Midrash · Halachah
Sifrei Devarim 254/ספרי דברים רנ״ד
א(דברים כג י) כִּי תֵצֵא מַחֲנֶה עַל אֹיְבֶיךָ, כְּשֶׁתְּהֵא יוֹצֵא הֱוֵי יוֹצֵא בְּמַחֲנֶה.
1Pisqa’ 2542621. “When you go off to encamp upon your enemies” (Dt. 23:10)—if you must go to battle, go with a full camp.
בעַל אֹיְבֶיךָ, כְּנֶגֶד אוֹיְבֶיךָ אַתָּה נִלְחָם.
2“Upon your enemies” (Dt. 23:10)—upon requires youto battle against your enemies,[and not to make alliances with them].
גוְנִשְׁמַרְתָּ 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.
32. “You must carefully guard yourself against any harmful thing”263; literally, “a bad thing.” (Dt. 23:10)—shall I understand this verse as requiringseparation of clean things from unclean things,or separation of Tithes from [untithed] produce? The Teaching states:“A lewd thing”264 literally, “an indecent thing.” (Dt. 23:15; 24:1)—[implying some sexual impropriety].265 269.1-6.I might infer only thatlewd suggests [sexual] license.How do I know that it might includeparticipation 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 concernsseparation 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 thatcauses the expulsion of the Canaanites,or the repulsion of the Presence.266 258.3
דכְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר דָּבָר אַף עַל לָשׁוֹן הָרָע. דָּבָר אַחֵר: וְנִשְׁמַרְתָּ, הִזָּהֵר שֶׁלֹּא תְהַרְהֵר בַּעֲבֵרָה וְתָבֹא לִידֵי קֶרִי.
4So when He states:“A thing” 267 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 transgressiondon’t lead you into the clutches of ejaculation!268