What are the implications of "Lo me'Rubchem ... Chashak Hashem bachem"?
Rashi #1 and Targum Onkelos: It implies 'Hashem does not desire you because you are numerous'. 1
Rashi #2: It implies that Hashem desires Yisrael because, when Hashem bestows upon them greatness, they do not aggrandize themselves 2 (On the contrary, they humble themselves - Chulin, 89a).
Seforno: It implies that Hashem did not bestow greatness upon Yisrael, in order to be honored by large numbers. 3
Rashbam and Da'as Zekenim: with reference to "Venashal Goyim Rabim ... " in Pasuk 1, the Torah is saying that it is not because Yisrael are more numerous than the seven nations that Hashem desired Yisrael and will destroy them (the seven nations).
Rashi: Like Avraham, who declared "ve'Anochi Afar va'Eifer" (Bereishis 18:27), Moshe and Aharon, who said "ve'Nachnu Mah!" (Sh'mos 16:7) - and David, who said "ve'Anochi Tola'as ve'Lo Ish" (Tehilim, 22:7
What is the exact meaning of the words "Chashak Hashem bachem"?
Rashi, Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: It means 'Hashem desired you'.
Ramban: It means 'Hashem attached 1 Himself to you with a strong bond'.
Ramban: See Sh'mos 27:10.
What are the implications of the words "Vayivchar bachem"?
What are the implications of the phrase "Ki Atem ha'Me'at mi'Kol ha'Amim"?
Rashi #1: It means literally that Yisrael are the smallest of the nations. 1
Rashi #2 and Targum Yonasan: It impliess that, even when Hashem bestows upon Yisrael greatness, they make themselves small. 2
Rashi #3 (in Pinchas): Refer to Bamidbar, 26:36:2:1. 3
Rashbam: It implies that (despite the fact that) Yisrael is smaller than the seven nations.
R. Bachye #1: It implies that Hashem would love Yisrael even if they were the smallest of all the nations.
R. Bachye #2: Since there is no Dagesh (dot) in the 'Hey', it does not mean that they are the smallest nation, but it introduces a rhetorical question 4 - 'Are you the smallest nation? (You are the biggest nation). However, Hashem did not desire you because you are numerous.
Alshich: Hashem made a Sanhedrin of 71 to judge Dor ha'Felagah (Pirkei d'R. Eliezer 24), and the nations correspond to this. You are the unit (one) in addition to the seventy to complete the count.
Oznayim la'Torah: It implies that Yisrael are smaller than each of the seven nations is latrger than Yisrael, and that consequently, if Hashem was looking for nnmbers, Yisrael would be the last nation that He would choose.
And the word "Ki" means 'in spite of the fact' (Refer to 7:6:1:2), whereas "Ki" in Pasuk 8 means 'but'. Refer to 7:7:152:1.
Rashi: Like Avraham, who declared "ve'Anochi Afar va'Eifer" (Bereishis 18:27) and Moshe and Aharon, who said "ve'Nachnu Mah!" (Sh'mos 16:7)
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes that the simple meaning is correct - 'You are the smallest of the nations. But the Torah wrote - in Devarim, 1:10 - "ve'Hinchem ha'Yom ke'Chochvei ha'Shamayim la'Rov"? Also, we find - in Korach Bamidbar, 22:3 - that Mo'av was afraid of Yisrael 'becuse they were numerous'?
Perhaps the simple meaning is that Yisrael are less than all of the other nations combined. The Torah worded this in a way that allows one of the other Drashos (refer to 7:7:151:2-6
