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Deuteronomy 29:23 - Nations question divine justice.

Deuteronomy 29:23 - דברים 29:23

Hebrew Text

וְאָמְרוּ כָּל־הַגּוֹיִם עַל־מֶה עָשָׂה יְהוָה כָּכָה לָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת מֶה חֳרִי הָאַף הַגָּדוֹל הַזֶּה׃

English Translation

then all the nations shall say, Why has the Lord done thus to this land? what means the heat of this great anger?

Transliteration

Ve'amru kol-hagoyim al-me asa Adonai kacha la'aretz hazot me chori ha'af hagadol haze.

Hebrew Leining Text

וְאָֽמְרוּ֙ כׇּל־הַגּוֹיִ֔ם עַל־מֶ֨ה עָשָׂ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה כָּ֖כָה לָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֑את מֶ֥ה חֳרִ֛י הָאַ֥ף הַגָּד֖וֹל הַזֶּֽה׃
וְאָֽמְרוּ֙ כׇּל־הַגּוֹיִ֔ם עַל־מֶ֨ה עָשָׂ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה כָּ֖כָה לָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֑את מֶ֥ה חֳרִ֛י הָאַ֥ף הַגָּד֖וֹל הַזֶּֽה׃

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Parasha Commentary

Context in Devarim (Deuteronomy)

This verse appears in Devarim 29:23 as part of Moshe's warning about the consequences of abandoning the covenant with Hashem. The surrounding verses describe the desolation that will befall the land if Bnei Yisrael turn to idolatry, causing the nations to question why such devastation occurred.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi comments that the nations will recognize that the destruction was not arbitrary but a direct result of Israel's sins. He emphasizes that the phrase "עַל־מֶה עָשָׂה יְהוָה כָּכָה" ("Why has the Lord done thus?") reflects their realization that Hashem's actions were just and measure-for-measure. The "heat of this great anger" ("חֳרִי הָאַף הַגָּדוֹל") refers to the severity of divine retribution for violating the covenant.

Rambam's Perspective

In Hilchot Teshuvah (7:5), Rambam teaches that the suffering of the Jewish people serves as a lesson to the world about the consequences of straying from divine commandments. The nations' questioning underscores the principle that Hashem's justice is evident even to outsiders, reinforcing the idea of Kiddush Hashem (sanctification of God's name) through historical events.

Midrashic Interpretation

The Sifrei (Devarim 29:23) explains that the nations will contrast the land's former blessed state with its desolation and conclude that only a grievous sin could warrant such punishment. The Midrash highlights that even gentiles will acknowledge the moral causality behind divine judgment.

Theological Implications

  • Divine Justice: The verse teaches that Hashem's punishments are purposeful and recognizable to all nations, not arbitrary.
  • Kiddush Hashem: The desolation serves as a public demonstration of the consequences of abandoning Torah, sanctifying Hashem's name through justice.
  • Accountability: Even outsiders will understand that Israel's suffering stems from their own actions, not divine caprice.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Sanhedrin 104a
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the destruction of the Temple and the exile of Israel, illustrating how the nations question God's actions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Deuteronomy 29:23 mean?
A: This verse describes how other nations will react when they see the destruction of the Land of Israel due to the Jewish people's abandonment of Torah and mitzvot. They will ask why Hashem brought such severe punishment upon the land. Rashi explains that this teaches how the desolation of the land will serve as a testimony to the nations about the consequences of disobeying Hashem's commandments.
Q: Why is Deuteronomy 29:23 important?
A: This verse is important because it shows how the state of the Land of Israel reflects the Jewish people's relationship with Hashem. The Rambam teaches that the land flourishes when we follow Torah, and suffers when we stray. The nations' astonishment at the land's destruction serves as a lesson about the importance of keeping our covenant with Hashem.
Q: What can we learn from Deuteronomy 29:23 today?
A: We learn that our actions have consequences not just for ourselves, but for our land as well. The Midrash teaches that the land responds to our spiritual state. Today, we should see the flourishing of the Land of Israel as a sign of Hashem's mercy when we return to Torah values, just as its destruction in the past came as a result of abandoning them.
Q: What does 'the heat of this great anger' refer to in Deuteronomy 29:23?
A: The 'heat of great anger' refers to the severity of Hashem's punishment when the Jewish people break their covenant. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 105b) explains that this phrase describes the intensity of divine justice when the accumulated sins reach a tipping point. However, it also implies that Hashem's anger is measured and just, not arbitrary.
Q: How does Deuteronomy 29:23 apply to our relationship with the Land of Israel?
A: This verse establishes the fundamental Torah principle that our right to the land is conditional upon our faithfulness to Torah. The Sforno explains that the nations' question highlights how the land's condition proves Hashem's special relationship with the Jewish people. Today, we must remember that our bond with the land is spiritual, not merely political or historical.