Reeh 12:28 · unit 2

TT #111 · Parashas Reeh · Second Aliyah · Passuk 12:28

The Complete Passuk

שְׁמֹ֣ר וְשָׁמַעְתָּ֗ אֵ֚ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י מְצַוֶּ֑ךָּ לְמַ֩עַן֩ יִיטַ֨ב לְךָ֜ וּלְבָנֶ֤יךָ אַחֲרֶ֙יךָ֙ עַד־עוֹלָ֔ם כִּ֤י תַעֲשֶׂה֙ הַטּ֣וֹב וְהַיָּשָׁ֔ר בְּעֵינֵ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃

Observe and hear all these words that I command you, in order that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the eyes of Hashem your God.

Chabad.org — 12:28

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei.

Sefaria — Sifrei Devarim

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
שְׁמֹר וְשָׁמַעְתָּ – מְלַמֵּד שֶׁאִם שָׁמַרְתָּ מְעַט סוֹפְךָ לִשְׁמֹעַ הַרְבֵּה, וְאִם שָׁמַרְתָּ מַה שֶּׁשָּׁמַעְתָּ סוֹפְךָ לִשְׁמֹר גַּם מַה שֶּׁלֹּא שָׁמַעְתָּ.

English: “Observe and hear” — This teaches that if you observed a little, you will end up hearing much; and if you observed what you heard, you will end up observing even what you did not hear.

On the daf / in context: Observance of the known commandments leads to further understanding and even to the adoption of protective fences and stringencies.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Sifrei) — the progressive nature of observance and learning.

What Is Learned

Observing a little leads to hearing much; observing what one has heard leads to observing even that which one has not yet heard (including protective measures).