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 a 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 in order to receive the Torah, and accepted them'.
Seforno: It means '... even though You cherish all the nations... '. 7
Targum Yonasan: It means 'Also He revealed Himself to the nations (Eisav and Yishmael - to offer them the Torah) 8 only in order to (show-up His people and to) endear them to Him'. 9
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 l'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.
Seforno: "Segulah mi'Kol ha'Amim" (Sh'mos 19:5) implies that He cherishes all of mankind, and as the Mishnah writes 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!
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.
