When the Israelites enter the Land of Israel, they should bring the first fruits from their trees each year to Jerusalem and offer them at the Temple. As they place the fruits before the altar they recite a paragraph which mentions the origins of the nation as slaves in Egypt, and that G-d in His goodness brought them out of slavery and into the Land of Israel. One tithe (ten percent) of the crops from the third and sixth year shall be given to the poor. This replaces the normal tithe which is to be eaten by the farmers in the city of Jerusalem. These tithes may not be eaten when in a state of mourning, nor used to pay for funeral expenses.
Because the Jews accepted these commandments upon themselves, and dedicated themselves to serving G-d, He has also chosen them as His treasured nation. Moshe and the elders command the nation that when they enter into Israel they must renew their covenant of Torah. They shall take rocks from the Jordan river, set them up as monuments and inscribe the whole of the Torah on them. After this, six of the tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim and six on Mount Eival. The Cohanim and Levi’im shall stand in between these two mountains and read out the blessings and curses for the nation. After each blessing or curse all the people shall answer ‘Amen’. The curses are listed, as are the blessings. If the Jews observe all the laws in the Torah they shall receive material and spiritual blessing and success. They will be invincible in the face of their enemies, and shall be a major world superpower. If they fail to keep the commandments then they will be beset by the curses. They will not prosper materially, and will be conquered by their enemies. They will perish from famine and thirst, and will not know where to turn. Their children will be taken away and they will go mad from the pain and suffering that will surround them. All the nations of the world will talk about how far they have fallen and the calamities that have befallen them. They will be sent into exile, and their numbers decimated. And even in exile there will be no rest, but still they will suffer and be persecuted. These are the words of the covenant which G-d commanded Moshe to seal with the Children of Israel before entering the Land of Israel.
Moshe gives final encouragement to the people, and reminds them of all that they have been through and all that G-d has done for them. He urges them to keep the covenant.
| David Sedley on the Parsha | David Sedley’s Times of Israel Blogs on Ki Tavo | Tosefet Beracha |
|---|---|---|
| Ki Tavo | To the ends of the earth Reason without a cause | Tosefet Beracha on Ki Tavo |
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