Pisqa’ 241
1
“And you murmured in your tents,
saying: it is because of HASHEM’s hatred for us” (Dt.1:27).
This teaches that
they would sit in their dwellings and speak like sympathizers,
for it is said:
“The words of a murmurer are like false sympathies” (Prov.26:22).
But a knife from Heaven descended
and split their bellies,
for it is said:
“Yet they penetrate the hidden depths of the belly” (Prov.26:22).
2
Another word:
[regarding sympathizers]—
this teaches that
they would sit in their dwellings and weep
as if they had suffered
the death of a loved-one.2
They held their sons, saying:
Woe to you, you mourners!
Woe to you, you afflicted ones!
Tomorrow they’ll kill some of you!
They will capture some of you!
They will crucify some of you on a cross!!
Then they would hold their daughters, saying:
Woe to you, you mourners!
Woe to you, you afflicted ones!
Tomorrow they’ll kill some of you!
They will capture some of you!
They will hold some of you up to disgrace!
3
“Because of HASHEM’s hatred for us” (Dt.1:27).
Could the All-Present possibly hate Israel?
For isn’t it already said:
“I have loved you, said HASHEM” (Mal.1:2).
Actually, it is they who hate the All-Present!
As a common adage says:
What’s in your heart concerning your friend,
is in his heart concerning you!
“To give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us” (Dt.1:27)
This conforms with what is said:
“Then the Canaanite and all the residents of the Land
will . . . obliterate our name from the Land!
Then what will become of Your great Name?” (Josh.7:9)