What are the connotations of "v'ha'Yashar b'Einav, Ta'aseh"?
Mechilta: "v'ha'Yashar b'Einav, Ta'aseh" refers to doing business with integrity. 1
What are the connotations of "v'Ha'azanta l'Mitzvosav"?
Rashi: It means that one should take care to observe the Mitzvos carefully.
Ramban (citing the Ibn Ezra): Refer to 15:26:1:2.
Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: It means that one should pay heed to the Mitzvos.
Mechilta: It means that one should study the Mishnayos. "v'Shamarta Kol Chukav" means the Halachos l'Moshe mi'Sinai. 1
Yerushalmi Berachos, 2:4: It implies that one's ears should hear what one's mouth speaks - with regard to not reciting Keri'as Shema quietly. 2
What is the difference between Shemi'ah, Asiyah and Ha'azanah?
Rashi: Shemi'ah means acceptance, Asiyah, performing and Ha'azanah, to listen and observe with great care.
Ramban #1 (citing the Ibn Ezra): "Shamo'a Tishma" means to know the reasons for the Mitzvos; "v'ha'Yashar b'Einav, Ta'aseh" refers to the Mitzvos Aseh; and "v'Ha'azanta l'Mitzvosav" to the Mitzvos Lo Sa'aseh.
Why did Hashem mention the plagues of Egypt here?
Rashi (to Devarim 28:60): When Yisrael saw the unconventional plagues which struck Egypt, they were frightened that they would not suffer the same fate; 1 therefore Hashem assured them (here) that they had nothing to fear as long as they kept the Mitzvos, but warned them (there) that if they will not keep the Mitzvos, they will suffer the same fate. 2
Ramban (citing the Ibn Ezra): Following the downfall of the Egyptians, this was the first miracle that took place in the desert, and was the reverse of the first of the ten plagues - since there Hashem made the sweet water bitter, whereas here, He made the bitter water sweet, It sent a message to Yisrael, that He has the ability to perform two opposite miracles, to encourage them to fear Him and not to turn against Him, and to love Him, since He would do good to them just as He had healed the water on their behalf.
Rashbam: Hashem tested Yisrael by depriving them of water and subsequently healing it, He was showing them that, if they would adhere to the Mitzvos that He was teaching them, He would not plague 3 them in the way that He had plagued Egypt by turning their water into blood.
Berachos 5a: The Torah is telling us that if someone studies Torah, all suffering will leave him. 4
Rabeinu Bachye points out that the Gematriya of the word 'Asher' ("[Kol ha'Machalah] Asher [Samti b'Mitzrayim Lo Asim Alecha]" - which is 501) is equivalent to that of the first letters of the ten plagues that were engraved on Moshe's stick ('Detzach Adash Be'achav').
Since one tends to threaten a person with something that he is afraid of (Rashi).
Rashbam: Because "Machalah" refers to a lack of water, as in Shemos 23:25. See also Melachim II 2:21, where the Pasuk uses a similar expression of healing with regard to water.
See Torah Temimah, note 43.
If Hashem will not place the plagues of Egypt upon us, then what does "Ki Ani Hashem Rofe'echa" mean?
Rashi #1: Hashem promises that He will not strike us with the plagues of Egypt and that if and when He does, it is as if He had not - because whereas the plagues destroyed the Egyptians, He strikes Yisrael like a doctor operates on a patient - for his good, to enable him to survive and continue living. 1
Rashi #2: Because, like a good doctor, I teach you Yisrael how to avoid the plagues of Egypt 2 - by performing the Mitzvos that I teach to you..
Ramban #1: It means that, in the event that Yisrael are stricken with natural illnesses (Refer to 15:26:2:3*), He is their doctor and will cure them. 3
Ramban #2, Targum Yonasan, and Sanhedrin 101a: Hashem will not strike Yisrael with the plagues of Egypt, if they listen to Him ... ; but if they don't, and He strikes them, (then, if they do Teshuvah - Targum Yonasan), He is their doctor, and He will cure them. 4
Seforno: "Ki Ani Hashem Rofe'echa" is another way of saying that all the Mitzvos serve as a cure for the soul, and that consequently, if, on the one hand, Yisrael will accept all the Mitzvos and stick to them, they will be spared all the plagues of the Egyptians, but that, on the other, if they will accept them initially and then discard them, they will be subject to all the plagues of the Egyptians and more. 5
Sifsei Chachamim.
Rashi: This is like a doctor who tells his patients that if they avoid eating certain foods, they will remain healthy. Hadar Zekenim - Eating Neveilos, vermin, and Tamei species, and contact with Temei'im, harm the body. Da'as Zekenim - And the Mitzvah is a cure, as in the Pasuk, "ul'Chol Besaro Marpei" (Mishlei 4:22).
See also answer #4.
Ramban: To conform to the Pasuk in Ki Savo, Devarim 28:9.
Seforno: Similar to the warning that Beis-Din issue to a Ger when he converts. See Yevamos 47a.
How will we reconcile the current Pasuk, where Refu'ah applies to people, with the Pasuk in Parshas Metzora (Vayikra 14:48) where it applies to the illness?
Riva: When the illness is external and visible, Refu'ah applies to it, but when the illness is internal and not visible, Refu'ah applies to the person.
Why does the Torah use the double expression, "Im Shamo'a Tishma"?
Rashi (to Devarim 15:5): 'If you will heed (Hashem's voice) when you have little, He will enable you to heed it when you have plenty.' 1
Seforno: Because it is referring to the 'Chok u'Mishpat' that Hashem gave them at Marah 2 and that Yisrael will go in Hashem's ways from now on.
Rosh #1 (in Ki Savo Devarim 28:1): 'If you will listen to (Divrei Torah) in this world, you will listen to Divrei Torah in the world to come.'
Rosh #2 (in Devarim 28:1): 'If you will heed your Rebbi, in the end you will teach others.'
Berachos 40a #1: (Only) if you listened (to the Torah) will you continue to listen, otherwise not.
Berachos 40a #2: If you listened to (observed) the old you will listen to the new; 3 but if you turn your heart away (from the old), you will not
Mechilta: 'If you will keep one Mitzvah, you will keep many Mitzvos.' 4
Berachos 40a: As opposed to the world, in which empty vessels can receive, but not full ones, in Hashem's world, full ones can receive, but not empty ones. As the Pasuk writes, "Yaheiv Chochmesa l'Chakimin" (Daniel 2:21).
See Torah Temimah, note 39.
As the Mishnah states (Avos 4:2), 'Mitzvah Goreres Mitzvah.'
