## Sifrei Devarim Paragraph 353

###### Sifrei Devarim 353:1
[Sifrei Devarim 353:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/353:1)

(דברים לג יג) **וּלְיוֹסֵף אָמַר מְבֹרֶכֶת ה׳ אַרְצוֹ**, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁאַרְצוֹ שֶׁל יוֹסֵף מְבֹרֶכֶת מִכָּל הָאֲרָצוֹת.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
**Pisqa’ 353**⁹²
1. “And of Joseph he said: His land is *blessed* by HASHEM” (Dt. 33:13)—
this teaches that
Joseph’s land was *blessed* beyond other lands.

footnotes:
⁹² H:368-370; 435-438.


###### Sifrei Devarim 353:2
[Sifrei Devarim 353:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/353:2)

**מִמֶּגֶד שָׁמַיִם מִטָּל**, שֶׁיְּהֵא טַל מָצוּי לָהּ בְּכָל שָׁעָה. **וּמִתְּהוֹם רוֹבֶצֶת תָּחַת**, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהִיא מְרַבֶּצֶת מַעְיָנוֹת.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“By the *bounty* of the Heavens, the dew,” (Dt. 33:13)—
so that dew is available *any time*.
“By the abyss that *lurks* (*rovetzet*) beneath” (Dt. 33:13)—
this teaches that
it *supplies* (*marbetzet*) the springs*.*


###### Sifrei Devarim 353:3
[Sifrei Devarim 353:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/353:3)

(דברים לג יד) **וּמִמֶּגֶד תְּבוּאֹת שָׁמֶשׁ**, מַגִּיד שֶׁאַרְצוֹ שֶׁל יוֹסֵף פְּתוּחָה לַחַמָּה, וְאֵין לְךָ פֵּרוֹת יָפִים וּמְתוּקִים בָּעוֹלָם אֶלָּא הָרוֹאִים אֶת הַחַמָּה. וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁפְּתוּחָה לַחַמָּה כָּךְ פְּתוּחָה לַלְּבָנָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: **וּמִמֶּגֶד גֶּרֶשׁ יְרָחִים**.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“By the *bounty* of the sun’s yield” (Dt. 33:14)—
this teaches that
Joseph’s land *absorbed* the sunlight.
Now, there are no lovelier or sweeter
fruits in the world,
than those which see the sun.
And just as they *absorb* sunlight,
so, too, do they *absorb* moonlight,
as it is said:
“And by the *bounty* of produce of the moon” (Dt. 33:14).


###### Sifrei Devarim 353:4
[Sifrei Devarim 353:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/353:4)

(דברים לג טו) **וּמֵרֹאשׁ הַרְרֵי קֶדֶם**, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהַרְרֵי יוֹסֵף קוֹדְמִים לְהַרְרֵי מִקְדָּשׁ, וְהַרְרֵי מִקְדָּשׁ קוֹדְמִים לְהַרְרֵי אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
2. “And from the tops of the *primeval* mountains” (Dt. 33:15)—
this teaches that
Joseph’s mountains are *older* than
the mountains of the Abode of Holiness,
and the mountains of the Abode of Holiness are older yet than
the mountains of the Land of Israel.


###### Sifrei Devarim 353:5
[Sifrei Devarim 353:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/353:5)

**וּמִמֶּגֶד גִּבְעוֹת עוֹלָם**, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁאָבוֹת וְאִמָּהוֹת קְרוּיִם הָרִים וּגְבָעוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שיר השירים ד ו): ״אֵלֶךְ לִי אֶל הַר הַמּוֹר וְאֶל גִּבְעַת הַלְּבוֹנָה״.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“And by the bounty of the *eternal hills*” (Dt. 33:15)—
this teaches that
the Patriarchs and Matriarchs are called
*mountains and hills*,
as it is said:
“I’ll run off to the *Mount* of Myrrh,⁹³
to *the Hill* of Frankinscence”⁹⁴ (Song 4:6)

footnotes:
⁹³ By way of a pun on Mt. Moriah, the hill of Myrrh refers to Abraham and Isaac.
⁹⁴ A reference to Isaac, who is comparable to the incense offered up on the altar (Song Rabbah 4:6).


###### Sifrei Devarim 353:6
[Sifrei Devarim 353:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/353:6)

(דברים לג טז) **וּמִמֶּגֶד אֶרֶץ וּמְלֹאָהּ**, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁאַרְצוֹ שֶׁל יוֹסֵף מְלֵאָה וְאֵינָהּ חֲסֵרָה כָּל בְּרָכָה. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַי אוֹמֵר: אָדָם מַעֲמִיד סְפִינָתוֹ בְּחֶלְקוֹ שֶׁל יוֹסֵף אֵין צָרִיךְ חוּץ מִמֶּנָּה כְּלוּם.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“And by the bounty of the Land and its fullness” (Dt. 33:16)—
this teaches that
Joseph’s land was full, lacking no blessing.
R. Shimon b. Yohai says:
A person docking his ship
in Joseph’s portion will require
nothing else at all!


###### Sifrei Devarim 353:7
[Sifrei Devarim 353:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/353:7)

**וּרְצוֹן שׁוֹכְנִי סְנֶה**, שֶׁעָשָׂה רְצוֹן מִי שֶׁנִּגְלָה עַל מֹשֶׁה בַּסְּנֶה.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
3. “And the favor of He Who dwells in the bush” (Dt. 33:16)—
for Joseph performed the will of
the One Who disclosed Himself to Moses in the bush (see Ex. 3:2-4).


###### Sifrei Devarim 353:8
[Sifrei Devarim 353:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/353:8)

**תָּבוֹאתָה לְרֹאשׁ יוֹסֵף**, הוּא בָּא בָּרֹאשׁ לְמִצְרַיִם, וְהוּא יָבוֹא בָּרֹאשׁ לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא. **וּלְקָדְקֹד נְזִיר אֶחָיו**, לְמִי שֶׁרִחֲקוּהוּ אֶחָיו וַעֲשָׂאוּהוּ נָזִיר.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“Let blessings rest on Joseph’s *head*” (*ro’sh;* Dt. 33:16)—
he was *first* (*ro’sh*) to arrive in Egypt,
and he will be the *first* (*ro’sh*) to return [to Jerusalem]
in the coming future.4. “On the forehead of the *exalted* (*nazir*) among his brothers” (Dt. 33:16)—
to the one whose brothers cast him away,
treating him like one unshorn (*nazir*).⁹⁵: “prince,” “consecrated,” “long-haired.”

footnotes:
⁹⁵ The exegesis depends upon the variable connotations of nazir


###### Sifrei Devarim 353:9
[Sifrei Devarim 353:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/353:9)

(דברים לג יז) **בְּכוֹר שׁוֹרוֹ הָדָר לוֹ**, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁנִּתַּן לוֹ הוֹד לְמֹשֶׁה וְהָדָר לִיהוֹשֻׁעַ, שֶׁאִלּוּ נִתַּן הוֹד לִיהוֹשֻׁעַ לֹא הָיָה הָעוֹלָם יָכוֹל לַעֲמוֹד בּוֹ.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“The First-born bull has splendor” (*hadar;* Dt. 33:17)—
this teaches that
Moses was given majesty (*hod*) and Joshua splendor (*hadar*).
For if majesty had also been given to Joshua,
the world could not have sustained itself.


###### Sifrei Devarim 353:10
[Sifrei Devarim 353:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/353:10)

**וְקַרְנֵי רְאֵם קַרְנָיו**, שׁוֹר כֹּחוֹ קָשֶׁה אֲבָל אֵין קַרְנָיו נָאוֹת, רְאֵם קַרְנָיו נָאוֹת אֲבָל אֵין כֹּחוֹ קָשֶׁה, נִתַּן לִיהוֹשֻׁעַ כֹּחוֹ שֶׁל שׁוֹר וְקַרְנוֹ שֶׁל רְאֵם.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
5. “His *horns* are like the horns of the wild ox” (Dt. 33:17)—
an ox is mighty in strength,
but his *horns* are not beautiful;
yet the wild ox’s *horns* are beautiful,
even though he is not mighty in strength.
So Joshua was given
the strength of an ox and the *horns* of a wild ox.


###### Sifrei Devarim 353:11
[Sifrei Devarim 353:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/353:11)

**בָּהֶם עַמִּים יְנַגַּח**, וְכִי כָל הָעַמִּים כִּבֵּשׁ יְהוֹשֻׁעַ? וַהֲלֹא לֹא כָבַשׁ אֶלָּא שְׁלֹשִׁים וְאֶחָד מְלָכִים! מְלַמֵּד שֶׁכָּבַשׁ מְלָכִים וְשֻׁלְטוֹנִים שֶׁהָיוּ מִסּוֹף הָעוֹלָם וְעַד סוֹפוֹ.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“With them will *peoples* be gored” (Dt. 33:18)—
now, did Joshua conquer *all* the *peoples*?
Didn’t he only conquer *thirty one* kings?⁹⁶
This teaches that he conquered
*kings* and *dominions* from
one end of the world to the other!

footnotes:
⁹⁶ Listed at Josh. 12:9-24.


###### Sifrei Devarim 353:12
[Sifrei Devarim 353:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/353:12)

**יַחְדָּיו אַפְסֵי אָרֶץ**, וְכִי כָל הָאֲרָצוֹת כִּבֵּשׁ יְהוֹשֻׁעַ? וַהֲלֹא לֹא כָּבַשׁ אֶלָּא פַּרְטוֹס זֶה קָטָן! אֶלָּא כָּל מְלָכִים שֶׁשִּׁעְבֵּד הָיוּ מְלָכִים וְשֻׁלְטוֹנִים, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: וְכִי שְׁלֹשִׁים וְאֶחָד מְלָכִים שֶׁעִיבֵּד כֻּלָּם הָיוּ בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁעוֹשִׂים בְּרוֹמִי עַכְשָׁיו, שֶׁכָּל מֶלֶךְ וְשִׁלְטוֹן שֶׁלֹּא קָנָה בְּרוֹמִי פַּלְטוֹרִיּוֹת וַחֲוִילוֹת אוֹמֵר לֹא עָשִׂיתִי כְּלוּם, כָּךְ כָּל מֶלֶךְ וְשִׁלְטוֹן שֶׁלֹּא קָנָה פַּלְטִירוֹת וַחֲוִילוֹת בָּאָרֶץ אוֹמֵר לֹא עָשִׂיתִי כְּלוּם.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
6. “Together, even to the ends of the Earth!” (Dt. 33:17)—
Now, did Joshua conquer *all* the *lands*?
Didn’t he only conquer a small *part* of them?
But, all the kings he subdued
ruled *kingdoms* and *dominions*.
**R. Judah says:**
**Were the thirty one enslaved kings all**
**from the Land of Israel?**
**As is common nowadays in Rome,**
**every king and ruler who has not**
**purchased a palace or a villa in Rome thinks:**
**I have achieved nothing!**
**So, too, any king and ruler who has not**
**purchased a palace or a villa in the Land thinks:**
**I have achieved nothing!** ⁹⁷ 37.8.

footnotes:
⁹⁷ Cf. Pisqa’


###### Sifrei Devarim 353:13
[Sifrei Devarim 353:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/353:13)

**וְהֵם רִבְבוֹת אֶפְרַיִם**, לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא מְפֹרָשׁ לָנוּ עָשְׁרָם שֶׁל כְּנַעֲנִיִּים מֶה הָיָה, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (שופטים א ז): ״וַיֹּאמֶר אֲדֹנִי בֶזֶק שִׁבְעִים מְלָכִים בְּהֹנוֹת יְדֵיהֶם וְרַגְלֵיהֶם מְקֻצָּצִים הָיוּ מְלַקְּטִים תַּחַת שֻׁלְחָנִי״. וַהֲלֹא דְּבָרִים קַל וָחֹמֶר, וּמָה אֲדֹנִי בֶזֶק שֶׁאֵינוֹ רָאוּי לְהִמָּנוֹת עִם מַלְכֵי כְנַעַן הָיוּ לוֹ שִׁבְעִים מְלָכִים מְלַקְּטִים תַּחַת שֻׁלְחָנוֹ, הָא לְמוֹד וּרְאֵה מֶה הָיָה עָשְׁרָם שֶׁל כְּנַעֲנִיִּים. **וְהֵם אַלְפֵי מְנַשֶּׁה**, שֶׁאֵין מְפֹרָשׁ לָנוּ כַּמָּה הָרַג יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בַּכְּנַעֲנִיִּים, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (שופטים ח י): ״וְזֶבַח וְצַלְמֻנָּע בַּקַּרְקֹר וּמַחֲנֵיהֶם עִמָּם כַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר אֶלֶף כָּל הַנּוֹתָרִים מִכֹּל מַחֲנֵה בְנֵי קֶדֶם וְהַנֹּפְלִים מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים אֶלֶף״, הֲרֵי מֵאָה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים וַחֲמִשָּׁה אֶלֶף, לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר **וְהֵם רִבְבוֹת אֶפְרַיִם וְהֵם אַלְפֵי מְנַשֶּׁה**.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
7. “And they are *the ten thousands* of Ephraim” (Dt. 33:17)—
since the *wealth* of the Canaanites is unknown to us,
what does the Teaching tell us?
“And Adoni-bezeq said:
Seventy kings, with thumbs and toes dismembered,
used to glean crumbs beneath my table!” (Jud. 1:7)
Now isn’t this a matter of logic?
Just as Adoni-bezeq,
who was unworthy to be counted among the kings of Canaan,⁹⁸
had seventy kings gleaning crumbs under his table—
surely you can figure out and estimate
the [vaster] *wealth* of the Canaanites!8. “And they are *the thousands* of Menasseh” (Dt. 33:17)—
since it is unclear [from Scripture] how many Canaanites *Joshua killed*,
the Teaching states:
“Now Zevakh and Tzalmunah were in Karkor, and their camp was with them
—some 15,000—
all that were left of all the camps of the Kedemites.
And the fallen were 120,000” (Jud. 8:10).
Indeed,[the total of both camps] is 135,000,
in order to fulfill what was said:
“And they are the *ten thousands* of Ephraim,
and they are the *thousands* of Menasseh” (Dt. 33:17)

footnotes:
⁹⁸ Jud. 1:4 distinguishes Canaanites from Perizzites, assigning Adoni-bezeq to the latter.