## Sifrei Devarim Paragraph 356

###### Sifrei Devarim 356:1
[Sifrei Devarim 356:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/356:1)

(דברים לג כז) **מְעֹנָה אֱלֹהֵי קֶדֶם**, שְׁלֹשָׁה סְפָרִים נִמְצְאוּ בָּעֲזָרָה: אֶחָד שֶׁל מְעוֹנִים, וְאֶחָד שֶׁל הִיא הִיא, וְאֶחָד נִקְרָא סֵפֶר זַעֲטוּטִים. בְּאֶחָד כְּתִיב: ״מָעוֹן אֱלֹהֵי קֶדֶם״, וּבִשְׁנַיִם כְּתִיב **מְעֹנָה אֱלֹהֵי קֶדֶם**, בִּטְּלוּ חֲכָמִים אֶת הָאֶחָד וְקִיְּמוּ הַשְּׁנַיִם. בְּאֶחָד כְּתִיב תִּשְׁעָה ״הִיא״, וּבִשְׁנַיִם כְּתִיב אַחַד עָשָׂר ״הִיא״, בִּטְּלוּ חֲכָמִים אֶת הָאֶחָד וְקִיְּמוּ אֶת הַשְּׁנַיִם. בְּאֶחָד כְּתִיב: ״וַיִּשְׁלַח אֶת זַעֲטוּטֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל״, ״וְאֶל זַעֲטוּטֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל״, וּבִשְׁנַיִם כְּתִיב (שמות כד ה): ״וַיִּשְׁלַח אֶת נַעֲרֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל״ (שם יא) ״וְאֶל אֲצִילֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל״, בִּטְּלוּ חֲכָמִים אֶת הָאֶחָד וְקִיְּמוּ אֶת הַשְּׁנַיִם.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
(Devarim 33:27) "an abode (*me'onah*) for the G-d of yore": Three Torah scrolls were found in the *azarah* (the Temple court): one, the scroll of "*me'on*"; one, the scroll of "*hi*"; one, the scroll of "*za'atutei*." In one it was written "*me'on* for the G-d of yore," and in two, "*me'onah* for the G-d of yore." And the sages rejected the one and accepted the two. In one it was written (Shemoth 24:5) "And he sent "*za'aturei* the children of Israel," and in two, "*na'arei* the children of Israel." They rejected the one and accepted the two. In one it was written "*hi*" (it) was ten," and in two, "*hi* was eleven." They rejected the one and accepted the two.


###### Sifrei Devarim 356:2
[Sifrei Devarim 356:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/356:2)

**וּמִתַּחַת זְרוֹעוֹת עוֹלָם**, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל הִיא תָּקְפָהּ שֶׁל עוֹלָם.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
(Devarim,*Ibid*.) "And beneath are the (strong) arms of the world" — whereby we are taught that Israel is the strength of the world.


###### Sifrei Devarim 356:3
[Sifrei Devarim 356:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/356:3)

**וַיְגָרֶשׁ מִפָּנֶיךָ אוֹיֵב**, אֵלּוּ שֶׁבָּרְחוּ לְאַסְיָא. **וַיֹּאמֶר הַשְׁמֵד**, אֵלּוּ יוֹשְׁבֵי אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
"And He drove out *the foe* before you": those who fled to Africa. "And he said (to you) 'Destroy *them*'": those who fled to Asia.


###### Sifrei Devarim 356:4
[Sifrei Devarim 356:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/356:4)

(דברים לג כח) **וַיִּשְׁכֹּן יִשְׂרָאֵל בֶּטַח**, אֵין בֶּטַח אֶלָּא רָחְצָן, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (יחזקאל לד כה): ״וְיָשְׁבוּ בַמִּדְבָּר לָבֶטַח״.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
(*Ibid*. 28) "And Israel dwelt *betach*." "*Betach*" connotes "security," (Psalms 78:52) "And He led them *lavetach* and they had no fear."


###### Sifrei Devarim 356:5
[Sifrei Devarim 356:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/356:5)

**בָּדָד**, לֹא כְּבָדָד שֶׁאָמַר מֹשֶׁה (דברים לב יב): ״ה׳ בָּדָד יַנְחֶנּוּ״, וְלֹא כְּבָדָד שֶׁאָמַר יִרְמְיָה (ירמיה טו יז): ״מִפְּנֵי יָדְךָ בָּדָד יָשָׁבְתִּי״, אֶלָּא כְּבָדָד שֶׁאָמַר אוֹתוֹ רָשָׁע (במדבר כג ט): ״הֶן עָם לְבָדָד יִשְׁכֹּן״.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
(*Ibid*.) "And Israel dwelt … alone": Not "alone" as in (Jeremiah 15:19) "Because of Your hand I sat alone." And not "alone" as in the words of that wicked one (Bilam, Bamidbar 23:9) "Lo, the people (Israel) shall dwell alone" (in the world). But as "alone" in the words of Moses (Devarim 32:12) "The L-rd alone led them, no strange god with Him."


###### Sifrei Devarim 356:6
[Sifrei Devarim 356:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/356:6)

**עֵין יַעֲקֹב**, בִּבְרָכָה שֶׁבֵּרְכָם יַעֲקֹב אֲבִיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית מח כא): ״וְהָיָה אֱלֹהִים עִמָּכֶם״.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
"as Jacob": as Jacob their father blessed them, viz. (Bereshith 48:21) "And G-d will be with you and He will return you to the land of your fathers."


###### Sifrei Devarim 356:7
[Sifrei Devarim 356:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/356:7)

**אֶל אֶרֶץ דָּגָן וְתִירוֹשׁ**, בִּבְרָכָה שֶׁבֵּרְכָם יִצְחָק אֲבִיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית כז כח): ״וְיִתֶּן לְךָ הָאֱלֹהִים מִטַּל הַשָּׁמַיִם״.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
"to a land of corn and wine": as Isaac their father blessed them, viz.


###### Sifrei Devarim 356:8
[Sifrei Devarim 356:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/356:8)

**אַף שָׁמָיו יַעַרְפוּ טָל**, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה מה ח): ״הַרְעִיפוּ שָׁמַיִם מִמָּעַל״.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
(Bereshith 27:28) "And may G-d give you of the dew of the heavens, etc." "His heavens, too, shall drip dew," as in (Isaiah 45:8) "Let the heavens pour from above and the heights drip righteousness."


###### Sifrei Devarim 356:9
[Sifrei Devarim 356:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/356:9)

(דברים לג כט) **אַשְׁרֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִי כָמוֹךָ**, יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹמְרִים (שמות טו יא): ״מִי כָמֹכָה בָּאֵלִים״, וְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ אוֹמֶרֶת **אַשְׁרֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל**. **אַשְׁרֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל**, נִתְקַבְּצוּ כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵצֶל מֹשֶׁה, אָמְרוּ לוֹ: רַבֵּינוּ מֹשֶׁה, אֱמֹר לָנוּ מַה טּוֹבָה עָתִיד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִתֵּן לָנוּ לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא. אָמַר לָהֶם: אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ מָה אוֹמַר לָכֶם, אַשְׁרֵיכֶם מַה מְּתֻקָּן לָכֶם. מָשָׁל לְאָדָם שֶׁמָּסַר אֶת בְּנוֹ לְפֵידָגוֹג, וְהָיָה מַחְזִירוֹ וּמַרְאֶה אוֹתוֹ וְאוֹמֵר לוֹ: כָּל הָאִילָנוֹת הַלָּלוּ שֶׁלְּךָ, כָּל הַגְּפָנִים הַלָּלוּ שֶׁלְּךָ, כָּל הַזֵּיתִים הַלָּלוּ שֶׁלְּךָ. כְּשֶׁיָּגַע לְהַרְאוֹתוֹ אָמַר לוֹ: אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ מָה אוֹמַר לְךָ, אַשְׁרֶיךָ מַה מְּתֻקָּן לְךָ. כָּךְ אָמַר מֹשֶׁה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל: אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ מָה אוֹמַר לָכֶם, אַשְׁרֵיכֶם מַה מְּתֻקָּן לָכֶם, (תהלים לא כ): ״מָה רַב טוּבְךָ אֲשֶׁר צָפַנְתָּ לִּירֵאֶיךָ״.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
(*Ibid*. 29) "Happy are you, O Israel": Israel says (Shemoth 15:11) "Who is like You among the mighty, O L-rd," and the Holy Spirit responds "Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you?" All of Israel gathered unto Moses and said to him: "Moses, our teacher, tell us what good the Holy One Blessed be He has in store for us in the world to come." He will answer "I don't know what to tell you" — Happy are you in what is readied for you!" An analogy: A man engages a pedagogue for his son, taking him (the pedagogue) around (his estate) and telling him "All of these trees are yours! All of these grapevines are yours! All of these olive trees are yours!" When he tires of showing him, he says to him "I don't know what more to tell you — Happy are you in what is in store for you!" Thus, Moses to Israel: "I don't know what to tell you — Happy are you in what is in store for you — (Psalms 31:20) 'How vast is Your good that You have stored away for those who fear You.'"


###### Sifrei Devarim 356:10
[Sifrei Devarim 356:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/356:10)

**אַשְׁרֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִי כָמוֹךָ עַם נוֹשַׁע בַּה׳**, עַם שֶׁאֵין יְשׁוּעָתוֹ אֶלָּא בַּשְּׁכִינָה, (ישעיה מה יז) ״יִשְׂרָאֵל נוֹשַׁע בַּה׳ תְּשׁוּעַת עוֹלָמִים״.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
"a people helped by the L-rd": a people whose help is only in the Shechinah.


###### Sifrei Devarim 356:11
[Sifrei Devarim 356:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/356:11)

**מָגֵן עֶזְרֶךָ**, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ש״ב כב ג): ״אֱלֹהֵי צוּרִי אֶחֱסֶה בּוֹ מָגִנִּי וְקֶרֶן יִשְׁעִי״.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
"helped by the L-rd, the Shield of your salvation": as in (II Samuel 22:3) "G-d is my rock, in whom I take shelter, my Shield, and the horn of my salvation."


###### Sifrei Devarim 356:12
[Sifrei Devarim 356:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/356:12)

**וַאֲשֶׁר חֶרֶב גַּאֲוָתֶךָ**, אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: מֹשֶׁה, עָתִיד אֲנִי לִתֵּן לָהֶם לְיִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹתוֹ זַיִן שֶׁנִּטַּל מֵהֶם בְּחוֹרֵב, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות לג ו): ״וַיִּתְנַצְּלוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת עֶדְיָם מֵהַר חוֹרֵב״, בִּשְׁבוּעָה נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי וְעָתִיד אֲנִי לְהַחֲזִירוֹ לָהֶם, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה מט יח) ״חַי אָנִי נְאֻם ה׳ כִּי כֻלָּם כָּעֲדִי תִלְבָּשִׁי וּתְקַשְּׁרִים כַּכַּלָּה״.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
"and the sword of your pride": The Holy One Blessed be He said to Moses: "I am destined to restore to Israel the adornment that He took from them at Chorev, as it is written (Shemoth 33:6) "And the children of Israel divested themselves of their adornment (which had been bequeathed them) at Mount Chorev." I have taken an *oath* that I will restore it to you, viz. (Isaiah 49:18) "I swear, says the L-rd, that you will clothe yourselves with all of them like adornments, and you will tie them to you like a bride."


###### Sifrei Devarim 356:13
[Sifrei Devarim 356:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/356:13)

**וְיִכָּחֲשׁוּ אוֹיְבֶיךָ לָךְ**, בִּשְׁעַת טוֹבָתָם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם מְכַחֲשִׁים לָהֶם וְעוֹשִׂים אוֹתָם כְּאִלּוּ הֵן אַחִים. וְכֵן עֵשָׂו אָמַר לְיַעֲקֹב (בראשית לג ט): ״יֶשׁ לִי רָב אָחִי יְהִי לְךָ אֲשֶׁר לָךְ״. וְכֵן חִירָם אָמַר לִשְׁלֹמֹה (מ״א ט יג): ״מָה הֶעָרִים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר נָתַתָּ לִי אָחִי״.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
"And your foes will dissimulate to you" (in fear of you): When Israel was prospering, the Babylonians dissimulated to them, deporting themselves like brothers, as Esav spoke to Jacob (Bereshith 33:9) "My brother, let there be yours what is yours," and as Chiram to Solomon, (I Kings 9:13) "What are these cities that you have given me, my brother?"


###### Sifrei Devarim 356:14
[Sifrei Devarim 356:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/356:14)

**וְאַתָּה עַל בָּמוֹתֵימוֹ תִּדְרוֹךְ**, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יהושע י כד): ״וַיִּקְרָא יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אֶל כָּל אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל קְצִינֵי אַנְשֵׁי הַמִּלְחָמָה הֶהָלְכוּא אִתּוֹ קִרְבוּ שִׂימוּ אֶת רַגְלֵיכֶם עַל צַוְּארֵי הַמְּלָכִים הָאֵלֶּה״.

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
"and you will tread on their high places": as in (Joshua 10:24) "And Joshua called to all the men of Israel and said to the officers, etc."