1)

What do we learn from "ha'Nefesh ha'Choteis Hi Samus"?

1.

Malbim: For this there is no kinship between fathers and sons, not for merit or liability, in the case depicted - the father was a Tzadik, his son a Rasha, and his grandson a Tzadik.

2)

What is the significance of "Ben Lo Yisa ba'Avon ha'Av [v'Av Lo Yisa ba'Avon ha'Ben]"?

1.

Radak (6): This refers to a mature son, who is proper for his own reward and punishment. Minors die due to their parents' sins, or receive good due to their parents' merit. Evil adults, their parents' merits will not help them, just like Tzadikim will not suffer due to their parents' sins - "Poked Avon Avos Al Banim... l'Sonai 1 " (Shemos 20:5). It says about reward "Shomer ha'Bris veha'Chesed l'Ohavav ul'Shomerei Mitzvos l'Elef Dor" (Devarim 7:9). However, the Midah of reward is greater than the Midah of punishment. Zechus Avos adds to the children for 1,000 or 2,000 generations, like Hashem guarded for us, until today, the Bris of our fathers; we love Him and guard His Mitzvos. Even though there are Resha'im among us, today no Jews do idolatry, and most do not do the other sins listed. Hashem promised to guard Bris Bein ha'Besarim forever, and it says "v'Zacharti Es Brisi Yakov v'Af Es Brisi Yitzchak v'Af Es Brisi Avraham Ezkor" (Vayikra 26:42). Those who left our Emunah were not truly from their seed, rather, from converts.

2.

Malbim (20): Just like a father is not punished for his son's evil, so a [virtuous] son is not punished for his father's evil.


1

Radak: This is only for My haters. When sons sin like their parents, they are punished also for their parents' sins until four generations. An evil elder can see this far; sometimes a Rasha lives long. Even though Hashem told Eli that He will guard the sin [of Eli's sons] forever, that was a great sin and Chilul Hashem. Hashem knew that there will not be among his descendants someone proper to atone for their sin, or if there will be, the punishment will not fall on him - 'it will not be atoned for via Korbanos, but Divrei Torah and Gemilus Chasadim atone' (Rosh Hashanah 18a).

3)

What do we learn from "Tzidkas ha'Tzadik Alav Tihyeh v'RIsh'as ha'Rasha Alav Tihyeh"?

1.

Malbim (20): Just like a father's carob tree does not help his evil son, so a father's evil does not harm his virtuous son.

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