במדבר רבה י״זBamidbar Rabbah 17

Section 1א׳

כִּי תָבֹאוּ אֶל אֶרֶץ מוֹשְׁבֹתֵיכֶם (במדבר טו, ב), הֲלָכָה, כַּמָּה דְבָרִים חַיָּב אָדָם לַעֲשׂוֹת לִבְנוֹ, שָׁנוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ חֲמִשָּׁה דְבָרִים הָאָב חַיָּב לַעֲשׂוֹת לַבֵּן, הָאָב זֶה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וְהַבֵּן אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהָאָב חַיָּב לָמוּל אֶת בְּנוֹ, כֵּן עָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, מָל אוֹתָם עַל יְדֵי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (יהושע ה, ב): עֲשֵׂה לְךָ חַרְבוֹת צֻרִים. הָאָב חַיָּב לִפְדוֹתוֹ, וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא פָּדָה יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל ב ז, כג): לִפְדוֹת לוֹ לְעָם. לְלַמְּדוֹ תּוֹרָה, הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִמֵּד תּוֹרָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל (דברים יא, יט): וְלִמַּדְתֶּם אֹתָם אֶת בְּנֵיכֶם, וּכְתִיב (ישעיה מח, יז): אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ מְלַמֶּדְךָ לְהוֹעִיל. לְלַמְּדוֹ מִצְווֹת, הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִמֵּד אֶת הַמִּצְווֹת לְיִשְׂרָאֵל. לְהַשִֹּׂיאוֹ אִשָּׁה, הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אָמַר לָהֶם (בראשית א, כח): פְּרוּ וּרְבוּ. הָאָב זָקוּק לִבְנוֹ לְהַאֲכִילוֹ וּלְהַשְׁקוֹתוֹ לְרָחֲצוֹ לָסוּכוֹ וּלְהַלְבִּישׁוֹ, וְכֵן עָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל (יחזקאל טז, ט י): וָאֶרְחָצֵךְ בַּמַּיִם וָאֶשְׁטֹף דָּמַיִךְ וגו' וָאַלְבִּשֵׁךְ רִקְמָה. (יחזקאל טז, יט): וְלַחְמִי אֲשֶׁר נָתַתִּי לָךְ. (במדבר כא, יז): עֲלִי בְּאֵר עֱנוּ לָהּ. מָה הָאָב נוֹתֵן לִבְנוֹ נְכָסִים, כָּךְ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עָשָׂה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל (ירמיה ג, יט): וְאֶתֶּן לָךְ אֶרֶץ חֶמְדָּה. וּמַה הַבֵּן חַיָּב לִהְיוֹת מַעֲלֶה לְאָבִיו, דּוֹרוֹן, כָּךְ אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל: כִּי תָבֹאוּ אֶל אֶרֶץ וגו' וַעֲשִׂיתֶם עֹלָה לַה'.

“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: When you will come into the land of your dwellings, that I am giving to you” (Numbers 15:2). “When you will come into the land of your dwellings” – halakha: How many matters is a person obligated to perform for his son? Our Rabbis taught: There are five matters that a father is obligated to perform for his son. The father is the Holy One blessed be He, and the son is Israel. Just as the father is obligated to circumcise his son, so the Holy One blessed be He did for Israel, as He circumcised them by means of Joshua. “Make flint knives for yourself [and circumcise the children of Israel]” (Joshua 5:2). The father is obligated to redeem him, and the Holy One blessed be He redeemed Israel, as it is stated: “To redeem for Himself as a people” (II Samuel 7:23). To teach him Torah; the Holy One blessed be He taught Torah to Israel: “You shall teach them to your children” (Deuteronomy 11:19), and it is written: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you for your own benefit” (Isaiah 48:17). To teach him mitzvot; the Holy One blessed be He taught mitzvot to Israel. To marry a wife to him; the Holy One blessed be He said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28). The father is obligated to his son, to feed him and to give him to drink, to bathe him, to smear him with oil, and to clothe him. So, the Holy One blessed be He did for Israel. “I washed you with water and rinsed your blood…[and I anointed you with oil]. I clothed you in embroidery” (Ezekiel 16:9–10); “and My bread that I gave you” (Ezekiel 16:19); “rise, well, call to it” (Numbers 21:17). Just as the father gives property to his son, so the Holy One blessed be He did for Israel: “I gave you a desirable land” (Jeremiah 3:19). What is the son obligated to offer up to his father? It is a gift. So the Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: “When you will come into the land…you will perform…a burnt offering…to the Lord” (Numbers 15:2–3).

Section 2ב׳

כָּךְ פָּתַח רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא בַּר אַבָּא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חֲנִינָא אָחִיו שֶׁל רַבִּי אַחָא בֶּן רַבִּי חֲנִינָא זֹאת הַפָּרָשָׁה שֶׁל נְסָכִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר טו, ו ז): אוֹ לָאַיִל תַּעֲשֶׂה מִנְחָה, וְיַיִן לַנֶּסֶךְ שְׁלִשִׁית הַהִין, וּמִכָּאן וָאֵילָךְ (במדבר טו, יט כ): וְהָיָה בַּאֲכָלְכֶם מִלֶּחֶם הָאָרֶץ, רֵאשִׁית עֲרִסֹתֵכֶם חַלָּה תָּרִימוּ תְרוּמָה, הֲרֵי חַלָּה לְמַטָּה וּנְסָכִים לְמַעְלָה, לְפִיכָךְ פָּתַח רַבִּי חֲנִינָא (קהלת ט, ז): לֵךְ אֱכֹל בְּשִׂמְחָה לַחְמֶךָ וּשְׁתֵה בְלֶב טוֹב יֵינֶךָ, מַהוּ (קהלת ט, ז): כִּי כְבָר רָצָה הָאֱלֹהִים אֶת מַעֲשֶׂיךָ, אֱכֹל בְּשִׂמְחָה לַחְמֶךָ זוֹ פָּרָשַׁת חַלָּה. וּשְׁתֵה בְלֶב טוֹב יֵינֶךָ זוֹ פָּרָשַׁת נְסָכִים. מַהוּ כִּי כְבָר רָצָה וגו', זוֹ הַכְנָסַת יִשְׂרָאֵל לָאָרֶץ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: כִּי תָבֹאוּ אֶל אֶרֶץ וגו'. דָּבָר אַחֵר, הַפָּסוּק הַזֶּה מְדַבֵּר כְּנֶגֶד אַבְרָהָם, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְאַבְרָהָם (בראשית כב, ב): קַח נָא אֶת בִּנְךָ אֶת יְחִידְךָ, הִשְׁכִּים אַבְרָהָם וּנְטָלוֹ בִּזְרִיזוּת וְהוֹלִיכוֹ וְהֶעֱלָהוּ לְהַר הַמֹּרִיָה, אָמַר אַבְרָהָם רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם לְחִנָּם אָמַרְתָּ לִי קַח נָא, אָמַר לוֹ לָאו, לְהוֹדִיעֲךָ בָּעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית יח, יט): כִּי יְדַעְתִּיו לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר יְצַוֶּה. אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַאי אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא חַיֶּיךָ שֶׁאֲנִי מַעֲלֶה עָלֶיךָ שֶׁאִם אָמַרְתִּי לְךָ שֶׁתִּשְׁחֹט אֶת נַפְשְׁךָ שֶׁלֹא הָיִיתָ מְעַכֵּב עַל שְׁמִי, שֶׁכָּךְ כְּתִיב (בראשית כב, יב): וְלֹא חָשַׂכְתָּ אֶת בִּנְךָ, הֲרֵי כְּבָר פֵּרוּשׁ מִנַּיִן (בראשית כב, יב): אֶת יְחִידְךָ, זֶה נַפְשֶׁךָ, שֶׁהַנְּשָׁמָה קְרוּיָה יְחִידָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים כב, כא): הַצִּילָה מֵחֶרֶב נַפְשִׁי מִיַּד כֶּלֶב יְחִידָתִי. אָמַר אַבְרָהָם רִבּוֹן הָעוֹלָמִים אִי אֶפְשָׁר לִי לֵירֵד מִכָּאן בְּלֹא קָרְבָּן, אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הֲרֵי קָרְבָּנְךָ מְתֻקָּן מִשֵּׁשֶׁת יְמֵי בְרֵאשִׁית (בראשית כב, יג): וַיִּשָֹּׂא אַבְרָהָם אֶת עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה אַיִל, וְשָׁנוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ אֵילוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם נִבְרָא בֵּין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת, נְטָלוֹ אַבְרָהָם וְהֶעֱלָהוּ עוֹלָה תַּחַת בְּנוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר (בראשית כב, יג): וַיִּקַּח אֶת הָאַיִל וַיַּעֲלֵהוּ לְעֹלָה, חָסֵר הַמִּקְרָא, מַהוּ (בראשית כב, יג): תַּחַת בְּנוֹ, אָמַר אַבְרָהָם רִבּוֹן הָעוֹלָמִים תְּהֵא רוֹאֶה כְּאִלּוּ דַּם יִצְחָק זָרוּק לְפָנֶיךָ. נָטַל הָאַיִל וְהִפְשִׁיטוֹ וְאָמַר כָּךְ תְּהֵא רוֹאֶה כְּאִלּוּ עוֹרוֹ שֶׁל יִצְחָק הִפְשַׁטְתִּי לְפָנֶיךָ. נְטָלוֹ וְהִסְפִּיגוֹ, אָמַר כָּךְ תְּהֵא רוֹאֶה כְּאִלּוּ יִצְחָק מִסְתַּפֵּג לְפָנֶיךָ. שְׂרָפוֹ וְאָמַר כָּךְ תְּהֵא רוֹאֶה כְּאִלּו אַפְרוֹ שֶׁל יִצְחָק צָבוּר עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, מַהוּ תַּחַת בְּנוֹ, אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא חַיֶּיךָ בִּנְךָ נִתְקָרֵב רִאשׁוֹן, הָאַיִל הַזֶּה תַּחְתָּיו, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה אָמַר אַבְרָהָם אֵינִי זָז מִכָּאן עַד שֶׁתִּשָּׁבַע לִי שֶׁאֵין אַתָּה מְנַסֶּה אוֹתִי עוֹד לְעוֹלָם, שֶׁאִם חַס וְשָׁלוֹם לֹא הָיִיתִי שׁוֹמֵעַ לְךָ אִבַּדְתַּנִי כָּל אֲשֶׁר יָגַעְתִּי מִיָּמַי. אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא חַיֶּיךָ כָּךְ הוּא, וְנִשְׁבַּע שֶׁלֹא יְנַסֶּנוּ עוֹד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית כב, טז): וַיֹּאמֶר בִּי נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי נְאֻם ה', אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יִסּוּרִין קָשִׁים וְנִסְיוֹנִין אֲחֵרִים הָיוּ רְאוּיִין לָבוֹא עַל אַבְרָהָם, וְאֵינָן בָּאִין, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן הַיִּסּוּרִין אוֹתָן שֶׁבָּאוּ עַל אִיּוֹב הָיוּ רְאוּיִין לָבוֹא עַל אַבְרָהָם, שֶׁכֵּן הוּא נִסְמַךְ לַפָּרָשָׁה (בראשית כב, כ כא): וַיְהִי אַחֲרֵי הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וַיֻּגַּד וגו' אֶת עוּץ בְּכֹרוֹ וְאֶת בּוּז, וְעוּץ הָיָה אִיּוֹב (איוב א, א): אִישׁ הָיָה בְאֶרֶץ עוּץ אִיּוֹב שְׁמוֹ. בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְאַבְרָהָם (קהלת ט, ז): לֵךְ אֱכֹל בְּשִׂמְחָה לַחְמֶךָ כִּי כְבָר רָצָה הָאֱלֹהִים אֶת מַעֲשֶׂיךָ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, לֵךְ אֱכֹל וגו', מְדַבֵּר בִּשְׁלֹמֹה, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁבָּנָה אֶת בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ וְשִׁכְלְלוֹ עָשָׂה שִׁבְעָה יָמִים חֲנֻכָּה, וְחָזַר וְעָשָׂה עוֹד שִׁבְעָה יָמִים שֶׁל חַג וְשָׁכְחוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים, וְהָיוּ מְצֵרִין, אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק יָצְתָה רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ וְאָמְרָה לוֹ: לֵךְ אֱכֹל בְּשִׂמְחָה לַחְמֶךָ וּשְׁתֵה בְלֶב טוֹב יֵינֶךָ כִּי כְבָר רָצָה הָאֱלֹהִים אֶת מַעֲשֶׂיךָ.

In this way, Rabbi Tanḥuma bar Abba in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina, brother of Rabbi Aḥa ben Rabbi Ḥanina began: This is the portion of libations, as it is stated: “Or for a ram, you shall perform a meal offering…and wine as libation, one-third of a hin” (Numbers 15:6–7). From here forward: “It shall be, when you eat from the bread of the land…the first of your kneading you shall separate a loaf, as a gift” (Numbers 15:19–20). There is ḥalla below and libations above; that is why Rabbi Ḥanina began: “Go, eat your bread joyfully, and drink your wine goodheartedly” (Ecclesiastes 9:7). What is, “as God has already accepted your actions”? (Ecclesiastes 9:7). “Eat your bread joyfully” – this is the portion of ḥalla. “And drink your wine goodheartedly” – this is the portion of libations. What is, “as God has already accepted…”? This is having Israel enter the Land, as it is stated: “When you will come into the land…” Another matter, this verse is speaking concerning Abraham. When the Holy One blessed be He said to Abraham: “Take, now, your son, your only one” (Genesis 22:2), Abraham arose early, took him with alacrity, led him, and took him up to Mount Moriah. Abraham said: ‘Master of the universe, did you say “take, now” to me for nothing?’ He said to him: ‘No, it is to make you known [lehodiakha] throughout the world,’ as it is stated: “For I have known him [yedativ], so that he will command” (Genesis 18:19). Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai said: The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘As you live, I ascribe to you, that had I said to you to slaughter your soul, you would not delay for the sake of My name.’ As it is written: “And you did not withhold your son” (Genesis 22:12). It is already stated explicitly. What is the meaning of: “Your only one [yeḥidekha]”? (Genesis 22:12). This is your soul, as the soul is called yeḥida, as it is stated: “Rescue me from the sword, my soul [yeḥidati] from the grasp of the dog” (Psalms 22:21). Abraham said: ‘Master of the universe, I cannot descend from here without an offering.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Your offering is prepared from the six days of Creation.’ “Abraham lifted his eyes and saw that, behold, there was a ram” (Genesis 22:13), and our Rabbis taught that Abraham’s ram was created during twilight. Abraham took it and offered it up as a burnt offering in place of his son, just as it said: “He took the ram, and offered it up as a burnt offering” (Genesis 22:13). Is the verse incomplete? What is “in place of his son”? (Genesis 22:13). Abraham said: ‘Master of the universe, see it as though the blood of Isaac is sprinkled before You.’ He took the ram and flayed it and said: ‘So, see it as though it was the skin of Isaac that I flayed before You.’ He took it and absorbed its blood with salt, he said: ‘So, see it as though it is Isaac’s blood that is absorbed before You.’ He burned it and said: ‘So, see it as though Isaac’s ashes are piled atop the altar.’ Alternatively, what is “in place of his son”? The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘As you live, your son was sacrificed first, and the ram is in his place.’ At that moment, Abraham said: ‘I will not move from here until You take an oath to me that You will never again subject me to another ordeal, as God forbid, had I not heeded You, I would have lost everything that I strived for all my days.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘As you live, so it is,’ and He took an oath that he would not subject him to another ordeal, as it is stated: “He said: By Myself I have taken an oath, the utterance of the Lord” (Genesis 22:16). The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Harsh afflictions and other ordeals were fit to befall Abraham, but they did not come.’ These are the afflictions; those that befell Job, were fit to befall Abraham, as it is juxtaposed to the portion: “It was after these matters, and it was told…Utz his firstborn, and Buz…” (Genesis 22:20–21). Utz was Job: “There was a man in the land of Utz, Job was his name” (Job 1:1). At that moment, the Holy One blessed be He said to Abraham: “Go, eat your bread joyfully…as God has already accepted your actions” (Ecclesiastes 9:7). Another matter, “go, eat…” is speaking of Solomon; when he built the Temple and completed it, he made a dedication for seven days and made another seven days as a festival, but they forgot to observe Yom Kippur. Rabbi Yitzḥak said: The Divine Spirit emerged and said: “Go, eat your bread joyfully, and drink your wine goodheartedly, as God has already accepted your actions.”

Section 3ג׳

דָּבָר אַחֵר, כִּי תָבֹאוּ אֶל אֶרֶץ מוֹשְׁבֹתֵיכֶם. אָמַר רַבִּי זַכַּאי דִּשְׁאָב אָמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם בְּכָל מָקוֹם אַתָּה קוֹרֵא אוֹתָהּ אֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן, וְכָאן אֶרֶץ מוֹשְׁבֹתֵיכֶם, אָמַר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, חַיֵּיכֶם נָתַתִּי אוֹתָהּ לְאַבְרָהָם לְיִצְחָק וּלְיַעֲקֹב, וְכֻלָּם מִן הַמִּקְרָא, וְהַבֵּן יוֹרֵשׁ אֶת הָאָב, לְכָךְ אֶרֶץ מוֹשְׁבֹתֵיכֶם, וְלָמָּה זָכָה כְּנַעַן שֶׁנִּקְרֵאת הָאָרֶץ עַל שְׁמוֹ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁשָּׁמַע שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל בָּאִים, פָּצָה אֶת הַמָּקוֹם, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אַתָּה פָּצִיתָה אֶת הַמָּקוֹם תִּקָּרֵא הָאָרֶץ עַל שִׁמְךָ, וְאֶתֵּן לְךָ אֶרֶץ יָפָה כְּאַרְצְךָ, וְאֵיזוֹ זוֹ אַפְרִיקֵי. מַה כְּתִיב לְמַעְלָה פָּרָשַׁת מְרַגְּלִים (במדבר יד, מד): וַיַּעְפִּלוּ לַעֲלוֹת, הֵבִיאוּ אֲפֵלָה עַל יוֹשְׁבֶיהָ, כֻּלָּם בַּאֲפֵלָה, (במדבר יד, מד): וַאֲרוֹן בְּרִית ה' וּמשֶׁה לֹא מָשׁוּ מִקֶּרֶב הַמַּחֲנֶה, שֶׁלֹא עָלוּ עִמָּהֶם. אָמַר לָהֶם משֶׁה כָּךְ אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֵלַי (דברים א, מב): לֹא תַעֲלוּ וְלֹא תִלָּחֲמוּ כִּי אֵינֶנִּי בְּקִרְבְּכֶם, אֲמַרְתֶּם (דברים א, כח): אָנָה אֲנַחְנוּ עֹלִים אַחֵינוּ הֵמַסּוּ אֶת לְבָבֵנוּ, מַהוּ הֵמַסּוּ אֶת לְבָבֵנוּ, אָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ מִכָּאן שִׁעֲרוּ הָרִמּוֹנִים שֶׁשָּׁנוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ הָרִמּוֹנִים מִשֶּׁיִּמַּסּוּ. הֵמַסּוּ אֶת לְבָבֵנוּ לֵאמֹר, אָמַר משֶׁה מִתְּחִלָה חֲלַקְתֶּם אוֹתָהּ (דברים א, כב): וַתִּקְרְבוּן אֵלַי כֻּלְּכֶם, לְטוֹבָה (דברים ה, כ): וַתִּקְרְבוּן אֵלַי כָּל רָאשֵׁי שִׁבְטֵיכֶם, לְרָעָה וַתִּקְרְבוּן אֵלַי כֻּלְּכֶם וַתֹּאמְרוּ, וּכְתִיב (דברים א, כז): וַתֵּרָגְנוּ בְאָהֳלֵיכֶם וַתֹּאמְרוּ בְּשִׂנְאַת ה' אֹתָנוּ. הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אָמַר (מלאכי א, ב): אָהַבְתִּי אֶתְכֶם, וְהֵן אוֹמְרִים: בְּשִׂנְאַת ה' אֹתָנוּ. הָיוּ דּוֹרְשִׁין וְאוֹמְרִים תֵּדַע לְךָ שֶׁהוּא שׂוֹנֵא אוֹתָנוּ, מֶלֶךְ בָּשָׂר וָדָם יֵשׁ לוֹ שְׁנֵי בָּנִים וְיֵשׁ לוֹ שְׁתֵּי שָׂדוֹת, אַחַת שֶׁל שׁוֹקִי וְאַחַת שֶׁל בַּעַל, לֹא לְמִי שֶׁהַמֶּלֶךְ אוֹהֵב נוֹתֵן שֶׁל שׁוֹקִי וּלְאוֹתוֹ שֶׁשֹּׂוֹנֵא הוּא נוֹתֵן שֶׁל בַּעַל. אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם שֶׁל שׁוֹקִי וְהָיִינוּ בְּתוֹכָהּ, וְאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן שֶׁל בַּעַל, וְהוֹצִיאָנוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם לָתֵת לָנוּ אֶת אֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן, אַף עַל פִּי כֵן (דברים א, מא מב): וַתַּחְגְּרוּ אִישׁ אֶת כְּלֵי מִלְחַמְתּוֹ, וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֵלַי אֱמֹר לָהֶם לֹא תַעֲלוּ וְלֹא תִלָּחֲמוּ, סָבוּר הָיִיתִי לְעַלּוֹת אֶתְכֶם, עַכְשָׁו לֹא תַעֲלוּ, יְרִידָה הִיא לָכֶם, אַף עַל פִּי כֵן וַתַּחְגְּרוּ, נַעֲשֵׂיתֶם כֻּלְּכֶם אֶחָת (דברים א, מב): וַתָּהִינוּ לַעֲלֹת הָהָרָה, מַהוּ וַתָּהִינוּ, שֶׁהָיוּ אוֹמְרִים מִטִּפָּה לְטִפָּה נִתְמַלֵּא הַהִין, כָּתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר (דברים א, מג): וַתָּזִדוּ, וְכָתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר וַתָּהִינוּ, מַהוּ וַתָּזִדוּ, שֶׁהֵזִידוּ עַל חֲנָיוֹתָיו שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. (דברים א, מג מד): וַתַּעֲלוּ הָהָרָה, וַיֵּצֵא הָאֱמֹרִי, מַהוּ (דברים א, מד): הַדְּבֹרִים, מָה הַדְּבוֹרָה הַזּוֹ כֵּיוָן שֶׁהִיא מַכָּה לְאָדָם מִיָּד הִיא מֵתָה, אַף אַתֶּם כֵּיוָן שֶׁהָיָה אֶחָד מֵהֶם נוֹגֵעַ בָּכֶם מִיָּד הָיְתָה נַפְשׁוֹ יוֹצֵאת. מָה הַדְּבוֹרָה הַזּוֹ פּוֹרַחַת, כָּךְ הָיוּ פּוֹרְחִים עֲלֵיכֶם. לְשֶׁעָבַר הָיוּ שׁוֹמְעִים שִׁמְעֲכֶם וּמֵתִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות טו, יד): שָׁמְעוּ עַמִּים יִרְגָּזוּן, וְעַכְשָׁו (דברים א, מד): וַיִּרְדְּפוּ, וַיַּכְּתוּ אֶתְכֶם. (דברים א, מה): וַתָּשֻׁבוּ וַתִּבְכּוּ לִפְנֵי ה' וְלֹא שָׁמַע ה', כִּבְיָכוֹל עֲשִׂיתֶם מִדַּת הַדִּין כְּאִלּוּ אַכְזָרִי. אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי אוֹי לָהֶם לָרְשָׁעִים שֶׁהֵן עוֹשִׂין לְמִדַּת הַדִּין כְּאִלּוּ אַכְזָרִי, (דברים י, יא): וַיֹּאמֶר ה' קוּם לֵךְ לְמַסַּע, אִם בָּאתִי לַעֲשׂוֹת עִמָּכֶם מִשְׁפָּט אֵינָן נִכְנָסִין לָאָרֶץ, אֶלָּא קוּם לֵךְ לְמַסַּע, הֱוֵי: כִּי תָבֹאוּ אֶל אֶרֶץ.

Another matter, “when you will come into the land of your dwellings” – Rabbi Zakai of She’av said: Israel said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, everywhere You call it the land of Canaan, but here you call it “the land of your dwelling”?’ The Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘As you live, I gave it to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, all of them in the Bible; that is why it is “the land of your dwelling.”’ Why did Canaan merit that the land was called by his name? It is because when he heard that Israel was coming, he evacuated the place. The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘You evacuated the place; the land will be called by your name. And I will give you a land as fine as your land.’ Which is that? It is Africa. What is written above? It is the portion of the spies: “they defiantly [vayapilu] ascended to the mountaintop” (Numbers 14:44) – they brought blackness upon its inhabitants. They were all in blackness, as “the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, and Moses, did not move from the midst of the camp” (Numbers 14:44), as they did not ascend with them. Moses said to them: ‘This is what the Holy One blessed be He said to me: “Do not ascend and do not wage war, as I am not in your midst” (Deuteronomy 1:42). You said: “Where are we ascending? Our brethren have melted [hemasu] our hearts, [saying: A people greater and taller than we, cities great and fortified…]”’ (Deuteronomy 1:28). What is “melted [hemasu] our hearts”? Our Rabbis said: From here they derived the measure of the pomegranates, as our Rabbis taught: The pomegranates from when they reach half [misheyimasu]. “Hemasu our hearts, saying” – Moses said: ‘From the outset, you divided it. “You all approached me” (Deuteronomy 1:22) – For good: “All the heads of your tribes approached me” (Deuteronomy 5:20) – For evil. “You all approached me and said” (Deuteronomy 1:22), and it is written: “You murmured in your tents, and you said: In the Lord’s hatred of us”’ (Deuteronomy 1:27). The Holy One blessed be He said: “I have loved you” (Malachi 1:2), and they say “In the Lord’s hatred of us”? They were expounding and saying: ‘Know that He hates us: A flesh and blood king has two sons and two fields, one that is watered by irrigation and one that is watered by rain. Does he not give to the one that the king loves, the one watered by irrigation, and to the one that he hates, he gives the one that is watered by rain? The land of Egypt is watered by irrigation and we were in it. The land of Canaan is watered by rain, and he took us out of Egypt to give us the land of Canaan. Nevertheless, “You girded each man his weapons of war… The Lord said to me: Say to them: Do not ascend and do not wage war” (Deuteronomy 1:41–42). [God said:] ‘I thought to ascend with you, but now, do not ascend, because it will be a descent for you.’ Nevertheless, “you girded [vataḥgeru]” – you all became as one.’ “You prepare yourself [vatahinu] to ascend the mountain” (Deuteronomy 1:41) – what is vatahinu? They were saying: From drop to drop, the hin is filled. One verse says: “You sinned [Vatazidu]” (Deuteronomy 1:43) and one verse says: Vatahinu. What is vatazidu? They mocked [she'hezidu] the encampments of the Holy One blessed be He. “You ascended the mountain. The Emorites…emerged [against you and pursued you as do the bees]” (Deuteronomy 1:43–44). “The bees” – just as this bee, once it strikes a person it immediately dies; you, too, once one of them would touch you, his soul would depart. Just as the bee flies, they were flying above you. In the past, they would hear of your renown and die, as it is stated: “Peoples heard, they were agitated” (Exodus 15:14). But now: “[The Emorites…]pursued…they smote you” (Deuteronomy 1:44). “You returned and wept before the Lord, but the Lord did not heed” (Deuteronomy 1:45). It is, as it were, that you rendered the attribute of justice as though it were cruel. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: Woe unto the wicked, as they render the attribute of justice as though it were cruel. “The Lord said: Rise, go on a journey” (Deuteronomy 10:11) – if I come to perform justice with you, you will not enter the Land. Rather, “rise, go on a journey [before the nation, and they will come and inherit the Land]” (Deuteronomy 10:11). That is, “when you will come into the land.”