Pisqa’ 332189H:341-342; JN2:379-380. 1. “I’ll intoxicate (‘ashkir)190The root, sh-k-r ( “to intoxicate”) underlies the key verbs. my arrows with blood” (Dt.32:42)— Now, is it really possible for arrows to become drunk (yishtakru) from blood? Rather, the point is: Here I am, intoxicating (mashkir) others with what my arrows accomplish [by spilling blood]!
“While my sword consumes (t’ochal)191The root in question is ‘-k-l (“to eat”). flesh” (Dt.32:42)— Now, is it really possible for a sword to eat (t’ochal) flesh? Rather, the point is: Here I am, nourishing (ma’achil) others from what my sword accomplishes!2. And so, continuing [this theme,] He states: “Now, as for you, spawn of Adam! . . . Speak to every winged bird and to every beast of the field” (Ezek.39:17). And, continuing: “And eat fat to satiety, and drink blood to drunkenness . . .” (Ezek.39:19). And, moreover: “The flesh of the valiant shall you eat . . .” (Ezek.39:18), And, furthermore: “Fill up at my table, you horses, charioteers, champions, and every sort of warrior . . .” (Ezek.39:20).192Cf. Mechilta Ishmael, paskha’,12. And, similarly: “The sword of HASHEM is full of blood, slick from fat” (Is.34:6)— Now, why is this? “For a sacrificial feast (zevakh) to HASHEM is offered in Botzra, And a great slaughter (tevakh)193The midrashist takes advantage of the biblical assonance of zevakh and tevakh. in the land of Edom” (Is.34:6)
“With the blood of corpses (khalelei) and captives” (Dt.32:42)— for what they did to the corpses (khalelei) of My people. And, similarly, He says: “If only my head were water or my eyes a fountain of tears, I would weep day and night for the slain (khalelei) of the daughter of My people!” (Jer.8:23).
[And, continuing:] “And captives” (shivyah; Dt.32:42)— for what they did to the captives (shevi) of My people.3. And, similarly, He says: “They will capture their captors, and persecute their oppressors” (Is.14:2).
“From the wild-haired heads of the enemy” (Dt.32:42)— when the Blessed Holy One exacts retribution from the nations, He doesn’t bring it upon them for their own actions alone. Rather, for their actions, and those of their ancestors, from Nimrod and onward. But when He brings favor upon Israel, He brings it for their own good deeds and those of their ancestors, from Abraham, and onward.
Another word: “From the wild-haired (par`ot) heads of the enemy” (Dt.32:42)— why did they think it fair to assign to Pharaoh (par`oh) responsibility for all the retributions? Because he was the first to subjugate Israel.
(דברים לב מב) אַשְׁכִּיר חִצַּי מִדָּם, וְכִי אִפְשָׁר לָהֶם לְחִצִּים שֶׁיִּשְׁתַּכְּרוּ מִדָּם? אֶלָּא הֲרֵינִי מַשְׁכִּיר אֶת אֲחֵרִים מִמַּה שֶׁחִצַּי עוֹשִׂים.
Pisqa’ 332189H:341-342; JN2:379-380.
1. “I’ll intoxicate (‘ashkir)190The root, sh-k-r ( “to intoxicate”) underlies the key verbs. my arrows with blood” (Dt.32:42)—
Now, is it really possible
for arrows to become drunk (yishtakru) from blood?
Rather, the point is:
Here I am, intoxicating (mashkir) others
with what my arrows accomplish
[by spilling blood]!
וְחַרְבִּי תֹּאכַל בָּשָׂר, וְכִי אִפְשָׁר לְחֶרֶב שֶׁתֹּאכַל בָּשָׂר? אֶלָּא הֲרֵינִי מַאֲכִיל אֲחֵרִים מִמַּה שֶׁחַרְבִּי עוֹשָׂה. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (יחזקאל לט יז): ״וְאַתָּה בֶן אָדָם אֱמֹר לְצִפּוֹר כָּל כָּנָף״, וְאוֹמֵר: ״וַאֲכַלְתֶּם חֵלֶב לְשָׂבְעָה וּשְׁתִיתֶם דָּם״, וְאוֹמֵר: ״בְּשַׂר גִּבּוֹרִים תֹּאכֵלוּ״, וְאוֹמֵר: ״וּשְׂבַעְתֶּם עַל שֻׁלְחָנִי סוּס וָרָכֶב״, וְאוֹמֵר (ישעיה לד ו): ״חֶרֶב לַה׳ מָלְאָה דָם הֻדַּשְׁנָה מֵחֵלֶב״, מִפְּנֵי מָה? ״כִּי זֶבַח לַה׳ בְּבָצְרָה וְטֶבַח גָּדוֹל בְּאֶרֶץ אֱדוֹם״.
“While my sword consumes (t’ochal)191The root in question is ‘-k-l (“to eat”). flesh” (Dt.32:42)—
Now, is it really possible
for a sword to eat (t’ochal) flesh?
Rather, the point is:
Here I am, nourishing (ma’achil) others
from what my sword accomplishes!2. And so, continuing [this theme,] He states:
“Now, as for you, spawn of Adam! . . .
Speak to every winged bird and to every beast of the field” (Ezek.39:17).
And, continuing:
“And eat fat to satiety, and drink blood to drunkenness . . .” (Ezek.39:19).
And, moreover:
“The flesh of the valiant shall you eat . . .” (Ezek.39:18),
And, furthermore:
“Fill up at my table, you horses, charioteers,
champions, and every sort of warrior . . .” (Ezek.39:20).192Cf. Mechilta Ishmael, paskha’,12.
And, similarly:
“The sword of HASHEM is full of blood, slick from fat” (Is.34:6)—
Now, why is this?
“For a sacrificial feast (zevakh) to HASHEM is offered in Botzra,
And a great slaughter (tevakh)193The midrashist takes advantage of the biblical assonance of zevakh and tevakh. in the land of Edom” (Is.34:6)
מִדַּם חָלָל וְשִׁבְיָה. מִמַּה שֶׁעָשׂוּ בְּחַלְלֵי עַמִּי, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (ירמיה ח כג): ״מִי יִתֵּן רֹאשִׁי מַיִם וְעֵינִי מְקוֹר דִּמְעָה וְאֶבְכֶּה יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה אֵת חַלְלֵי בַת עַמִּי״.
“With the blood of corpses (khalelei) and captives” (Dt.32:42)—
for what they did to the corpses (khalelei) of My people.
And, similarly, He says:
“If only my head were water or my eyes a fountain of tears,
I would weep day and night
for the slain (khalelei) of the daughter of My people!” (Jer.8:23).
וְשִׁבְיָה, מִמַּה שֶּׁעָשׂוּ בִּשְׁבִי עַמִּי. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (ישעיה יד ב): ״וְהָיוּ שֹׁבִים לְשֹׁבֵיהֶם וְרָדוּ בְּנֹגְשֵׂיהֶם״.
[And, continuing:]
“And captives” (shivyah; Dt.32:42)—
for what they did to the captives (shevi) of My people.3. And, similarly, He says:
“They will capture their captors,
and persecute their oppressors” (Is.14:2).
מֵרֹאשׁ פַּרְעוֹת אוֹיֵב, כְּשֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מֵבִיא פֻּרְעָנוּת עַל אֻמּוֹת אֵין מֵבִיא עֲלֵיהֶם שֶׁלָּהֶם לְבַדָּם, אֶלָּא שֶׁלָּהֶם וְשֶׁל אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם מִנִּמְרוֹד וָאֵילָךְ. כְּשֶׁמֵּבִיא טוֹבוֹת עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵבִיא עֲלֵיהֶם שֶׁלָּהֶם וְשֶׁל אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם מֵאַבְרָהָם וָאֵילָךְ.
“From the wild-haired heads of the enemy” (Dt.32:42)—
when the Blessed Holy One exacts retribution from the nations,
He doesn’t bring it upon them for their own actions alone.
Rather, for their actions, and those of their ancestors,
from Nimrod and onward.
But when He brings favor upon Israel,
He brings it for their own good deeds and those of their ancestors,
from Abraham, and onward.
דָּבָר אַחֵר מֵרֹאשׁ פַּרְעוֹת אוֹיֵב, מָה רָאוּ לִתְלוֹת בְּרֹאשׁ פַּרְעֹה כָּל פֻּרְעָנֻיּוֹת? מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהָיָה תְּחִלָּה לְשִׁעְבּוּדָם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל.
Another word:
“From the wild-haired (par`ot) heads of the enemy” (Dt.32:42)—
why did they think it fair
to assign to Pharaoh (par`oh)
responsibility for all the retributions?
Because he was the first to subjugate Israel.