## Chizkuni, Deuteronomy

###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:1:1
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:1:1)

**והיה כי תבוא אל הארץ**לפי שאמר למעלה בסמוך והיה בהניח וגו׳‎ פירש לך כאן שיש מצות נוהגות קודם לוהניח כגון בכורים ומעשר וכתיבת התורה על האבנים ובנין המזבח והברכה והקללה על שני ההרים.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
והיה כי תבא אל הארץ, “it will be when you come to the Land, etc.” seeing that Moses had told the people in Deut. 25,19 that the commandment to wipe out Amalek would apply only after Hashem had given the people rest from all their enemies, he has to tell them here that what follows applies as soon as they enter and make their homes in the Holy Land. Some notable commandments that become due as soon as they will reap harvests in that land, are: the bringing to the Temple of the first ripened fruit of the seven species for which the land is famous, tithing the grain harvest by giving the Levites their share, inscribing the text of the Torah in the stones of the Jordan river, building the altar, as well as reciting the blessings and curses detailed in chapter 27,12-26 on the two mountains designates for this.


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:2:1
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:2:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:2:1)

**ולקחת מראשית**חזר בה בשביל ללמדך סדר המצוות.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ולקחת מראשית פרי האדמה, “you shall take of the first of all the fruit of the ground;” the reason why the Torah repeats this commandment which had appeared already in Exodus 23,19, is to list the commandments in a certain order.


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:2:2
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:2:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:2:2)

**מראשית**פרש״‎י ולא כל ראשית. כלומר אינך צריך להביא כל הפרי שלם אלא מקצתו. ד״‎א **מראשית**מן העלוי כמו ראשית תבואתו, ראשית שמנים ימשחו, שהוא לשון שבח ועלוי. ד״‎א **מראשית**מאותם שמתבשלין ראשונה לפי שהן חביבין.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
מראשית, from the first,” Rashi emphasises the importance of the letter מ i.e. “from,” as opposed to “all.”It is not even necessary to bring the entire fruit only part of it. [My version of Rashi, does not have this, but states that the farmer may designate the respective fruit before it has fully ripened. Ed.] An alternate interpretation: the word מראשית does not describe a time but describes quality, i.e. the best of these first fruit is to be brought to the Temple. The word ראשית appears in this sense of quality also in Jeremiah 2,3 ראשית תבואתו, “the best of His harvest;” [G-d comparing other nations to Israel whom He had chosen. Ed] The prophet Amos in Amos 6,6 also uses the word ראשית in that sense when he said: וראשית שמנים ימשחו, “and they anoint themselves with the choicest oils. Still another interpretation: the word מראשית means from the first in their respective category that have ripened, the very fact that they ripened earlier making those fruit superior.


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:2:3
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:2:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:2:3)

**כל פרי האדמה**פרי אתה מביא בכורים ואין אתה מביא יין ושמן לבכורים.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
כל פרי האדמה, “you are to bring these specimens in their original state,” i. e. when whole, not the wine you made out of the grapes, or the oil out of the olives, for instance. (Sifri)


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:2:4
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:2:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:2:4)

**ושמת בטנא**דרך כבוד ולא בחיק ולא בכנף הבגד.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ושמת בטנא, ”and you shall put it in a basket;” it should be presented in a dignified manner.


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:2:5
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:2:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:2:5)

**והלכת אל המקום**על ידו של בעל הבכורים יעשה הכל לקיטה והולכה ולא ע״‎י שליח וכן מנהג אם נתן המלך שדה לעבדו העבד עצמו מביא לו דורון מפירות השדה.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
והלכת אל המקום, “and you will go to the place, etc.;” the owner of the first ripened fruit is to do all this himself, not through someone whom he designated in his place. This refers both to collecting the fruit from the tree or cutting it from the ground. When a King employs a servant to tend to his fields, he also expects that tenant to bring him his share personally, not to delegate someone else with performing that duty.


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:3:1
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:3:1)

**אשר יהיה בימים ההם**ואין לך להשהות בכוריך עד שיהיה שם אחד מקרוביך ליתנם לו.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
אשר יהיה בימים ההם, “who will be on duty during those days; he is not to wait until a relative of his who happens to be a priest is on duty and to give it to him.


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:3:2
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:3:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:3:2)

**הגדתי היום**מודה אני לפניך כי באתי אל הארץ כמו שנשבע ועמד באמונתו ונטלת בה חלקי ועכשיו אני מביא לו דורון מפירותיה להזכיר שהוא נתנה לנו.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
הגדתי היום, “I profess this day, etc.;” I give thanks today for having been privileged to come to this country [or to have been born in it] the land that Lord your G-d had sworn to your forefathers to become ours. He has kept His promise, and I have received my share of it. Now it is my turn to tender a gift from its produce in order to demonstrate that it is He Who has given it to our people.”


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:4:1
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:4:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:4:1)

**ולקח הכהן הטנא מידך**שלוחו של מלך מקבל הדורון.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ולקח הכהן הטנא מידך, “the priest will accept the basket from your hands;” the priest acts as the delegate of the king, i.e. Hashem, in this instance.


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:4:2
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:4:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:4:2)

**והניחו לפני מזבח**אם אין מזבח אין בכורים.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
והניחו לפני מזבח ה' אלוקיך, “he will deposit it in front of the altar of the Lord your G-d.” If there is no altar, i.e. if the Temple is not standing, there are no bikkurim. (Sifri)


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:5:1
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:5:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:5:1)

**ארמי אבד אבי**סרסהו יעקב אבי הארמי כשהיה הוא בארם היה אובד פי׳‎ עני בלא ממון שלא היה מוחזק בארץ.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ארמי אובד אבי, “my forefather used to be a wandering Aramean;” this verse has been abbreviated. In full, it should have read: “Yaakov my forefather was a wandering Aramean.” While he was serving Lavan in Aram he was no better than a wandering Aramean, he had no house or land of his own; he was not even a resident in that country.”


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:5:2
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:5:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:5:2)

**אבד**לשון עני כמו תנו שכר לאובד ישתה וישכח רישו, ואין לתמוה איך נקרא יעקב ארמי שהרי דוגמתו מצינו יתרא הישמעאלי והוא היה ישראלי.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
אובד, “poor,” compare Proverbs 31,6, תנו שכר לאובד, “give liquor to the one who is perishing.”It is not astounding to find Yaakov referred to as Arami, as in Chronicles I 2,17 (יתר(ו is called Ishmaelite, although in Samuel II 17,24, he is clearly called Israelite.


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:8:1
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:8:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:8:1)

**ובמרא גדל**כתרגומו ובחזונא רבא כדכתיב המסות הגדולות אשר ראו עיניך וגו'.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ובמורא גדול, “and with awesome power,” compare Deuteronomy 7,19.


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:9:1
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:9:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:9:1)

**ארץ זבת חלב ודבש**מה זבת חלב ודבש דלהלן ארץ חמשה עממים אף זבת חלב ודבש דהכא ארץ חמשה עממים. מכאן היה רבי יוסי הגלילי אומר אין מביאין בכורים מעבר לירדן שהרי אינה ארץ זבת חלב ודבש.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ארץ זבת חלב ודבש, “a land flowing with milk and honey.” Just as the land flowing with milk and honey refers to only five of the seven Canaanite tribes where it is first mentioned in Exodus 13,5 so here too Moses refers to the areas of these five tribes. This is also the source of the statement of Rabbi Yossi ha’glili who ruled that firstling fruit could not be brought from produce grown on the east Bank of the Jordan because that area is not part of the land flowing with milk and honey [as the quality of the soil there did not lend itself to producing superior fruit].


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:10:1
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:10:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:10:1)

**והנחתו, והשתחוית**מלמד שטעונין הנפה שתי פעמים אחת בשעת קריאה ואחת בשעת השתחויה.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
והנחתו והשתחוית, “and you shall set it down and worship the Lord your G-d;” the verse teaches that these fruit have to be deposited twice. Once at the time the recitation is read, and once when the donor prostrated himself in prayer.


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:10:2
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:10:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:10:2)

**והשתחוית**כאדם שנוטל רשות מרבו והולך לו.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
והשתחוית, “you will bow down,” as people do when taking leave of a superior such as a Rabbi.


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:12:1
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:12:1)

**כי תכלה לעשר**אהדריה קרא בשביל הוידוי כדכתיב בערתי הקודש מן הבית.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
כי תכלה לעשר, “when you complete tithing, etc.” this verse is also a repetition of Deut. 14,28; it is inserted here only on account of the confession as per verse 13: בערתי הקודש מן הבית, “I have removed everything that is holy (second tithe) from the house;”


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:12:2
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:12:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:12:2)

**ונתתה ללוי ולגר ליתום ולאלמנה**לאיזה מהם שתרצה.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ונתתי ללוי לגר וליתום ולאלמנה, “and I have also given to the Levite, the stranger the orphan and the widow.” This is not necessarily to be understood as cumulative, but you have given to any of the above mentioned categories of people.


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:13:1
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:13:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:13:1)

**בערתי הקדש**העליון במשמע אלו הבכורים כדתנן במסכת בכורים יש במעשר ובבכורים מה שאין כן בתרומה שהתרומה והמעשר טעונים ביאת מקום וחייבים בבעור וכו'.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
בערתי הקודש, this is a reference to the bikkurim as these have to be brought to the Temple. Compare Mishnah in tractate Bikkurim 2,2: tithing and firstling fruit rules have something in common with one another which they do not share with T’rumah (2% of the grain harvest given to the priest as the first type of tithe) in that they require to be brought to Jerusalem, and that failing this they have to be destroyed.


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:14:1
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:14:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:14:1)

**לא אכלתי באני ממנו**(ולא השחתיו בטמא ו)לא גזלתי ממנו כמו וידיו תשבנה אונו.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
לא אכלתי באוני ממנו, “I have not eaten from it when it was stolen property;” the expression און occurs in this sense in Job 20,10: ידיו תשבנה אונו, “his own hands must restore his wealth” (the illegally acquired wealth).


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:14:2
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:14:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:14:2)

**ולא בערתי ממנו**לא השחתיו **בטמא** בדבר טמא, שהרי אסור להוציא מן הדגן בשום דבר קודם שיפרשו ממנו המעשר שהוא קדוש.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ולא בערתי ממנו, “neither I have destroyed any of it unlawfully;” בטמא, “nor have I eaten any of it while in a state of ritual impurity.” It is forbidden to make any use of the harvested grains before the tithes are separated.


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:14:3
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:14:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:14:3)

**ולא נתתי ממנו למת**אלא לך הבאתיו ונתתיו כי אתה אלקים חיים ומלך עולם.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ולא נתתי ממנו למת, “nor have I given any of it for the dead;” (a euphemism for given it to idols, i.e. “dead deities.”) I have given all of it to the living G-d, the King of the universe.


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:14:4
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:14:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:14:4)

**עשיתי ככל אשר צויתני**על הבכורים ועל המעשרות.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
עשיתי ככל אשר צויתני, “I have acted in accordance with all that You have commanded me.” regarding first fruits and the tithes (of all that my fields produced).


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:15:1
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:15:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:15:1)

**ואת האדמה**שתתן אתה מטר השמים על פני האדמה כדי שנעבדך לשנה הבאה במצוות התלויות בארץ.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ואת האדמה, “and the soil,” in order that You will provide the rain at the appropriate time so that I can continue to serve You with the same fervor next year, and fulfill all the commandments connected with ownership of this land.


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:16:1
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:16:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:16:1)

**את החקים האלה**של בכורים ושל מעשר שיהיו לך חק ומשפט.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
את החוקים האלה, “these statutes.” The ones pertaining to the tithes and the firstlings of the fruit,


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:16:2
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:16:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:16:2)

**ואת המשפטים**התלויים במעשר כגון לא אכלתי באוני וגו'.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ואת המשפטים, “and the details surrounding these laws,” a reference to the details connected with the laws of tithing, such as not eating from these when in a state of mourning. (verse 14)


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:16:3
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:16:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:16:3)

**ושמרת**בלבבך.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ושמרת, “you shall observe,” in your heart.


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:16:4
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:16:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:16:4)

**ועשית אותם**בארץ.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ועשית אותם, “and perform them, in the Holy Land.”


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:17:1
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:17:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:17:1)

**את ה׳‎ האמרת**אתה הזקקת שאמר הקב״‎ה ונתרצה להיות לך לאלוקים מתוך שקבלת עליך מצותיו וגם הוא כמו כן. **האמירך**הפעילך שאמרת שתהיה לו לעם סגולה לפי שעשה לך נסים וגבורות.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
את ה׳ האמרת היום, “you have avouched the Lord this day;” you have singled out the Lord today; by accepting G-d’s commandments you, Israel, have adopted the Lord your G-d as your only deity. He has reciprocated by making you His special people, as He demonstrated by all the miracles He performed for your sake.


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:17:2
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:17:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:17:2)

**האמרת**פאישדיר״‎ה בלע״‎ז. ד״‎א לשון תמורה החלפת כל היראות שבעולם בו שהנחת כלם ובחרת בו וכמו כן החליף הוא כל האומות הקדמונים ובחר בך לשמור מצותיו. והאל״‎ף יסוד נופל הוא כמו אל״‎ף דאזרוע דאסוך דאתמול. ד״‎א לשון שבח כמו יתאמרו כל פועלי און.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
אמרת, according to Rash’bam,“you have become as if betrothed;” An alternate interpretation: you traded, exchanged; you have abandoned all other powers in nature by accepting Me as comprising all those forces combined. (seeing that I created all these forces.) He, in turn, has abandoned all attempts to directly educate the other nations by concentrating on you as His pilot project. [Some of these words are mine Ed.] [In order to understand this interpretation, the letter א in the words האמרת and האמירך have to be considered as non existent, something similar being the case in Jeremiah 32,21: ובאזרוע as well as in Kings II 4,2: דאסוך, and in Psalms 90,4: אתמול. A different interpretation: the word האמירך is an expression of admiration, praise, as in Psalms 94,4: יתאמת, ”will they indulge in self-glorification? [The psalmist speaks of the wicked. Ed.]


###### Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:19:1
[Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 26:19:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Deuteronomy/r/26:19:1)

**ולתתך עליון**וגו׳‎ והיכן דבר ונתנך ה׳‎ לראש ולא לזנב.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ולתתן עליון, “and to place you supreme;” where is the source for G-d doing this? Compare Deut. 28,13: 'ונתנך ה לראש ולא לזנב, “and the Lord will make you the head and not the tail.”