Parshas Haazinu 5776

Many Generations

The Torah writes (Deuteronomy 32:7):

Remember the days of old, Consider the years of many generations; Ask thy father, and he will declare unto thee, Thine elders, and they will tell thee.

According to Rashi (ibid) these refer to:

• generations - the generation of Enosh, whom [God] inundated with the waters of the ocean, and the generation of the Flood
• father - these are the prophets
• elders - these are the Sages

According to the Vilna Gaon (Aderes Eliyahu ibid):

• the days of old - this is Moses
• many generations - this is Joshua and the Elders whose years were extended in the second generation
• father - these are the Prophets
• elders - these are the Elders that were before the Prophets

 Ohr haChaim (ibid) explains:

• the days of old - the six days of Creation
• many generations - the two generations - the one that went out of Egypt and the one that entered the Land
• father - these are the Prophets
• elders - there are the Sages of Israel

 (see also Ramban ibid)

Nations and Tribes

The Torah writes (Deuteronomy 32:8):

When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when He separated the children of men, He set the borders of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel.

Rashi (ibid) explains:

• gave nations their lot - this is the generation of the Flood
• separated the sons of man - this is the generation of the Dispersion
• the number of the children of Israel - seventy nations according to the seventy descedents of Jacob who descended to Egypt

The Rashbam (ibid) explains:

• gave nations their lot - when He assigned them to their lands
• separated the sons of man - after the death of Noach and the time of Avraham
• the number of the children of Israel - twelve descendants of Canaan corresponding to the eventual 12 tribes of Israel - Canaan and his 11 sons amounted to twelve

(see also Daas Zkenim ibid)

Ohr haChayim (ibid) explains:

• gave nations their lot - when He assigned the nations to angels
• separated the sons of man - He did not give them to one angel, but separated them, each to a separate angel
• the number of the children of Israel - seventy angels according to the seventy souls that descended to Egypt

[Published at parshapeople.blogspot.com]