## Sifrei Devarim Paragraph 254

###### Sifrei Devarim 254:1
[Sifrei Devarim 254:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/254:1)

(דברים כג י) **כִּי תֵצֵא מַחֲנֶה עַל אֹיְבֶיךָ**, כְּשֶׁתְּהֵא יוֹצֵא הֱוֵי יוֹצֵא בְּמַחֲנֶה.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
(Devarim 23:10) "When you go out, an encampment against your enemies, then you shall guard yourself against every evil thing." "when you go out, an encampment": When you go out, go out in an encampment (i.e., en masse).


###### Sifrei Devarim 254:2
[Sifrei Devarim 254:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/254:2)

**עַל אֹיְבֶיךָ**, כְּנֶגֶד אוֹיְבֶיךָ אַתָּה נִלְחָם.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
"against your enemies": (Keep it in mind that you are going out) against your *enemies*, (and act accordingly).


###### Sifrei Devarim 254:3
[Sifrei Devarim 254:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/254:3)

**וְנִשְׁמַרְתָּ מִכֹּל דָּבָר רָע**, שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי בְּטָהֳרוֹת וּבְטֻמְאוֹת וּבְמַעַשְׂרוֹת הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: עֶרְוָה. אֵין לִי אֶלָּא עֶרְוָה, מִנַּיִן לְרַבּוֹת עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וּשְׁפִיכַת דָּמִים וְקִלְלַת הַשֵּׁם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: **וְנִשְׁמַרְתָּ מִכֹּל דָּבָר רָע**. אִי **וְנִשְׁמַרְתָּ**, יָכוֹל בְּטָהֳרוֹת וּבְטֻמְאוֹת וּבְמַעַשְׂרוֹת הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: עֶרְוָה – מָה עֶרְוָה מְיֻחֶדֶת מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁגָּלוּ עָלָיו כְּנַעֲנִים וּמְסַלֵּק אֶת הַשְּׁכִינָה, כָּךְ כָּל מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁגָּלוּ עָלָיו כְּנַעֲנִים וּמְסַלֵּק אֶת הַשְּׁכִינָה.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
"then you shall guard yourself against every evil *thing*": I might think that this refers to (the need for circumspection vis-à-vis) cleanliness, uncleanliness, and tithes; it is, therefore, written (*Ibid*. 15) "and He shall not see in you a *thing* of nakedness" (*ervah*). This tells me only of "*ervah*." Whence is included (in the need for circumspection) idolatry, bloodshed, and blasphemy? From "then you shall guard yourself against *every* evil thing." Just as "*ervah*" is distinct in that it is something for which the Canaanites were exiled and because of which the Shechinah is removed, so, all such things (are included).


###### Sifrei Devarim 254:4
[Sifrei Devarim 254:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/254:4)

כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר **דָּבָר** אַף עַל לָשׁוֹן הָרָע. דָּבָר אַחֵר: **וְנִשְׁמַרְתָּ**, הִזָּהֵר שֶׁלֹּא תְהַרְהֵר בַּעֲבֵרָה וְתָבֹא לִידֵי קֶרִי.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
"evil *thing*" ("*davar*") includes even slander ("*dibbur ra*").