| 1Jacob called for his sons and said, "Gather and I will tell you what will happen to you at the end of days. |
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אוַיִּקְרָ֥א יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב אֶל־בָּנָ֑יו וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ וְאַגִּ֣ידָה לָכֶ֔ם אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־יִקְרָ֥א אֶתְכֶ֖ם בְּאַֽחֲרִ֥ית הַיָּמִֽים: |
| and I will tell you, etc.: He attempted to reveal the End, but the Shechinah withdrew from him. So he began to say other things. — [from Pesachim 56a, Gen. Rabbah 98:2] |
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וְאַגִּידָה לָכֶם:
בִּקֵּשׁ לְגַלּוֹת אֶת הַקֵּץ וְנִסְתַּלְּקָה מִמֶּנּוּ שְׁכִינָה וְהִתְחִיל אוֹמֵר דְּבָרִים אַחֵרִים:
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| 2Gather and listen, sons of Jacob, and listen to Israel, your father. |
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בהִקָּֽבְצ֥וּ וְשִׁמְע֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יַֽעֲקֹ֑ב וְשִׁמְע֖וּ אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל אֲבִיכֶֽם: |
| 3Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength and the first of my might. [You should have been] superior in rank and superior in power. |
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גרְאוּבֵן֙ בְּכֹ֣רִי אַ֔תָּה כֹּחִ֖י וְרֵאשִׁ֣ית אוֹנִ֑י יֶ֥תֶר שְׂאֵ֖ת וְיֶ֥תֶר עָֽז: |
| and the first of my might: That is, his first drop [of semen], for he had never experienced a nocturnal emission. — [from Yeb. 76a] |
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וְרֵאשִׁית אוֹנִי:
הִיא טִפָּה רִאשׁוֹנָה, שֶׁלֹּא רָאָה קֶרִי מִיָּמָיו (בראשית רבה):
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| my might: Heb. אוֹנִי, my strength, similar to: “I have found power (אוֹן) for myself” (Hos. 12:9); “because of His great might (אוֹנִים)” (Isa. 40:26); “and to him who has no strength (אוֹנִים)” (ibid. 29). - [from Targum Onkelos] |
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אוֹנִי:
כּוֹחִי, כְּמוֹ מָצָאתִי אוֹן לִי (הושע י"ב), מֵרֹב אוֹנִים, וּלְאֵין אוֹנִים (ישעיהו מ'):
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| superior in rank: Heb. שְׂאֵת יֶתֶר. You were fit to be superior over your brothers with the priesthood, an expression of raising up the hands (נְשִׂיאוּת כַּפַיִם) [to recite the priestly blessing]. — [from Gen. Rabbah 99:6] |
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יֶתֶר שְׂאֵת:
רָאוּי הָיִיתָ לִהְיוֹת יֶתֶר עַל אַחֶיךָ בִכְהֻנָּה, לְשׁוֹן נְשִׂיאוּת כַּפַּיִם:
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| and superior in power: Heb. וְיֶתֶר עָז, [i.e. superior] with kingship, like “And He will grant strength (עֹז) to His king” (I Sam. 2:10) and what caused you to lose all this? - [from Gen. Rabbah 99:6] |
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וְיֶתֶר עָֽז:
בְּמַלְכוּת, כְּמוֹ: וְיִתֶּן עֹז לְמַלְכּוֹ (שמואל א ב'), וּמִי גָּרַם לְךָ לְהַפְסִיד כָּל אֵלֶּה?
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| 4[You have] the restlessness of water; [therefore,] you shall not have superiority, for you ascended upon your father's couch; then you profaned [Him Who] ascended upon my bed. |
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דפַּ֤חַז כַּמַּ֨יִם֙ אַל־תּוֹתַ֔ר כִּ֥י עָלִ֖יתָ מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י אָבִ֑יךָ אָ֥ז חִלַּ֖לְתָּ יְצוּעִ֥י עָלָֽה: |
| [You have] the restlessness of water: The restlessness and the haste with which you hastened to display your anger, similar to water which hastens on its course. Therefore- |
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פַּחַז כַּמַּיִם:
הַפַּחַז וְהַבֶּהָלָה אֲשֶׁר מִהַרְתָּ לְהַרְאוֹת כַּעַסְךָ כַּמַּיִם הַלָּלוּ הַמְמַהֲרִים לִמְרוּצָתָם, לְכָךְ
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| you shall not have superiority: You shall no longer receive all these superior positions that were fit for you. Now what was the restlessness that you exhibited? |
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אַל־תּוֹתַר:
אַל תַּרְבֶּה לִטֹּל כָּל הַיְתֵרוֹת הַלָּלוּ שֶׁהָיוּ רְאוּיוֹת לְךָ, וּמַהוּ הַפַּחַז אֲשֶׁר פָּחַזְתָּ? כי עלית משכבי אביך:
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| for you ascended upon your father’s couch; then you profaned: that Name that ascended my couch. That is the Shechinah, which was accustomed to going up on my bed. — [from Shab. 55b] |
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אָז חִלַּלְתָּ:
אוֹתוֹ שֶׁעָלָה עַל יְצוּעִי – וְהִיא שְׁכִינָה שֶׁהָיָה דַרְכָּהּ לִהְיוֹת עוֹלָה עַל יְצוּעִי:
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| the restlessness: Heb. פַּחַז. This is a noun; therefore, it is accented on the first syllable, and the entire word is vowelized with the “pattach.” [I.e., each syllable is vowelized with a “pattach.”] If it were a [verb in] past tense, [meaning: he was restless,] it would be vowelized פָּחַז, half with a “kamatz” and half with a “pattach,” and it would be accented on the latter syllable (פָּחַז). |
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פַּחַז:
שֵׁם דָּבָר הוּא, לְפִיכָךְ טַעֲמוֹ לְמַעְלָה, וְכֻלּוֹ נָקוּד פַּתָּח, וְאִלּוּ הָיָה לְשׁוֹן עָבָר, הָיָה נָקוּד חֶצְיוֹ קָמָץ וְחֶצְיוֹ פַּתָּח וְטַעְמוֹ לְמַטָּה:
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| my bed: Heb. יְצוּעִי, a term denoting a bed, because it is spread (מַצִּיעִים) with mattresses and sheets. There are many similar occurrences: “If I shall go up on the bed that was spread for me (יְצוּעָי)” (Ps. 132:3); “when I remember You on my couch (יְצוּעָי)” (ibid. 63:7). - [from Targum Onkelos] |
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יְצוּעִי:
לְשׁוֹן מִשְׁכָּב, עַל שֵׁם שֶׁמַּצִּיעִים אוֹתוֹ עַל יְדֵי לְבָדִין וּסְדִינִין; וְהַרְבֵּה דּוֹמִים לוֹ אִם אֶעֱלֶה עַל עֶרֶשׂ יְצוּעָי (תהילים קל"ב); אִם זְכַרְתִּיךָ עַל יְצוּעָי (שם ס"ג):
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| 5Simeon and Levi are brothers; stolen instruments are their weapons. |
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השִׁמְע֥וֹן וְלֵוִ֖י אַחִ֑ים כְּלֵ֥י חָמָ֖ס מְכֵרֹֽתֵיהֶֽם: |
| Simeon and Levi are brothers: [They were] of one [accord in their] plot against Shechem and against Joseph: “So they said one to the other, ‘…So now, let us kill him…’ ” (Gen. 37:19). Who were “they?” If you say [that it was] Reuben or Judah, [that cannot be because] they did not agree to kill him. If you say [that it was] the sons of the maidservants, [that cannot be because] their hatred [toward him] was not [so] unmitigated [that they would want to kill him], for it is stated: “and he was a lad [and was] with the sons of Bilhah” (Gen. 37:2). [It could not have been] Issachar and Zebulun [because they] would not have spoken before their older brothers. [Thus,] by necessity [we must say that] they were Simeon and Levi, whom their father called “brothers.” - [from Gen. Rabbah, Shitah Chadashah] |
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שִׁמְעוֹן וְלֵוִי אַחִים:
בְּעֵצָה אַחַת עַל שְׁכֶם וְעַל יוֹסֵף; וַיֹּאמְרוּ אִישׁ אֶל אָחִיו, וְעַתָּה לְכוּ וְנַהַרְגֵהוּ, מִי הֵם? אִם תֹּאמַר רְאוּבֵן אוֹ יְהוּדָה, הֲרֵי לֹא הִסְכִּימוּ בַּהֲרִיגָתוֹ; אִם תֹּאמַר בְּנֵי הַשְּׁפָחוֹת, הֲרֵי לֹא הָיְתָה שִׂנְאָתָן שְׁלֵמָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְהוּא נַעַר אֶת בְּנֵי בִלְהָה וְאֶת בְּנֵי זִלְפָּה וְגוֹ', יִשָּׂשכָר וּזְבוּלֻן לֹא הָיוּ מְדַבְּרִים בִּפְנֵי אֲחֵיהֶם הַגְּדוֹלִים מֵהֶם; עַל כָּרְחֲךָ שִׁמְעוֹן וְלֵוִי הֵם שֶׁקְּרָאָם אֲבִיהֶם אַחִים:
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| stolen instruments: This craft of murder is in their hands wrongfully, [for] it is [part] of Esau’s blessing. It is his craft, and you (Simeon and Levi) have stolen it from him. — [from Tanchuma Vayechi 9] |
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כְּלֵי חָמָס:
אֻמָּנוּת זוֹ שֶׁל רְצִיחָה, חָמָס הוּא בִידֵיהֶם – מִבִּרְכַּת עֵשָׂו הִיא זוֹ, אֻמָּנוּת שֶׁלּוֹ הִיא – וְאַתֶּם חֲמַסְתֶּם אוֹתָהּ הֵימֶנּוּ:
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| their weapons: Heb. מְכֵרֹתֵיהֶם, a term denoting weapons. In Greek, the word for sword is “machir” (Tanchuma Vayechi 9). Another explanation: מְכֵרֹתֵיהֶם means: In the land of their dwelling (מְגוּרָתָם) they conducted themselves with implements of violence, like “Your dwelling place (מְכֹרֹתַיךִּ) and your birthplace (וּמוֹלְדֹתַיךִּ)” (Ezek. 16:3). This is Onkelos’s translation. — [from Tanchuma Vayechi 9] |
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מְכֵרֹֽתֵיהֶֽם:
לְשׁוֹן כְּלֵי זַיִן, הַסַּיִף בִּלְשׁוֹן יְוָנִי מכי"ר, תַּנְחוּמָא. דָּבָר אַחֵר מְכֵרֹתֵיהֶם – בְּאֶרֶץ מְגוּרָתָם נָהֲגוּ עַצְמָן בִּכְלֵי חָמָס, כְּמוֹ מְכֹרֹתַיִךְ וּמֹלְדֹתַיִךְ (יחזקאל טז), וְזֶהוּ תַרְגּוּם שֶׁל אֻנְקְלוֹס:
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| 6Let my soul not enter their counsel; my honor, you shall not join their assembly, for in their wrath they killed a man, and with their will they hamstrung a bull. |
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ובְּסֹדָם֙ אַל־תָּבֹ֣א נַפְשִׁ֔י בִּקְהָלָ֖ם אַל־תֵּחַ֣ד כְּבֹדִ֑י כִּ֤י בְאַפָּם֙ הָ֣רְגוּ אִ֔ישׁ וּבִרְצֹנָ֖ם עִקְּרוּ־שֽׁוֹר: |
| Let my soul not enter their counsel: This is the [future] incident of Zimri [that Jacob is referring to], when the tribe of Simeon gathered to bring the Midianitess before Moses, and they said to him, “Is this one forbidden or permitted? If you say she is forbidden, who permitted you to marry Jethro’s daughter?” Let my name not be mentioned in connection with that affair. [Therefore, the Torah depicts Zimri as] “Zimri the son of Salu, the prince of a father’s house of the Simeonites” (Num. 25:14), but [Scripture] did not write, “the son of Jacob.” - [from Sanh. 82a, Gen. Rabbah 99:6] |
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בְּסֹדָם אַל־תָּבֹא נַפְשִׁי:
זֶה מַעֲשֵׂה זִמְרִי, כְּשֶׁנִּתְקַבְּצוּ שִׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל שִׁמְעוֹן לְהָבִיא אֶת הַמִּדְיָנִית לִפְנֵי מֹשֶׁה וְאָמְרוּ לוֹ, זוֹ אֲסוּרָה אוֹ מֻתֶּרֶת? אִם תֹּאמַר אֲסוּרָה, בַּת יִתְרוֹ מִי הִתִּירָהּ לָךְ? – אַל יִזָּכֵר שְׁמִי בַּדָּבָר, זִמְרִי בֶּן סָלוּא נְשִׂיא בֵית אָב לַשִּׁמְעוֹנִי וְלֹא כָּתַב בֶּן יַעֲקֹב:
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| their assembly: When Korah, who is of the tribe of Levi, assembles the whole congregation against Moses and against Aaron. — [From Tanchuma Vayechi 10] |
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בִּקְהָלָם:
כְּשֶׁיַּקְהִיל קֹרַח, שֶׁהוּא מִשִּׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל לֵוִי, אֶת כָּל הָעֵדָה עַל מֹשֶׁה וְעַל אַהֲרֹן,
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| my honor, you shall not join: My name shall not join them there, as it is said: “Korah the son of Izhar the son of Kehath the son of Levi” (Num. 16:1), but it does not say, “the son of Jacob.” In (I) Chronicles (7:22), however, when the lineage of the sons of Korach is given regarding the platform, it says,“the son of Korah the son of Izhar the son of Kehath the son of Levi the son of Israel.” - [from Tanchuma Vayechi |
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אַל־תֵּחַד כבודי:
שָׁם, אַל יִתְיַחֵד עִמָּהֶם שְׁמִי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר קֹרַח בֶּן יִצְהָר בֶּן קְהָת בֶּן לֵוִי, וְלֹא נֶאֱמַר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב; אֲבָל בְּדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים, כְּשֶׁנִּתְיַחֲסוּ בְּנֵי קֹרַח עַל הַדּוּכָן, נֶאֱמַר בֶּן קֹרַח בֶּן יִצְהָר בֶּן קְהָת בֶּן לֵוִי בֶּן יִשְׂרָאֵל (דברי הימים א ו'):
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| my honor, you shall not join: כָּבוֹד, honor, is a masculine noun. [Therefore,] you must explain [this passage] as if he (Jacob) is speaking to the honor and saying, “You, my honor, shall not join them,” like “You shall not join (תֵחַד) them in burial” (Isa. 14:20). [Since the word (תֵּחַד) includes a prefixed “tav,” it can be either the second person masculine or the third person feminine. Since כָּבוֹד is a masculine noun, the verb must be second person.] |
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אַל־תֵּחַד כבודי:
כָּבוֹד לְשׁוֹן זָכָר הוּא, וְעַל כָּרְחֲךָ אַתָּה צָרִיךְ לְפָרֵשׁ כִּמְדַבֵּר אֶל הַכָּבוֹד וְאוֹמֵר אַתָּה, כְבוֹדִי אַל תִּתְיַחֵד עִמָּהֶם כְּמוֹ לֹא תֵחַד אִתָּם בִּקְבוּרָה (ישעיה י"ד):
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| for in their wrath they killed a man: These are Hamor and the men of Shechem, and all of them are considered as no more than one man. And so [Scripture] says regarding Gideon, “And you shall smite Midian as one man” (Jud. 6:16), and similarly regarding the Egyptians, “a horse and its rider He cast into the sea” (Exod. 15:1). This is its midrashic interpretation (Gen. Rabbah 99:6), but its simple meaning is that many men are called “a man,” each one individually. In their wrath they (Simeon and Levi) killed every man with whom they were angry. Similarly, “and he learned to attack prey; he devoured men (אָדָם)” (Ezek. 19:3). |
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כִּי בְאַפָּם הָרְגוּ אִישׁ:
אֵלּוּ חֲמוֹר וְאַנְשֵׁי שְׁכֶם, וְאֵינָן חֲשׁוּבִין כֻּלָּם אֶלָּא כְאִישׁ אֶחָד; וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר בְּגִדְעוֹן, וְהִכִּיתָ אֶת מִדְיָן כְּאִישׁ אֶחָד (שופטים ו') וְכֵן בְּמִצְרַיִם סוּס וְרֹכְבוֹ רָמָה בַיָּם, זֶהוּ מִדְרָשׁוֹ. וּפְשׁוּטוֹ, אֲנָשִׁים הַרְבֵּה קוֹרֵא אִישׁ – כָּל אֶחָד לְעַצְמוֹ, בְּאַפָּם הָרְגוּ כָל אִישׁ שֶׁכָּעֲסוּ עָלָיו, וְכֵן וַיִּלְמַד לִטְרָף טֶרֶף אָדָם אָכָל (יחזקאל י"ט):
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| and with their will they hamstrung a bull: They wanted to “uproot” Joseph, who was called “bull,” as it is said: “The firstborn of his bull-he has majesty” (Deut. 33:17). עִקְרוּ means esjareter in Old French, to hamstring, an expression similar to “You shall hamstring their horses” (Josh. 11:6). - [From Targum Yerushalmi] |
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וּבִרְצֹנָם עִקְּרוּ־שֽׁוֹר:
רָצוּ לַעֲקֹר אֶת יוֹסֵף שֶׁנִּקְרָא שׁוֹר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּכוֹר שׁוֹרוֹ הָדָר לוֹ (דברים ל"ג). עִקְּרוּ אשרי"טיר בְּלַעַז, לְשׁוֹן אֶת סוּסֵיהֶם תְּעַקֵּר (יהושע י"א):
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| 7Cursed be their wrath for it is mighty, and their anger because it is harsh. I will separate them throughout Jacob, and I will scatter them throughout Israel. |
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זאָר֤וּר אַפָּם֙ כִּ֣י עָ֔ז וְעֶבְרָתָ֖ם כִּ֣י קָשָׁ֑תָה אֲחַלְּקֵ֣ם בְּיַֽעֲקֹ֔ב וַֽאֲפִיצֵ֖ם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל: |
| Cursed be their wrath for it is mighty: Even at the time of castigation, he cursed only their wrath. This is [in agreement with the idea behind] what Balaam said, “What shall I curse, which God did not curse?” (Num. 23:8). - [From Gen. Rabbah 99:6] |
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אָרוּר אַפָּם כִּי עָז:
אֲפִלּוּ בִּשְׁעַת תּוֹכֵחָה לֹא קִלֵּל אֶלָּא אַפָּם, וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר בִּלְעָם מָה אֶקֹּב לֹא קַבֹּה אֵל (במדבר כ"ג):
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| I will separate them throughout Jacob: I will separate them from one another so that Levi will not be numbered among the tribes; hence they are separated. Another explanation: There are no [itinerant] paupers, scribes, or teachers of children except from [the tribe of] Simeon, so that they should be scattered. The tribe of Levi was made to go around to the threshing floors for heave offerings and tithes; thus he caused him to be dispersed in a respectable way. — [From Gen. Rabbah 98:5, 99:6, Shitah Chadashah] |
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אֲחַלְּקֵם בְּיַֽעֲקֹב:
אַפְרִידֵם זֶה מִזֶּה שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא לֵוִי בְּמִנְיַן הַשְּׁבָטִים, וַהֲרֵי הֵם חֲלוּקִים. דָּבָר אַחֵר אֵין לְךָ עֲנִיִּים וְסוֹפְרִים וּמְלַמְּדֵי תִינוֹקוֹת אֶלָּא מִשִּׁמְעוֹן, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיוּ נְפוֹצִים, וְשִׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל לֵוִי עֲשָׂאוֹ מְחַזֵּר עַל הַגְּרָנוֹת לַתְּרוּמוֹת וְלַמַּעַשְׂרוֹת, נָתַן לוֹ תְּפוּצָתוֹ דֶּרֶךְ כָּבוֹד:
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| 8Judah, [as for] you, your brothers will acknowledge you. Your hand will be at the nape of your enemies, [and] your father's sons will prostrate themselves to you. |
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חיְהוּדָ֗ה אַתָּה֙ יוֹד֣וּךָ אַחֶ֔יךָ יָֽדְךָ֖ בְּעֹ֣רֶף אֹֽיְבֶ֑יךָ יִשְׁתַּֽחֲו֥וּ לְךָ֖ בְּנֵ֥י אָבִֽיךָ: |
| Judah, [as for] you, your brothers will acknowledge you: Since he reproved the first ones (Reuben, Simeon, and Levi) with reproach, Judah began retreating backwards [so that he (Jacob) would not reprove him for the deed involving Tamar (Gen. 38:16). So Jacob called him with words of appeasement, “Judah, you are not like them.” - [From Shitah Chadashah] |
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יְהוּדָה אַתָּה יוֹדוּךָ אַחֶיךָ:
לְפִי שֶׁהוֹכִיחַ אֶת הָרִאשׁוֹנִים בְּקִנְטוּרִים, הִתְחִיל יְהוּדָה נָסוֹג לַאֲחוֹרָיו, (שֶׁלֹּא יוֹכִיחֶנּוּ עַל מַעֲשֵׂה תָמָר) וּקְרָאוֹ יַעֲקֹב בְּדִבְרֵי רִצּוּי, יְהוּדָה לֹא אַתָּה כְמוֹתָם (בראשית רבה):
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| Your hand will be at the nape of your enemies: In the time of David: “And of my enemies-you have given me the back of their necks” (II Sam. 22:41). - [From Gen. Rabbah 98:9] |
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יָֽדְךָ בְּעֹרֶף אֹֽיְבֶיךָ:
בִּימֵי דָּוִד – וְאֹיְבַי תַּתָּה לִּי עֹרֶף (שמואל ב כ"ב):
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| your father’s sons: Since they were [born] from many wives, he did not say, “your mother’s sons,” after the manner that Isaac said (Gen. 27:29). - [From Gen. Rabbah 98:6] |
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בְּנֵי אָבִֽיךָ:
עַל שֵׁם שֶׁהָיוּ מִנָּשִׁים הַרְבֵּה, לֹא אָמַר בְּנֵי אִמֶּךָ כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁאָמַר יִצְחָק:
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| 9A cub [and] a grown lion is Judah. From the prey, my son, you withdrew. He crouched, rested like a lion, and like a lion, who will rouse him? |
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טגּ֤וּר אַרְיֵה֙ יְהוּדָ֔ה מִטֶּ֖רֶף בְּנִ֣י עָלִ֑יתָ כָּרַ֨ע רָבַ֧ץ כְּאַרְיֵ֛ה וּכְלָבִ֖יא מִ֥י יְקִימֶֽנּוּ: |
| A cub [and] a grown lion is Judah: He prophesied about David, who was at first like a cub: “When Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and brought them in” (II Sam. 5:2), and at the end a lion, when they made him king over them. This is what Onkelos means in his translation by יְהֵא בְּשֵׁירוּיָא שִׁלְטוֹן, [he shall be a ruler] in his beginning. |
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גּוּר אַרְיֵה:
עַל דָּוִד נִתְנַבֵּא – בַּתְּחִלָּה גּוּר בִּהְיוֹת שָׁאוּל מֶלֶךְ עָלֵינוּ אַתָּה הָיִיתָ הַמּוֹצִיא וְהַמֵּבִיא אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל (שמואל ב ה') – וּלְבַסּוֹף אַרְיֵה, כְּשֶׁהִמְלִיכוּהוּ עֲלֵיהֶם, וְזֶהוּ שֶׁתִּרְגֵּם אֻנְקְלוֹס שִׁלְטוֹן יְהֵא בְּשֵׁרוּיָא – בִּתְחִלָּתוֹ:
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| from the prey: From what I suspected of you, (namely) that “Joseph has surely been torn up; a wild beast has devoured him” (Gen. 37: 33). This referred to Judah, who was likened to a lion. - [from Tanchuma Vayigash 9] |
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מִטֶּרֶף:
מִמַּה שֶּׁחֲשַׁדְתִּיךָ בְּטָרֹף טֹרַף יוֹסֵף חַיָּה רָעָה אֲכָלָתְהוּ – וְזֶהוּ יְהוּדָה שֶׁנִּמְשַׁל לְאַרְיֵה –
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| my son, you withdrew: Heb. עָלִיתָ, you withdrew yourself and said, “What is the gain [if we slay our brother and cover up his blood]?” (Gen. 37:26) (Gen. Rabbah 99:8). Similarly, [Judah withdrew] from killing Tamar, when he confessed, “She is right, [it is] from me…” (Gen. 38: 26) (Aggadath Bereshith 83). Therefore, “he crouched, lay down, etc.” [This was fulfilled] in the time of Solomon, “every man under his vine, etc.” (I Kings 5:5) (Gen. Rabbah 98:7). |
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בְּנִי עָלִיתָ:
סִלַּקְתָּ אֶת עַצְמְךָ וְאָמַרְתָּ מַה בֶּצַע וְגוֹ', וְכֵן בַּהֲרִיגַת תָּמָר שֶׁהוֹדָה, צָדְקָה מִמֶּנִּי, לְפִיכָךְ כרע רבץ וְגוֹ', בִּימֵי שְׁלֹמֹה אִישׁ תַּחַת גַּפְנוֹ וְגוֹ' (מלכים א ה'):
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| 10The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the student of the law from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him will be a gathering of peoples. |
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ילֹֽא־יָס֥וּר שֵׁ֨בֶט֙ מִֽיהוּדָ֔ה וּמְחֹקֵ֖ק מִבֵּ֣ין רַגְלָ֑יו עַ֚ד כִּֽי־יָבֹ֣א שִׁילֹ֔ה וְל֖וֹ יִקְּהַ֥ת עַמִּֽים: |
| The scepter shall not depart from Judah: from David and thereafter. These (who bear the scepter after the termination of the kingdom) are the exilarchs (princes) in Babylon, who ruled over the people with a scepter, [and] who were appointed by royal mandate. — [From Sanh. 5a] |
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לֹֽא־יָסוּר שֵׁבֶט מִֽיהוּדָה:
מִדָּוִד וָאֵילָךְ, אֵלּוּ רָאשֵׁי גָּלֻיּוֹת שֶׁבְּבָבֶל, שֶׁרוֹדִים אֶת הָעָם בַּשֵּׁבֶט שֶׁמְּמֻנִּים עַל פִּי הַמַּלְכוּת (בראשית רבה):
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| nor the student of the law from between his feet: Students. These are the princes of the land of Israel. — [From Sanh. 5a] |
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וּמְחֹקֵק מִבֵּין רַגְלָיו:
הַתַּלְמִידִים, אֵלּוּ נְשִׂיאֵי אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל:
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| until Shiloh comes: [This refers to] the King Messiah, to whom the kingdom belongs (שֶׁלוֹ) , and so did Onkelos render it: [until the Messiah comes, to whom the kingdom belongs]. According to the Midrash Aggadah, [“Shiloh” is a combination of] שַׁי לוֹ, a gift to him, as it is said: “they will bring a gift to him who is to be feared” (Ps. 76:12). - [From Gen. Rabbah ed. Theodore-Albeck p. 1210 ] |
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עַד כִּֽי־יָבֹא שִׁילֹה:
מֶלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ שֶׁהַמְּלוּכָה שֶׁלּוֹ, וְכֵן תִּרְגְּמוֹ אֻנְקְלוֹס. וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה שִׁילוֹ – שַׁי לוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, יֹבִילוּ שַׁי לַמּוֹרָא (תהילים ע"ו):
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| and to him will be a gathering of peoples: Heb. יִקְּהַת עַמִּים denoting a gathering of peoples, for the “yud” of (יִקְּהַת) is part of the root [and not a prefix], like “with your brightness (יִפְעָתֶךֶָ)” (Ezek. 28: 17), and sometimes [the “yud” is] omitted. Many letters are subject to this rule, and they are called defective roots, like the “nun” of נוֹגֵף (smite), נוֹשֵׁךְ (bite), and the “aleph” of “and my speech (אַחְוָתִי) in your ears” (Job 13:17); and [the “aleph”] of “the scream of (אִבְחַת) the sword” (Ezek. 21:20); and [the “aleph”] of “a jug (אָסוּךְ) of oil” (II Kings 4:2). This too, is [a noun meaning] a gathering of peoples, [meaning: a number of nations who unite to serve God and join under the banner of the King Messiah] as it is said: “to him shall the nations inquire” (Isa. 11:10). Similar to this is “The eye that mocks the father and despises the mother’s wrinkles (לְיִקְּהַת אֵם)” (Prov. 30:17), [i.e., meaning] the gathering of wrinkles in her face, due to her old age. And in the Talmud [we find]: “were sitting and gathering assemblies וּמַקְהוֹ אַקְהָתָא in the streets of Nehardea” [Pumbeditha] in Tractate Yebamtoh (110b). He (Jacob) could also have said: קְהִיּת עַמִּים [Since the “yud” of יִקְהַת is not a prefix denoting the third person masculine singular, but is a defective root, the form קְהִיּת עַמִּים would be just as appropriate.]- [From Gen. Rabbah 98:9] |
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וְלוֹ יִקְּהַת עַמִּֽים:
אֲסֵפַת הָעַמִּים, שֶׁהַיּוֹ"ד עִקָּר הִיא בַּיְסוֹד, כְּמוֹ יִפְעָתֶךָ (יחזקאל כ"ח), וּפְעָמִים שֶׁנּוֹפֶלֶת מִמֶּנּוּ, וְכַמָּה אוֹתִיּוֹת מְשַׁמְּשׁוֹת בְּלָשׁוֹן זֶה, וְהֵם נִקְרָאִים עִקָּר נוֹפֵל; כְּגוֹן נוּ"ן שֶׁל נוֹגֵף וְשֶׁל נוֹשֵׁךְ, וְאָלֶ"ף שֶׁבִּוְאַחֲוָתִי בְּאָזְנֵיכֶם (איוב י"ג), וְשֶׁבְּאִבְחַת חָרֶב (יחזקאל כ"א), וְאָסוּךְ שָׁמֶן (מלכים ב ד'), אַף זֶה יִקְּהַת עַמִּים אֲסֵפַת עַמִּים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר אֵלָיו גּוֹיִם יִדְרֹשׁוּ (ישעיהו י"א). וְדוֹמֶה לוֹ עַיִן תִּלְעַג לְאָב וְתָבֻז לִיקְּהַת אֵם (משלי ל'), לְקִבּוּץ קְמָטִים שֶׁבְּפָנֶיהָ מִפְּנֵי זִקְנָתָהּ; וּבַתַּלְמוּד דְּיָתְבֵי וּמַקְהוּ אַקְהָתָא בְּשׁוּקֵי דִּנְהַרְדְּעָא בְּמַסֶּכֶת יְבָמוֹת; וְיָכוֹל הָיָה לוֹמַר, קְהִיַּת עַמִּים:
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| 11He binds his foal to a vine, and to a tendril [he binds] his young donkey. [He launders] his garment with wine, and with the blood of grapes binds his raiment. |
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יאאֹֽסְרִ֤י לַגֶּ֨פֶן֙ עִיר֔וֹ (כתיב עירה) וְלַשּֽׂרֵקָ֖ה בְּנִ֣י אֲתֹנ֑וֹ כִּבֵּ֤ס בַּיַּ֨יִן֙ לְבֻשׁ֔וֹ וּבְדַם־עֲנָבִ֖ים סוּתֽוֹ (כתיב סותה) : |
| He binds his foal to a vine: He prophesied concerning the land of Judah [namely] that wine will flow like a fountain from it. One Judahite man will bind one foal to a vine and load it from one vine, and from one tendril [he will load] one young donkey. — [From Gen. Rabbah 98:9] |
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אֹֽסְרִי לַגֶּפֶן עירה:
נִתְנַבֵּא עַל אֶרֶץ יְהוּדָה שֶׁתְּהֵא מוֹשֶׁכֶת יַיִן כְּמַעְיָן; אִישׁ יְהוּדָה יֶאֱסֹר לַגֶּפֶן עַיִר אֶחָד וְיִטְעָנֶנּוּ מִגֶּפֶן אַחַת, וּמִשֹּׂרֵק אֶחָד בֶּן אָתוֹן אֶחָד:
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| a tendril: A long branch, corjede in Old French, a vine-branch. |
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שרקה:
זְמוֹרָה אֲרֻכָּה, קוריירא בְּלַעַז:
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| He launders]…with wine: All this is an expression of an abundance of wine. — [From Gen. Rabbah 99:8] |
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כִּבֵּס בַּיַּיִן:
כָּל זֶה לְשׁוֹן רִבּוּי יַיִן:
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| his raiment: Heb. סוּתֹה. It is a word denoting a type of garment, and there is none like it in Scripture. |
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סותה:
לְשׁוֹן מִין בֶּגֶד הוּא, וְאֵין לוֹ דִּמְיוֹן בַּמִּקְרָא:
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| binds: Heb. אֹסְרִי, equivalent to אוֹסֵר, as in the example: “He lifts (מְקִימִי) the pauper up from the dust” (Ps. 113:7) [instead of מֵקִים]; “You, Who dwell (הַישְׁבִי) in heaven” (ibid. 123:1) [instead of הַישֵׁב]. Likewise, “his young donkey” (בְּנִי אִתֹנוֹ) [instead of בֶּן אִתֹנוֹ] follows this pattern. Onkelos, however, translated it [the verse] as referring to the King Messiah [i.e., the King Messiah will bind, etc.]. The vine represents Israel; עִירֹה means Jerusalem [interpreting עִירֹה as “his city,” from עִיר]. The tendril represents Israel, [referred to as such by the prophet:] “Yet I planted you a noble vine stock (שׁוֹרֵק)” (Jer. 2:21). |
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אֹֽסְרִי:
כְּמוֹ אוֹסֵר, דֻּגְמַת מְקִימִי מֵעָפָר דָּל (תהילים קי"ג), הַיֹּשְׁבִי בַּשָּׁמָיִם (שם קכ"ג), וְכֵן בְּנִי אֲתֹנוֹ כְּעִנְיָן זֶה. וְאֻנְקְלוֹס תִּרְגֵּם בְּמֶלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ: גֶּפֶן – הֵם יִשְׂרָאֵל; עִירֹה – זוֹ יְרוּשָׁלַיִם; שֹׂרֵקָה – יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאָנֹכִי נְטַעְתִּיךְ שׂוֹרֵק – (ירמיהו ב'):
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| his young donkey: [is translated by Onkelos as] They shall build his Temple [בְּנִי is derived from בנה, to build. אִתֹנוֹ is] an expression similar to “the entrance gate (שַׁעַר הָאִיתוֹן)” in the Book of Ezekiel (40:15). [The complete Targum reads as follows: He (the Messiah) shall bring Israel around to his city, the people shall build his Temple.] He (Onkelos) further translates it in another manner: the vine refers to the righteous, בְּנִי אִתֹנוֹ refers to those who uphold the Torah by teaching [others], from the idea [expressed by the verse]: “the riders of white donkeys (אֲתֹנֹת)” (Jud. 5:10). [He launders]…with wine, [Onkelos renders:] “Fine purple shall be his (the Messiah’s) garment,” whose color resembles wine. [The complete Targum reads: Fine purple shall be his garment, his raiment fine wool, crimson and colorful clothing.] “And colorful clothing” is expressed by the word סוּתֹה, [a garment] a woman wears to entice [מְסִיתָה] a male to cast his eyes on her. Our Rabbis also explained it in the Talmud as a term denoting the enticement of drunkenness, in Tractate Kethuboth (11b): And if you say about the wine, that it does not intoxicate, the Torah states: סוּתֹה [which means enticement to drunkenness. The Rabbis, however, render the passage as follows: and with the blood of grapes that entices]. |
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בְּנִי אֲתֹנוֹ:
יִבְנוּן הֵיכְלֵהּ, לְשׁוֹן שַׁעַר הָאִיתוֹן בְּסֵפֶר יְחֶזְקֵאל (יחזקאל מ'). וְעוֹד תִּרְגְּמוּ בְּפָנִים אֲחֵרִים: גֶּפֶן אֵלּוּ צַדִּיקִים; בְּנִי אֲתֹנוֹ – עָבְדֵי אוֹרַיְתָא בְּאוּלְפַן, עַל שֵׁם רֹכְבֵי אֲתֹנוֹת צְחֹרוֹת כִּבֵּס בַּיַּיִן יְהֵא אַרְגְּוָן טַב שֶׁצִּבּוּעוֹ דּוֹמֶה לְיַיִן, וְצִבְעוֹנִין הוּא לְשׁוֹן סוּתֹה, שֶׁהָאִשָּׁה לוֹבַשְׁתָּן וּמְסִיתָה בָּהֶן אֶת הַזָּכָר לִתֵּן עֵינָיו בָּהּ; וְאַף רַבּוֹתֵינוּ פֵּרְשׁוּ בַתַּלְמוּד לְשׁוֹן הֲסָתַת שִׁכְרוּת בְּמַסֶּכֶת כְּתֻבּוֹת (דף קי"א). וְעַל הַיַּיִן שֶׁמָּא תֹאמַר אֵינוֹ מַרְוֶה, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר סוּתֹה:
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| 12[He is] red eyed from wine and white toothed from milk. |
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יבחַכְלִילִ֥י עֵינַ֖יִם מִיָּ֑יִן וּלְבֶן־שִׁנַּ֖יִם מֵֽחָלָֽב: |
| red-eyed from wine: Heb. חַכְלִילִי, an expression of redness, as the Targum renders, and similarly (Prov. 23:29), “Who has bloodshot eyes (עֵינַים חַכְלִלוֹת)?” For it is common for those who drink wine to have red eyes. |
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חַכְלִילִי:
לְשׁוֹן אֹדֶם, כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, וְכֵן לְמִי חַכְלִלוּת עֵינָיִם (משלי כ"ג), שֶׁכֵּן דֶּרֶךְ שׁוֹתֵי יַיִן עֵינֵיהֶם מַאְדִּימִין:
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| from milk: Due to the abundance of milk, for in his (Judah’s) land there will be good pasture for flocks of sheep. This is the meaning of the verse: He shall be red-eyed from an abundance of wine, and he shall be white-toothed from an abundance of milk. According to the Targum, however, עֵינַיִם denotes mountains because from there one can see far away. [According to the Targum: His mountains shall be red with his vineyards.] The Targum renders it also in another manner, as an expression of fountains (as in Gen. 16:7, 24:16, 29, 30, 42, 43, 45) and the flow of the vats. [The Targum reads further: His vats (נַעִווֹהִי) shall flow with wine.] נַעִווֹהִי means “his vats.” This is Aramaic, [and] in Tractate A.Z. (74b): “Vats (נַעִוָא) are to be purged with boiling water.” [וּלְבֶן שִׁנַּיִם he renders:] יְחַוְרָן בָּקְעָתֵיהּ. He renders שִׁנַּיִם as a term denoting rocky crags. [According to this translation then, Onkelos renders: his rocky crags shall be white.] |
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מֵֽחָלָֽב:
מֵרֹב חָלָב, שֶׁיְּהֵא בְּאַרְצוֹ מִרְעֶה טוֹב לְעֶדְרֵי צֹאן; וְכֵן פֵּרוּשׁ הַמִּקְרָא: אֲדֹם עֵינַיִם יְהֵא מֵרֹב יַיִן וּלְבֶן שִׁנַּיִם יְהֵא מֵרֹב חָלָב. וּלְפִי תַרְגּוּמוֹ עֵינַיִם לְשׁוֹן הָרִים, שֶׁמִּשָּׁם צוֹפִים לְמֵרָחוֹק, וְעוֹד תִּרְגְּמוֹ בְּפָנִים אֲחֵרִים, לְשׁוֹן מַעְיָנוֹת וְקִלּוּחַ הַיְקָבִים, נַעֲווֹהִי – יְקָבִים שֶׁלּוֹ, וְלָשׁוֹן אֲרַמִּי הוּא בְּמַסֶּכֶת עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה (דף ע"ד), נַעֲוָא אַרְתְּחוֹ יְחַוְּרָן בִּקְעָתֵהּ – תַּרְגּוּם שִׁנַּיִם, לְשׁוֹן שִׁנֵּי הַסְּלָעִים:
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| 13Zebulun will dwell on the coast of the seas; he [will be] at the harbor of the ships, and his boundary will be at Zidon. |
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יגזְבוּלֻ֕ן לְח֥וֹף יַמִּ֖ים יִשְׁכֹּ֑ן וְהוּא֙ לְח֣וֹף אֳנִיֹּ֔ת וְיַרְכָת֖וֹ עַל־צִידֹֽן: |
| Zebulun will dwell on the coast of the seas: Heb. חוֹף. His land will be on the seacoast. חוֹף is as the Targum renders: סְפַר, marche in Old French, borderland. He will constantly frequent the harbor of the ships, in the place of the port, where the ships bring merchandise, for Zebulun would engage in commerce and provide food for the tribe of Issachar, and they (the tribe of Issachar) would engage in [the study of] Torah. That is [the meaning of] what Moses said, “Rejoice, O Zebulun, in your going forth, and Issachar, in your tents” (Deut. 33:18) Zebulun would go forth [to engage] in commerce, and Issachar would engage in [the study of] Torah in tents. — [From Tanchuma Vayechi 11] |
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לְחוֹף יַמִּים:
עַל חוֹף יַמִּים תִּהְיֶה אַרְצוֹ (יבמות מ"ה); חוֹף, כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ סְפָר, מרק"א בְּלַעַז, וְהוּא יִהְיֶה מָצוּי תָּדִיר עַל חוֹף אֳנִיּוֹת בִּמְקוֹם הַנָּמֵל, שֶׁאֳנִיּוֹת מְבִיאוֹת שָׁם פְּרַקְמַטְיָא, שֶׁהָיָה זְבוּלֻן עוֹסֵק בִּפְרַקְמַטְיָא וּמַמְצִיא מָזוֹן לְשֵׁבֶט יִשָּׂשכָר, וְהֵם עוֹסְקִים בַּתּוֹרָה. הוּא שֶׁאָמַר מֹשֶׁה שְׂמַח זְבוּלֻן בְּצֵאתֶךָ וְיִשָּׂשכָר בְּאֹהָלֶיךָ (דברים ל"ג), זְבוּלֻן יוֹצֵא בִּפְרַקְמַטְיָא, וְיִשָּׂשכָר עוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה בְּאֹהָלִים:
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| and his boundary will be at Zidon: The end of his boundary will be near Zidon. יַרְכָתוֹ means: his end, similar to “and to the end of (וּלְיַרְכְּתֵי) the Tabernacle” (Exod. 26:22). - [From Targum Onkelos] |
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וְיַרְכָתוֹ עַל־צִידֹֽן:
סוֹף גְּבוּלוֹ יְהֵא סָמוּךְ לְצִידֹן יַרְכָתוֹ סוֹפוֹ, כְּמוֹ וּלְיַרְכְּתֵי הַמִּשְׁכָּן:
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| 14Issachar is a strong-boned donkey, lying between the boundaries. |
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ידיִשָּׂשכָ֖ר חֲמֹ֣ר גָּ֑רֶם רֹבֵ֖ץ בֵּ֥ין הַמִּשְׁפְּתָֽיִם: |
| Issachar is a strong-boned donkey: Heb. חִמֹר גָרֶם, a bony donkey. He bears the yoke of the Torah, like a strong donkey which is laden with a heavy burden. — [From Gen. Rabbah 99: 9] |
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יִשָּׂשכָר חֲמֹר גָּרֶם:
חֲמוֹר בַּעַל עֲצָמוֹת, סוֹבֵל עֹל תּוֹרָה, כַּחֲמוֹר חָזָק שֶׁמַּטְעִינִין אוֹתוֹ מַשּׂאוֹי כָבֵד:
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| lying between the boundaries: like a donkey, which travels day and night and does not lodge in a house, but when it lies down to rest, it lies between the boundaries, in the boundaries of the towns where it transports merchandise. — [From Zohar vol. 1, 242a] |
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רובץ בֵּין הַמִּשְׁפְּתָֽיִם:
כַּחֲמוֹר הַמְהַלֵּךְ בַּיּוֹם וּבַלַּיְלָה, וְאֵין לוֹ לִינָה בַּבַּיִת, וּכְשֶׁהוּא רוֹצֶה לָנוּחַ, רוֹבֵץ בֵּין הַתְּחוּמִין, בִּתְחוּמֵי הָעֲיָרוֹת שֶׁמּוֹלִיךְ שָׁם פְּרַקְמַטְיָא:
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| 15He saw a resting place, that it was good, and the land, that it was pleasant, and he bent his shoulder to bear [burdens], and he became an indentured laborer. |
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טווַיַּ֤רְא מְנֻחָה֙ כִּ֣י ט֔וֹב וְאֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ כִּ֣י נָעֵ֑מָה וַיֵּ֤ט שִׁכְמוֹ֙ לִסְבֹּ֔ל וַיְהִ֖י לְמַס־עֹבֵֽד: |
| He saw a resting place, that it was good: He saw that his territory was a blessed and good land for producing fruits. — [From Targum Onkelos, Bereshith Rabbathi] |
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וַיַּרְא מְנֻחָה כִּי טוֹב:
רָאָה לְחֶלְקוֹ אֶרֶץ מְבֹרֶכֶת וְטוֹבָה לְהוֹצִיא פֵרוֹת:
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| and he bent his shoulder to bear [burdens]: [I.e., the yoke of Torah.]- [From Gen. Rabbah 98:12] |
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וַיֵּט שִׁכְמוֹ לסבול:
עֹל תּוֹרָה:
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| and he became: for all his brothers, the Israelites- |
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וַיְהִי:
לְכָל אֶחָיו יִשְׂרָאֵל:
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| an indentured laborer: to decide for them instructions of Torah [law] and the sequence of leap years, as it is said: “And of the sons of Issachar, those who had an understanding of the times, to know what Israel should do: their chiefs were two hundred” (I Chron 12:33). He (Issachar) provided two hundred heads of Sanhedrin. “And all their brethren obeyed their word” (ibid. 12:32). - [From Gen. Rabbah 98: 12] |
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לְמַס־עובד:
לִפְסֹק לָהֶם הוֹרָאוֹת שֶׁל תּוֹרָה וְסִדְרֵי עִבּוּרִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וּמִבְּנֵי יִשָּׂשכָר יוֹדְעֵי בִינָה לַעִתִּים לָדַעַת מַה יַּעֲשֶׂה יִשְׂרָאֵל רָאשֵׁיהֶם מָאתַיִם (דברי הימים א י"ב), מָאתַיִם רָאשֵׁי סַנְהֶדְרָאוֹת הֶעֱמִיד וְכָל אֲחֵיהֶם עַל פִּיהֶם:
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| and he bent his shoulder: Heb. וַיֵּט, he lowered his shoulder, similar to “And He bent (וַיֵּט) the heavens” (II Sam. 22:10, Ps. 18:10), “Incline your ear (הַטּוּ)” (Ps. 78:1). Onkelos, however, rendered it in a different manner: and he bent his shoulder to bear wars and to conquer regions, for they dwelled on the border; the enemy will be vanquished under him as an indentured laborer. |
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וַיֵּט שִׁכְמוֹ:
הִשְׁפִּיל שִׁכְמוֹ, כְּמוֹ וַיֵּט שָׁמַיִם (שמואל ב כ"ב), הַטּוּ אָזְנְכֶם (תהילים ע"ח). וְאֻנְקְלוֹס תִּרְגְּמוֹ בְּפָנִים אֲחֵרִים, ויט שכמו לסבול מִלְחָמוֹת וְלִכְבֹּשׁ מְחוֹזוֹת, שֶׁהֵם יוֹשְׁבִים עַל הַסְּפָר, ויהי הָאוֹיֵב כָּבוּשׁ תַּחְתָּיו למס עובד:
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| 16Dan will avenge his people, like one, the tribes of Israel. |
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טזדָּ֖ן יָדִ֣ין עַמּ֑וֹ כְּאַחַ֖ד שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל: |
| Dan will avenge his people: Heb. יָדִין, will avenge his people from the Philistines, like “When the Lord avenges (יָדִין) His people” (Deut. 32:36). - [From Targum Onkelos] |
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דָּן יָדִין עַמּוֹ:
יִנְקֹם נִקְמַת עַמּוֹ מִפְּלִשְׁתִּים כְּמוֹ כִּי יָדִין ה' עַמּוֹ (דברים ל"ב):
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| like one, the tribes of Israel: All Israel will be like one with him, and he will avenge them all. Concerning Samson he uttered this prophecy. We can also explain שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּאַחַד [as follows]: like the special one of the tribes, namely David, who came from Judah. — [From Targum Onkelos, Sotah 10a, Gen. Rabbah 99:11] |
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כְּאַחַד שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל יִהְיוּ כְּאֶחָד עִמּוֹ, וְאֶת כֻּלָּם יָדִין, וְעַל שִׁמְשׁוֹן נִבָּא נְבוּאָה זוֹ; וְעוֹד יֵשׁ לְפָרֵשׁ כאחד שבטי ישראל, כַּמְיֻחָד שֶׁבַּשְּׁבָטִים, הוּא דָּוִד, שֶׁבָּא מִיהוּדָה:
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| 17Dan will be a serpent on the road, a viper on the path, which bites the horse's heels, so its rider falls backwards. |
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יזיְהִי־דָן֙ נָחָ֣שׁ עֲלֵי־דֶ֔רֶךְ שְׁפִיפֹ֖ן עֲלֵי־אֹ֑רַח הַנּשֵׁךְ֙ עִקְּבֵי־ס֔וּס וַיִּפֹּ֥ל רֹֽכְב֖וֹ אָחֽוֹר: |
| a viper: Heb. שְׁפִיפֹן. This is a snake, and I say it is given this appellation because it bites, “and you will bite (תְּשׁוּפֶנוּ) his heel” (Gen. 3:15). |
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שְׁפִיפֹן:
הוּא נָחָשׁ; וְאוֹמֵר אֲנִי שֶׁקָּרוּי כֵּן עַל שֵׁם שֶׁהוּא נוֹשֵׁף, כְּמוֹ וְאַתָּה תְּשׁוּפֶנּוּ עָקֵב (בראשית ג'):
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| which bites the horse’s heels: So is the habit of a snake. He (Jacob) compares him (Dan) to a snake, which bites a horse’s heels, and [causes] its rider to fall backwards, although it does not touch him. We find something similar in [the story of] Samson: “And Samson grasped the two pillars of the center, etc.” (Jud. 16:29), and those on the roof died. Onkelos renders [נָחָשׁ] as כְּחִיוֵי חוּרְמָן, the name of a species of snake whose bite has no antidote, and that is the צִפְעֹנִי (adder). It is called חוּרְמָן because it destroys (חֵרֶם) everything. [Onkelos renders] וּכְפִתְנָא, and like a viper, like פֶּתֶן (Isa. 11:8, Ps. 58:5) [and he renders] יִכְמוֹן, [as] he will lie in wait. |
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הַנּשֵׁךְ עִקְּבֵי־סוּס:
כָּךְ דַּרְכּוֹ שֶׁל נָחָשׁ, וְדִמָּהוּ לְנָחָשׁ הַנּוֹשֵׁךְ עִקְּבֵי סוּס, ויפל רכבו אחור – שֶׁלֹּא נָגַע בּוֹ. וְדֻגְמָתוֹ מָצִינוּ בְּשִׁמְשׁוֹן: וַיִּלְפֹּת שִׁמְשׁוֹן אֶת שְׁנֵי עַמּוּדֵי הַתָּוֶךְ וְגוֹמֵר (שופטים ט"ז) – וְשֶׁעַל הַגַּג מֵתוּ; וְאֻנְקְלוֹס תִּרְגֵּם כְּחִוֵּי חוּרְמָן, שֵׁם מִין נָחָשׁ, שֶׁאֵין רְפוּאָה לִנְשִׁיכָתוֹ, וְהוּא צִפְעוֹנִי, וְקָרוּי חוּרְמָן עַל שֵׁם שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה הַכֹּל חֵרֶם; וּכְפִיתְנָא – כְּמוֹ פֶתֶן, יִכְמוֹן – יֶאֱרֹב:
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| 18For Your salvation, I hope, O Lord! |
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יחלִֽישׁוּעָֽתְךָ֖ קִוִּ֥יתִי יְהֹוָֽה: |
| For Your salvation, I hope, O Lord!: He (Jacob) prophesied that the Philistines would gouge out his (Samson’s) eyes, and he (Samson) would ultimately say, “O Lord God, remember me now and strengthen me now only this once, etc.” (Jud. 16:28). - [From Num. Rabbah 14:9] |
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לִֽישׁוּעָֽתְךָ קִוִּיתִי ה':
נִתְנַבֵּא שֶׁיְּנַקְּרוּ פְּלִשְׁתִּים אֶת עֵינָיו, וְסוֹפוֹ לוֹמַר זָכְרֵנִי נָא וְחַזְּקֵנִי נָא אַךְ הַפַּעַם וְגוֹ' (שופטים ט"ז):
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| 19[As for] Gad, a troop will troop forth from him, and it will troop back in its tracks. |
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יטגָּ֖ד גְּד֣וּד יְגוּדֶ֑נּוּ וְה֖וּא יָגֻ֥ד עָקֵֽב: |
| [As for] Gad, a troop will troop forth from him: Heb. גָּד גְּדוּד יְגוּדֶנוּ. All [these words] are expressions of a troop (גְּדוּד) as Menachem (Machbereth Menachem p. 52) classified it. If you ask [why] there is no [expression of] גְּדוּד without two “daleths,” we answer that [indeed] the noun גְּדוּד requires two “daleths,” for that is the rule of a word with a root of two letters [in this case גד], to double the final letter, but its root [remains] only two letters. Similarly, [Scripture] says:“Like a wandering (לָנוּד) sparrow” (Prov. 26:2), which is a derivative of [the same root as] “And I was sated with restlessness (נְדוּדִים)” (Job 7:4); “there he fell down dead (שָׁדוּד)” [lit., robbed] (Jud. 5:27), which is a derivative of [the same root as]“that ravages (יָשׁוּד) at noon” (Ps. 91:6). Also, יָגֻד, יְגוּדֶנּוּ, and גְּדוּד are from the same root. When the root is used in the יִפְעַל form (the future tense of the קַל conjugation), it (the final letter) is not doubled, like יָגוּד, יָנוּד, יָרוּם, יָשׁוּד, יָשׁוּב, but when it is reflexive (מִתְפַּעֵל) or causative (מַפְעִיל), it is doubled, like יִתְגוֹדֵד, יִתְרוֹמֵם, יִתְבּוֹלֵל, יִתְעוֹדֵד, or causative (מַפְעִיל), [like] “He strengthens (יְעוֹדֵד) the orphan and the widow” (ibid. 146:9); “to bring Jacob back (לְשׁוֹבֵב) to Him” (Isa. 49:5); “restorer (מְשׁוֹבֵב) of the paths” (ibid. 58:12). Also, יְגוּדֶּנוּ stated here is not an expression meaning that others will cause him to do, [because then the “daleth” would be doubled,] but it is like יָגוּד הֵימֶנּוּ, will troop forth from him, similar to “my children have left me (יְצָאוּנִי),” (Jer. 10:20), [which is equivalent to] יָצְאוּ מִמֶנִי, they went forth from me. [Hence, this form is not the causative, but the simple conjugation, which does not require the doubling of the final letter.] גָּד גְּדוּד יְגוּדֶנוּ [means]: troops will troop forth from him-they will cross the Jordan with their brothers to war, every armed man, until the land is conquered. |
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גָּד גְּדוּד יְגוּדֶנּוּ:
כֻּלָּם לְשׁוֹן גְּדוּד הֵם, וְכָךְ חִבְּרוֹ מְנַחֵם; וְאִם תֹּאמַר, אֵין גְּדוּד בְּלֹא שְׁנֵי דַּלְתִי"ן, יֵשׁ לוֹמַר גְּדוּד שֵׁם דָּבָר צָרִיךְ שְׁנֵי דַּלְתִי"ן, שֶׁכֵּן דֶּרֶךְ תֵּבָה בַּת שְׁתֵּי אוֹתִיּוֹת לִכְפֹּל בְּסוֹפָהּ, וְאֵין יְסוֹדָהּ אֶלָּא שְׁתֵּי אוֹתִיּוֹת, וְכֵן אָמַר כַּצִּפּוֹר לָנוּד (משלי כ"ו), מִגִּזְרַת שָׂבַעְתִּי נְדֻדִים (איוב ז'), שָׁם נָפַל שָׁדוּד (שופטים ה'), מִגִּזְרַת יָשׁוּד צָהֳרָיִם (תהלים צ"א), אַף יָגֻד, יְגוּדֶנּוּ וּגְדוּד מִגִּזְרָה אַחַת הֵם; וּכְשֶׁהוּא מְדַבֵּר בִּלְשׁון יִפְעֹל אֵינוֹ כָפוּל, כְּמוֹ יָגוּד, יָנוּד, יָרוּם, יָשׁוּד, יָשׁוּב, וּכְשֶׁהוּא מִתְפַּעֵל אוֹ מַפְעִיל אֲחֵרִים הוּא כָפוּל, כְּמוֹ יִתְגּוֹדֵד, יִתְרוֹמֵם, יִתְבּוֹלֵל, יִתְעוֹדֵד; וּבִלְשׁוֹן מַפְעִיל, יָתוֹם וְאַלְמָנָה יְעוֹדֵד (תהילים קמ"ו), לְשׁוֹבֵב יַעֲקֹב אֵלָיו (ישעיה מ"ט), מְשֹׁבֵב נְתִיבוֹת (שם נ"ח), יְגוּדֶנּוּ הָאָמוּר כָּאן אֵינוֹ לְשׁוֹן שֶׁיִּפְעֲלוּהוּ אֲחֵרִים, אֶלָּא כְּמוֹ יָגוּד הֵימֶנּוּ, כְּמוֹ בָּנַי יְצָאֻנִי (ירמיהו י') – יָצְאוּ מִמֶּנִּי. גד גדוד יגודנו, גְּדוּדִים יָגוֹדּוּ הֵימֶנּוּ שֶׁיַּעַבְרוּ הַיַּרְדֵּן עִם אֲחֵיהֶם לַמִּלְחָמָה כָּל חָלוּץ עַד שֶׁנִּכְבְּשָׁה הָאָרֶץ:
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| and it will troop back in its tracks: All his troops will return in their tracks to the territory that they took on the other side of the Jordan, and no one will be missing from them. — [From Targum Yerushalmi] |
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וְהוּא יגוד עָקֵֽב:
כָּל גְּדוּדָיו יָשׁוּבוּ עַל עֲקֵבָם לְנַחֲלָתָם שֶׁלָּקְחוּ בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן, וְלֹא יִפָּקֵד מֵהֶם אִישׁ:
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| in its tracks: Heb. עָקֵב. In their way and in their paths upon which they went they will return, equivalent to “and your steps (וְעִקְבוֹתֶיךָ) were not known” (Ps. 77:20), and similarly, “in the footsteps of (בְּעִקְבֵי) the flocks” (Song of Songs 1:8); in French, traces, [meaning] tracks or footsteps. |
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עָקֵֽב:
בְּדַרְכָּן וּבִמְסִלּוֹתָם שֶׁהָלְכוּ, יָשׁוּבוּ, כְּמוֹ וְעִקְּבוֹתֶיךָ לֹא נֹדָעוּ (תהילים ע"ז), וְכֵן בְּעִקְבֵי הַצֹּאן (שיר א'), בִּלְשׁוֹן לַעַז טרצי"אם:
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| 20From Asher will come rich food, and he will yield regal delicacies. |
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כמֵֽאָשֵׁ֖ר שְׁמֵנָ֣ה לַחְמ֑וֹ וְה֥וּא יִתֵּ֖ן מַֽעֲדַנֵּי־מֶֽלֶךְ: |
| From Asher will come rich food: The food from Asher’s territory will be rich, for there will be many olive trees in his territory, so that oil will flow like a fountain. And thus did Moses bless him, “and dip his foot in oil” (Deut. 33:24), as we learned in Menachoth (85b): The people of Laodicea once needed oil. [So they appointed themselves a Gentile messenger (according to Rashi, or a Gentile official, according to Rashi ms. and Rabbenu Gershom, ad loc.). They said to him, “Go and bring us oil worth a million (coins).” The messenger went to Jerusalem, where they told him, “Go to Tyre.” So the messenger went to Tyre, where they told him, “Go to Giscala (a town in the territory of Asher).” The messenger went to Giscala, where they told him, “Go to so-and-so, to that field.” He went to the field and he found a man breaking up the earth around his olive trees. The messenger asked him, “Do you have a million (coins) worth of oil?” The man replied, “Yes, but wait for me until I finish my work.” The messenger waited. After the man finished working, he cast his tools over his shoulder and went on his way, removing the stones from the path as he walked. The messenger thought to himself, “Has this man really a million (coins) worth of oil? I think the Jews have played a trick on me.” As soon as the man arrived at his town, his maidservant brought him a kettle of hot water, and the man washed his hands and feet with it. She then brought him a golden cup full of oil, and he dipped his hands and feet in it, to fulfill what is stated: “and dip his foot in oil.” After they had dined, the man measured out for the messenger oil (worth) a million (coins). He asked the messenger, “Don’t you need more?” “Yes,” the messenger replied, “but I have no money.” The man said, “If you want to buy, buy, and I will come with you and collect the money for it.” The man then measured out additional oil for one hundred eighty thousand (coins). It was said that the messenger hired all the horses, mules, camels, and donkeys that he could find in the land of Israel. As soon as the messenger arrived in his home town, the townspeople came out to praise him. He said to them, “Don’t praise me! Praise this man who measured out for me oil for a million (coins), and I still owe him a hundred eighty thousand (coins).” This illustrates the verse: “There is one who feigns riches but has nothing; one who feigns poverty but has great wealth” (Prov. 13:7).] |
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מֵֽאָשֵׁר שְׁמֵנָה לַחְמוֹ:
מַאֲכָל הַבָּא מֵחֶלְקוֹ שֶׁל אָשֵׁר יְהֵא שָׁמֵן, שֶׁיִּהְיוּ זֵיתִים מְרֻבִּים בְּחֶלְקוֹ וְהוּא מוֹשֵׁךְ שֶׁמֶן כְּמַעְיָן; וְכֵן בֵּרְכוֹ מֹשֶׁה וְטֹבֵל בַּשֶּׁמֶן רַגְלוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁשָּׁנִינוּ בִמְנָחוֹת (דף פ"ה) פַּעַם אַחַת הֻצְרְכוּ אַנְשֵׁי לוּדְקִיָּא לְשֶׁמֶן וְכוּ':
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| 21Naphtali is a swift gazelle; [he is one] who utters beautiful words. |
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כאנַפְתָּלִ֖י אַיָּלָ֣ה שְׁלֻחָ֑ה הַנֹּתֵ֖ן אִמְרֵי־שָֽׁפֶר: |
| a swift gazelle: This is the valley of Gennesar, which ripens its fruits swiftly, like the gazelle, which runs swiftly. אַיָלָה שְׁלֻחָה means a gazelle that runs swiftly. — [from Gen. Rabbah 99:12] |
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אַיָּלָה שְׁלֻחָה:
זוֹ בִקְעַת גִּינוֹסַר שֶׁהִיא קַלָּה לְבַשֵּׁל פֵּרוֹתֶיהָ כְּאַיָּלָה זוֹ שֶׁהִיא קַלָּה לָרוּץ. אַיָּלָה שְׁלֻחָה – אַיָּלָה מְשֻׁלַּחַת לָרוּץ:
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| [he is one] who utters beautiful words: As the Targum renders. [See below.] Another explanation: A swift gazelle: He (Jacob) prophesied concerning the war with Sisera: “and take with you ten thousand men of the men of Naphtali, etc.” (Jud. 4:6), and they went there with alacrity. And so it is stated there with an expression of dispatching, “into the valley they rushed forth with their feet” (ibid. 5:15). |
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הַנֹּתֵן אִמְרֵי־שָֽׁפֶר:
כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ. דָּבָר אַחֵר עַל מִלְחֶמֶת סִיסְרָא נִתְנַבֵּא – וְלָקַחְתָּ עִמְּךָ עֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים אִישׁ מִבְּנֵי נַפְתָּלִי וְגוֹ' (שופטים ד'), וְהָלְכוּ שָׁם בִּזְרִיזוּת, וְכֵן נֶאֱמַר שָׁם לְשׁוֹן שִׁלּוּחַ בָּעֵמֶק שֻׁלַּח בְּרַגְלָיו:
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| [he is one] who utters beautiful words: Through them, Deborah and Barak sang a song (Gen. Rabbah 98:17). Our Rabbis [of the Talmud], however, interpreted it (the entire verse) as an allusion to the day of Jacob’s burial, when Esau contested [the ownership of] the cave, in Tractate Sotah (13a). [As soon as Jacob’s sons reached the Cave of Machpelah, Esau came and stopped them. He said to them, “Mamre, Kiriath-arba, which is Hebron” (Gen. 35:27); Rabbi Isaac said that the name Kiriath-arba alludes to the four couples interred there: Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, and Jacob and Leah. Jacob buried Leah in his place, and the remaining one Esau said was his. Jacob’s sons said to Esau, “You sold it.” He replied, “Although I sold my birthright, did I sell my rights as an ordinary son?” They answered, “Yes, for it is written: ‘in my grave, which I bought (כָּרִיתִי) for myself’” (Gen. 50:5). Rabbi Johanan said in the name of Rabbi Simeon the son of Jehozadak, כִּירָה means nothing but sale (מְכִירָה), for in the coastal cities, sale is known as כִּירָה. Esau replied, “Give me the deed.” They said to him, “The deed is in Egypt.” [One asked another,] “Who should go (to get it) ?” [He replied,] “Let Naphtali go because he is as fleet-footed as a gazelle, as it is written: ‘Naphtali is a swift gazelle, [he is one] who utters beautiful words (אִמְרֵי שָׁפֶר).’” Do not read אִמְרֵי שָׁפֶר, but אִמְרֵי סֵפֶר, words of a scroll.] [I. e., it was Naphtali who brought the deed to the cave to prove that Jacob had purchased Esau’s burial right there.] The Targum renders: יִתְרְמֵי עַדְבֵהּ, his lot will fall [in a good land], and he will give thanks for his territory with beautiful words and praise. |
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הַנֹּתֵן אִמְרֵי־שָֽׁפֶר:
עַל יָדָם שָׁרוּ דְּבוֹרָה וּבָרָק שִׁירָה. וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ דְּרָשׁוּהוּ עַל יוֹם קְבוּרַת יַעֲקֹב כְּשֶׁעִרְעֵר עֵשָׂו עַל הַמְּעָרָה, בְּמַסֶּכֶת סוֹטָה (דף י"ג); וְתַרְגּוּמוֹ יִתְרְמֵי עַדְבֵהּ – יִפֹּל חֶבְלוֹ, וְהוּא יוֹדֶה עַל חֶלְקוֹ אֲמָרִים נָאִים וְשֶׁבַח:
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| 22A charming son is Joseph, a son charming to the eye; [of the] women, [each one] strode along to see him. |
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כבבֵּ֤ן פֹּרָת֙ יוֹסֵ֔ף בֵּ֥ן פֹּרָ֖ת עֲלֵי־עָ֑יִן בָּנ֕וֹת צָֽעֲדָ֖ה עֲלֵי־שֽׁוּר: |
| A charming son is Joseph: Heb. בֵּן פֹּרָת, a charming son. This is an Aramaism, similar to [the word used in the expression] “Let us express our favor (אַפִּרְיוֹן) to Rabbi Simeon,” [found] at the end of Baba Mezia (119a). |
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בֵּן פֹּרָת:
בֶּן חֵן, וְהוּא לְשׁוֹן אֲרַמִּי, אַפִּרְיָן נַמְטְיֵהּ לְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, בְּסוֹף בָּבָא מְצִיעָא (דף קי"ט):
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| a son charming to the eye: His charm attracts the eye that beholds him. |
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בֵּן פֹּרָת עֲלֵי־עָיִן:
חִנּוֹ נָטוּי עַל הָעַיִן הָרוֹאָה אוֹתוֹ:
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| of the] women, [each one] strode along to see him: Heb. עִלֵי שׁוּר. The women of Egypt strode out on the wall to gaze upon his beauty. Of the women, each one strode to a place from which she could catch a glimpse of him. עִלֵי שׁוּר, for the purpose of looking at him, similar to “I behold him (אֲשׁוּרֶנוּ), but not near” (Num. 24:17). There are many midrashic interpretations, but this is the closest to the literal sense of the verse. (Another explanation: This is how it should read, because according to the first interpretation, שׁוּר means“a wall.”)] |
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בנת צָֽעֲדָה עֲלֵי־שֽׁוּר:
בְּנוֹת מִצְרַיִם הָיוּ צוֹעֲדוֹת (עַל הַחוֹמָה) לְהִסְתַּכֵּל בְּיָפְיוֹ, בָּנוֹת הַרְבֵּה, צָעֲדָה כָּל אַחַת וְאַחַת, בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁתּוּכַל לִרְאוֹתוֹ מִשָּׁם: עלי שור: עַל רְאִיָּתוֹ, כְּמוֹ אֲשׁוּרֶנּוּ וְלֹא קָרוֹב (במדבר כ"ד), וּמִקְרָא אַחֵר יֵשׁ רַבִּים, וְזֶה נוֹטֶה לְיִשּׁוּב הַמִּקְרָא:
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| charming-: Heb. פֹּרָת. The “tav” in it is [added merely] to enhance the language, similar to “because of (עַל דִּבְרַת) the children of men” (Ecc. 3:18). (lit., concerning the matter of) |
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פֹּרָת:
תָּי"ו שֶׁבּוֹ הוּא תִּקּוּן הַלָּשׁוֹן, כְּמוֹ עַל דִּבְרַת בְּנֵי הָאָדָם (קהלת ג'):
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| see him: שׁוּר is the equivalent of לָשׁוּר, to see. [Thus the meaning of] עִלֵי שׁוּר [is] in order to see. Onkelos, however, renders בָּנוֹת צָעִדָה עִלֵי שׁוּר: Two tribes will emerge from his children. They will [each] receive a share and an inheritance. [Scripture] writes
בָּנוֹת, alluding to the daughters of Manasseh, [i.e.,] the daughters of Zelophehad, who received a share [of the land] on both sides of the Jordan. בֵּן פֹרת יוֹסֵף [is rendered] my son, who will multiply, is Joseph פֹּרָת is an expression of procreation פִּרְיָה וְרִבְיָה). There are midrashic interpretations that fit the language [of the verse, as follows]: When Esau came toward Jacob, all the other mothers went out ahead of their children to prostrate themselves. Concerning Rachel, however, it is written: “and afterwards, Joseph and Rachel drew near and prostrated themselves” (Gen. 33: 7), [denoting that Joseph preceded Rachel]. Joseph said, “This scoundrel has a haughty eye. Perhaps he will take a fancy to my mother.” So he went ahead of her, stretching his height to conceal her. His father was referring to this when he blessed him
בֵּן פֹּרָת, a son who grew, [meaning] you raised yourself over Esau’s eye. Therefore, you have attained greatness — [From Gen. Rabbah 78:10]. [Of the] women, [each one] strode along to see him, to gaze at you when you went forth through Egypt (Gen. Rabbah 98:18). They [the Rabbis] interpreted it (עִלֵי שׁוּר) further as referring to the idea that the evil eye should have no influence over his descendants. Also, when he (Jacob) blessed Manasseh and Ephraim, he blessed them [that they should be] like fish, over which the evil eye has no influence. — [From Ber. 20a] |
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שֽׁוּר:
כְּמוֹ לָשׁוּר עֲלֵי־שֽׁוּר
בִּשְׁבִיל לָשׁוּר, וְתַרְגּוּם שֶׁל אֻנְקְלוֹס, בָּנוֹת צָעֲדָה עֲלֵי שׁוּר תְּרֵין שִׁבְטִין יִפְּקוּן מִבְּנוֹהִי וְכוּ' וְכָתַב בָּנוֹת עַל שֵׁם בְּנוֹת מְנַשֶּׁה, בְּנוֹת צְלָפְחָד, שֶׁנָּטְלוּ חֵלֶק בִּשְׁנֵי עֶבְרֵי הַיַּרְדֵּן, בְּרִי דְּיִסְגֵּי יוֹסֵף, פֹּרָת לְשׁוֹן פִּרְיָה וּרְבִיָּה; וְיֵשׁ מִקְרָא אַחֵר בּוֹ הַמִּתְיַשְּׁבִים עַל הַלָּשׁוֹן, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁבָּא עֵשָׂו לִקְרַאת יַעֲקֹב, בְּכֻלָּן קָדְמוּ הָאִמָּהוֹת לָלֶכֶת לִפְנֵי בְּנֵיהֶם לְהִשְׁתַּחֲווֹת, וּבְרָחֵל כְּתִיב נִגַּשׁ יוֹסֵף וְרָחֵל וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ, אָמַר יוֹסֵף רָשָׁע הַזֶּה עֵינוֹ רָמָה, שֶׁמָּא יִתֵּן עֵינָיו בְּאִמִּי, יָצָא לְפָנֶיהָ וְשִׁרְבֵּב קוֹמָתוֹ לְכַסּוֹתָהּ, וְהוּא שֶׁבֵּרְכוֹ אָבִיו בֵּן פֹּרָת – הִגְדַּלְתָּ עַצְמְךָ יוֹסֵף עֲלֵי עַיִן שֶׁל עֵשָׂו, לְפִיכָךְ זָכִיתָ לִגְדֻלָּה בָּנוֹת צָֽעֲדָה עֲלֵי־שֽׁוּר
לְהִסְתַּכֵּל בְּךָ בְּצֵאתְךָ עַל מִצְרַיִם, וְעוֹד דְּרָשׁוּהוּ לְעִנְיָן שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁלֹט בְּזַרְעוֹ עַיִן הָרָע; וְאַף כְּשֶׁבֵּרֵךְ מְנַשֶּׁה וְאֶפְרַיִם בֵּרְכָם כַּדָּגִים, שֶׁאֵין עַיִן הָרָע שׁוֹלֶטֶת בָּהֶם:
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| 23They heaped bitterness upon him and became quarrelsome; yea, archers despised him. |
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כגוַיְמָֽרֲרֻ֖הוּ וָרֹ֑בּוּ וַיִּשְׂטְמֻ֖הוּ בַּֽעֲלֵ֥י חִצִּֽים: |
| They heaped bitterness upon him and became quarrelsome: Heb. וַיְמָרִרֻהוּ. His brothers heaped bitterness upon him (Joseph), [and] Potiphar and his wife heaped bitterness upon him by having him imprisoned. [This is] an expression similar to “And they embittered (וַיְמָרְרוּ) their lives” (Exod. 1:14). - [From Gen. Rabbah 98:19] |
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וַיְמָֽרֲרֻהוּ וָרֹבּוּ:
וַיְמָרְרוּהוּ אֶחָיו, וַיְמָרְרוּהוּ פּוֹטִיפַר וְאִשְׁתּוֹ, לְאָסְרוֹ; לְשׁוֹן וַיְמָרְרוּ אֶת חַיֵּיהֶם:
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| and became quarrelsome: Heb. וָרֹבּוּ. His brothers became his antagonists, (lit., men of quarrel). This verb form (וָרֹבּוּ) is not a form of פָּעִלוּ, [the simple active קַל conjugation], for if it were, it should have been vowelized like רָבוּ in “They are the waters of Meribah, where the children of Israel quarreled (רָבוּ), etc.” (Num. 20:13). Even if it (וָרֹבּוּ) denotes the shooting of (רְבִית) arrows, it would be vowelized the same way. It is [therefore] only a form of פֹּעִלוּ, the passive form, as in “The heavens were devastated (שֹׁמּוּ)” (Jer. 2:12), which is [equivalent to] הוּשַׁמּוּ Likewise, “They are taken away (רוֹמוּ) in a second” (Job 24:24), is an expression like הוּרְמוּ, except that the expressions of הוּשַׁמּוּ and הוּרְמוּ mean [to be devastated and taken away] by others, whereas the expressions שֹׁמּוּ, רוֹמוּ, [and] רֹבּוּ denote actions caused by themselves: they devastate themselves, they were taken away by themselves, they became quarrelsome. Similarly, “The island dwellers have been silenced (דֹמּוּ)” (Isa. 23:2) is like נָדַמּוּ Onkelos also renders וְנַקְמוֹהִי, and they took revenge from him. |
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וָרֹבּוּ:
נַעֲשׂוּ לוֹ אֶחָיו אַנְשֵׁי רִיב. וְאֵין הַלָּשׁוֹן הַזֶּה לְשׁוֹן פָּעֲלוּ, שֶׁאִם כֵּן הָיָה לוֹ לִנָּקֵד "וָרָבוּ", כְּמוֹ הֵמָּה מֵי מְרִיבָה אֲשֶׁר רָבוּ וְגוֹ' (במדבר כ'), וְאַף אִם לְשׁוֹן רְבִיַּת חִצִּים הוּא כָּךְ הָיָה לוֹ לִנָּקֵד; אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן פּוֹעֲלוּ, כְּמוֹ שֹׁמּוּ שָׁמַיִם (ירמיהו ב'), שֶׁהוּא לְשׁוֹן הוּשַׁמּוּ; וְכֵן רוֹמּוּ מְּעַט, שֶׁהוּא לְשׁוֹן הוּרְמוּ, אֶלָּא שֶׁלְּשׁוֹן הוּרְמוּ וְהוּשַׁמּוּ עַל יְדֵי אֲחֵרִים, וּלְשׁוֹן שֹׁמּוּ, רֹמּוּ, רֹבּוּ מֵאֵלֵיהֶם הוּא – מְשׁוֹמְמִים אֶת עַצְמָם, נִתְרוֹמְמוּ מֵעַצְמָם, נַעֲשׂוּ אַנְשֵׁי רִיב, וְכֵן דֹּמּוּ יֹשְׁבֵי אִי, כְּמוֹ נִדְמוּ, וְכֵן תִּרְגֵּם אֻנְקְלוֹס, וְנַקְמוֹהִי:
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| archers: Heb. בַּעִלֵי חִצִּים, [called this because their] tongues were like arrows (חִצִּים) (Gen. Rabbah 98:19). The Targum, however, renders it as מָרֵי פַלְגּוּתָא, an expression similar to “And the half (הַמֶּחֱצָה) was” (Num. 31:36), [meaning] those who were fit to share the inheritance with him, [viz., his brothers]. [I.e., Onkelos interprets בַּעִלֵי חִצִּים as those who should take half.] |
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בַּֽעֲלֵי חִצִּֽים:
שֶׁלְּשׁוֹנָם כַּחֵץ, וְתַרְגּוּמוֹ לְשׁוֹן וַתְּהִי הַמֶּחֱצָה, אוֹתָן שֶׁהָיוּ רְאוּיִים לַחֲלֹק עִמּוֹ נַחֲלָה:
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| 24But his bow was strongly established, and his arms were gilded from the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob; from there he sustained the rock of Israel, |
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כדוַתֵּ֤שֶׁב בְּאֵיתָן֙ קַשְׁתּ֔וֹ וַיָּפֹ֖זּוּ זְרֹעֵ֣י יָדָ֑יו מִידֵי֙ אֲבִ֣יר יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב מִשָּׁ֥ם רֹעֶ֖ה אֶ֥בֶן יִשְׂרָאֵֽל: |
| But his bow was strongly established: It became strongly established. His bow, his strength. |
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וַתֵּשֶׁב בְּאֵיתָן קַשְׁתּוֹ:
נִתְיַשְּׁבָה בְּחֹזֶק קַשְׁתּוֹ חָזְקוֹ:
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| and his arms were gilded: Heb. וַיָּפֹזּוּ. This refers to the placing of the signet ring on his (Joseph’s) hand, an expression similar to “glittering gold (זָהָב מוּפָז)” (I Kings 10:18). This [elevation] came to him from the hands of the Holy One, blessed be He, who is the Mighty One of Jacob. From there he (Joseph) was elevated to be the sustainer of the rock of Israel, the mainstay of Israel, [Be’er Yizchak] an expression of “the initial stone (הָאֶבֶן הָרֹאשָׁה)” (Zech. 4:7), [which is] an expression of royalty. [Jacob, the Patriarch, was considered a royal personality.] Onkelos, too, rendered it in this way, [i.e., that וַיָּפֹזוּ is derived from פָּז, fine gold]. He rendered וַתֵּשֶׁב as וְתָבַת בְּהוֹן נְבִיאוּתֵיהּ, [meaning] his prophecy returned [and was fulfilled] upon them [thus rendering וַתֵּשֶׁב as “returning” rather than as “being established.” This refers to] the dreams he dreamed about them, עַל דְקַייֵם אוֹרַיְתָא בְּסִתְרָא, because he observed the Torah in secret. This is an addendum, and is not derived from the Hebrew of the verse. וְשַׁוִּי בְּתוּקְפָּא רוּחִצָנֵיהּ, and he placed his trust in the Mighty One. [This is] the Aramaic translation of וַתֵּשֶׁב בְּאֵיתָן קַשְׁתּוֹ, and this is how the language of the Targum follows the Hebrew: His prophecy returned because the might of the Holy One, blessed be He, was his bow and his trust. עַל דְּרָעוֹהִי בְּכֵן יִתְרְמָא דְּהַב therefore, “his arms were gilded (וַיָּפֹזוּ),” an expression of “fine gold (פָּז).” |
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וַיָּפֹזּוּ זְרֹעֵי יָדָיו:
זוֹ הִיא נְתִינַת טַבַּעַת עַל יָדוֹ, לְשׁוֹן זָהָב מוּפָז, זֹאת הָיְתָה לוֹ מִידֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁהוּא אֲבִיר יַעֲקֹב, וּמִשָּׁם עָלָה לִהְיוֹת רֹעֶה אֶבֶן יִשְׂרָאֵל – עִקָּרָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, לְשׁוֹן הָאֶבֶן הָרֹאשָׁה, לְשׁוֹן מַלְכוּת; וְאֻנְקְלוֹס אַף הוּא כָךְ תִּרְגְּמוֹ ותשב – וְתָבַת בְּהוֹן נְבִיאוּתֵהּ, הַחֲלוֹמוֹת אֲשֶׁר חָלַם לָהֶם – עַל דְּקַיֵּם אוֹרַיְתָא בְּסִתְרָא, תּוֹסֶפֶת הוּא, וְלֹא מִלָּשׁוֹן עִבְרִי שֶׁבַּמִּקְרָא, – וְשַׁוִּי תוּקְפָא רוֹחֲצָנֵהּ תַּרְגּוּם שֶׁל בְּאֵיתָן קַשְׁתּוֹ, וְכָךְ לְשׁוֹן הַתַּרְגּוּם עַל הָעִבְרִי: וַתֵּשֶׁב נְבוּאָתוֹ בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁאֵיתָנוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הָיְתָה לוֹ לְקֶשֶׁת וּלְמִבְטָח, בְּכֵן יִתְרְמָא דְּהַב עַל דְּרָעוֹהִי – לְכָךְ וַיָּפֹזּוּ זְרֹעֵי יָדָיו, לְשׁוֹן פָּז:
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| the rock of Israel: A contraction of אָב וּבֵן, father and son, [which Onkelos renders as אַבְהָן וּבְנִין], fathers and sons. |
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אֶבֶן יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
לְשׁוֹן נוֹטָרִיקוֹן אָב וּבֵן, אֲבָהָן וּבְנִין – יַעֲקֹב וּבָנָיו:
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| and his arms were gilded:
Like "and they were spread", since his seed came from between the fingers of his hands.
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וַיָּפֹזּוּ זְרֹעֵי יָדָיו:
כְּמוֹ וַיָּפוֹצוּ, שֶׁיָּצָא הַזֶּרַע מִבֵּין אֶצְבְּעוֹת יָדָיו:
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| the Mighty of Jacob: מִידֵי אֲבִיר יַעִקֹב [According to this interpretation, this phrase is rendered: by the hand of the might of Jacob. He was able to overcome his temptation] because his father’s image appeared to him, etc., as related in Sotah (36b). See above on 39:11. The end of the verse is explained as follows: ישְׂרָאֵל מִשָּׁם רֹעֶה אֶבֶן -from there he merited to be the shepherd of Israel and to have a stone among the stones of the tribes of Israel [on the breastplate of the High Priest.] [Now Rashi returns to verse 26. He wishes to clarify Targum Onkelos, which renders the verse as follows: Your father’s blessings shall be added to the blessings that my fathers blessed me, which the greats of old [the righteous] desired for themselves.] Onkelos, however, renders תַּאִוַת גִבְעֹת עוֹלָם as an expression of desire and longing, and גִבְעֹת, hills, as an expression of “the pillars of the earth” (I Sam. 2:8), (meaning the righteous, in whose merit the world exists). (These are the blessings) his mother longed for and forced him to accept. |
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מִידֵי אֲבִיר יַֽעֲקֹב:
שֶׁנִרְאֲתָה לוֹ דְמוּת דְּיוֹקְנוֹ שֶׁל אָבִיו וְכוּ', כִּדְאִיתָא בְּסוֹטָה (דף ל"ו, ב'):
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| 25from the God of your father, and He will help you, and with the Almighty, and He will bless you [with] the blessings of the heavens above, the blessings of the deep, lying below, the blessings of father and mother. |
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כהמֵאֵ֨ל אָבִ֜יךָ וְיַעְזְרֶ֗ךָּ וְאֵ֤ת שַׁדַּי֙ וִֽיבָ֣רֲכֶ֔ךָּ בִּרְכֹ֤ת שָׁמַ֨יִם֙ מֵעָ֔ל בִּרְכֹ֥ת תְּה֖וֹם רֹבֶ֣צֶת תָּ֑חַת בִּרְכֹ֥ת שָׁדַ֖יִם וָרָֽחַם: |
| from the God of your father: This befell you, and He will help you. |
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מֵאֵל אָבִיךָ:
הָיְתָה לְךָ זֹאת וְהוּא יַעְזְרֶךָּ:
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| and with the Almighty: And your heart was with the Holy One, blessed be He, when you did not heed your mistress’s orders, and [because of this] He shall bless you. |
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וְאֵת שַׁדַּי:
וְעִם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הָיָה לִבְּךָ כְּשֶׁלֹּא שָׁמַעְתָ לְדִבְרֵי אֲדוֹנָתְךָ, וְהוּא יְבָרְכֶךָּ:
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| the blessings of father and mother: Heb. בִּרְכֹת שָׁדַיִם וָרָחַם [Onkelos renders:] בִּרְכָתָא דְאַבָּא וּדְאִמָּא, blessings of father and mother. That is to say that the ones who beget the children and the ones who bear the children will be blessed. The males will impregnate with a drop of semen that is fit for conception, and the females will not lose what is in their womb and miscarry their fetuses. |
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בִּרְכֹת שָׁדַיִם וָרָֽחַם:
בִּרְכָתָא דְּאַבָּא וּדְאִמָּא, כְּלוֹמַר, יִתְבָּרְכוּ הַמּוֹלִידִים וְהַיּוֹלְדוֹת, שֶׁיִּהְיוּ הַזְּכָרִים מַזְרִיעִין טִפָּה הָרְאוּיָה לְהֵרָיוֹן, וְהַנְּקֵבוֹת לֹא יְשַׁכְּלוּ אֶת רֶחֶם שֶׁלָּהֶן לְהַפִּיל עֻבָּרֵיהֶן:
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| father: Heb. שָׁדַיִם. [How does שָׁדַיִם come to mean father?] “He shall be cast down (יָרֹה יִיָּרֶה)” (Exod. 19:13) is translated by the Targum as אִשְׁתְּדָאָה יִשְׁתְּדֵי Here too, [שָׁדַיִם means the father] because semen shoots (יוֹרֶה) like an arrow. |
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שָׁדַיִם:
יָרֹה יִיָּרֶה מְתַּרְגְּמִינַן אִשְׁתְּדָאָה יִשְׁתְּדִי, אַף שָׁדַיִם כָּאן עַל שֵׁם שֶׁהַזֶּרַע יוֹרֶה כַּחֵץ:
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| 26The blessings of your father surpassed the blessings of my parents, the ends of the everlasting hills. May they come to Joseph's head and to the crown (of the head) of the one who was separated from his brothers. |
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כובִּרְכֹ֣ת אָבִ֗יךָ גָּֽבְרוּ֙ עַל־בִּרְכֹ֣ת הוֹרַ֔י עַד־תַּֽאֲוַ֖ת גִּבְעֹ֣ת עוֹלָ֑ם תִּֽהְיֶ֨יןָ֙ לְרֹ֣אשׁ יוֹסֵ֔ף וּלְקָדְקֹ֖ד נְזִ֥יר אֶחָֽיו: |
| The blessings of your father surpassed, etc: The blessings the Holy One, blessed be He, have blessed me, surpassed the blessings He had blessed my parents. — [From Bereshith Rabbathi] |
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בִּרְכֹת אָבִיךָ גָּֽבְרוּ וגו':
הַבְּרָכוֹת שֶׁבֵּרְכַנִי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא גָּבְרוּ וְהָלְכוּ עַל הַבְּרָכוֹת שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֶת הוֹרַי:
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| to the ends of the everlasting hills: Because my blessings extended until the ends of the boundaries of the everlasting hills, for He gave me a limitless blessing, without boundaries, reaching the four corners of the earth, as it is said: “and you shall spread out westward and eastward, etc.” (Gen. 28:14), which He did not say to our father Abraham or to Isaac. To Abraham He said, “Please raise your eyes and see…For all the land that you see I will give to you” (Gen. 13:14), and He showed him only the Land of Israel. To Isaac He said, “for to you and to your seed will I give all these lands, and I will establish the oath [that I swore to Abraham, your father]” (Gen. 26:3). This is what Isaiah said, “and I will provide you with the heritage of Jacob, your father” (Isa. 58:14), but he did not say, “the heritage of Abraham.” - [From Shab. 118a] |
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עַד־תַּֽאֲוַת גִּבְעֹת עוֹלָם:
לְפִי שֶׁהַבְּרָכוֹת שֶׁלִּי גָּבְרוּ עַד סוֹף גְּבוּלֵי גִּבְעוֹת עוֹלָם, שֶׁנָּתַן לִי בְּרָכָה פְרוּצָה בְּלִי מְצָרִים, מַגַּעַת עַד אַרְבַּע קְצוֹת הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וּפָרַצְתָּ יָמָּה וָקֵדְמָה וְגוֹ', מַה שֶּׁלֹּא אָמַר לְאַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ וּלְיִצְחָק; לְאַבְרָהָם אָמַר שָׂא נָא עֵינֶיךָ וּרְאֵה צָפוֹנָה וְגוֹ' כִּי אֶת כָּל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה רֹאֶה לְךָ אֶתְּנֶנָּה, וְלֹא הֶרְאָהוּ אֶלָּא אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּלְבָד; לְיִצְחָק אָמַר לְךָ וּלְזַרְעֲךָ אֶתֵּן אֶת כָּל הָאֲרָצֹת הָאֵל וַהֲקִמֹתִי אֶת הַשְּׁבֻעָה וְגוֹ', וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר יְשַׁעְיָה (ישעיהו נ"ח) וְהַאֲכַלְתִּיךָ נַחֲלַת יַעֲקֹב אָבִיךָ, וְלֹא אָמַר נַחֲלַת אַבְרָהָם:
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| the ends: Heb. תַּאִוַת, asasomalz in Old French, the ends, bounds. Menachem ben Saruk classified it exactly the same way (Machbereth Menachem p. 183). |
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תַּֽאֲוַת:
אשׁמו"לץ בְּלַעַז, כָּךְ חִבְּרוֹ מְנַחֵם בֶּן סָרוּק. וְאֻנְקְלוֹס תִּרְגֵּם תַּאֲוַת עוֹלָם לְשׁוֹן תַּאֲוָה וְחֶמְדָה, וְגִבְעוֹת לְשׁוֹן מְצֻקֵי אֶרֶץ שֶׁחִמְּדַתָּן אִמּוֹ וְהִזְקִיקַתּוּ לְקַבְּלָם:
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| my parents: Heb. הוֹרַי, an expression of conception (הֵרָיוֹן), [meaning] that they caused me to be conceived (הוֹרוּנִי) in my mother’s womb, similar to “A man has impregnated (הֹרָה)” (Job 3:2). |
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הוֹרַי:
לְשׁוֹן הֵרָיוֹן, שֶׁהוֹרוּנִי בִּמְעֵי אִמִּי, כְּמוֹ הֹרָה גָבֶר (איוב ג'):
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| to the ends: Heb. עַד תַּאִוַת, until the ends, like “And you shall demarcate (הִתְאַוִּיתֶם) as your eastern border” (Num. 34:10); [and] “you shall draw a line (תְּתָאוּ) extending to the road leading to Hamath” (ibid. 34:8). |
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עַד־תַּֽאֲוַת:
עַד קְצוֹת, כְּמוֹ וְהִתְאַוִּיתֶם לָכֶם לִגְבוּל קֵדְמָה (במדבר ל"ד), תְּתָאוּ לְבֹא חֲמָת (שם):
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| May they come: All of them to Joseph’s head- [From Targum Onkelos] |
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תִּֽהְיֶיןָ:
כֻּלָּם לְרֹאשׁ יוֹסֵף:
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| the one who was separated from his brothers: Heb. נְזִיר אֶחָיו [Onkelos renders:] דַאִחוֹהִי פְּרִישָׁא, who was separated from his brothers, similar to “and they shall separate (וַינָּזְרוּ) from the holy things of the children of Israel” (Lev. 22:2); [and] “they drew (נָזֹרוּ) backwards” (Isa. 1:4). - [From Sifra Emor 4:1] [Returning to verse 24, Rashi continues:] Our Rabbis, however, interpreted “But his bow was strongly established” as referring to his (Joseph’s) overcoming his temptation with his master’s wife. He calls it a bow because semen shoots like an arrow. — [From Sotah 36b] וַיָּפֹזוּ זְרֹעֵי יָדָיו [וַיָּפֹזוּ is] equivalent to וַיָפֹצוּ, scattered, that the semen came out from between his fingers. — [From Sotah 36b]
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נְזִיר אֶחָֽיו:
פְּרִישָׁא דַּאֲחוֹהִי, שֶׁנִּבְדַּל מֵאֶחָיו, כְּמוֹ וְיִנָּזְרוּ מִקָּדְשֵׁי בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (ויקרא כ"ב), נָזֹרוּ אָחוֹר (ישעיהו א') וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ דָרְשׁוּ וַתֵּשֶׁב בְּאֵיתָן קַשְׁתּוֹ עַל כְּבִישַׁת יִצְרוֹ בְּאֵשֶׁת אֲדֹנָיו, וְקוֹרְאוֹ קֶשֶׁת, עַל שֵׁם שֶׁהַזֶּרַע יוֹרֶה כַּחֵץ::
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| 27Benjamin is a wolf, he will prey; in the morning he will devour plunder, and in the evening he will divide the spoil." |
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כזבִּנְיָמִין֙ זְאֵ֣ב יִטְרָ֔ף בַּבֹּ֖קֶר יֹ֣אכַל עַ֑ד וְלָעֶ֖רֶב יְחַלֵּ֥ק שָׁלָֽל: |
| Benjamin is a wolf, he will prey: He is a wolf for he will prey. He (Jacob) prophesied that they were destined to be “grabbers”: “and you shall grab for yourselves each man his wife” (Jud. 21:21), in [the episode of] the concubine [who happened to be] in Gibeah (ibid., chs. 19-21); and he prophesied about Saul, that he would be victorious over his enemies all around, as it is said: “And Saul took the kingdom…and he waged war…against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, etc., and wherever he turned, he caused them to tremble” (I Sam. 14:47). - [From Shitah Chadashah and Gen. Rabbah 98:3] |
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בִּנְיָמִין זְאֵב יִטְרָף:
זְאֵב הוּא אֲשֶׁר יִטְרָף; נִבָּא עַל שֶׁיִּהְיוּ עֲתִידִין לִהְיוֹת חַטְפָנִין, וַחֲטַפְתֶּם לָכֶם אִישׁ אִשְׁתּוֹ בְּפִלֶגֶשׁ בְּגִבְעָה (שופטים כ"א), וְנִבָּא עַל שָׁאוּל שֶׁהָיָה נוֹצֵחַ בְּאוֹיְבָיו סָבִיב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְשָׁאוּל לָכַד הַמְּלוּכָה וַיִּלָּחֶם בְּמוֹאָב וְגוֹ' וּבֶאֱדוֹם וְגוֹ' וּבְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִפְנֶה יַרְשִׁיעַ (שמואל א י"ד):
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| in the morning he will devour plunder: Heb. עַד, an expression of plunder and spoil, translated into Aramaic as עִדָאָה. There is another example of its use in Hebrew: “Then plunder and booty (עַד שָׁלָל) were divided” (Isa. 33:23). He (Jacob) is referring to Saul, who arose at the beginning of the “morning (other editions: עַד is the blossoming) and sunrise” of Israel. — [From Esther Rabbah 10:13] |
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בַּבֹּקֶר יֹאכַל עַד:
לְשׁוֹן בִּזָּה וְשָׁלָל, הַמְתֻרְגָּם עֲדָאָה, וְעוֹד יֵשׁ לוֹ דּוֹמֶה בִּלְשׁוֹן עִבְרִית אָז חֻלַּק עַד שָׁלָל (ישעיהו ל"ג), וְעַל שָׁאוּל הוּא אוֹמֵר שֶׁעָמַד בִּתְחִלַּת פְּרִיחָתָן וּזְרִיחָתָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל:
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| and in the evening he will divide the spoil: Even when the sun will set for Israel through Nebuchadnezzar, who will exile them to Babylon, he (Benjamin) will divide the spoil. Mordecai and Esther, who were of [the tribe of] Benjamin, will divide the spoils of Haman, as it is said: “Behold, the house of Haman I have given to Esther” (Esther 8:7) (Esther Rabbah 10:13). Onkelos, however, rendered it as regarding the “spoils” of the priests, i.e., the holy things of the Temple, [namely the priests’ share of the sacrifices]. |
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וְלָעֶרֶב יְחַלֵּק שָׁלָֽל:
אַף מִשֶּׁתִּשְׁקַע שִׁמְשָׁן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל יְדֵי נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר, שֶׁיַּגְלֵם לְבָבֶל, יחלק שלל, מָרְדְּכַי וְאֶסְתֵּר שֶׁהֵם מִבִּנְיָמִין יְחַלְּקוּ אֶת שְׁלַל הָמָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר הִנֵּה בֵית הָמָן נָתַתִּי לְאֶסְתֵּר. וְאֻנְקְלוֹס תִּרְגֵּם עַל שְׁלַל הַכֹּהֲנִים בְּקָדְשֵׁי הַמִּקְדָּשׁ:
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| 28All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father spoke to them and blessed them; each man, according to his blessing, he blessed them. |
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כחכָּל־אֵ֛לֶּה שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֑ר וְ֠זֹ֠את אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֨ר לָהֶ֤ם אֲבִיהֶם֙ וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ אוֹתָ֔ם אִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר כְּבִרְכָת֖וֹ בֵּרַ֥ךְ אֹתָֽם: |
| and this is what their father spoke to them and blessed them: Now is it not so that some of them he did not bless, but [in fact] chided? Rather, this is what is intended: And this is what their father spoke to them-what is related in this section. One might think that he did not bless Reuben, Simeon, and Levi. Therefore, Scripture states: and he blessed them, meaning all of them. — [From Pesikta Rabbathi 7] |
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וְזֹאת אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּר לָהֶם אֲבִיהֶם וַיְבָרֶךְ אוֹתָם:
וַהֲלֹא יֵשׁ מֵהֶם שֶׁלֹּא בֵּרְכָם אֶלָּא קִנְטְרָן? אֶלָּא כָךְ פֵּרוּשׁוֹ: וְזֹאת אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לָהֶם אֲבִיהֶם מַה שֶּׁנֶאֱמַר בָּעִנְיָן; יָכוֹל שֶׁלֹּא בֵרַךְ לִרְאוּבֵן, שִׁמְעוֹן וְלֵוִי, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר וַיְבָרֶךְ אוֹתָם – כֻּלָּם בְּמַשְׁמָע:
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| according to his blessing: With the blessing destined to befall each of them. |
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אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־כְּבִרְכָתוֹ:
בְּרָכָה הָעֲתִידָה לָבֹא עַל כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד:
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| he blessed them: Scripture should have said, “each man, according to his blessing, he blessed him.” Why does Scripture say, “he blessed them?” Since he (Jacob) bestowed upon Judah the might of a lion, and upon Benjamin the power to seize like a wolf, and upon Naphtali the fleetness of a gazelle, I might think that he did not include all of them in all the blessings. Therefore, Scripture states:“he blessed them.” - [From Tanchuam Vayechi 16] |
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בֵּרַךְ אוֹתָם:
לֹא הָיָה לוֹ לוֹמַר אֶלָּא אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר כְּבִרְכָתוֹ בֵּרַךְ אוֹתוֹ, מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר בֵּרַךְ אוֹתָם? לְפִי שֶׁנָּתַן לִיהוּדָה גְּבוּרַת אֲרִי וּלְבִנְיָמִין חֲטִיפָתוֹ שֶׁל זְאֵב וּלְנַפְתָּלִי קַלּוּתוֹ שֶׁל אַיָּל, יָכוֹל שֶׁלֹּא כְלָלָן כֻּלָּם בְּכָל הַבְּרָכוֹת, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר בֵּרַךְ אוֹתָם:
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| 29And he commanded them and said to them, "I will be brought in to my people; bury me with my fathers, in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, |
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כטוַיְצַ֣ו אוֹתָ֗ם וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ אֲנִי֙ נֶֽאֱסָ֣ף אֶל־עַמִּ֔י קִבְר֥וּ אֹתִ֖י אֶל־אֲבֹתָ֑י אֶ֨ל־הַמְּעָרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּשְׂדֵ֖ה עֶפְר֥וֹן הַֽחִתִּֽי: |
| I will be brought in to my people: Heb. נֶאֱסָף [The term נֶאֱסָף is utilized] because they brought souls into the place where they are concealed. There are instances of אִסִיפָה in Hebrew that mean bringing in, e.g., “but no one brought them (מְאַסֵּף) home” (Jud. 19: 15); “you shall take it (וַאִסַפְתּוֹ) into your house” (Deut. 22:2); [and] “when you bring in (בְּאָסְפְּכֶם) the produce of the land” (Lev. 23:39). It is [the produce] brought into the house because of the rains. [Another instance is:] “When you bring in (בְּאָסְפּךְָ) your labors” (Exod. 23:16). Likewise, every instance of אִסִיפָה mentioned in connection with death is also an expression of “bringing in.” |
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נֶֽאֱסָף אֶל־עַמִּי:
עַל שֵׁם שֶׁמַּכְנִיסִין הַנְּפָשׁוֹת אֶל מְקוֹם גְּנִיזָתָן, שֶׁיֵּשׁ אֲסִיפָה בְּלָשׁוֹן עִבְרִי שֶׁהִיא לְשׁוֹן הַכְנָסָה, כְּגוֹן וְאֵין אִישׁ מְאַסֵּף אוֹתִי הַבָּיְתָה (שופטים י"ט), וַאֲסַפְתּוֹ אֶל תּוֹךְ בֵּיתֶךָ (דברים כ"ב), בְּאָסְפְּכֶם אֶת תְּבוּאַת הָאָרֶץ (ויקרא כ"ג), הַכְנָסָתָם לַבַּיִת מִפְּנֵי הַגְּשָׁמִים, בְּאָסְפְּךָ אֶת מַעֲשֶׂיךָ (שמות כ"ג), וְכָל אֲסִיפָה הָאֲמוּרָה בְמִיתָה אַף הִיא לְשׁוֹן הַכְנָסָה:
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| with my fathers: Heb. אֶל, lit., to my fathers. [Here it means] with my fathers. |
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אֶל־אֲבֹתָי:
עִם אֲבוֹתַי:
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| 30in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre in the land of Canaan, which field Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittite for burial property. |
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לבַּמְּעָרָ֞ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר בִּשְׂדֵ֧ה הַמַּכְפֵּלָ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־עַל־פְּנֵ֥י מַמְרֵ֖א בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן אֲשֶׁר֩ קָנָ֨ה אַבְרָהָ֜ם אֶת־הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה מֵאֵ֛ת עֶפְרֹ֥ן הַֽחִתִּ֖י לַֽאֲחֻזַּת־קָֽבֶר: |
| 31There they buried Abraham and his wife Sarah, there they buried Isaac and his wife Rebecca, and there I buried Leah. |
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לאשָׁ֣מָּה קָֽבְר֞וּ אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֗ם וְאֵת֙ שָׂרָ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ שָׁ֚מָּה קָֽבְר֣וּ אֶת־יִצְחָ֔ק וְאֵ֖ת רִבְקָ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וְשָׁ֥מָּה קָבַ֖רְתִּי אֶת־לֵאָֽה: |
| 32The purchase of the field and the cave therein was from the sons of Heth." |
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לבמִקְנֵ֧ה הַשָּׂדֶ֛ה וְהַמְּעָרָ֥ה אֲשֶׁר־בּ֖וֹ מֵאֵ֥ת בְּנֵי־חֵֽת: |
| 33And Jacob concluded commanding his sons, and he drew his legs [up] into the bed, and expired and was brought in to his people. |
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לגוַיְכַ֤ל יַֽעֲקֹב֙ לְצַוֹּ֣ת אֶת־בָּנָ֔יו וַיֶּֽאֱסֹ֥ף רַגְלָ֖יו אֶל־הַמִּטָּ֑ה וַיִּגְוַ֖ע וַיֵּאָ֥סֶף אֶל־עַמָּֽיו: |
| and he drew his legs: Heb. וַיֶאֱסֹף רַגְלָיו, he drew in his legs. |
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וַיֶּֽאֱסֹף רַגְלָיו:
הִכְנִיס רַגְלָיו:
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| and expired and was brought in: But no mention is made of death in his regard, and our Rabbis of blessed memory said: Our father Jacob did not die. — [From Ta’anith 5b] |
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וַיִּגְוַע וַיֶּֽאֱסֹף:
וּמִיתָה לֹא נֶאֶמְרָה בוֹ, וְאָמַר רַבִּי יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ לֹא מֵת:
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