What are the implications of "u'Fen Tisa Einecha ha'Hashamaymah"?


Rashi: To look at them with the intention of straying after them. 1


See Sifsei Chachamim.


What is the meaning of "Asher Chalak Hashem le'Chol ha'Amim"?


Rashi #1 and Rashbam #1: It means that Hashem gave the luminaries to the nations to illuminate the world on their behalf.


Rashi #2, Rashbam #2 and Targum Yonasan: It means that He did not prevent them from straying after (worshipping) them as gods - on the contrary, He made it possible for them 1 to stumble with their nonsense on order to drive them out of the world. 2


Ramban: With reference to the stars and the constellations, it refers to the 'angel' of each and every nation, which the nations subsequently adopted as gods and worshipped. 3


Seforno: He distributed the luminaries to serve the world in an orderly fashion, based on the needs of the different lands and iyts inhabitants. 4


Rashi: But not Yisrael, whom He took out of Egypt in order to be their G-d, as the Pasuk goes on to explain.


Rashbam: As the Pasuk intimates in Tehilim, 26:3.


Ramban: Which is why the Torah writes in Pasuk 20 "But you, Hashem took (for Himself)", implying that Yisrael are the nation of Hashem, who do not have (who do not need) a celestial power to lead them. See Ramban who elaborates.


Seforno: Something that could not possibly have happened by itself. See Seforno.

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:
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