A thought on Parshas Ekev
A thought on Parshas Ekev
"...v'zacharta es kol ha'derech...l'man anos'cha l'nasos'cha..."
"...remember the entire journey...which was to stress and to test you..." (8:2)
Moshe encourages us to recount our forty year struggle through the desert. We were beset by challenges and adversaries. HaShem bids us, says Moshe Rabbeinu, to remember that long ordeal. He then wants us to frame it correctly: it was to humble us and to test us.
The Rambam (Moreh HaNevuchim 3:24) explains that the order to understand that the trials in the wilderness were a "stress test" was for a reason. After first illustrating that the Biblical usage of the word "nisayon" (as in our word nasos'cha) can mean "to train or accustom someone", he suggests that HaShem wanted to accustom us to hardship, hunger and pressure. Why?
The stresses served two functions. Without the spartan existence in the desert, we would not have had the stamina nor the endurance for conquest of the Promised Land. An idle life or a pampered existence would have left us poorly equipped to face seven hostile Canaanite nations. Hence, one function of the struggles of our long journey was to give us both physical and mental preparation for settling our homeland after centuries of exile.
The second function was more psychological. Going from deprivation to plenty fascinates the mind far more than moving up the ladder of success. Had we flourished in the desert, the riches and beauty of the Holy Land would have seemed nice, but not markedly better than the luxuries we might have enjoyed up until that point. In contrast, years of struggle in the wilderness, with its snakes, scorpions, droughts and tough terrain helped assure that we would appreciate and luxuriate in the bountiful land of Israel.
The Rosh focuses on the first part of the verse and addresses the instruction to "remember" the journey. Such an ordeal would be hard to forget, seemingly. Why the emphasis on our having to remember the trip?
The Rosh notes that prior to our verse (see 7:25) we are commanded to avoid the temptation of coveting gold and silver which is not ours. The tool that can help us hold back from such temptation is the instruction of our verse.
Remember that HaShem took us through the wilderness. We survived. We thrived. We were cared for and fed and sustained. And: we did not require or need gold and silver. We learned to depend on Him. This was the only Source of sustenance that we will ever need. So, according to the Rosh, the trials of the desert were for their spiritual lesson. We learned that our survival is solely through the Divine Will. This would prepare us not only to enter into the Promised Land, but served as a guiding standard for all time. Ezri me'im HaShem.
Good Shabbos. D Fox
"...v'zacharta es kol ha'derech...l'man anos'cha l'nasos'cha..."
"...remember the entire journey...which was to stress and to test you..." (8:2)
Moshe encourages us to recount our forty year struggle through the desert. We were beset by challenges and adversaries. HaShem bids us, says Moshe Rabbeinu, to remember that long ordeal. He then wants us to frame it correctly: it was to humble us and to test us.
The Rambam (Moreh HaNevuchim 3:24) explains that the order to understand that the trials in the wilderness were a "stress test" was for a reason. After first illustrating that the Biblical usage of the word "nisayon" (as in our word nasos'cha) can mean "to train or accustom someone", he suggests that HaShem wanted to accustom us to hardship, hunger and pressure. Why?
The stresses served two functions. Without the spartan existence in the desert, we would not have had the stamina nor the endurance for conquest of the Promised Land. An idle life or a pampered existence would have left us poorly equipped to face seven hostile Canaanite nations. Hence, one function of the struggles of our long journey was to give us both physical and mental preparation for settling our homeland after centuries of exile.
The second function was more psychological. Going from deprivation to plenty fascinates the mind far more than moving up the ladder of success. Had we flourished in the desert, the riches and beauty of the Holy Land would have seemed nice, but not markedly better than the luxuries we might have enjoyed up until that point. In contrast, years of struggle in the wilderness, with its snakes, scorpions, droughts and tough terrain helped assure that we would appreciate and luxuriate in the bountiful land of Israel.
The Rosh focuses on the first part of the verse and addresses the instruction to "remember" the journey. Such an ordeal would be hard to forget, seemingly. Why the emphasis on our having to remember the trip?
The Rosh notes that prior to our verse (see 7:25) we are commanded to avoid the temptation of coveting gold and silver which is not ours. The tool that can help us hold back from such temptation is the instruction of our verse.
Remember that HaShem took us through the wilderness. We survived. We thrived. We were cared for and fed and sustained. And: we did not require or need gold and silver. We learned to depend on Him. This was the only Source of sustenance that we will ever need. So, according to the Rosh, the trials of the desert were for their spiritual lesson. We learned that our survival is solely through the Divine Will. This would prepare us not only to enter into the Promised Land, but served as a guiding standard for all time. Ezri me'im HaShem.
Good Shabbos. D Fox
posted by Rabbi Dr. Fox at 7:36 PM
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