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Deuteronomy 11:2 - Witnesses must teach God's wonders

Deuteronomy 11:2 - דברים 11:2

Hebrew Text

וִידַעְתֶּם הַיּוֹם כִּי לֹא אֶת־בְּנֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יָדְעוּ וַאֲשֶׁר לֹא־רָאוּ אֶת־מוּסַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֶת־גָּדְלוֹ אֶת־יָדוֹ הַחֲזָקָה וּזְרֹעוֹ הַנְּטוּיָה׃

English Translation

And know this day: for I speak not with your children who have not known, and have not seen the chastisement of the Lord your God, his greatness, his mighty hand, and his stretched-out arm,

Transliteration

Vidatem hayom ki lo et-bneichem asher lo-yadu va'asher lo-rau et-musar Adonai Eloheichem et-gadlo et-yado hachazaka uzro'o hanetuya.

Hebrew Leining Text

וִֽידַעְתֶּם֮ הַיּוֹם֒ כִּ֣י <b>׀</b> לֹ֣א אֶת־בְּנֵיכֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־יָדְעוּ֙ וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־רָא֔וּ אֶת־מוּסַ֖ר יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם אֶת־גׇּדְל֕וֹ אֶת־יָדוֹ֙ הַחֲזָקָ֔ה וּזְרֹע֖וֹ הַנְּטוּיָֽה׃
וִֽידַעְתֶּם֮ הַיּוֹם֒ כִּ֣י ׀ לֹ֣א אֶת־בְּנֵיכֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־יָדְעוּ֙ וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־רָא֔וּ אֶת־מוּסַ֖ר יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם אֶת־גׇּדְל֕וֹ אֶת־יָדוֹ֙ הַחֲזָקָ֔ה וּזְרֹע֖וֹ הַנְּטוּיָֽה׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Context in Devarim (Deuteronomy)

The verse appears in Devarim 11:2, where Moshe Rabbeinu addresses Bnei Yisrael before entering Eretz Yisrael. He emphasizes that his words are directed at those who personally witnessed Hashem's miracles and discipline, not their children who lacked firsthand experience.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi clarifies that Moshe is distinguishing between two generations:

  • "Your children who have not known" – The next generation, who did not witness the Exodus or Matan Torah.
  • "The chastisement of Hashem" – Referring to the yissurim (divine discipline) and miracles in Egypt and the wilderness.

Rashi notes that Moshe stresses personal witness as foundational to transmitting emunah (faith).

Rambam on Divine Providence

In Moreh Nevuchim (3:32), Rambam explains that experiencing Hashem's "mighty hand" (e.g., the Ten Plagues) and "outstretched arm" (e.g., Kriyat Yam Suf) creates an unshakable awareness of divine intervention in history, which must be passed down through mesorah (tradition).

Midrashic Insights

The Sifrei (Devarim 43) elaborates that "know this day" implies an obligation to internalize these lessons daily. The Netziv (Ha'amek Davar) adds that "chastisement" (musar) includes both corrective suffering and instructive guidance.

Practical Implications

  • Educational responsibility: Parents who witnessed miracles bear a greater obligation to teach their children (see Pesachim 116b on the Seder's pedagogical role).
  • Emunah through experience: The verse underscores Judaism's emphasis on historical revelation as the basis for faith, contrasting with abstract philosophy.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Berakhot 40b
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the importance of firsthand knowledge and experience of God's miracles, contrasting those who witnessed them with later generations.
📖 Sotah 34b
The verse is cited in the context of the spies' report about the land of Israel, emphasizing the difference between those who experienced God's wonders and those who did not.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Deuteronomy 11:2 mean?
A: Deuteronomy 11:2 emphasizes that the generation who personally witnessed Hashem's miracles (like the Exodus from Egypt) has a special responsibility to recognize His greatness and discipline. Rashi explains that this verse contrasts those who experienced divine wonders firsthand with future generations who only heard about them. The Torah stresses that direct experience creates a deeper awareness of Hashem's power.
Q: Why is Deuteronomy 11:2 important?
A: This verse is important because it teaches that firsthand knowledge of Hashem's miracles brings a unique obligation to serve Him. The Rambam (Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah 8:1) explains that witnessing divine acts creates an unshakable foundation of faith. The verse reminds us that each generation must transmit these experiences to their children through education and mitzvot.
Q: What can we learn from 'for I speak not with your children' in this verse?
A: The phrase teaches that while later generations didn't see the miracles directly, they must still internalize these lessons. The Sifrei (Devarim 44) explains that parents must educate their children as if they too experienced the Exodus. This establishes the Jewish principle of 'mesorah' - transmitting firsthand spiritual experiences through teaching and practice across generations.
Q: How does 'the chastisement of the Lord your God' apply today?
A: The 'musar Hashem' (chastisement) refers to both the disciplinary and educational aspects of divine providence. The Malbim explains this includes all the formative experiences in the wilderness. Today, we apply this by recognizing Hashem's hand in both historical and personal events, understanding that challenges and miracles alike are opportunities for spiritual growth.
Q: What do 'mighty hand' and 'stretched-out arm' symbolize?
A: These phrases symbolize Hashem's intervention in nature and history. Rashi explains the 'mighty hand' refers to the plague of pestilence (Exodus 9:3), while the 'stretched-out arm' represents the sword of divine justice. The Ramban adds they represent the continuous, visible miracles in Egypt that demonstrated Hashem's absolute power over creation.