"Lulei": ("Were it not") (Psalms 124:1-2) "'Lulei ('Were it not') for the L-rd who was with us,' let Israel now say. 'Lulei for the L-rd who was with us when (evil) men assailed us…'"
(Devarim, Ibid.) "Were it not ("lulei") that the anger of the foe was stored up (agur)": What caused them to be punished by these nations? The fact that their anger was stored up (i.e., concealed) within them (behind a façade of friendliness).
"agur": "gathered together," as in (Proverbs 30:1) "the words of "agur bin yakeh" (Solomon) the gatherer of wisdom." And (Psalms 55:16) "Let Him incite death against them; let them go down alive into Sheol. For evils are stored up ('b'meguram') in their midst."
(Devarim, Ibid.) "lest their oppressors estrange them": When Israel is in distress, the nations estrange them, as if they did not exist in the world. And thus we find that when Israel wanted to flee to the north they handed them over (to their foes), viz. (Amos 1:9) "Thus said the L-rd: For three transgressions of Tyre, etc." When they wanted to flee to the south, they handed them over, viz. (Ibid. 6) "Thus said the L-rd: For three transgressions of Azza, etc." When they wanted to flee to the east, they handed them over, viz. "Thus said the L-rd: For the three transgressions of Damascus, etc." When they wanted to flee to the west, they handed them over, viz. (Isaiah 21:13) "The prophecy for Arav: In the forest, in Arav shall you lodge, O caravans of the Dedanites, etc."
And when Israel prospers, the nations dissimulate, presenting themselves as "brothers." As Esav said to Jacob (Bereshith 33:9) "My brother, let there be yours what is yours." And thus did Chiram say to Solomon (I Kings 9:13) "What are these cities that you have given me, my brother?" (Devarim, Ibid.) "Lest they say: 'Our hand is exalted, etc.'" as in (Amos 6:13) "Behold, with our strength we have taken power for ourselves."
(Devarim, Ibid. 28) "For it is a nation devoid of counsel": R. Yehoshua expounded it in connection with Israel; R. Nechemiah, in connection with the nations. R. Yehoshua — Israel has lost goodly counsel that was given to them, "counsel" being Torah, as in (Proverbs 8:14) "With me (Torah) is counsel and wisdom."
(Devarim, Ibid.) "and there is no understanding in them" — There is not one among them who reflects and says (viz. Ibid. 30) "Last night one of us pursued a thousand of the nations, and two, ten thousand; and now one of them pursues a thousand of us; and two of them, ten thousand of us! (This could not have happened) if their Rock had not delivered them."
"and there is no understanding in them": There is not one among them who reflects and says "Now one of us pursues a thousand; and two, ten thousand. But in the days of the Messiah, one of Israel will pursue a thousand of us; and two, ten thousand." (This could not have happened) "if their Rock had not delivered them." And it once happened with the (Roman) army in Yehudah that a decurio (a commander of ten horsemen) rode after a Jew to kill him, but could not catch up with him — whereupon a serpent wound itself around his (the Jew's) ankle, (but did him no harm) — at which he (the Jew) said to a bystander: Tell that man one thing: Do not say to yourself "We are strong and they are weak." (But say to yourself: This [our subjugation of the Jews] could not have happened) "if their Rock had not sold them, and the L-rd had not delivered them" (into our hands).
(דברים לב כו) אָמַרְתִּי אַפְאֵיהֶם, אָמַרְתִּי בְּאַפִּי אַיֵּה הֵם.
(Devarim 32:26) "I said 'afeihem'": I said in My "wrath" ('api') "Where are they?" ('ayei hem') ['api-ayei-hem' (acronymic of 'afeihem')]
אַשְׁבִּיתָה מֵאֱנוֹשׁ זִכְרָם, אָמַרְתִּי לֹא יִהְיוּ בָּעוֹלָם, אֲבָל מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה לָהֶם
(Devarim, Ibid.) "I will wipe their memory from mankind": They will no longer be in the world. But what can I do to them?
(דברים לב תהלים קכד א-ב) לוּלֵי ה׳ שֶׁהָיָה לָנוּ בְּקוּם עָלֵינוּ אָדָם.
"Lulei": ("Were it not") (Psalms 124:1-2) "'Lulei ('Were it not') for the L-rd who was with us,' let Israel now say. 'Lulei for the L-rd who was with us when (evil) men assailed us…'"
דָּבָר אַחֵר: אָמַרְתִּי בְּאַפִּי אַיֵּה הֵם, אַשְׁבִּית מֵאֱנוֹשׁ זִכְרָם שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיוּ בָּעוֹלָם, אֲבָל מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה (ישעיה א ט): ״לוּלֵי ה׳ צְבָאוֹת הוֹתִיר לָנוּ שָׂרִיד״. דָּבָר אַחֵר: אָמַרְתִּי אַפְאֵיהֶם לוּלֵי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים קו כג): ״וַיֹּאמֶר לְהַשְׁמִידָם לוּלֵי מֹשֶׁה בְחִירוֹ עָמַד בַּפֶּרֶץ לְפָנָיו״.
Variantly: "Lulei" (Psalms 106:23) "And He thought to destroy them lulei Moses, His chosen one…"
(דברים לב כז) לוּלֵי כַּעַס אוֹיֵב אָגוּר, מִי גָּרַם לָהֶם לִיפָּרַע מֵאֵלּוּ? כַּעַס אֻמּוֹת שֶׁהָיָה כָּנוּס בְּתוֹךְ מֵעֵיהֶם.
(Devarim, Ibid.) "Were it not ("lulei") that the anger of the foe was stored up (agur)": What caused them to be punished by these nations? The fact that their anger was stored up (i.e., concealed) within them (behind a façade of friendliness).
אָגוּר אֵין אָגוּר אֶלָּא כָּנוּס, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי ל א): ״דִּבְרֵי אָגוּר בִּן יָקֶה״, וְאוֹמֵר (תהלים נה טז): ״יַשִּׁי מָוֶת עָלֵימוֹ יֵרְדוּ שְׁאוֹל חַיִּים כִּי רָעוֹת בִּמְגוּרָם בְּקִרְבָּם״.
"agur": "gathered together," as in (Proverbs 30:1) "the words of "agur bin yakeh" (Solomon) the gatherer of wisdom." And (Psalms 55:16) "Let Him incite death against them; let them go down alive into Sheol. For evils are stored up ('b'meguram') in their midst."
פֶּן יְנַכְּרוּ צָרֵימוֹ, בִּשְׁעַת צָרָתָם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם מְנַכְּרִים אוֹתָם וְעוֹשִׂים עַצְמָם כְּאִלּוּ אֵין מַכִּירִים אוֹתָם מֵעוֹלָם. וְכֵן מָצִינוּ שֶׁבִּקְשׁוּ לִבְרֹחַ כְּלַפֵּי צָפוֹן, לֹא הָיוּ מְאַסְּפִים אֲלֵיהֶם אֶלָּא הָיוּ מַסְגִּירִים אוֹתָם, כְּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (עמוס א ט): ״כֹּה אָמַר ה׳ עַל שְׁלֹשָׁה פִּשְׁעֵי צֹר וְעַל אַרְבָּעָה לֹא אֲשִׁיבֶנּוּ עַל הַסְגִּירָם גָּלוּת שְׁלֵמָה לֶאֱדוֹם״. בִּקְשׁוּ לִבְרֹחַ לְדָרוֹם וְהָיוּ מַסְגִּירִים אוֹתָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (עמוס א ו): ״כֹּה אָמַר ה׳ עַל שְׁלֹשָׁה פִּשְׁעֵי עַזָּה עַל הַגְלוֹתָם גָּלוּת שְׁלֵמָה לְהַסְגִּיר לֶאֱדוֹם״. בִּקְשׁוּ לִבְרֹחַ לְמִזְרָח וְהָיוּ מַסְגִּירִים אוֹתָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (עמוס א ג): ״כֹּה אָמַר ה׳ עַל שְׁלֹשָׁה פִּשְׁעֵי דַמֶּשֶׂק״. בִּקְשׁוּ לִבְרֹחַ לְמַעֲרָב וְהָיוּ מַסְגִּירִים אוֹתָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה כא יג): ״מַשָּׂא בַּעֲרָב בַּיַּעַר בַּעֲרָב תָּלִינוּ אֹרְחוֹת דְּדָנִים״.
(Devarim, Ibid.) "lest their oppressors estrange them": When Israel is in distress, the nations estrange them, as if they did not exist in the world. And thus we find that when Israel wanted to flee to the north they handed them over (to their foes), viz. (Amos 1:9) "Thus said the L-rd: For three transgressions of Tyre, etc." When they wanted to flee to the south, they handed them over, viz. (Ibid. 6) "Thus said the L-rd: For three transgressions of Azza, etc." When they wanted to flee to the east, they handed them over, viz. "Thus said the L-rd: For the three transgressions of Damascus, etc." When they wanted to flee to the west, they handed them over, viz. (Isaiah 21:13) "The prophecy for Arav: In the forest, in Arav shall you lodge, O caravans of the Dedanites, etc."
בִּשְׁעַת טוֹבָתָם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם מַכְחִישִׁים לָהֶם וְעוֹשִׂים עַצְמָם כְּאִלּוּ הֵם אַחִים, וְכֵן עֵשָׂו אָמַר לְיַעֲקֹב (בראשית לג ט): ״יֶשׁ לִי רָב אָחִי יְהִי לְךָ אֲשֶׁר לָךְ״, וְכֵן חִירָם אָמַר לִשְׁלֹמֹה (מ״א ט יג): ״מָה הֶעָרִים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר נָתַתָּ לִי אָחִי״. פֶּן יֹאמְרוּ יָדֵנוּ רָמָה וְלֹא ה׳ פָּעַל כָּל זֹאת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ אוֹתָם הַשּׁוֹטִים (עמוס ו יג): ״הֲלֹא בְחָזְקֵנוּ לָקַחְנוּ לָנוּ קַרְנָיִם״.
And when Israel prospers, the nations dissimulate, presenting themselves as "brothers." As Esav said to Jacob (Bereshith 33:9) "My brother, let there be yours what is yours." And thus did Chiram say to Solomon (I Kings 9:13) "What are these cities that you have given me, my brother?" (Devarim, Ibid.) "Lest they say: 'Our hand is exalted, etc.'" as in (Amos 6:13) "Behold, with our strength we have taken power for ourselves."
(דברים לב כח) כִּי גוֹי אֹבַד עֵצוֹת הֵמָּה, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה דּוֹרְשׁוֹ כְּלַפֵּי יִשְׂרָאֵל, רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה דּוֹרְשׁוֹ כְּלַפֵּי אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה דּוֹרְשׁוֹ כְּלַפֵּי יִשְׂרָאֵל: אִבְּדוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עֵצָה טוֹבָה שֶׁנִּתְּנָה לָהֶם, וְאֵין עֵצָה אֶלָּא תּוֹרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי ח יד): ״לִי עֵצָה וְתוּשִׁיָּה״.
(Devarim, Ibid. 28) "For it is a nation devoid of counsel": R. Yehoshua expounded it in connection with Israel; R. Nechemiah, in connection with the nations. R. Yehoshua — Israel has lost goodly counsel that was given to them, "counsel" being Torah, as in (Proverbs 8:14) "With me (Torah) is counsel and wisdom."
וְאֵין בָּהֶם תְּבוּנָה, אֵין אֶחָד מֵהֶם שֶׁיִּסְתַּכֵּל וְיֹאמַר: אֶמֶשׁ אֶחָד מִמֶּנּוּ רוֹדֵף מִן הָאֻמּוֹת אֶלֶף וּשְׁנַיִם יָנִיסוּ רְבָבָה, וְעַכְשָׁיו אֶחָד מִן הָאֻמּוֹת רוֹדֵף מִמֶּנּוּ אֶלֶף וּשְׁנַיִם יָנִיסוּ רְבָבָה, אִם לֹא כִּי צוּרָם מְכָרָם.
(Devarim, Ibid.) "and there is no understanding in them" — There is not one among them who reflects and says (viz. Ibid. 30) "Last night one of us pursued a thousand of the nations, and two, ten thousand; and now one of them pursues a thousand of us; and two of them, ten thousand of us! (This could not have happened) if their Rock had not delivered them."
רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה דּוֹרְשׁוֹ כְּלַפֵּי הָאֻמּוֹת: אִבְּדוּ הָאֻמּוֹת שֶׁבַע מִצְוֹת שֶׁנָּתַתִּי לָהֶם,
R. Nechemiah — The nations have lost the seven mitzvoth that I gave them.
וְאֵין בָּהֶם תְּבוּנָה, אֵין אֶחָד מֵהֶם שֶׁיִּסְתַּכֵּל וְיֹאמַר: עַכְשָׁיו אֶחָד מִמֶּנּוּ רוֹדֵף מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל אֶלֶף וּשְׁנַיִם יָנִיסוּ רְבָבָה, לִימוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ אֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל רוֹדֵף מִמֶּנּוּ אֶלֶף וּשְׁנַיִם יָנִיסוּ רְבָבָה, אִם לֹא כִּי צוּרָם מְכָרָם. מַעֲשֶׂה בְּפוּלְמוֹס שֶׁבִּיהוּדָה שֶׁרָץ דִּיקְרִיּוֹן אֶחָד אַחַר בֶּן יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּסוּס לְהָרְגוֹ וְלֹא הִגִּיעוֹ, עַד שֶׁלֹּא הִגִּיעוֹ יָצָא נָחָשׁ וְנָשַׁךְ לוֹ עַל עֲקֵבוֹ. אָמַר לוֹ: לֹא תִּהְיוּ סְבוּרִים לוֹמַר מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאָנוּ גִּבּוֹרִים נִמְסְרוּ בְּיָדֵינוּ, אִם לֹא כִּי צוּרָם מְכָרָם.
"and there is no understanding in them": There is not one among them who reflects and says "Now one of us pursues a thousand; and two, ten thousand. But in the days of the Messiah, one of Israel will pursue a thousand of us; and two, ten thousand." (This could not have happened) "if their Rock had not delivered them." And it once happened with the (Roman) army in Yehudah that a decurio (a commander of ten horsemen) rode after a Jew to kill him, but could not catch up with him — whereupon a serpent wound itself around his (the Jew's) ankle, (but did him no harm) — at which he (the Jew) said to a bystander: Tell that man one thing: Do not say to yourself "We are strong and they are weak." (But say to yourself: This [our subjugation of the Jews] could not have happened) "if their Rock had not sold them, and the L-rd had not delivered them" (into our hands).