מַה־לַּעֲשׂ֥וֹת עוֹד֙ לְכַרְמִ֔י וְלֹ֥א עָשִׂ֖יתִי בּ֑וֹ מַדּ֧וּעַ קִוֵּ֛יתִי לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת עֲנָבִ֖ים וַיַּ֥עַשׂ בְּאֻשִֽׁים׃
Que devais-je faire encore à ma vigne que je n’aie fait? Pourquoi, alors que j’espérais qu’elle produirait des raisins, n’a-t-elle produit que du verjus?
Bartenura
האבשים (a species of inferior grapes) – a species from the kinds of bad grapes like (Isaiah 5:4): “Instead, it yielded wild grapes.”
Kli Yakar
What appears most correct to me in explaining this is that the earth always appears as if it has opened its mouth to swallow everything, as it is said, Three things are never satisfied: the grave, the barren womb, etc. (Proverbs 30:15-16). And as it is said, Therefore the grave has enlarged itself and opened its mouth without measure, etc. (Isaiah 5:14). From all this, there is proof that the earth’s mouth is always open to swallow, and one who places something in its mouth appears to be flattering it. This can be said about murderers who spill innocent blood, for through this blood they flatter the earth by giving it something to swallow in its mouth. Correspondingly, the earth also flatters them by giving to those who are unworthy all their needs that come from the ground. These are two things: (1) all food that is eaten and other human needs that come from the earth, and (2) the dwelling place and rest available to those who live upon it. Therefore, for future generations, the earth can only be atoned through the blood of the murderer, so that they won’t say that both are flattering each other — the wicked giving something for its mouth to swallow, and the earth flattering them by providing for their needs. The earth requires atonement for the small benefit that the murderer received from the earth before he was killed, because it was not rightfully given to him. However, in this case, for the sake of populating the world, Cain was not killed. If so, how does the earth escape suspicion that they’re not mutually flattering each other, and why doesn’t it need atonement? Rather, it’s because it fulfilled its Creator’s will who said, When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. You shall be a wanderer and a nomad on the earth (Genesis 4:12). For once you committed this act, the earth comes with authorization and claims from you your brother’s blood, whose voice cries out to Me from the ground. It too will execute judgment against you by no longer providing you with the two benefits available to all who dwell upon it: all necessities [about which He said it shall no longer yield its strength to you] and dwelling and rest [about which He said you shall be a wanderer and nomad on the earth]. No place will want to accept you. Through this, the earth escapes the suspicion of flattery because it will not flatter you, and therefore it also doesn’t need atonement. However, to go back and kill you now is impossible because of the need to populate the world, as Adam had no other son at that time.