Midrasch zu Schemot 23:15
אֶת־חַ֣ג הַמַּצּוֹת֮ תִּשְׁמֹר֒ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִים֩ תֹּאכַ֨ל מַצּ֜וֹת כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוִּיתִ֗ךָ לְמוֹעֵד֙ חֹ֣דֶשׁ הָֽאָבִ֔יב כִּי־ב֖וֹ יָצָ֣אתָ מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וְלֹא־יֵרָא֥וּ פָנַ֖י רֵיקָֽם׃
Das Fest der ungesäuerten Brote beobachte; sieben Tage iss ungesäuertes Brot, so wie ich dir geboten, um die Zeit des Monats der Ährenreife; denn in demselben bist du aus Ägypten gezogen, man erscheine nicht leer vor meinem Angesichte [im Heiligtum].
Ruth Rabbah
“She said: ‘These six measures of barley he gave me, as he said to me: Do not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law” (Ruth 3:17).
“She said: These six measures of barley he gave me…” Rabbi Alexandri said: Everywhere that Israel entered, they did not emerge empty-handed. In the looting of Egypt they did not emerge empty-handed, in the looting of Siḥon and Og they did not emerge empty-handed, in the looting of the thirty-one kings they did not emerge empty-handed. “Empty-handed” is stated regarding Egypt, as it is stated: “It will be when you depart, you will not depart empty-handed” (Exodus 3:21); [“empty-handed”] is stated regarding the festival pilgrims: “They shall not appear before Me empty-handed” (Exodus 23:15); and “empty-handed” is stated regarding the righteous, as it is stated: “As he said to me: Do not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law.” “Empty-handed” that is stated regarding the righteous is not like “empty-handed” that is stated regarding Egypt, but rather, like “empty-handed” that is stated regarding the festival pilgrims, as we learned there: The burnt offering of appearance [must be worth at least] two silver coins and the festival peace offering [must be worth at least] one silver ma’a (Mishna Ḥagiga 1:2).231This is a relatively small amount, as the main point is to bring an offering of some kind. Similarly, what Boaz sent with Ruth to Naomi was not very expensive, but was an indication of honor and respect (Etz Yosef).
“She said: These six measures of barley he gave me…” Rabbi Alexandri said: Everywhere that Israel entered, they did not emerge empty-handed. In the looting of Egypt they did not emerge empty-handed, in the looting of Siḥon and Og they did not emerge empty-handed, in the looting of the thirty-one kings they did not emerge empty-handed. “Empty-handed” is stated regarding Egypt, as it is stated: “It will be when you depart, you will not depart empty-handed” (Exodus 3:21); [“empty-handed”] is stated regarding the festival pilgrims: “They shall not appear before Me empty-handed” (Exodus 23:15); and “empty-handed” is stated regarding the righteous, as it is stated: “As he said to me: Do not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law.” “Empty-handed” that is stated regarding the righteous is not like “empty-handed” that is stated regarding Egypt, but rather, like “empty-handed” that is stated regarding the festival pilgrims, as we learned there: The burnt offering of appearance [must be worth at least] two silver coins and the festival peace offering [must be worth at least] one silver ma’a (Mishna Ḥagiga 1:2).231This is a relatively small amount, as the main point is to bring an offering of some kind. Similarly, what Boaz sent with Ruth to Naomi was not very expensive, but was an indication of honor and respect (Etz Yosef).
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Sifrei Devarim
R. Yossi Haglili says: Three mitzvoth obtain on a festival: the festive offering (chagigah), the sacrifice of peace-offerings, viz. (27:7) "And you shall sacrifice peace-offerings and you shall eat them there"; "appearance" (re'iah), before the L-rd with a burnt-offering, viz. Shemoth 23:15); and rejoicing (simchah).
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