What are the connotations of "ha'Lo Heimah be'Eiver ha'Yarden Acharei ... "?
Rashi: The Pasuk is merely giving a Siman as to the location of the two aforementioned mountains 1 (That they are situated on the west bank of the Yarden, far away from it 2 (the River ? Rashi in Sotah, 33b, according to R. Yehudah). 3
Seforno: It means, as soon as they will arrive in Eretz Cana?an, to publicise, already at the moment of entry, that their stay in the land would not be an average one, but either blessed or cursed.
Sotah, 33b (according to R. Yehudah): It means that they are far from the Yarden.
What is the translation of "Acharei, Derech M'vo ha'Shemesh"?
Rashi (according to R. Yehudah in Sotah 33b) and Rashbam: It means to the west, where the sun sets (far 1 from the crossing of the Yarden, 2 . "Acharei" is not connected to "Derech M'vo ha'Shemesh" - Rashi). 3
Sotah 33b (according to R. Elazar): It means close to the Yarden - "Acharei Derech M'vo ha'Shemesh", far from the west, where the sun sets. 4
Sotah, 33b ( according to R. Yehudah): It means far from the east - where the sun rises. 5
Rashi: Because (as opposed to 'Achar' which means near), "Acharei" always means far (either in space or in time - Mizrachi). Gur Aryeh ? This follows one opinion in Bereishis Rabah 45:4; the other opinion says the opposite. Refer to 11:30:151:1.
Chizkuni: It was sixty Mil from the Yarden, in spite of which they reached it there the same day that they crossed the Yarden. See also Rashi in Sotah, 33b DH 'Acharei Derech', DH 'ha'Lo Heimah.'
Rashi: As indicated by the Neginah - "Acharei" with a 'Pashta', and "Derech", with a 'Mapach' (which Rashi calls 'Mashpeil'), instead of the other way round. In addition, the 'Daled' in "Derech" has a Dagesh (a dot). Gur Aryeh: Generally, if a 'Yud', 'Vav', 'Hey' or 'Alef' precedes a 'Daled', it has no Dagesh. But since "Acharei" is not connected to "Derech", that rule does not apply here.
As the Torah writes in Vayeitzei Bereishis, 28:11, in connection with Ya'akov on his way to Charan "Ki Va ha'Shemesh".
See Torah Temimah, note 73.
If "Derech M'vo ha'Shemesh' means 'to the west', why did the Torah not write simply 'Yamah' or 'Ma'aravah'?
What are the implications of the word "Derech"?
Sotah, 33b: It implies that they should make their way to Har Gerizim and Har Eival via existing roads and not via fields and vineyards. 1
See Torah Temimah, note 72.
What are the connotations of "ha'Yoshev ba'Aravah"?
Sotah, 33b #1: It means 'Go via inhabited country nd not via the deserts, and via the plains and not via the mountains and he hills'. 1
Sotah, 33b #2: That is the location of Har Gerizim and Har Eival, where the Kutim would subsequently live. 2
Why did Moshe need to issue instructions as to how Yisrael should travel in Eretz Cana'an?
Oznayim la'Torah: Because he knew that, when he died, the Ananei Kavod, which guided them in the desert, would no longer accompany them. 1
See Torah Temimah,citing Sotah, 33b and note 70.
What are the implications of "Mul ha'Gilgal"?
Rashi: It implies opposite Gilgal, but far away from it. 1
Sotah 33b (according to R. Elazar): It implies that it is close to Gilgal.
Where is Elonei Moreh?
Rashi: "It is better known as 'Sh'chem'. 1
The Yerushalmi (citing R. Elazar): They made two mounds near the Yarden and called them 'Har Gerizim' and 'Har Eival' - which they referred to as 'Eilonei Moreh'. 2
Rashi: As the Torah writes in Lech-L'cha Bereishis, 12:6. See Sifsei Chachamim. See also Torah Temimah, citing Sotah, 33b and Torah Temimah, note 77.
What is the significance of Elonei Moreh? Why was it Yisrael's first stop after crossing the Yarden?
Oznayim la'Torah: Because Sh?chem is where Avraham Avinu built the first Mizbe'ach upon entering Eretz Cana'an 1 and where Hashem promised to give his children Eretz Cana'an. Consequently, that is where they went upon entering Eretz Cana'an, to thank Hashem for having fulfilled that promise, 2 and to take upon themselves, by means of the B'rachos and K'lalos, to accept the Torah - since cspturing it and living there permanently is contingent upon keeping all the Mitzvos.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes that "Acharei Derech M'vo ha'Shemesh" is far from the Yarden, to the west (where the sun sets. This follows neither the the opinion of R. Yehudah in Sotah 33b, who explains that they are far from the west - to the east, where the sun rises, nor that of R. Elazar, who explains that they are close to the Yarden - to the west, where the sun sets'?
Maharsha (33b): Rashi explains the simple meaning of the Pasuk according to the Trop), even though it does not tally with the Gemara.
Other commentaries interpret R. Yehudah to mean (not 'far from the west', but) 'far from the Yarden' - to the west, where the sunsets - to conform to Rashi in the Chumash. 1
Which is how we explained the current Pesukim.
Rashi writes that "Mul ha'Gilgal" means 'far from Gilgal'. This goes with neither opinion in Sotah 33b - R. Yehudah says that it is close to Gilgal. R. Elazar says that it is visible from Gilgal?
Maharsha (in Sotah 33b): Refer to 11:30:151:1.
Refer to 11:10:1511:2.
