On the seventh day Elishama the
son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim, offered. (Num 7:48)
48. seventh day According
to rabbinic tradition, the seventh day fell on the Sabbath, and despite the
prohibition against an individual offering sacrifice on the Sabbath, an
exception was made for the chieftain of the tribe of Ephraim/ (Jacob
Milgrom, Numbers [The JPS Torah Commentary; Philadelphia: Jewish
Publication Society, 1990, 56-57)
Milgrom references “Sif. Num. 51, Num. R. 14:1, 2.” Here are
the references (the latter is lengthy):
(Bamidbar 7:16) "One
he-goat for a sin-offering": to atone for (defilement by a "grave in
the depths," (i.e., unknown tumah). "And for the sacrifice of the
peace-offerings": From (Ibid. 88) "And all the cattle for the
sacrifice of the peace-offerings," I might think that "cattle,"
where it is explicitly stated, are valid for peace-offerings, but not the
others; it is, therefore, written "And for the sacrifice of the
peace-offerings," to indicate that all are valid for the sacrifice of
peace-offerings. "This is the offering of Nachshon ben Aminadav": He
brings his own and not his tribe's. "this is the offering": This one
(the chief, in the inauguration of the altar) brings donative incense, but an
individual (as opposed to a congregation) does not (otherwise) bring donative
incense. "this is the offering": This one brings a sin-offering, not
for a sin, but an individual does not bring a sin-offering not for a sin. (The
offering of) this one overrides the Sabbath and tumah, but an individual does not
override Sabbath and tumah.
“On the seventh day, prince of
the children of Ephraim, Elishama son of Amihud” (Numbers 7:48).
“On the seventh day, prince of the children of Ephraim, Elishama son of Amihud”
– that is what is written: “Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine, and Ephraim
is my stronghold, Judah my lawgiver” (Psalms 60:9). We learned there: Three
kings and four commoners do not have a share in the World to Come. Three kings:
Yerovam, Ahab, and Menashe. Rabbi Yehuda says: Menashe has a share in the World
to Come, as it is stated: “He prayed to Him, and He acceded to his entreaty,
and heard his supplication, and restored him to Jerusalem to his kingdom” (II
Chronicles 33:13). They said: To his kingdom He restored him, but He did not
restore him to life in the World to Come. Four commoners: Bilam, Do’eg, Aḥitofel,
and Geḥazi. Who enumerated them? Rav said: The members of the Great Assembly
enumerated them. They sought to add Solomon with them, and the image of David’s
likeness came and prostrated itself before them, but they paid it no heed. Fire
emerged from the Holy of Holies and ignited a fire around them, but they paid
it no heed. A Divine Voice emerged and said to them: ‘“Have you seen a man
quick in his work…?” (Proverbs 22:29). One who gave precedence to My Temple
before his house, moreover, he built My Temple in seven years and built his
house in thirteen years, shall he stand before darkness? No, rather, “he will
stand before kings; he will not stand before darkness” (Proverbs 22:29)’; but
they paid it no heed. It then said to them: “Is it because of you that He will
repay? For you rejected; will it be you who chooses and not I? What do you
know, that you speak?” (Job 34:33). Immediately they refrained from adding him
to them.
Those who engage in interpretating difficult passages say: All of them have a
share in the World to Come except for Bilam. What is the source? “Gilead is
mine, and Manasseh is mine, [and Ephraim is my stronghold, Judah my lawgiver.]
Moav is my washbasin; [I will cast my shoe at Edom; Philistia will be crushed
because of me]” (Psalms 60:9–10). “Gilead is mine” – this is Ahab, king of
Israel, who died in Ramot Gilead. “Manasseh is mine” – in its plain sense; this
is Menashe son of Hezekiah. “Ephraim is my stronghold” – this is Yerovam son of
Nevat of the tribe of Ephraim. “Judah my lawgiver” – this is Aḥitofel, who
descended from Judah. “Moav is my washbasin” – this is Geḥazi, who was stricken
through bathing. “I will cast my shoe at Edom” – this is Do’eg the Edomite.
Israel said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘What can we do? A king of
Israel curses them: “Men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their
days”’ (Psalms 55:24). The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘It is incumbent upon
Me to render them comrades with one another.’ That is what is written:
“Philistia [Peleshet] will be crushed because of me” – I must search [lefalesh]
for good deeds for them, and render them comrades with one another. There they
said: It is written: “Philistia will be crushed because of me”; the ministering
angels said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘If the one who killed the
Philistine [hapelishti] and possessed Gat for your children will come,
what will You do to him?’ He said to them: ‘It is incumbent upon Me to render
them comrades with one another.’
Another matter: “Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine” (Psalms 60:9) – because
there is a great dispute regarding the anointed. Some say: Seven, as it is
stated: “We will raise seven shepherds against it” (Micah 5:4). Some say: Eight
– “and eight princes of men” (Micah 5:4). But there are only four that are
explicit, as it is stated: “The Lord showed me four craftsmen. I said: What are
these coming to do? He said, saying: These, the horns that scattered [Judah]…”
(Zechariah 2:3–4). These are the four craftsmen: David came and explains:
“Gilead is Mine” – this is Elijah, who was a resident of Gilead. “Manasseh is
Mine” – this is the messianic king, who will stand from Manasseh, as it is
stated: “[Rouse Your might] before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh” (Psalms
80:3). “Ephraim is My stronghold” (Psalms 60:9) – this is the [one] anointed
for war, who comes from Ephraim, as it is stated: “A firstborn bull is his
majesty, [and his horns are the horns of the wild-ox…they are the myriads of
Ephraim]” (Deuteronomy 33:17). “Judah My lawgiver” (Psalms 60:9) – this is the
great redeemer, who comes from the descendants of the sons of David. “Moav is
My washbasin” (Psalms 60:10) – what is “Moav is My washbasin”? God said: Even
when these redeemers come, I will not come and assist them until the Moavites
come with them. “I will cast My shoe at Edom” (Psalms 60:10) – what will I do?
I will remove My shoes and tread on them and trample them with My heels.
Likewise, it says: “[Who is coming from Edom.… why are Your clothes red?...] I
have trodden a winepress alone…” (Isaiah 63:1–3).
They stated a parable: To what is this matter analogous? It is to a king of
flesh and blood who built four palaces in four provinces. He entered the first,
ate and drank, but did not remove his shoe, and the same is true of the second,
and the same is true of the third. When he came to the fourth, he ate and drank
and removed his shoe. He said: ‘Go out and bring me all the prominent people
who are in this province and have them set food before me.’ They said to him:
‘Why, when you entered the first, you ate and drank but did not remove your
shoe, but in this one, you removed your shoe and ate and drank?’ He said to
them: ‘When I entered the first, my mind was not settled, and the same is true
of the second, and the same is true of the third. The whole time I was saying:
When will I see that moment when I can enter the last one. Now that I entered,
immediately, my mind settled.’ So too, the Holy One blessed be He waged war
against Pharaoh, Amalek, Sisera, Sennacherib, Nebuchadnezzar, Haman, and the
Greek kings, but He will not be placated until He takes vengeance against Edom
itself. That is, “I will cast My shoe at Edom” (Psalms 60:10). “Philistia [Peleshet]
will be crushed because of me” (Psalms 60:10) – I will knock down the
foundations [apil shatoteha] of Edom and engender your redemption.
Likewise it says: “They will build, and I will demolish.… Your eyes will see…”
(Malachi 1:4–5).
Another matter: “Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine…” (Psalms 60:9) – it is
speaking of David. When Saul died, Avner son of Ner stood and crowned Ish
Boshet son of Saul king over Gilead, over Yizre’el, and over Ephraim, just as
it says: “Avner son of Ner, the commander of the army for Saul, took Ish Boshet
son of Saul…” (II Samuel 2:8), and it says: “He crowned him king over the
Gilad, over Ashur, over Yizre’el, over Ephraim…” (II Samuel 2:9). Yizre’el
belonged to Manasseh, as it is written: “The children of Joseph said: The
highlands will not be sufficient for us, and there are iron chariots among all
the Canaanites who live in the land of the valley, those who are in Beit She’an
and its environs, and those who are in the Yizre’el Valley” (Joshua 17:16).
David began saying: Even though Avner supports Saul’s son to crown him king
over those tribes, the Holy One blessed be He will make me king over all of
them. That is what is written: “Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine, and
Ephraim is my stronghold, Judah my lawgiver” (Psalms 60:9). Likewise it says:
“[In Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months,] and in
Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah” (II Samuel
5:5).
“Moav is My washbasin [sir raḥatzi]” (Psalms 60:10) – because when David
fled from before Saul, he took his father and mother to the king of Moav,
because he feared Saul. He trusted them because he descended from Ruth the
Moavite; that is what is written: “David went from there to Mitzpe of Moav, and
he said to the king of Moav: Please, let my father and my mother go with you
until I know what God will do to me” (I Samuel 22:3). And it says: “He led them
before the king of Moav, and they remained with him all the days that David was
in the citadel” (I Samuel 22:4). That is why it is called sir; just as
meat is cooked in a pot [sir], so too, they were consumed there, as the
king of Moav killed them. From among them only one brother of David escaped,
who fled to Naḥash king of Amon. The king of Moav sent after him, but he [Naḥash]
did not want to hand him [David’s brother] over. That is the kindness that Naḥash
performed for David; therefore, he waged war with the Moavites. That is what is
written: “He smote Moav, and he measured them with a rope, laying them on the
ground. He measured two ropes to put to death, and one rope length to keep
alive. The Moavites became servants and bearers of tribute to David” (II Samuel
8:2).
“I will cast My shoe at Edom” (Psalms 60:10) – just as it says: “For Yoav and
all Israel had stayed there six months, until he eliminated every male in Edom”
(I Kings 11:16). And it is written: “All the Edomites became servants to David”
(II Samuel 8:14). “Philistia will be crushed because of me” (Psalms 60:10) –
just as it says: “It was thereafter that David smote the Philistines and
subdued them, and David took Meteg Ama from the possession of the Philistines”
(II Samuel 8:1).
Another matter: “Gilead is Mine…” (Psalms 60:9) – Soma bar Ketava said in the
name of Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish: God said: Were a person to say to you that the
dead do not live, you say to him: Elijah, who came from Gilead, as it is
stated: “Elijah the Tishbite, of the residents of Gilad, said” (I Kings 17:1),
he will attest that I already brought the dead to life, the son of the woman
from Tzarefat, through him in this world; that is, “Gilad is Mine.” “Manasseh [Menashe]
is Mine” (Psalms 60:9) – if a person comes to say that God does not receive
penitents, Menashe son of Hezekiah will come and attest. As there was no
creature in the world who was as wicked as he had been, but when he repented, I
received him, as it is stated: “He prayed to Him, and He acceded to his
entreaty, and heard his supplication, and restored him to Jerusalem to his
kingdom” (II Chronicles 33:13).
“And Ephraim is My stronghold” (Psalms 60:9) – if a person were to say to you
that God does not remember the barren, [then] Elkana, who was from the Ephraim
highlands, attests that I remembered Hannah, as it is stated: “For the Lord
remembered Hannah” (I Samuel 2:21). “Judah My lawgiver” (Psalms 60:9) – if a
person comes to say to you that God does not rescue from fire, Ḥananya,
Mishael, and Azarya attest that I rescued them from the fire, as it is stated:
“Who sent His angel, and rescued His servants…” (Daniel 3:28).
Another matter: “Judah my lawgiver” (Psalms 60:9) – if a person were to say to
you that the Holy One blessed be He does not rescue from wild beasts, Daniel,
who was from Judah, attests that I rescued him from the lions, just as it says:
“My God sent His angel, and he shut the lions’ mouths, and they did not harm
me” (Daniel 6:23).
“Moav is My washbasin” (Psalms 60:10) – if a person were to say to you that the
Holy One blessed be He does not heal the leper, Naaman will come and attest
that I healed him by bathing in the Jordan, and I removed the leprosy, just as
it says: “He went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan in
accordance with the word of the man of God, and his flesh returned like the
flesh of a small lad, and he was cleansed” (II Kings 5:14). Why did he call
Naaman Moav? It is because he heeded the counsel of his servants, just as it
says: “His servants approached and spoke with him, and said: My father [avi],
had the prophet spoken to you to perform a difficult matter, would you not do
it?…” (II Kings 5:13)? That is why he is called Moav, after avi.
Another matter: “Moav is My washbasin” (Psalms 60:10) – were a person to say to
you that the Holy One blessed be He does not rescue from the water, let Moses,
who is called avi, just as it says: “And his Judean wife bore Yered
father [avi] of Gedor…[these are the sons of Bitya daughter of Pharaoh]”
(I Chronicles 4:18), attest, as I removed him from drowning by means of the
bathing of Pharaoh’s daughter, just as it says: “Pharaoh’s daughter went down
to bathe in the Nile.… She opened it and she saw the child…” (Exodus 2:5–6).
“I will cast My shoe at Edom” (Psalms 60:10) – were a person to say to you that
the Holy One blessed be He does not rescue from the gallows, let Mordekhai come
and attest, as I rescued him from the gallows that Haman, who was an Amalekite,
from the offspring of Edom, prepared for him, and I caused his wickedness to
recoil upon his own head: “And they hanged him and his sons on the gallows”
(Esther 9:25). That is why it is stated: “I will cast My shoe at Edom” – at Haman
the Edomite I cast my shoe [naali]; I killed him by strangulation with
the constricting of [ne’ilat] his throat. “Philistia will be crushed
because of me” (Psalms 60:10) – were a person to say to you that the Holy One
blessed be He does not rescue the weak from the powerful without a sword and
without a spear, let David come and attest, just as it says: “And all this
assembly will know that neither with sword nor with spear will the Lord rescue,
for the war is the Lord’s” (I Samuel 17:47), just as it says: “The men of
Israel and Judah rose, and they shouted, and they pursued the Philistines.…
[The Philistines’ slain fell…]” (I Samuel 17:52).
Another matter: “Gilead is mine…” (Psalms 60:9) – it is speaking of four who
sacrificed offerings during the prohibition of improvised altars [bamot].
“Gilead is mine” – God said: Let no person come and suspect Elijah from Gilead,
as he sacrificed offerings during the prohibition of bamot, built an
altar on Mount Carmel, and sacrificed an offering on it. The Temple was in
existence, and the Torah prohibited it for him, as it is stated: “Beware, lest
you offer up your burnt offerings [in any place that you see]. Rather, in the
place [that the Lord will choose…there you shall offer up your burnt
offerings]” (Deuteronomy 12:13–14). The Holy One blessed be He said: It is I
who said to him to do so, as it is stated: “At Your word I performed [all these
matters]” (I Kings 18:36). That is, “Gilead is mine.”
“Manasseh is mine” (Psalms 60:9) – let no person say and suspect Gideon son of
Yoash, who was from Manasseh, as it is stated: “Behold, my family is the most
impoverished [in Manasseh]” (Judges 6:15), who sacrificed offerings during the
prohibition of bamot. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Gideon violated seven
transgressions at that moment. He sacrificed and he was a non-priest and the
son of an idolatrous priest, he sacrificed at night, with the wood of an ashera,
it was a bull designated for idol worship, a bull that was worshipped, and
during the prohibition of bamot, as the Tabernacle was in Shilo. God
said: Let no man suspect him; he did it in My name, and it is I who said it to
him, as it is stated: “It was on that night that the Lord said to him: Take
your father’s large bull…[and cut down the ashera that is next to it].
Build an altar to the Lord your God atop this massive rock, in an appropriate
place…and offer up a burnt offering with the wood of the ashera that you
will cut down” (Judges 6:25–26). That is, “And Manasseh is mine.”
“And Ephraim is my stronghold” (Psalms 60:9) – this is Joshua son of Nun, who
descended from Ephraim, as it is stated: “For the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshe’a son
of Nun” (Numbers 13:8). Were a person to come and say: Why did he build an
altar on Mount Eval, just as it says: “Then Joshua built an altar to the Lord,
God of Israel, on Mount Eval” (Joshua 8:30); but was the Tabernacle not there,
and it is written in the Torah: “Any man from the house of Israel, who shall
slaughter…[outside the camp]…” (Leviticus 17:3). God said: It is I who said to
him: “As Moses servant of the Lord had commanded the children of Israel, as it
is written in the book of the Torah of Moses; it was an altar of whole stones,
on which no one had wielded iron; they offered up burnt offerings…” (Joshua
8:31). That is, “and Ephraim is my stronghold.”
“Judah my lawgiver” (Psalms 60:9) – this is David, who descended from Judah.
Were a person to say to you: Why did David sacrifice during the prohibition of bamot,
as it is stated: “See, the cattle is for the burnt offering…” (II Samuel
24:22); God said: It is I who said to him, as it is stated: “Establish an altar
to the Lord [on the threshing floor of Aravna the Yevusite]” (II Samuel 24:18).
“Moav is My washbasin” (Psalms 60:10) – these three nations, the Holy One
blessed be He prohibited Israel to possess their lands when they entered the
land. From where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “Do not besiege Moav…”
(Deuteronomy 2:9). Likewise Edom, as it is written: “Do not provoke them”
(Deuteronomy 2:5). The land of the Philistines, from where is it derived? It is
as it is written: “God did not guide them via the land of the Philistines, for
it was near” (Exodus 13:17) – the oath that Abraham took to Avimelekh was near:
“Now take an oath to me here by God that you will not deceive me, or my son, or
my son’s son” (Genesis 21:23), and his grandson was still alive. But in the
future, the Holy One blessed be He will permit the three of them to Israel, as
it is stated: “They will fly shoulder to shoulder against the Philistines to
the west” (Isaiah 11:14), which is translated: They will join together shoulder
to shoulder to eradicate the Philistines. That is why it is stated: “Philistia
will be crushed because of me” (Psalms 60:10). “Their onslaught will be against
Edom and Moav” (Isaiah 11:14) – just as it says: “Moav is My washbasin,” “I
will cast My shoe at Edom” (Psalms 60:10).
Another matter: “And Ephraim is my stronghold” (Psalms 60:9) – this is Samuel
son of Elkana, who was an Ephraimite and sacrificed during the prohibition of a
bama, as it is stated: “Samuel took one suckling lamb and offered it up
in its entirety as a burnt offering to the Lord” (I Samuel 7:9). Rabbi Abba bar
Kahana said: Three transgressions were performed regarding Samuel’s lamb: It
with its hide, its time had not yet come, and he was a Levite. From where is it
derived that the Holy One blessed be He accepted his offering? It is as it is
stated: “Samuel cried to the Lord on behalf of Israel, and the Lord answered
him” (I Samuel 7:9). That is, “and Ephraim is my stronghold.”
Another matter: “And Ephraim is my stronghold” (Psalms 60:9) – it is speaking
of Joshua, who was from the tribe of Ephraim, and he waged war on Shabbat, as
it is stated: “It was on the seventh day, and they rose early at dawn, and
circled the city…” (Joshua 6:15). From where is it derived that it was Shabbat?
It is, as there are never seven days without Shabbat. Because the day that they
conquered Jericho was Shabbat, that is why he proscribed Jericho sacred to the
Lord, just as it says: “The city shall be proscribed; it and everything that is
in it are for the Lord” (Joshua 6:17). Joshua said: Shabbat is entirely sacred,
and everything that is conquered on Shabbat shall be sacred to the Lord.
Likewise it says: “All silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron are
sacred to the Lord; they shall come to the treasury of the Lord” (Joshua 6:19).
Rabbi Berekhya HaKohen said: He rendered it like an idolatrous city, and
benefit from an idolatrous city is prohibited, as it is stated: “You shall burn
the city and all its spoils in fire, [completely, to the Lord your God, and it
shall be an eternal mound; it shall not be rebuilt]” (Deuteronomy 13:17).
Likewise it says: “They destroyed everything that was in the city, both man and
woman, both youth and old man, and ox, sheep, and donkey, by sword” (Joshua
6:21).
Rabbi Yuda HaLevi bar Shalom said: He taught Israel what the Holy One blessed
be He had said: “The first of your kneading basket you shall separate as a loaf
as a gift” (Numbers 15:20); Joshua said: Since we conquered it first, we will
consecrate all its spoils to the Most High. Were a person to say to you: ‘How
could it be that Joshua desecrated the Shabbat,’ say to him: ‘He did so
according to the Holy One blessed be He, as it is stated: “The Lord said to
Joshua: See, I have delivered [Jericho into your hand].… You shall circle the
city…[So you shall do six days].… and on the seventh day you shall circle the
city [seven times]”’ (Joshua 6:2–4). It is impossible for there to be seven
days without Shabbat. That is, “and Ephraim is my stronghold.”
Another matter: “And Ephraim is my stronghold” (Psalms 60:9) – it is speaking
of the prince of Ephraim, who presented his offering for the dedication of the
altar on Shabbat day, as it is stated: “On the seventh day, prince of the
children of Ephraim…” From where is it derived that it was Shabbat day? It is
as we said that the day that the princes began was Sunday. From here you derive
that the seventh day of presenting the offering was Shabbat. Do not say: How
could he have desecrated the Shabbat; after all, an individual offering does
not override Shabbat but he presented his offering on Shabbat? The Holy One
blessed be He said: He did not do so of his own accord, as I said to Moses:
“One prince on each day, one prince on each day, they shall present their
offering for the dedication of the altar” (Numbers 7:11). With no interruption
they shall present their offering, one after another. That is, “and Ephraim is
my stronghold.” That is why it is stated: “On the seventh day, prince of the
children of Ephraim…”
“On the seventh day…” – that is
what is written: “Who preceded Me? I will pay…” (Job 41:3). Rabbi Tanḥum ben
Rabbi Abba said: One who has no property but performs acts of charity and
kindness; one who has no children but pays the wages of Bible teachers and
Mishna teachers; one who does not have a house but prepares a mezuza ,
one who has no garment but prepares ritual fringes; one who has no sons but
circumcises; one who prepares books and lends them to others, the Holy One
blessed be He says: This one preceded and fulfilled My mitzvot before I
provided him with the means to fulfill them; I must pay, give him money and
children who will read these books. That is, “Who preceded Me” – to perform a
mitzva; and I will pay his reward. Why? It is because I lack nothing, as the
world and all its contents are Mine. That is why it is stated: “Everything
beneath the heavens is Mine” (Job 41:3).
Another matter: “Who preceded Me? I will pay” (Job 41:3) – it is speaking of
Abraham, who recognized the Holy One blessed be He on his own, just as it is
written: “A wayward [sug] heart will be sated from its ways…” (Proverbs
14:14).What is, “a wayward heart will be sated from its ways”? Rabbi Abba bar
Kahana said: It is a heart that is filled with dross [sigim]; it is
destined to be sated because of its ways. “But a good man will be above him”
(Proverbs 14:14) – this is Abraham, who recognized the Holy One blessed be He
on his own. There was no person who taught him how to recognize the Holy One
blessed be He; rather he did so on his own. This is one of four people who
recognized the Holy One blessed be He on their own. Job recognized the Holy One
blessed be He on his own; from where is it derived? It is as it says: “From my
practice I treasured the sayings of His mouth” (Job 23:12). Hezekiah king of
Judah, too, recognized the Holy One blessed be He on his own; from where is it
derived? It is as it is written in his regard: “He will eat butter and honey,
by his knowledge, spurning the bad and choosing the good” (Isaiah 7:15). The
messianic king recognized the Holy One blessed be He on his own. Likewise,
Abraham, the Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘The upper world and the world
below are Mine,’ just as it says: “Everything beneath the heavens is Mine” (Job
41:3), and it says: “The earth and all its contents are the Lord’s” (Psalms
24:1). ‘You caused My name to be known in the world; as you live, I will grant
you the upper world and the world below, as it is stated: “He blessed him, and
he said: Blessed is Abram to God, the Most High, Master of heaven and earth”
(Genesis 14:19). That is, “who preceded Me? I will pay.” Why? It is because
“everything beneath the heavens is Mine.”
Another matter: “Who preceded Me? I will pay” (Job 41:3) – Rabbi Elazar ben
Rabbi Ḥiyya said: Everything that Abraham performed for the ministering angels,
the Holy One blessed be He repaid his descendants upon their exodus from Egypt,
and He is destined to give them in the future. You find regarding Abraham:
“Please, let a little water be taken” (Genesis 18:4). The Holy One blessed be
He, too, repaid his descendants: “I will take you for Me” (Exodus 6:7) –
corresponding to “Please, let [a little water] be taken.” Rabbi Yoḥanan said: I
have derived only regarding this world, regarding the future, from where is it
derived? “The peoples will take them and bring them to their place” (Isaiah
14:2).
Regarding Abraham it is written: “A little water,” and the Holy One blessed be
He provided water for his descendants upon their exodus from Egypt: “You shall
strike the rock, and water will emerge from it” (Exodus 17:6). Regarding the
future, from where is it derived? “For the Lord your God is bringing you to a
good land, a land of streams of water…” (Deuteronomy 8:7). Regarding the
Messianic Era, from where is it derived? “There will be pools and streams of
water on every lofty mountain and on every high hill” (Isaiah 30:25). Likewise,
“I will open rivers on the bare hills” (Isaiah 41:18).
Regarding Abraham it is written: “Wash your feet” (Genesis 18:4). The Holy One
blessed be He granted it to his descendants upon their exodus from Egypt: “I
washed you in water” (Ezekiel 16:9). And in the Land of Israel: “Wash, purify
yourselves” (Isaiah 1:16). Regarding the future, from where is it derived?
“When the Lord will have washed [the excrement of the daughters of Zion]”
(Isaiah 4:4).
Regarding Abraham it is written: “And recline beneath the tree” (Genesis 18:4),
as he crafted a booth [sukka] for them. The Holy One blessed be He
crafted booths for his descendants upon their exodus from Egypt: “That I had
the children of Israel dwell in booths [basukot], [when I took them out
of the land of Egypt]” (Leviticus 23:43). In the Land of Israel: “You shielded
[sakota] my head on the day of battle” (Psalms 140:8). What is “the day
of battle? It is the day of the arming of the thirty-one kings. Regarding the
future, from where is it derived? “And a booth [sukka] will be for shade
in the day…” (Isaiah 4:6). That is, “who preceded Me? I will pay…”(Job 41:3).
Likewise it says: “Cast your bread upon the water, for after many days [you
will find it]” (Ecclesiastes 11:1).
Another matter: “Who preceded Me? I will pay” (Job 41:3) – it is speaking of
Joseph, as he preceded and observed the Shabbat before it was given: “Slaughter
an animal and prepare it” (Genesis 43:16). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: It was the day
before Shabbat. “And prepare” is nothing other than for Shabbat, as it is
stated: “It will be on the sixth day, they shall prepare…” (Exodus 16:5). The
Holy One blessed be He said: Joseph, you observed the Shabbat before the Torah
was given, as you live, your descendant will present his offering on Shabbat,
when an individual does not present an offering. But it is incumbent upon Me to
readily accept his offering. That is, “who preceded Me? I will pay.” From where
is it derived that this is so? It is from what is stated regarding this matter:
“On the seventh day, prince of the children of Ephraim…”
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