“All those nations” (Dt.11:23)— shall I infer the obvious meaning? The Teaching states: “All those”— I might infer that the verse refers only to those [nations]. How do we know to include their henchmen? The Teaching states: “All those nations from before you”— as you gradually increase, they will gradually decrease. And, similarly, He says: “Little by little I will expel them from before you” (Ex.23:30). And He says: “I will not expel them from before you in a year, lest the Land grow barren, and beasts of the field outnumber you” (Ex.23:29): the words of R. Jacob. R. Elazar b. Azariah said to him: Or [perhaps, you might reason as follows]— since Israel is [among the] Righteous, why are they afraid of beasts? Being [among the] Righteous, they should not be afraid of beasts! And, indeed, He says: “The beasts of the field shall be at peace with you” (Job5:23).155F:115, l. 12-13 cites only the first clause of the verse, which obscures the point. Do you wonder why Joshua labored so hard to conquer the Land? Only because Israel sinned! Therefore, He decreed upon them: “Little by little will I expel them from before you” (Ex.23:30).
2. “And you shall disinherit nations greater and mightier than you” (Dt.11:23)— greater in stature and mightier in strength! Than you — you, too, are great and mighty, but they are even greater and mightier than you. R. Eliezer b. Jacob says: An analogy— a person says: So-and-so is valiant, and this other guy is also valiant, but, the former is still more valiant than he!
Another word: “Than you” (Dt.11:23)— again, why is this mentioned? Isn’t it already stated: “Seven nations, greater and mightier than you” (Dt.7:1)? What does the Teaching add with than you? It teaches that, compared to all Israel, [even] one of the seven [Canaanite] nations was greater and harsher. And, similarly, He says: “I destroyed the Amorite from before you, whose height was the height of cedars and who was mighty as the oaks” (Am.2:9).
(דברים יא כג) וְהוֹרִישׁ ה׳ – ה׳ מוֹרִישׁ וְאֵין בָּשָׂר וָדָם מוֹרִישׁ.
Pisqa’ 50154H:106-107; JN1:166-167.
1. “Then HASHEM will disinherit” (Dt.11:23)—
HASHEM may disinherit,
but flesh and blood can not disinherit.
אֶת כָּל הַגּוֹיִם, שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר הָאֵלֶּה. אֵין לִי אֶלָּא אֵלֶּה, מִנַּיִן לְרַבּוֹת אֶת מְסַיְּעֵיהֶם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר אֶת כָּל הַגּוֹיִם הָאֵלֶּה מִלִּפְנֵיכֶם, שֶׁתְּהוּ אַתֶּם רַבִּים וְהוֹלְכִים וְהֵם מִתְמַעֲטִים וְהוֹלְכִים. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (שמות כג ל) ״מְעַט מְעַט אֲגָרְשֶׁנּוּ מִפָּנֶיךָ״, וְאוֹמֵר (שמות כג כט) ״לֹא אֲגָרְשֶׁנּוּ מִפָּנֶיךָ בְּשָׁנָה אֶחָת [פֶּן תִּהְיֶה הָאָרֶץ שְׁמָמָה וְרַבָּה עָלֶיךָ חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה]״, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יַעֲקֹב. אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲזַרְיָה: אוֹ לְפִי שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל צַדִּיקִים הֵם, לָמָּה יְרֵאִים מִן הַחַיָּה? וַהֲלֹא אִם צַדִּיקִים הֵם אֵין יְרֵאִים מִן הַחַיָּה! שֶׁכֵּן הוּא אוֹמֵר (איוב ה כג): ״כִּי עִם אַבְנֵי הַשָּׂדֶה בְרִיתֶךָ״! אִם תֹּאמַר: מִפְּנֵי מָה יָגַע יְהוֹשֻׁעַ כָּל הַיְגִיעָה הַהִיא? אֶלָּא לְפִי שֶׁחָטְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל – נִגְזַר עֲלֵיהֶם ״מְעַט מְעַט אֲגָרְשֶׁנּוּ מִפָּנֶיךָ״.
“All those nations” (Dt.11:23)—
shall I infer the obvious meaning?
The Teaching states:
“All those”—
I might infer that the verse refers only to those [nations].
How do we know to include their henchmen?
The Teaching states:
“All those nations from before you”—
as you gradually increase,
they will gradually decrease.
And, similarly, He says:
“Little by little I will expel them from before you” (Ex.23:30).
And He says:
“I will not expel them from before you in a year,
lest the Land grow barren, and beasts of the field outnumber you” (Ex.23:29):
the words of R. Jacob.
R. Elazar b. Azariah said to him:
Or [perhaps, you might reason as follows]—
since Israel is [among the] Righteous,
why are they afraid of beasts?
Being [among the] Righteous,
they should not be afraid of beasts!
And, indeed, He says:
“The beasts of the field shall be at peace with you” (Job5:23).155F:115, l. 12-13 cites only the first clause of the verse, which obscures the point.
Do you wonder why Joshua
labored so hard to conquer the Land?
Only because Israel sinned!
Therefore, He decreed upon them:
“Little by little will I expel them from before you” (Ex.23:30).
וִירִשְׁתֶּם גּוֹיִם גְּדוֹלִים וַעֲצוּמִים, גְּדוֹלִים בְּקוֹמָה, וַעֲצוּמִים בְּכֹחַ. מִכֶּם, אַף אַתֶּם גְּדוֹלִים וַעֲצוּמִים; אֶלָּא שֶׁהֵם גְּדוֹלִים וַעֲצוּמִים מִכֶּם. רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר: מָשָׁל לְאָדָם שֶׁאוֹמֵר אִישׁ פְּלוֹנִי גִּבּוֹר – וְזֶה גִּבּוֹר, אֶלָּא שֶׁהַלָּה גִּבּוֹר מִמֶּנּוּ!
2. “And you shall disinherit nations greater and mightier than you” (Dt.11:23)—
greater in stature and
mightier in strength!
Than you —
you, too, are great and mighty,
but they are even greater and mightier than you.
R. Eliezer b. Jacob says:
An analogy—
a person says:
So-and-so is valiant,
and this other guy is also valiant,
but, the former is still more valiant than he!
דָּבָר אַחֵר: מִכֶּם עוֹד לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר? וַהֲלֹא כְּבָר נֶאֱמַר (דברים ז א): ״שִׁבְעָה גוֹיִם רַבִּים וַעֲצוּמִים מִמֶּךָּ״, מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר מִכֶּם? מְלַמֵּד שֶׁאֶחָד מִשִּׁבְעָה עֲמָמִים גָּדוֹל וְקָשֶׁה כְּנֶגֶד כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (עמוס ב ט): ״וְאָנֹכִי הִשְׁמַדְתִּי אֶת הָאֱמוֹרִי מִפְּנֵיהֶם אֲשֶׁר כְּגֹבַהּ אֲרָזִים גָּבְהוֹ וְחָסֹן הוּא כָּאַלּוֹנִים״.
Another word:
“Than you” (Dt.11:23)—
again, why is this mentioned?
Isn’t it already stated:
“Seven nations, greater and mightier than you” (Dt.7:1)?
What does the Teaching add with than you?
It teaches that,
compared to all Israel,
[even] one of the seven [Canaanite] nations
was greater and harsher.
And, similarly, He says:
“I destroyed the Amorite from before you,
whose height was the height of cedars
and who was mighty as the oaks” (Am.2:9).