1)

Why did Hashem give the Aseres ha'Dibros with the Name 'Elokim] and not with the Name 'Hashem'?

1.

Rashi: Because it is Midas ha'Din, and therefore implies that the Aseres ha'Dibros are obligatory, and that not keeping them is subject to punishment. 1


1

As opposed to certain other Mitzvos, which are voluntary, and which are therefore not punishable (Rashi).

2)

What are the connotations of "Kol ha'Devarim"?

1.

Rashi: It implies that Hashem said all the Aseres ha'Dibros simultaneously. 1

2.

Chagigah, 3:2: To teach us that, when Chachamim sit and study Torah together, even though some say 'Tamei' and some, 'Tahor'; some declare Pasul and some,'Kasher'; some rule 'Asur', and some, 'Mutar', they are all given by One and the same G-d. 2


1

Something that no human-being can duplicate (Rashi).

2

'Zeh ve'Zeh, Divrei Elokim Chayim'. See Torah Temimah, note 1, who elaborates.

3)

If, as the Sifri explains, Hashem said all the Aseres ha'Dibros simultaneously, why does the Torah write "Anochi" and "Lo Yihyeh l'cha" in the first person, and the remaining eight in the third person - implying that only the first two Dibros were said simultaneously, but not the rest?

1.

Rashi: Because when they were repeated (in order to explain them), Hashem repeated the first two, 1 and Moshe, the rest. 2

2.

Chizkuni: Hashem began to explain each Dibur, but after He had explained the first two, the people could not bear to hear any more, so Moshe explained the last eight.


1

Since they are the foundation of Emunah and of the entire Torah.

2

See also Sifsei Chachamim and refer to 20:3:1:2.

4)

What are the connotations of "ha'Devariim ha'Eileh"?

1.

Oznayim la'Torah: It has connotations of 'strength' (tough, basic issues). 1


1

Oznayim la'Torah: As in Yechezkel, 17:13 "ve'es Eilei ha'Aretz Lakach" - based on the Gemara in Bava Basra, 88b, in connection with the Isur of weights and measures.

5)

Why did the Torah add the word "Leimor"?

1.

Rashi: To teach us that they acknowledged the positive commands with a 'Yes!' and the negative ones, with a 'No!' 1


1

See Sifsei Chachamim.

6)

Rashi asked that, since Hashem said all ten Dibros at once, why does the Torah write "Anochi" and "Lo Yihyeh l'cha". Surely Moshe needed to say them, and they needed to be written, so we will know that is what they are?

1.

Da'as Zekenim and Hadar Zekenim: He asks why Moshe wrote them in separate Pesukm, and not all in one Pasuk. 1

2.

Da'as Zekenim and Hadar Zekenim, (both citing R. Baruch), Riva and Rosh: He asks why these two are written in the first person, 2 as opposed to the other eight, which are written in the third person. (Moreover, the Trop 3 indicates that they are in one Pasuk and in the same Parshah, and each other Dibur has its own Pasuk [except for from "Lo Sirtzach" until "Lo Sa'aneh", which are short] and its own Parshah - R. Baruch).

3.

Mizrachi #1: He asks why Hashem repeated them.


1

And he answers, because Hashem repeated each one independently.

2

Rosh, citing the Ramban: They are in the first person because they are primary - Kabalas Ol Malchus Shamayim, and the abomination of idolatry. It is as if Hashem spoke face to face to us to teach them to us. The others are not so primary. They were not (Tosfos ha'Shalem 9) like one who hears from Hashem.

3

The 'Ta'am Elyon' found at the end of most Chumashim; in some communities, the Aseres ha'Dibros are read according to the Ta'am Elyon. From Lo Sirtzach until Lo Sa'aneh are all one Pasuk according to the Ta'am Tachton, but not according to the Ta'am Elyon (PF).

QUESTIONS ON RASHI

7)

Rashi writes that Hashem said all the Aseres ha'Dibros to Yisrael. But in Kedoshim Vayikra, 19:19, he said that Yisrael heard from Him only "Anochi" and "Lo Yihyeh Lecha"!

1.

Moshav Zekenim: "Anochi" and "Lo Yihyeh Lecha" Yisrael heard only from Hashem. The others they heard from Moshe, and Hashem amplified his voice.

2.

Refer to 20:1:3:1 & 2.

8)

Rashi writes that Hashem said all the Aseres ha'Dibros at once. Then why does the Gemara say in Makos, 24a that [only] "Anochi" and "Lo Yihyeh l'cha" were said at once?

1.

Moshav Zekenim: These two Yisrael understood (Da'as Zekenim and Hadar Zekenim - heard) direcly from Hashem, as the Pasuk writes in Tehilim 62:12 "Achas Diber Elokim Sh'tayim Zu Shama'ati". 1 The other six hundred and eleven they needed to hear from Moshe, 2 as the Torah writes in Vezos ha'Berachah Devarim, 33:4 "Torah Tzivah lanu Moshe".


1

The Zohar (2 Yisro 81b) implies this, and some commentaries attribute it to the Mechilta, though it does not appear in our text (PF).

2

The Gematriyah of "Torah" is six hundred and eleven (Makos 24a). See Torah Temimah, note 8, who elaborates.

9)

Rashi writes that Hashem said all the Aseres ha'Dibros at once. How could Yisrael hear them - bearing in mind that even one at a time they could not bear to hear?

1.

Moshav Zekenim: Initially, Hashem said all ten Dibros at once to Moshe. Then, when He wanted to say them to Yisrael, they were able to hear only the first two.

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