## Sforno on Deuteronomy Chapter 31

###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:1:1
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:1:1)

**וַיֵּלֶךְ מֹשֶׁה.** הִתְעוֹרֵר לָזֶה, כְּמוֹ ״וַיֵּלֶךְ אִישׁ מִבֵּית לֵוִי״ (שמות ב:א), ״וַיֵּלֶךְ וַיַּעֲבֹד״ (דברים יז:ג) וְדוֹמֵיהֶם. וְזֶה, שֶׁאַחַר שֶׁהִשְׁלִים עִנְיְנֵי כְּרִיתַת הַבְּרִית, הִתְעוֹרֵר לְנַחֵם אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל מִיתָתוֹ, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יְעָרְבְּבוּ שִׂמְחַת הַבְּרִית הָרְאוּיָה לָהֶם לְהוֹרוֹת עַל הֱיוֹתָם מְקַבְּלִים הַבְּרִית בְּשִׂמְחָה, עַל דֶּרֶךְ ״יִשְׂמַח יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּעֹשָׂיו״ (תהלים קמט:ב), כְּאָמְרוֹ ״וְזָבַחְתָּ שְׁלָמִים וְאָכַלְתָּ שָּׁם וְשָׂמַחְתָּ לִפְנֵי ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ״ (דברים כז:ז).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
וילך משה, he was self-propelled, just as was Amram, Moses’ father who married his aunt Yocheved, daughter of Levi, and almost certainly many years his senior. (Exodus 2,1) Another of many uses of the word וילך meaning that the person described acted of their own initiative is found in Deut. 17,3 where the Jewish idolater described had not been seduced by anyone. After having concluded the matter of the covenant between G’d and this second generation of Israelites many of whom had not been born at the time of the Exodus, Moses now proceeds to comfort the people over his impending death. He does so in order that the joy over G’d having concluded this covenant with them should not be turned into sorrow over the prospect of his impending passing from the scene. Rejoicing over having been found fit to become a party to such a covenant is something natural, the psalmist in Psalms 149,2 speaking of Israel rejoicing with or over its Maker. Being in G’d’s presence, such as here, is always a joyful experience, as is offering sacrifices to Him, as we know from Deut. 27,7.when the occasion was to mark the erecting of the stones after the successful crossing of the river Jordan.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:2:1
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:2:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:2:1)

**בֶּן מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה אָנֹכִי הַיּוֹם.** וְאֵין לְהִתְעַצֵּב עַל מִיתָתִי, שֶׁלֹּא הָיִיתִי רָאוּי לִחְיוֹת עוֹד בַּטֶּבַע.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
בן מאה ועשרים שנה אנכי היום, Moses mentions his age to remind the people that there is no reason to be sad that someone of his age has to die. According to any life expectancy and law of nature, he was no longer fit to go on living by natural means.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:2:2
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:2:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:2:2)

**לֹא אוּכַל עוֹד לָצֵאת וְלָבֹא.** וְגַם אִם הָיִיתִי חַי, לֹא הָיִיתִי יָכוֹל לָצֵאת וְלָבֹא לִפְנֵיכֶם בְּזִקְנָתִי.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
לא אוכל עוד לצאת ולבא, even if I were still able, I would not be able to function physically as a leader should, such as leading you in he conquest of the Land of Israel as I am suffering from symptoms of old age.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:2:3
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:2:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:2:3)

**וַה׳ אָמַר אֵלַי לֹא תַעֲבֹר.** וְגַם אִם הָיִיתִי יָכוֹל לָצֵאת וְלָבֹא, הִנֵּה ה׳ אָמַר אֵלַי לֹא תַעֲבֹר, וְאִם כֵּן טוֹב לָכֶם שֶׁאָמוּת כְּדֵי שֶׁתּוּכְלוּ לַעֲבֹר.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
וה' אמר אלי לא תעבור, furthermore, G’d had said to me a while ago: “you will not cross;” even if I were physically capable of leading you, the fact that G’d told me that I would not cross the Jordan would have made my leadership pointless. You are therefore better off without me so that you will be able to cross.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:3:1
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:3:1)

**ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ הוּא עֹבֵר לְפָנֶיךָ.** וּכְמוֹ כֵן אֵין לָכֶם לְהִתְעַצֵּב עַל מַה שֶּׁתֹּאבַד מִכֶּם הַנְהָגָתִי, כִּי אָמְנָם ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ עֹבֵר לְפָנֶיךָ, וּבְכֵן תִּזְכּוּ לְהַנְהָגָה יוֹתֵר טוֹבָה מֵהַנְהָגָתִי.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ה' אלוקיך הוא עובר לפניך, so that you have no reason to be saddened by my absence. You will enjoy leadership superior to mine, by G’d Himself orchestrating the crossing of the river. 'יהושע הוא עובר לפניך כאשר דבר ה. Although, strictly speaking, Joshua is not he people’s leader in that crossing, he will be the one who nominally will be leading you across the river, just as G’d has said.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:3:2
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:3:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:3:2)

**יְהוֹשֻׁעַ הוּא עֹבֵר לְפָנֶיךָ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר ה׳.** כִּי אָמְנָם יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אֵינוֹ הַמַּנְהִיג, אֲבָל הוּא עֹבֵר לְפָנֶיךָ בְּמִצְוַת הָאֵל יִתְעַלֶּה, שֶׁהוּא הַמַּנְהִיג.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
(2) YEHOSHUA IS THE ONE WHO SHALL CROSS BEFORE YOU, AS ADONAI HAS SAID. For, while Yehoshua is not the leader, he will cross before you at the instruction of God, may He be exalted, for He is the leader.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:6:1
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:6:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:6:1)

**לֹא יַרְפְּךָ.** כִּי יַחֲזִיק בְּיָדְךָ בְּעֵת הַמִּלְחָמָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
לא ירפך, for at the hour of battle G’d will lend you additional mental fortitude


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:6:2
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:6:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:6:2)

**וְלֹא יַעַזְבֶךָּ.** אַחֲרֵי כֵן, שֶׁלֹּא יִגְרַע מִמְּךָ עֵינֵי הַשְׁגָּחָתוֹ, וְלֹא יִתְקוֹמְמוּ סְבִיבוֹתֶיךָ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ולא יעזבך, neither will He abandon you afterwards by decreasing the attention He pays to your affairs. As a result, none of the neighbouring nations will dare attack you.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:7:1
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:7:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:7:1)

**כִּי אַתָּה תָּבוֹא.** אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֲנִי לֹא זָכִיתִי לָזֶה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
כי אתה תבא, even though I myself have not merited this.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:9:1
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:9:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:9:1)

**אֶת הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת.** פָּרָשַׁת הַמֶּלֶךְ שֶׁצִּוָּה עַתָּה שֶׁיִּקְרָא בְּהַקְהֵל.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
את התורה הזאת, a reference to the final commandment in the Torah, Hakhel, for the king to read the Torah once in seven years before the entire Jewish people, minors and babies in arms included.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:9:2
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:9:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:9:2)

**וַיִּתְּנָהּ אֶל הַכֹּהֲנִים בְּנֵי לֵוִי.** שֶׁמִּיָּדָם יְקַבְּלֶנָּה הַמֶּלֶךְ הַקּוֹרֵא, כְּאוֹתָהּ שֶׁשָּׁנִינוּ הַסְּגָן נוֹתְנוֹ לְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל וְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל לַמֶּלֶךְ (סוטה מא).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויתנה אל הכהנים בני לוי, from whose hands the King who would read it in public would receive it. The Talmud Sotah 41 describes that the Torah scroll passed from the deputy High Priest’s hands to those of the High Priest himself, who in turn handed it to the King.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:9:3
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:9:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:9:3)

**הַנֹּשְׂאִים אֶת אֲרוֹן.** שֶׁנָּשְׂאוּ בְּעֵת הִתְחַדֵּשׁ נֵס בּוֹ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
הנושאים את ארון, one of the three occasions when the priests rather than the ordinary Levites carried the Ark; at the time when the miracle of the waters being split would occur once more, the priests carrying the Ark were the catalyst.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:9:4
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:9:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:9:4)

**וְאֶל כָּל זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל.** שֶׁמִּיָּדָם יְקַבְּלוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים אֶת הַתּוֹרָה בְּהַקְהֵל, כְּאוֹתָהּ שֶׁשָּׁנִינוּ (סוטה מא) חַזַּן הַכְּנֶסֶת נוֹתֵן לְרֹאשׁ הַכְּנֶסֶת וְרֹאשׁ הַכְּנֶסֶת לַסְּגָן.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ואל כל זקני ישראל, from whom the priests had received the Torah scroll on that occasion. On the folio in Sotah 41 mentioned earlier, the details of this whole procedure are described.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:12:1
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:12:1)

**לְמַעַן יִשְׁמְעוּ.** יָבִינוּ חַכְמֵי הָעָם.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
למען ישמעו, in order that the wise men in the congregation would understand.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:12:2
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:12:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:12:2)

**וּלְמַעַן יִלְמְדוּ.** וּלְמַעַן יִלְמְדוּ מֵהֶם הַבִּלְתִּי מְבִינִים.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ולמען ילמדו, and in order that the less intelligent members of the people would learn it from them.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:12:3
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:12:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:12:3)

**וְיָרְאוּ אֶת ה׳ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם.** בַּהֲבִינָם גָּדְלוֹ הַבָּא בְּתוֹרָתוֹ בְּמוֹפְתִים שִׂכְלִיִּים.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויראו את ה' אלוקיכם, once they have understood the greatness of Torah they will automatically revere and be in awe of its author, G’d, whose supreme intelligence they will admire.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:13:1
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:13:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:13:1)

**וּבְנֵיהֶם אֲשֶׁר לֹא יָדְעוּ.** שֶׁלֹּא הָיוּ יוֹדְעִים לִשְׁאוֹל בִּהְיוֹתָם טָף.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ובניהם אשר לא ידעו, seeing that due to their tender age they are unable to formulate their questions if they have any.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:13:2
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:13:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:13:2)

**יִשְׁמְעוּ.** שְׁמִיעַת הָאֹזֶן, אוֹ שֶׁיִּשְׁמְעוּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמָרוּ דְּבָרִים בָּהּ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ישמעו, either simply that their ears will hear sounds, or, if they are a little older, that they will hear words.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:13:3
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:13:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:13:3)

**וְלָמְדוּ.** יִשְׁאֲלוּ בְּגָדְלָם וְיִלְמְדוּ מִן הַמְּבִינִים.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ולמדו, they will ask adults and learn by listening intently to the answers they receive from people who do understand.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:17:1
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:17:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:17:1)

**וַעֲזַבְתִּים.** בְּיַד מַחֲרִיבֵי הַבַּיִת שֶׁיִּגְבְּרוּ עֲלֵיהֶם.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ועזבתים, to the various nations who will overpower them.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:17:2
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:17:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:17:2)

**וְהִסְתַּרְתִּי פָנַי מֵהֶם.** אַעְלִים עֵינֵי חֶמְלָתִי מֵהֶם, כְּבִלְתִּי רוֹאֶה בְּצָרָתָם.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
והסתרתי פני מהם, after they will have fallen under the control of the gentile nations who will abuse them and oppress them I will ignore my natural sense of pity, and make believe as if I were unaware of their plight.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:17:3
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:17:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:17:3)

**עַל כִּי אֵין אֱלֹהַי בְּקִרְבִּי מְצָאוּנִי הָרָעוֹת.** בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁסִּלֵּק שְׁכִינָתוֹ מִתּוֹכֵנוּ הָיוּ אֵלֶּה לָנוּ, וּבְחָשְׁבָם זֶה לֹא יִפְנוּ לְהִתְפַּלֵּל וְלֹא לָשׁוּב בִּתְשׁוּבָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
על כי אין אלוקי בקרבי מצאוני הרעות, all of this has befallen me because G’d has abandoned me. Seeing that they feel abandoned, they will not bother to pray to Me, nor will they do teshuvah, considering such prayer futile, wasted.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:18:1
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:18:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:18:1)

**וְאָנֹכִי הַסְתֵּר אַסְתִּיר פָּנַי מֵהֶם.** לֹא כְּמוֹ שֶׁחָשְׁבוּ הֵם בְּאָמְרָם שֶׁאֵינִי בְּקִרְבָּם, כִּי אָמְנָם בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁיִּהְיוּ תִּהְיֶה שְׁכִינָתִי מְצוּיָה שָׁם, כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (מגילה כ״ט) ״בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁגָּלוּ כוּ׳״, אֲבָל אַסְתִּיר פָּנַי מֵהַצִּילָם.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ואנכי הסתר אסתיר פני מהם, not as they thought that I was no longer in their midst; wherever they are My presence is with them, as our sages said in Megillah 29 “wherever the Jewish people have been exiled G’d’s presence accompanies them. However, it does not manifest itself by saving them from their oppressor.”


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:18:2
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:18:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:18:2)

**עַל כָּל הָרָעָה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה.** הוּא לְעַצְמוֹ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
על כל הרעה אשר עשה, Israel had done harm to itself, not G’d.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:18:3
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:18:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:18:3)

**כִּי פָנָה אֶל אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים.** כִּי בַּצָּרוֹת הַמּוֹצְאוֹת אוֹתָם עַל מָה שֶׁחָטְאוּ, הֵם אֵינָם פּוֹנִים אֵלַי לְעֶזְרָה בִּתְשׁוּבָה וּבִתְפִלָּה, אֲבָל פּוֹנִים לְהִמָּלֵט בְּאֶמְצָעוּת עוֹבְדֵי אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
כי פנה אל אלוהים אחרים, while being beset by all of their problems, instead of turning to Me in prayer, supplication and remorse, they chose to pray to idols instead.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:21:1
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:21:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:21:1)

**כִּי יָדַעְתִּי אֶת יִצְרוֹ אֲשֶׁר הוּא עֹשֶׂה הַיּוֹם.** שֶׁאֵינָם מְצַפִּים לְהִכָּנֵס לָאָרֶץ כְּדֵי לְעָבְדֵנִי בָּהּ כְּמוֹ שֶׁהוּא הַמְכֻוָּן מֵאִתִּי, כַּאֲמָרוֹ ״וַיִּתֵּן לָהֶם אַרְצוֹת גּוֹיִם, בַּעֲבוּר יִשְׁמְרוּ חֻקָּיו״ (תהלים קה:מד־מה). אֲבָל מְצַפִּים אוֹתָהּ לְהַשְׂבִּיעַ נַפְשָׁם הַמִּתְאַוָּה, וְיִמָּשֵׁךְ מִזֶּה כָּל הָרַע שֶׁנִּבָּא, כְּאָמְרוֹ ״וַיִּשְׁמַן יְשֻׁרוּן וַיִּבְעָט״ (דברים לב:טו).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
כי ידעתי את יצרו אשר הוא עושה היום, for I, G’d, know its nature, its character; they do not look forward to taking over the land of the Canaanites in order to serve Me, as I wanted them to and hoped they would do. (compare Psalms 105,44-45 “He gave them the lands of nations; they inherited the wealth of peoples; in order to observe His statutes and His teachings, and observe His laws.”) Instead they look forward to gratify their own cravings as a result of which their excess wealth will be the cause of their decline and corruption, as per 32,15 “Yeshurun waxed fate and kicked, etc.”


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:23:1
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:23:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:23:1)

**וַיְצַו אֶת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ.** הָאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ מִנָּה אָז אֶת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ לְנָגִיד, כְּמוֹ ״צִוִּיתִי שׁוֹפְטִים״ (שמואל ב ז:יא) וּ״צִוְּךָ לְנָגִיד״ (שמואל א כה:ל) וְדוֹמֵיהֶם.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויצו את יהושע, at that time G’d appointed Joshua to be the leader. The expression ויצו used here has been used elsewhere to describe someone’s appointment, such as in Samuel I 25,30 וצוך לנגיד, “He appointed you as leader,” or Samuel II 7,11 צויתי שופטים, “I appointed judges.” There are more such examples in Scripture.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:24:1
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:24:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:24:1)

**עַל סֵפֶר עַד תֻּמָּם.** עִם פָּרָשַׁת הַאֲזִינוּ וּפָרָשַׁת וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
על ספר עד תומם, together with the portions Haazinu and Vezot ha’brachah.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:26:1
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:26:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:26:1)

**וְהָיָה שָׁם בְּךָ לְעֵד.** יָעִיד שֶׁיָּדַעְתִּי שֶׁתַּעַזְבוּ אֶת תּוֹרַת הָאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ, שֶׁבִּשְׁבִיל זֶה הֻצְרַכְתִּי לָשִׂים סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה אֶחָד בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁלֹּא יִכָּנֵס שָׁם אָדָם זוּלָתִי כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל אַחַת בַּשָּׁנָה, וְיָעִיד זֶה הַסֵּפֶר שֶׁכָּל מַה שֶּׁיִּמָּצֵא כָּתוּב בְּסֵפֶר הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁיִּמָּצְאוּ בְּיַד צַדִּיקֵי הַדּוֹר, הֵן הֵן הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר לוֹ לְמֹשֶׁה מִסִּינַי בְּלִי תּוֹסֶפֶת וְחִסָּרוֹן, וּבָזֶה לֹא יִוָּלֵד סָפֵק לָכֶם עֲלֵיהֶם. אָמְנָם הַסֵּפֶר שֶׁמָּצָא חִלְקִיָּהוּ (מלכים ב כב:ח) נִרְאֶה שֶׁהָיָה הַסֵּפֶר שֶׁנָּתַן מֹשֶׁה אֶל הַכֹּהֲנִים נֹשְׂאֵי אֲרוֹן בְּרִית ה׳ שֶׁהוּזְכַּר לְמַעְלָה (דברים לא:ט), שֶׁהָיָה פָּרָשַׁת הַמֶּלֶךְ בִּלְבָד, וּבוֹ כָּתַב יְהוֹשֻׁעַ הַבְּרִית שֶׁחִדֵּשׁ עִם יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּשְׂכַר שֶׁקִּבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם בּוֹ לַעֲבֹד אֶת הָאֵל יִתְעַלֶּה בֶּאֱמֶת וּבְתָמִים, שֶׁהוּא בְּעִיּוּן וּבְמַעֲשֶׂה. וּכְשֶׁקָּרָא בוֹ יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ וְרָאָה שֶׁרָחֲקוּ מִכָּל זֶה, חָרַד וְדָרַשׁ אֶת ה׳ עַל זֹאת.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
והיה שם בך לעד, the written Torah, reposing in the Holy Ark is witness that I have predicted and warned against your abandoning G’d and His Torah. This is why I arranged for this testimony to be preserved in a place accessible even to the High Priest only once a year on the Day of Atonement. This original copy of the written Torah will, if need be, prove that all that is written in all the Torah scrolls later and accessible to all the people all the time was a true copy of the Torah Moses had received from G’d at Mount Sinai. It will serve as proof that the Torah scrolls in circulation among the Torah scholars and the righteous people who commissioned copies for their private libraries, are all true to the original and do not contain additions or omissions.
 It would appear, however, that the Torah scroll found by the High Priest Chilkiyah (Kings II 22,8) was the very one which Moses had handed over to the priests who carried the Ark across the river Jordan which we referred to earlier. It contained only the passage dealing with the legislation pertaining to the king. It was this scroll in which Joshua wrote (added) the renewal of G’d’s covenant with the people which took place at Shechem. This was the record of Israel’s renewed undertaking to serve the Lord. Compare Kings II 22,13 where King Yoshiyahu refers to this scroll containing matters not contained in Moses’ original Torah scroll, as Joshua had written part of this scroll after the covenant’s renewal in Shechem. The King had become painfully aware how far the people had strayed from their solemn undertaking.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:28:1
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:28:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:28:1)

**וַאֲדַבְּרָה בְאָזְנֵיהֶם אֵת הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה.** דִּבְרֵי שִׁירַת הַאֲזִינוּ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ואדברה באזניהם את הדברים האלה, the words of poetry contained in the portion Haazinu.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:28:2
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:28:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:28:2)

**וְאָעִידָה בָּם אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת הָאָרֶץ.** כְּאָמְרוֹ ״הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם כוּ׳״ (דברים לב:א).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ואעידה בם את השמים ואת הארץ, just as we read in the opening words of that poem in 32,1.


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:29:1
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:29:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:29:1)

**כִּי יָדַעְתִּי.** אַגִּיד בְּאוֹתָהּ הַשִּׁירָה וְאָעִיד בָּכֶם שֶׁיָּדַעְתִּי שֶׁתַּעֲשׂוּ בְּאֹופֶן שֶׁתִּקְרֶה לָכֶם הָרָעָה, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא תְיַחֲסוּ הֶעָתִיד אֶל הַמִּקְרֶה, אֲבָל תְּיַחֲסוּ אֶל מַה שֶׁהִשְׁחַתֶּם וְתִתְּנוּ לֵב לָשׁוּב. כְּעִנְיַן ״וָאַגִּיד לְךָ מֵאָז, בְּטֶרֶם תָּבוֹא הִשְׁמַעְתִּיךָ, פֶּן תֹּאמַר עָצְבִּי עָשָׂם״ (ישעיהו מח:ה).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
כי ידעתי, in the course of that song (poem) I will reveal that I know how you will act so that the evil, if and when it befalls you, will not be perceived as “bad luck,” as coincidence, but can be traced back to my warnings. Once you realise and admit hat you had become guilty of a corrupt way of life, you will repent and turn to G’d in sincere remorse. Compare Isaiah 48,5 ואגיד לך מאז, בטרם תבוא השמעתיך, פן תאמר עצבי אשם, “Therefore I told you long beforehand, announced things to you before they happened, that you might not say: “my idol caused them.”


###### Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:30:1
[Sforno on Deuteronomy 31:30:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Deuteronomy/r/31:30:1)

**אֶת דִּבְרֵי הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת עַד תֻּמָּם.** עַד פָּרָשַׁת ״כִּי יָדִין״ וְ״כִי אֶשָּׂא״ (דברים לב:לו, מ), אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינָם מִכְלַל דִּבְרֵי הָהַעֲדָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
את דברי השירה הזאת עד תומם, including 32,36 כי ידין and כי אשא in 32,40, although those verses are not strictly speaking, part of Moses’ warning and testimony.