Nitzavim 29:15 · unit 1

Parashas Nitzavim · Passuk 29:15

The Complete Passuk

כִּי־אַתֶּ֣ם יְדַעְתֶּ֔ם אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־יָשַׁ֖בְנוּ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וְאֵ֧ת אֲשֶׁר־עָבַ֛רְנוּ בְּקֶ֥רֶב הַגּוֹיִ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עֲבַרְתֶּֽם׃

For you know how we dwelt in the land of Egypt and how we passed through the midst of the nations through which you passed.

Chabad.org — 29:15

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to the reminder of exposure to the idolatry of Egypt and the nations through which Israel passed.

Core Text
כִּי אַתֶּם יְדַעְתֶּם אֵת אֲשֶׁר יָשַׁבְנוּ בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם וְאֵת אֲשֶׁר עָבַרְנוּ בְּקֶרֶב הַגּוֹיִם — לֹא שְׁמוּעָה, אֶלָּא יְדִיעַת עַיִן; רְאִיתֶם אֶת תּוֹעֲבוֹתֵיהֶם.

English: “For you know how we dwelt in the land of Egypt and how we passed through the midst of the nations” — not hearsay, but knowledge of the eye; you have seen their abominations.

In context: The covenant warning against idolatry is grounded in the people’s own lived exposure. They have already observed the practices of Egypt and of the nations along the route; the danger is concrete, not abstract.

Type of Learning

Custom (historical reminder that grounds the warning in firsthand experience).

What Is Learned

Awareness of past exposure to foreign worship strengthens the force of the covenant warning that follows.