Derasha 1 on Haazinu 32:1

Parashas Haazinu · Passuk 32:1

The Complete Passuk

הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וַאֲדַבֵּרָה וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ אִמְרֵי פִי

Chabad.org — Devarim 32

Source Citation

Torah Temima points to the pairing of “ha’azinu” and “tishma” with the parallel in Yeshayahu.

Sefaria — Devarim 32:1

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
מֹשֶׁה אָמַר הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ, וְיִשַׁעְיָהוּ אָמַר שִׁמְעוּ שָׁמַיִם וְהַאֲזִינִי אֶרֶץ, כְּדֵי לִתֵּן הַאֲזָנָה וּשְׁמִיעָה לַשָּׁמַיִם וְהַאֲזָנָה וּשְׁמִיעָה לָאָרֶץ

English: Moshe said “Give ear, O heavens… and let the earth hear,” while Yeshayahu said “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth,” in order to assign both attentive listening and hearing to the heavens and to the earth.

Type of Learning

A comparison of two prophetic calls that together complete the testimony of heaven and earth.

What Chazal Learned

By reversing the verbs, Moshe and Yeshayahu together ensure that both heaven and earth are fully enlisted as witnesses. The double language leaves no gap in the testimony that stands against Israel.

Audio: dafyomi.org · YICC (Rav Etshalom)