Pisqa’ 310¹

1

“Remember the days of yore”² (Dt.32:7)—

Moses said to them:

Bear in mind what I did to the earliest generations;

what I did to the generation of the Flood,

what I did to the generation of the Dispersion,

and what I did to the people of Sodom!

“Contemplate the years³ of each generation” (Dt.32:7)—

you can find no generation without

its share of people like the generation of the Flood,

nor its share of people like those of Sodom.

Nevertheless—

each and every person is judged by the quality of his deeds.

2

“Ask your father to recount it for you” (Dt.32:7)—

your father alludes to the Prophets,

according to what is stated [about Elijah’s death]:

“Now, Elisha saw and he cried out—my Father, my Father!” (2Ki.2:12).

“Your elders, so that they will teach it to you” (Dt.32:7)—

The elders are the elders [of the Sanhedrin],

According to what is stated:

“Gather for me seventy men of the elders of Israel” (Nu.11:16).

Another word:

“Remember the days of eternity” (Dt.32:7)—

Moses said to them:

Whenever the Blessed Holy One brings chastisements upon you,

bear in mind all the good things and consolations He is destined

to bestow upon you in the coming eon!

3

“Contemplate the years of each generation” (Dt.32:7)—

this refers to the generation of Messiah,

which will encompass three generations,

as it is stated:

“They shall stand in awe of You, . . . for one generation and for two generations” (Ps.72:5)—

[thus, three generations in all].⁴

 

“Ask your father to recount it for you” (Dt.32:7)—

in a future tomorrow, Israel is destined to see and hear

as if they were hearing directly from the mouth

of the Blessed Holy One,

for it is said:

“Then your ears will hear a word from behind you, saying:” (Is.30:21).

And, moreover:

“No more shall your Teacher be concealed;

rather your eyes will behold your Teacher!” (Is.30:20).

“Your elders, so that they will teach it to you” (Dt.32:7)—

that is, the elders will teach you what I disclosed to them on the Mountain,

according to what is stated;

“And to Moses, He said: Ascend to HASHEM!” (Ex.24:1).

1. H:316; JN2:327-328.
2. Heb: yemot `olam, here in the sense of “long ago,” hence: days of yore.
3. Heb: shenot; “years.” The parallelism of yemot (“days”) and shenot (“years”) is apt. In midrashic reading, the root sh-n-h calls to mind concepts such as “repetition of learning,” “tradition,” and “experience.” In the present context, the point seems to be: “judged by learned standards, each generation has its slackers.”
4. Cf. Mechilta Ishmael, `amaleq, par.2.