Shoftim 17:16 · unit 3

TT #99 · Parashas Shoftim · Second Aliyah · Passuk 17:16

The Complete Passuk

רַק֮ לֹא־יַרְבֶּה־לּ֣וֹ סוּסִים֒ וְלֹֽא־יָשִׁ֤יב אֶת־הָעָם֙ מִצְרַ֔יְמָה לְמַ֖עַן הַרְבּ֣וֹת ס֑וּס וַֽיהֹוָה֙ אָמַ֣ר לָכֶ֔ם לֹ֣א תֹסִפ֗וּן לָשׁ֛וּב בַּדֶּ֥רֶךְ הַזֶּ֖ה עֽוֹד׃

Only he must not multiply horses for himself, or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to multiply horses, since the Eternal has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei Devarim 158.

TT lemma: לֹא תֹסִפוּן לָשׁוּב.

Sefaria — Sifrei Devarim 158

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
לֹא תֹסִפוּן לָשׁוּב בַּדֶּרֶךְ הַזֶּה עוֹד – לְרַבּוֹת שֶׁלֹּא יַחְזְרוּ לְמִצְרַיִם לְשׁוּם דָּבָר.

English: ‘You shall not return that way again’ – this includes that they should not return to Egypt for any purpose.

On the daf / in context: Sifrei reads the prohibition broadly against any return to Egypt.

Type of Learning

Derash expanding the prohibition (Sifrei) — the ban is not limited to one specific motive.

What Is Learned

Yisrael are forbidden to return to Egypt for any reason. The king may not create a situation that forces or encourages such a return.