Derasha 2 on Vayikra 26:14

Parashas Bechukosai · beginning of tochacha · Passuk 14 · Unit 2

The Complete Passuk

וְאִם־לֹ֤א תִשְׁמְעוּ֙ לִ֔י וְלֹ֣א תַעֲשׂ֔וּ אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַמִּצְוֺ֖ת הָאֵֽלֶּה׃

Torah Temimah cites Toras Kohanim on the force of the word li.

Core Text

“וְאִם לֹא תִשְׁמְעוּ לִי” — מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר “לִי”? אֵין לִי אֶלָּא זֶה שֶׁהוּא יוֹדֵעַ רַבּוֹנוֹ וּמִתְכַּוֵּן לִמְרוֹד בּוֹ.

English: Why does Scripture say “to Me”? It refers only to one who knows his Master and intends to rebel against Him.

Intentional-rebellion derasha on the pronoun li.

The severity of the tochacha is directed at knowing, deliberate defiance — not mere ignorance.