Rabbi Yaakov Weinberg zt”l: Notes on Devarim V: P’nu U’Se’u
In pasuk zayin, why does the pasuk have to say ‘Se’u? Why tell me to travel-obviously if I’m telling you to go to Har Emori I want you to travel there?
The message is that it’s not only the result and the goal that is important, it is the process. The traveling to get there is also important.
The same concept exists in Avodas Hashem. The challenges and decisions and everything that leads up to an accomplishment are all valued by Hashem.
Eretz Yisrael’s Uniqueness
In pasuk 8, the Torah says, ‘Reah nasati lifneichem es haaratez’. In order to get Eretz Yisrael there is no simple giving of Eretz Yisrael. You must go and take it. G-d puts it before us and we have to undertake getting Israel. And if not, we won’t have it.
The pasuk continues to describe Eretz Yisrael as the Land promised to the Avos probably because we would have no justification for taking it from the inhabitants. We have no right to it simply because it is so precious, or because Jews have always been there, or any other reason. Only because G-d swore it to the Avos do we have a right to it.
Lo Uchol Levadi Se’as Eschem
In pasuk 9, there were 2 factors for Moshe’s inability to carry Klal Yisrael. One is the time
‘ba’es hahih’(as they left Sinai-left learning only) and the other is the number of people that they were.
Moshe’s Bracha
We see from pasuk 11 that Moshe was not just a hardened leader that carried out what needed to be done for Klal Yisrael. Rather, he had a tremendous love and affection for Klal Yisrael. After mentioning their great numbers, he feels compelled spontaneously to break out in a blessing for continued bracha in population. And Kavayachol wants to make sure we know that this is what happened as Moshe gave his speech by recording it in the Torah.