## Sifrei Devarim Paragraph 47

###### Sifrei Devarim 47:1
[Sifrei Devarim 47:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/47:1)

(דברים יא כא) **לְמַעַן יִרְבּוּ יְמֵיכֶם** – בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, **וִימֵי בְנֵיכֶם** – לִימוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
**Pisqa’ 47**¹²²
1. “So that you extend your lives” (Dt. 11:21)—
that is, in this eon.
“And your sons’ lives” (Dt. 11:21)—
in the Days of Messiah.

footnotes:
¹²² H:98-100; JN1:152-155.


###### Sifrei Devarim 47:2
[Sifrei Devarim 47:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/47:2)

**כִּימֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם עַל הָאָרֶץ** – לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. ״אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע ה׳ לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶם לָתֵת לָכֶם״ אֵין כָּתוּב כָּאן אֶלָּא **לָתֵת לָהֶם**, נִמְצֵינוּ לְמֵדִים תְּחִיַּת הַמֵּתִים מִן הַתּוֹרָה.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“As long as the days of Heaven above the earth” (Dt. 11:21)—
in the coming eon.
“On the Land which HASHEM swore
to grant to your ancestors *for you*” (*lachem*) (Dt. 11:21).
The text as written in the Torah
does *not* read: “for you” (*lachem*).
Rather, the received text reads:
“*for them*” (*lahem*),
[thus implying an audience in a future eon].
It turns out, then, that
[we can derive] the revival of the dead
from [this verse in] the Torah!


###### Sifrei Devarim 47:3
[Sifrei Devarim 47:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/47:3)

**כִּימֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם עַל הָאָרֶץ** – שֶׁיְּהוּ פְּנֵיהֶם שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים כַּיּוֹם, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (שופטים ה לא) ״וְאֹהֲבָיו כְּצֵאת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ בִּגְבוּרָתוֹ״. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַי אוֹמֵר: לְשֶׁבַע שְׂמָחוֹת פְּנֵיהֶם שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים עֲתִידִים לְהַקְבִּיל פְּנֵי שְׁכִינָה לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: ״וְאֹהֲבָיו כְּצֵאת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ בִּגְבוּרָתוֹ״, (שיר השירים ו י) ״יָפָה כַלְּבָנָה בָּרָה כַּחַמָּה״, (דניאל יב ג) ״וְהַמַּשְׂכִּילִים יַזְהִירוּ כְּזֹהַר הָרָקִיעַ״, ״וּמַצְדִּיקֵי הָרַבִּים כַּכּוֹכָבִים לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד״, (נחום ב ה) ״כַּבְּרָקִים יְרוֹצֵצוּ״, (תהלים מה א) ״לַמְנַצֵּחַ עַל שׁוֹשַׁנִּים״, (הושע יד ז) ״וִיהִי כַזַּיִת הוֹדוֹ״ וְגוֹ׳.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“As long as the *days* of Heaven above the earth” (Dt. 11:21)—
may the faces of the Righteous
shine like *day light*.
And so He says:
“May those who love Him march forth *like the sun* in its glory” (Jud. 5:31).2. R. Shimon b. Yohai says:
In the coming future,
the faces of the Righteous
will greet the face of the Presence
with seven modes of joy.¹²³ 10.2. That is, the expressions on the faces of the Righteous in the coming eon will equal the glory that shines from creations of God in the present eon.
And here they are:
“May those who love Him march forth *like the* sun in its glory” (Jud. 5:31).
“Lovely as the *moon*” (Song 6:10);
“And the Enlightened will shine with the *sky’s* splendor” (Dan. 12:3);
“Like the *stars* will be those who bring many to righteousness.” (Dan. 12:3)
“Like *lightning* shall they flash” (Nah. 2:5);
“Like the *lilies*” in duration (Ps. 45:1);
“And his glory will compare to the *olive* tree” (Hos. 14:7).¹²⁴10.2.

footnotes:
¹²³ Cf. Pisqa’
¹²⁴ Cf. Pisqa’


###### Sifrei Devarim 47:4
[Sifrei Devarim 47:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/47:4)

וְאוֹמֵר (תהלים קכא א): ״שִׁיר לַמַּעֲלוֹת״ – לְמִי שֶׁעָתִיד לַעֲשׂוֹת מַעֲלוֹת לַעֲבָדָיו הַצַּדִּיקִים לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא. רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר: שִׁיר לַמַּעֲלָה אֵין כָּתוּב כָּאן, אֶלָּא שִׁיר לַמַּעֲלוֹת: שְׁלֹשִׁים מַעֲלוֹת זוֹ לְמַעְלָה מִזּוֹ. רַבִּי אוֹמֵר: שִׁיר לַמַּעֲלָה אֵין כָּתוּב כָּאן, אֶלָּא שִׁיר לַמַּעֲלוֹת: שִׁשִּׁים מַעֲלוֹת זוֹ לְמַעְלָה מִזּוֹ! אוֹ לְפִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ מַעֲלוֹת זוֹ לְמַעְלָה מִזּוֹ, שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי יֵשׁ בֵּינֵיהֶם אֵיבָה וְשִׂנְאָה קִנְאָה וְתַחֲרוּת? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (דניאל יב ג): ״וּמַצְדִּיקֵי הָרַבִּים כַּכּוֹכָבִים לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד״; מָה כּוֹכָבִים אֵין בֵּינֵיהֶם אֵיבָה שִׂנְאָה קִנְאָה וְתַחֲרוּת – כָּךְ צַדִּיקִים, מָה כּוֹכָבִים אֵין אוֹרוֹ שֶׁל זֶה דּוֹמֶה לְאוֹרוֹ שֶׁל זֶה – כָּךְ צַדִּיקִים.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
3. And, further, He says:
“A song for ascenders” (*shir lama`alot*; Ps. 121:1)—
this refers to the One Who is preparing
the heavenly ascents for His servants, the Righteous,
in the coming future.
R. Akiva says:
The text [recorded in the Psalter (Ps. 121:1)] does *not* read:
“A song *of* ascenders” (*shir hama`alot*; as does Ps. 122:1).
Rather, the verse reads:
“A song *for* ascenders” (*lama`alot*).
[Since the preposition*, la,* is numerically equal to “thirty,”]
this suggests that
there are thirty heavenly ascents, each above the other.
Rabbi says:
The text [recorded in the Psalter (Ps. 121:1)] does *not* read:
“A song for the ascender (*lama`aleh*).”
Rather, the verse reads:
“A song for *ascenders*” (*lama*`*alot)*—
[the plural doubles the numerical value of the preposition, *la*,]
suggesting that
there are sixty heavenly ascents, each above the other.4. Perhaps, since the ascents are arranged
each above the other,
I might infer that there is
enmity, hatred, jealousy, and competition
[among the Righteous in Heaven]?
The Teaching states:
“Like *the stars* will be those who bring many to righteousness.” (Dan. 12:3).
Just as, among the stars, there is no
enmity, hatred, jealousy, and competition,
so, too, among the Righteous!
Just as, among the stars, the light of one is incomparable
to the light of the others,
so, too, among the Righteous!


###### Sifrei Devarim 47:5
[Sifrei Devarim 47:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/47:5)

דָּבָר אַחֵר: ״וּמַצְדִּיקֵי הָרַבִּים״ – אֵלּוּ גַּבָּאֵי צְדָקָה. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן מְנַסְיָא אוֹמֵר: אֵלּוּ זְקֵנִים, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (שופטים ה לא): ״וְאֹהֲבָיו כְּצֵאת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ בִּגְבוּרָתוֹ״; מִי גָדוֹל: הָאוֹהֲבִים אוֹ הַמַּאֲהִיבִים? הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר הַמַּאֲהִיבִים, אִם הָאוֹהֲבִים ״וְאֹהֲבָיו כְּצֵאת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ בִּגְבוּרָתוֹ״, קַל וָחוֹמֶר הַמַּאֲהִיבִים.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
Another word:
“And those who bring many to righteousness” (Dan. 12:3)—
these are the custodians who gather alms.
R. Shimon b. Menasya says:
these are the Elders.
And, similarly He says:
**“And may His beloved be like the rising *sun* in splendor” (Jud. 5:31)—**
**Who is greater?**
**Those who love or those who engender love in others?**
**I would say: those who engender love in others!**
**If those who love “march forth like the sun it its glory,”**
**it is only logical to conclude that**
**the same applies to those who engender love!**¹²⁵ 18.

footnotes:
¹²⁵ // Mechilta Ishmael, neziqin


###### Sifrei Devarim 47:6
[Sifrei Devarim 47:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/47:6)

(דניאל יב ג) ״וּמַצְדִּיקֵי הָרַבִּים כַּכּוֹכָבִים לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד״ – מָה כּוֹכָבִים רָמִים וּמְנוּטָּלִים עַל כָּל בָּאֵי הָעוֹלָם – כָּךְ הַצַּדִּיקִים, מָה כּוֹכָבִים רָדִים וְשׁוֹלְטִים מִסּוֹף הָעוֹלָם וְעַד סוֹפוֹ – כָּךְ הַצַּדִּיקִים, מָה כּוֹכָבִים פְּעָמִים נִכְסִים פְּעָמִים נִגְלִים – כָּךְ הַצַּדִּיקִים, מָה כּוֹכָבִים כִּתּוֹת כִּתּוֹת שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם מִנְיָן – כָּךְ הַצַּדִּיקִים! אוֹ בֵּין עוֹשִׂים רְצוֹנוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם בֵּין אֵין עוֹשִׂים רְצוֹנוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (בראשית כח יד): ״וְהָיָה זַרְעֲךָ כַּעֲפַר הָאָרֶץ״ – אִם עוֹשִׂים רְצוֹנוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם הֲרֵי הֵם כַּכּוֹכָבִים, וְאִם לָאו הֲרֵי הֵם כַּעֲפַר הָאָרֶץ. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (מלכים ב יג ז): ״כִּי אִבְּדָם מֶלֶךְ אֲרָם וַיְשִׂימֵם כֶּעָפָר לָדוּשׁ״.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
5. “And those who bring many to righteousness will be like *stars* forever and always” (Dan. 12:3).
Just as the stars are
lofty and set over all the world’s creatures,
so, too, are the *Righteous*!
Just as the *stars*
rule and govern from one end of the earth to the other,
so, too, do the *Righteous*!
Just as the *stars*
are at times invisible and at others visible,
so, too, are the *Righteous*!
Just as the *stars* are
arrayed in innumerable constellations,
so, to, are the *Righteous*!6. Perhaps, the Righteous are in favor
whether they enact the will of the All-Present,
or whether they do not?
The Teaching states [of Abraham]:
“And your descendants shall be like the *dust of the earth*” (Gn. 28:14)—
this means that
if they enact the will of the All-Present
they will indeed be like stars.
But if not, they will indeed by like *dust of the earth*.
And, similarly, He says:
“For the King of Aram destroyed them,
rendering them like *dust* into powder” (2Ki. 13:7).


###### Sifrei Devarim 47:7
[Sifrei Devarim 47:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/47:7)

דָּבָר אַחֵר: **כִּימֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם עַל הָאָרֶץ**, שֶׁיִּהְיוּ חַיִּים וְקַיָּמִים לְעוֹלָם וּלְעוֹלְמֵי עוֹלָמִים. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (ישעיה סו כב): ״כִּי כַאֲשֶׁר הַשָּׁמַיִם הַחֲדָשִׁים״ וְגוֹ׳. וַהֲלֹא דְבָרִים קַל וָחֹמֶר: וּמָה שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ, שֶׁלֹּא נִבְרְאוּ אֶלָּא לִכְבוֹדָם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, חַיִּים וְקַיָּמִים לְעוֹלָם וּלְעוֹלְמֵי עוֹלָמִים – קַל וָחֹמֶר לַצַּדִּיקִים, שֶׁבַּעֲבוּרָם נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם!

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
7. Another word:
“As long as the days of Heaven above the earth” (Dt. 11:21)—
may they continue to exist forever and all eternity!
And, similarly, He says:
“For as the *new Heaven* and the *new earth* . . . shall remain before Me . . .
so shall your descendants and your name remain” (Is. 66:22).
Now doesn’t it follow logically?
Just as *Heaven and Earth*,
which were created solely to honor Israel,
continue to exist forever and all eternity,
isn’t it logical that this applies as well to the Righteous,
for whom the world was created?


###### Sifrei Devarim 47:8
[Sifrei Devarim 47:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/47:8)

רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַי אוֹמֵר: הֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר (ישעיה סה כב): ״כִּי כִימֵי הָעֵץ יְמֵי עַמִּי״, וְאֵין עֵץ אֶלָּא תּוֹרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי ג יח): ״עֵץ חַיִּים הִיא לַמַּחֲזִיקִים בָּהּ״. וַהֲלֹא דְבָרִים קַל וָחוֹמֶר: וּמָה הַתּוֹרָה, שֶׁלֹּא נִבְרֵאת אֶלָּא לִכְבוֹדָם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, הֲרֵי הִיא קַיֶּמֶת לְעוֹלָם וּלְעוֹלְמֵי עוֹלָמִים, קַל וָחוֹמֶר לַצַּדִּיקִים, שֶׁבַּעֲבוּרָם נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם!

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
8. **R. Shimon b. Yohai says:**
**Look at what He says:**
**“For like the days of a *tree* are the days of My people” (Is. 65:22)—**
**actually, the term *tree* implies *Torah*,**
**for it is said:**
**“It is a *tree* of life to those who cling to it” (Prov. 3:18).**¹²⁶ 1 and Mechilta Shimon RSHBY, *wayass`a*, Nelson, p. 161.
Now doesn’t it follow logically?
Just as the *Torah*,
which was indeed created solely to honor Israel,
continues to exist forever,
isn’t it logical that this applies as well to the *Righteous*,
for whom the world was created?

footnotes:
¹²⁶ Cf. Mechilta Ishmael, wayass`a


###### Sifrei Devarim 47:9
[Sifrei Devarim 47:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/47:9)

רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן קָרְחָה אוֹמֵר: הֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר (קהלת א ד): ״דּוֹר הֹלֵךְ וְדוֹר בָּא״, אַל תְּהִי קוֹרֵא כָּאן אֶלָּא ״אֶרֶץ הוֹלֶכֶת וְאֶרֶץ בָּאת וְדוֹר לְעוֹלָם עוֹמֵד״! וּלְפִי שֶׁשִּׁנּוּ מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם, שִׁנָּה הַמָּקוֹם עֲלֵיהֶם סִדּוּרוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם. הֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר (הושע ב א): ״וְהָיָה מִסְפַּר בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל״, וְכָתוּב: ״כְּחוֹל הַיָּם אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִמַּד וְלֹא יִסָּפֵר״. כְּשֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל עוֹשִׂים רְצוֹנוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם – ״כְּחוֹל הַיָּם אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִמַּד וְלֹא יִסָּפֵר״, וְאִם לָאו – ״וְהָיָה מִסְפַּר בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל״. וְאוֹמֵר (ישעיה ל יז): ״עַד אִם נוֹתַרְתֶּם כַּתֹּרֶן״, וְאוֹמֵר (עמוס ה ג): ״כִּי כֹה אָמַר ה׳ הָעִיר הַיּוֹצֵאת אֶלֶף תַּשְׁאִיר״ וְגוֹ׳. דָּבָר אַחֵר: ״וְהָיָה מִסְפַּר בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל״ – זֶה מִסְפַּר שָׁמַיִם; ״כְּחוֹל הַיָּם״ – זֶה מִסְפַּר אָדָם.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
R. Joshua b. Qorhah says:
Look at what He says:
“A *generation* comes and a *generation* goes but *the earth* remains forever” (Ecc. 1:4)
Shouldn’t the text have rather read:
“the earth goes and the earth comes, but the *righteous generation* remains forever”?
Now, however, since Israel changed its behavior,
because of *them*,¹²⁷
the All-Present changed the behavior of the world.¹²⁸
Look at what He says:
“And the *number* of the children of Israel shall be . . .” (Hos. 2:1)
And it is immediately written:
“Like the *sand* of the sea, which *cannot be measured* or counted” (Hos. 2:1).
That is, when Israel enacts the will of the All-Present,
they are
“like the *sand* of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted.”
But if not—
“And the *number* of the children of Israel shall be” (Hos. 2:1)
[finite and diminished].”
And He says:
“Till what remains of you is . . . like a lone flag on a mountain” (Is. 30:17).
And He says:
“From a city that sent out a thousand, a hundred shall remain” (Am. 5:3).
Another word:
“And the *number* of the children of Israel shall be . . .” (Hos. 2:1)—
this is their *number* in Heaven’s accounting.
“*Like the sand* of the sea” (Hos. 2:1)—
this is the *number* in human accounting.

footnotes:
¹²⁷ That is, Israel worshipped the objects of Heaven and Earth as gods.
¹²⁸ And now, Israel cannot be assured of perpetually abiding on the Earth, under the Heavens.