Pisqa’ 3035H:55; JN1:82. 1. “And we stayed at the valley near Beth Peor” (Dt.3:29)— Moses said to them: what caused us to stay in the valley? The evil deeds we committed in [the name of] Peor.
2. Another word: Moses said to them: notice the difference between you and me! For how many prayers, petitions, and entreaties did I make— yet it was decreed that I not enter the Land! But you! You angered Him for forty years in the wilderness, as it is said: “For forty years I was angry with that generation” (Ps.95:10). Moreover, the greatest among you prostrated yourselves in [the service of] Peor! Even so, His right hand is still extended to receive penitents!36// Sifre Nu, 136. 3. “And now, Israel! Hear the statutes” (Dt.4:1) —Look— you’re as good as new, already forgiven for the past!
(דברים ג כט) וַנֵּשֶׁב בַּגָּיְא, אָמַר לָהֶם: מִי גָּרַם לָנוּ שֶׁנֵּשֵׁב בַּגָּיְא? מַעֲשִׂים רָעִים שֶׁעָשִׂינוּ בִּפְעוֹר!
Pisqa’ 3035H:55; JN1:82.
1. “And we stayed at the valley near Beth Peor” (Dt.3:29)—
Moses said to them:
what caused us to stay in the valley?
The evil deeds we committed in [the name of] Peor.
דָּבָר אַחֵר: אָמַר לָהֶם: רְאוּ כַּמָּה בֵּינֵיכֶם לְבֵינִי, שֶׁכַּמָּה תְפִלּוֹת וְכַמָּה בַּקָּשׁוֹת וְכַמָּה תַחֲנוּנִים עָשִׂיתִי – וְנִגְזְרָה עָלַי גְּזֵרָה שֶׁלֹּא אֶכָּנֵס לָאָרֶץ, אֲבָל אַתֶּם הִכְעַסְתֶּם לְפָנָיו אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה בַּמִּדְבָּר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים צה י) ״אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה אָקוּט בְּדוֹר״, וְלֹא עוֹד, אֶלָּא שֶׁגְּדוֹלִים שֶׁבָּכֶם מִשְׁתַּחֲוִים לִפְעוֹר – וִימִינוֹ פְּשׁוּטָה לְקַבֵּל שָׁבִים! (דברים ד א) ״וְעַתָּה יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁמַע אֶל הַחֻקִּים״, הֲרֵי אַתֶּם חֲדָשִׁים, כְּבָר מָחוּל לְשֶׁעָבַר!
2. Another word:
Moses said to them:
notice the difference between you and me!
For how many prayers, petitions, and entreaties
did I make—
yet it was decreed that
I not enter the Land!
But you! You angered Him
for forty years in the wilderness,
as it is said:
“For forty years I was angry with that generation” (Ps.95:10).
Moreover, the greatest among you prostrated yourselves in [the service of] Peor!
Even so, His right hand is still extended
to receive penitents!36// Sifre Nu, 136.
3. “And now, Israel! Hear the statutes” (Dt.4:1)
—Look—
you’re as good as new, already forgiven for the past!