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Eikev: Zemer of The Week

PARSHAT EIKEV
 
The zemer for this week: צור משלו
 

 

 
The structure and sequence of this zemer matches that of Birchat Hamazon, while also echoing important parts of the parsha.
 
Central elements of this parsha include the pasuk that is the source of the mitzvah to say Birchat Hamazon (“ואכלת ושבעת וברכת” in Devarim 8:10), Moshe’s preparing Bnai Yisrael to enter Eretz Yisrael, and his description of other blessings that Hashem would bestow on them.
 
Some of the zemer’s connections to the parsha:
 
  • How the structure and sequence of this zemer matches that of Birchat Hamazon:
    • Opening line and chorus: “ברכו אמוני” (“Bless Him, my faithful”) – According to the Iyun Tefillah (cited by Artscroll), this parallels Zimun at the beginning of Birchat Hamazon, in which the leader invites everyone to join in blessing Hashem.
    • The 1st stanza of the zemer is based on the first bracha of Birchat Hamazon (“הזן את הכל”), which the Gemara (Berachot 48b) says was written by Moshe when the מן descended.
      • Likewise, the 3rd line of the 2nd stanza: “מזון וצדה השביעה לנפשנו” (“With nourishment and sustenance He sated our souls”) – In the parsha, Moshe reminds Bnai Yisrael that Hashem provided the מן as their sustenance in the desert (Devarim 8:3 and 8:16).
    • The 2nd stanza of the zemer is based on the second bracha of Birchat Hamazon (“...נודה לך”), which according to Berachot (48b) was written by Yehoshua when Bnai Yisrael crossed the Yarden River and entered Eretz Yisrael.
      • In the parsha, Moshe tells Bnai Yisrael that they are about to cross the Yarden and what they should do immediately after the crossing (Devarim 9:1).
      • The 2nd bracha of Birchat Hamazon mentions Hashem’s giving us the mitzvah of Brit Milah. The parsha (Devarim 10:16) uses Brit Milah as a metaphor for the spiritual transformation that will be required of Bnai Yisrael.
    • The 3rd stanza of the zemer is based on the third bracha of Birchat Hamazon (“…רחם”), which according to Berachot (48b) was written by David Hamelech and Shlomo Hamelech.
      • 3rd and 4th lines of the 3rd paragraph: “'בן דוד עבדך יבא ויגאלנו ... משיח ד” (“The son of David Your servant should come and redeem us … the Moshiach of Hashem”) – According to the Aggadas Bereishis (in Bereishis 38:29), David Hamelech will become the progenitor of Moshiach.
    • The 4th stanza of the zemer is based on the fourth bracha of Birchat Hamazon (“…הטוב ומטיב”), which according to Berachot (48b) was written by the gedolim in Yavneh for those who were killed in Beitar.
      • Tu B’Av bonus: The miracle at Beitar occurred on the 15th of Av.
  • 2nd line of 2nd stanza: “על ארץ חמדה טובה שהנחיל לאבותינו” (“For the land – desirable and good – that He gave as a heritage to our forefathers”) – Hashem repeatedly reminds Bnai Yisrael that He promised Eretz Yisrael to our forefathers (e.g., Devarim 7:13, 8:1, 9:5, 10:11, 11:9, 11:21).
    • Moshe refers to Eretz Yisrael as “הארץה הטובה” in Devarim 11:17.
  • Last line of 4th stanza: “'כברכת ד” (“Appropriate for the blessing of Hashem”) – Moshe tells Bnai Yisrael that if they listen to Hashem’s commandments, Hashem will bestow a rich variety of blessings on them, their offspring, and their possessions (Devarim 7:13-14).