What is "Ge'on Uzchem referring to?
Rashi and Targum Yonasan: It refers to the Beis-Hamikdash. 1
Gitin, 37a: It refers to the princes or the aristocratic leaders, who are the pride and strength of Yisrael. 2
Why does the Pasuk write here "Es Shemeichem ka'Barzel" and "ve'es Artz'chem ka'Nechushah", whereas in Ki Savo Devarim, 28:19 it writes "Vehayu Shamecha asher al Roshcha Nechoshes" and "ve'ha'Aretz asher Tachtecha Barzel"?
Rashi: The punishment here is worse than the one in Ki Savo, inasmuch as 'The sky will be like copper' (as stated there) implies that it will sweat (drizzle rain) like copper sweats, and 'the earth will be like iron', that it will not sweat (to produce a humidity that spoils whatever grows); whereas here, 'The sky will be (dry) like copper and the earth moist like iron', which implies that not a drop of rain will fall and any thing that happens to grow will be spoiled by the humidity of the earth. 1
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes that the punishment here is worse than in Ki Savo. But the Gemara in Bava Basra, 88b states that Hashem is more benevolent than people - Hashem blessed Yisrael with all twenty-two letters - from 'Alef' till 'Tav' ("Im ..."Komamiyus"), and cursed them with eight - from 'Vav' till 'Mem' ("ve'Im" ... "Avonam"), whereas Moshe cursed them with twenty-two letters and blessed them with eight?
Moshav Zekenim: Even though [Hashem was careful that His B'rachos span more letters than His curses, and Moshe was not], His curses were harsher.
Toldos Yitzchak (in Pasuk 42): Hashem blessed them from 'Alef' till 'Tav', to hint to them that the B'rachos will be only if Yisrael fulfill the Torah from 'Alef' till 'Tav'; 1 and He cursed them from 'Vav' till 'Hey (of "be'Yad Moshe". These letters comprise half of His name - "Imo Anochi be'Tzarah" (it is as if Hashem's name is not complete when Yisrael suffer).
If so, also regarding this, Moshe was more benevolent. Perhaps his curses are only if Yisrael transgress the Torah from 'Alef' till 'Tav' (PF).
