דברים, פרק ל״ב, פסוק כ״ד

Divine judgments unfold in a relentless sequence, unleashing a comprehensive wave of natural disasters, starvation, disease, and animal attacks upon the people. The primary approach among commentators is that this progression mirrors the four classic biblical judgments: famine, plague, wild beasts, and the sword.

The onslaught begins with extreme starvation. When considering the physical toll of this famine, several distinct pictures emerge. The most widely accepted view describes skin scorched and dried out by hunger [אבן עזרא, שד״ל, הטור הארוך, רבינו בחיי, דעת זקנים, בכור שור, חזקוני]. Building on this, [העמק דבר] and [פענח רזא] explain that when a person lacks food, the body's natural heat has nothing to digest. Left unchecked, this internal heat intensifies, consuming the flesh from within and triggering a severe famine fever. A different perspective envisions the bloated belly typical of severe starvation [רשב״ם, נתינה לגר]. Alternatively, the focus shifts to the sudden growth of wild hair on a thin, emaciated body, brought on by intense sorrow and hunger [רש״י, שפתי חכמים, תולדות יצחק]. Another view simply describes the body slowly dissolving and wasting away [רלב״ג].

Following the famine, the people are consumed or fought against by a second wave of affliction, though the exact nature of this threat is debated. Some scholars identify it as a burning fever, a terrible illness that scorches the body like fire [אבן עזרא, רלב״ג, הרא״ש, ביאור יש״ר, אדרת אליהו]. Others suggest an external threat, such as birds of prey descending to eat their flesh [אבן עזרא, חזקוני, נתינה לגר], or arrows and flaming coals raining down from the sky [רשב״ם, דעת זקנים, בכור שור]. Taking a supernatural approach, [רש״י] and [תורה תמימה] identify this threat as demons and destructive spirits attacking the people.

The destruction continues with sudden death and loss. Many commentators attribute this to a plague caused by bitter, toxic, and polluted air rising from the ground during the heat of the day [אבן עזרא, רלב״ג, רבינו בחיי, ביאור יש״ר, נתינה לגר]. Others maintain the supernatural theme, identifying this specific destruction as the name of a demon or evil spirit that harms humanity [רש״י, הרא״ש, דעת זקנים]. Offering a purely human element, [רשב״ם] suggests this refers to violent robbers and murderers who embitter the lives of the people and cut them down.

The final wave brings devastation from the animal kingdom, though the mention of domesticated animals presents a challenge, as they do not naturally prey on humans. Some scholars resolve this by explaining that the description simply encompasses all wild beasts [אבן עזרא, רלב״ג, חזקוני]. However, [רש״י], [מזרחי], and [דברי דוד] argue that this is precisely the curse: in a terrifying, supernatural twist, even harmless domestic animals like sheep will begin to bite and kill. [ביאור שטיינזלץ] adds that being attacked from such an unexpected source will plunge the people into total despair, as they realize they are surrounded by danger on all sides. Accompanying these animals are snakes and creeping things, whose smooth, water-like movement along the ground brings deadly venom [רש״י, רש״ר הירש]. Blending these elements together, [תורה תמימה] and [דברי דוד] suggest a horrifying combination: the curse dictates that the teeth of ordinary domestic animals will become just as venomous and lethal as the bite of a snake.