Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does 'The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Ḥorev' mean?
A: This verse refers to the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai (also called Ḥorev), where Hashem established a sacred covenant with the Jewish people. According to Rashi, this emphasizes that the covenant was not only with our ancestors but applies to all future generations as well.
Q: Why is the covenant at Ḥorev important in Judaism?
A: The covenant at Ḥorev (Mount Sinai) is foundational in Judaism because it marks the moment when the Jewish people accepted the Torah and committed to following its commandments. The Rambam teaches that this event established our eternal bond with Hashem and our responsibilities as His chosen nation.
Q: What can we learn from this verse today?
A: This verse reminds us that the Torah is not just an ancient text but a living covenant that binds every Jew in every generation. The Midrash teaches that every Jewish soul, past, present and future, stood at Sinai to accept this covenant, making it eternally relevant to our lives today.
Q: Why does the verse say 'our God' instead of just 'God'?
A: Saying 'our God' emphasizes the personal relationship between Hashem and the Jewish people. As the Sforno explains, this phrasing shows that through the covenant at Sinai, Hashem became uniquely 'ours' and we became uniquely His nation among all peoples.
Q: What is the significance of mentioning Ḥorev specifically?
A: Ḥorev (another name for Mount Sinai) is mentioned to connect this verse with the original revelation where the Ten Commandments were given. The Talmud (Shabbat 89b) explains that the name Ḥorev comes from 'churban' (destruction), alluding to how idolatry was destroyed from the world through the giving of the Torah at this location.
The Covenant at Ḥorev (Sinai)
The verse "יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ כָּרַת עִמָּנוּ בְּרִית בְּחֹרֵב" (Devarim 5:2) refers to the foundational covenant between Hashem and the Jewish people at Mount Sinai (also called Ḥorev). This event is central to Jewish theology, as it marks the giving of the Torah and the formal establishment of the Jewish people as a nation bound to Hashem.
Rashi's Explanation
Rashi (Devarim 5:2) emphasizes that this covenant was not only with the generation that stood at Sinai but with all future generations of the Jewish people. He cites the Talmud (Shevuot 39a), which teaches that the souls of all Jews—past, present, and future—were present at Sinai, binding every Jew to the covenant.
Rambam's Perspective
In Mishneh Torah (Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah 8:1), the Rambam explains that the covenant at Ḥorev was unique because it was established through direct divine revelation, unlike other covenants in history. The entire nation heard Hashem speak the first two commandments, affirming the authenticity of Moshe as His prophet and the truth of the Torah.
Midrashic Insights
The Significance of "Ḥorev"
The name Ḥorev (from the root ח-ר-ב, meaning "desolation") alludes to the mountain's barrenness, symbolizing that Torah is not dependent on a specific location but is eternal and accessible everywhere. The Kli Yakar (Devarim 4:10) adds that the desolation of Ḥorev highlights that Torah wisdom flourishes specifically through humility and self-nullification before Hashem.
Practical Implications
This verse reminds every Jew of their personal connection to the Sinai covenant. The Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 94) derives from this the obligation to study Torah daily, as it is the living expression of our covenant with Hashem.