## Sifrei Devarim Paragraph 331

###### Sifrei Devarim 331:1
[Sifrei Devarim 331:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/331:1)

(דברים לב מא) **אִם שַׁנּוֹתִי בְּרַק חַרְבִּי**, כְּשֶׁפֻּרְעָנוּת יוֹצְאָה מִלְּפָנַי קַלָּה הִיא כַּבָּרָק, אַף עַל פִּי כֵן – **וְתֹאחֵז בְּמִשְׁפָּט יָדִי**.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
**Pisqa’ 331**¹⁸³
1. **“When I sharpen it, My sword *gleams*”**¹⁸⁴ as a verb (“gleam”) and as a noun (“lightening) is foundational to this pun. **(Dt. 32:41)—**
**when retribution proceeds from Me, it is swift as *lightning*!**
**Despite this:**
**“Yet my hand grasps justice” (Dt. 32:41).**¹⁸⁵ 4.

footnotes:
¹⁸³ H:341;JN2:378
¹⁸⁴ baraq
¹⁸⁵ Cf. Mechilta Ishmael, shirah,


###### Sifrei Devarim 331:2
[Sifrei Devarim 331:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/331:2)

**אָשִׁיב נָקָם לְצָרָי** הֲרֵי אֶחָד, **וְלִמְשַׂנְאַי אֲשַׁלֵּם** הֲרֵי שְׁנַיִם.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“I will *return* vengeance to My tormentors” (Dt. 32:41)—
this is *one* [act of retribution].
“And will *repay* those who hate Me” (Dt. 32:41)—
now, here’s a *second*!¹⁸⁶

footnotes:
¹⁸⁶ The text in smaller type is considered by F:381, n.1 to be an interpolation.


###### Sifrei Devarim 331:3
[Sifrei Devarim 331:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/331:3)

דָּבָר אַחֵר **אָשִׁיב נָקָם לְצָרָי** אֵלּוּ כּוּתִיִּים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (עזרא ד א): ״וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ צָרֵי יְהוּדָה וּבִנְיָמִן״.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
2. Another word:
**“I will return vengeance to My *tormentors*” (Dt. 32:41)—**
**this refers to the Samaritans,**¹⁸⁷ A second-temple religious-ethnic community, based in Samaria, with a long history of conflict with Judean-rabbinic Jews, who regarded them as practicing a debased form of quasi-Judaism (e.g., B. Qiddushin 75b). The first-century CE incorporation of Samaritan territories into the Roman province of Judea, exacerbated tensions between Judeans and Samaritans, which are reflected in rabbinic traditions such as the present one, as well as the gospel tradition (e.g., Luke 10:25-37).
**As it is said:**
**“And the tormentors of Judah and Benjamin heard” (Ezra. 4:1).**

footnotes:
¹⁸⁷ Heb: kutim.


###### Sifrei Devarim 331:4
[Sifrei Devarim 331:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/331:4)

**וְלִמְשַׂנְאַי אֲשַׁלֵּם**, אֵלּוּ הַמִּינִים. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (תהלים קלט כא): ״הֲלֹא מְשַׂנְאֶיךָ ה׳ אֶשְׂנָא וּבִתְקוֹמְמֶיךָ אֶתְקוֹטָט״.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
**“And I will repay those who hate Me” (Dt. 32:41)—**
**this refers to the dissenters.**
**And so He says:**
**“Will I not hate those**
**who hate You, HASHEM?**
**And will I not struggle with those**
**who rebel against You?” (Ps. 139:21)**¹⁸⁸

footnotes:
¹⁸⁸ Cf. ADRNA.16.