Chasidut על דברים 28:7
Kedushat Levi
Deuteronomy 28,7. “they will march out against you by a single road but will flee in seven directions.”
[Our author sees in the number “one” and the number “seven” in this verse a reference to the difference between a holy nation such as Israel, when at its best, and the gentile nations. The “numbers” allude to attributes employed by people in pursuit of an objective. Only when one is “holy” is one able to make use of even apparently contradictory attributes such as fear and love at one and the same time. This is why only the Israelites can relate to G’d with love and awe at one at the same time. Gentile nations can relate to G’d at one time only with either love or fear. The same is true of other attributes which, only when employed by a spiritually high ranking Israel, can be invoked simultaneously. I have reworded the author’s commentary while retaining the message it contains, based on our verse. Presumably, the author felt that after the word נגפים לפניך, “they will be routed before you,” the Torah did not need to add these extra details unless it wished to teach an additional lesson. Ed.]
[Our author sees in the number “one” and the number “seven” in this verse a reference to the difference between a holy nation such as Israel, when at its best, and the gentile nations. The “numbers” allude to attributes employed by people in pursuit of an objective. Only when one is “holy” is one able to make use of even apparently contradictory attributes such as fear and love at one and the same time. This is why only the Israelites can relate to G’d with love and awe at one at the same time. Gentile nations can relate to G’d at one time only with either love or fear. The same is true of other attributes which, only when employed by a spiritually high ranking Israel, can be invoked simultaneously. I have reworded the author’s commentary while retaining the message it contains, based on our verse. Presumably, the author felt that after the word נגפים לפניך, “they will be routed before you,” the Torah did not need to add these extra details unless it wished to teach an additional lesson. Ed.]
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