Talmud su Salmi 42:78

How¹⁶⁶There are two parallel traditions, both of Galilean origin. The text here is almost identical with Tosephta Taäniot 1:4. In the Babli (Taänit 25b) and the Yerushalmi source Bereshit rabba 13(13), Rebbi Meïr is reported to require that the rains penetrate the depth of the penetration of the plough-share (which is assumed to be three hand-breadths,) whereas R. Yehudah says that for dry earth, one hand-breadth was enough, for average ground two hand-breadths, and for well worked ground, three hand-breadths. If these are two equivalent formulations, then the text here has to be interpreted in the light of the text in Babli/Midrash: Not that R. Meïr requires a rainfall of three hand-breadths (10.8 inches) in one storm (or R. Yehudah rainfalls of 3.6, 7.2, 10.8 inches, respectively) but that the moisture has to penetrate the earth to the depth indicated. In that case, “dry earth” is simply the earth after the rainless summer months, average earth is the earth after the first winter storms, and well worked ground is the earth after an uninterrupted rain of seven days (the first, second, and third fertilizing periods in the language of Tosephta Taäniot 1:4). R. Simeon ben Eleazar seems to object to both R. Meïr and R. Yehudah because rain will make the ground water level rise by twice the amount of rain water; hence, moisture in the ground can come from below as well as from above. One must assume that in the Yerushalmi also the measurements are those of moist spots in the earth and not of rainfall in the modern sense. much rain should fall that it is considered fertilizing? If it fills a vessel of three hand-breadths, the words of Rebbi Meïr. Rebbi Yehudah says, the first rainfall one hand-breadth, the second one two hand breadths, and the third one three hand-breadths. It has been stated: Rebbi Simeon ben Eleazar says, there is no hand-breadth that falls from above that the earth does not raise two hand-breadths towards it. What is the reason? (Ps. 42:8) “The deep calls to the deep¹⁶⁷Rashi explains in Babli Taänit that clouds also are called “deep”. by the sound of Your water spouts.”

How much rain should fall that it is considered fertilizing¹⁴³The root רבע of רְבִיעָה may mean either “to lie down”, as an Aramaism parallel to Hebrew רבץ, or it may have the same sexual connotation as the synonym שכב. Therefore רְבִיעָה either may be interpreted as the rain which “lies down” on the earth and moistens it for agricultural use or as “fertilizing”.
There are two parallel traditions, both of Galilean origin. The text here is almost identical with Tosephta 1:4. In the Babli (25b) and the Yerushalmi source Gen. rabba13(13), Rebbi Meïr is reported to require that the rains penetrate the depth of the penetration of the ploughs̮hare (which is assumed to be three hand-breadths,) whereas R. Yehudah says that for dry earth, one handb̮readth was enough, for average ground two handb̮readths, and for well worked ground, three handb̮readths. If these are two equivalent formulations, then the text here has to be interpreted in the light of the text in Babli/Midrash: Not that R. Meïr requires a rainfall of three handb̮readths (10.8 inches) in one storm (or R. Yehudah rainfalls of 3.6, 7.2, 10.8 inches, respectively) but that the moisture has to penetrate the earth to the depth indicated. In that case, “dry earth” is simply the earth after the rainless summer months, average earth is the earth after the first winter storms, and well worked ground is the earth after an uninterrupted rain of seven days (the first, second, and third fertilizing periods in the language of Tosephta Taaniot 1:4). R. Simeon ben Eleazar seems to object to both R. Meïr and R. Yehudah because rain will make the ground water level rise by twice the amount of rain water; hence, moisture in the ground can come from below as well as from above. One must assume that in the Yerushalmi also the measurements are those of moist spots in the earth and not of rainfall in the modern sense.? If it fills a vessel of three handb̮readths, the words of Rebbi Meïr. Rebbi Yehudah says, the first rainfall one handb̮readth, the second one two hand breadths, and the third one three handb̮readths. It has been stated¹⁴⁴Tosephta 1:4.: Rebbi Simeon ben Eleazar says, there is no handb̮readths that falls from above that the earth does not raise two handb̮readths towards it. What is the reason? The deep calls to the deep by the sound of Your water spouts¹⁴⁵Ps.42:8. Rashi explains in Babli Taanit that clouds also are called “deep”. The Targum to Ps. reads: The upper abyss calls to the lower abyss by the sound of the sprinkling of your channels (Rashi Ps. in Romance: tes canales.).

Rebbi Levi said: The upper waters are male and the lower ones female. What is the reason? The earth shall open, they shall bear fruit of help^145aThe verse starts: "The heavens should pour down from high, and the skies should flow with justice," speaking of rain. The Babli has two contradictory sermons in this matter. Rav Jehudah is reported in 6b that rain is the earth's husband because in Is. 55:10 it is said that rain makes the earth give birth, while Rebbi Abbahu (there and Berakhot 59b) says that a benediction is recited only if “the bridegroom goes towards the bride,” meaning that drops jump up from the earth towards the descending rain. [This is the traditional interpretation, given by Ashkenazic Rabbenu Gershom and North- African Rabbenu Hanan`el. Rashi, sensing the apparent contradiction to R. Levi’s statement, has a prosaic interpretation, that on both sides of the street the gutters will spout water one towards the other.]. The earth shall open, like a female who opens before a male; they should bear fruit of help, that is being fruitful and multiplying; and justice shall sprout, that is rainfall; I, the Eternal, did create it, for this purpose I created it, for the wellb̮eing of the world. Rebbi Aḥa stated it in the name of Rebbi Simeon ben Gamliel<sup>146</sup>This is the end of Rebbi Simeon ben Eleazar’s text in Tosephta 1:4. In the Babli 6b, this passage appears as a statement of the Amora Rebbi Abbahu. The statement also is quoted in Ševi`it9:7 (Note 101), Nedarim8:6 (Note 73).: Why is it called “fertilizing”? Because it impregnates the earth.