Source 1 · Acharonim
Verifiedrecovered from “Ohr HaChaim Genesis 12:1”
Or HaChaim on Genesis
אור החיים על בראשית י״ב:א׳
Or HaChaim on Genesis 12:1
The passage explains that God spoke to Abraham before revealing Himself to him (unlike other created beings) because Abraham uniquely recognized his Creator through his own wisdom, and subsequently tested Abraham's obedience before revealing His presence to him, with the separation between hearing God's words and seeing His revelation corresponding to the progressive stages of separation from one's land, birthplace, and father's house.
וַיֹּאמֶר ה׳ אֶל אַבְרָם וְגוֹ׳. טַעַם שֶׁדִּבֵּר אֵלָיו ה׳ קוֹדֶם הֵרָאוֹת לוֹ, מַה שֶׁלֹּא עָשָׂה כֵּן בְּכָל הַנִּבְרָאִים, שְׁנֵי טְעָמִים בַּדָּבָר: אוֹ לִהְיוֹת שֶׁהוּא עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם נִשְׁתַּדֵּל בְּהַכָּרַת בּוֹרְאוֹ מַה שֶׁלֹּא עָשָׂה אָדָם זוּלָתוֹ, וּבֶן חָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים הִכִּיר אֶת בּוֹרְאוֹ מֵעַצְמוֹ בְּהִתְחַכְּמוּתוֹ (נדרים לב:), לָזֶה לֹא הֻצְרַךְ לְהִגָּלוֹת אֵלָיו אֶלָּא אָמַר אֵלָיו דִּבְּרוֹתָיו וּכְבָר הֻכַּר אֶצְלוֹ הַמְדַבֵּר. אוֹ אֶפְשָׁר, כִּי לֶהֱיוֹתוֹ אָדָם רִאשׁוֹן בַּקְּדֻשָּׁה, אֲשֶׁר בַּעֲשָׂרָה דּוֹרוֹת שֶׁקָּדְמוּהוּ לֹא הָיָה אָדָם שֶׁהִכִּיר אֱלֹהוּתוֹ וְדִבֵּר אִתּוֹ אֱלֹהִים, לָזֶה נָהַג ה׳ עִמּוֹ בְּסֵדֶר זֶה שֶׁלֹּא הֶרְאָה שְׁכִינָתוֹ אֵלָיו עַד שֶׁבָּחַן אוֹתוֹ אִם מְקַיֵּם גְּזֵרוֹתָיו, וּלְאַחַר שֶׁקִּיֵּם דְּבָרָיו וְהָלַךְ לוֹ מֵאַרְצוֹ וְכוּ׳ אָז נִגְלָה אֵלָיו דִּכְתִיב (בראשית יב:ז) ״וַיֵּרָא ה׳ אֶל אַבְרָם״, מַה שֶׁאֵין כֵּן שְׁאָר הַנִּבְרָאִים שֶׁכְּבָר קָדְמָה וְנִשְׁתַּקְּעָה הָאֱמוּנָה בְּלִבָּם מֵאַבְרָהָם וְהֻשְׁרְשׁוּ בִּקְדֻשָּׁה הָיָה נִגְלֶה לָהֶם תְּחִלָּה. וְצֵא וּלְמַד מֵאָבוֹת וּמִמֹּשֶׁה בַּסְּנֶה. וְדֶרֶךְ זֶה מַסְכִּים לְדִבְרֵי רַזַ״ל (בראשית רבה פל״ט) שֶׁהֶעֱמִידוּ פָּסוּק (תהלים מה:יא) ״שִׁמְעִי בַת וּרְאִי״ וְגוֹ׳ בְּאַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ, בַּתְּחִלָּה שִׁמְעִי וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר ה׳ אֶל וְגוֹ׳, וְאַחַר כָּךְ נִגְלָה אֵלָיו ״וַיֵּרָא״ וְגוֹ׳, וְהוּא אָמרוֹ ״וּרְאִי״. וְלֹא הָיוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם שְׁמִיעָה וּרְאִיָּה כְּאַחַת אֶלָּא בְּהֶפְסֵק בֵּינֵיהֶם. וְלָזֶה לֹא אָמַר הַכָּתוּב ״שִׁמְעִי וּרְאִי בַּת״ אוֹ ״בַּת שִׁמְעִי וּרְאִי״ וְהִפְסִיק בֵּין ״שִׁמְעִי״ לְ״וּרְאִי״.
ויאמר ה׳ אל אברם, G'd said to Abram, etc. There are two reasons for the most unusual phenomenon of G'd speaking to Abraham without having first appeared to him in some kind of vision. 1) Abraham's constant endeavour to get to know his Creator, something no one had ever done before him. According to our tradition Abraham already recognised his Creator at the age of five without having received any guidance from a teacher. G'd therefore did not have to prove His existence to Abraham by appearing to him in a vision. He could take it for granted that Abraham was aware of who was speaking to him. 2) During the ten generations since Noach that preceded Abraham not a single human being had recognised his G'd so that G'd had found him worthy to speak to. G'd therefore decided to test Abraham before speaking to him. He did this by demanding of Abraham that he leave his home, etc. Only after he had successfully passed that test did G'd decide to reveal Himself to Abraham in a vision as we find in 12,7. G'd did not relate in this manner to later generations because those generations had already absorbed a measure of faith in G'd through the example of their patriarch Abraham. They were born into an environment of some sanctity, an advantage not enjoyed by Abraham. As a result, G'd was able to commence His communications with such people by granting them a vision before He spoke to them. In Psalms 45,11 the Psalmist refers to Abraham's experience when he says: "Take heed, lass, and note, incline your ear; forget your people and your father's house." Our sages declared that the first half of that verse שמעי, listen, applied to our patriarch Abraham, i.e. when G'd spoke to him in 12,1. The second half of the verse where the Psalmist speaks about דאי, i.e. a visual experience, refers to 12,7 when G'd is reported to have appeared to Abraham in a vision. The sound and the vision did not occur simultaneously. To signify this the Psalmist did not say שמעי וראי בת, but placed the word בת in the middle. The best proof for the correctness of our view is the comparison with Moses' experience at the burning bush (Exodus 3,2-4) when a visual phenomenon preceded G'd speaking to him.
Source 2 · Acharonim
Verifiedrecovered from “Ohr HaChaim Leviticus 19:18”
Or HaChaim on Leviticus
אור החיים על ויקרא י״ט:י״ח
Or HaChaim on Leviticus 19:18
The passage explains that the prohibition against revenge and grudge-bearing is connected to the commandment to love one's fellow, and describes a gradual progression in how Israel should conduct itself: first not to hate, then not to take revenge, and finally to love one's brother and fellow - with the exception of those who reject God, whom one must actually hate.
לֹא תִקֹּם וְגוֹ׳. רַזַ״ל (תורת כהנים כאן; יומא כג.) אָמְרוּ: נְקִימָה הוּא שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה לוֹ כְּמַעֲשֵׂהוּ הָרַע, נְטִירָה שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמַר לוֹ ״לֹא אֶעֱשֶׂה לְךָ כְּמַעֲשֶׂיךָ״. וּכְפִי זֶה נָתַן טַעַם הַכָּתוּב לְמִצְוָה זוֹ בִּסְמִיכוּת ״וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ״, פֵּרוּשׁ כִּי ה׳ חָפֵץ שֶׁתִּהְיֶה אוֹהֵב רֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ, וְאִם אַתָּה אוֹמֵר לוֹ כֵּן, הֲרֵי גִּלִּיתָ דַּעְתְּךָ כִּי טָמוּן הָיָה בְלִבְּךָ מַעֲשֵׂהוּ בִּלְתִּי הָגוּן לְךָ. וְנָתַן טַעַם לַדָּבָר ״אֲנִי ה׳״, פֵּרוּשׁ עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרָם (זוהר ח״ג טז.) שֶׁבְּאֶמְצָעוּת יִחוּד הַלְּבָבוֹת מִתְיַחֵד שְׁמוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ, לֶהֱיוֹת שֶׁכְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל הֵם עַנְפֵי שֵׁם הֲוָיָ״ה בָּרוּךְ הוּא, דִּכְתִיב (דברים ל״ב:ט׳) ״כִּי חֵלֶק ה׳ עַמּוֹ״. וְנִתְחַכֵּם ה׳ לְצַוּוֹת בְּעִנְיַן הַנְהָגַת יִשְׂרָאֵל זֶה עִם זֶה בְּהַדְרָגָה. מִצְוָה א׳: לֹא תִשְׂנָא. ב׳: לֹא תִקֹּם וְגוֹ׳. ג׳: וְאָהַבְתָּ, וְדִקְדֵּק לוֹמַר, אָחִיךָ, עַמְּךָ, לוֹמַר שֶׁאֵין מִצְוָה אֶלָּא עַל אֲנָשִׁים שֶׁעוֹשִׂים מַעֲשֵׂה עַמְּךָ, אֲבָל שׂוֹנְאֵי ה׳ כְּגוֹן הַמּוּמָרִים וְהָאֶפִּיקוֹרְסִים אָסוּר לֶאֱהֹב אוֹתָם וְאַדְרַבָּה צָרִיךְ לִשְׂנאוֹתָם, כְּאָמְרוֹ (תהלים קלט:כא) ״הֲלֹא מְשַׂנְאֶיךָ ה׳ אֶשְׂנָא״:
לא תקום ולא תטור, "Do not take vengeance and do not bear a grudge." Yuma 23 defines vengeance as someone responding in kind to a hateful act by his neighbour he has experienced, whereas the "grudge" is defined as repaying a hateful act with a kind act pointing out, however, that one is morally superior to the person who committed the hateful act. The proof for this is the verse following that one should "love your neighbour as yourself." The reason the Torah has to say this is to indicate that it is G'd's wish that we relate to our fellow Jews with the same love we have for ourselves. If the person described as bearing a grudge told his neighbour that despite the fact that the latter refused to lend him his spade, he in turn was willing to lend him his own spade, he indicated that he had harboured resentment against his neighbour first. G'd tells us that the reason we must not bear a grudge is because the Lord is our G'd. This means that by means of individual Israelites experiencing a unification of their hearts, G'd's Unity itself is enhanced. This is all based on the kabbalistic concept that all Jewish souls are branches of the Holy name of G'd (י־ה־ו־ה) based on Deut. 32,9 "for His people are part of Him" (compare Zohar volume 3 page 16). The Torah was very shrewd in giving these directives to the Israelite in a staggered form. 1) First of all, one is not to hate a fellow Jew; 2) next, one is not take revenge for something a fellow Jew has done to him; 3) one is not even to bear a grudge; 4) one is to love one's fellow Jew. The Torah uses 2 different descriptions for a fellow Jew, a) "your brother;" b) "your colleague" or "member of your people." This tells us that the legislation applies only to Jews who basically are Torah-observant but with whom you have a disagreement of a personal nature. If your hatred for them is due to such a Jew displaying his disdain for the Jewish religion one must not only not love them but hate them as we have been told by David in Psalms 139,21 "You know I hate those who hate You, etc."
Source 3 · Acharonim
Verifiedrecovered from “Ohr HaChaim Exodus 25:8”
Or HaChaim on Exodus
אור החיים על שמות כ״ה:ח׳
Or HaChaim on Exodus 25:8
The passage explains that the command to build a sanctuary applies to all times when Israel is present, uses the term "sanctuary" rather than "tabernacle" to indicate it is a general obligation that applies even in exile, and interprets "I will dwell among them" to mean God's presence will be surrounded by the Israelites arranged around the sanctuary, possibly reflecting Israel's desire at Mount Sinai to have God dwell in their midst as He was surrounded by the angels.
וְנִרְאֶה כִּי אָמְרוֹ וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ הִיא מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה כּוֹלֶלֶת כָּל הַזְּמַנִּים, בֵּין בַּמִּדְבָּר בֵּין בִּכְנִיסָתָן לָאָרֶץ בְּכָל זְמַן שֶׁיִּהְיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל שָׁם לְדוֹרוֹת. וּצְרִיכִין הָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לַעֲשׂוֹת כֵּן אֲפִלּוּ בַּגָּלֻיּוֹת, אֶלָּא שֶׁמָּצִינוּ שֶׁאָסַר ה׳ כָּל הַמְּקוֹמוֹת מֵעֵת שֶׁנִּבְנָה בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, כְּאָמְרוֹ (דברים יב:ט) ״כִּי לֹא בָאתֶם עַד עָתָּה אֶל הַמְּנוּחָה וְאֶל הַנַּחֲלָה״. וְלָזֶה לֹא אָמַר ״וְעָשׂוּ מִשְׁכָּן״ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה נִשְׁמָע שֶׁעַל אוֹתוֹ זְמַן לְבַד נֶאֶמְרָה מִצְוָה זוֹ.
Source 4 · Acharonim
Verifiedrecovered from “Ohr HaChaim Deuteronomy 8:3”
Or HaChaim on Deuteronomy
אור החיים על דברים ח׳:ג׳
Or HaChaim on Deuteronomy 8:3
The passage explains that the manna's praise is demonstrated by its unique ability to nourish both the afflicted and hungry person, as it is a pure food that requires no digestion and is suitable for all conditions, unlike other foods that can harm the sick or weak.
וְנִרְאֶה שֶׁגַּם כָּאן שֶׁבַח הַמָּן יַגִּיד, כִּי הַמַּאֲכָלִים יֶשְׁנָם בִּשְׁנֵי סוּגִים, יֵשׁ מַאֲכָל שֶׁשָּׁוֶה לַכֹּל, בֵּין בָּרִיא בֵּין חוֹלֶה, לְצַד הֱיוֹתוֹ נָקִי מֵהָעִפּוּשׁ וְכֻלּוֹ נִבְלָע בָּאֵבָרִים וְקַל לְהִתְעַכֵּל וּמַבְרִיא הָאָדָם, וְיֵשׁ מַאֲכָל שֶׁאֵינוֹ רָאוּי אֶלָּא לְבָרִיא אֲבָל לְחוֹלֶה יַזִּיקֶנּוּ וִיאַבְּדֶנּוּ. לָזֶה אָמַר הַכָּתוּב בְּעִנְיַן הַמָּן וַיְעַנְּךָ וַיַּרְעִבֶךָ וַיַּאֲכִלְךָ וְגוֹ׳ פֵּרוּשׁ וַיְעַנְּךָ עִנּוּי הַדֶּרֶךְ, וַיַּרְעִבֶךָ עִנּוּי חֶסְרוֹן הַמָּזוֹן, וְהִנֵּה יָדוּעַ הוּא שֶׁהַמִּתְעַנֶּה בַּדֶּרֶךְ יֵאָפְסוּ כֹּחוֹתָיו כֹּחַ הַמְּבַשֵּׁל וְכֹחַ הָעִכּוּל וּכְשֶׁאָדָם אוֹכֵל מַאֲכָל קָשֶׁה קְצָת לְהִתְעַכֵּל יַזִּיקֶנּוּ עַד מְאֹד גַּם כְּשֶׁיִּרְעַב הָאָדָם וְיֹאכַל כְּדֵי שְׂבִיעָה יְבִיאֶנּוּ לִידֵי חֹלִי, וְעֵינֵינוּ רוֹאוֹת כִּי יוֹם שֶׁמִּתְעַנֶּה הָאָדָם לְעֵת הָאֹכֶל לֹא יוּכַל אֱכֹל כְּכָל אַוַּת נַפְשׁוֹ, וְאָמַר וַיַּאֲכִלְךָ אֶת הַמָּן הֲרֵי שֶׁבַח הַמַּאֲכָל שֶׁהוּא דָּבָר הָרָאוּי אֲפִלּוּ לַמְּעֻנֶּה וְלָרָעֵב מִלְּבַד טַעַם הַנִּרְגָּשׁ שֶׁהָיָה כְּצַפִּיחִית בִּדְבָשׁ.
Source 5 · Acharonim
Verifiedrecovered from “Ohr HaChaim Exodus 3:10”
Or HaChaim on Exodus
אור החיים על שמות ג׳:י׳
Or HaChaim on Exodus 3:10
The passage explains multiple interpretations of why God told Moses "Go" and "I will send you," including that the journey itself is not the sole mission but will be followed by repeated sendings, that God will grant the mission only if Moses willingly accepts it, and that Moses' objections were permitted so he would go of his own free will after God addressed each concern.
עוֹד יִרְצֶה עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרָם (מכות י.) בְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁאָדָם רוֹצֶה לֵילֵךְ בָּהּ מוֹלִיכִין אוֹתוֹ, לָזֶה אָמַר אֵלָיו לְכָה פֵּרוּשׁ, אִם אַתָּה חָפֵץ בְּמִצְוָה זוֹ לָלֶכֶת אָז אֲנִי אַשְׁלִים חֶפְצְךָ וְאֶשְׁלָחֲךָ, וּמִזֶּה אַתָּה לָמֵד שֶׁאִם הוּא יִמְאַס מֵהֲלוֹךְ לֹא יִשְׁלָחֶנּוּ. וְאוּלַי כִּי לָזֶה הָיָה מֹשֶׁה מֵשִׁיב בִּטְעָנוֹת, כֵּיוָן שֶׁלֹּא רָאָה דְּבַר מֶלֶךְ שִׁלְטוֹן, אֶלָּא אִם יִרְצֶה הָיָה מְגַלֶּה דַּעְתּוֹ כִּי יֵשׁ לוֹ טְעָנוֹת מוֹנְעוֹת, וְהָיָה ה׳ מְשִׁיבוֹ עַל כָּל טַעֲנָה וְטַעֲנָה כְּדֵי שֶׁיֵּלֵךְ מִדַּעְתּוֹ וּרְצוֹנוֹ כַּאֲשֶׁר אֲבָאֵר בְּסָמוּךְ.
There is another element hinted at in the way G'd instructed Moses. We are taught in Makkot 10 that "G'd leads people on the path they have chosen for themselves." Therefore He first said to Moses: "Go, please!" He meant that if you Moses are willing to perform this commandment, I will send you, i.e. I will fulfil your wish and make you My messenger. From this you learn that if Moses would have refused the mission G'd would not have forced it upon him. Perhaps this is the reason that Moses argued with G'd. He did not feel that G'd had commanded him to accept the mission but had left it up to his own volition. Moses felt that G'd had given him leeway and would reply to any reservations he had about accepting such a mission. G'd wanted that when Moses would finally accept the mission he should do so because he wanted to and not because he had been forced to do so.
Source 6 · Acharonim
Verifiedrecovered from “Ohr HaChaim Numbers 6:22”
Or HaChaim on Numbers
אור החיים על במדבר ו׳:כ״ו
Or HaChaim on Numbers 6:26
The passage explains that when God lifts His face toward you after your deeds have separated your sins from between you and God, He grants you peace, which represents the opposite of separation and is the fundamental force that sustains both the higher and lower realms, serving as the vessel that holds blessing when there is no division, and this is the secret meaning of placing God's name upon the children of Israel followed by the blessing.
פֵּרוּשׁ, אִם סִבְּבוּ מַעֲשִׂים עַד שֶׁהִבְדִּילוּ עֲוֹנוֹתֵיכֶם בֵּינֵיכֶם וּבֵין אֱלֹהֵיכֶם – יִשָּׂא ה׳ הַמַּבְדִּיל. וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם, פֵּרוּשׁ, הוּא הֵפֶךְ הַפֵּרוּד, וְהַמַּשְׂכִּיל בְּתֵיבַת שָׁלוֹם יֵדַע כִּי הוּא זֶה יְסוֹד עוֹלָם הַמַּחְזִיק בָּעֶלְיוֹנִים וּבַתַּחְתּוֹנִים, וְהוּא כְּלִי הַמַּחְזִיק בְּרָכָה כְּשֶׁאֵין מַפְרִיד, וְזֶה הוּא סוֹד ״וְשָׂמוּ אֶת שְׁמִי עַל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל״ שֶׁגָּמַר אוֹמֶר ״וַאֲנִי אֲבָרְכֵם״.
Anyone examining the word carefully realises that the concept it represents is the foundation our world is built upon, the force which ensures that the "higher" world and our "lower" world can co-exist successfully. This is the mystical dimension of the words: "and they shall put My name upon the children of Israel," and the concluding words "and I will bless them."
Source 7 · Acharonim
Verifiedrecovered from “Ohr HaChaim Deuteronomy 29:9”
Or HaChaim on Deuteronomy
אור החיים על דברים כ״ט:ט׳
Or HaChaim on Deuteronomy 29:9
The passage explains that the covenant at Netzavim aims to establish mutual responsibility among all Israel, where each person is obligated to restrain their fellow Jew according to their ability, with leaders responsible for all Israel, tribal leaders for their tribes, elders for their families, and common people for their households.
וְנִרְאֶה כִּי כַּוָּנַת מֹשֶׁה בִּבְרִית זֶה הוּא לְהַכְנִיסָם בְּעַרְבוּת זֶה עַל זֶה, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּשְׁתַּדֵּל כָּל אֶחָד בְּעַד חֲבֵרוֹ לְבַל יַעֲבֹר פִּי ה׳, וְיִהְיוּ נִתְפָּסִים זֶה בְּעַד זֶה. וְהָעֵד הַנֶּאֱמָן מַה שֶׁגָּמַר אוֹמֶר ״הַנִּסְתָּרֹת לַה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ וְהַנִּגְלֹת לָנוּ״ וְגוֹ׳ (דברים כט:כח), הֲרֵי שֶׁעַל הָעַרְבוּת מְדַבֵּר הַכָּתוּב. וְאֵין זֶה הַבְּרִית שֶׁאָמַר בְּסוֹף פָּרָשַׁת תָּבֹא, כִּי אוֹתוֹ בְּרִית הוּא עַל עַצְמָן, וְזֶה שֶׁיִּתְחַיֵּב כָּל אֶחָד עַל אָחִיהוּ הָעִבְרִי כְּפִי הַיְּכֹלֶת שֶׁבְּיַד כָּל אֶחָד.
Source 8 · Acharonim
Verifiedrecovered from “Ohr HaChaim Numbers 20:12”
Or HaChaim on Numbers
אור החיים על במדבר כ׳:י״ב
Or HaChaim on Numbers 20:12
The passage explains that God's statement to Moses and Aaron serves to publicly clarify the specific sin for which they would die in the desert, so that future generations would understand they were not being punished like the wicked generation but rather for their own lack of faith.
וְיִתְבָּאֵר עַל פִּי מַה שֶׁאָמְרוּ בַּמִּדְרָשׁ (במדבר רבה יט,יב) שֶׁאָמַר מֹשֶׁה לִפְנֵי ה׳: הֲרֵי גָּזַרְתָּ עָלַי לָמוּת בַּמִּדְבָּר עִם הַדּוֹר הָרָע הַזֶּה וְכוּ׳, יֹאמְרוּ הַדּוֹרוֹת שֶׁאֲנִי שָׁוֶה לָהֶם, יִכָּתֵב עָלַי עַל מַה נֶעֱנַשְׁתִּי, לְפִיכָךְ כְּתִיב יַעַן לֹא הֶאֱמַנְתֶּם בִּי וְגוֹ׳, עַד כָּאן. וְהוּא מַה שֶׁרָמַז ה׳ בְּאָמְרוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר לְשׁוֹן רוֹמְמוּת לְמֹשֶׁה וּלְאַהֲרֹן, שֶׁנִּכְתַּב חֶטְאָם שֶׁעָלָיו מֵתוּ שֶׁהוּא ״יַעַן לֹא״ וְגוֹ׳, וְלֹא יַחְשְׁבוּ הַדּוֹרוֹת שֶׁהֵם שָׁוִים לַדּוֹר הָרָע חָס וְשָׁלוֹם.
Source 9 · Acharonim
Verifiedrecovered from “Ohr HaChaim Exodus 14:19”
Or HaChaim on Exodus
אור החיים על שמות י״ד:י״ט
Or HaChaim on Exodus 14:19
The passage explains that three clouds served Israel during the exodus—one to scout ahead, one to shield from the sun, and one to illuminate at night—and describes how on this particular night, the two clouds that had been in front moved behind Israel to create darkness in front of them so the Egyptians could not see the Israelite camp, while simultaneously the cloud and darkness provided light for Israel themselves.
נִמְצֵאתָ אוֹמֵר כִּי שְׁנֵי עֲנָנִים שֶׁהָיוּ לִפְנֵיהֶם נָסְעוּ לְאַחֲרֵיהֶם, וְטַעַם הַשֵּׁנִי כְּדֵי שֶׁיַּחְשִׁיךְ לִפְנֵיהֶם בִּלְתִּי דַּעַת מְקוֹם תַּחֲנוֹתָם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ וַיְהִי הֶעָנָן וְהַחֹשֶׁךְ וַיָּאֶר אֶת הַלָּיְלָה, פֵּרוּשׁ כִּי הֻצְרַךְ לִשְׁנֵיהֶם לְהַחְשִׁיךְ בִּפְנֵיהֶם לְבַל יֵדְעוּ מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁהָיָה בּוֹ אוֹרָה הַלַּיְלָה, וְהָאוֹר יַגִּיד לָהֶם מָקוֹם. לָזֶה כִּסָּה חֹשֶׁךְ פְּנֵיהֶם, וְלֹא הִסְפִּיק לוֹ חֹשֶׁךְ לְבַד כִּי יַבְהִיק אוֹר בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּמוֹשְׁבוֹתָם, לָזֶה עָשָׂה ה׳ שְׁנַיִם – הֶעָנָן וְהַחֹשֶׁךְ.
Source 10 · Acharonim
Verifiedrecovered from “Ohr HaChaim Genesis 28:12”
Or HaChaim on Genesis
אור החיים על בראשית כ״ח:י״ב
Or HaChaim on Genesis 28:12
The passage explains that Jacob's dream is distinguished from ordinary dreams by the phrase "and behold," which indicates that the matters were revealed to him with perfect clarity and certainty rather than with the confusion and uncertainty of typical dreams, and this phrase is repeated for each specific element he perceives because his vision constitutes actual prophecy.
לֶהֱיוֹת שֶׁאֵין הַחֲלוֹם מֻחְלָט בִּבְחִינַת הַצֶּדֶק כִּי חֲלוֹמוֹת שָׁוְא הֵם, גַּם שֶׁעַל כָּל פָּנִים יִהְיֶה בָּהֶם תֶּבֶן כִּי הֵם בְּמַרְאֵה הַשִּׁעֲמוּם, לָזֶה אָמַר ״וְהִנֵּה״ – פֵּרוּשׁ כִּי הַדְּבָרִים בְּלֹא שִׁעֲמוּם וְדִמְיוֹנוֹת אֶלָּא כָּל דָּבָר נִגְלֶה אֶצְלוֹ וּמְבֹאָר כְּיוֹם יָאִיר וְאֵין זֶה דּוֹמֶה לִשְׁאָר הַחֲלוֹמוֹת שֶׁרוֹאֶה דָּבָר וְאֵינוֹ מַחְלִיט בִּרְאִיָּתוֹ מַה שֶׁהוּא רוֹאֶה. וְלָזֶה תִּמְצָא שֶׁדִּקְדֵּק לוֹמַר בְּכָל פְּרָט וּפְרָט מֵהַנִּגְלֶה אֵלָיו בַּחֲלוֹם ״וְהִנֵּה״, גַּבֵּי רְאִיַּת הַסֻּלָּם אָמַר וְהִנֵּה סֻלָּם, גַּבֵּי רְאִיַּת הַמַּלְאָכִים אָמַר וְהִנֵּה מַלְאֲכֵי וְגוֹ׳, גַּבֵּי גִּלּוּי שְׁכִינָה אָמַר וְהִנֵּה ה׳, הַכַּוָּנָה בָּזֶה כִּי הָיְתָה נְבוּאָה מַמָּשׁ.
He had total recall of everything he dreamed and referred to each detail later on. This is why the word והנה is repeated before every segment of the dream. The Torah thereby characterises the dream as a prophetic revelation.
Source 11 · Acharonim
Verifiedrecovered from “Ohr HaChaim Leviticus 25:1”
Or HaChaim on Leviticus
אור החיים על ויקרא כ״ה:א׳
Or HaChaim on Leviticus 25:1
The passage explains that Mount Sinai is specifically mentioned in this commandment to teach that the Land of Israel was given conditionally upon receiving the Torah, and that Jews before receiving Torah had the status of non-Jews regarding gifts, but after receiving Torah at Sinai they became eligible recipients, which is why the passage emphasizes "which I am giving to you."
בְּהַר סִינַי וְגוֹ׳. צָרִיךְ לָדַעַת לָמָּה הִזְכִּיר הַר סִינַי בְּמִצְוָה זוֹ, וַהֲגַם שֶׁרַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה אָמְרוּ (תורת כהנים) כִּי לְלַמֵּד בָּא שֶׁכָּל הַמִּצְווֹת נֶאֶמְרוּ כְּלָלוֹתֵיהֶן וּפְרָטוֹתֵיהֶן בְּסִינַי, עֲדַיִן יֵשׁ מָקוֹם לִשְׁאֵלָתֵנוּ לָמָּה לֹא לִמֵּד זֶה אֶלָּא בְּמִצְוָה זוֹ בְּדִיּוּק וְלֹא בְּמִצְוָה רִאשׁוֹנָה אוֹ אַחֲרוֹנָה. וְאוּלַי כִּי לְצַד שֶׁהִזְכִּיר מַתְּנַת הָאָרֶץ, דִּכְתִיב אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי נוֹתֵן דִּקְדֵּק לוֹמַר בְּהַר סִינַי, לוֹמַר כִּי מֵחֲמַת הַר סִינַי, פֵּרוּשׁ, מַה שֶׁקִּבְּלוּ בּוֹ הִיא שֶׁנִּגְמְרָה הַמַּתָּנָה, שֶׁעַל מְנַת תּוֹרָה נָתַן ה׳ אֶת הָאָרֶץ. עוֹד עַל פִּי מַאֲמַר הַגְּמָרָא מַסֶּכֶת עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה (ע״ז כ.) וּפָסְקוֹ רַמְבַּ״ם בְּפֶרֶק ג׳ מֵהִלְכוֹת זְכִיָּה, וְזֶה לְשׁוֹנוֹ: אָסוּר לָתֵת לְעַכּוּ״ם מַתְּנַת חִנָּם, עַד כָּאן. וְאִם כֵּן יִשְׂרָאֵל קוֹדֶם שֶׁקִּבְּלוּ הַתּוֹרָה דִּינָם כְּעַכּוּ״ם, וְאַחַר קַבָּלַת תּוֹרָה יָכוֹל לִיתֵּן לָהֶם, לָזֶה אָמַר בְּהַר סִינַי שֶׁבָּזֶה יָכוֹל לוֹמַר ״אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי נוֹתֵן לָכֶם״. וּבָזֶה נִתְיַשֵּׁב גַּם כֵּן לָמָּה הֻצְרַךְ לוֹמַר ״אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי נוֹתֵן״, כִּי פְּשִׁיטָא כִּי הוּא הַנּוֹתֵן וְאֵין אַחֵר לִטְעוֹת בּוֹ. וְתִמְצָא שֶׁבְּפָרָשַׁת קְדוֹשִׁים (ויקרא יט:כג) אָמַר ״כִּי תָבֹאוּ אֶל הָאָרֶץ וּנְטַעְתֶּם״ וְגוֹ׳, וְלֹא הֻצְרַךְ לוֹמַר בָּהּ סִימָן, אֶלָּא שֶׁנִּתְכַּוֵּן לְמַה שֶׁכָּתַבְנוּ. וּמֵעַתָּה יִתְיַשֵּׁב לָמָּה בָּחַר ה׳ לִלְמֹד בִּנְיַן אָב זֶה לְכָל הַתּוֹרָה בְּפָרָשָׁה זוֹ וְלֹא בְּפָרָשָׁה אַחֶרֶת.
בהר סיני, at Mount Sinai. We need to know why the Torah found it necessary to mention that this legislation was revealed at Mount Sinai. While it is true that our sages in Torat Kohanim explain that this is merely a reminder of the fact that all the commandments were given to Moses at Mount Sinai, both in general terms as well as in all their details, this does not answer the question why the Torah selected this commandment to remind us of that fact. It would have made much better sense to state this fact either when relating the first or the last of the Torah's commandments. Perhaps the fact that here G'd describes His gift to the Jewish people, the land of Israel, prompted Him to remind the people that the gift of the land was conditional on the people observing the commandments they had accepted at the time they stood at Mount Sinai and received the Ten Commandments. The present tense, i.e. אשר אני נותן ties the gift to Mount Sinai where the Israelites undertook to keep the Torah. Another reason may be related to a statement we find in Avodah Zarah 20 and considered as binding by Maimonides in chapter 3 of his treatise called Zechiyah. Here is what Maimonides writes: "It is forbidden to give a gift to a pagan (unless it is in return for services rendered)." We must remember that prior to acceptance of the Torah by the Jewish people they themselves were legally in the category of pagans, i.e. G'd could not legally make a gift of the land of Israel to the Jewish people until they offered some value in return. He could only give the land of Israel to them after the revelation at Mount Sinai. G'd alluded to this when the Torah mentioned Mount Sinai as the reason for "the land which I am about to give to you." This also answers the question why G'd had to say: "which I am giving to you." There was never any doubt that it was G'd from whom we would receive this gift so that we could have erred if the Torah did not repeat it. You will note that in Leviticus 19,23 where the Torah legislates about the ערלה restrictions the subject is introduced as follows: "when you come to the land and plant fruit-bearing trees, etc." In that instance the Torah did not mention who gives the land to the Israelites, etc. This supports our theory about why G'd selected the example of our verse to teach us that the gift of the land of Israel is tied to the experience at Mount Sinai.