Pisqa’ 350⁶⁸

1. “Who says of his father and his mother—I don’t see him” (Dt. 33:9). Can you even imagine that Levi would serve a foreign cult? For hasn’t it been clearly stated: “And Moses stood at the gate of the encampment, saying : All who are with HASHEM—come to me! . . . Now, the Levites did according to the Utterance of HASHEM” (Ex. 32:26-28). Actually, the verse [has no bearing on idolatry]. It refers to rejection of one’s Israelite father and mother. [As it says:] “And of his brother—I don’t recognize him” (Dt. 33:9)— this refers to his Israelite maternal brother. “And of his sons—I don’t know him” (Dt. 33:9)— this is his Israelite daughter’s son.

footnotes: ⁶⁸ H:363; JN2:427

“For they observed Your Utterance” (Dt. 33:9)— even in Egypt. “And guarded Your covenant” (Dt. 33:9)— in the wasteland.

Another word: “For they observed Your Utterance” (Dt. 33:9)— even in Egypt. “And guarded Your covenant”— in the incident of the scouts (Nu. 13:1ff.).