Reeh 12:19 · unit 1

TT #77 · Parashas Reeh · First Aliyah · Passuk 12:19

The Complete Passuk

הִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֔ פֶּֽן־תַּעֲזֹ֖ב אֶת־הַלֵּוִ֑י כָּל־יָמֶ֖יךָ עַל־אַדְמָתֶֽךָ׃

Take heed to yourself lest you forsake the Levite all your days upon your land.

Chabad.org — 12:19

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei.

Sefaria — Sifrei Devarim

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ וגו׳ – הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ פֶּן – בְּלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה, כָּל יָמֶיךָ – לְרַבּוֹת שְׁמִטִּין וְיוֹבְלוֹת, עַל אַדְמָתֶךָ – וְלֹא בַּגּוֹלָה.

English: “Take heed to yourself…” — “Take heed to yourself lest” is a negative commandment; “all your days” comes to include the sabbatical and jubilee years; “upon your land” — and not in exile.

On the daf / in context: The obligation to support the Levite continues even in years when the ordinary tithes are suspended, but it applies only while Israel is dwelling in the Land.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Sifrei) — the scope and duration of the duty not to forsake the Levite.

What Is Learned

It is a negative commandment not to forsake the Levite; the obligation applies in shemittah and yovel as well, but only while dwelling in the Land.