וַיִּשָּׂ֣א יָד֣וֹ לָהֶ֑ם לְהַפִּ֥יל א֝וֹתָ֗ם בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃
Karena itu Ia mengangkat tangan-Nya bersumpah terhadap mereka bahwa Ia akan menewaskan mereka di padang gurun,
Haamek Sheilah
Translator’s note: This chapter lays the foundation for resolving the questions regarding Rava’s statements. The resolution to these questions is stated in chapter 8.
MOSHE BEQUEATHED THE DIVINE GIFT OF PILPUL TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL TO ENSURE THEIR SURVIVAL IN EXILE
THE REASON [Moshe taught Israel the pilpul method] is because God decreed at the Incident of the Spies1See Num. chapters 13 and 14. that the Temple was to be destroyed, and that [the Children of Israel] were to be scattered in [foreign] lands. As it states in Psalms 106:26, “Then He lifted up His hand [in an oath] against them, to throw them down in the wilderness.” In addition, the Prophet Ezekiel, in 20:23 stated, “I also lifted up My hand [in an oath] that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the lands.”
MOSHE BEQUEATHED THE DIVINE GIFT OF PILPUL TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL TO ENSURE THEIR SURVIVAL IN EXILE
THE REASON [Moshe taught Israel the pilpul method] is because God decreed at the Incident of the Spies1See Num. chapters 13 and 14. that the Temple was to be destroyed, and that [the Children of Israel] were to be scattered in [foreign] lands. As it states in Psalms 106:26, “Then He lifted up His hand [in an oath] against them, to throw them down in the wilderness.” In addition, the Prophet Ezekiel, in 20:23 stated, “I also lifted up My hand [in an oath] that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the lands.”
Sforno
וכי תשגו, this verse has already been explained by Sifri as speaking of inadvertent commission of the sin of idolatry. Seeing that eventual exile had already been decreed for the descendants of this generation, it would be practically impossible for the exiled Jews not to become guilty of such acts in their host countries from time to time even if they did not intend thereby to violate Torah laws. They would become guilty of such acts even after their return to their homeland, having acquired idolatrous habits while under duress in exile.
Sforno
כן אעשה לכם; not all at once but at intervals. This is what prompted the psalmist in Psalms 106,26 to say: “So He raised His hand in oath to make them fall the wilderness; to disperse their offspring among the nations and scatter them throughout the land.” Also the prophet Ezekiel sees in the present decree something that had repercussions throughout the ages when he said (Ezekiel 20,23) “also I raised My hand in an oath already in the desert, saying I will scatter them among the nations.” [our author sees in the punishment meted out at this time a parallel to that meted out at the time of the sin of the golden calf where G’d had reserved the right to spread the retribution throughout history in order not to have to wipe out the people then and there as they had deserved. Ed.]