(Deut. 33:3:) INDEED HE SHOWS LOVE TO THE PEOPLES (by letting them rule over Israel).²²., Deut. 11:5, cont.; PRK 31 (suppl. 1):18; see BB 8a. Moses said to the Holy One: Sovereign of the Universe, you have placed two yokes upon your children, the yoke of Torah and the yoke of enslavement to empires. The Holy One said to him: Whoever is engaged with the Torah [is delivered from enslavement to empires]. (Ibid., cont.:) ALL HIS HOLY ONES ARE IN YOUR HAND.

footnotes: ²² Tanh

(Deut. 33:3, cont.:) AND THEY ARE POUNDED (rt.: TKH)²³ AT YOUR FEET. Rav Joseph taught: These are the disciples of the sages, who beat (rt.: KTT) their feet from city to city in order to learn Torah and cast off the yoke of empire from upon them.

footnotes: ²³ The meaning of this verb is doubtful. This translation follows the interpretation of the midrash.

Another interpretation (of Deut. 33:3): AND THEY ARE POUNDED AT YOUR FEET. Although they are beaten, they do not move from your dwellings, but (ibid., end) THEY TAKE UP YOUR WORDS.

(Deut. 33:4:) MOSES CHARGED US WITH TORAH, AS THE HERITAGE FOR THE CONGREGATION OF ISRAEL. It is a heritage for all the congregations of Jacob, for whoever engages in it for its own sake is worthy of the inheritance of Jacob, as stated (in Is. 58:14): THEN YOU SHALL TAKE DELIGHT IN THE LORD…, AND I WILL FEED YOU THE INHERITANCE OF YOUR FATHER JACOB.