Pisqa’ 81
1
“Which HASHEM swore to your Patriarchs,
to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob” (Dt.1:8).
What does the Teaching mean by
to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob?
If the reference is to the oaths sworn to the Patriarchs,2
isn’t it already said:
“The oaths sworn to the tribal ancestors still speak!” (Hab.3:9).
So what does the Teaching mean by
to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob?
Abraham was worthy on his own merits,
Isaac was worthy on his own merits,
Jacob was worthy on his own merits!3
There is an analogy—
a king gave his slave a single field as a gift.
He gave it to him just as it was.
Then the slave got busy
and improved the field, saying:
what is now in my hands
was only given to me just as it was!
Then he went and planted a vineyard, saying:
what is now in my hands
was only given to me just as it was!
So, too, when the Blessed Holy One
gave the Land to Father Abraham,
He gave it to him just as it was,
for it is said:
“Get up and walk around the Land, its length and breadth,
for to you have I given it” (Gn.13:17).4
Then Abraham arose and improved it,
for it is said:
“And he planted a tree in Beer Sheba” (Gn.21:33).
Then Isaac arose and improved it,
for it is said:
“And Isaac sowed that land,
and that year it yielded a hundred-fold” (Gn.26:12).
Then Jacob arose and improved it,
for it is said:
“And he acquired a share in the field” (Gn.33:19).
2
“To give them” (Dt.1:8)—
these are the immigrants to the Land
[who were born in the wasteland].
“And to their seed” (Dt.1:8)—
these are their children.
“After them” (Dt.1:8)—
these are the territories conquered
by David and Jeroboam.
For indeed He says:
“[Jeroboam b. Joash, king of Judah]
restored the border of Israel
from the Hamat Pass until the sea of the Aravah” (2 Ki.14:25).
3
Rabbi says:
“To give them” (Dt.1:8)—
these are the ascenders to the Land from Babylonia.
“And to their seed” (Dt.1:8)—
these are their children.
“After them” (Dt.1:8)—
[those restored to life] in the days of the Messiah.