Pisqa’ 315¹

1

“HASHEM left him isolated” (Dt.32;12)—

[this him is Israel, for]

the Blessed Holy One said to them:

Seeing that you have lived alone in the present eon—

having benefitted not at all from the nations—

so, too, I stand ready to establish you alone in the future—

and the nations will have no benefit at all from you.

“And no alien god is bound to him” (Dt.32:12)—

never will the angelic princes

[who decide the fates] of the nations have dominion over you.

Accordingly, it is said:

“As I leave, the prince of Yawan arrives” (Dan.10:20);

“But the prince of the Kingdom of Persia opposed me” (Dan.10:13);

“But, I will tell you what is recorded in the Book of Truth” (Dan.10:21).

2

Another word:

“HASHEM left him isolated” (Dt.32:12)—

[this him is Israel, for]

in the future, I stand ready to establish you as rightful heirs of lands

from one end of the world to the other.

And, similarly, He states:

“Adjoining the territory of Dan,

from the eastern border to the western border—Asher is one” (Ezek.48:2);

“Adjoining the territory of Ephraim,

from the eastern border to the western border—Reuben is one” (Ezek.48;6);

“Adjoining the territory of Reuben,

from the eastern border to the western border—Judah is one” (Ezek.48:7).

What does the Teaching convey by:

Asher is one, Reuben is one,

and Judah is one?

It foresees a future in which Israel

will take as its portion in the Land,

the entire length from east to west,

and a width of 25,000 reed-measures—

the equivalent of seventy five mil.

“And no alien god is bound to him” (Dt.32:12)—

[this him is Israel, meaning:]

There shall not be among you any who serve a foreign cult.

And similarly He says:

“Therefore, with this will the iniquity of Jacob be absolved” (Is.27:9)—

[this refers to Israel’s denial of foreign cults].

3

Another word:

“HASHEM left him alone” (yankheinu; Dt.32;12)—

[this him is Israel.]

In the future, I stand ready

to settle you in the world in well-being (nakhat ruakh)².

“And no alien god is bound to him” (Dt.32:12)—

there shall not be among you

any who engage in commerce of any sort.

For it is stated:

“Let there be hands-full of grain in the Land” (Ps.72:16)—

that is, let the wheat yield loaves

that fill the hand’s entire span!

“Let its fruit crackle, like Lebanon” (Ps.72:16)—

that is, let the wheat berries rub against each other,

shedding their semolina upon the Land,

so that you can come and take from it

a handful to support yourself.

1. H:321-322; JN2:338-339.
2. Yankheinu and nakhat share a common root, n-w-kh , “to rest.” The midrash is constructed to exploit this assonance.