Reeh 13:5 · unit 3

TT #121 · Parashas Reeh · Third Aliyah · Passuk 13:5

The Complete Passuk

אַחֲרֵ֨י יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֛ם תֵּלֵ֖כוּ וְאֹת֣וֹ תִירָ֑אוּ וְאֶת־מִצְוֺתָ֣יו תִּשְׁמֹ֔רוּ וּבְקֹל֣וֹ תִשְׁמָ֔עוּ וְאֹת֥וֹ תַעֲבֹ֖דוּ וּב֥וֹ תִדְבָּקֽוּן׃

After Hashem your God you shall walk, and Him you shall fear, and His mitzvos you shall observe, and to His voice you shall hearken, and Him you shall serve, and to Him you shall cleave.

Chabad.org — 13:5

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei.

Sefaria — Sifrei

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אַחֲרֵי יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם תֵּלֵכוּ – תֵּלֵכוּ זוֹ מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה, וְאֹתוֹ תִּירָאוּ – שֶׁיְּהֵא מוֹרָאוֹ עֲלֵיכֶם, וְאֶת מִצְוֺתָיו תִּשְׁמֹרוּ – זוֹ מִצְוַת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה, וּבְקֹלוֹ תִשְׁמָעוּ – בְּקוֹל נְבִיאָיו, וְאֹתוֹ תַעֲבֹדוּ – בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ, וּבוֹ תִדְבָּקוּן – הַפְרִישׁוּ עַצְמְכֶם מֵעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וּדְבַקוּ בַּמָּקוֹם.

English: “After Hashem your God you shall walk” — “You shall walk” is a positive commandment; “and Him you shall fear” — that His fear should be upon you; “and His mitzvos you shall observe” — this is a negative commandment; “and to His voice you shall hearken” — to the voice of His prophets; “and Him you shall serve” — in the Temple; “and to Him you shall cleave” — separate yourselves from idolatry and cleave to the Omnipresent.

On the daf / in context: Each phrase of the verse is mapped to a distinct obligation: positive commandment, fear, negative commandments, obedience to prophets, Temple service, and exclusive attachment to Hashem.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Sifrei) — parsing the verse into its component mitzvos and requirements.

What Is Learned

The verse enumerates distinct duties: walking after Hashem (positive), fearing Him, observing His mitzvos (negative), hearkening to His prophets, serving Him in the Temple, and cleaving to Him alone.