Machshavot HaLev - Yeshivat Lev HaTorah

206
Devarim
Words Well Worth the Wait
Rav Yehoshua Paltiel
לפֹתּ ֶ ןי ֵבוּ ןרא ָ פּ ָ ןיבּ ֵ ףוּס לוֹמ ה ָב רָ עֲ בּ ָ רבָּ דְ מִּ בּ ַ ןדֵּ רְ יַּ ה ַ ר ֶב עֵ בּ ְ לאֵ רָ שְׂ י ִ ל ָכּ לא ֶ השֹׁמ ֶ רבֶּ דּ ִ רשֶׁ א ֲ םירִ ָב דְּ ה ַ ה ֶלּ א" ֵ
"בהָ ָז ידִ ו ְ תֹר ֵצ חֲ ו ַ ן ָב ָל וְ
The above verse, which opens Sefer Devarim, is explained by the midrash in Yalkut
Shimoni with the following pasuk (Devarim 32:15): “טעביו ןורושי ןמשיו“ – Yeshurun will
grow fat and kick (rebel).” What is the connection between the two verses?
The Ketav Sofer explains using a principle of effective communication contained in
this comment from Rashi (Devarim 1:3):
וֹתֹא ’ה הָוּ ִצ רשֶׁ א ֲ לֹכ ְכּ לאֵ רָ שְׂ י ִ י ֵנבּ ְ לא ֶ השֹׁמ ֶ רבֶּ דּ ִ שׁדֹח ֶ ַל דחָ אֶ בּ ְ שׁדֹח ֶ רשָׂ ע ָ יתֵּ שְׁ עַ בּ ְ ה ָנשׁ ָ םיעִ בָּ רְ אַ בּ ְ יהִ יְ ו" ַ
"םהֶ ֵל אֲ
.התימל ךומס אלא ןחיכוה אלש דמלמ - שדחל דחאב שדח רשע יתשעב הנש םיעבראב יהיו :י”שר
.וחיכומו רזוחו וחיכומ אהי אלש ידכ ...התימל ךומס אלא וינב תא חיכוה אלש ,בקעימ ?דמל יממ
And it was in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month on the first of
the month” – This teaches that Moshe didn’t rebuke them until shortly
before his death. From whom did he learn this? From Yaakov, who didn’t
rebuke his sons until shortly before his death… in order that he not
rebuke them and then need to rebuke them again.
The Ketav Sofer asks on this midrash that Rashi brings, what is wrong with giving
rebuke multiple times? If it’s needed, then it should be given. Another question:
clearly Moshe was concerned that the first time he were to rebuke the Jewish People it