נֹצֵ֣ר תְּ֭אֵנָה יֹאכַ֣ל פִּרְיָ֑הּ וְשֹׁמֵ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֣יו יְכֻבָּֽד׃
무화과나무를 지키는 자는 그 과실을 먹고 자기 주인을 시종하는 자는 영화를 얻느니라
Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)
R. Huna said: "What is the meaning of the passage (Ps. 68, 11.) Thy assembly dwelt therein; Thou didst prepare it with Thy goodness for the afflicted people, O God! If a man make himself as a wild beast, which devours its prey immediately after killing, so also will the scholar repeat his teaching immediately after he hears it from his teacher until he knows it; or as others explain it, like a wild beast which eats even when in the mud, so will the scholar humiliate himself for the sake of study; thus he will retain his learning, otherwise he will not retain it. If he does so, however, the Holy One, praised be He! Himself will prepare a meal for him as is said immediately following, Thou didst prepare it with goodness for Thy afflicted, O God." R. Chiya b. Abba, in the name of R. Jochanan said: "What is the meaning of the passage (Pr. 27, 18.) Whoso guardeth the fig-tree, will eat its fruit. Why are the words of the Torah likened to a fig-tree? (Ib. b) Just as a fig-tree yields its fruits as often as one searches for it, so does the Torah yield new reasonings as often as a man utters it."
Midrash Tanchuma
(Numb. 27:16:) “Let the Lord, [the God of the spirits of all flesh], appoint….” This text is related (to Is. 45:11), “Regarding the things to come, would you question Me concerning My children and command the work of My hands?”30Although the two verbs in this citation are imperative, both the biblical context and the interpretation of the midrash regard these commands as unthinkable suggestions. A parable: To what is the matter comparable?31Numb. R. 21:12, cont. To a king who took a wife and had a best man (shoshevin). Every time that the king was angry with his wife, the best man would placate32Rt. PYS. Cf. the Gk.: peisis or peisa (“persuasion”). him and the king would be reconciled. When the best man was about to die, he began to make a request of the king. He said to him, “Would you please pay attention to your wife [to be foregoing with her after I die].” The king said to him, “Instead of you charging me concerning my wife, charge my wife concerning me, that she be careful with my honor.” So did the Holy One, blessed be He, as it were, say to Moses, “Instead of you charging Me (in Numb. 27:16), ‘Appoint…,’ charge them concerning Me, that they be diligent with My honor.” What is written below (in Numb. 28:2)? “Command the Children of Israel, and say unto them, ‘My offering, My bread.’” What reason did [Moses] have to request this need after the ordering of inheritance? It is simply that since he saw the daughters of Zelophehad inherit the properties of their father, Moses said, “See it is the time for me to claim my needs. If daughters inherit, it is [also] proper for my sons to inherit my glory.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him (in Prov. 27:18), “’He who tends a fig tree will enjoy its fruit.’ Your sons sat [with] their own [concerns] and were not involved with Torah [study]. It is [more] appropriate that Joshua, who served you, serve Israel and not lose his compensation,” as stated (in Numb. 27:18), “Take Joshua bin Nun.” And why is the Torah compared to a fig tree? Since [the fruit of] most trees – the olive tree, the grapevine, the date palm – is gathered [all] at once, but the fig tree is gathered a little [at a time]. And so too is the Torah. Today he studies a little and tomorrow he studies much; as it is not taught in a year, nor in two. (Numb. 27:18:) “A man with the spirit of God with him.” Since you said (in Numb. 27:16), “’The God of the spirits of all flesh,’ since You know each and every one, one should be appointed who knows how to proceed with each and every one of them according to his temperament”; [so then (in Numb 27:18, cont.),] “lay your hand upon him,” like one who lights a candle from a candle. (Numb 27:20), “Invest him with your majesty,” like one who pours from one vessel to another vessel. Concerning that which I said to you (in Numb. 36:9), “So the inheritance will not move around from one tribe to another,” this glory will not move from the house of your father, as even Joshua who will arise in your place (according to Numb. 27:19), “shall stand in front of Elazar the priest” (nephew of Moses).
Bamidbar Rabbah
Another matter: “On the day that [Moses] concluded” – it is not written here, “on the day that he erected,” but rather, “on the day that [Moses] concluded [kalot].” It was the day that demons were eliminated [shekalu] from the world.
“It was on the day that Moses concluded…” – that is what is written: “The guardian of a fig tree will eat its fruit…” (Proverbs 27:18). It is speaking of Joshua, who attended to Moses, just as it says: “And his attendant, Joshua son of Nun, a lad, would not depart from within the tent” (Exodus 33:11). Why was the Torah likened to a fig tree? It is because most trees, the olive tree, the vine, the date tree, are each harvested all at once, while the fig tree is harvested little by little. So, the Torah, today one studies a little, and the next day a lot, because the Torah is not learned in one year nor in two. In its regard it is written: “The guardian of a fig tree.” What is “will eat its fruit”? The fruit of Torah is kingdom and dominion, as it is stated: “Through me kings reign…Through me rulers rule” (Proverbs 8:15–16).40Stated from the perspective of wisdom, or the Torah. That is what transpired for Joshua. Moses’ sons did not inherit his position; rather, Joshua inherited his position, just as it says: “Take you Joshua the son of Nun…[and lay your hand upon him]” (Numbers 27:18). “And the protector of his master will be honored” (Proverbs 27:18) – this is Joshua, who would attend to Moses day and night, just as it says: “Would not depart from within the tent.” And it says: “Moses, my master, restrain them” (Numbers 11:28);41Eldad and Medad were prophesying in the camp, and the content of their prophecy was not in keeping with the honor due Moses. Joshua turned to Moses to stop them. therefore, the Holy One blessed be He honored him. What honor did the Holy One blessed be He perform for him? Because this is what he said in Joshua’s regard: “Before Elazar the priest he shall stand, and he will inquire for him regarding the judgment of the Urim…” (Numbers 27:21). Because he attended to his master, he merited the Divine Spirit, as it is stated: “It was after the death of Moses, [servant of the Lord, that the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ attendant, saying]” (Joshua 1:1). The verse need not have said “Moses’ attendant.” Why is it stated? It is to say to you that because he was Moses’ attendant, he merited prophecy. That is, “will be honored.”
Another matter: “The guardian of a fig tree [will eat its fruit]” (Proverbs 27:18) – the Holy One blessed be He does not withhold the reward of any creature. Any place that a person toils and devotes his life to a matter, the Holy One blessed be He does not withhold his reward. If you would like to know a proof, Solomon built the Temple, as it is stated: “Solomon built the Temple, and he completed it“ (I Kings 6:14). Because David devoted his life to the Temple that was built, as it is stated: “Remember, Lord, for David, all of his afflictions.… I will not enter the roof of my house.… I will not give sleep to my eyes.… until I find a place for the Lord” (Psalms 132:1, 3–5), the Holy One blessed be He did not withhold his reward, but rather He attributed it to his name. “A psalm, a song for the dedication of the Temple to David” (Psalms 30:1) – it is not written here, “to Solomon,” but “to David.” That is, “the guardian of a fig tree will eat its fruit.”
Likewise, you find regarding Moses, who devoted his life to three matters and they were called by his name. These are laws, Torah, and the Tabernacle, as it is written: “Moses sat to judge the people…[from the morning until the evening]” (Exodus 18:13). They were called by his name, as it is written: “He performed the righteousness of the Lord, and His ordinances with Israel” (Deuteronomy 33:21). Torah, from where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “Moses was at the mountaintop forty days [and forty nights]” (Exodus 24:18). It is called by his name, as it is stated: “Remember the Torah of Moses My servant” (Malachi 3:22). The Tabernacle, from where is it derived? It is because you find that Moses would circulate among the craftsmen at all hours of every day to teach them how to perform the labor so they would not err in its regard, because the Holy One blessed be He said to him: “See and craft in accordance with their form [that you are shown on the mountain]” (Exodus 25:40). Therefore, it is written regarding each and every item: “As the Lord commanded Moses,” as he would not move from overseeing them. Likewise it says: “Moses saw all the labor, [and behold, they had performed it; as the Lord had commanded, so they had performed], and Moses blessed them” (Exodus 39:43). What blessing did he recite? “May the grace of the Lord our God [be upon us, and our handiwork…]” (Psalms 90:17). He said to them: May the Divine Presence rest upon your handiwork.
Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Yosef said: All seven days of the inauguration, Moses would erect the Tabernacle and dismantle it twice each day. If you say that an individual from the tribe of Levi would assist him, that is not so. Rather, the Sages said that he would put it in place and dismantle it, and no individual from Israel assisted him, as it is stated: “It was on the day that Moses concluded.” That is why it is called by his name, as it does not say: “On the day that he erected,” but rather, “on the day that [Moses] concluded [erecting]” – the day that his erecting concluded. It mentioned his name there. That is why it is stated: “That Moses concluded.”
“It was on the day that Moses concluded…” – that is what is written: “The guardian of a fig tree will eat its fruit…” (Proverbs 27:18). It is speaking of Joshua, who attended to Moses, just as it says: “And his attendant, Joshua son of Nun, a lad, would not depart from within the tent” (Exodus 33:11). Why was the Torah likened to a fig tree? It is because most trees, the olive tree, the vine, the date tree, are each harvested all at once, while the fig tree is harvested little by little. So, the Torah, today one studies a little, and the next day a lot, because the Torah is not learned in one year nor in two. In its regard it is written: “The guardian of a fig tree.” What is “will eat its fruit”? The fruit of Torah is kingdom and dominion, as it is stated: “Through me kings reign…Through me rulers rule” (Proverbs 8:15–16).40Stated from the perspective of wisdom, or the Torah. That is what transpired for Joshua. Moses’ sons did not inherit his position; rather, Joshua inherited his position, just as it says: “Take you Joshua the son of Nun…[and lay your hand upon him]” (Numbers 27:18). “And the protector of his master will be honored” (Proverbs 27:18) – this is Joshua, who would attend to Moses day and night, just as it says: “Would not depart from within the tent.” And it says: “Moses, my master, restrain them” (Numbers 11:28);41Eldad and Medad were prophesying in the camp, and the content of their prophecy was not in keeping with the honor due Moses. Joshua turned to Moses to stop them. therefore, the Holy One blessed be He honored him. What honor did the Holy One blessed be He perform for him? Because this is what he said in Joshua’s regard: “Before Elazar the priest he shall stand, and he will inquire for him regarding the judgment of the Urim…” (Numbers 27:21). Because he attended to his master, he merited the Divine Spirit, as it is stated: “It was after the death of Moses, [servant of the Lord, that the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ attendant, saying]” (Joshua 1:1). The verse need not have said “Moses’ attendant.” Why is it stated? It is to say to you that because he was Moses’ attendant, he merited prophecy. That is, “will be honored.”
Another matter: “The guardian of a fig tree [will eat its fruit]” (Proverbs 27:18) – the Holy One blessed be He does not withhold the reward of any creature. Any place that a person toils and devotes his life to a matter, the Holy One blessed be He does not withhold his reward. If you would like to know a proof, Solomon built the Temple, as it is stated: “Solomon built the Temple, and he completed it“ (I Kings 6:14). Because David devoted his life to the Temple that was built, as it is stated: “Remember, Lord, for David, all of his afflictions.… I will not enter the roof of my house.… I will not give sleep to my eyes.… until I find a place for the Lord” (Psalms 132:1, 3–5), the Holy One blessed be He did not withhold his reward, but rather He attributed it to his name. “A psalm, a song for the dedication of the Temple to David” (Psalms 30:1) – it is not written here, “to Solomon,” but “to David.” That is, “the guardian of a fig tree will eat its fruit.”
Likewise, you find regarding Moses, who devoted his life to three matters and they were called by his name. These are laws, Torah, and the Tabernacle, as it is written: “Moses sat to judge the people…[from the morning until the evening]” (Exodus 18:13). They were called by his name, as it is written: “He performed the righteousness of the Lord, and His ordinances with Israel” (Deuteronomy 33:21). Torah, from where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “Moses was at the mountaintop forty days [and forty nights]” (Exodus 24:18). It is called by his name, as it is stated: “Remember the Torah of Moses My servant” (Malachi 3:22). The Tabernacle, from where is it derived? It is because you find that Moses would circulate among the craftsmen at all hours of every day to teach them how to perform the labor so they would not err in its regard, because the Holy One blessed be He said to him: “See and craft in accordance with their form [that you are shown on the mountain]” (Exodus 25:40). Therefore, it is written regarding each and every item: “As the Lord commanded Moses,” as he would not move from overseeing them. Likewise it says: “Moses saw all the labor, [and behold, they had performed it; as the Lord had commanded, so they had performed], and Moses blessed them” (Exodus 39:43). What blessing did he recite? “May the grace of the Lord our God [be upon us, and our handiwork…]” (Psalms 90:17). He said to them: May the Divine Presence rest upon your handiwork.
Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Yosef said: All seven days of the inauguration, Moses would erect the Tabernacle and dismantle it twice each day. If you say that an individual from the tribe of Levi would assist him, that is not so. Rather, the Sages said that he would put it in place and dismantle it, and no individual from Israel assisted him, as it is stated: “It was on the day that Moses concluded.” That is why it is called by his name, as it does not say: “On the day that he erected,” but rather, “on the day that [Moses] concluded [erecting]” – the day that his erecting concluded. It mentioned his name there. That is why it is stated: “That Moses concluded.”