What was Moshe afraid of?
Rashi: He was afraid that, having seen the various forms of Avodah Zarah, perhaps there are those who in their hearts will decline to enter into the B'ris that Hashem is making with Yisrael - even as they accept it with their mouths.
Why does the Torah mention 'a woman' separately?
Ramban: Because of the principle 'Nashim Da'atan Kalos' - 'Women are more gullible than men'.
Oznayim la'Torah #1: Because women have a stronger tendency than men towards serving Avodah Zarah. 1
Oznayim la'Torah #2: Because all the women survived the decree of the Meraglim, and many of them settled in Egypt and were not present when the B'ris was initially declared.
Like we find in Yirmiyah, chap. 44. See Oznayim la'Torah.
The Torah mentions, individuals, families and tribes. Why does it not mention Klal Yisrael as a whole?
Ramban: Either in deference to the honor of Yisrael, or because it is inconceivable that the whole of Yisrael should harbor idolatrous thoughts, particularly bearing in mind that they entered the B'ris of Hashem and the curse on their own volition.
What are "Rosh" and "La'anah"?
Rashi: They are two kinds of bitter (noxious - Ramban) plants 1 - (gall and wormwood - the Living Torah) that are bitter like 'Gidin'. 2
Ramban #2: They refer to two species of plants - one is called "Rosh" because it is the head (most bitter) of all the bitter plants; the other, "La'anah", because people eat it in order to afflict themselves. 3
"Hirvani La'anah" (Eichah 3:15) implies that La'anah is a drink. Eichah Rabah 3:19 and the Targum on Eichah 3:19 imply that both "Rosh" and "La'anah" are drinks. Perhaps drinks are made from them. (PF)
Sifsei Chachamim: 'Gidin' is a bitter herb. Targum Yonason of "La'anah" (Eichah 3:19) is Gidin. (Normally, 'Gidin' means sinews. However, one opinion in Chulin, 89b) maintains that sinews have no taste, and the one who argues holds that their taste forbids - it is beneficial! (PF)
Ramban: Like "Le'anos mi'Panai", in Bo Sh'mos, 10:3.
What is the significance of "Shoresh Poreh Rosh ve'La'anah"?
Rashi: It means wicked thoughts that breed evil among the people.
Ramban #1: It means 'Someone ...who already believes in the Avodah Zarah that he saw - which will breed evil deeds'.
Ramban #2: It means that the person who believes in the idols that he saw is the root 1 from whom there will descend evil offspring. 2
Seforno: It refers to a person ... who has the intention of leading others astray after his pervert views.
Targum Onkelos: It means 'A man who harbors thoughts of sins or of sinning deliberately'. 3
Targum Yonasan: It refers to someone that the root of his heart lingers after his sin - which is sweet at first. but which later turns bitter like wormwood. 4
Oznayim la'Torah: It is referring to someone who has no intention of sinning, but who not believe in Hashem and in His Divine Providence, and who therefore thinks that he is free to do as he pleases and nothing will happen to him.
Ramban: With reference to 'those who are not here today' mentioned in Pasuk 14.
Ramban: 'Because from a sweet root there will not emerge bitter offspring. And the Pasuk in Yechezkel 18:10, with reference to a Tzadik "Heholid ben Paritz", contains a secret that I may not reveal'.
Perhaps this refers to sins for pleasure (le'Te'avon) or to anger Hashem (Lehach'is). According to the Yayin ha'Tov, this is synonymous with the Seforno in the previous answer (Perhaps Meizid means leading others astray
What are the implications of "Pen Yesh bachem
Da'as Zekenim #1, Hadar Zekenim #1 and Rosh #1: It is the reason for accepting the B'ris - in case someone has the intention of abandoning Hashem.
Da'as Zekenim #2, Hadar Zekenim #2 and Rosh #2: It implies that if there is someone who has evil intentions, 1 he will end up carrying them out. Refer to 29:18:2:3.
Because in the area of Avodah Zarah bad thoughts are considered intrinsically sinful. See Oznayim la'Torah DH 'asher Levavo Poneh ha'Yom'.
