What is the meaning of "Af Chovev Amim"? To whom is "Amim" referring?
Rashi #1, and Targum Onkelos: It means that Hashem cherishes 1 the tribes, each of whom is called an 'Am'. 2
Rashi #2: It means that, even when Hashem displayed love towards the nations, and delivered Yisrael into their hands. 3
Ramban #1: It means that He also cherished Yisrael, who are made up of many nations (tribes). 4
Ramban #2: It means that Hashem hides and conceals 5 Yisrael in His hand 6 - because they are all holy.
Rashbam: It means that He also displayed a love towards the Eirev Rav and the other nations who converted 7 in order to receive the Torah, and accepted them'. 8
Seforno: It means '... even though You cherish all the nations... '. 9
Targum Yonasan: It means 'Also He revealed Himself to the nations (Eisav and Yishmael - to offer them the Torah) 10 only in order to (show-up His people and to) endear them to Him'. 11
Rosh: It means 'When You come to mention the closeness of the nations, the only holy ones You find are those who placed themselves in Your hands, and converted.
Ramban: "Chovev" is a derivative of the Arama'ic word 'Chaviv'.
Rashi: As we find in Bereishis 35:11, where Hashem informed Ya'akov that a 'nation was still to come out from him' with reference to Binyamin - the only son yet to be born.
Rashi: [Even at such a time,] "Kol Kedoshav be'Yadecha" (You guarded the Tzadikim of Yisrael). Hadar Zekenim - [Even at such a time,] they endured afflictions for Your sake, and did not abandon fearing You - "Tuku le'Raglecha".
Ramban: See Shoftim, 5:14.
Ramban: From the word 'Leheichavei' - to hide, as in Iyov 31:33 and Divrei Hayamim 2, 18:24 (See also Bereishis, 3:8, 10).
Ramban: As in Yeshayah, 51:16. This also hints at what the Torah wrote in Bamidbar 14:14.
See Ba'al ha'Turim.
Rashbam: As the Pasuk indicates in Tehilim, 68:32.
Seforno: "Segulah mi'Kol ha'Amim" (Sh'mos 19:5) implies that Hashem cherishes all of mankind, and as also the Mishnah states in Avos, 3:18.
Which He knew they would decline to accept.
Who is "Kedoshav" referring to?
Rashi #1: It is referring to the Souls of the Tzadikim which are concealed with Hashem. 1
Rashi #2 2 : 'You guard all the Tzadikim of Yisrael when they cleave to You'.
Ramban #1: It is referring to the Levi'im, whom Hashem brought close to the camp around the Aron.
Ramban #2: Refer to 33:3:1:4.
Seforno: 'You hold all the holy ones - who received the Kodesh of Eishdas, 3 'like a bundle of silver' 4 - because they are more beloved than the rest of mankind. 5
Targum Yonasan: He called them all 'Kedoshim'; to stand in the location of His Shechinah.
Targum Onkelos: It refers to all the holy ones of Beis Yisrael whom Hashem took out of Egypt.
Bava Basra, 8a: See answer #2 and note. Consequently, the Rabbanan are exempt - min ha'Torah - from paying a head-tax - for protection, since they are automatically guarded by Hashem. 6
Rashi: As the Pasuk writes in Shmuel 1, 25:29.
Sh'mos 19:6.
Seforno: As the Torah wrote in Kedoshim Sh'mos, 19:6, and as the Mishnah states in Avos, 3:18 - 'Beloved are Yisrael, who are called 'children of Hashem!'.
See Torah Temimah, citing Bava Basra, Ibid. and note 11.
What is "ve'Heim Tuku le'Raglecha" referring to?
Rashi #1: It refers to Yisrael at Har Sinai, who came to the foot of the mountain... , thereby earning the above-mentioned distinction.
Rashi #2 1 : It refers to Yisrael, who bring themselves into the middle of Your shade (of protection).
Ramban: 'They cast themselves at Hashem's feet - to follow Him blindly, without concern for hunger, thirst, snakes or scorpions'. 2
Seforno: 'And they pray with a broken spirit to Your footstool at Sinai... '.
Targum Onkelos: 'They are led underneath Your Cloud'.
Targum Yonasan: 'When they performed the Mitzvos, 3 they were led by the Clouds of Glory'.
Refer to 33:3:1:2*.
Bava Basra, 8a: It refers to the Talmidei-Chachamim, who 'break their legs' from one town to another, in order to study Torah.
Oznayim la'Torah: It refers to Yisrael, who cast themselvs at Hashem's Feet and declared "Na'aseh ve'Nishma" - nullifying their will before the Will of their Creator.
Ramban: As the Pasuk relates in Yirmiyah, 2:2. (Really, the cloud killed snakes and scorpions, and Hashem provided them with food and water, but they did not know that when they agreed to leave Egypt! - PF). See also Ba'al ha'Turim.
See Na'ar Yonasan.
What is the meaning of "Yisa Midabrosecha"?
Rashi #1: 'In order to take upon themselves the yoke of your proclamations'. 1
Rashi #2 (citing Targum Onkelos): 'They travel by your command'.
Rashi #3 2 : 'They accept Your decrees and Your laws with joy'.
Ramban: 'They bear 3 Your word on their lips and constantly talk about it'.
Seforno: Refer to 33:3:3:4. And they said to Hashem ''Let Moshe bring us Your words 4 - the Torah that he commanded us".
Targum Yonasan: 'Resting and encamping (covering the terrain) like a lot of grain'. 5
Bava Basra, 8a: Refer to 33:3:3:8. 'And they discuss Hashem's Mitzvos'.
Oznayim la'Torah: Refer to 33:3:3:9. They undertook to keep whatever Hashem commanded them, when they declared "Na'aseh" before "Nishma"?
Rashi: The 'Mem' is actually part of the root - as in Bamidbar, 7:89 and in Yechezkel, 2:2.
Ramban: As in Sh'mos, 20:7 and in Tehilim, 16:4.
As in Bamidbar 7:89.
