Sifrei on Deuteronomy Sifrei Devarim 52

English · Shraga Silverstein

(Devarim 11:25) "No man will stand up against you": This tells me only of a man. Whence do I derive (the same for) a people, or a family, or a woman with her witchcraft? From (Devarim 7:24) "And He will deliver their kings into your hand, and you shall cause their names to go lost from under the heavens. A man will not stand up against you until you have destroyed them." If so, why is it written "No man"? Even one like Og the king of Bashan.

2

English · Shraga Silverstein

"Your terror and your fear": If they are terrified, they are certainly afraid! (i.e., why need "fear" be mentioned?) — "Your terror," on the part of those near you; "and your fear," on the part of those distant. And thus is it written (Joshua 5:1) "And it was, when the kings of the Emori on the side of the Jordan to the west heard, etc." And Rachav, likewise, said (Ibid. 2:10) "For we heard how the L-rd dried up the waters of the Red sea before you … (11) and when we heard, our hearts melted and no spirit remained anymore in any man before you." And if you would ask: But perhaps the men of Jericho were not great (in stature) and strong — is it not written (Ibid. 2:1) "And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying: Go, spy out the land and Jericho." Now Jericho was part of the land. Why, then, was it singled out for special mention? We hereby infer that they (the men of Jericho) were more formidable than all of them.

3

English · Shraga Silverstein

Similarly, (II Samuel 2:30) "And there were lacking of David's servants, nineteen men and Asahel." Now was not Asahel included (in "David's servants")? Why, then, was he singled out for special mention? We hereby infer that he was more formidable than all of them. Similarly, (I Kings 11:1) "And King Solomon loved many foreign women and the daughter of Pharaoh." Now was the daughter of Pharaoh not included (among the women)? Why, then, was she singled out for special mention? We hereby infer that she was more beloved than all, and, vis-à-vis sin, that she caused him to sin more than all. They said: On the day that Solomon wed Pharaoh's daughter, Gavriel descended and stuck a reed in the sea, which raised a sandbank upon which was built the great city of Rome. And on the day when Yeravam set up the two calves, Ramilo and Romolo and his son built two cities in Rome.

4

English · Shraga Silverstein

(Devarim 11:25) "Your terror and your fear will the L-rd your G-d place on the face of all the land": Why is this mentioned? Because it is written (Ibid. 16:16) "Three times a year shall appear each of your males in the presence of the L-rd your G-d in the place that He chooses," lest Israel say: When we go up to bow down, who will protect our land for us, the Holy One Blessed be He told them: Go up, and I will guard what is yours. As it is written (Shemoth 24:24) "And no man will desire your land when you go up to appear before the L-rd your G-d three times in the year." If it is not desirable in his eyes, why should he come to take his property and his beasts? And, what is more, they are afraid of you, as it is written "Your terror and your fear, etc." And thus do you find with Israel when they do G-d's will. What did Na'aman (the leper of Aram) say to Elisha (II Kings 5:17) "Will there not be given to your servant two mules' burden of earth?" Now does this not follow a fortiori, viz.: If he is afraid to take earth from Eretz Yisrael without permission, how would he come to take his (an Israelite's) property and beasts! This is the intent of "Your terror and your fear will the L-rd your G-d place on the face of all the land where you tread." "as He spoke to you": When did He speak thus? (Shemoth 23:27) "My fear will I send before you, and I shall confound all the people to whom you come."

Sifrei Devarim 52

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