וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ אִם־מָצָ֤אנוּ חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ יֻתַּ֞ן אֶת־הָאָ֧רֶץ הַזֹּ֛את לַעֲבָדֶ֖יךָ לַאֲחֻזָּ֑ה אַל־תַּעֲבִרֵ֖נוּ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃
At sinabi nila, “Kung nakasumpong kami ng biyaya sa iyong paningin, ibigay nawa ang lupaing ito sa iyong mga lingkod bilang pag-aari; huwag mo na kaming patawirin sa Jordan.”
Vayikra Rabbah
“When a person presents a meal offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of high quality flour; he shall pour oil upon it, and place frankincense on it” (Leviticus 2:1).
“When a person presents a meal offering,” Rabbi Yitzḥak began: “A handful of tranquility is better than two handfuls of toil and herding wind [ureut ruaḥ]” (Ecclesiastes 4:6). One who studies two orders1Of Mishna. and is fluent in them is better than one who studies halakhot2One who studies the halakhot in all six orders of the Mishna (Etz Yosef). but is not fluent in them. Rather, ureut ruaḥ, his desire [reutei] is to be called a master of halakhot. One who studies halakhot and is fluent in them is better than one who studies halakhot and halakhic midrash but is not fluent in them. Rather, ureut ruaḥ, his desire [reutei] is to be called a master of halakhic midrash. One who studies halakhot and halakhic midrash and is fluent in them is better than one who studies halakhot, halakhic midrash, and Talmud but is not fluent in them. Rather, ureut ruaḥ, his desire [reutei] is to be called a master of Talmud.
One who has ten gold pieces and he conducts business and supports himself with them is better than one who goes and borrows with interest. In the parable they say: One who borrows with interest loses what is his and what is not his. Rather, ureut ruaḥ, his desire [reutei] is to be called a merchant. One who goes, works, and gives charity with his own [money] is better than one who steals, extorts, and gives charity from [the money] of others. In the parable they say: She is promiscuous for apples and distributes to the ill. Rather, ureut ruaḥ, his desire [reutei] is to be called a charitable man.
One who has a garden and fertilizes it, hoes it, and supports himself from it is better than one who takes the gardens of others for half the yield.3The reference is to one who takes vast properties as a sharecropper, and pays half the yield to the owners. In the parable they say: One who rents one garden eats birds, one who rents gardens, birds eat him. Rather, ureut ruaḥ, his desire [reutei] is to be called owner of an estate.
Rabbi Berekhya said: One footstep trodden by the Holy One blessed be He in Egypt, just as it says: “I will pass through the land of Egypt that night [and I will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt]” (Exodus 12:12) was greater than the handfuls of furnace soot of Moses and Aaron.4The handfuls of soot were thrown upwards in order to bring about the plague of boils. See Exodus 9:10. Why? Because this engendered salvation and that did not engender salvation.
Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: “A handful of tranquility is better,” this is the Shabbat day, “than two handfuls of toil,” these are six workdays. Yet, ureut ruaḥ, his desire [reutei] is to perform his labor on them.5One prefers the workdays so that he can work and earn money. Know that in fact Israel is saved only due to the merit of Shabbat, as it is stated: “With repose [beshuva] and tranquility you will be saved” (Isaiah 30:15).
Rabbi Yaakov bar Korshoi said: “A handful of tranquility is better,” this is the World to Come, “than two handfuls of toil,” this is this world. Yet, ureut ruaḥ, the desire [reutei] of the wicked is to perform their actions in this world in exchange for payment that will be exacted from them in the World to Come, as we learned: One hour of repentance and good deeds in this world is better than all of life in the World to Come, and one hour of satisfaction in the World to Come is better than all of life in this world.6Avot 4:17.
Rabbi Yitzḥak interpreted the verse regarding the tribe of Reuben and the tribe of Gad; when they entered the Land7The reference is to the areas conquered by Israel on the eastern side of the Jordan River. and saw how much sowing and how much planting could be accomplished there, they said: “A handful of tranquility is better” in this land, “than two handfuls of toil” across the Jordan. They later said: ‘Was it not we who chose it for ourselves? That is what is written: “Let this land be given to your servants”’ (Numbers 32:5). Ureut ruaḥ, it was their desire [reutehon].
Another matter, “a handful of tranquility is better,” this is the handful of the freewill meal offering of the poor, “than two handfuls of toil,” this is the finely ground incense of spices of the public, as this brings atonement and that does not bring atonement.
“When a person presents a meal offering,” Rabbi Yitzḥak began: “A handful of tranquility is better than two handfuls of toil and herding wind [ureut ruaḥ]” (Ecclesiastes 4:6). One who studies two orders1Of Mishna. and is fluent in them is better than one who studies halakhot2One who studies the halakhot in all six orders of the Mishna (Etz Yosef). but is not fluent in them. Rather, ureut ruaḥ, his desire [reutei] is to be called a master of halakhot. One who studies halakhot and is fluent in them is better than one who studies halakhot and halakhic midrash but is not fluent in them. Rather, ureut ruaḥ, his desire [reutei] is to be called a master of halakhic midrash. One who studies halakhot and halakhic midrash and is fluent in them is better than one who studies halakhot, halakhic midrash, and Talmud but is not fluent in them. Rather, ureut ruaḥ, his desire [reutei] is to be called a master of Talmud.
One who has ten gold pieces and he conducts business and supports himself with them is better than one who goes and borrows with interest. In the parable they say: One who borrows with interest loses what is his and what is not his. Rather, ureut ruaḥ, his desire [reutei] is to be called a merchant. One who goes, works, and gives charity with his own [money] is better than one who steals, extorts, and gives charity from [the money] of others. In the parable they say: She is promiscuous for apples and distributes to the ill. Rather, ureut ruaḥ, his desire [reutei] is to be called a charitable man.
One who has a garden and fertilizes it, hoes it, and supports himself from it is better than one who takes the gardens of others for half the yield.3The reference is to one who takes vast properties as a sharecropper, and pays half the yield to the owners. In the parable they say: One who rents one garden eats birds, one who rents gardens, birds eat him. Rather, ureut ruaḥ, his desire [reutei] is to be called owner of an estate.
Rabbi Berekhya said: One footstep trodden by the Holy One blessed be He in Egypt, just as it says: “I will pass through the land of Egypt that night [and I will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt]” (Exodus 12:12) was greater than the handfuls of furnace soot of Moses and Aaron.4The handfuls of soot were thrown upwards in order to bring about the plague of boils. See Exodus 9:10. Why? Because this engendered salvation and that did not engender salvation.
Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: “A handful of tranquility is better,” this is the Shabbat day, “than two handfuls of toil,” these are six workdays. Yet, ureut ruaḥ, his desire [reutei] is to perform his labor on them.5One prefers the workdays so that he can work and earn money. Know that in fact Israel is saved only due to the merit of Shabbat, as it is stated: “With repose [beshuva] and tranquility you will be saved” (Isaiah 30:15).
Rabbi Yaakov bar Korshoi said: “A handful of tranquility is better,” this is the World to Come, “than two handfuls of toil,” this is this world. Yet, ureut ruaḥ, the desire [reutei] of the wicked is to perform their actions in this world in exchange for payment that will be exacted from them in the World to Come, as we learned: One hour of repentance and good deeds in this world is better than all of life in the World to Come, and one hour of satisfaction in the World to Come is better than all of life in this world.6Avot 4:17.
Rabbi Yitzḥak interpreted the verse regarding the tribe of Reuben and the tribe of Gad; when they entered the Land7The reference is to the areas conquered by Israel on the eastern side of the Jordan River. and saw how much sowing and how much planting could be accomplished there, they said: “A handful of tranquility is better” in this land, “than two handfuls of toil” across the Jordan. They later said: ‘Was it not we who chose it for ourselves? That is what is written: “Let this land be given to your servants”’ (Numbers 32:5). Ureut ruaḥ, it was their desire [reutehon].
Another matter, “a handful of tranquility is better,” this is the handful of the freewill meal offering of the poor, “than two handfuls of toil,” this is the finely ground incense of spices of the public, as this brings atonement and that does not bring atonement.
Kohelet Rabbah
“A handful of tranquility is better than two handfuls of toil and herding wind” (Ecclesiastes 4:6).
“A handful of tranquility is better” – one who studies halakhot and is familiar with them is better than one who studies halakhot and the hermeneutical principles but does not review them and familiarize himself with them. The parable says: One bound bird is better than one hundred that are flying. “And herding [urut] wind” – his wish [re’utei] is to be called “master of the mekhiltot.”14A reference to the midrash halakha on the book of Exodus, largely based on hermeneutical exposition of the verses.
Another matter: “A handful of tranquility is better” – one who performs minimal acts of charity with his own [funds] is better than one who steals, robs, or exploits others and performs great acts of charity from that of others. The parable says: She commits adultery for apples and distributes them to the poor. “And herding [urut] wind” – his wish [re’utei] is to be called “master of mitzvot.”
Another matter: “A handful of tranquility is better” – one who has ten gold pieces and conducts business and earns a livelihood from them is better than one who takes the property of others and squanders it and loses it. The parable says: It is not enough that he loses his own, but he loses that of others, what is his and what is not his. “And herding [urut] wind” – his wish [re’utei] is to be called a merchant.
Another matter: “A handful of tranquility is better” – one who rents one garden and eats its fruit is better than one who rents many gardens and leaves them fallow. The parable says: One who rents a garden will eat birds; one who rents many gardens, birds will eat them. “And herding [urut] wind” – his wish [re’utei] is to be called a property owner.
Rabbi Yaakov ben Rabbi Kurshai said: “A handful of tranquility is better” in the World to Come “than two handfuls of toil and herding wind” in this world. He would say: One hour of satisfaction in the World to Come is preferable to the entire life of this world, and one hour of repentance and good deeds in this world is preferable to the entire life of the World to Come, as the World to Come comes by virtue of this world.
Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: “A handful of tranquility is better” – this is the Shabbat day; “than two handfuls of toil and herding wind” – these are the seven days of action, as Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: Israel is redeemed only thanks to Shabbat, as it is stated: “In stillness [beshuva] and quiet [vanaḥat] you will be saved” (Isaiah 30:15), with cessation from work and rest you will be saved. “And herding wind” – his wish is to be called one who works and eats.
Rabbi Berekhya said: The trampling that the Holy One blessed be He trampled in the land of Egypt, as it is stated: “I will pass in the land of Egypt on that night” (Exodus 12:12), is better than two handfuls, than their two handfuls of furnace soot. Why? It is because in this one there is redemption and they were redeemed, and in this of furnace soot, they were not redeemed.
Rabbi Yitzḥak interpreted the verse regarding the tribe of Gad and the tribe of Reuben who came to the Land of Israel and saw the amount of room for sowing that was in it, the amount of room for planting that was in it. They said: “A handful of tranquility is better” in the Land of Israel, “than two handfuls of toil” across the Jordan. They reconsidered and said: Did we not cause this to ourselves, did we not say: “Let this land be given to your servants” (Numbers 32:5)?
Rabbi Yitzḥak said: It is written: “The cloud of incense will cover” (Leviticus 16:13). This cover, we do not know what it is, until David came and explained it, as it is stated: “You forgave the iniquity of Your people, [You covered all their sins]” (Psalms 85:3). The Holy One blessed be He, too, said: The poor person’s handful of the gift meal offering is dearer to Me than the High Priest’s two handfuls of the incense of the spices. Why? It is because this one comes for atonement and that one does not come for atonement, as it is written: “When a person [venefesh]15The connotation is that it is as though the person in sacrificing his soul [nefesh] and thereby gaining atonement. sacrifices a meal offering to the Lord” (Leviticus 2:1).
“A handful of tranquility is better” – one who studies halakhot and is familiar with them is better than one who studies halakhot and the hermeneutical principles but does not review them and familiarize himself with them. The parable says: One bound bird is better than one hundred that are flying. “And herding [urut] wind” – his wish [re’utei] is to be called “master of the mekhiltot.”14A reference to the midrash halakha on the book of Exodus, largely based on hermeneutical exposition of the verses.
Another matter: “A handful of tranquility is better” – one who performs minimal acts of charity with his own [funds] is better than one who steals, robs, or exploits others and performs great acts of charity from that of others. The parable says: She commits adultery for apples and distributes them to the poor. “And herding [urut] wind” – his wish [re’utei] is to be called “master of mitzvot.”
Another matter: “A handful of tranquility is better” – one who has ten gold pieces and conducts business and earns a livelihood from them is better than one who takes the property of others and squanders it and loses it. The parable says: It is not enough that he loses his own, but he loses that of others, what is his and what is not his. “And herding [urut] wind” – his wish [re’utei] is to be called a merchant.
Another matter: “A handful of tranquility is better” – one who rents one garden and eats its fruit is better than one who rents many gardens and leaves them fallow. The parable says: One who rents a garden will eat birds; one who rents many gardens, birds will eat them. “And herding [urut] wind” – his wish [re’utei] is to be called a property owner.
Rabbi Yaakov ben Rabbi Kurshai said: “A handful of tranquility is better” in the World to Come “than two handfuls of toil and herding wind” in this world. He would say: One hour of satisfaction in the World to Come is preferable to the entire life of this world, and one hour of repentance and good deeds in this world is preferable to the entire life of the World to Come, as the World to Come comes by virtue of this world.
Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: “A handful of tranquility is better” – this is the Shabbat day; “than two handfuls of toil and herding wind” – these are the seven days of action, as Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: Israel is redeemed only thanks to Shabbat, as it is stated: “In stillness [beshuva] and quiet [vanaḥat] you will be saved” (Isaiah 30:15), with cessation from work and rest you will be saved. “And herding wind” – his wish is to be called one who works and eats.
Rabbi Berekhya said: The trampling that the Holy One blessed be He trampled in the land of Egypt, as it is stated: “I will pass in the land of Egypt on that night” (Exodus 12:12), is better than two handfuls, than their two handfuls of furnace soot. Why? It is because in this one there is redemption and they were redeemed, and in this of furnace soot, they were not redeemed.
Rabbi Yitzḥak interpreted the verse regarding the tribe of Gad and the tribe of Reuben who came to the Land of Israel and saw the amount of room for sowing that was in it, the amount of room for planting that was in it. They said: “A handful of tranquility is better” in the Land of Israel, “than two handfuls of toil” across the Jordan. They reconsidered and said: Did we not cause this to ourselves, did we not say: “Let this land be given to your servants” (Numbers 32:5)?
Rabbi Yitzḥak said: It is written: “The cloud of incense will cover” (Leviticus 16:13). This cover, we do not know what it is, until David came and explained it, as it is stated: “You forgave the iniquity of Your people, [You covered all their sins]” (Psalms 85:3). The Holy One blessed be He, too, said: The poor person’s handful of the gift meal offering is dearer to Me than the High Priest’s two handfuls of the incense of the spices. Why? It is because this one comes for atonement and that one does not come for atonement, as it is written: “When a person [venefesh]15The connotation is that it is as though the person in sacrificing his soul [nefesh] and thereby gaining atonement. sacrifices a meal offering to the Lord” (Leviticus 2:1).
Bereshit Rabbah
“Reuben went during the days of wheat harvest, found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to Leah, his mother. Rachel said to Leah: Please give me from your son’s mandrakes” (Genesis 30:14).
“Reuben went during the days of wheat harvest.” “Train the lad in accordance with his way; even when he grows old, he will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6). “May this land be given to your servants…” (Numbers 32:5).
“The sated were hired for bread, but the hungry have ceased; while the barren has borne seven, the one with many children is miserable” (I Samuel 2:5). “The sated were hired [niskaru] for bread” – this is Leah, who was sated with sons and was rewarded [niskara]. “But the hungry have ceased [ḥadelu]” – this is Rachel, who was hungry for children but was stymied [ḥadela]. “While the barren [akara] has borne seven” – this is Leah, who was the primary one [ikara] in the household, and bore seven. “The one with many children is miserable” – this is Rachel, who was worthy to have the majority of the children emerge from her, and was miserable. Who did this? It is: “The Lord puts to death and brings to life” (I Samuel 2:6).
“Reuben went during the days of wheat harvest.” “Train the lad in accordance with his way; even when he grows old, he will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6). “May this land be given to your servants…” (Numbers 32:5).
“The sated were hired for bread, but the hungry have ceased; while the barren has borne seven, the one with many children is miserable” (I Samuel 2:5). “The sated were hired [niskaru] for bread” – this is Leah, who was sated with sons and was rewarded [niskara]. “But the hungry have ceased [ḥadelu]” – this is Rachel, who was hungry for children but was stymied [ḥadela]. “While the barren [akara] has borne seven” – this is Leah, who was the primary one [ikara] in the household, and bore seven. “The one with many children is miserable” – this is Rachel, who was worthy to have the majority of the children emerge from her, and was miserable. Who did this? It is: “The Lord puts to death and brings to life” (I Samuel 2:6).