Derasha 1 on Vezos Haberachah 33:2

Parashas Vezos Haberachah · Passuk 33:2

The Complete Passuk

וַיֹּאמַר יְהֹוָה מִסִּינַי בָּא וְזָרַח מִשֵּׂעִיר לָמוֹ הוֹפִיעַ מֵהַר פָּארָן...

Chabad.org — Devarim 33

Source Citation

Torah Temima points to the derasha of Rabbi Yochanan on the offering of the Torah to the nations.

Sefaria — Devarim 33:2

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהֶחֱזִירָהּ הַקָּבָּ״ה לַתּוֹרָה עַל כָּל אֻמָּה וְלָשׁוֹן וְלֹא קִבְּלוּהָ, עַד שֶׁבָּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וְקִבְּלוּהָ

English: Rabbi Yochanan said: This teaches that the Holy One offered the Torah to every nation and tongue, and they did not accept it, until He came to Israel and they accepted it.

Type of Learning

A historical reading of the geographical references (Seir, Paran) as stages in the offering of the Torah.

What Chazal Learned

The mentions of Seir and Paran indicate that the Torah was presented to other peoples before it was given at Sinai. Their refusal and Israel’s acceptance establish both the uniqueness of Israel’s choice and the fairness of the eventual covenant.

Audio: dafyomi.org · YICC (Rav Etshalom)