וזאת המצוה, so called because the commandments that can be fulfilled only in the land of Israel are the ones through whose performance the One Who has commanded them considers Himself blessed.

למען תירא את ה' אלוקיך, for you will remember then that He is the owner of the earth you till, and that you are considered as aliens, or at best as resident strangers by Him.

אתה, ובנך, ובן בנך. This is a reminder that even the generations who had not been eyewitnesses to G’ds powerful miracles will learn to revere Him when they accept the commandments, as you have seen.

ולמען יאריכון ימיך, and in order that these commandments (their performance) acquire for you your ticket to the world after death, a world in which there is only long, infinite life.

ושמעת ישראל, when you have attained this purpose which G’d had had in mind for you from the beginning in His great kindness. It is important that through performance and awareness you will appreciate the tremendous goodwill G’d has demonstrated by His legislating these commandments.

ושמרת לעשות אשר ייטב לך, and you will endeavour to carry out all these tasks out of a feeling of love for G’d, in order to be worthy of His goodwill, aware that He is interested in creating conditions which will make you merit a continued existence. Seeing that this is His purpose in legislating any and all of these commandments, you will also observe these commandments in order to multiply greatly on earth. This is a goal you will achieve if your performance of these commandments is not for the sake of the material reward but לשמה, for His honour, as acts of righteousness and justice in the pure sense. כאשר דבר ה' אלוקיך לך, ארץ זבת חלב ודבש, as He had said to you concerning this land that it “flows with milk and honey.” This land is inherently capable of providing those of its owners who take the lesson we just spelled out to heart, with an easy livelihood, a livelihood which leaves the person sufficient leisure time to pursue Torah studies and by means of this to penetrate more deeply into its meaning and also to be fruitful and to multiply.

שמע ישראל, listen Israel with your mind open;

'ה, He is the One Who is responsible for the existence of a physical universe and our globe, the only part of it on which physical life exists.

אלוקינו, He is the choicest of all the abstract forces assigned to supervise the conduct of human beings, and even inert creatures. From Him we yearn for assistance in helping us to achieve our purpose on earth. We do not turn to any intermediary. He alone is fit to have prayers addressed to.

ה' אחד; seeing that He created all phenomena in this universe, celestial or terrestrial out of a total void, it is logically impossible for there to be another phenomenon representing an existence independent of Him. It also makes him basically different, unique, for all things created by Him are by definition potentially terminal, transient existences. He is absolutely unique in the world based on four basic raw materials, water, fire, earth, air. This idea appears to be hinted at in the letter ד=4 in the word אחד which is written larger than usual and the letter ע in the word שמע which is also written in larger than normal script, suggesting that we should use our eyes to take note of these concepts, the “testimony, עד” that this is so. This is why our sages said that we must draw out the word אחד when reciting it so as to give us time to reflect on the full meaning of the verse.

ואהבת, you will then enjoy doing things which are pleasing to Him when you understand that there is nothing in this world which is more worth doing. [the word ואהבת is not perceived a commandment by the author; in fact it is questionable if loving someone could be the subject of a commandment altogether. Ed.]

Teach them through repetition and through sharp, intellectual evidence.

And you are to discuss them. For through this you will constantly remember them.

.אשר לא בנית ובתים מלאים כל טוב אשר לא מלאתYou will attain wealth without having toiled for it.

השמר לך פן תשכח, for wealth acquired in such a fashion is liable to fostering the desire, greed for more; in the pursuit of more material wealth man is liable to forget his Maker.

מה העדות, a reference to the philosophical, theological aspects of the Torah. These invariably relate to the supernatural matters described in the Torah.

והחקים והמשפטים, the practical laws,

אשר צוה ה' אלוקינו אתכם, and He did not deem the seven Noachide laws as adequate.

עבדים היינו, seeing that during the many years of our being slaves we could not attain the degree of perfection G’d had in mind for us to attain, He performed miracles in order to lead us out and to bring us to the land in which we could attain this degree of perfection.

ויצונו ה' לעשות את כל החקים האלה, in order to make us ready by means of their observance,

ליראה את ה' אלוקינו, this is the result of acquiring a measure of understanding of His greatness; all of this G’d wanted us to appreciate לטוב לנו כל הימים, for He desires to confer goodness, love, He has no egotistical motives. לחיותנו כהיום הזה. To keep us alive as of this day.

This is what I had in mind when I said to you וצדקה תהיה לו לטוב לנו כל הימים, it will be good for us not only in this life but will be a charitable act assuring us of life in the hereafter.

We will enjoy the transient life on this earth as a result of having first assured ourselves through observance of the commandments of our share in the world to come, i.e. eternal life.