Purpose of Hakhel/2

Purpose of Hakhel

Exegetical Approaches

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Educating Toward Practical Observance

The Hakhel assembly serves an educational goal, teaching the nation Torah to ensure their proper observance of the commandments.

Sources:RalbagDevarim 31:10Devarim 31 Toelet 13About R. Levi b. Gershom, Tzeror HaMor, AbarbanelDevarim 31:12-13About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel

Why "בְּמֹעֵד שְׁנַת הַשְּׁמִטָּה"

• Ralbag asserts that the shemitah year was chosen due to its inherent holiness and the fact that it testifies to the existence of Hashem, a prerequisite for observance.
• Abarbanel gives a more practical reason, that during this year everyone ws free from work and available to assemble for the ceremony.

Why on Sukkot specifically? Ralbag maintains that on Sukkot, after people have gathered all the fruits of their labor,  they are most likely to forget Hashem.  Thus, it is specifically at this juncture that the need a reminder to redirect them to fear of God.

What is read? Abarbanel, following Bavli Sotah 41a, asserts that only Sefer Devarim was read,¹ since it contains most of the Torah's legal sections.  It would have been too difficult to read all five books, and it was not necessary to teach the nation the story of Creation or the laws of Sefer Vayikra regardless.

Who reads? According to Ralbag any leader, be he king, priest,or prince² can read, as all of these play a teaching role and are respected by the nation.  However, if a king is present he is preferred as he has his own commandment to write for himself a Torah and learn from it constantly.  As such, he is most appropriate for the task of educating the nation in Torah.

All inclusive nature

הַטַּף versus וּבְנֵיהֶם

אֲשֶׁר לֹא יָדְעוּ

"יִשְׁמְעוּ וְלָמְדוּ לְיִרְאָה" versus "יִשְׁמְעו ...יִלְמְדוּ וְיָרְאוּ... וְשָׁמְרוּ" 

Why only every seven years? R. D"Z Hoffmann questuions this approach; how is it really possible that a once in seven year reading of the Torah will suffice to instill within the nation the tOrah's many teachings.
Abarbanel

Instilling Fear of God

The Hakhel ceremony has an experiential objective.  It reenacts the Covenant at Sinai, instilling in the people a fear of Hashem.

Sources:RambamHilkhot Chagigah 3:6About R. Moshe b. Maimon, R. D"Z Hoffmann

Transmitting the Tradition

Leading the Nation to Repentance

Sources:Keli Yakar

¹ As support he points to the reading of the Torah in the time of Yoshiayu where the verse states that "ספר הברית" specifically was read.  Abarbanel identifies Sefer HaBerit with Devarim, since it contains the details of the covenant at Moav.

² He might be drawing on verse 9 which states that Moshe gave the Torah to both the priests and elders, suggesting that these same people are those who are instructed to read it later on.