Pisqa’ 174190H:201-202; JN2:52. 1. “For these nations which you are dispossessing” (Dt.18:14). Perform the commandment specified in this context, for by virtue of this will you dispossess these nations.191Cf. Pisqa’ot 156.1, 162.1, 170.1, 173.3, 174.1, 297, etc., for Sifre’s usage of this very common trope.
2. “They consulted the oracles and augurs” (Dt.18:14). Lest you say— they have oracular methods, but I do not! The Teaching states: “But, as for you, you are not permitted to do this to HASHEM your God” (Dt.18:14).3. “Which HASHEM your God is giving you” (Dt.18:9). The Land has been given to you, yet you abandon the words of Torah to busy yourself in its nullification?192According to F:220, n.14, this material appears in very few textual testimonies and is probably a copyist’s insertion. It is also likely to be misplaced, as it cites Dr.18:9 out of sequence.
(דברים יח יד) כִּי הַגּוֹיִם הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה יוֹרֵשׁ אוֹתָם, עֲשֵׂה מִצְוָה הָאֲמוּרָה בָּעִנְיָן, שֶׁבִּשְׂכָרָהּ אַתָּה יוֹרֵשׁ אֶת הַגּוֹיִם הָאֵלֶּה.
Pisqa’ 174190H:201-202; JN2:52.
1. “For these nations which you are dispossessing” (Dt.18:14).
Perform the commandment specified in this context,
for by virtue of this will you dispossess these nations.191Cf. Pisqa’ot 156.1, 162.1, 170.1, 173.3, 174.1, 297, etc., for Sifre’s usage of this very common trope.
אֶל מְעוֹנְנִים וְאֶל קוֹסְמִים יִשְׁמָעוּ, שֶׁמָּא תֹאמַר: לָהֶם יֵשׁ בַּמֶּה לְהִשָּׁאֵל וְלִי אֵין לִי? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְאַתָּה לֹא כֵן: נָתַן לְךָ ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ. נָתַן לְךָ – לְךָ נִתְּנָה, וְאַתָּה מַנִּיחַ דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה וּמִתְעַסֵּק בְּבִטּוּלָהּ?
2. “They consulted the oracles and augurs” (Dt.18:14).
Lest you say—
they have oracular methods, but I do not!
The Teaching states:
“But, as for you, you are not permitted to do this to HASHEM your God” (Dt.18:14).3. “Which HASHEM your God is giving you” (Dt.18:9).
The Land has been given to you,
yet you abandon the words of Torah
to busy yourself in its nullification?192According to F:220, n.14, this material appears in very few textual testimonies and is probably a copyist’s insertion. It is also likely to be misplaced, as it cites Dr.18:9 out of sequence.