Ki Tavo

Ki Tavo, Ki Thavo, Ki Tabo, Ki Thabo, or Ki Savo (כי תבוא — Hebrew for “when you enter,” the second and third words, and the first distinctive words, in the parshah) is the 50th weekly Torah portion ("parshah") in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the seventh in the book of Deuteronomy. It constitutes ) The priest was to set the basket down in front of the altar. ()

Tithes

When they had given the the tenth part of their yield to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, in the third year, the year of the tithe, they were to declare before God:

“‘I have put away the hallowed things out of my house, and also have given them to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, according to Your commandment that You have commanded me; I have not transgressed any of Your commandments, neither have I forgotten them. I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I put away thereof, being unclean, nor given thereof for the dead; I have hearkened to the voice of the Lord my God, I have done according to all that You have commanded me. Look from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel, and the land that You have given us, as You swore to our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.” ()

Moses and the elders charged the people that as soon as they had crossed the Jordan River, they were to set up large stones on Mount Ebal, coat them with plaster, and inscribe on them all the words of the Torah most distinctly. ()

Blessings and curses

Moses charged the people that after they had crossed the Jordan, the tribes of Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin were to stand on Mount Gerizim when the blessings were spoken, and the tribes of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphthali were to stand on Mount Ebal when the curses were spoken. ()

But if they did not obey God and observe faithfully the commandments, then God would curse them in the city and the country, curse their basket and kneading bowl, curse the issue of their womb, the produce of their soil, and the fertility of their herds and flocks, curse them in their comings and goings, loose on them calamity, panic, and frustration in all their enterprises, make pestilence cling to them, strike them with tuberculosis, fever, inflammation, scorching heat, drought, blight, and mildew, turn the skies to copper and the earth to iron, make the rain into dust, rout them before their enemies, strike them with the Egyptian inflammation, hemorrhoids, boil-scars, itch, . () They defeated King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan, took their land, and gave it to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. ( [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0526.htm#12 12,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0526.htm#13 13,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0526.htm#14 14,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0526.htm#16 16] (2 times), [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0526.htm#18 18,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0526.htm#19 19;] (4 times).)
*command, commanded, commandments — 25 times ( (2 times), [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0528.htm#8 8,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0528.htm#9 9,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0528.htm#13 13] (2 times), [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0528.htm#14 14,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0528.htm#15 15] (2 times), [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0528.htm#45 45] (2 times); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#9 9,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#11 11,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#12 12,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#15 15,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#16 16,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#17 17,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#18 18,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#19 19,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#20 20,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#21 21,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#22 22,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#23 23,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#24 24,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#25 25,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#26 26;] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0528.htm#16 16] (2 times), [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0528.htm#17 17,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0528.htm#18 18,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0528.htm#19 19] (2 times), [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0528.htm#20 20,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0528.htm#45 45.] )
*say, saying — 21 times ( (2 times).)
*fruit — 15 times ( [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#16 16,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#17 17,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#18 18,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#19 19,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#20 20,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#21 21,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#22 22,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#23 23,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#24 24,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#25 25,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#26 26.] )
*bless, blessed, blessing, blessings — 12 times ( [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0528.htm#3 3] (2 times), [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0528.htm#4 4,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0528.htm#5 5,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0528.htm#6 6] (2 times), [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0528.htm#8 8] (2 times), [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0528.htm#12 12.] )
*given — 12 times ()
*eye, eyes — 10 times ( [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0526.htm#14 14,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0526.htm#17 17;] to mean that a person could not bring first fruits unless all the produce came from that person’s land. The Mishnah thus taught that people who planted trees but bent their branches into or over another’s property could not bring first fruits from those trees. And for the same reason, the Mishnah taught that tenants, lessees, occupiers of confiscated property, or robbers could not bring first fruits. (Mishnah Bikkurim 1:1–2.)The Mishnah taught that first fruits were brought only from the Seven Species ("Shiv'at Ha-Minim") that (Mishnah Bikkurim 1:3.)The inhabitants of the district assembled in a city of the district and spent the night in the town square. Early in the morning, their leader said: “Let us rise and go up to Zion, to the house of the Lord our God.” (Mishnah Bikkurim 3:2.) Those who lived near Jerusalem brought fresh figs and grapes, and those who lived far away brought dried figs and raisins. Leading the pilgrimage procession was an ox with horns overlaid with gold wearing a crown of olive branches. The sounds of the flute announced the pilgrims’ coming until they neared Jerusalem, when they sent messengers ahead and arranged their first fruits for presentation. A delegation of the Temple’s leaders and treasurers came out to meet them, varying in relation to the procession. Jerusalem’s artisans would stand and greet them, saying: “People of such and such a place, we welcome you.” (Mishnah Bikkurim 3:3.) They played the flute until they reached the Temple Mount. On the Temple Mount, even King Agrippa would carry the basket of first fruits on his shoulder and walk to the Temple Court. As the procession approached the Temple Court, Levites would sing the words of “A wandering Aramean was my father.” When they reached these words, the pilgrims took the baskets off their shoulders and held them by their edges. The priests would put their hands beneath the baskets and wave them while the pilgrims recited from “A wandering Aramean was my father” through the end of the passage. The pilgrims would then deposit their baskets by the side of the altar, bow, and leave. (Mishnah Bikkurim 3:6.)

The Gemara cited two textual proofs for the instruction of Mishnah Bikkurim 2:4 that one waived the first fruits. Rabbi Judah interpreted the words “you shall set it down” in and in the case of the peace-offering in the priest was to take the offering and wave it, even though the donor was to wave the basket. The Gemara explained that it was possible for both the priest and the donor to perform the waving because the priest placed his hand under the hand of the donor and they waved the basket together. (Babylonian Talmud Sukkah 47b.)

Originally, all who knew how to recite would recite, while those unable to do so would repeat after the priest. But when the number of pilgrims declined, it was decided that all pilgrims would repeat the words after the priest. (Mishnah Bikkurim 3:7.)

The Mishnah taught that converts to Judaism would bring the first fruits but not recite, as they could not say the words of and [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0203.htm#17 17,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0213.htm#5 13:5,] and [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0233.htm#3 33:3,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0511.htm#9 11:9,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0526.htm#9 26:9] and [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0526.htm#15 15,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0527.htm#3 27:3,] and [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0531.htm#20 31:20.] Once when Rami bar Ezekiel visited Bnei Brak, he saw goats grazing under fig trees while honey was flowing from the figs, and milk dripped from the goats mingling with the fig honey, causing him to remark that it was indeed a land flowing with milk and honey. Rabbi Jacob ben Dostai said that it is about three miles from Lod to Ono, and once he rose up early in the morning and waded all that way up to his ankles in fig honey. Resh Lakish said that he saw the flow of the milk and honey of Sepphoris extend over an area of sixteen miles by sixteen miles. Rabbah bar Bar Hana said that he saw the flow of the milk and honey in all the Land of Israel and the total area was equal to an area of twenty-two parasangs by six parasangs. (Babylonian Talmud Ketubot 111b–12a.)

Deuteronomy chapter 27

A midrash noted that almost everywhere, Scripture mentions a father's honor before the mother's honor. (E.g., mentions the mother first to teach that one should honor both parents equally. (Genesis Rabbah 1:15.)

A midrash taught that there is nothing greater before God than the “amen” that Israel answers. Rabbi Judah ben Sima taught that the word “amen” contains three kinds of solemn declarations: oath, consent, and confirmation. demonstrates confirmation when it says, “And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said: ‘Amen; so say the Lord.’” (Deuteronomy Rabbah 7:1.)

Deuteronomy chapter 28

A midrash interpreted like “a leafy olive tree.” In one explanation, the midrash taught that just as oil floats to the top even after it has been mixed with every kind of liquid, so Israel, as long as it performs the will of God, will be set on high by God, as it says in “whoever finds Me finds life, and obtains favor of the Lord,” a midrash taught that God tells Jews that not merely do they receive the Divine Presence in the synagogue, but they also leave it laden with blessings. (Deuteronomy Rabbah 7:2.)

The Mishnah taught that when they flogged a person, a reader would read “But He, being full of compassion, forgives iniquity.” (Mishnah Makkot 3:14; Babylonian Talmud Makkot 22b.)

Commandments

According to Maimonides and Sefer ha-Chinuch, there are 3 positive and 3 negative commandments in the parshah.
*To make the declaration on bringing the first fruits ()
*Not to eat the second tithe while mourning ()(Maimonides. "Mishneh Torah", [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0001.htm#8 Positive Commandments 8,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0001.htm#131 131,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0001.htm#132 132;] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0002.htm#150 Negative Commandments 150,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0002.htm#151 151,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0002.htm#152 152.] Cairo, Egypt, 1170–1180. Reprinted in Maimonides. "The Commandments: Sefer Ha-Mitzvoth of Maimonides". Translated by Charles B. Chavel, 1:11–12, 139–40; 2:141–43. London: Soncino Press, 1967. ISBN 0-900689-71-4. "Sefer HaHinnuch: The Book of [Mitzvah] Education". Translated by Charles Wengrov, 5:414–31. Jerusalem: Feldheim Pub., 1988. ISBN 0-87306-497-6.)

Haftarah

The haftarah for the parshah is Isaiah [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1060.htm 60:1–22.] The haftarah is the sixth in the cycle of seven haftarot of consolation after Tisha B'Av, leading up to Rosh Hashanah.

In the liturgy

The Passover Haggadah, in the "magid" section of the Seder, quotes and interprets (Menachem Davis. "The Interlinear Haggadah: The Passover Haggadah, with an Interlinear Translation, Instructions and Comments", 42–50. Brooklyn: Mesorah Publications, 2005. ISBN 1-57819-064-9. Joseph Tabory. "JPS Commentary on the Haggadah: Historical Introduction, Translation, and Commentary", 89–95. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 2008. ISBN 978-0-8276-0858-0.)

Further reading

The parshah has parallels or is discussed in these sources:

Ancient

* [http://web.archive.org/web/20030816212418/www.bol.ucla.edu/~szuchman/Sources.htm Vassal treaties] of Esarhaddon

Biblical

*Leviticus [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0326.htm#3 26:3–38] (blessings and curses).
*Joshua [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0624.htm#2 24:2–13] (recited history of Israel).
*2 Kings [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt09b06.htm#25 6:25–30] (cannibalism).
*Isaiah [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1009.htm#19 9:19] (cannibalism).
*Jeremiah [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1119.htm#9 19:9] (parents eating children).
*Ezekiel [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1205.htm#10 5:10] (parents eating children); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1206.htm#5 6:5] (unburied carcasses).
*Zechariah [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2311.htm#9 11:9] (cannibalism).
*Psalms [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2601.htm 1:1–6] (blessings and curses).
*Lamentations [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt3204.htm#10 4:10] (mothers eating children).
*Nehemiah [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt35b09.htm 9:5–37] (recited history of Israel).

Early nonrabbinic

*"The Temple Scroll" 18–19. Dead Sea scroll 11QT=11Q19,20. Land of Israel, 2nd Century B.C.E. Reprinted in Géza Vermes. "The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English", 190, 195. New York: Penguin Press, 1997. ISBN 0-7139-9131-3.
*Philo. [http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/philo/book4.html "Allegorical Interpretation"] 3:11:36, 35:107; [http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/philo/book8.html "On the Posterity of Cain and His Exile"] 8:24, 24:84, 29:99; [http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/philo/book10.html "On the Unchangableness of God"] 34:156; [http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/philo/book17.html "Who Is the Heir of Divine Things?"] 3:10, 15:76, 51:250; [http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/philo/book19.html "On Flight and Finding"] 22:123; [http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/philo/book21.html "On Dreams, That They Are God-Sent"] 1:34:193; 2:40:263, 41:272; [http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/philo/book28.html "The Special Laws"] 2:34–36; [http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/philo/book31.html "On the Virtues"] 8:47, 21:106; [http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/philo/book32.html "On Rewards and Punishments"] 21:127, 22:131; [http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/philo/book36.html "Flaccus"] 20:167. Alexandria, Egypt, early 1st Century C.E. Reprinted in, e.g., "The Works of Philo: Complete and Unabridged, New Updated Edition". Translated by Charles Duke Yonge, 54, 62, 134, 140–41, 171, 276, 282, 297, 332, 382, 407, 588–89, 644, 650, 676, 739. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson Pub., 1993. ISBN 0-943575-93-1.
*Josephus. "The Wars of the Jews", Circa 75 C.E. Reprinted in, e.g., "The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged, New Updated Edition". Translated by William Whiston, 737–38. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson Pub., 1987. ISBN 0-913573-86-8.
*Josephus, "Antiquities of the Jews" [http://www.interhack.net/projects/library/antiquities-jews/b4c8.html 4:8:18, 22, 31, 44.] Circa 93–94. Reprinted in, e.g., "The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged, New Updated Edition". Translated by William Whiston, 118–19, 121, 124. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson Pub., 1987. ISBN 0-913573-86-8.

Classical rabbinic

*Mishnah Maasrot 1:1–5:8; Maaser Sheni 1:1–5:15; Bikkurim 1:1–3:12; Makkot 3:14. Land of Israel, circa 200 C.E. Reprinted in, e.g., "The Mishnah: A New Translation". Translated by Jacob Neusner. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1988. ISBN 0-300-05022-4.
*Sifre to Deuteronomy 297:1–303:11 Land of Israel, circa 250–350 C.E. Reprinted in, e.g., "Sifre to Deuteronomy: An Analytical Translation". Translated by Jacob Neusner, 2:269–285. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1987. ISBN 1-55540-145-7.
*Jerusalem Talmud: Berakhot 54b; Peah 31b, 47b, 69b, 72a; Sheviit 33a; Maasrot 26a, 27b; Maaser Sheni 12b, 13b, 52b, 56b–57a, 58a; Orlah 20a; Bikkurim 1a–26b; Sukkah 28b. Land of Israel, circa 400 C.E. Reprinted in, e.g., "Talmud Yerushalmi". Edited by Chaim Malinowitz, Yisroel Simcha Schorr, and Mordechai Marcus, vols. 2–3, 6a, 9–10, 12, 22. Brooklyn: Mesorah Pubs., 2006–2008.
*Babylonian Talmud: Berakhot 5a, 6a, 15b, 24a, 35b, 40a–b, 56a, 57a, 63b; Shabbat 25a, 55b, 138b; Eruvin 55b; Pesachim 24a, 36a–b, 49b, 70b, 109a, 116a; Yoma 5b, 13b, 52b, 74b; Sukkah 40b, 46b, 47b; Beitzah 35b; Rosh Hashanah 12b, 15a; Taanit 2a, 3b, 8b–9b; Megillah 10b–11a, 16b, 20b, 24b, 25b; Moed Katan 15b; Chagigah 3a, 4b, 7a, 12b, 18b; Yevamot 63b, 73a–74b, 103a; Nedarim 22a, 36b, 41a, 84b; Sotah 17a, 32a–33b, 36a, 37a–38a, 39b, 47a, 48a, 49a; Gittin 47b, 56a, 57b–58a, 81a; Kiddushin 2b, 26a, 66b; Bava Kamma 32b, 82a, 116b; Bava Metzia 11a–b, 52b, 90a, 96a, 107a; Bava Batra 25b, 26b–27a, 81a–82a, 89a, 136b; Sanhedrin 7a, 11b, 28b, 39b, 44a; Makkot 7b, 13b, 16b–17b, 18b–19b, 22b, 24a; Shevuot 35a, 36a, 39a; Avodah Zarah 5b, 19b, 52b, 55a; Horayot 12a; Zevachim 16a, 50a, 54b, 60b, 61b, 99b, 101a; Menachot 35b, 61a–b, 82a, 84b, 103b; Chullin 16a, 18a, 89a, 120b–21a, 131a–b, 136a; Bekhorot 41a; Arakhin 11a; Temurah 3b, 10a, 21a; Keritot 11a; Niddah 51b. Babylonia, 6th Century. Reprinted in, e.g., "Talmud Bavli". Edited by Yisroel Simcha Schorr, Chaim Malinowitz, and Mordechai Marcus, 72 vols. Brooklyn: Mesorah Pubs., 2006.

Medieval

*Deuteronomy Rabbah 7:1–7. Land of Israel, 9th Century. Reprinted in, e.g., "Midrash Rabbah: Leviticus". Translated by H. Freedman and Maurice Simon. London: Soncino Press, 1939. ISBN 0-900689-38-2.
*Rashi. "Commentary". [http://www.chabad.org/library/article.asp?AID=9990&showrashi=true Deuteronomy 26–29.] Troyes, France, late 11th Century. Reprinted in, e.g., Rashi. "The Torah: With Rashi’s Commentary Translated, Annotated, and Elucidated". Translated and annotated by Yisrael Isser Zvi Herczeg, 5:267–302. Brooklyn: Mesorah Publications, 1997. ISBN 0-89906-030-7.
*Judah Halevi. "Kuzari". Toledo, Spain, 1130–1140. Reprinted in, e.g., Jehuda Halevi. "Kuzari: An Argument for the Faith of Israel." Intro. by Henry Slonimsky, 116–17, 144, 148. New York: Schocken, 1964. ISBN 0-8052-0075-4.
*Maimonides. "Mishneh Torah", [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0000.htm#26 Intro.:26.] Cairo, Egypt, 1170–1180.

Modern

*Thomas Hobbes. "Leviathan", England, 1651. Reprint edited by C. B. Macpherson, 547–48. Harmondsworth, England: Penguin Classics, 1982. ISBN 0140431950.
*Thomas Mann. "Joseph and His Brothers". Translated by John E. Woods, 788. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005. ISBN 1-4000-4001-9. Originally published as "Joseph und seine Brüder". Stockholm: Bermann-Fischer Verlag, 1943.
*Martin Buber. "On the Bible: Eighteen studies", 80–92, 122–30. New York: Schocken Books, 1968.
*Jacob Milgrom. “First fruits, OT.” In "The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible". Supp. vol., 336–37. Nashville, Tenn.: Abingdon, 1976. ISBN 0-687-19269-2.
*Jeffrey H. Tigay. "The JPS Torah Commentary: Deuteronomy: The Traditional Hebrew Text with the New JPS Translation", 238–77, 486–97. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1996. ISBN 0-8276-0330-4.

External links

* [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0526.htm Masoretic text and 1917 JPS translation]
* [http://Bible.ort.org/books/torahd5.asp?action=displaypage&book=5&chapter=21&verse=10&portion=50 Hear the parshah chanted]