Pisqa’ 521
1
“No man will withstand you (Dt.11:25)—
I might infer only that
no man will withstand you!
On what basis do I know to include
a nation, a clan, or a woman casting her spells?
The Teaching states:
“No man will withstand you” (Dt.11:25)—
this refers to enemies of any sort!
If so, why is no man specifically mentioned?
This includes even one
like Og, King of Bashan,
[who was only partially descended from Adam],
in accordance with what is said:
“For only Og, King of Bashan, remained of the remnant of the Giants” (Dt.3:11)
“The fear of you and the dread of you“ (Dt.11:25)—
now, if they are in fear,
aren’t they [already] in dread?
Rather, [resolve the redundancy as follows]:
fear of you—applies to nearby enemies;
dread of you—applies to distant enemies.
And similarly He says:
“And when all the Amorite kings
from across the Jordan to the west,
and all the Canaanite kings by the sea,
heard that HASHEM had dried up the Jordan’s waters . . .
their hearts grew faint” (Josh.5:1).
And so does Rahab, the whore,
say to Joshua’s emissaries:
“For we have heard that HASHEM
dried up the waters of the Reed Sea . . . and our hearts grew faint” (Josh.2:10)2
2
Now, do you insist that
the men of Jericho were not rough and tough?
Doesn’t it already state:
“Then Joshua b . Nun sent from Shittim
two concealed scouts, saying:
Go and see the Land and Jericho” (Josh.2:1)
Since Jericho was part of the Land,
why was it singled out [for special mention]?
This teaches that
Jericho was as tough as all the others combined!
And, making a similar point, you can say:
“And Moses sent them forth a thousand from each tribe in the retinue—
them and Phineas” (Nu.31:6).
Since Phineas was part of the expedition,
why was he singled out [for special mention]?
This teaches that
he was as zealous as all the others combined!
And, making a similar point, you can say:
“And then Moses and the Israelites sang” (Ex.15:1).
Since Moses was among the Israelites,
why was he singled out for special mention?
This teaches that
his song was as sweet as all the others combined!
And, making a similar point, you can say:
“And David spoke to HASHEM the words of this song,
on the day HASHEM redeemed him from
the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul” (2Sam.22:1)
Since Saul was among David’s enemies,
why was he singled out for special mention?
This teaches that
he was as embittered as all the others combined!
And, making a similar point, you can say:
“Now, among David’s servants, nineteen were missing, and Asahel” (2Sam.2:30).
Since Asahel was among the missing,
why was he singled our for special mention?
This teaches that
he was missed as much as all the others combined!
And, making a similar point, you can say:
“Now, King Solomon loved many foreign women,
in addition to the daughter of Pharaoh” (1Ki.11:1).
Since Pharaoh’s daughter was among the wives,
why was she singled out for special mention?
This teaches that
he loved her more than the others.
And with regard to that sin,
she inflamed his passion as much as all the others combined!
3
“HASHEM your God will place upon all the Land
the fear of you and the dread of you” (Dt.11:25)—
why is this mentioned?
Because it is stated elsewhere:
“Three times a year . . .
shall all your males appear before HASHEM your God” (Dt.16:16).
What if Israel should say:
look—we are going up to worship!3
Who will protect our Land for us?
The All-Present would say to them:
Go up, and I will protect what is yours!
For it is said:
“No man will covet your Land, while you are going up
to appear before HASHEM three times a year” (Ex.34:24).
If, with his own eyes he will not covet it,
how will he be tempted to take
your property and your cattle
[when it is not right before his eyes]!
4
And, so too, you find that
when Israel performs the will of the All-Present
[He sees to Israel’s protection].
What does Na`aman say to Elisha?
“Then let your servant be given
a burden of two mule-loads of earth . . .” (2Ki.5:17).
Now, doesn’t it follow logically?
If he’s so worried about taking the soil
of the Land of Israel without permission,
how will he come to take property and cattle?
5
“As He promised you” (Dt.11:25).
Now, where did He promise?
“I will send My terror before you
and I will bring panic
to any nation you encounter” (Ex.23:27).4