(יא) כִּ֚י הַמִּצְוָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּ֑וֹם לֹא־נִפְלֵ֥את הִוא֙ מִמְּךָ֔ וְלֹ֥א רְחֹקָ֖ה הִֽוא׃ (יב) לֹ֥א בַשָּׁמַ֖יִם הִ֑וא לֵאמֹ֗ר מִ֣י יַעֲלֶה־לָּ֤נוּ הַשָּׁמַ֙יְמָה֙ וְיִקָּחֶ֣הָ לָּ֔נוּ וְיַשְׁמִעֵ֥נוּ אֹתָ֖הּ וְנַעֲשֶֽׂנָּה׃ (יג) וְלֹא־מֵעֵ֥בֶר לַיָּ֖ם הִ֑וא לֵאמֹ֗ר מִ֣י יַעֲבׇר־לָ֜נוּ אֶל־עֵ֤בֶר הַיָּם֙ וְיִקָּחֶ֣הָ לָּ֔נוּ וְיַשְׁמִעֵ֥נוּ אֹתָ֖הּ וְנַעֲשֶֽׂנָּה׃
(11) Surely, this Instruction which I enjoin upon you this day is not too baffling [נִפְלֵ֥את] for you, nor is it beyond reach. (12) It is not in the heavens, that you should say, “Who among us can go up to the heavens and get it for us and impart it to us, that we may observe it?” (13) Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “Who among us can cross to the other side of the sea and get it for us and impart it to us, that we may observe it?”
(יא) אֲרֵי תַּפְקֶדְתָּא הָדָא דִּי אֲנָא מְפַקְּדָךְ יוֹמָא דֵין לָא מַפְרְשָׁא הִיא מִנָּךְ וְלָא רְחִיקָא הִיא:
(11) For this mitzvah that I am commanding you today; it is not obscure to you nor is it distant.
(יא) אֲרוּם תַּפְקֵידְתָּא הָדָא דַאֲנָא מְפַקֵיד לְכוֹן יוֹמָנָא לָא מְכַסְיָא הִיא מִנְכוֹן וְלָא רְחִיקָא הִיא
(11) For this commandment which I command you today is not hidden from you, nor afar off.
(1) לא נפלאת הוא ממך [FOR THIS COMMANDMENT …] IS NOT נפלאת FROM YOU i.e. is not concealed from you, just as it is said, (Deuteronomy 17:8): כי יפלא which is rendered in the Targum by “If there be concealed [from you]”; and (Lamentations 1:9): ותרד פלאים which means, she went down into concealment, i.e. being covered and bound in the place of concealment.
(ח) כִּ֣י יִפָּלֵא֩ מִמְּךָ֨ דָבָ֜ר לַמִּשְׁפָּ֗ט בֵּֽין־דָּ֨ם ׀ לְדָ֜ם בֵּֽין־דִּ֣ין לְדִ֗ין וּבֵ֥ין נֶ֙גַע֙ לָנֶ֔גַע דִּבְרֵ֥י רִיבֹ֖ת בִּשְׁעָרֶ֑יךָ וְקַמְתָּ֣ וְעָלִ֔יתָ אֶ֨ל־הַמָּק֔וֹם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִבְחַ֛ר יי אֱלֹקֶ֖יךָ בּֽוֹ׃
(8) If a case is too baffling [יִפָּלֵא֩] for you to decide, be it a controversy over homicide, civil law, or assault—matters of dispute in your courts—you shall promptly go to the place that your God the LORD will have chosen,
(א) כי יפלא. כָּל הַפְלָאָה לְשׁוֹן הַבְדָּלָה וּפְרִישָׁה, שֶׁהַדָּבָר נִבְדָּל וּמְכֻסֶּה מִמְּךָ:
(1) כי יפלא IF THERE BE [A THING] TOO HARD [FOR THEE IN JUDGMENT] — The term פלא always denotes separation and being at a distance; it means here that the matter is apart and is hidden from thee.
(א) נפלאת. נסתרת או דבר פלא שתלאה לעשותו:
(1) TOO HARD. The word niflet (too hard) means concealed. Or its meaning is, wondrous, that is, something that will cause you to grow weary while trying to accomplish it.
אמר רב יהודה אמר שמואל שלשת אלפים הלכות נשתכחו בימי אבלו של משה אמרו לו ליהושע שאל א"ל (דברים ל, יב) לא בשמים היא אמרו לו לשמואל שאל אמר להם אלה המצות שאין הנביא רשאי לחדש דבר מעתה אמר ר' יצחק נפחא אף חטאת שמתו בעליה נשתכחה בימי אבלו של משה אמרו לפנחס שאל אמר ליה לא בשמים היא א"ל לאלעזר שאל אמר להם אלה המצות שאין נביא רשאי לחדש דבר מעתה
Rav Yehuda says that Shmuel says: Three thousand halakhot were forgotten during the days of mourning for Moses. The Jewish people said to Joshua: Ask for guidance from Heaven so that you can reacquire the forgotten halakhot. Joshua said to them: “It is not in heaven” (Deuteronomy 30:12).
Many years later the Jewish people again said to Samuel: Ask. He said to them: This is not possible, as the Torah states: “These are the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses to tell the children of Israel at Mount Sinai” (Leviticus 27:34). The word “these” indicates that from now on a prophet is not permitted to introduce any new element related to the Torah and its mitzvot through prophecy.
[Rabbi Yitzḥak Nappaḥa says: Also, the halakha of a sin offering whose owner has died was one of those forgotten during the days of mourning for Moses.]
At the time of Moses’ death, the people said to Pinehas: Ask. Pinehas said to them: “It is not in heaven” (Deuteronomy 30:12). The people said to Elazar: Ask. He said to them: “These are the commandments,” to teach that a prophet is not permitted to introduce any new element from now on.
וְהַיְינוּ דְּאָמַר אַבְדִּימִי בַּר חָמָא בַּר דּוֹסָא, מַאי דִּכְתִיב: ״לֹא בַשָּׁמַיִם הִיא וְלֹא מֵעֵבֶר לַיָּם הִיא״. ״לָא בַּשָּׁמַיִם הִיא״, שֶׁאִם בַּשָּׁמַיִם הִיא — אַתָּה צָרִיךְ לַעֲלוֹת אַחֲרֶיהָ, וְאִם מֵעֵבֶר לַיָּם הִיא — אַתָּה צָרִיךְ לַעֲבוֹר אַחֲרֶיהָ. רָבָא אָמַר: ״לֹא בַשָּׁמַיִם הִיא״ — לֹא תִּמָּצֵא בְּמִי שֶׁמַּגְבִּיהַּ דַּעְתּוֹ עָלֶיהָ כַּשָּׁמַיִם, וְלֹא תִּמָּצֵא בְּמִי שֶׁמַּרְחִיב דַּעְתּוֹ עָלֶיהָ כַּיָּם. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר: ״לֹא בַּשָּׁמַיִם הִיא״ — לֹא תִּמָּצֵא בְּגַסַּי רוּחַ, ״וְלֹא מֵעֵבֶר לַיָּם הִיא״ — לֹא תִּמָּצֵא לֹא בְּסַחְרָנִים וְלֹא בְּתַגָּרִים.
And this is in accordance with what Avdimi bar Ḥama bar Dosa said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “It is not in heaven…nor is it beyond the sea” (Deuteronomy 30:12–13)? “It is not in heaven” indicates that if it were in heaven, you would have to ascend after it, and if it were beyond the sea, you would have to cross after it. Rava said: “It is not in heaven” means that Torah is not to be found in someone who raises his mind over it, like the heavens; nor is it to be found in someone who expands his mind over it, like the sea. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: “It is not in heaven” means that Torah is not to be found in the haughty. “Nor is it beyond the sea” means that it is not to be found among merchants or traders.
(ח) כָּתוּב בַּתּוֹרָה (גמרא עירובין נה א) "לֹא בַשָּׁמַיִם הִיא וְלֹא מֵעֵבֶר לַיָּם הִיא". לֹא בַשָּׁמַיִם הִיא לֹא בְּגַסֵּי הָרוּחַ הִיא מְצוּיָה וְלֹא בִּמְהַלְּכֵי מֵעֵבֶר לַיָּם הִיא. לְפִיכָךְ אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים (משנה אבות ב ה) "לֹא כָּל הַמַּרְבֶּה בִּסְחוֹרָה מַחְכִּים". וְצִוּוּ חֲכָמִים הֱוֵי מְמַעֵט בְּעֵסֶק וַעֲסֹק בַּתּוֹרָה:
(8) It is written in the Torah [Deuteronomy 30:12, 13]: "It is not in the heavens....It is not across the sea...." [This implies:] "It is not in the heavens" - i.e., it is not found in the proud spirited. "It is not across the sea" - i.e., it is not found in those who travel across the sea.Therefore, our Sages said: "Not everyone who is involved in business will become wise." Our Sages also commanded: "Minimize your business activities and occupy yourself with Torah."
(א) מעבר לים. פירוש רחוקה ויתכן שהוא הים הגדול שלא יוכל אדם להכנס ברחבו מפני חשכת המים:
(1) BEYOND THE SEA. This explains neither is it far off (v. 11). It is possible that the reference is to the great sea whose width a person cannot enter because of the darkness of the water.
(ב) ולא מעבר לים היא. זה ים אוקיאנוס הוא הסובב את כל הישוב ששם החכמה העליונה, ולכך הוצרך להזכיר ים, שאם לא כן היה לו להזכיר התהום, ושיאמר לא בתהום היא, כדבר איוב שאמר (איוב כ״ח:י״ד) תהום אמר לא בי היא, והיה הספור יותר נאות להזכיר דרך עליה ודרך ירידה.
(2) ולא מעבר לים היא, “neither is it beyond the sea.” This is a reference to the great ocean which surrounds all the land mass, an area where this superior wisdom is located. The reason the Torah (Moses) had to refer to it as ים, is that otherwise it would have to be described as תהום, and the Torah would have had to write לא בתהום היא. This is the way Job referred to it when he quoted the deep as saying: “it is not with me” (referring to wisdom compare Job 28,14). It is stylistically more elevating to refer to the ocean as something elevated than as something conjuring up visions of a deep abyss, as does the word תהום.
(יב) וְֽ֭הַחׇכְמָה מֵאַ֣יִן תִּמָּצֵ֑א וְאֵ֥י זֶ֝֗ה מְק֣וֹם בִּינָֽה׃ (יג) לֹא־יָדַ֣ע אֱנ֣וֹשׁ עֶרְכָּ֑הּ וְלֹ֥א תִ֝מָּצֵ֗א בְּאֶ֣רֶץ הַחַיִּֽים׃ (יד) תְּה֣וֹם אָ֭מַר לֹ֣א בִי־הִ֑יא וְיָ֥ם אָ֝מַ֗ר אֵ֣ין עִמָּדִֽי׃ (טו) לֹֽא־יֻתַּ֣ן סְג֣וֹר תַּחְתֶּ֑יהָ וְלֹ֥א יִ֝שָּׁקֵ֗ל כֶּ֣סֶף מְחִירָֽהּ׃ (טז) לֹֽא־תְ֭סֻלֶּה בְּכֶ֣תֶם אוֹפִ֑יר בְּשֹׁ֖הַם יָקָ֣ר וְסַפִּֽיר׃ (יז) לֹא־יַעַרְכֶ֣נָּה זָ֭הָב וּזְכוֹכִ֑ית וּתְמ֖וּרָתָ֣הּ כְּלִי־פָֽז׃ (יח) רָאמ֣וֹת וְ֭גָבִישׁ לֹ֣א יִזָּכֵ֑ר וּמֶ֥שֶׁךְ חׇ֝כְמָ֗ה מִפְּנִינִֽים׃ (יט) לֹֽא־יַ֭עַרְכֶנָּה פִּטְדַת־כּ֑וּשׁ בְּכֶ֥תֶם טָ֝ה֗וֹר לֹ֣א תְסֻלֶּֽה׃ (כ) וְֽ֭הַחׇכְמָה מֵאַ֣יִן תָּב֑וֹא וְאֵ֥י זֶ֝֗ה מְק֣וֹם בִּינָֽה׃ (כא) וְֽ֭נֶעֶלְמָה מֵעֵינֵ֣י כׇל־חָ֑י וּמֵע֖וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם נִסְתָּֽרָה׃ (כב) אֲבַדּ֣וֹן וָ֭מָוֶת אָ֣מְר֑וּ בְּ֝אׇזְנֵ֗ינוּ שָׁמַ֥עְנוּ שִׁמְעָֽהּ׃ (כג) אֱ֭לֹקִים הֵבִ֣ין דַּרְכָּ֑הּ וְ֝ה֗וּא יָדַ֥ע אֶת־מְקוֹמָֽהּ׃ (כד) כִּי־ה֭וּא לִקְצוֹת־הָאָ֣רֶץ יַבִּ֑יט תַּ֖חַת כׇּל־הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם יִרְאֶֽה׃
(12) But where can wisdom be found; Where is the source of understanding? (13) No man can set a value on it; It cannot be found in the land of the living. (14) The deep says, “It is not in me”; The sea says, “I do not have it.” (15) It cannot be bartered for gold;Silver cannot be paid out as its price. (16) The finest gold of Ophir cannot be weighed against it,Nor precious onyx, nor sapphire. (17) Gold or glass cannot match its value,Nor vessels of fine gold be exchanged for it. (18) Coral and crystal cannot be mentioned with it;A pouch of wisdom is better than rubies. (19) Topaz from Nubia cannot match its value;Pure gold cannot be weighed against it. (20) But whence does wisdom come?Where is the source of understanding? (21) It is hidden from the eyes of all living, Concealed from the birds of the air. (22) Abaddon and Death say,“We have only a report of it.” (23) God understands the way to it; He knows its source; (24) For He sees to the ends of the earth, Observes all that is beneath the heavens.