Torah Reading for Shavuot
In Israel: Behaalotecha
VIEW READINGS FOR:
First Day of Shavuot
Sunday, 6 Sivan, 5779
9 June, 2019
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1st Portion: (Exodus 19:1-6)
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Exodus Chapter 19
| 1In the third month of the children of Israel's departure from Egypt, on this day they arrived in the desert of Sinai. | ×בַּחֹ֨דֶש×Ö™ הַשְּ×לִישִ×Ö”×™ לְצֵ֥×ת ×‘Ö°Ö¼× ÖµÖ½×™Ö¾×™Ö´×©Ö°×‚×¨Ö¸×ֵ֖ל מֵ×ֶ֣רֶץ ×žÖ´×¦Ö°×¨Ö¸Ö‘×™Ö´× ×‘Ö·Ö¼×™Ö¼Ö£×•Ö¹× ×”Ö·×–Ö¶Ö¼Ö”×” בָּ֖×וּ מִדְבַּ֥ר ×¡Ö´×™× Ö¸Ö½×™: | |
| on this day: On the New Moon (Mechilta, Shab. 86b). It could have said only, “on that day.” What is the meaning of "on this day"? That the words of the Torah shall be new to you, as if they were given just today. — [from Tanchuma Buber, p. 73] | ×‘×™×•× ×”×–×”: בר×ש חודש. ×œ× ×”×™×” צריך לכתוב ××œ× ×‘×™×•× ×”×”×•×, מהו ×‘×™×•× ×”×–×”, שיהיו דברי תורה ×—×“×©×™× ×¢×œ×™×š ×›×לו ×”×™×•× × ×ª× ×•: | |
| 2They journeyed from Rephidim, and they arrived in the desert of Sinai, and they encamped in the desert, and Israel encamped there opposite the mountain. | בוַיִּסְע֣וּ ×žÖµÖ½×¨Ö°×¤Ö´×™×“Ö´Ö—×™× ×•Ö·×™Ö¸Ö¼×‘Ö¹Ö¨×וּ֙ מִדְבַּ֣ר ×¡Ö´×™× Ö·Ö”×™ ×•Ö·×™Ö·Ö¼Ö½×—Ö²× Ö–×•Ö¼ בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַיִּֽחַן־שָ×Ö¥× ×™Ö´×©Ö°×‚×¨Ö¸×ֵ֖ל × Ö¶Ö¥×’Ö¶×“ הָהָֽר: | |
| They journeyed from Rephidim: Why did [Scripture] have to repeat and explain from where they had journeyed? Did it not already state (Exod. 17:1) that they were encamped in Rephidim? It is known that they journeyed from there. But [it is repeated] to compare their journey from Rephidim to their arrival in the Sinai desert. Just as their arrival in the Sinai desert was with repentance, so was their journey from Rephidim with repentance. — [from Mechilta] | ויסעו מרפידי×: למה הוצרך לחזור ולפרש מהיכן × ×¡×¢×•, ×•×”×œ× ×›×‘×¨ כתב ×©×‘×¨×¤×™×“×™× ×”×™×• ×—×•× ×™×, בידוע ×©×ž×©× × ×¡×¢×•, ××œ× ×œ×”×§×™×© × ×¡×™×¢×ª×Ÿ ×ž×¨×¤×™×“×™× ×œ×‘×™×תן למדבר ×¡×™× ×™, מה בי×תן למדבר ×¡×™× ×™ בתשובה, ××£ × ×¡×™×¢×ª×Ÿ ×ž×¨×¤×™×“×™× ×‘×ª×©×•×‘×”: | |
| and Israel encamped there: Heb. וַיִחַן, [the singular form, denoting that they encamped there] as one man with one heart, but all the other encampments were [divided] with complaints and with strife. — [from Mechilta] | ויחן ×©× ×™×©×¨×ל: ×›×יש ×חד בלב ×חד, ×בל ש×ר כל ×”×—× ×™×•×ª בתרעומת ובמחלוקת: | |
| opposite the mountain: [This means] to its east. And wherever you find [the word] “opposite (× Ö¶×’Ö¶×“),” it means facing the eastern side. — [from Mechilta] [This signifies that they were facing west, toward the eastern side of Mount Sinai.] | × ×’×“ ההר: למזרחו, וכל ×ž×§×•× ×©×תה ×ž×•×¦× × ×’×“, ×¤× ×™× ×œ×ž×–×¨×—: | |
| 3Moses ascended to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, "So shall you say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel, | גוּמשֶ×Ö¥×” עָלָ֖ה ×ֶל־הָֽ×Ö±×œÖ¹×”Ö´Ö‘×™× ×•Ö·×™Ö´Ö¼×§Ö°×¨Ö¸Ö¨× ×ֵלָ֤יו יְהוָֹה֙ מִן־הָהָ֣ר לֵ×מֹ֔ר כֹּ֤ה תֹ×מַר֙ לְבֵ֣ית יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב וְתַגֵּ֖יד ×œÖ´×‘Ö°× ÖµÖ¥×™ יִשְׂרָ×ֵֽל: | |
| Moses ascended: on the second day (Shab. 86a), and all his ascents were early in the morning, as it is said: “And Moses arose early in the morning” (Exod. 34:4). | ומשה עלה: ×‘×™×•× ×”×©× ×™. וכל עליותיו בהשכמה היו, ×©× ×מר (שמות לד ד) ×•×™×©×›× ×ž×©×” בבקר: | |
| So shall you say: With this language and in this order. — [from Mechilta] | ×›×” ת×מר: בלשון ×”×–×” וכסדר ×”×–×”: | |
| to the house of Jacob: These are the women. Say it to them in a gentle language. — [from Mechilta] | לבית יעקב: ×לו ×”× ×©×™×, ת×מר להן בלשון רכה: | |
| and tell the sons of Israel: The punishments and the details [of the laws] explain to the males, things that are as harsh as wormwood. -[Mechilta, Shab. 87a] | ותגיד ×œ×‘× ×™ ישר×ל: ×¢×•× ×©×™×Ÿ ודקדוקין פרש לזכרי×. ×“×‘×¨×™× ×”×§×©×™×Ÿ כגידין: | |
| 4You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and [how] I bore you on eagles' wings, and I brought you to Me. | ד×Ö·×ªÖ¶Ö¼Ö£× ×¨Ö°×Ö´×™×ªÖ¶Ö”× ×ֲשֶ×֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתִי ×œÖ°×žÖ´×¦Ö°×¨Ö¸Ö‘×™Ö´× ×•Ö¸Ö½×Ö¶×©Ö¸Ö¼×‚Ö¤× ×ֶתְכֶ×Ö™ ×¢Ö·×œÖ¾×›Ö·Ö¼× Ö°×¤ÖµÖ£×™ × Ö°×©Ö¸××¨Ö´Ö”×™× ×•Ö¸Ö½×Ö¸×‘Ö´Ö¥× ×Ö¶×ªÖ°×›Ö¶Ö–× ×ֵלָֽי: | |
| You have seen: This is not a tradition that you have. I am not sending you this [message] with words; I am not calling witnesses to testify before you, but you [yourselves] have seen what I did to the Egyptians. They were liable to Me for many sins before they attacked you, but I did not exact retribution from them except through you. — [from Mechilta] | ××ª× ×¨×ית×: ×œ× ×ž×¡×•×¨×ª ×”×™× ×‘×™×“×›×, ×•×œ× ×‘×“×‘×¨×™× ×× ×™ משגר לכ×, ×œ× ×‘×¢×“×™× ×× ×™ מעיד עליכ×, ××œ× ××ª× ×¨××™×ª× ×שר עשיתי למצרי×, על כמה עבירות היו חייבין לי ×§×•×“× ×©× ×–×“×•×•×’×• לכ×, ×•×œ× × ×¤×¨×¢×ª×™ ×ž×”× ××œ× ×¢×œ ידכ×: | |
| and [how] I bore you: Heb. וָ×ֶשָׂ×. This is [alluding to] the day that the Israelites came to Rameses-because the Israelites were scattered throughout the land of Goshen. And in a short time, when they came to start on their journey and leave, they all gathered in Rameses (Mechilta). Onkelos, however, rendered וָ×Ö¶×©Ö¸×‚× as וְ×ַטָלִיתיַתְכוֹן, and I caused you to travel, like וָ×ַסִּיעַ ×Ö¶×ªÖ°×›Ö¶× He [Onkelos] amended [the translation of] the passage in a way respectful to the One above. | ו××©× ×תכ×: ×–×” ×™×•× ×©×‘×ו ישר×ל לרעמסס, שהיו ישר×ל מפוזרין בכל ×רץ גושן, ולשעה קלה כשב×ו ליסע ולצ×ת × ×§×‘×¦×• ×›×œ× ×œ×¨×¢×ž×¡×¡. ו××•× ×§×œ×•×¡ ×ª×¨×’× ×•×ש×, ×•× ×˜×œ×™×ª יתכון, כמו ו×סיע ×תכ×, תיקן ×ת הדבר דרך כבוד למעלה: | |
| on eagles’ wings: Like an eagle, which carries its young on its wings, for all other birds place their young between their feet since they fear another bird flying above them. The eagle, however, fears only man, lest he shoot an arrow at it, because no other bird flies above it. Therefore, it places them [its young] on its wings. It says, “Rather the arrow pierce me and not my children.” I [God] too did that: “Then the angel of God…moved, …And he came between the camp of Egypt, etc.” (Exod. 14:19, 20), and the Egyptians shot arrows and catapult stones, and the cloud absorbed them. — [from Mechilta] | על ×›× ×¤×™ × ×©×¨×™×: ×›× ×©×¨ ×”× ×•×©× ×’×•×–×œ×™×• על ×›× ×¤×™×•, שכל ש×ר העופות × ×•×ª× ×™× ×ת ×‘× ×™×”× ×‘×™×Ÿ רגליה×, לפי שמתיר×ין מעוף ×חר שפורח על גביה×, ×בל ×”× ×©×¨ ×”×–×” ××™× ×• ×ž×ª×™×¨× ××œ× ×ž×Ÿ ×”×ד×, ×©×ž× ×™×–×¨×•×§ בו ×—×¥, לפי ש×ין עוף ×חר פורח על גביו, לכך × ×•×ª× ×Ÿ על ×›× ×¤×™×•, ×ומר מוטב ×™×›× ×¡ ×”×—×¥ בי, ×•×œ× ×‘×‘× ×™. ××£ ×× ×™ עשיתי כן, (שמות יד יט) ויסע מל×ך ×”×-×œ×”×™× ×•×’×•' (×©× ×›) ×•×™×‘× ×‘×™×Ÿ ×ž×—× ×” ×ž×¦×¨×™× ×•×’×•', והיו ×ž×¦×¨×™× ×–×•×¨×§×™× ×—×¦×™× ×•××‘× ×™ בליסטר×ות ×•×”×¢× ×Ÿ מקבל×: | |
| and I brought you to Me: As the Targum [Onkelos renders: and I brought you near to My service]. [This is to avoid ascribing corporeality to God.] | ו××‘× ××ª×›× ×לי: כתרגומו: | |
| 5And now, if you obey Me and keep My covenant, you shall be to Me a treasure out of all peoples, for Mine is the entire earth. | הוְעַתָּ֗ה ×Ö´×־שָ×מ֤וֹעַ תִּשְ×מְעוּ֙ בְּקֹלִ֔י וּשְ××žÖ·×¨Ö°×ªÖ¶Ö¼Ö–× ×ֶת־בְּרִיתִ֑י ×•Ö´Ö½×”Ö°×™Ö´Ö¨×™×ªÖ¶× ×œÖ´Ö¤×™ סְגֻלָּה֙ ×žÖ´×›Ö¸Ö¼×œÖ¾×”Ö¸Ö£×¢Ö·×žÖ´Ö¼Ö”×™× ×›Ö´Ö¼×™Ö¾×œÖ´Ö–×™ כָּל־הָ×ָֽרֶץ: | |
| And now: If now you accept upon yourselves [the yoke of the commandments], it will be pleasant for you in the future, since all beginnings are difficult. — [from Mechilta] | ועתה: ×× ×¢×ª×” תקבלו ×¢×œ×™×›× ×™×¢×¨×‘ ×œ×›× ×ž×›×ן ו×ילך, שכל התחלות קשות: | |
| and keep My covenant: which I will make with you concerning the observance of the Torah. | ×•×©×ž×¨×ª× ×ת בריתי: ש×כרות ×¢×ž×›× ×¢×œ שמירת התורה: | |
| a treasure: Heb. סְגֻלִֵֶַָָָּה, a beloved treasure, like “and the treasures (וּסְגְלִֵּת) of the kings” (Eccl. 2:8), [i.e., like] costly vessels and precious stones, which kings store away. So will you be [more of] a treasure to Me than the other nations (Mechilta). Now don’t think (lit., and do not say) that you alone are Mine, and [that] I have no others besides you. So what else do I have, that [My] love for you should be made evident? For the whole earth is Mine, but they [the other nations] mean nothing to Me. | סגלה: ×וצר חביב, כמו (קהלת ב ×—) וסגלת מלכי×, כלי יקר ו××‘× ×™× ×˜×•×‘×•×ª ×©×”×ž×œ×›×™× ×’×•× ×–×™× ×ות×. כך ××ª× ×ª×”×™×• לי סגולה מש×ר ×ומות, ×•×œ× ×ª×מרו ××ª× ×œ×‘×“×›× ×©×œ×™ ו×ין לי ××—×¨×™× ×¢×ž×›×, ומה יש לי עוד ×©×ª×”× ×—×‘×ª×›× × ×›×¨×ª: | |
| For the whole earth is Mine: but they [the other nations] mean nothing to Me. | ×›×™ לי כל ×”×רץ: ×•×”× ×‘×¢×™× ×™ ×•×œ×¤× ×™ לכלו×: | |
| 6And you shall be to Me a kingdom of princes and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the children of Israel." | ווְ×Ö·×ªÖ¶Ö¼Ö§× ×ªÖ´Ö¼Ö½×”Ö°×™×•Ö¼Ö¾×œÖ´Ö›×™ מַמְלֶ֥כֶת ×›Ö¹Ö¼Ö½×”Ö²× Ö´Ö–×™× ×•Ö°×’Ö£×•Ö¹×™ ×§Ö¸×“Ö‘×•Ö¹×©× ×ֵ֚לֶּה ×”Ö·×“Ö°Ö¼×‘Ö¸×¨Ö´Ö”×™× ×ֲשֶ×֥ר תְּדַבֵּ֖ר ×Ö¶×œÖ¾×‘Ö°Ö¼× ÖµÖ¥×™ יִשְׂרָ×ֵֽל: | |
| And you shall be to Me a kingdom of princes: Heb., מַמְלֶכֶת ×›Ö¹Ö¼×”Ö´× Ö´×™×, princes, as it is said: “and David’s sons were chief officers (×›Ö¹Ö¼×”Ö´× Ö´×™×)” (II Sam. 8:18). -[from Mechilta] | ו××ª× ×ª×”×™×• לי ממלכת ×›×”× ×™×: ×©×¨×™× ×›×ž×” ד×ת ×מר (שמו×ל ב' ×— ×™×—) ×•×‘× ×™ דוד ×›×”× ×™× ×”×™×•: | |
| These are the words: No less and no more. — [from Mechilta] | ×לה הדברי×: ×œ× ×¤×—×•×ª ×•×œ× ×™×•×ª×¨: |
