What are the connotations of the words "Af Ani"?
Rashi: It means that Hashem will deal with us with anger.
Ramban (citing the Midrash of R. Nechunyah ben ha'Kanah): It means that Hashem will punish them (not via a Shali'ach, 1 but) personally. 2
Seforno: It means that Hashem will do what
Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: It means that Hashem, for His part, will reciprocate and do the following.
In the way that He punished Sancheriv (See R. Chavel's footnotes).
Ramban: That is why the Torah inserts the word "Ani" throughout the current Parshah - "Vehalchti Af Ani" (Pasuk 24), "Vehikeisi eschem Gam Ani" (Ibid.), "Veyisarti eschem Af Ani" (Pasuk 28), "Vahashimosi Ani " (Pasuk 32) and "Af Ani Eilech imachem" (Pasuk 41). Refer also to 26:15:3:3*
Seforno: Because, since Yisrael severed their ties with Hashem, Hashem severed His ties with them - Refer to 26:12:2:1**.
What is the meaning of "Vehifkadti"?
Rashi #1: It means 'I will command'. 1
Rashi #2 (in Pasuk 17): It means 'I will visit upon you one plague after another'.
Targum Yonasan: It means 'I will incite against you ... '.
See Sifsei Chachamim.
What are the connotations of "Vehifkadti aleichem Behalah"?
Rashi: It means 'I will command on you a plague that causes shock, Makas Mosan. 1
Seforno: It means that Hashem will appoint officers of shock (who will issue shock treatment). 2
Shabbos, 32b: It teaches us that, due to the sin of Chalah ('Al Tikri "Behalah", ela 'be'Chalah'), there is no B'rachah in the stored crops after they have been picked or in the market, and the crops that we plant will be eaten by the enemy. 3
Riva: 'Mosan? is either from the word 'Hamtanah' (waiting) - an extended illness that one anticipates will heal, but it does not; or from the word 'Mosnayim' (loins) - an illness that begins with the loins.
See Yechezkel, 9:5 (Seforno).
P?ninim mi?Shulchan ha?G?ra: Since the Torah does not insert 'es', as it does by the other items in the Pasuk.
What is the difference between "Shachefes" and "Kadachas"?
Rashi, Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: "Shachefes" means 'swelling', 1 "Kadachas", 'a high fever'.
Rashi: Where the swelling has subsided, but the flesh remains sickly-looking.
What does the Torah mean when it writes "Mechalos Einayim u'Medivos Nafesh"?
Rashi and Targum Yonasan: It means that the 'eyes' long for the sickness to heal, and when the patient dies, they are bitterly disappointed.
If one plants in vain, how can the enemy eat the crops that grow?
Rashi #1: The Pasuk means that, even on the off-chance that something does grow, the enemy will eat it.
Rashi #2: The first year you will sow, but nothing will grow. The second year, you will sow and the crops will grow, but the enemy will take them to feed their troops during the siege, whilst you starve in the towns.
Rashi #3: "u'Zeratem la'Rik Kochachem" refers to the children that you will rear in vain, because, due to your sins, the enemy will kill them. 1
Targum Yonasan: It refers to the Sefichim, that grow wild.
Perhaps the Torah means that you will plant your seeds in vsin because the enemy will eat them. 2
What is the difference between the current K'lalos and the K'lalos in Ki Savo?
Ramban: The current K'lalos hint at the first Galus (Galus Bavel), 1 which were the result of the abrogation of the B'ris 2 that Hashem made by His Great Name. 3 whereas those in Ki Savo 4 are said in the third person." 5 And this also explains why the Torah refers here to "Alos ha'Beris," whereas in Ki Savo, it uses the Lashon "Arur" - since they are devoid of Berachah.
See Ramban, who cites a number of proofs that the current Parshah is hinting at the first Churban and Galus Bavel, and that of Ki Savo, at Churban Sheini and Galus Edom.
Refer to 25:15:3:3*
Ramban: As indicated later in Pasuk 46.
Which hint at the second Churban, which was not connected to the current Bris, which was no longer in effect.
Ramban: See Devarim 28:15. Hence the Gemara states in Megilah, 31b 'The curses in Vayikra were said in the plural and Moshe presented them in the Name of Hashem; whereas those in Devarim were said in the singular and Moshe (whom Hashem appointed as His Shali'ach - Ramban), presented them in His own name.'
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes that "Behalah" is 'Makas Mosan'. What is 'Makas Mosan'?
Riva #1: 'Mosan from the word 'Hamtanah' (waiting) - is an extended illness that one anticipates will heal, but it does not.
Riva #2: 'Mosan' from the word 'Mosnayim' (loins) - is an illness that begins with the loins.
