Commentary for Avodah Zarah 39:1
דאמר קרא (דברים ז, ב) לא תחנם לא תתן להם חנייה בקרקע האי לא תחנם מיבעי ליה דהכי קאמר רחמנא לא תתן להם חן
For the verse says, “Grant them no quarter (lo tehonem)” (Deuteronomy 7:2): Do not give them a hold on the land.But this phrase “lo tehonem” needed to convey that the Torah taught not to provide them with grace?
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
The word “tehonem” in Hebrew is written without the vav. According to the rabbis this lets it mean two things. It is pronounced “lo tehunem” to refer to the prohibition of giving them grace, but it can also mean “lo tehonem” which here is understood to mean do not give them land.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy