What is the difference between "u'Shemartem" and "va'Asisem"?
Rashi: The former refers to Mishnah (learning); the latter, to carrying out what one learned.
Tzror ha'Mor Eikev (DH ve'Hayah): "u'Shemartem" corresponds to the La'avim; "va'Asisem", to the Mitzvos Asei.
Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: They refer to guarding (keeping in mind) the Torah and doing what it says.
What is "Hi" referring to?
Rashi: It is referring to the learning and the carrying out mentioned earlier in the Pasuk. 1
Targum Onkelos and Yonasan: It is referring to the Torah, which "u'Shemartem va'Asisem" themselves are referring to.
Rashi: And it is as if it says 'through the learning mentioned earlier, you will be considered wise men?'.
What are the connotations of "ki Hi Chochmaschem ... le'Einei ha'Amim"?
Rashi: It is through the study of Torah and its observance that we are considered wise and understanding in the eyes of the nations.
R. Bachye #1: It means that all the Chachmos are contained in the Torah ? in the performng of the Mitzvos ? such as Chochmas ha?Refu?ah, which is contained in the Pasuk in Sh?mos 15:26 ?Vayomer ?Im Shamo?a Tishma le?Kol Hashem ?ve?ha?Yashar be?Einav Ta?aseh ve?Ha?azanta le?Mitzvosav ? Kol ha?Machalah asher Samti be?Mitzrayim Lo Asim alecha ki Ani Hashem Rof?echa? ?.
R. Bachye #2 (citing S habbos 75a): ?le?Einei ha?Amim? refers to the calculation of Tekufos (solstices and equinoxes) and Mazalos (the times and positions of the constellations). 1
Seforno: It is by means of the Torah that we are able to answer the Apikorsim with logical arguments. 2
Why does the Torah write "le'Einei ha'Amim", and not 'Neged ha'Amim'?
Avodah Zarah, 4b: To teach us that in Olam ha'Ba, all the Mitzvos that Yisrael kept will come and strike the nations of the world (they will be embarrassed) - that they spent all their time on matters of no consequence. 1
See Torah Temimah, note 8.
Why is it important to be considered wise in the eyes of the nations?
Seforno: Because, as the Torah goes on to explain, Hashem is close to us inasmuch as He answers us when we call to Him, a clear proof that He chose us from all the nations, and it would be a Chilul Hashem if the nations would consider us foolish.
Oznayim la'Torah: Because, in addition to fulfilling the Mitzvos, it creates a Kidush Hashem when the Nochrim see us doing so. 1
See Oznayim la'Torah.
?asher Yishm?un eis Kol ha?Chukim ha?Eileh?. The nations do not praise Yisrael on the statutes, which they mock ? since their reasons are not known. So why does the Torah write ?Chukim? and not ?Mitzvos??
R. Bachye: The Torah mentions ?Chukim?, to teach us that, when the nations see that Yisrael keep the Mitzvos and the Mishpatim, they will realize that the Chukim (which come from the same Divine Source) are not meaningless, but have a deeper meaning. 1
Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: ?Chukim? ? as opposed to ?Chukos? ? means Mitzvos bein Adam la?Makom and ?Mishpatim? as Mitzvos bein Aadam la?Chavero (civil laws). 2
This answer is difficult to understand however, a. since the Torah does not mention Mishpatim until Pasuk 8 and b. since there, it repeats ?Chukim? together with ?Mishpatim? and not ?Mitzvos? or ?Eidos?.
Hence they translate ?Chukm u?Mishpatim? ? in Pasuk 8 - as ?Keyamaya\Keyamin ve?Diynin?, and ?Chukas ha?Torah? as ?Gezeiras Oraysa?.
?Rak Am Chacham ve?Navon ha?Goy ha?Gadol ha?Zeh!? Why does the Torah insert the word ?Rak??
R. Bachye: To preclude the other nations.
