Why does the Torah break Chag ha'Sukos in the middle with Pasuk 37 and 38, and continue in the current Pasuk with the Halachos of Sukos?
Oznayim la'Torah: Because, based on the Yalkut, the first section (Pasuk 34-36) are discussing Sukos as an extension of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kipur - in that, if Yisrael are Chayav Galus, they should leave their houses and go into the Sukah. Whereas from the current Pasuk, the Torah is discussing Sukos as an independent Yom-Tov. 1
What is the word "Ach" coming to preclude?
Rashi: It precludes Shabbos from the Shalmei Chagigah. 1
Rashbam: It comes to stress the distinction between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kipur, which come as a remembrance and as an atonement, and Sukos, that comes to rejoice on it and to thank Hashem for filling one's house with all good things during the ingathering of one's crops.
Seforno: After mentioning the issues that apply equally to all the Yamim-Tovim - such as that they are all Mikra'ei Kodesh and that they require a Korban Musaf, the Torah now presents the innovations that pertain to Sukos exclusively - the eighth day of Yom-Tov, 2 the Sukah and the four species.
Hadar Zekenim: It precludes Pesach and Shavu'os from the need to remain in it for more than one day 3 , since one is distracted by the need to harvest one's crops. On Sukos however,, one has already gathered the fruit into the house, and now that Yom Kipur has passed and your sins have been pardoned, you should increase Simchah upon Simchah and [remain in Yerushalayim to] engage in it.
Seforno: Unlike the days of the week, the days of Pesach, and the years, all of which revolve around the number seven.
The Gemara in Rosh Hashanah 5a states that Chag ha'Matzos requires Linah, since the Torah writes "u'Fanisa ba'Boker v'Halachta l'Ohalecha" (Devarim 16:7). And, unlike the Hadar Zekenim, the Ritva and others explain that this refers to Linah all seven days. (PF)
Having already stated - in Pasuk 34 - "ba'Chamishah- Asar Yom la'Chodesh ha'Shevi'i ha'Zeh Chag ha'Sukos", why does the Torah now state "Ach ba'Chamishah- Asar Yom ... Chag ha'Sukos", as if it was a new topic?
R. Bachye #1: Because, since the previous topic was lengthy, it is normal for the Torah to resume afresh, as if it was a new topic.
R. Bachye #2: Because they are indeed two independent topics; earlier, the Torah dealt with the spiritual side of Sukos, with the Korbanos and what it calls 'Mikra Kodesh; whereas now it is dealing with the physical side of the Yom-Tov, with the joy that accompanies the ingathering of the crops, concluding with the taking of the four species to atone for the sin of Adam ha'Rishon which took place at this time of year.
Why does the Torah insert the phrase "b'Ospechem Es Tevu'as ha'Aretz"?
Rashi: To obligate Beis-Din to declare a leap-year if necessary, to prevent Sukos from falling in the middle of summer or in the winter.
What are the ramifications of "Tachogu Es Chag Hashem"?
Rashi: It refers to the obligation to bring a Korban Shalmei Chagigah on Yom-Tov.
Ramban and Moshav Zekenim: It implies giving thanks to Hashem on the successful ingathering of the crops.
What is the significance of the phrase "b'Ospechem Es Tevu'as ha'Aretz"? Why does the Torah insert it?
Rashi (citing the Sifra): It teaches us that Sukos must coincide with the ingathering 1 of (most of) 2 the produce from the fields (in the autumn). Consequently, Beis-Din must sometimes fix a leap-year - to avoid Sukos falling in the middle of summer or winter. 3
Ramban: Because the reason that the Yom-Tov of Sukos occurs at this time of year is in order to celebrate the ingathering of the crops from the field into the house. 4
Rashi (to Bereishis 49:29): On account of the rain.
See Ramban.
Ramban and Moshav Zekenim: The Gemara in Rosh Hashanah 21a learns the same thing with regard to fixing a leap-year, from the Pasuk in Devarim 16:1, to ensure that Pesach falls in the spring (See Ramban).
Refer to Shemos 23:16:3:1.
If "Tachogu Oso" (in Pasuk 41) implies only one Korban, what are the implications of "Shiv'as Yamim"?
Rashi and Ramban (citing the Sifra): It teaches us the Din of Tashlumin, that someone who fails to bring the Chagigah on the first day of Yom-Tov, brings it on one of the subsequent days. 1
What are the connotations of "Shabbason"?
Shabbos 24b: It is an Aseh. Consequently, based on the principle 'Ein Aseh Docheh Lo Sa'aseh va'Aseh', burning Pasul Kodshim on Yom-Tov is prohibited. 1
See Torah Temimah, note 119.
Why is Simchah mentioned three times on Sukos, once on Shavu'os, and not at all on Pesach (whether in this Perek or in Devarim 16)?
Da'as Zekenim: Because on Pesach, we have not harvested any grain, on Shavu'os, we have gathered the grain but not the tree fruits, whereas on Sukos, all the year's harvest has been gathered into the house, and our sins have been pardoned [on Yom Kipur]. Therefore the Torah inserts three times Simchah - once for the grain, once for the fruits and once for pardon of sins.
