בּוֹרֵ֖א נוב [נִ֣יב] שְׂפָתָ֑יִם שָׁל֨וֹם ׀ שָׁל֜וֹם לָרָח֧וֹק וְלַקָּר֛וֹב אָמַ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה וּרְפָאתִֽיו׃
איך באַשאַף אַ ליפּנפֿרוכט:״שלום, שלום צום נאָנטן און צום װײַטן!״זאָגט גאָט, און איך װעל אים הײלן.
Devarim Rabbah
Another interpretation, “you shall call to it for peace” – see how great the power of peace is. Come and see, a flesh-and-blood human, if he has an enemy, he looks for and seeks out what [harm] to do to him. What does he do to him? He goes and seeks a man greater than he is, to cause harm to that enemy. But the Holy One blessed be He is not like that. Instead, all the idolaters anger Him and yet they go to sleep and all their souls ascend to Him [during their sleep]. From where is this derived? It is as it is stated: “In whose hand is the life of every living being” (Job 12:10), and in the morning, He restores the souls to each and every one of them. From where is this derived? It is as it is stated: “He gives souls to the people upon it” (Isaiah 42:5).
Another interpretation, a flesh-and-blood human, if he causes harm to another person, it never leaves his heart.24He forever holds a grudge against the person who wronged him. But the Holy One blessed be He is not so. Rather, Israel was in Egypt, and the Egyptians enslaved them with mortar and bricks. After all the evils that they committed against Israel, the Scripture had pity upon them and said: “You shall not despise an Egyptian, as you were a stranger in his land” (Deuteronomy 23:8). Instead, pursue peace, as it is stated: “Seek peace and pursue it” (Psalms 34:15).
Another interpretation, “seek peace and pursue it” – there was once an incident involving Rabbi Meir, who was sitting and lecturing….25And a certain woman came to hear his lecture. That woman went home. It was Shabbat eve, and she found that her candle had already become extinguished. Her husband asked her: ‘Where have you been until now?’ She said to him: ‘I was listening to Rabbi Meir lecture.’ That man was a scoffer, and he said to her: ‘I swear, you will not enter my house until you go and spit in Rabbi Meir’s face.’ She left his house. Elijah, of blessed memory, appeared to Rabbi Meir, and said to him: ‘Because of you, that woman has left her house.’ Elijah, of blessed memory, informed him how the incident transpired. What did Rabbi Meir do? He went and sat in the great study hall. That woman came there to pray and he saw her. He pretended to have a sore [in his eye] and said: ‘Does anyone know how to cure an eye with a charm?’ That woman said to him: ‘I have come to cure by using charms.’ She spat in his face.26That was the cure for an eye sore. He said to her: ‘Say to your husband: I have spat in Rabbi Meir’s face.’ He said to her [further]: ‘Go and reconcile with your husband.’ See how great the power of peace is.
Another interpretation, Rabbi Akiva said: You may know how great the power of peace is, as the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘When a man issues a warning to his wife,27Warning her not to be alone with a certain man. the holy Name that is written in sanctity is erased with water28If the woman did not heed the warning, and secluded herself with the man, the procedure described in Numbers chapter 5 is followed. Part of the procedure is to write down a passage which includes God’s name, and then erase the passage with water. in order to make peace between the woman suspected of adultery and her husband.’
Reish Lakish said: Great is peace, as the verse stated fabricated words in order to make peace between Joseph and his brothers. When their father died, they were fearful lest he exact vengeance against them. What did they say to him? “Your father commanded before his death, saying: So say to Joseph: [Please, forgive the transgression of your brothers]” (Genesis 50:16–17). But we do not find anywhere that Jacob our patriarch [actually] issued such a command. Rather, the verses stated fabricated words in order to adhere to the ways of peace.
Another interpretation, beloved is peace, as the Holy One blessed be He granted it to Zion, as it is stated: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalms 122:6).
Another interpretation, beloved is peace, as the Holy One blessed be He installed it in the heavens, as it is stated: “He makes peace in His heights” (Job 25:2).
Another interpretation, beloved is peace, as the Holy One blessed be He provided it to both those who are near and far, as it is stated: “Peace, peace for the far and for the near” (Isaiah 57:19).
Another interpretation, beloved is peace, as the Holy One blessed be He did not provide it to the wicked, as it is stated: “There is no peace, said the Lord, for the wicked” (Isaiah 48:22).
Another interpretation, beloved is peace, as the Holy One blessed be He provided it to Pinḥas as his reward, as it is stated: “Behold, I am giving him My covenant of peace” (Numbers 25:12).
Another interpretation, beloved is peace, as the Holy One blessed be He heralds to Jerusalem that they [its inhabitants] will be saved only by means of peace, as it is stated: “Announcing peace…[heralding salvation]” (Isaiah 52:7).
Another interpretation, Rabbi Levi said: Beloved is peace, as the endings of all the blessings are always about peace. The recitation of the Shema ends with peace – ‘He who spreads a canopy of peace.’ The [Amida] Prayer ends with peace. The Priestly Benediction ends with peace – “and grant you peace” (Numbers 6:26).
Another interpretation, beloved is peace, as the Holy One blessed be He comforts Jerusalem only with peace. From where is this derived? It is as it is stated: “Behold, I will direct peace to it like a river” (Isaiah 66:12).
David said: ‘I was seeking to hear what is the discourse of the Holy One blessed be He regarding Israel, and I heard that He was speaking about peace for them,’ as it is stated: “I will hear what the Almighty Lord will speak, as He will speak peace for His people and to His pious ones” (Psalms 85:9).
Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥalafta said: See how beloved peace is, as when the Holy One blessed be He sought to bless Israel, he did not find a receptacle that holds all the blessings with which He would bless them other than peace, as it is stated: “The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace”29Literally, “inside peace,” as if peace is the receptacle that contains all the blessings. (Psalms 29:11).
Another interpretation, a flesh-and-blood human, if he causes harm to another person, it never leaves his heart.24He forever holds a grudge against the person who wronged him. But the Holy One blessed be He is not so. Rather, Israel was in Egypt, and the Egyptians enslaved them with mortar and bricks. After all the evils that they committed against Israel, the Scripture had pity upon them and said: “You shall not despise an Egyptian, as you were a stranger in his land” (Deuteronomy 23:8). Instead, pursue peace, as it is stated: “Seek peace and pursue it” (Psalms 34:15).
Another interpretation, “seek peace and pursue it” – there was once an incident involving Rabbi Meir, who was sitting and lecturing….25And a certain woman came to hear his lecture. That woman went home. It was Shabbat eve, and she found that her candle had already become extinguished. Her husband asked her: ‘Where have you been until now?’ She said to him: ‘I was listening to Rabbi Meir lecture.’ That man was a scoffer, and he said to her: ‘I swear, you will not enter my house until you go and spit in Rabbi Meir’s face.’ She left his house. Elijah, of blessed memory, appeared to Rabbi Meir, and said to him: ‘Because of you, that woman has left her house.’ Elijah, of blessed memory, informed him how the incident transpired. What did Rabbi Meir do? He went and sat in the great study hall. That woman came there to pray and he saw her. He pretended to have a sore [in his eye] and said: ‘Does anyone know how to cure an eye with a charm?’ That woman said to him: ‘I have come to cure by using charms.’ She spat in his face.26That was the cure for an eye sore. He said to her: ‘Say to your husband: I have spat in Rabbi Meir’s face.’ He said to her [further]: ‘Go and reconcile with your husband.’ See how great the power of peace is.
Another interpretation, Rabbi Akiva said: You may know how great the power of peace is, as the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘When a man issues a warning to his wife,27Warning her not to be alone with a certain man. the holy Name that is written in sanctity is erased with water28If the woman did not heed the warning, and secluded herself with the man, the procedure described in Numbers chapter 5 is followed. Part of the procedure is to write down a passage which includes God’s name, and then erase the passage with water. in order to make peace between the woman suspected of adultery and her husband.’
Reish Lakish said: Great is peace, as the verse stated fabricated words in order to make peace between Joseph and his brothers. When their father died, they were fearful lest he exact vengeance against them. What did they say to him? “Your father commanded before his death, saying: So say to Joseph: [Please, forgive the transgression of your brothers]” (Genesis 50:16–17). But we do not find anywhere that Jacob our patriarch [actually] issued such a command. Rather, the verses stated fabricated words in order to adhere to the ways of peace.
Another interpretation, beloved is peace, as the Holy One blessed be He granted it to Zion, as it is stated: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalms 122:6).
Another interpretation, beloved is peace, as the Holy One blessed be He installed it in the heavens, as it is stated: “He makes peace in His heights” (Job 25:2).
Another interpretation, beloved is peace, as the Holy One blessed be He provided it to both those who are near and far, as it is stated: “Peace, peace for the far and for the near” (Isaiah 57:19).
Another interpretation, beloved is peace, as the Holy One blessed be He did not provide it to the wicked, as it is stated: “There is no peace, said the Lord, for the wicked” (Isaiah 48:22).
Another interpretation, beloved is peace, as the Holy One blessed be He provided it to Pinḥas as his reward, as it is stated: “Behold, I am giving him My covenant of peace” (Numbers 25:12).
Another interpretation, beloved is peace, as the Holy One blessed be He heralds to Jerusalem that they [its inhabitants] will be saved only by means of peace, as it is stated: “Announcing peace…[heralding salvation]” (Isaiah 52:7).
Another interpretation, Rabbi Levi said: Beloved is peace, as the endings of all the blessings are always about peace. The recitation of the Shema ends with peace – ‘He who spreads a canopy of peace.’ The [Amida] Prayer ends with peace. The Priestly Benediction ends with peace – “and grant you peace” (Numbers 6:26).
Another interpretation, beloved is peace, as the Holy One blessed be He comforts Jerusalem only with peace. From where is this derived? It is as it is stated: “Behold, I will direct peace to it like a river” (Isaiah 66:12).
David said: ‘I was seeking to hear what is the discourse of the Holy One blessed be He regarding Israel, and I heard that He was speaking about peace for them,’ as it is stated: “I will hear what the Almighty Lord will speak, as He will speak peace for His people and to His pious ones” (Psalms 85:9).
Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥalafta said: See how beloved peace is, as when the Holy One blessed be He sought to bless Israel, he did not find a receptacle that holds all the blessings with which He would bless them other than peace, as it is stated: “The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace”29Literally, “inside peace,” as if peace is the receptacle that contains all the blessings. (Psalms 29:11).
Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)
(Gemara) Whence do we learn this? R. Joshua b. Levi said: "The text reads (Is. 57, 19.) Creating the fruit of the lips, peace, peace to him, that is afar off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him.
Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)
R. Chiya b. Abba in the name of R. Jochanan said: "All that the prophets prophesied [concerning future glory] was only for a repentant sinner, but as for the perfectly righteous the glory will be No eye has seen, O God, beside Thee! (Is. 6-1, 3)." And this is in contradiction of what R. Abuhu said: "Where the repentant sinners stand the perfectly righteous are not permitted to stand, for it is said (Ib. 57, 19.) Peace, peace unto him that is afar off, and to him that is near. First to him who is afar off (repentant) and then to him who is near (righteous from the very beginning)." But R. Jochanan said: "What is meant by Afar off? He who was far from the 'very beginning* of a transgression; and Near to him, means he who was 'close to a transgression' but turned away therefrom." Further said R. Chiya b. Abba in the name of R. Jochanan: "The prophecy of all the prophets referred only to the period of Messiah, but as for the future world, No eye has witnessed. O God, beside Thee!" And this disagrees with Samuel; for Samuel said: "There will be no difference between this world and the future one except in the subjugation of the Exile, as it is said (Deu. 15, 11.) For the needy will not cease out of thy land." Further said R. Chiya b. Abba in the name of R. Jochanan: "The glorious future of which all the prophets prophesied is only for him who marries his daughter to a Talmid Chacham (Scholar), and for him who does business with a Talmid Chacham, and for him who bestows of his wealth upon a Talmid Chacham; but as to the scholars themselves, No eye has witnessed, O God, beside Thee! happy is he who waits (patiently) for it." What is meant by No eye has witnessed? R. Joshuah b. Levi said: "This refers to the wine preserved in its grapes since the six days of creation." R. Samuel b. Nachmeini said: "This refers to Eden which no eye ever saw. And if thou wilt ask, 'Where did Adam, the first man live?' It was only in the garden [of Eden]. And if thou wilt say that 'Garden' and 'Eden' are the same, it is therefore said (Gen. 2, 10.) And a river went out of Eden to water the garden [which shows that] 'Garden' and 'Eden' are two distinct places."