Pisqa’ 39
1
“But the Land, which you are crossing to possess,
is a land of mountains and valleys” (Dt.11:11).
Scripture speaks in praise of the Land of Israel.
So you say!
But, perhaps, Scripture intends to shame
the Land of Israel by recalling its mountains
[upon which foreign cults were served]?
The Teaching states:
“and valleys” (Dt.11:11)—
just as the valleys are recalled for praise
so too the mountains are recalled for praise!
For as long as there is flavor
[in fruit grown] on the mountain,
there will also be flavor in [the fruit of] the valley—
for the fruits of the mountains are mildly-flavored,
while the fruits of the valley are creamy-rich!
2
R. Shimon b. Yohai says:
A field in a valley is planted with a kor of seed.
But a field on a mountain is planted
with a kor on the north slope,
with a kor on the south,
with a kor on the east,
with a kor on the west,
with a kor on the summit.
It turns out that the mountain yields
five times more than the valley,
as it is said:
“I placed this Jerusalem in the midst of nations,
with lands (‘aratzot) surrounding her” (Ezek.5:5).
But in other places
He calls [Jerusalem’s surroundings] “Land” (‘eretz; Dt.32:13)!
How can the two scriptural usages be reconciled?
“Land” refers to diverse terrains (‘aratzot)—
a region of fertile earth, a region of sand, a region of dust.
3
Another word:
“A land of mountains and valleys” (Dt.11:11)—
this explains that the flavor of the mountain-fruit
was not equal to the flavor of the valley-fruit,
nor the flavor of the valley-fruit
to the flavor of the mountain-fruit.
I know only that
the flavor of the mountain-fruit
was not equal to the flavor of the valley-fruit,
nor was the flavor of the valley-fruit
equal to the flavor of the mountain-fruit.
But how do I know that
the flavor of the fruit on this mountain was not equal to
the flavor of the fruit on another mountain,
nor was the flavor of the fruit of this valley equal to
the flavor of the fruit of another valley?
The Teaching states:
“A land of mountains and valleys” (Dt.11:11):
mountains—[the plural] means many mountains
[each lending a special flavor to its fruit];
—[the plural] means many valleys
[with similarly varied fruit].
4
R. Shimon b. Yohai says:
Twelve lands (‘aratzot) were apportioned,
corresponding to the twelve tribes of Israel.
And the taste of the fruit of this tribe was not identical to
the taste of the fruit of that tribe,
nor was the taste of the fruit of that tribe identical to
the taste of the fruit of this tribe.
And here they are:
“And the Land which you are about to possess” (Dt.11:10);
“But the Land which you are crossing over to possess” (Dt.11:11);
“A Land of mountains and valleys” (Dt.11:11);
“A Land after which HASHEM your God inquires” (Dt.11:12).
“For HASHEM your God is bringing you into a good Land (Dt.8:7);
“A Land with streams” (Dt.8:7);
“A Land of wheat and barley” (Dt.8:8);
“A Land of olive oil and honey” (Dt.8:8);
“A Land where you will eat bread without poverty” (Dt.8:9);
“A Land whose stones are iron” (Dt.8:9);
“Because of the good Land which He has given you” (Dt.8:10);
“A Land dripping with milk and honey” (Dt.11:9).
This proves that:
twelve lands were apportioned,
corresponding to the twelve tribes of Israel.
And the taste of the fruit of this tribe was not equal to
the taste of the fruit of that tribe,
nor was the taste of the fruit of that tribe
equal to the taste of the fruit of this tribe.
The Teaching states:
“A land of mountains and valleys” (Dt.11:11):
mountains—[the plural] means many mountains
[each lending a special flavor to its fruit];
valleys—[the plural] means many valleys
[with similarly varied fruit].
5
R. Yose b. Meshullam says:
On what basis can you say that
just as He created delicacies in the Land,
so, too, He created delicacies in the sea?
The Teaching states:
“And the gathering of waters He called seas” (Gn.1:9).
Now isn’t there only one sea?
For it is said:
“Let the waters gather under the Heavens
to a single place” (Gn.1:10).1
So, what does the Teaching mean by
“And the gathering of waters He called seas?” (Gn.1:9)
This teaches that
the taste of a fish from Akko
is not identical to the taste of a fish from Sidon,
nor does a fish from Sidon taste like one from Paneas.
6
Insofar as
the soil of the mountain is thin,
and that of the valley is rich—
is it possible for rain water to flush the soil to the valley,
[leaving the mountain eroded,] like a valley, lacking water?
The Teaching states:
“A Land of mountains and valleys” (Dt.11:11):
mountains—as they normally are,
and valleys—as they normally are.
And, similarly, He says:
“Petition HASHEM for rain in the season of late rains” (Zech.10:1).
Or insofar as
the Land of Israel is enfolded in mountains—
does it drink from what is exposed, [that is, from the rivers],
but not drink from what is not exposed, [that is, the rains]?
The Teaching states:
“Drinking its water from the rains of Heaven” (Dt.11:11)—
it drinks from the exposed and the unexposed alike!
And similarly, He says:
“He also loads clouds with water”2 (Job37:11).
And He says:
“He causes the world to turn according to His plans” (Job37:12)—
so that the clouds surround the Land,
and water it from all sides.
Or insfar as
the Land drinks rain water—
does it not need to drink irrigation water ?
The Teaching states:
“Drinking its water from the rains of heaven” (Dt.11:11).
When the verse specifies water,
it means that the Land drinks also from irrigation water.
And similarly He says:
“For HASHEM your God is bringing you to a good Land,
a Land with streams of water” (Dt.8:7).
Or insfar as
the Land drinks irrigation water—
does it not drink snow run-off?
The Teaching states:
“Drinking its water from the rains of Heaven” (Dt.11:11).
When the verse specifies water,
it means that the Land
also drinks snow run-off.
And similarly He says:
“As the rain and snow drop from the heavens” (Is.55:10).
And He says:
“And to the snow, He calls out—become land!” (Job37:6).
Or insofar as,
the Land drinks snow run-off—
does it not drink dew?
The Teaching states:
“Drinking its water from the rains of Heaven” (Dt.11:11).
When the verse specifies water,
it means that the Land also drinks dew.
7
Another word:
Just as rains are for a blessing,
so too is dew for a blessing.
And similarly He says:
“May God give you of the dew of Heaven” (Gn.27:28).
And He says:
“And may my teaching distill as the dew” (Dt.32:2).
And He says:
“I will be to Israel like dew” (Hos.14:6).
And He says:
“And the remnant of Jacob shall be like dew from HASHEM” (Mic.5:6).