Sifrei on Deuteronomy Sifrei Devarim 39

English · Shraga Silverstein

(Devarim 11:11) "But the land whither you are crossing to inherit it is a land of mountains and plains." Can it be that the verse speaks demeaningly of Eretz Yisrael in mentioning mountains? It is, therefore, written "and plains." Just as plains (are mentioned) for commendation, so, mountains. Furthermore, a reason is given for "mountains" as a reason is given for plains — the fruits of the mountain are quick (to grow) and those of the valley are fat.

2

English · Shraga Silverstein

R. Shimon b. Yochai says: Where a plain yields a kor, a mountain yields five korim; a kor in the north, a kor in the south, a kor in the east, a kor in the west, and a kor on top — five times the yield (of a plain). Similarly, (Ezekiel 5:5) "This is Jerusalem. Among the nations have I placed her, and all around her are lands." And elsewhere, it itself is called a land. How are the verses to be reconciled? It is a land which contains many different kinds of land — fruitful land, sandy land, dusty (non-fruitful) land.

3

English · Shraga Silverstein

Variantly, "mountains and plains": The flavor of the fruits of a mountain is not similar to that of the fruits of a plain. This tells me only of the fruits of a mountain vis-à-vis those of a plain. Whence do I derive that the flavor of the fruits of one mountain is not like that of another and that the flavor of the fruits of one plain is not like that of another? From "a land of mountains (plural) and plains" (plural) — many mountains, many plains.

4

English · Shraga Silverstein

R. Shimon b. Yochai says: Twelve lands were given (to Israel) corresponding to the twelve tribes of Israel, and the flavor of the fruits of one land were not similar to that of each of the others. And these are the (twelve) lands: (Devarim 8:8) "a land of olive-oil and honey," (Bamidbar 14:24) "I shall bring him (Calev) to the land whence he came," (Devarim 4:14) "the land whither you are crossing to inherit it," (Ibid. 11:11) "a land of mountains and plains … (Ibid. 12) a land which the L-rd your G-d inquires after," (Ibid. 8:7) "For the L-rd your G-d is bringing you to a good land, a land of streams of water … (Ibid. 8) a land of wheat and barley … a land of olive-oil and honey (Ibid. 9) a land where not in constraint shall you eat bread … a land whose stones are iron … (Ibid. 10) for the good land" — twelve lands corresponding to twelve tribes. And whence is it derived that the flavor of the fruits of one tribe were not similar to that of another? From "a land of mountains (plural) and plains" (plural) — many mountains, many plains, (each unique in itself).

5

English · Shraga Silverstein

R. Yossi Hameshulam says: Whence is it derived that just as it (Eretz Yisrael) imparts flavors to the land, so it imparts flavors to the sea (i.e., the Mediterranean)? From (Bereshith 11:10) "and the gathering of the waters He called "'seas.'" Now the sea is one, viz. (Ibid. 9) "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered into one place." How, then, is "and the gathering of the waters He called 'seas'" to be understood? (It is to be understood as meaning) that the flavor of a fish brought up from Acco is not like that of one brought up from Tzor, and that the flavor of a fish brought up from Tzor is not like that of one brought up from Spain.

6

English · Shraga Silverstein

Or, because the soil of a mountain is light and that of a plain heavy, I might think that the waters would drive the soil from mountain to valley, and the valley, (having become "caked") would lack water; it is, therefore, written "a land of mountains and plains," each (nourished with water) in its own way. And thus is it written (Zechariah 10:11) "Ask the L-rd for rain in the time of late rain, etc."

7

English · Shraga Silverstein

Or, because Eretz Yisrael is surrounded with mountains, I might think that what is revealed (i.e., exposed) drinks (rain), and that what is concealed does not; it is, therefore, written (Devarim 11:11) "From the rain of the heavens you will drink water" — both the revealed and the concealed. And thus is it written (Job 37:11) "Af-Bri (the plenipotentiary of rain) will load the cloud. He (Af-Bri) will scatter the cloud of His rain, and he around (the mountain) (will guide it) with his stratagems." So that clouds surround it and water it from every side.

8

English · Shraga Silverstein

Or, because it (Eretz Yisrael) drinks rain water, but not irrigation water, it is, therefore, written (Devarim 8:7) "For the L-rd your G-d is bringing you to a good land, a land of streams of water."

9

English · Shraga Silverstein

Or, because it does drink irrigation water, but not snow-water, it is, therefore, written "From the rain of the heavens you will drink water." Let "water" not be written (i.e., it is superfluous). Why is it written? (To indicate) even snow-water. And thus is it written (Isaiah 55:10) "For as the rain and the snow descend from the heavens … and soaks the earth and makes it bring forth vegetation, etc.", and (Job 37:6) "For to the snow He says 'Descend to the earth, etc.'"

10

English · Shraga Silverstein

Or, because it does drink snow-water, but it does not drink dew-water, it is written "From the rain of the heavens you will drink water" — even dew-water.

11

English · Shraga Silverstein

And just as dew descends for blessing, so, rain. And thus is it written (Bereshith 27:28) "And may G-d give you of the dew of the heavens," and (Devarim 32:2) "My teaching (Torah) shall drip as the rain," and (Hosea 14:6) "I shall be like the dew to Israel," and (Michah 5:6) "And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the L-rd, like the droplets upon the grass."

Sifrei Devarim 39

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