זֶ֥רַע רַ֖ב תּוֹצִ֣יא הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה וּמְעַ֣ט תֶּאֱסֹ֔ף כִּ֥י יַחְסְלֶ֖נּוּ הָאַרְבֶּֽה׃
Zasiew obfity wyniesiesz na pole, - a mało zbierzesz, - bo wyniszczy to szarańcza.
Bereshit Rabbah
“Now, you are cursed from the ground that opened its mouth to take your brother's blood from your hand” (Genesis 4:11).
“Now, you are cursed” – Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said: In three places the verse spoke tersely.44Without details. “Now you are cursed”; “if the Lord will create a creation” (Numbers 16:30); “I opened my mouth to the Lord” (Judges 11:35).45The verse does not specify what this curse was, nor which creation the Lord would make, not what came from Yiftaḥ’s mouth.
“When you cultivate the ground, it will not continue giving its strength to you; restless and itinerant you shall be on the earth” (Genesis 4:12).
“When you cultivate the ground, it will not continue giving its strength to you” – Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Ḥanina, Rabbi Elazar said: To you it will not give, but to others it will give. Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina said: Neither to you nor to others.
Similarly, “Much seed you will take out to the field, [but little you will gather]” (Deuteronomy 28:38) – Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda says: One would plant one se’a and gather in one se’a. Rabbi Neḥemya said: If so, from where would he earn a livelihood? Rather, that which is fit to produce twenty units will produce sixteen, and that which is fit to produce ten will produce five. Alternatively, “When you cultivate the ground, it will not continue giving its strength to you” – its strength it will not give to you, but your strength it will give to you.46It will produce in accordance with the exertion and toil that you invest. All your strength it will not give you; it will give you some of your strength.47You will produce enough to subsist, but not to live in comfort.
“Now, you are cursed” – Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said: In three places the verse spoke tersely.44Without details. “Now you are cursed”; “if the Lord will create a creation” (Numbers 16:30); “I opened my mouth to the Lord” (Judges 11:35).45The verse does not specify what this curse was, nor which creation the Lord would make, not what came from Yiftaḥ’s mouth.
“When you cultivate the ground, it will not continue giving its strength to you; restless and itinerant you shall be on the earth” (Genesis 4:12).
“When you cultivate the ground, it will not continue giving its strength to you” – Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Ḥanina, Rabbi Elazar said: To you it will not give, but to others it will give. Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina said: Neither to you nor to others.
Similarly, “Much seed you will take out to the field, [but little you will gather]” (Deuteronomy 28:38) – Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda says: One would plant one se’a and gather in one se’a. Rabbi Neḥemya said: If so, from where would he earn a livelihood? Rather, that which is fit to produce twenty units will produce sixteen, and that which is fit to produce ten will produce five. Alternatively, “When you cultivate the ground, it will not continue giving its strength to you” – its strength it will not give to you, but your strength it will give to you.46It will produce in accordance with the exertion and toil that you invest. All your strength it will not give you; it will give you some of your strength.47You will produce enough to subsist, but not to live in comfort.
Pesikta Rabbati
... Teach us o teacher: toward where should one who prays orient his heart? This is what our Rabbis taught: one should orient his heart toward the place of the Holy of Holies (Berachot 4:5). R’ Eliezer ben Yaakov says: if one is praying outside of the land, he should orient his heart to the land of Israel. If one is praying within the land of Israel, he should orient his heart to Jerusalem. If one is praying in Jerusalem, he should orient his heart to the Holy Temple. If one is praying in the Holy Temple, he should orient his heart to the Holy of Holies. R’ Avin the Levi said: “our neck is like the Tower of David, built as a model (talpiyot)…” (Song of Songs 4:4) What does talpiyot mean? The hill (tel) toward which all turns (peniyot) are directed. And after all this praise, it is written “Open your doors, O Lebanon, and let the fire consume your cedars.” (Zechariah 11:1) And so too they said “He has hurled fire into my bones…” (Lamentations 1:13) Israel said to Him: Master of the World! How long will it be like this? Did You not write in Your Torah “…the one who ignited the fire shall surely pay” (Exodus 22:5)? And You are the one who ignited the fire, as it says “From above He has hurled fire into my bones…” (Lamentations 1:13) You need to rebuild it and to console us, not at the hands of an angel but You in Your glory. The Holy One said to them: by your life, so I will do! As it says “The Lord is the builder of Jerusalem; He will gather the outcasts of Israel.” (Psalms 147:2) And I am the one who consoles you. From where do we learn this? From that which they read in the prophets “I, yea I am He Who consoles you…” (Isaiah 51:12)