What are the connotations of this Pasuk?
Rashi: (Refer to 33:3:4:1) - And this is what they declare: 'The Torah that Moshe taught us is a legacy 1 for the congregation of Ya'akov - Let us hold on to it and not forsake it!'
Ramban and Targum Yonasan: Yisrael will constantly proclaim 2 that the Torah that Moshe taught us is a legacy - for all time 3 for the congregation 4 of Ya'akov'.
Seforno: It goes together with the end of the previous Pasuk. Refer to 33:3:4:5.
Ba'al ha'Turim: The Torah uses the same word "Morashah" in Va'eira, Sh'mos, 6:8 in connection with Eretz Yisrael. To teach us that Hashem only gave us Eretz Yisrael in order to keep Torah and Mitzvos in it. 5
Makos, 22b: It teaches us that the Torah contains six hundred and thireen Mitzvos - since the Gematriyah of Torah is six hundred and eleven- with reference to the Mitzvos that Moshe taught us, plus 'Anochi' and 'Lo Yih'yeh l'cha', which we heard directly from Hashem. 6
Sanhedrin, 59a: It teaches us that a Nochri who studies Torah is Chayav Misah 7 - since "lanu Morashah" indicates that it is our heritage, and a Nochri who studies it is stealing our heritage. 8 Or, as other explain, we read "Morashah" like 'Me'orasah' (betrothed), and it is as if he was being intimate with our betrothed.
Bava Basra, 14a: When the Rabbanan told Rav Hamnuna that Rebbi Ami and Rebbi Asi had written four hundred Sifrei Torah, he replied that they probably meant that he had written four hundred copies of the Pasuk "Torah Tzivah lanu Moshe ... ". 9
Pesachim, 49b: It teaches us that someone who learns Torah in front of an Am ha'Aretz, it is as if he was intimate with his (the Am ha'Aretz's) betrothed in front of him. 10
Pesachim, 91b: Since the Torah is an inheritance for all of Yisrael from the six days of creation, 11 whoever withholds a Halachah from a Talmid, it is as if he stole part of his inheritance.
Yerushalmi Bava Basra, 8:2: Since the word "Morashah" implies 'weak', 12 when a person begine to learn, his understanding is weak - he is beset with many doubts.
To pass on to our children - which explains why the Torah writes "Morashah" and not 'Yerushah'.
In fact, the moment a child is able to speak, this Pasuk is the first thing that one teaches him to rcite. Refer to 11:19:2:1. See also Torah Temimah, note 13, who elaborates at length.
Ramban: It will never be forgotten, and we will never exchange it for another Torah - See Ramban on Pasuk 5.
Ramban (citing the Midrash): Incorporating the many Geirim who come to join us and serve Hashem - See Ramban.
Ba'al ha'Turim: As the Pasuk spefically writes in Tehilim, 104:44 & 4.
See Torah Temimah, note 15.
See Torah Temimah, note 16.
And a Nochri who steals is Chayav Misah.
See Torah Temimah, note 13.
See Torah Temimah, note 17.
See Torah Temimah, note 18
See Torah Temimah, note 20.
