## Sifrei Devarim Paragraph 34

###### Sifrei Devarim 34:1
[Sifrei Devarim 34:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/34:1)

(דברים ו ז) **וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ** – שֶׁיְּהוּ מְחֻדָּדִים בְּתוֹךְ פִּיךָ, שֶׁכְּשֶׁאָדָם שׁוֹאֲלְךָ דָּבָר לֹא תְּהֵא מְגַמְגֵּם בּוֹ, אֶלָּא תְּהֵא אוֹמְרוֹ לוֹ מִיָּד. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (משלי ז ד): ״אֱמוֹר לַחָכְמָה אֲחוֹתִי אָתְּ וּמוֹדָע לַבִּינָה תִּקְרָא״, וְאוֹמֵר (משלי ז ג): ״קָשְׁרֵם עַל אֶצְבְּעוֹתֶיךָ כָּתְבֵם עַל לוּחַ לִבֶּךָ״, וְאוֹמֵר (תהלים מה ו): ״חִצֶּיךָ שְׁנוּנִים״. מַה שָּׂכָר לָזֶה? (תהלים מה ו) ״עַמִּים תַּחְתֶּיךָ יִפְּלוּ בְּלֵב אוֹיְבֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ״, וְאוֹמֵר (תהלים קכז ד): ״כְּחִצִּים בְּיַד גִּבּוֹר כֵּן בְּנֵי הַנְּעוּרִים״, מַה נֶּאֱמַר בָּהֶם? (תהלים קכז ה) ״אַשְׁרֵי הַגֶּבֶר אֲשֶׁר מִלֵּא אֶת אַשְׁפָּתוֹ מֵהֶם לֹא יֵבֹשׁוּ כִּי יְדַבְּרוּ אֶת אוֹיְבִים בַּשָּׁעַר״.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
(Devarim 6:7) "And you shall teach them to your sons": They shall be (well ) ordered in your mouth, so that if one questions you concerning them, you will not stammer in them, but answer him forthwith, as it is written (Proverbs 7:4) "Tell wisdom 'You are my sister,' and call understanding your acquaintance," and (*Ibid*. 3) "Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart," and (Psalms 45:6) "Your 'arrows' (of learning) are sharp." What is your reward for this? (*Ibid*.) "Peoples will fall under you, (your arrows piercing) the heart of the foes of the King," and (*Ibid*. 127:4) "As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children (i.e., the learning) of youth," and (*Ibid*. 5) "Happy the man who has filled his quiver with them. They will not be shamed when they speak with the foes (of the L-rd) in the gate (of learning)."


###### Sifrei Devarim 34:2
[Sifrei Devarim 34:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/34:2)

דָּבָר אַחֵר: **וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ** – אֵלּוּ בְּשִׁנּוּן, וְאֵין (שמות יג ב) ״קַדֶּשׁ לִי כָל בְּכוֹר״, (שמות יג יא) ״וְהָיָה כִּי יְבִיאֲךָ״ בְּשִׁנּוּן. שֶׁהָיָה בַדִּין: אִם (במדבר טו לז) ״וַיֹּאמֶר״, שֶׁאֵינוֹ בִּקְשִׁירָה – הֲרֵי הוּא בְּשִׁנּוּן, ״קַדֶּשׁ לִי״, ״וְהָיָה כִּי יְבִיאֲךָ״, שֶׁהֵם בִּקְשִׁירָה, אֵינוֹ דִין שֶׁיְּהוּ בְּשִׁנּוּן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: **וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם**: אֵלּוּ בְּשִׁנּוּן, וְאֵין ״קַדֶּשׁ לִי״ ״וְהָיָה כִּי יְבִיאֲךָ״ בְּשִׁנּוּן.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
Variantly: "And you shall teach (lit., 'repeat') them to your sons." These (sections: *Shema* [Devarim 6:4-9], *Vehaya im shamoa* [*Ibid*. 11-21], and *Vayomer* [Bamidbar 15:38-41], the section of *tzitzith*) must be repeated [morning and evening]; and *Kadesh li* [Shemoth 13:1-10] and *Vehaya ki yeviacha* [*Ibid*. 11-16] need not be repeated. For it would follow *a fortiori* (that they *should* be repeated), viz.: If (the section of ) *Vayomer*, which is not included in "binding" (i.e., in the compartments of the *tefillin*) is included in (the mitzvah of) "repetition," then *Kadesh li* and *Vehaya ki yeviacha*, which *are* included in "binding" — how much more so should they be included in "repetition." It is, therefore, written "And you shall repeat *them* (the aforementioned) to your sons, and not the others.


###### Sifrei Devarim 34:3
[Sifrei Devarim 34:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/34:3)

וַעֲדַיִן אֲנִי אוֹמֵר: אִם ״וַיֹּאמֶר״, שֶׁקָּדְמוּהוּ מִצְווֹת אֲחֵרוֹת – הֲרֵי הוּא בְּשִׁנּוּן, עֶשֶׂר הַדִּבְּרוֹת, שֶׁלֹּא קְדָמוּם מִצְווֹת אֲחֵרוֹת, אֵינוֹ דִין שֶׁיְּהוּ בְּשִׁנּוּן? אָמַרְתָּ: קַל וָחוֹמֶר הוּא, אִם ״קַדֶּשׁ לִי כָל בְּכוֹר״, ״וְהָיָה כִּי יְבִיאֲךָ״, שֶׁהֵם בִּקְשִׁירָה – אֵינָם בְּשִׁנּוּן, עֶשֶׂר הַדִּבְּרוֹת, שֶׁאֵינָם בִּקְשִׁירָה, אֵינוֹ דִין שֶׁלֹּא יְהוּ בְּשִׁנּוּן? הֲרֵי ״וַיֹּאמֶר״ יוֹכִיחַ לְעֶשֶׂר הַדִּבְּרוֹת, שֶׁאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינָם בִּקְשִׁירָה שֶׁיְּהוּ בְּשִׁנּוּן! תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר **וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ**: אֵלּוּ בְּשִׁנּוּן וְאֵין עֶשֶׂר הַדִּבְּרוֹת בְּשִׁנּוּן!

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
— But I still would say: If *Vayomer*, which was preceded by other mitzvoth, is included in "repetition," then the Ten Commandments, which was *not* preceded by other mitzvoth — how much more so should it be included in "repetition"! — No, this is refuted by "*Vayomer*," which, though it is not included in "binding" *is* included in "repetition." It is, therefore, written "And you shall repeat *them* to your sons." *These* (the aforementioned) are included in "repetition," and not the Ten Commandments.


###### Sifrei Devarim 34:4
[Sifrei Devarim 34:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/34:4)

**לְבָנֶיךָ**, אֵלּוּ תַלְמִידֶיךָ, וְכֵן אַתָּה מוֹצֵא בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁהַתַּלְמִידִים קְרוּיִים בָּנִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים ב ב ג): ״וַיֵּצְאוּ בְנֵי הַנְּבִיאִים אֲשֶׁר בְּבֵית אֵל אֶל אֱלִישָׁע״, וְכִי בְּנֵי נְבִיאִים הָיוּ? וַהֲלֹא תַלְמִידִים הָיוּ! אֶלָּא מִכָּן לַתַּלְמִידִים שֶׁקְּרוּיִים בָּנִים. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (מלכים ב ב ה): ״וַיִּגְּשׁוּ בְנֵי הַנְּבִיאִים אֲשֶׁר בִּירִיחוֹ אֶל אֱלִישָׁע״, וְכִי בְּנֵי נְבִיאִים הָיוּ? וַהֲלֹא תַלְמִידִים הָיוּ! אֶלָּא שֶׁהַתַּלְמִידִים קְרוּיִים בָּנִים.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
"to *your sons*": These are your disciples. And thus do you find in all places, that disciples are called "sons," viz. (II Kings 2:3) "And the sons of the prophets came forth." Now were they the sons of the prophets? Were they not disciples? This shows that disciples were called "sons."


###### Sifrei Devarim 34:5
[Sifrei Devarim 34:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/34:5)

וְכֵן אַתָּה מוֹצֵא בְּחִזְקִיָּהוּ מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה, שֶׁלִּמֵּד כָּל הַתּוֹרָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, וּקְרָאָם בָּנִים שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברי הימים ב כט יא): ״בָּנַי עַתָּה אַל תִּשָּׁלוּ״. וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁהַתַּלְמִידִים קְרוּיִים בָּנִים כָּךְ הָרַב קָרוּי אָב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים ב ב יב): ״וֶאֱלִישָׁע רֹאֶה וְהוּא מְצַעֵק אָבִי אָבִי רֶכֶב יִשְׂרָאֵל וּפָרָשָׁיו וְלֹא רָאָהוּ עוֹד״, וְאוֹמֵר (מלכים ב יג יד): ״וֶאֱלִישָׁע חָלָה אֶת חָלְיוֹ אֲשֶׁר יָמוּת בּוֹ וַיֵּרֶד אֵלָיו מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֵּבְךְּ וַיִּפֹּל עַל פָּנָיו וַיֹּאמַר אָבִי אָבִי רֶכֶב יִשְׂרָאֵל וּפָרָשָׁיו״.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
And thus do you find with Chizkiyahu, king of Judah, who taught all of Torah to Israel and called them "sons," viz. (II Chronicles 29:11) "My sons, now be not lax." And just as disciples are called "sons," so is the master called "father," viz. (II Kings 2:12) "And Elisha saw (Eliyahu being borne aloft) and he cried out 'My father, my father — the chariot of Israel and its riders!'" And he saw him no more, and he took hold of his own garments, etc." And it is written (*Ibid*. 13:14) "And Elisha fell ill with the illness of which he would die, and Yoash the king of Israel came down to him and wept before him, crying 'My father, my father!'"


###### Sifrei Devarim 34:6
[Sifrei Devarim 34:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/34:6)

**וְדִבַּרְתָּ בָּם**, עֲשֵׂם עִקָּר וְאַל תַּעֲשֵׂם טְפֵלָה, שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא מַשָּׂאֲךָ וּמַתָּנְךָ אֶלָּא בָּהֶם, שֶׁלֹּא תְּעָרֵב בָּהֶם דְּבָרִים אֲחֵרִים כִּפְלוֹנִי. שֶׁמָּא תֹּאמַר: לָמַדְתִּי חָכְמַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֵלֵךְ וְאֶלְמַד חָכְמַת הָאֻמּוֹת? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (ויקרא יח ד): ״לָלֶכֶת בָּהֶם״, וְלֹא לִפָּטֵר מִתּוֹכָם. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (משלי ה יז): ״יִהְיוּ לְךָ לְבַדֶּךָ וְאֵין לְזָרִים אִתָּךְ״.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
(Devarim, *Ibid*.) "And you shall speak in them": Make them (words of Torah) primary and not secondary, that your dealings be only in them, that you not intermix other words with them, that you not say: I have learned the wisdom of Israel; I shall now go and learn the wisdom of the Canaanites. It is, therefore, written (Vayikra 18:4) "to walk therein," and not to depart therefrom. And thus is it written (Proverbs 5:17) "Let them be to you alone and not to strangers with you."


###### Sifrei Devarim 34:7
[Sifrei Devarim 34:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/34:7)

וְאוֹמֵר (משלי ו כב): ״בְּהִתְהַלֶּכְךָ תַּנְחֶה אוֹתָךְ, בְּשָׁכְבְּךָ תִּשְׁמֹר עָלֶיךָ, וַהֲקִיצוֹתָ הִיא תְשִׂיחֶךָ״. ״בְּהִתְהַלֶּכְךָ תַּנְחֶה אוֹתָךְ״ – בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, ״בְּשָׁכְבְּךָ תִּשְׁמֹר עָלֶיךָ״ – בִּשְׁעַת מִיתָה, ״וַהֲקִיצוֹתָ״ – בִּימוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ, ״הִיא תְשִׂיחֶךָ״ – לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
(Devarim, *Ibid*.) "in your sitting in your house and in your walking upon the way": And thus is it written (Proverbs 6:22) "In your walking it shall lead you; in your lying down it shall guard you; and in your waking it shall speak for you." *In your walking* it shall lead you" — in this world; "*in your lying down*" it shall guard you" — at the time of death; "and in *your waking*": for the days of the Messiah; "it shall speak *for you*" — for entrance to the world to come.


###### Sifrei Devarim 34:8
[Sifrei Devarim 34:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/34:8)

**וּבְשָׁכְבְּךָ**, יָכוֹל אֲפִלּוּ שָׁכַב בַּחֲצִי הַיּוֹם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: **וּבְקוּמֶךָ**, יָכוֹל אֲפִלּוּ עָמַד בַּחֲצִי הַלַּיְלָה? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: **בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ בְּבֵיתֶךָ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ בַדֶּרֶךְ** – דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ דִּבְּרָה תּוֹרָה.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
"and in your lying down": I might think, even if he retired in the middle of the day; "and in your rising": I might think, even if he rose in the middle of the day. It is, therefore, written "in your sitting in your house and in your walking upon the way." Scripture speaks of the common instance (i.e., the time when people normally retire and rise). Variantly: This is the dispute between Beth Hillel and Beth Shammai. Beth Shammai say: In the evening all men recline and recite (the *Shema*), and in the morning they stand, it being written (lit.,) "and when you lie down and when you stand," and Beth Hillel say: All men recite in their (own) way, it being written "and when you walk upon the way." If so, what is the intent of "and when you lie down and when you rise"? The time when men (normally) retire, and the time when they (normally) rise.


###### Sifrei Devarim 34:9
[Sifrei Devarim 34:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/34:9)

וּכְבָר הָיָה רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל מֻטֶּה וְדוֹרֵשׁ, וְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲזַרְיָה זָקוּף. הִגִּיעַ זְמַן קְרִיַּת שְׁמַע, נִזְקַף רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל וְהִטָּה רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲזַרְיָה. אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל: מָה זֶה אֶלְעָזָר? אָמַר לוֹ: יִשְׁמָעֵאל אָחִי, אָמְרוּ לְאֶחָד: מִפְּנֵי מָה זְקָנְךָ מְגֻדָּל? אָמַר לָהֶם: יְהִי כְּנֶגֶד הַמַּשְׁחִיתִים! אָמַר לוֹ: אַתָּה הִטֵּיתָה כְּדִבְרֵי בֵית שַׁמַּיי, וַאֲנִי נִזְקַפְתִּי כְּדִבְרֵי בֵית הִלֵּל.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
And it once happened that R. Yishmael and R. Elazar b. Azaryah were together in one place, R. Yishmael expounding reclining, and R. Elazar b. Azaryah, standing. When the time for the (evening) *Shema* arrived, R. Elazar b. Azaryah reclined and R. Yishmael stood up — whereupon R. Elazar b. Azaryah said to R. Yishmael: "Yishmael, my brother, what you are doing may be compared to one's being told 'Your beard is (beautifully) long' and his replying (spitefully) "Let it be shorn then!'" R. Yishmael countered: ("I was not being spiteful, but) you reclined in accordance with the words of Beth Shammai, and I stood up in accordance with the words of Beth Hillel. Variantly: (I stood up) so that this (i.e., lying down) not be established as the rule (for future generations.)


###### Sifrei Devarim 34:10
[Sifrei Devarim 34:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/34:10)

דָּבָר אַחֵר: שֶׁלֹּא יִקָּבַע הַדָּבָר חוֹבָה; שֶׁבֵּית שַׁמַּיי אוֹמְרִים: בָּעֶרֶב כָּל אָדָם יַטּוּ וְיִקְרְאוּ, וּבַבֹּקֶר יַעַמְדוּ!

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
For Beth Shammai say: In the evening all men recline and recite (the *Shema*), and in the morning they stand, it being written (lit.,) "and when you lie down and when you stand," and Beth Hillel say: All men recite in their (own) way, it being written "and when you walk upon the way." If so, what is the intent of "and when you lie down and when you rise"? The time when men (normally) retire, and the time when they (normally) rise.