2. “You must carefully guard yourself against any harmful thing”263Heb: davar r`a; literally, “a bad thing.” (Dt.23:10)— shall I understand this verse as requiring separation of clean things from unclean things, or separation of Tithes from [untithed] produce? The Teaching states: “A lewd thing”264Heb: `ervat davar; literally, “an indecent thing.” (Dt.23:15; 24:1)— [implying some sexual impropriety].265Cf. Pisqa’ 269.1-6. I might infer only that lewd suggests [sexual] license. How do I know that it might include participation in a foreign cult, shedding innocent blood, or cursing the Name? The Teachings states: “You must carefully guard yourself against any harmful thing” (Dt.23:10)— [certainly including idolatry, bloodshed, and blasphemy]!3. Well, if you must carefully guard yourself, isn’t it possible to say that the verse concerns separation of clean things from unclean things, or the separation of Tithes from [untithed] produce? The Teaching states: “A lewd thing” (Dt.23:15; 24:1)— just as lewdness is distinctive, causing the expulsion of the Canaanites, as well as the repulsion of the Presence, so, too, lewdness [describes] any act that causes the expulsion of the Canaanites, or the repulsion of the Presence.266Cf. Pisqa’ 258.3
So when He states: “A thing” 267The primary meaning of davar is “word.” This meaning, and its various linguistic overtones, accounts for the prominence of davar in midrashic word-play. In the present instance, it is unclear whether the citation of davar is intended to include the phrase, `ervat davar (Dt. 25:15: “lewd thing”) or davar r`a (Dt.25:10: “harmful thing”). The concluding reference to leshon har`a (“slanderous speech”) argues that davar r`a is the target phrase.(Dt.23:10), this includes slanderous speech. Another word: “Carefully guard yourself” (Dt.23:10)— be careful that fantasies of sexual transgression don’t lead you into the clutches of ejaculation!268This brief addition appears in only a few versions. See F:280, n.9.
(דברים כג י) כִּי תֵצֵא מַחֲנֶה עַל אֹיְבֶיךָ, כְּשֶׁתְּהֵא יוֹצֵא הֱוֵי יוֹצֵא בְּמַחֲנֶה.
Pisqa’ 254262H:255;JN2:181-182.
1. “When you go off to encamp upon your enemies” (Dt.23:10)—
if you must go to battle, go with a full camp.
עַל אֹיְבֶיךָ, כְּנֶגֶד אוֹיְבֶיךָ אַתָּה נִלְחָם.
“Upon your enemies” (Dt.23:10)—
upon requires you
to battle against your enemies,
[and not to make alliances with them].
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.
2. “You must carefully guard yourself against any harmful thing”263Heb: davar r`a; literally, “a bad thing.” (Dt.23:10)—
shall I understand this verse as requiring
separation of clean things from unclean things,
or separation of Tithes from [untithed] produce? The Teaching states:
“A lewd thing”264Heb: `ervat davar; literally, “an indecent thing.” (Dt.23:15; 24:1)—
[implying some sexual impropriety].265Cf. Pisqa’ 269.1-6.
I might infer only that
lewd suggests [sexual] license.
How do I know that it might include
participation in a foreign cult,
shedding innocent blood,
or cursing the Name?
The Teachings states:
“You must carefully guard yourself against any harmful thing” (Dt.23:10)—
[certainly including idolatry, bloodshed, and blasphemy]!3. Well, if you must carefully guard yourself,
isn’t it possible to say that the verse concerns
separation of clean things from unclean things,
or the separation of Tithes from [untithed] produce? The Teaching states:
“A lewd thing” (Dt.23:15; 24:1)—
just as lewdness is distinctive,
causing the expulsion of the Canaanites,
as well as the repulsion of the Presence,
so, too, lewdness [describes] any act that
causes the expulsion of the Canaanites,
or the repulsion of the Presence.266Cf. Pisqa’ 258.3
כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר דָּבָר אַף עַל לָשׁוֹן הָרָע. דָּבָר אַחֵר: וְנִשְׁמַרְתָּ, הִזָּהֵר שֶׁלֹּא תְהַרְהֵר בַּעֲבֵרָה וְתָבֹא לִידֵי קֶרִי.
So when He states:
“A thing” 267The primary meaning of davar is “word.” This meaning, and its various linguistic overtones, accounts for the prominence of davar in midrashic word-play. In the present instance, it is unclear whether the citation of davar is intended to include the phrase, `ervat davar (Dt. 25:15: “lewd thing”) or davar r`a (Dt.25:10: “harmful thing”). The concluding reference to leshon har`a (“slanderous speech”) argues that davar r`a is the target phrase. (Dt.23:10),
this includes slanderous speech.
Another word:
“Carefully guard yourself” (Dt.23:10)—
be careful that fantasies of sexual transgression
don’t lead you into the clutches of ejaculation!268This brief addition appears in only a few versions. See F:280, n.9.