרֵֽעֲךָ֖ עֵ֥ד שָֽׁוְא׃ {ס} (יח) וְלֹ֥א תַחְמֹ֖ד אֵ֣שֶׁת רֵעֶ֑ךָ {ס}
וְלֹ֨א תִתְאַוֶּ֜ה בֵּ֣ית רֵעֶ֗ךָ שָׂדֵ֜הוּ וְעַבְדּ֤וֹ וַאֲמָתוֹ֙ שׁוֹר֣וֹ וַחֲמֹר֔וֹ וְכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר לְרֵעֶֽךָ׃ {ס}
(יט) אֶֽת־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֡לֶּה דִּבֶּר֩ ה' אֶל־כׇּל־קְהַלְכֶ֜ם בָּהָ֗ר מִתּ֤וֹךְ הָאֵשׁ֙ הֶֽעָנָ֣ן וְהָֽעֲרָפֶ֔ל ק֥וֹל גָּד֖וֹל וְלֹ֣א יָסָ֑ף וַֽיִּכְתְּבֵ֗ם עַל־שְׁנֵי֙ לֻחֹ֣ת אֲבָנִ֔ים וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֖ם אֵלָֽי׃ (כ) וַיְהִ֗י כְּשׇׁמְעֲכֶ֤ם אֶת־הַקּוֹל֙ מִתּ֣וֹךְ הַחֹ֔שֶׁךְ וְהָהָ֖ר בֹּעֵ֣ר בָּאֵ֑שׁ וַתִּקְרְב֣וּן אֵלַ֔י כׇּל־רָאשֵׁ֥י שִׁבְטֵיכֶ֖ם וְזִקְנֵיכֶֽם׃ (כא) וַתֹּאמְר֗וּ הֵ֣ן הֶרְאָ֜נוּ ה' אֱלֹקֵ֙ינוּ֙ אֶת־כְּבֹד֣וֹ וְאֶת־גׇּדְל֔וֹ וְאֶת־קֹל֥וֹ שָׁמַ֖עְנוּ מִתּ֣וֹךְ הָאֵ֑שׁ הַיּ֤וֹם הַזֶּה֙ רָאִ֔ינוּ כִּֽי־יְדַבֵּ֧ר אֱלֹקִ֛ים אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֖ם וָחָֽי׃
(6) I ה' am your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, the house of bondage: (7) You shall have no other gods beside Me. (8) You shall not make for yourself a sculptured image, any likeness of what is in the heavens above, or on the earth below, or in the waters below the earth. (9) You shall not bow down to them or serve them. For I your God ה' am an impassioned God, visiting the guilt of the parents upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generations of those who reject Me, (10) but showing kindness to the thousandth generation of those who love Me and keep My commandments. (11) You shall not swear falsely by the name of your God ה'; for ה' will not clear one who swears falsely by God’s name. (12) Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as your God ה' has commanded you. (13) Six days you shall labor and do all your work, (14) but the seventh day is a sabbath of your God ה'; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your ox or your ass, or any of your cattle, or the stranger in your settlements, so that your male and female slave may rest as you do. (15) Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt and your God ה' freed you from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore your God ה' has commanded you to observe the sabbath day. (16) Honor your father and your mother, as your God ה' has commanded you, that you may long endure, and that you may fare well, in the land that your God ה' is assigning to you. (17) You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (18) You [men]*[men] Given ancient Israel’s norms, women typically were not in a position take a man into their household. Hence this part of the law addresses men only. See also note at 5.6. shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. Likewise, none of you shall crave your neighbor’s house, or field, or male or female slave, or ox, or ass, or anything that is your neighbor’s.
(19) ה' spoke those words to your whole congregation at the mountain, with a mighty voice out of the fire and the dense clouds. [God] inscribed them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me. (20) When you heard the voice out of the darkness, while the mountain was ablaze with fire, you came up to me, all your tribal heads and elders, (21) and said, “Our God ה' has just shown us a majestic Presence, and we have heard God’s voice out of the fire; we have seen this day that humankind may live though addressed by God.
It's fairly common knowledge that the 10 Commandments are re-stated again in Deuteronomy (a book whose name itself means "second telling" or "second law.") These 10 Commandments are very similar, though not identical to those in Exodus 20.
What variances do you see? Do you think this yields any difference in emphasis?
The "Cultic Dodecalogue"
(4) So Moses carved two tablets of stone, like the first, and early in the morning he went up on Mount Sinai, as ה' had commanded him, taking the two stone tablets with him.
(כז) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר ה' אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה כְּתׇב־לְךָ֖ אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה כִּ֞י עַל־פִּ֣י ׀ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה כָּרַ֧תִּי אִתְּךָ֛ בְּרִ֖ית וְאֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
(10) [God] said: I hereby make a covenant. Before all your people I will work such wonders as have not been wrought on all the earth or in any nation; and all the people who are with you shall see how awesome are ה’s deeds which I will perform for you. (11) Mark well what I command you this day. I will drive out before you the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
(12) Beware of making a covenant with the inhabitants of the land against which you are advancing, lest they be a snare in your midst.
(13) No, you must tear down their altars, smash their pillars, and cut down their sacred posts;
(14) for you must not worship any other god, because ה', whose name is Impassioned, is an impassioned God. (15) You must not make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for they will lust after their gods and sacrifice to their gods and invite you, and you will eat of their sacrifices. (16) And when you take [wives into your households] from among their daughters for your sons, their daughters will lust after their gods and will cause your sons to lust after their gods.
(17) You shall not make molten gods for yourselves.
(18) You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread—eating unleavened bread for seven days, as I have commanded you—at the set time of the month of Aviv [ie spring], for in the month of Aviv you went forth from Egypt.
(19) Every first issue of the womb is Mine, from all your livestock that drop a male as firstling, whether cattle or sheep.
(20) But the firstling of an ass you shall redeem with a sheep; if you do not redeem it, you must break its neck. And you must redeem every male first-born among your children. None shall appear before Me empty-handed.
(21) Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor; you shall cease from labor even at plowing time and harvest time.
(22) You shall observe the Feast of Weeks, of the first fruits of the wheat harvest; and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year.
(23) Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Sovereign ה', the God of Israel. (24) I will drive out nations from your path and enlarge your territory; no one will covet your land when you go up to appear before your God ה' three times a year.
(25) You shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with anything leavened; and the sacrifice of the Feast of Passover shall not be left lying until morning.
(26) The choice first fruits of your soil you shall bring to the house of your God ה'. You shall not boil a kid in its mother’s milk.
(27) And ה' said to Moses: Write down these commandments, for in accordance with these commandments I make a covenant with you and with Israel.
Pretty different, huh?! What are the emphases here? Does anything particularly strike you as strange or interesting?
A Dramatic Deuteronomic Vassal-Treaty Scene
(א) וַיְצַ֤ו מֹשֶׁה֙ וְזִקְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶת־הָעָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר שָׁמֹר֙ אֶת־כׇּל־הַמִּצְוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם הַיּֽוֹם׃ (ב) וְהָיָ֗ה בַּיּוֹם֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּעַבְר֣וּ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן֒ אֶל־הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־ה' אֱלֹקֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֣ן לָ֑ךְ וַהֲקֵמֹתָ֤ לְךָ֙ אֲבָנִ֣ים גְּדֹל֔וֹת וְשַׂדְתָּ֥ אֹתָ֖ם בַּשִּֽׂיד׃ (ג) וְכָתַבְתָּ֣ עֲלֵיהֶ֗ן אֶֽת־כׇּל־דִּבְרֵ֛י הַתּוֹרָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את בְּעׇבְרֶ֑ךָ לְמַ֡עַן אֲשֶׁר֩ תָּבֹ֨א אֶל־הָאָ֜רֶץ אֲֽשֶׁר־ה' אֱלֹקֶ֣יךָ ׀ נֹתֵ֣ן לְךָ֗ אֶ֣רֶץ זָבַ֤ת חָלָב֙ וּדְבַ֔שׁ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֛ר ה' אֱלֹהֵֽי־אֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ לָֽךְ׃ (ד) וְהָיָה֮ בְּעׇבְרְכֶ֣ם אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן֒ תָּקִ֜ימוּ אֶת־הָאֲבָנִ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָנֹכִ֜י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֛ם הַיּ֖וֹם בְּהַ֣ר עֵיבָ֑ל וְשַׂדְתָּ֥ אוֹתָ֖ם בַּשִּֽׂיד׃ (ה) וּבָנִ֤יתָ שָּׁם֙ מִזְבֵּ֔חַ לַה' אֱלֹקֶ֑יךָ מִזְבַּ֣ח אֲבָנִ֔ים לֹא־תָנִ֥יף עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם בַּרְזֶֽל׃ (ו) אֲבָנִ֤ים שְׁלֵמוֹת֙ תִּבְנֶ֔ה אֶת־מִזְבַּ֖ח ה' אֱלֹקֶ֑יךָ וְהַעֲלִ֤יתָ עָלָיו֙ עוֹלֹ֔ת לַה' אֱלֹקֶֽיךָ׃ (ז) וְזָבַחְתָּ֥ שְׁלָמִ֖ים וְאָכַ֣לְתָּ שָּׁ֑ם וְשָׂ֣מַחְתָּ֔ לִפְנֵ֖י ה' אֱלֹקֶֽיךָ׃ (ח) וְכָתַבְתָּ֣ עַל־הָאֲבָנִ֗ים אֶֽת־כׇּל־דִּבְרֵ֛י הַתּוֹרָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את בַּאֵ֥ר הֵיטֵֽב׃ {ס} (ט) וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר מֹשֶׁה֙ וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים הַלְוִיִּ֔ם אֶ֥ל כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר הַסְכֵּ֤ת ׀ וּשְׁמַע֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַיּ֤וֹם הַזֶּה֙ נִהְיֵ֣יתָֽ לְעָ֔ם לַה' אֱלֹקֶֽיךָ׃ (י) וְשָׁ֣מַעְתָּ֔ בְּק֖וֹל ה' אֱלֹקֶ֑יךָ וְעָשִׂ֤יתָ אֶת־מִצְוֺתָו֙ וְאֶת־חֻקָּ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּֽוֹם׃ {ס} (יא) וַיְצַ֤ו מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא לֵאמֹֽר׃ (יב) אֵ֠לֶּה יַֽעַמְד֞וּ לְבָרֵ֤ךְ אֶת־הָעָם֙ עַל־הַ֣ר גְּרִזִ֔ים בְּעׇבְרְכֶ֖ם אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן שִׁמְעוֹן֙ וְלֵוִ֣י וִֽיהוּדָ֔ה וְיִשָּׂשכָ֖ר וְיוֹסֵ֥ף וּבִנְיָמִֽן׃ (יג) וְאֵ֛לֶּה יַֽעַמְד֥וּ עַל־הַקְּלָלָ֖ה בְּהַ֣ר עֵיבָ֑ל רְאוּבֵן֙ גָּ֣ד וְאָשֵׁ֔ר וּזְבוּלֻ֖ן דָּ֥ן וְנַפְתָּלִֽי׃ (יד) וְעָנ֣וּ הַלְוִיִּ֗ם וְאָ֥מְר֛וּ אֶל־כׇּל־אִ֥ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל ק֥וֹל רָֽם׃ {ס}
(טו) אָר֣וּר הָאִ֡ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַעֲשֶׂה֩ פֶ֨סֶל וּמַסֵּכָ֜ה תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת ה' מַעֲשֵׂ֛ה יְדֵ֥י חָרָ֖שׁ וְשָׂ֣ם בַּסָּ֑תֶר וְעָנ֧וּ כׇל־הָעָ֛ם וְאָמְר֖וּ אָמֵֽן׃ {ס}
(טז) אָר֕וּר מַקְלֶ֥ה אָבִ֖יו וְאִמּ֑וֹ וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ {ס}
(יז) אָר֕וּר מַסִּ֖יג גְּב֣וּל רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ {ס}
(יח) אָר֕וּר מַשְׁגֶּ֥ה עִוֵּ֖ר בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ {ס}
(יט) אָר֗וּר מַטֶּ֛ה מִשְׁפַּ֥ט גֵּר־יָת֖וֹם וְאַלְמָנָ֑ה וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃*(ספק פרשה סתומה בכתר ארם צובה) (כ) אָר֗וּר שֹׁכֵב֙ עִם־אֵ֣שֶׁת אָבִ֔יו כִּ֥י גִלָּ֖ה כְּנַ֣ף אָבִ֑יו וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ {ס}
(כא) אָר֕וּר שֹׁכֵ֖ב עִם־כׇּל־בְּהֵמָ֑ה וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ {ס}
(כב) אָר֗וּר שֹׁכֵב֙ עִם־אֲחֹת֔וֹ בַּת־אָבִ֖יו א֣וֹ בַת־אִמּ֑וֹ וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ {ס}
(כג) אָר֕וּר שֹׁכֵ֖ב עִם־חֹֽתַנְתּ֑וֹ וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ {ס}
(כד) אָר֕וּר מַכֵּ֥ה רֵעֵ֖הוּ בַּסָּ֑תֶר וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ {ס}
(כה) אָרוּר֙ לֹקֵ֣חַ שֹׁ֔חַד לְהַכּ֥וֹת נֶ֖פֶשׁ דָּ֣ם נָקִ֑י וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ {ס}
(כו) אָר֗וּר אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹא־יָקִ֛ים אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֥י הַתּוֹרָֽה־הַזֹּ֖את לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת אוֹתָ֑ם וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ {פ}
(1) Moses and the elders of Israel charged the people, saying: Observe all the Instruction that I enjoin upon you this day. (2) As soon as you have crossed the Jordan into the land that your God ה' is giving you, you shall set up large stones. Coat them with plaster (3) and inscribe upon them all the words of this Teaching. When you cross over to enter the land that your God ה' is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as ה', the God of your ancestors, promised you— (4) upon crossing the Jordan, you shall set up these stones, about which I charge you this day, on Mount Ebal, and coat them with plaster. (5) There, too, you shall build an altar to your God ה', an altar of stones. Do not wield an iron tool over them; (6) you must build the altar of your God ה' of unhewn*unhewn Lit. “whole.” stones. You shall offer on it burnt offerings to your God ה', (7) and you shall sacrifice there offerings of well-being and eat them, rejoicing before your God ה'. (8) And on those stones you shall inscribe every word of this Teaching most distinctly. (9) Moses and the levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying: Silence! Hear, O Israel! Today you have become the people of your God
ה': (10) Heed your God ה' and observe the divine commandments and laws, which I enjoin upon you this day.
(11) Thereupon Moses charged the people, saying: ...
(15) Cursed be any party who makes a sculptured or molten image, abhorred by ה', a craftsman’s handiwork, and sets it up in secret.—And all the people shall respond, Amen.
(16) Cursed be the one who insults father or mother.—And all the people shall say, Amen.
(17) Cursed be the one who moves a neighbor’s landmark.—And all the people shall say, Amen.
(18) Cursed be the one who misdirects a blind person who is under way.—And all the people shall say, Amen.
(19) Cursed be the one who subverts the rights of the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.—And all the people shall say, Amen.
(20) Cursed be the [man] who lies with his father’s wife, for he has removed his father’s garment. —And all the people shall say, Amen.
(21) Cursed be the one who lies with any beast.—And all the people shall say, Amen.
(22) Cursed be the [man] who lies with his sister, whether daughter of his father or of his mother.—And all the people shall say, Amen.
(23) Cursed be the [man] who lies with his mother-in-law.—And all the people shall say, Amen.
(24) Cursed be the one who strikes down a fellow person in secret.—And all the people shall say, Amen.
(25) Cursed be the one who accepts a bribe in the case of the murder of*in the case of the murder of I.e., to acquit the murderer of; others “to slay.” an innocent person.—And all the people shall say, Amen.
(26) Cursed be whoever will not uphold the terms of this Teaching and observe them.—And all the people shall say, Amen.
What are the emphases here? Does anything particularly strike you as strange or interesting?
Job's "Code of Honor"
The idea is from Robert Gordis 1978 book, "The Book of Job: Commentary, New Translation, Special Studies." He excerpts key verses from Job's speech in chapter 31 and calls them "The Code of a Man of Honor":
- Suppressing lust - “Not to gaze on a maiden” (1).
- Business ethics - “Have I walked with worthless men” (5), “Let God ascertain my integrity” (6).
- Avoiding theft - “If my feet have strayed from their course” (7), “May I sow, but another reap” (8).
- Avoiding adultery - “If my heart was ravished by the wife of my neighbor” (9), “That would have been debauchery, a criminal offense” (11).
- Fair treatment of servants - “Did I ever brush aside the case of my servants” (13).
- Being kind towards the poor - “Did I deny the poor their needs or let a widow pine away” (16).
- Caring for the homeless - “I never saw an unclad wretch, a needy man without clothing” (19-20).
- Upholding the rights of the underprivileged - “If I raised my hand against the fatherless” (21), “May my arm drop off my shoulder” (22).
- Moderation - “Did I put my reliance on gold” (24), “Did I rejoice in my great wealth” (25).
- Avoiding of idolatry - “If ever I saw the light shining, the moon on its course in full glory, And I secretly succumbed” (26-27).
- Avoiding schadenfreude -“Did I rejoice over my enemy’s misfortune?” (29).
- Being hospitable - “No sojourner spent the night in the open; I opened my doors to the road” (31).
- Admitting shortcomings - “Did I hide my transgressions like Adam, bury my wrongdoing in my bosom” (33).
- Not using the law to promote his own interests - “If I have eaten its produce without payment and made its [rightful] owners despair” (39).
Not to gaze on a maiden. (2) What fate is decreed by God above?
What lot, by Shaddai in the heights? (3) Calamity is surely for the iniquitous;
Misfortune, for the worker of mischief. (4) Surely He observes my ways,
Takes account of my every step.
(5) Have I walked with worthless men,
Or my feet hurried to deceit? (6) Let Him weigh me on the scale of righteousness;
Let God ascertain my integrity. (7) If my feet have strayed from their course,
My heart followed after my eyes,
And a stain sullied my hands, (8) May I sow, but another reap,
May the growth of my field be uprooted! (9) If my heart was ravished by the wife of my neighbor,
And I lay in wait at his door, (10) May my wife grind for another,
May others kneel over her! (11) For that would have been debauchery,
A criminal offense, (12) A fire burning down to Abaddon,
Consuming the roots of all my increase. (13) Did I ever brush aside the case of my servants, man or maid,
When they made a complaint against me? (14) What then should I do when God arises;
When He calls me to account, what should I answer Him? (15) Did not He who made me in my mother’s belly make him?
Did not One form us both in the womb? (16) Did I deny the poor their needs,
Or let aaLit. “the eyes of a.” widow pine away, (17) By eating my food alone,
The fatherless not eating of it also? (18) Why, from my youth he grew up with me as though I were his father;
Since I left my mother’s womb I was herbViz., the widow’s. guide. (19) I never saw an unclad wretch,
A needy man without clothing, (20) Whose loins did not bless me
As he warmed himself with the shearings of my sheep. (21) If I raised my hand against the fatherless,
Looking to my supporters in the gate, (22) May my arm drop off my shoulder;
My forearm break off cLit. “from its shaft,” i.e., the humerus.at the elbow.-c (23) For I am in dread of God-sent calamity;
I cannot bear His threat. (24) Did I put my reliance on gold,
Or regard fine gold as my bulwark? (25) Did I rejoice in my great wealth,
In having attained plenty? (26) If ever I saw the light shining,
The moon on its course in full glory, (27) And I secretly succumbed,
And my hand touched my mouth in a kiss, (28) That, too, would have been a criminal offense,
For I would have denied God above. (29) Did I rejoice over my enemy’s misfortune?
Did I thrill because evil befell him? (30) I never let my mouthdLit. “palate.” sin
By wishing his death in a curse. (31) (Indeed, the men of my clan said,
“We would consume his flesh insatiably!”) (32) No sojourner spent the night in the open;
I opened my doors to the road. (33) Did I hide my transgressions like Adam,
Bury my wrongdoing in my bosom, (34) That I should [now] fear the great multitude,
And am shattered by the contempt of families,
So that I keep silent and do not step outdoors?
(35) O that I had someone to give me a hearing;
O that Shaddai would reply to my writ,
Or my accuser draw up a true bill! (36) I would carry it on my shoulder;
Tie it around me for a wreath. (37) I would give him an account of my steps,
Offer it as to a commander.
(38) If my land cries out against me,
Its furrows weep together; (39) If I have eaten its produce without payment,
And made its [rightful] owners despair, (40) May nettles grow there instead of wheat;
Instead of barley, stinkweed!
The words of Job are at an end.
The Universalistic 7
תנו רבנן שבע מצות נצטוו בני נח:
דינין
וברכת השם
ע"ז
גילוי עריות
ושפיכות דמים
וגזל
ואבר מן החי
§ Since the halakhot of the descendants of Noah have been mentioned, a full discussion of the Noahide mitzvot is presented. The Sages taught in a baraita: The descendants of Noah, i.e., all of humanity, were commanded to observe seven mitzvot: The mitzva of establishing courts of judgment; and the prohibition against blessing, i.e., cursing, the name of God; and the prohibition of idol worship; and the prohibition against forbidden sexual relations; and the prohibition of bloodshed; and the prohibition of robbery [or possibly kidnapping]; and the prohibition against eating a limb from a living animal.
What are the emphases here? Does anything particularly strike you as strange or interesting?
The Rabbinic (7?)
(א) אֵלּוּ דְבָרִים שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם שִׁעוּר. הַפֵּאָה, וְהַבִּכּוּרִים, וְהָרֵאָיוֹן, וּגְמִילוּת חֲסָדִים, וְתַלְמוּד תּוֹרָה. אֵלּוּ דְבָרִים שֶׁאָדָם אוֹכֵל פֵּרוֹתֵיהֶן בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וְהַקֶּרֶן קַיֶּמֶת לוֹ לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. כִּבּוּד אָב וָאֵם, וּגְמִילוּת חֲסָדִים, וַהֲבָאַת שָׁלוֹם בֵּין אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ, וְתַלְמוּד תּוֹרָה כְּנֶגֶד כֻּלָּם:
(1) These are the things that have no definite quantity [no upper limit]:
The corners [of the field].
First-fruits;
[The offerings brought] on appearing [at the Temple on the three pilgrimage festivals].
The performance of righteous deeds;
And the study of the torah.
The following are the things for which a man enjoys the fruits in this world while the principal remains for him in the world to come:
Honoring one’s father and mother;
The performance of righteous deeds;
And the making of peace between a person and his friend;
And the study of the torah is equal to them all.
What are the emphases here? Does anything particularly strike you as strange or interesting?
And all her paths, peaceful. (18) She is a tree of life to those who grasp her,
And whoever holds on to her is happy.