Midrash · Halachah
Sifrei Devarim 158/ספרי דברים קנ״ח
א(דברים יז טז) רַק לֹא יַרְבֶּה לּוֹ סוּסִים, יָכוֹל לֹא יַרְבֶּה לְמֶרְכַּבְתּוֹ וּלְפָרָשָׁיו? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: לוֹ, לוֹ אֵינוֹ מַרְבֶּה אֲבָל מַרְבֶּה הוּא לְמֶרְכַּבְתּוֹ וּלְפָרָשָׁיו.
1Pisqa’ 158871. “But—he is not to have himself many horses” (Dt. 17:16).Is it possible to say thathe shouldn’t have many horsesfor his chariots or his cavalry?The Teaching states:“Himself” (Dt. 17:16)—for himself he may not have many horses,but he is entitled to have manyfor his chariots or his cavalry.
באִם כֵּן לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר לְמַעַן הַרְבּוֹת סוּס? סוּסִים בְּטֵלִים.
2If so, why is it immediately said:“In order to amass much horse”88 (singular); referring to many horses. Cf. Pisqa’ 190.9. (Dt. 17:16)?Horse refers to idle horses.
גמִנַּיִן אֲפִלּוּ סוּס אֶחָד וְהוּא בָּטֵל, כְּדַי הוּא שֶׁיַּחֲזִיר אֶת הָעָם לְמִצְרַיִם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: רַק לֹא יַרְבֶּה לּוֹ סוּסִים וְלֹא יָשׁוּב
3How do I know thateven for a single idle horsea king of Israel is capableof returning the people to Egypt?The Teaching states:“In order to amass much horse, he shall not cause the people to return to Egypt . . .And HASHEM said to them: Never again go down that road!” (Dt. 17:16).
דוַהֲלֹא דְּבָרִים קַל וָחֹמֶר: וּמָה מִצְרַיִם, שֶׁהַבְּרִית כְּרוּתָה עָלֶיהָ, עֲבֵרָה מַחֲזִירָתָהּ לְשָׁם, שְׁאָר אֲרָצוֹת, שֶׁאֵין הַבְּרִית כְּרוּתָה עֲלֵיהֶן – עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה.
4Now, doesn’t it follow logically?A covenant was sealedagainst returning Israel to Egypt.Yet, nevertheless, transgressioncaused [the nation to] return there!All the more so should we expect,of lands other than Egypt,concerning which no covenant [against returning] was sealed,[that greed wouldcause Israel to be deported there]!