Text

Sifrei Devarim Paragraph 254

Can copy this into an AI, or connect the whole library to your assistant. For deeper learning, you can directly use the original seforim, sites, and apps.

(דברים כג י) כִּי תֵצֵא מַחֲנֶה עַל אֹיְבֶיךָ, כְּשֶׁתְּהֵא יוֹצֵא הֱוֵי יוֹצֵא בְּמַחֲנֶה.

Sefaria Community Translation

(Devarim 23:10) "When you go out, an encampment against your enemies, then you shall guard yourself against every evil thing." "when you go out, an encampment": When you go out, go out in an encampment (i.e., en masse).

עַל אֹיְבֶיךָ, כְּנֶגֶד אוֹיְבֶיךָ אַתָּה נִלְחָם.

Sefaria Community Translation

"against your enemies": (Keep it in mind that you are going out) against your enemies, (and act accordingly).

וְנִשְׁמַרְתָּ מִכֹּל דָּבָר רָע, שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי בְּטָהֳרוֹת וּבְטֻמְאוֹת וּבְמַעַשְׂרוֹת הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: עֶרְוָה. אֵין לִי אֶלָּא עֶרְוָה, מִנַּיִן לְרַבּוֹת עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וּשְׁפִיכַת דָּמִים וְקִלְלַת הַשֵּׁם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְנִשְׁמַרְתָּ מִכֹּל דָּבָר רָע. אִי וְנִשְׁמַרְתָּ, יָכוֹל בְּטָהֳרוֹת וּבְטֻמְאוֹת וּבְמַעַשְׂרוֹת הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: עֶרְוָה – מָה עֶרְוָה מְיֻחֶדֶת מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁגָּלוּ עָלָיו כְּנַעֲנִים וּמְסַלֵּק אֶת הַשְּׁכִינָה, כָּךְ כָּל מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁגָּלוּ עָלָיו כְּנַעֲנִים וּמְסַלֵּק אֶת הַשְּׁכִינָה.

Sefaria Community Translation

"then you shall guard yourself against every evil thing": I might think that this refers to (the need for circumspection vis-à-vis) cleanliness, uncleanliness, and tithes; it is, therefore, written (Ibid. 15) "and He shall not see in you a thing of nakedness" (ervah). This tells me only of "ervah." Whence is included (in the need for circumspection) idolatry, bloodshed, and blasphemy? From "then you shall guard yourself against every evil thing." Just as "ervah" is distinct in that it is something for which the Canaanites were exiled and because of which the Shechinah is removed, so, all such things (are included).

כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר דָּבָר אַף עַל לָשׁוֹן הָרָע. דָּבָר אַחֵר: וְנִשְׁמַרְתָּ, הִזָּהֵר שֶׁלֹּא תְהַרְהֵר בַּעֲבֵרָה וְתָבֹא לִידֵי קֶרִי.

Sefaria Community Translation

"evil thing" ("davar") includes even slander ("dibbur ra").

Next →