פירוש על בראשית 49:7

ארור אפם כי עז CURSED BE TIIEIR WRATH, FOR IT IS POWERFUL — Even when he was reproving them he did not curse them but their anger. That is what Balaam said: (Numbers 23:8) “How can I curse them since אל hath not cursed them?” (Genesis Rabbah 99:6)

ארור אפם, they shall not succeed to take revenge in their anger and to wreak destruction when it is vented on the innocent. Seeing that they abused their brotherliness in the past, I do not wish to be associated with their method of operation. Their close association is potentially dangerous.

ארור אפם, may their level of anger be reduced, restricted. Yaakov wanted to achieve this by making it harder for them to earn their livelihood, so that they would be fully occupied doing that and caring for their families. They would have to spend their energies by traveling far and wide to secure their livelihood. However, the status of priesthood would remain the domain of the firstborn as it had been before Reuven became guilty of his indiscretion. This status was changed only after the sin of the golden calf when it was transferred en masse to the Levites (some of them). Compare Deuteronomy 10 8, בעת ההיא וגו'.

ארור אפם כי עז, "cursed be their anger for it is very strong, etc." Jacob only cursed their excess anger. This is why he added: כי עז. Every person needs to harbour a certain amount of hatred otherwise he could not receive a reward in the Hereafter for having controlled his anger and made it subservient to his duty to serve the Lord. Jacob realised that he had to find a way to "cool" this anger which was liable to flare up from time to time. Inasmuch as both brothers suffered from an excess amount of fire in their genetic mix, Jacob hoped that by separating them from one another he could forestall future outbursts or at least make such outbursts of anger less harmful. This is why he added: "I will separate them within Yaakov, etc."

ארור אפם, whenever we encounter the expression ארור it involves denial of some blessing or something good and welcome to the party subject to the curse. For instance, we read in Maleachi 2,2 וארותי את ברכותיהם, “I will turn their blessings into a curse.” The words ארור אפם must be understood as a type of prayer by Yaakov, who wishes that Shimon and Levi be denied at least a part of their willfulness of character, as something that has become too strong to endure. Yaakov repeated the same thought in different words to make his point more insistently. This is why he added the words ועברתם כי קשתה.

אחלקם ביעקב, “I will separate them within Yaakov;” this happened indeed. The ancestral portion of the tribe of Shimon was completely enclosed by the territory of the tribe of Yehudah, whereas the ancestral portion of the tribe of Levi did not exist as such at all, but there were 48 cities allocated to that tribe which had been chosen by G’d to be the spiritual mentors of the people, and whose cities also served as alternate cities of refuge for people who had killed human beings through carelessness. Rabbi Joseph Kimchi explains that Shimon and Levi who had demonstrated brotherly love by their jealously avenging the honour of their sister Dinah, employing weapons of war in their pursuit of the perpetrators, were now blessed by Yaakov. He said that when they used such weapons, which are normally cursed weapons, in their rightful anger, as a result of venting their anger in a noble cause, they would henceforth be deprived of such emotions that normally are considered as negative virtues. The word ארור, describes a deficiency, lack of virtue. By distributing them among the various tribes, Yaakov hoped to infuse rightful anger when the occasion would arise also in the hearts of the other tribes. Some commentators hold that Yaakov even wished to share some of this rightful anger and apparently unbridled behaviour demonstrated by these two sons of his, and they understand the word תבוא in אל תבא נפשי in the same sense as Leviticus 22,7 ובא השמש וטהר, where it means that as soon as the sun sets the priest in question is purified, that he too wishes to be purified by having a share in the righteous anger displayed by Shimon and Levi on the occasion in question. I do not believe that such an explanation is tenable, for if it were, how will these scholars explain the words ובקהלם אל אל תחד כבודי, “may my honour not be considered as at one with theirs?”

אחלקם ביעקב¸ ”I will disperse them within Yaakov,” so that they will not be able to conspire together. Yaakov added ואפיצם בישראל, ”and I will scatter them in Israel.” He wanted to make it difficult for the members of these tribes to all assemble in one place simultaneously. History proves that Yaakov’s intention was carried out. The territory of the tribe of Shimon was an enclave within the territory allocated to Yehudah (compare Joshua 19,1), and the Levites were assigned 48 separate towns throughout the territories of the various tribes. The dispersal of the Levites was to prove especially beneficial as it helped fulfill Moses’ blessing in Deut. 33,10 that the Levites were to disseminate Torah knowledge throughout the land of Israel.

This is what Bilam meant ... “How can I curse one whom God has not cursed?” “One” refers to Yaakov, as Rashi explains in Bamidbar 23:8.

ארור אפס וגו׳, darum darf auf ihrem אף und ihrer עברה kein Segen ruhen, muss ihre rücksichtslose Heftigkeit vom Fluch gehemmt bleiben. אף, rad. אנף (verwandt mit ענף .חנף ,ענב ,ענף: der Zweig, der die Säfte des Stammes hinausträgt; ענב: die ganz äußerlich gewordenen gesammelten Säfte: die Beere; חנף: wo alles nur äußerlich, ohne alles Innerliche ist: der Heuchler). אנף: die Gemütsbewegung, die nach außen getreten, sich äußerlich im Gesichte etc. ausspricht, (חמה, die Wut, die im Innern kocht). עברה von עבר: die ganz sich überschreitende Wut, das Außersichwerden, Aus- sichhinausfahren, wobei die Besonnenheit völlig verloren ist. Also: wenn sie etwas in ihrem Zorn wollen, so ist er עז, durch nichts zu überwinden, und ihre עברה ist קשה: hartnäckig, durch keine Vorstellung oder Rücksicht zu schwächen; darum müssen beide von ארור getroffen, müssen ערירים, unfruchtbar, erfolglos gemacht werden, ihr אף und ihre עברה darf nie Propaganda machen können, und demgemäß soll ihre Stellung im künftigen Volke werden. Sie sind zur Führerschaft untauglich, ja als Führer wären sie geradezu gefährlich. Während Reuben zu wenig Selbständigkeit, zu wenig inneren Halt hatte, war in ihnen das Bewusstsein der Kraft zu heiß und kannte, wo es das Gesamtwohl galt, keine Rücksicht. —

ארור אפם, “cursed be their anger;” this is not a curse, but a blessing. How so? Yaakov wishes them that whatever they will plan in anger should not succeed, so that they will learn the lesson not to act out of anger. An alternate exegesis of these words: Yaakov exclaims: “how disgraceful and despicable is their anger!”

אחלקם ביעקב I WILL DIVIDE THEM IN JACOB — I shall separate them from each other inasmuch as Levi shall not be numbered among the tribes (cf. Numbers 26:62) and thus they (Simeon and Levi) will be divided (cf. Genesis Rabbah 98:5). Another interpretation is: both of these tribes will be dispersed in Israel, and this happened, for you will find that the very poor — the Scribes and elementary teachers — were all of the tribe of Simeon, and this was so in order that this tribe should be dispersed, since such poor people must wander from city to city to eke out a livelihood. As for the tribe of Levi, He made them travel round from one threshing floor to another to collect their heave offerings and tithes; thus He caused them also to be “scattered” but in a more respectable manner (Genesis Rabbah 99:6).

אחלקם ביעקב, the tribe of Levi was scattered between 48 cities throughout the land of Israel and its various tribes, as described in Joshua chapter 21, so that the tribe of Shimon remained isolated from its close associate.

אחלקם ביעקב, so that they will not constantly be next to one another. Shimon’s ancestral territory in the land of Israel actually became an enclave within the boundaries of the land allocated to the tribe of Yehudah. Shimon and Levi (who had no territorial claims after being granted the status formerly occupied by the firstborn after the golden calf episode) had no common territorial boundaries, so that the danger of their joint cooperation resulting in a repeat of what happened at Shechem was drastically reduced. In Bereshit Rabbah 99,7 the words אחלקם ביעקב, are understood as referring to the 24 thousand members of the tribe of Shimon who were killed as a result of Zimri’s brazen act of sexual union with a Midianite princess. This resulted in 24 thousand wives of these men becoming widows, These widows were distributed to the other tribes, 2000 to each tribe, so that anyone having to go begging was from the tribe of Shimon. As a result, G’d said that the Levites were to be similarly distributed among all the tribes seeing he did not deserve a better fate than that of his partner in crime Shimon. Seeing that the Levites became dependent on the tithes, etc, voluntarily given to them by the farmers of the other tribes, their basic livelihood was no less precarious than that of the widows and orphans of the members of the tribe of Shimon who had been killed by a plague by G’d at Shittim.( Numbers 25,9) It is a historical fact then that Yaakov’s prediction came true. Seeing what had happened, G’d elevated the Levites by granting them 10% of the combined harvests of all the other tribes. However, the Levites, just as the members of the tribe of Shimon, had to visit all the threshing floors and request from the local farmers to give the tithe tithes they were obliged to give to a Levite to them. [The Midrash endeavours to justify Yaakov saying both אחלקם ביעקב, and אפיצם בישראל, meaning that each of these tribes will be busy looking for handouts and not have spare time for aggressive ventures such as those hatched by their respective founding fathers. Ed.]

Another explanation: There will be no poor... There is a question on the first explanation: [“I will divide them” is explained. But] what is the meaning of, “And scatter them throughout Israel?” Thus Rashi brings the second explanation. We need not ask: If the second explanation is for, “And scatter them,” why is it considered another explanation? The first explanation [was only for, “I will divide them,” but] did not explain, “And scatter them.” The answer is: The second explanation goes also on, “I will divide them.” [Accordingly, the verse] means as follows: “I will divide them” from one another. And how will I do this? I will “scatter them.” In other words, “And scatter them” comes to explain, “I will divide them.” (Maharshal)

Es ist von tiefster Wichtigkeit, dass hier sofort, bei der Grundlegung des jüdischen Volkes, jede, wäre es selbst im Gesamtinteresse, das Sittengesetz und das Recht verkennende Ausschreitung mit Fluch belegt wird. Alle anderen Staaten und Völker vindi- zierten sich das Prinzip, dass das Gesamtinteresse alles heiligt, List und Gewalt, die im Privatleben mit Verachtung und Galgen bestraft würden, für vermeintliches Staatswohl geübt, mit Bürgerkronen und Lorbeer zu belohnen seien, das Sittengesetz nur fürs Privatleben gelte, Politik und Diplomatie aber nur den Kodex des Interesses kennen dürfen. Das Grundvermächtnis des jüdischen Volkes belegt hier selbst für das gerechteste Ziel im Gesamtinteresse geübte List und Gewalt mit Fluch und verewigt die Lehre, dass selbst im Gesamtleben und für die Gesamtheit nicht nur die Ziele, sondern auch die Mittel und Wege rein sein müssen. —

אחלקם ביעקב, “I will separate them between the tribes of Yaakov and disperse them.” We find that indeed the ancestral share of Shimon became an enclave within the ancestral portion of Yehudah. Levi’s share was divided into 48 cities between the twelve tribes.

He allowed his dispersal to be more honorable. “I will divide them throughout Yaakov” refers to Shimon. “Scatter them throughout Yisroel” refers to Leivi. Therefore [referring to Leivi] it is written “Yisroel,” which is a more honorable [as compared to “Yaakov”].

Es wird jedoch nur ihr אף und ihre עברה mit ארור belegt. Der Fluch trifft weder sie noch ihr Streben an sich.

אחלקם ביעקב ואפיצם בישראל.‎ חלק: teilen, nicht in der Absicht, ein bisheriges zu schwächen, vielmehr: verteilen eines Wertvollen, damit so viele als möglich Anteil daran erhalten.

הָפיץ ,פוץ hingegen: ein Zerteilen in möglichst kleine Teile, damit ein bisheriges Ganze nicht mehr als solches beisammen sei.

יעקב: .die Galutherscheinung des jüdischen Volkes, gedrückt, verfolgt ישראל: die durch Gott gewonnene siegreiche Erscheinung des jüdischen Volkes.

Demnach: die Gefahr für das Gesamtwohl durch Schimeons und Lewis übergroße Heftigkeit ist nur in der Blütezeit des Volkes vorhanden, wo es eine mächtige Gesamtheit bildet, die leicht durch den Einfluדד zweier solcher, von glühendem Kraft- und Gesamtgefühl erfüllter, kompakter Stämme hingerissen werden könnte. Darum in :ישראל אפיצם, im blühenden jüdischen Staat sollen sie zerteilt werden. Wie auch geschehen. Lewi erhielt gar keinen Anteil am Lande, und seine Existenz war durch מעשר lediglich auf das freie Wohlwollen jedes einzelnen hingewiesen. Es war ja der jüdische Zehnte, im Gegensatz zu dem späteren und heutigen Zehnten der Kirche und der Gutsherrschaft, durchaus ממון שאין לו תובעים, eine Abgabe, zu welcher der Bodenbesitzer allerdings verpflichtet war, auf welche aber kein Lewite irgend einen direkten Anspruch hatte. Der Verpflichtete konnte den Zehnten jedem aus dem Stamme Lewi geben, der ihm beliebte, und keiner konnte ihn von ihm fordern. Schimeons Gebiet war ganz eine Enklave von Juda und machte ihn völlig von diesem mächtigen Stamme abhängig. Somit war für die Zeit der Blüte Schimeons und Lewis politischer Einfluss völlig paralysiert.

Allein im Galuth, wo die Wucht des Geschickes alles niederbeugt, und die Nation selbst auseinander gerissen ist, da liegt die Gefahr, dass alles Selbstgefühl verloren gehe und der Druck jede geistige Kraft ertöte. Auf dass selbst der als Hausierer vagierende Jude auf den europäischen Gassenbuben mit stolzem Selbstgefühl hinabblicke, und er, zu Boden gedrückt und über die Erde hingestreut, das Selbst- und Gesamtgefühl sich bewahre, dazu: אחלקם ביעקב, dazu war es höchste Wohltat, dass die Zerteilung der Stämme Schimeon und Lewi im jüdischen Staate die natürliche Folge hatte, dass, als der Staat in Trümmer ging und die Nation nach allen Gegenden hin zerstreut wurde, in dieser Zerstreuung überall sich auch Söhne Schimeons und Lewis befanden, die die Kraft und den Mut, das Feuer und den edlen jüdischen Stolz durch die Pflege des den Staat überlebenden jüdischen Geistes wach und lebendig erhielten. Zu dem Kern der jüdischen Lehrer der Jugend und der Wissenschaft, kommentiert eine alte Überlieferung, stellen jederzeit die Stämme Schimeon und Lewi das bedeutendste Kontingent. ,משמעון סופרים ומשנים בבתי כנסיות ומשבט לוי בתי מדרשות שהיו עוסקין בתורה "Lehrer der Schrift und der Mischna in den Synagogen von Schimeon, und von Lewi Lehrhäuser, wo das Studium der Thorawissenschaft gepflegt wird" (ב"ר צ"ח).