Parashat Ekev starts with these words:

“And if you do obey (V’Haya ekev tishma’oon) these rules and observe them carefully, Adonai your God will maintain faithfully for you the convenant that God made on oath with your ancestors”

(Deuteronomy 7: 12)

In this verse the word “Ekev” means “because”(if). That means that as a result of this commandment, God will observe the Covenant and act towards you with loving kindness.. However, Midrash Tanhuma reminds us of another meaning of the word “ekev” as “heal.” In the midrash we read:

“And ekev you obey… “

“In time of trouble why should I fear the encompassing evil of those who would supplant me….”

(Psalms 49:6).

(New JPS translation. The King James version has a more literal translation which may be more relevant here, “Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil when the iniquity of my heals (avon ekvai) shall compass me about.?” The author of the Midrash chooses to bring this verse because the word “ekev” appears both here and in Deuteronomy. A.A)

May the name of the Holy One of Blessing be blessed Who gave Torah to Israel including 613 minor and major commandments. People do not observe these commandments but cast them under their heals (ekvoteihem). This is to say that they are minor. For this reason King David feared the day of judgement and would say, “Master of the Universe, I am not afraid of the major commandments in the Torah, for they are clearly important. I am actually afraid of the minor commandments. Perhaps I may have violated one of them because they are “minor” and I did not pay attention whether I observed it or not. But You have said,

“Be careful to observe a minor commandment just as aserious commandment. “ For this reason he said, “In time of trouble,why should I fear…”

The author of the Midrash begins with this verse from Psalms in order to explain his words and then continues and thanks the Holy One of Blessing for giving both minor and major commandments. He then says that people do not pay attention to them and leave them on the ground they walk upon. The author of the midrash then asserts that this is what David meant in the Book of Psalms (As far as the midrash is concerned, David is the author of the psalms.), saying, “I am afraid that the sins of my heal encompass me. It is the sins that I did not take seriously that encompass me.” (The author of the midrash may not be reading the Hebrew word “lama” as “Why” or “Wherefore,” but as “What,” [L-Mah] making the translation “What I fear is the days of evil when the iniquity of my heals will encompass me.” A.A) We see something every interesting when we look at the entire passage from Psalms:

“For the leader. Of the Korahites. A psalm.

Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world, men of all estates, ruch and poor alike. My mouth utters wisdom, my speech is full of insight, I will turn my attention to an theme, set forth my lesson to the music of a lyre.

In time of trouble, why should I fear the iniquity of my heals that surrounds me? (What I fear is the days of evil when the iniquity of my heals will encompass me)

Men who trust in their riches, who glory in their great wealth-

Ah, it cannot redeem a man, or pay his ransom to God; the price of life is too high; and so one ceases to be, forever.

Shall he live eternally, and never see the grave?

For one sees that the wise die, that the foolish and ignorant both perish, leaving their wealth to others”.

(Psalms 49: 1-11)