Shoftim 17:19 · unit 5

TT #113 · Parashas Shoftim · Second Aliyah · Passuk 17:19

The Complete Passuk

וְהָיְתָ֣ה עִמּ֔וֹ וְקָ֥רָא ב֖וֹ כׇּל־יְמֵ֣י חַיָּ֑יו לְמַ֣עַן יִלְמַ֗ד לְיִרְאָה֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֔יו לִ֠שְׁמֹר אֶֽת־כׇּל־דִּבְרֵ֞י הַתּוֹרָ֥ה הַזֹּ֛את וְאֶת־הַחֻקִּ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה לַעֲשֹׂתָֽם׃

And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the Eternal his God, to keep all the words of this Torah and these statutes, to do them.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei Devarim 161.

TT lemma: וְאֶת הַחֻקִּים הָאֵלֶּה לַעֲשׂוֹתָם.

Sefaria — Sifrei Devarim 161

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וְאֶת הַחֻקִּים הָאֵלֶּה לַעֲשׂוֹתָם – שֶׁהָעֲשִׂיָּה הִיא הָעִקָּר.

English: ‘And these statutes, to do them’ – for the doing is the main thing.

On the daf / in context: Study is directed toward action.

Type of Learning

Derash emphasizing practice (Sifrei) — the ultimate purpose of the king’s reading is practical fulfillment of the mitzvos.

What Is Learned

The king’s Torah study must lead to action. Knowledge without observance is incomplete.