A Sweet, Short Torah Insight from the *Ohr HaChaim* on Parshat Devarim

"And I said to you at that time: I cannot bear you alone."

"Hashem, your God, has multiplied you, and behold, today you are as numerous as the stars of the heavens" (Devarim 1:9–10).

The Ohr HaChaim raises an interesting question.

In the second year after the Exodus, Moshe Rabbeinu tells the people of Israel that Hashem had multiplied them greatly. Yet when we examine the numbers, it does not appear that they had increased dramatically since leaving Egypt.

"This is difficult, for we do not find that they multiplied beyond what they were in Egypt in a way that is noticeably apparent, as is evident from the count in the second year. Yet it is regarding that time that he says, 'I said to you at that time...'"

Chazal explain that Moshe was not referring primarily to physical growth. Rather, the Jewish people had become greater in spiritual stature, particularly through the increase of judges, leaders, and Torah authorities among them.

As the Sifrei explains:

"'He has multiplied you' means 'He has made you great' through your judges."

Mentioning Hashem's Name Brings Protection

The Ohr HaChaim then shares a profound insight.

The Zohar teaches that when a person speaks about the abundance and blessings they have received, it can arouse negative spiritual forces and expose them to the evil eye. However, when a person explicitly attributes those blessings to Hashem by mentioning His Name, those harmful forces lose their ability to gain control.

As the Ohr HaChaim writes:

"Perhaps this also follows what is stated in the Zohar... that mentioning abundant blessing can strengthen the accuser. Yet wherever the Supreme Name is mentioned, the forces of evil have no power over that person."

This, he explains, is exactly what Moshe Rabbeinu did.

When Moshe said, "I cannot bear you alone," he was emphasizing the tremendous blessing Hashem had bestowed upon the Jewish people by making them numerous and great. Concerned that speaking about this blessing might create an opening for the evil eye or for spiritual accusers, he immediately added:

"Hashem, your God, has multiplied you."

By attributing the blessing directly to Hashem, Moshe protected the people from any harmful spiritual influence.

As the Ohr HaChaim concludes:

"Since Moshe said, 'I cannot bear you alone,' emphasizing their great multitude, this contained the concern mentioned above. Therefore, he mentioned Hashem's Name over them and said, 'Hashem your God has multiplied you.' In this way, there was no room for the harmful force to take hold."

According to this explanation, the verse can also be understood in its straightforward sense: Hashem truly multiplied and blessed His people, and mentioning His Name served as their protection.