Daily Chumash & Rashi – Parshas Mishpatim Shishi: Hashem warns Bnei Yisrael to heed the commands of his angel (Friday, Mishpatim 26th Shevat)

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Shishi

  1. Hashem warns Bnei Yisrael to heed the commands of his angel:
  • I will send my angel before you, to guide you and guard you on the way to the promised land. Beware not to transgress his words for he will not forgive you. If you obey him, then I will destroy all your enemies. My angel will be sent before you and destroy all the seven nations of Canaan.
  • Do not bow to their gods and do not serve them. Destroy their gods and their statues.
  1. Blessings to be received:
  • Serve Hashem your G-d and He will bless your bread and water and remove illnesses from amongst you.

 

 

Rashi Q&A — Shemot 23:20–25

 

23:20 — The Angel Leading Israel

Q1: What does “הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי שֹׁלֵחַ מַלְאָךְ” teach?

A: Hashem is telling Israel in advance that they will eventually sin, at which time He will say,
“I will not go up among you.”

Therefore, an angel will be sent instead of direct Divine presence.

 

Q2: What does “אֲשֶׁר הֲכִנֹתִי” mean?

A: Peshat: “To the place I have prepared”—the Land destined for Israel.

Midrash: The verse hints that the Heavenly Temple is aligned directly above the earthly Temple — “the place that I have prepared above.”

 

23:21 — Obeying the Angel

Q3: What does “אַל תַּמֵּר בּוֹ” mean?

A: “Do not rebel against him.” The root means rebellion, as in “whoever rebels against your command.”

 

Q4: Why can the angel “not overlook your sin”?

A:

  • Angels do not sin and have no experience with error.
  • An angel is only an emissary and cannot change the mission or forgive.

 

Q5: What does “כִּי שְׁמִי בְּקִרְבּוֹ” mean?

A: Hashem’s Name is associated with him. Chazal say this refers to Metatron, whose name shares the same gematria as “Shaddai.”

 

23:22 — Hashem Fights Israel’s Enemies

Q6: What does “וְצַרְתִּי” mean?

A: “I will persecute” — Onkelos translates וְאָעִיק, meaning to oppress or afflict your enemies.

 

23:23–24 — Destroying Idolatry

Q7: What does the angel do according to verse 23?

A: He leads Israel into the lands of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites, and Hashem then destroys them.

 

Q8: What is “הָרֵס תְּהָרְסֵם”?

A: You must shatter and destroy their idols entirely.

 

Q9: What are “מַצֵּבוֹתֵיהֶם” (their pillars)?

A: Stone pillars nations set up to bow to—idolatrous monuments that must be destroyed.

 

23:25 — Serving Hashem Brings Blessing

Q10: What does “וַעֲבַדְתֶּם אֵת ה’ אֱלֹקֵיכֶם” require?

A: To serve Hashem exclusively (which includes prayer and mitzvos).

 

Q11: What blessings are promised for proper service?

A:

  • “I will bless your bread and your water,” meaning prosperity in basic sustenance.
  • “I will remove illness from your midst,” meaning good health as a reward for loyalty.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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