Pisqa’ 6760H:121; JN1:199-200. 1. “When you cross the Jordan and settle in the Land” (Dt.12:10). R. Judah says: three commandments were given to Israel at the time they entered the Land: To appoint a king for themselves; to build the Chosen Abode for themselves; and to annihilate the descendants of Amalek.61=T. San.4:5.
Now, I don’t know which takes precedence: to appoint a king for themselves; to build the Chosen Abode for themselves; or to annihilate the descendants of Amalek? The Teaching states: “And Moses said: the hand is upon the throne of Yah;62A contraction of the four-letter Name of God. HASHEM will be at war with Amalek for all generations” (Ex.17:16). That is, once a king sits on the throne of Yah, then you must annihilate the descendants of Amalek. Now, on what basis do I know that the throne of Yah is that of the king? For it is stated: “Then Solomon sat upon the throne of HASHEM as king” (1Chron.29:23).
2. But I still don’t know which takes precedence— to build the Chosen Abode for themselves, or to annihilate the descendants of Amalek? The Teaching states: “When you . . . settle in the Land . . ., and you dwell in security; then, to the place which HASHEM your God shall choose . . . (Dt.12:10-11). And He says: “Now, when the king was settled in his home, and HASHEM gave him respite . . ., then the king said to Nathan the Prophet: Look how I dwell in a house of cedar while the Ark of God sits in a tent!” (2Sam.7:1-2).
3. “Then, to the place which HASHEM your God shall choose to invest with His Name there, there shall you bring . . . (Dt.12:11). Why does the verse repeat, there, there? Because two partitioned areas were there: a partitioned area [within the Courtyard] for [Priests to eat] the Most-Holy offerings63Such as the Purification-offering of the New Moon and Festivals (e.g M. Zev.5:3). and a partitioned area [within Jerusalem’s walls], for [common Israelites to eat] the Lesser-Holy offerings.64Such as, e.g., the Firstling, Second-tithe, and the Passover (M .Zev.5:7).
(דברים יב י) וַעֲבַרְתֶּם אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן וִישַׁבְתֶּם בָּאָרֶץ, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: שָׁלֹשׁ מִצְווֹת נִצְטַוּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּשָׁעַת כְּנִיסָתָם לָאָרֶץ: לְמַנּוֹת לָהֶם מֶלֶךְ, לִבְנוֹת לָהֶם בֵּית הַבְּחִירָה וּלְהַכְרִית זֶרַע עֲמָלֵק.
Pisqa’ 6760H:121; JN1:199-200.
1. “When you cross the Jordan and settle in the Land” (Dt.12:10).
R. Judah says:
three commandments were given to Israel
at the time they entered the Land:
To appoint a king for themselves;
to build the Chosen Abode for themselves;
and to annihilate the descendants of Amalek.61=T. San.4:5.
אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ אֵיזֶה יִקְדוֹם: אִם לְמַנּוֹת לָהֶם מֶלֶךְ, אִם לִבְנוֹת לָהֶם בֵּית הַבְּחִירָה אִם לְהַכְרִית זֶרַע עֲמָלֵק? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (שמות יז טז): ״וַיֹּאמֶר כִּי יָד עַל כֵּס יָהּ מִלְחָמָה לַה׳ בַּעֲמָלֵק״ – מִשֶּׁיָּשַׁב הַמֶּלֶךְ עַל כִּסֵּא ה׳ אַתָּה מַכְרִית זֶרַע עֲמָלֵק. וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁכִּסֵּא ה׳ זֶה הַמֶּלֶךְ? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברי הימים א כט כג): ״וַיֵּשֶׁב שְׁלֹמֹה עַל כִּסֵּא ה׳ לְמֶלֶךְ״.
Now, I don’t know which takes precedence:
to appoint a king for themselves;
to build the Chosen Abode for themselves;
or to annihilate the descendants of Amalek?
The Teaching states:
“And Moses said: the hand is upon the throne of Yah;62A contraction of the four-letter Name of God.
HASHEM will be at war with Amalek for all generations” (Ex.17:16).
That is, once a king sits on the throne of Yah,
then you must annihilate the descendants of Amalek.
Now, on what basis do I know that
the throne of Yah is that of the king?
For it is stated:
“Then Solomon sat upon the throne of HASHEM as king” (1Chron.29:23).
וַעֲדַיִן אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ אֵיזֶה יִקְדּוֹם: אִם לִבְנוֹת לָהֶם בֵּית הַבְּחִירָה אִם לְהַכְרִית זֶרַע עֲמָלֵק? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: אֲשֶׁר ה׳ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם מַנְחִיל אֶתְכֶם, וְאוֹמֵר (שמואל ב ז א-ב): ״וַיְהִי כִּי יָשַׁב הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּבֵיתוֹ וַה׳ הֵנִיחַ לוֹ מִסָּבִיב״, וְאוֹמֵר: ״וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל נָתָן רְאֵה נָא אָנֹכִי יוֹשֵׁב בְּבֵית אֲרָזִים וַאֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים יֹשֵׁב בְּתוֹךְ הַיְרִיעָה״.
2. But I still don’t know which takes precedence—
to build the Chosen Abode for themselves,
or to annihilate the descendants of Amalek?
The Teaching states:
“When you . . . settle in the Land . . ., and you dwell in security;
then, to the place which HASHEM your God shall choose . . . (Dt.12:10-11).
And He says:
“Now, when the king was settled in his home, and HASHEM gave him respite . . .,
then the king said to Nathan the Prophet:
Look how I dwell in a house of cedar while the Ark of God sits in a tent!” (2Sam.7:1-2).
(דברים יב יא) וְהָיָה הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְשַׁכֵּן שְׁמוֹ שָׁם שָׁמָּה תָבִיאוּ, שָׁם שָׁמָּה, הָיוּ שָׁם שְׁתֵּי מְחִצּוֹת: מְחִצָּה לְקָדְשֵׁי הַקֳּדָשִׁים – וּמְחִצָּה לְקָדָשִׁים קַלִּים. (דברים יב יא)
3. “Then, to the place which HASHEM your God shall choose to invest with His Name there, there shall you bring . . . (Dt.12:11).
Why does the verse repeat, there, there?
Because two partitioned areas were there:
a partitioned area [within the Courtyard]
for [Priests to eat] the Most-Holy offerings63Such as the Purification-offering of the New Moon and Festivals (e.g M. Zev.5:3).
and a partitioned area [within Jerusalem’s walls],
for [common Israelites to eat] the Lesser-Holy offerings.64Such as, e.g., the Firstling, Second-tithe, and the Passover (M .Zev.5:7).