The opening verse in this week’s parshah states: “You are standing today, all of you, before Hashem, your God: the heads of your tribes, your elders, and your officers – all the men of Israel” (Deuteronomy 29:9) . As readers of the parshah, we need to analyze why Moses had to single out “your heads and your children”, and why did he not simply say “all of you?” Moreover, what was the reason for this covenant? Just a few lines ago (28:69), Moses had written: “these are the words of the covenant, etc…” The Or Hachayyim comments that if Moses was anxious to include what is written in this portion in the covenant, he should have written this chapter sooner and everything would have been included in what are described as “the words of the covenant in 28:69.” It appears that what Moses wanted with this covenant was to make the Israelites responsible for one another with their mitzvah performances. Each Jew has to see to it that his fellow Jew does not stumble and commit sins. The proof that this is what Moses had in mind here is to be found in verse 28 of our chapter where the Israelites are relieved of their responsibility when the nature of the sin committed is one that is secret. The Torah emphasizes publicly committed sins; sins that must be deal with by ourselves. It is clear that that verse speaks of the mutual responsibility of one Jew for the conduct of another. Naturally, the degree to which we have to carry out this responsibility varies with our position in the community.
The question could be asked as to why Hashem made a new covenant with the Children of Israel before they entered the land? The Midrash explains that the utter isolation of their desert experience, and the fact that they were totally dependant on God’s miraculous Providence for their survival, may have coerced them to keep the Torah in the wilderness. God considered a new covenant as absolutely necessary when they were ready to enter Israel., the land of material abundance, for there was a grave danger that they might become lax in their mitzvah observance and forsake Hashem.
In Parshat Vayelech, Moses tells the Israelites that although he won’t be entering Israel with them, God will be with them and will triumph as long as they keep the covenant.
Moses calls Joshua to command him to settle the people in the land. The Alshekh states that Joshua’s function is to be viewed NOT as THE CONQUEROR. The Torah emphasizes that you will come with the people, instated of you will bring the people, as stated later in verse 23. Had Moses said to Joshua publicly in v.7, what he said to him privately in v.23, Joshua’s function could have been misunderstood. Since the statement in v.23 however, was not made ‘le’eynei bnai israel’ – in the presence of the Jewish people, no misunderstanding was likely. Joshua’s courage was needed, since, de facto, he was to be the leader. As long as the people view Joshua as one of them, they will be satisfied that God is doing the fighting for them. It states “The Lord will not let you weaken” (Deuteronomy 31:8). Joshua need not fear or be faint-hearted, because God will walk ahead of the nation.
~Devorah Abenhaim
