Selections from Baal haTurim

Clothing

דברים ח, ג-ד: עַל-כָּל-מֹוצָּא ה' יִחְיֶה הָּאָּדָּם: שִמְלָּתְךָ לֹא בָּלְתָּה

Baal HaTurim notes that the juxtaposition of "man will live" to "your garments" hints at what Chazal say, that when Techi'as ha'Meisim arrives, people will arise fully-clothed - 'Kal va'Chomer' from a wheat-kernel, which is placed into the earth smooth and comes out covered.

Ten

דברים ח, ח: אֶרֶץ חִטָּה ּושְעֹרָּה וְגֶפֶן ּותְאֵנָּה וְרִמֹון אֶרֶץ-זֵית שֶמֶן ּודְבָּש:

This Pasuk, says the Baal HaTurim, contains ten words, which explains why we place all ten fingers on the bread when reciting the B'rachah of ha'Motzi. Furthermore, he explains, it corresponds to the ten Mitzvos that are performed with the bread, starting from its earliest stages: Not to plow with an ox and a donkey; Not to plant Kil'ayim; To leave Leket, Shikchah and Pe'ah; Not to muzzle an ox whilst it is threshing; To give Terumah, Ma'aser Rishon, Ma'aser Sheini and Chalah to the appropriate recipients.

Destruction

דברים יא, ד: וַאֲשֶר עָּשָּה לְחֵיל מִצְרַיִם לְסּוסָּיו ּולְרִכְבֹו אֲשֶר הֵצִיף אֶת-מֵי יַם-סּוף עַל-פְּנֵיהֶם בְּרָּדְפָּם אַחֲרֵיכֶם וַיְאַבְדֵם ה' עַד הַיֹום הַזֶה:

Baal HaTurim observes that the same word appears in Iyov (12:23) "He causes nations to err then destroys them". This hints to the Medrash which explains how, as the walls of water of the Reed Sea came crashing down, the male horses on which they were riding mistook the waves of as female horses - with the result that, instead of obeying their riders' orders to turn around and flee, they increased their speed and headed straight for the turbulent waves. Thus, was the Egyptian army dragged to its doom.

In similar vein, the Mechilta explains how G-d deliberately left the idol Ba'al Tz'fon standing, exactly where Yisrael were encamped in front of the Reed Sea. By so doing, the Egyptians were led to believe that their great god had trapped Yisrael in front of the Reed Sea, thereby encouraging him to come chasing after Yisrael. This in turn, was merely to lure Par'oh to the Reed Sea and kill them there, before the very eyes of Yisrael.

Beginning of the year

דברים יא, יב: אֶרֶץ אֲשֶר ה' אֱֹלהֶיָך דֹרֵש אֹתָּּה תָּמִ יד עֵינֵי ה' אֱֹלהֶיָך בָּּה מֵרֵשִית הַשָּנָּה וְעַד אַחֲרִית שָּנָּה:

Baal HaTurim observes the Torah omits the 'Alef' from the word "me'reishis", its letters also spell the word 'mi'Tishri' (which is when the year begins).

Moreover, the Torah continues "And it shall be if you will obey My commandments … ", a hint that the one depends upon the other - if K'lal Yisrael will listen to G-d, He will watch over their land and protect. As the Pasuk writes in Mishlei (27:19), describing the relationship between G-d and Yisrael "As water reflects a face back to a face" (whatever face you display in the water, reflects back to you).

Rain

"from the beginning of the year until the end of the year. If you will obey My commandments … then I will send your rain in its time. " (11:12-14).

The rain will fall when it is needed and where it is needed, as long as K'lal Yisrael maintain the standard of observance with which they began the year until year's end. But if G-d decrees rain following their resolutions on Rosh Hashanah, and they subsequently drop their standard in the course of the year, then He will still send the rain, only it will fall in the sea and in the deserts.