Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, Moshe Rabbeinu continues his holy berachos to the shevatim before his histalkus, focusing here on the final individual shevatim: Dan, Naphtali, and Asher. We see how Moshe compares Dan to a powerful lion's whelp, and how he blesses Naphtali with abundance and Asher with oil and strength. Lichoira, these berachos are not just physical promises, but they represent the unique koach and tafkid that each shevet received to serve Hashem in their respective portions in Eretz Yisrael.

Following the individual berachos, Moshe transitions into a beautiful, heartfelt praise of Hashem and His relationship with Klal Yisrael, whom he calls Yeshurun. He describes the unique protection and majesty that Hashem provides for His nation, riding through the heavens to come to our aid. This sets the stage for the final, exalted words of blessing for the entire nation.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

פָּסוּק א

Pasuk 1

וּלְדָןAnd to Danאָמַרhe saidדָּןDanגּוּרis a whelp ofאַרְיֵהa lionיְזַנֵּקhe leapsמִןfromהַבָּשָׁן׃the Bashan

רַשִׁ״י

דןDanגורis a cubאריה.of a lionאַףevenהוּאheהָיָהwasסָמוּךְcloseלַסְּפָר,to the borderלְפִיכָךְthereforeמוֹשְׁלוֹhe compares himבַּאֲרָיוֹתto lionsשםthere:

רַשִׁ״י

יזנקhe shall leapמןfromהבשן.the Bashanכְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ,as its Targumשֶׁהָיָהthat wasהַיַּרְדֵּןthe Jordanיוֹצֵאgoing outמֵחֶלְקוֹfrom his portionמִמְּעָרַתfrom the cave ofפַּמְיָאס,Pameasוְהִיאand itלֶשֶׁםLeshemשֶׁהִיאwhich isבְחֶלְקוֹin the portionשֶׁלofדָּן,Danשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidיהושעYehoshuaי"ט19"וַיִּקְרְאוּand they calledלְלֶשֶׁםLeshemדָּן",Danוְזִנּוּקוֹand its spurtingוְקִלּוּחוֹand its gushingמִןfromהַבָּשָׁן.the Bashanדָּ"אַanother explanation—מַהjust asזִּנּוּקgushזֶהthisיוֹצֵאgoes outמִמָּקוֹםfrom a placeאֶחָדoneוְנֶחֱלָקand dividesלִשְׁנֵיinto twoמְקוֹמוֹת,placesכָּךְsoשִׁבְטוֹthe tribeשֶׁלofדָּןDanנָטְלוּtookחֵלֶקa portionבִּשְׁנֵיin twoמְקוֹמוֹת,placesתְּחִלָּהfirstנָטְלוּthey tookבִצְפוֹנִיתin the northwestמַעֲרָבִית·—עֶקְרוֹןEkronוּסְבִיבוֹתֶיהָand its surroundings—וְלֹאand notסָפְקוּsufficedלָהֶם,for themוּבָאוּand they cameוְנִלְחֲמוּand they foughtעִםagainstלֶשֶׁםLeshemשֶׁהִיאwhich isפַּמְיָאס,Pameasוְהִיאand itבִּצְפוֹנִיתin the northeastמִזְרָחִית·—שֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdהַיַּרְדֵּןthe Jordanיוֹצֵאgoes outמִמְּעָרַתfrom the cave ofפַּמְיָאסPameasוְהִיאand itבְּמִזְרָחָהּin the eastשֶׁלofאֶרֶץthe Land ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelוּבָאand comesמֵהַצָּפוֹןfrom the northלַדָּרוֹם,to the southוְכָלֶהand endsבִקְצֵהat the edge ofיָםthe Sea ofהַמֶּלַחSaltשֶׁהוּאwhich isבְּמִזְרַחin the east ofיְהוּדָהYehudahשֶׁנָּטַלwho tookבִּדְרוֹמָהּin the southשֶׁלofאֶרֶץthe Land ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisrael—כְּמוֹjust asשֶׁמְּפֹרָשׁis explainedבְּסֵפֶרin the Book ofיְהוֹשֻׁעַ,Yehoshuaוְהוּאand that isשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרwhat is saidשםthere"וַיֵּצֵאand went forthגְבוּלthe border ofבְּנֵיthe children ofדָןDanמֵהֶםfrom themוַיַּעֲלוּand went upבְנֵיthe children ofדָןDanוַיִּלָּחֲמוּand foughtעִםagainstלֶשֶׁםLeshemוְגוֹ'"etc.—יָצָאwent forthגְבוּלָםtheir borderמִכָּלfrom allאוֹתוֹthatהָרוּחַdirectionשֶׁהִתְחִילוּthat they beganלִנְחֹלto inheritבּוֹin itספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

וּלְנַפְתָּלִיAnd of Naftaliאָמַרhe saidנַפְתָּלִיO Naftaliשְׂבַעsated withרָצוֹןfavorוּמָלֵאand full ofבִּרְכַּתthe blessing ofיְהוָהHashemיָםthe westוְדָרוֹםand the southיְרָשָׁה׃possess

רַשִׁ״י

שבעSatisfied withרצון.desireשֶׁהָיְתָהthat wasאַרְצוֹhis landשְׂבֵעָהsatisfied withכָּלallרְצוֹןthe desire ofיוֹשְׁבֶיהָ:its inhabitants

רַשִׁ״י

יםThe seaודרוםand the southירשה.possess thouיָםThe sea ofכִּנֶּרֶתKinneretנָפְלָהfellבְּחֶלְקוֹ,into his portionוְנָטַלand he receivedמְלֹאthe fullness ofחֶבֶלa rope's lengthחֵרֶםof fishing-coastבִּדְרוֹמָהּ,on its southלִפְרֹשׂto spread outחֲרָמִיםnetsוּמִכְמוֹרוֹתand meshesב"קBava Kammaפ"אchapter eighty-one:

רַשִׁ״י

ירשה.take possessionלְשׁוֹןis an expression ofצִוּוּי,commandכְּמוֹlike"עֲלֵהgo upרֵשׁ"take possessionדבריםDevarimא'1,וְהַטַּעַםand the accentשֶׁלְּמַעְלָהwhich is aboveבָּרֵ"ישׁon the reshמוֹכִיחַ,provesכְּמוֹjust asסְלַח,forgiveיְדַע,knowלְקַח,takeשְׁמַע,hearכְּשֶׁמּוֹסִיףwhen one addsבּוֹto itהֵ"אthe letter hehיִהְיֶהwill beהַטַּעַםthe accentלְמַעְלָהaboveסְלָחָה,forgiveיְדָעָה,knowלְקָחָה,takeשְׁמָעָה,hearאַףsoכָּאןhereיְרָשָׁהtake possessionלְשׁוֹןis an expression ofצִוּוּי,commandוּבַמָּסֹרֶתand in the MasorahהַגְּדוֹלָהGedolahמָצִינוּwe findבְּאַלְפָאin the alphabeticalבֵּיתָאlistלְשׁוֹןof expressions ofצִוּוּיcommandדְּטַעְמֵיהוֹןwhose accent isמִלְּעֵיל:on the penultima

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

וּלְאָשֵׁרAnd of Asherאָמַרhe saidבָּרוּךְblessedמִבָּנִיםabove sonsאָשֵׁרbe Asherיְהִיmay he beרְצוּיfavored byאֶחָיוhis brothersוְטֹבֵלand dipבַּשֶּׁמֶןin oilרַגְלוֹ׃his foot

רַשִׁ״י

ברוךBlessedמבניםabove sonsאשר.AsherרָאִיתִיI have seenבְסִפְרֵיin the Sifrei—אֵיןthere is notלְךָto youבְכָלamong allהַשְּׁבָטִיםthe tribesשֶׁנִּתְבָּרֵךְwho was blessedבְּבָנִיםwith childrenכְּאָשֵׁר,like Asherוְאֵינִיand I do notיוֹדֵעַknowכֵּיצַד:how

רַשִׁ״י

יהיlet him beרצויaccepted ofאחיו.his brethrenשֶׁהָיָהfor he wasמִתְרַצֶּהpleasingלְאֶחָיוto his brothersבְּשֶׁמֶןwith oil ofאַנְפִּיקִינוֹןunripe olivesוּבְקַפְּלָאוֹת,and with fine fruitsוְהֵםand theyמְרַצִּיןpleasedלוֹhimבִּתְבוּאָה.with grainדָּ"אַanother explanation—יהיlet him beרצויaccepted ofאחיוhis brethrenשֶׁהָיוּbecause wereבְנוֹתָיוhis daughtersנָאוֹת,beautifulוְהוּאand this isשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרwhat is statedבְּדִבְרֵיin Chroniclesהַיָּמִים·דבהי"אChronicles Iז'7"הוּאheאֲבִיwas the father ofבִרְזָיִת",Birzayithשֶׁהָיוּthat wereבְנוֹתָיוhis daughtersנְשׂוּאוֹתmarriedלְכֹהֲנִיםto PriestsגְּדוֹלִיםHighוּמְלָכִיםand Kingsהַנִּמְשָׁחִיםwho were anointedבְּשֶׁמֶןwith oil ofזַיִת:olive

רַשִׁ״י

וטבלAnd he shall dipבשמןin oilרגלו.his footשֶׁהָיְתָהthat wasאַרְצוֹhis landמוֹשֶׁכֶתflowing withשֶׁמֶןoilכְּמַעְיָן,like a springוּמַעֲשֶׂהand an incidentשֶׁנִּצְטָרְכוּwhere they neededאַנְשֵׁיthe people ofלוּדְקִיָּאLaodiciaלְשֶׁמֶן,oilמִנּוּthey appointedלָהֶםfor themselvesפּוּלְמוּסְטוּסan agentאֶחָד,oneוכוּ'etceteraכִדְאִיתָאas it isבִמְנָחוֹתin Menachotדףpageפ"ה85:

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

בַּרְזֶלIronוּנְחֹשֶׁתand copperמִנְעָלֶיךָare your doorboltsוּכְיָמֶיךָand as your daysדָּבְאֶךָ׃is your strength

רַשִׁ״י

ברזלIronונחשתand copperמנעלך.are your locksעַכְשָׁוnowהוּאheמְדַבֵּרspeaksכְּנֶגֶדtowardsכָּלall ofיִשְׂרָאֵל,Yisraelשֶׁהָיוּthat wereגִּבּוֹרֵיהֶםtheir mighty menיוֹשְׁבִיםdwellingבְּעָרֵיin the cities ofהַסְּפָרthe borderוְנוֹעֲלִיםand lockingאוֹתָהּitשֶׁלֹּאso that notיוּכְלוּwill be ableהָאוֹיְבִיםthe enemiesלִכָּנֵסto enterבָּהּ,into itכְּאִילוּas ifהִיאitסְגוּרָהis closedבְמַנְעוּלִיםwith locksוּבְרִיחִיםand barsשֶׁלofבַּרְזֶלironוּנְחֹשֶׁת.and copperדָּ"אַ,another explanationברזלironונחשתand copperמנעלךare your locks—אַרְצְּכֶםyour landנְעוּלָהis lockedבְּהָרִיםby mountainsשֶׁחוֹצְבִיןthat they quarryמֵהֶםfrom themבַּרְזֶלironוּנְחֹשֶׁת,and copperוְאַרְצוֹand the landשֶׁלofאָשֵׁרAsherהָיְתָהwasמַנְעוּלָהּthe lockשֶׁלofאֶרֶץthe Land ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

וכימיךAnd as your daysדבאך.so shall be your strengthוּכְיָמִיםand like the daysשֶׁהֵםthat they areטוֹבִיםgoodלְךָ,for youשֶׁהֵןwhich they areיְמֵיthe days ofתְחִלָּתְךָ,your beginningיְמֵיthe days ofנְעוּרֶיךָ,your youthכֵּןsoיִהְיוּshall beיְמֵיthe days ofזִקְנָתְךָ,your old ageשֶׁהֵםwhich theyדּוֹאֲבִיםlanguishזָבִיםflow awayוּמִתְמוֹטְטִים.and declineדָּ"אַ,Another explanationוכימיךAnd as your daysדבאךso shall be your strengthכְּמִנְיַןlike the number ofיָמֶיךָyour days—כָּלallהַיָּמִיםthe daysאֲשֶׁרthatאַתֶּםyouעוֹשִׂיםperformרְצוֹנוֹthe willשֶׁלofמָקוֹםthe Omnipresent—יִהְיֶהshall beדָבְאֶךָ,your flowingשֶׁכָּלthat allהָאֲרָצוֹתthe landsיִהְיוּwill beדוֹבְאוֹתpouringכֶּסֶףsilverוְזָהָבand goldלְאֶרֶץto the land ofיִשְׂרָאֵל,Yisraelשֶׁתְּהֵאbecause it will beמְבֹרֶכֶתblessedבְּפֵרוֹתwith fruitsוְכָלand allהָאֲרָצוֹתthe landsמִתְפַּרְנְסוֹתare sustainedהֵימֶנָּהfrom itוּמַמְשִׁיכוֹתand drawלָהּto itכַּסְפָּםtheir silverוּזְהָבָם,and their goldאשקו"רנט,askorantהַכֶּסֶףthe silverוְהַזָּהָבand the goldכָּלֶהis exhaustedמֵהֶםfrom themשֶׁהֵןbecause theyמְזִיבוֹתpourאוֹתוֹitלְאַרְצְכֶם:to your land

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

אֵיןThere is noneכָּאֵלlike GodיְשֻׁרוּןO JeshurunרֹכֵבWho ridesשָׁמַיִםthe heavensבְעֶזְרֶךָto help youוּבְגַאֲוָתוֹand in His majestyשְׁחָקִים׃the skies

רַשִׁ״י

איןThere is noneכאלlike Godישרון.O JeshurunדַּעKnowלְךָfor yourselfיְשֻׁרוּןO Jeshurunשֶׁאֵיןthat there is noneכָּאֵלlike Godבְּכָלamong allאֱלֹהֵיthe gods ofהָעַמִּיםthe nationsוְלֹאand notכְצוּרְךָlike your Rockצוּרָם:is their rock

רַשִׁ״י

רכבrider ofשמים.heavenהוּאHe isאוֹתוֹthatאֱלוֹהַּGodשֶׁבְּעֶזְרֶךָ,Who is in your helpובגאותוand in His majestyהוּאHeרוֹכֵבridesשחקיםskies:

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah begins with the berachah to Dan, comparing him to a lion's whelp leaping from the Bashan, followed by the berachah to Naphtali, who is sated with favor and full of Hashem's blessing to possess the south and west. Next, Asher is blessed to be the most favored of brothers, dipping his foot in oil, with doorbolts of iron and copper to ensure security all his days. Finally, Moshe praises Hashem, declaring there is none like Elokim, Who rides the heavens and skies in His majesty to help Yeshurun.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

Look at how Moshe Rabbeinu blesses the shevatim in our parshah. When he comes to Naphtali, he describes him as "sated with favor and full of Hashem's blessing." Rashi is immediately bothered by this: how can a person be completely sated and full of blessing in a physical world where there is always something more to want? The teretz lies in the very nature of Naphtali's portion in Eretz Yisrael. His land was blessed with the sweet fruits of Ginosar, a place where the physical bounty was so complete and satisfying that it left a person feeling truly whole, with no lack.

The chiddush here goes much deeper than just the agricultural quality of a piece of land. The Torah is teaching us a fundamental yesod in our own avodas Hashem. True blessing is not about the sheer quantity of what you have; it is about the feeling of being "sated with favor." It is the midda of being sameach b'chelko, where you look at your life, your family, and your parnassah, and you feel completely full of Hashem's goodness, without looking over your shoulder at what someone else has.

Lichoira, the yetzer hara always tries to convince us that we are missing something, that if we only had a bit more money, a bigger house, or a different situation, then we would be happy. But the berachah of Naphtali teaches us that Hashem's blessing is already right in front of us. When we train ourselves to see the chessed in our daily lives, we become "full of Hashem's blessing" in reality.

Today, when you sit down to eat or when you look at your family, take thirty seconds to pause and consciously think about one specific chessed Hashem has given you, and say to yourself: "I am truly full of Hashem's blessing, and I need nothing else right now."