Midrash su Salmi 105:44

It happened once that R. Tarphon and the elders were sitting in the house Net-za, in Lud, when the following question was submitted to them: "What is greater, study or actions?" R. Tarphon answered that action is greater, while R. Akiba answered that study is greater. Whereupon all of them answered and said that study is greater, for study may lead a man always to the right actions. We are taught in a Baraitha, R. Joseph says: "Study is great, for it preceded the commandment of Chala with forty years and that of T'ruma and Tithes with fifty-four years and that of Sabbathical years with sixty-one and that of a Jubilee year with a hundred and three years." Is it only one hundred and three? Behold, it is one hundred and four preceding the Jubilee year? This Tanna holds that the Jubilee year is in the very beginning of the fiftieth year. Just as study is preferred to acts, so also does the sentence of man, concerning the study of Torah, precede that of actions, as R. Hamnuna said; for R. Hamnuna said: "The first thing for which a man is called to account is concerning the words of the Torah, as it is said (Pr. 17, 14) As one letleth loose a stream of water, so is the beginning of strife! and just as he is called to account first on the Torah, so also is one rewarded first for studying the Torah, as it is said (Ps. 105, 44) And He gave them the land of nations; and the labor of people, they obtained as an inheritance."

R. Yossi says: It is written (Isaiah 45:19) "Not in secrecy did I speak, in a place of darkness, etc." In the very beginning, when I gave it, I did not give it in secret or in a dark, dusky land. And I did not say to the seed of Jacob "Seek Me in vain" (i.e., gratis). I did not give it as a pledge (to be taken back), viz. (Ibid.) "I am the L rd, who speaks righteousness, who declares what is just." Even before I gave you the mitzvoth I "prefaced" their reward, viz. (Exodus 16:5) "And they shall prepare what they shall bring (of the manna) and it shall be double, etc." And it is written (Leviticus 25:21) "And I shall command My blessing for you in the sixth year, etc." I might think (that reward is given) only for these (Shabbath and Shevi'ith) alone (and not for other mitzvoth). It is, therefore, written (Psalms 105:44) "And He gave them the land of nations, etc." Why? (Ibid. 45) "So that they keep His statutes and observe His laws." ...

Another interpretation (of Lev. 19:23), “When you come into the land.” This text is related (to Ps. 105:44-45), “He gave them the lands of nations […]. In order that they might keep His statutes […]”: “He gave them the lands of nations.” Whatever the Holy One, blessed be He, took from the peoples of the world He gave to Israel; lands of silver and gold, fields, vineyards, and cities. But He gave these to them only so that they would occupy themselves with the Torah, as stated (in vs. 45), “In order that they might keep His statutes […].” But they did not do so. Instead (according to Ezek. 36:17), “and they defiled it (i.e., the land) by their way and by their deeds.” They defiled them (according to Josh. 7) in the anathema of Achan, as stated (in Jer. 2:7), “but you came and defiled My land,” by the anathema of Achan; (ibid. cont.), “and you made My heritage an abomination,” by the image of Micah (in Jud. 17-18). So what did the Holy One, blessed be He, do to them? He exiled them from it, as stated (in Deut. 29:27), “So the Lord uprooted them from their land.” What is the meaning of “And […] uprooted (rt.: ntsh) them?” He weakened (rt.: tshsh)³⁴TShSh and NTSh seem like the same root, because the form translated UPROOTED lacks the N, while the form translated “weakened” lacks the second Sh. their strength. They planted and toiled, but the peoples of the world came and took. It is so stated (in Jud. 6:3-4), “And so it happened that, if Israel planted, Midian, Amalek, and the Children of Kedem would arise against it. And they would encamp against them [and destroy the produce of the earth].” When they repent, (according to Is. 65:22), “They shall not build for another to dwell in; they shall not plant for another to eat.” Why? Because when they plant no one uproots, as stated (in Amos 9:15), “they shall never again be uprooted (rt.: ntsh) from their land.”