ויברח יעקב שדה ארם (הושע יב יג), ומהיכן ברח, מבאר שבע, שנאמר ויצא יעקב מבאר שבע, וכי בבאר שבע יה, והלא בחברון היה, שנאמר הוא חברון אשר גר שם אברהם ויצחק (בראשית לה כז), אלא ממקום המיוחד לשבועות, ששם נשבע אברהם לאבימלך, שנאמר ועתה השבעה לי באלהים הנה וגו' (שם כא כג), על כן קרא למקום ההוא באר שבע כי שם נשבעו שנים (שם שם לא), ומנין ששם נשבע יצחק, שנאמר ויבאו עבדי יצחק וגו' (שם כו לב), ויקרא אותה שבעה (שם). ואף עשו נשבע ליעקב, שנאמר השבעה לי כיום (שם כה לג), כשנטל את בכורתו חשב בלבו ואמר אם יבא ואמר בא השבעה לי שלא נטלתה הברכות במרמה, מה אני יכול לעשות לו, אלא אצא מן המקום הזה המוחד לשבועות, לכך נאמר ויצא יעקב מבאר שבע וגו', הוי ויברח יעקב שדה ארם.
(Hosea 12:13 [12]:) THEN JACOB FLED TO THE LAND OF ARAM. From where did he flee? From Beersheba, as stated (in Gen. 28:10): AND JACOB SET OUT FROM BEERSHEBA. Was he in Beersheba? Was he not rather in Hebron, as stated (in Gen. 35:27): I.E., HEBRON, WHERE ABRAHAM AND ISAAC SOJOURNED? < The situation was merely that he fled > from a place set aside for oaths (shevu'ot), since < it was > there < that > Abraham had sworn to Abimelech. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 21:23, 31): SO NOW SWEAR TO ME BY GOD, BEHOLD…. THEREFORE THAT PLACE WAS NAMED BEERSHEBA, (i.e., The Well of the Oath) BECAUSE < IT WAS > THERE < THAT > BOTH OF THEM HAD SWORN. Now where is it shown that Isaac had sworn? Where it is stated (in Gen. 26:32f.): THAT ISAAC'S SERVANTS CAME < AND TOLD HIM ABOUT THE WELL >…. SO HE CALLED IT SHIBAH (i.e., oath); < THEREFORE THE NAME OF THE CITY IS BEERSHEBA UNTO THIS DAY >.28Similarly Rashi and Nachmanides on Gen. 26:33. Cf. Malbim on this verse, according to whom Beersheba means “seventh well,” in that this well was the seventh dug by Isaac. Cf. also Ibn Ezra, who, because of what might be an alternative derivation from the number seven in Gen. 21:23-33, suggests that either Beersheba had two derivations or that there were two cities with this name. And Esau also swore to Jacob, as stated (in Gen. 25:33): < THEN JACOB SAID > SWEAR TO ME FIRST. < Thus he swore an oath > when he took his birthright. He thought in his heart and said: If he should come and say: Come, swear to me that you have not taken my blessing by deceit, what shall I be able to do to him? I shall simply go away from this place set aside for oaths. It is therefore stated (in Gen. 28:10): AND JACOB SET OUT FROM BEERSHEBA (i.e., The Well of the Oath).29Beersheba seems to be, not a particular city, but any well where one might swear an oath. Thus, there is no contradiction between Jacob living in Hebron and setting out from Beersheba, i.e., the Hebron oath well. Ergo (in Hosea 12:13 [12]): THEN JACOB FLED TO THE LAND OF ARAM.
2
אמר ריש לקיש נסים עשה הקב"ה עמו בשעה שראה את החלום, מה כתיב והנה ה' נצב עליו וגו' (שם כח יג).
Resh Laqish said: The Holy One performed miracles with him at the time that he saw the dream. What is written (in Gen. 28:13)? AND BEHOLD, THE LORD STOOD OVER HIM.30To protect him from the heat of the sun. Cf. Codex Vaticanus Ebr. 34, which explains that the rest of the verse reads: THE EARTH UPON WHICH YOU LIE < I WILL GIVE TO YOU AND TO YOUR SEED > . Thus the Holy One folds it up (i.e., folds up the land of Israel) under his head. Similarly, Hul. 91b; Gen. R. 69:4; Rashi, s.v.
3
ויירא ויאמר מה נורא המקום הזה (שם יז), אין זה אלא בית המקדש, שנאמר ויביאם אל גבול קדשו הר זה קנתה ימינו (תהלים עח נד), ואין נורא אלא בית המקדש, שנאמר נורא אלהים ממקדשיך (שם סח לו), ראה אותו חרב, שנאמר אין זה, כי אם בית אלהים שראה אותו בנוי, וכל הנביאים ראו אותו בנוי חרב ובנוי, אלא אמר הקב"ה אתם ראיתם אותו חרב בעולם הזה, אבל לעולם הבא אני בונה אותו בעצמי. ואני בכבודי חוזר לתוכו ואתם רואים, שנאמר כי עין בעין יראו בשוב ה' ציון (ישעיה נב ח).
(Gen. 28:17:) SO HE WAS AFRAID AND SAID: HOW AWESOME IS THIS PLACE! THIS is nothing but the Holy Temple, as stated (in Ps. 78:54): THEN HE BROUGHT THEM TO THE BORDER OF HIS SANCTUARY, THIS MOUNTAIN THAT HIS RIGHT HAND HAD PROCURED. Moreover, AWESOME can only refer to the Holy Temple. Thus it is stated (in Ps. 68:36 [35]): O GOD, YOU ARE AWESOME IN YOUR SANCTUARIES. He (Jacob) saw it destroyed, as stated (in Gen. 28:17): THIS IS NOTHING. (Ibid., cont.:) BUT THE HOUSE OF GOD, since he saw it < re >built. All the prophets also saw it built, destroyed, and < re > built. The Holy One simply said: You have seen it destroyed in this world, but in the world to come I am < re > building it myself. Then in my glory I am returning within it with you watching. Thus it is stated (in Is. 52:8): FOR EYE TO EYE THEY WILL SEE THE RETURN OF THE LORD TO ZION.31The midrash seems to picture Jacob’s dream ladder extending from the earthly Temple up eighteen miles to the heavenly temple. See Gen. R. 69:7.
ויברח יעקב שדה ארם (הושע יב יג), ומהיכן ברח, מבאר שבע, שנאמר ויצא יעקב מבאר שבע, וכי בבאר שבע יה, והלא בחברון היה, שנאמר הוא חברון אשר גר שם אברהם ויצחק (בראשית לה כז), אלא ממקום המיוחד לשבועות, ששם נשבע אברהם לאבימלך, שנאמר ועתה השבעה לי באלהים הנה וגו' (שם כא כג), על כן קרא למקום ההוא באר שבע כי שם נשבעו שנים (שם שם לא), ומנין ששם נשבע יצחק, שנאמר ויבאו עבדי יצחק וגו' (שם כו לב), ויקרא אותה שבעה (שם). ואף עשו נשבע ליעקב, שנאמר השבעה לי כיום (שם כה לג), כשנטל את בכורתו חשב בלבו ואמר אם יבא ואמר בא השבעה לי שלא נטלתה הברכות במרמה, מה אני יכול לעשות לו, אלא אצא מן המקום הזה המוחד לשבועות, לכך נאמר ויצא יעקב מבאר שבע וגו', הוי ויברח יעקב שדה ארם.
(Hosea 12:13 [12]:) THEN JACOB FLED TO THE LAND OF ARAM. From where did he flee? From Beersheba, as stated (in Gen. 28:10): AND JACOB SET OUT FROM BEERSHEBA. Was he in Beersheba? Was he not rather in Hebron, as stated (in Gen. 35:27): I.E., HEBRON, WHERE ABRAHAM AND ISAAC SOJOURNED? < The situation was merely that he fled > from a place set aside for oaths (shevu'ot), since < it was > there < that > Abraham had sworn to Abimelech. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 21:23, 31): SO NOW SWEAR TO ME BY GOD, BEHOLD…. THEREFORE THAT PLACE WAS NAMED BEERSHEBA, (i.e., The Well of the Oath) BECAUSE < IT WAS > THERE < THAT > BOTH OF THEM HAD SWORN. Now where is it shown that Isaac had sworn? Where it is stated (in Gen. 26:32f.): THAT ISAAC'S SERVANTS CAME < AND TOLD HIM ABOUT THE WELL >…. SO HE CALLED IT SHIBAH (i.e., oath); < THEREFORE THE NAME OF THE CITY IS BEERSHEBA UNTO THIS DAY >.28Similarly Rashi and Nachmanides on Gen. 26:33. Cf. Malbim on this verse, according to whom Beersheba means “seventh well,” in that this well was the seventh dug by Isaac. Cf. also Ibn Ezra, who, because of what might be an alternative derivation from the number seven in Gen. 21:23-33, suggests that either Beersheba had two derivations or that there were two cities with this name. And Esau also swore to Jacob, as stated (in Gen. 25:33): < THEN JACOB SAID > SWEAR TO ME FIRST. < Thus he swore an oath > when he took his birthright. He thought in his heart and said: If he should come and say: Come, swear to me that you have not taken my blessing by deceit, what shall I be able to do to him? I shall simply go away from this place set aside for oaths. It is therefore stated (in Gen. 28:10): AND JACOB SET OUT FROM BEERSHEBA (i.e., The Well of the Oath).29Beersheba seems to be, not a particular city, but any well where one might swear an oath. Thus, there is no contradiction between Jacob living in Hebron and setting out from Beersheba, i.e., the Hebron oath well. Ergo (in Hosea 12:13 [12]): THEN JACOB FLED TO THE LAND OF ARAM.
אמר ריש לקיש נסים עשה הקב"ה עמו בשעה שראה את החלום, מה כתיב והנה ה' נצב עליו וגו' (שם כח יג).
Resh Laqish said: The Holy One performed miracles with him at the time that he saw the dream. What is written (in Gen. 28:13)? AND BEHOLD, THE LORD STOOD OVER HIM.30To protect him from the heat of the sun. Cf. Codex Vaticanus Ebr. 34, which explains that the rest of the verse reads: THE EARTH UPON WHICH YOU LIE < I WILL GIVE TO YOU AND TO YOUR SEED > . Thus the Holy One folds it up (i.e., folds up the land of Israel) under his head. Similarly, Hul. 91b; Gen. R. 69:4; Rashi, s.v.
ויירא ויאמר מה נורא המקום הזה (שם יז), אין זה אלא בית המקדש, שנאמר ויביאם אל גבול קדשו הר זה קנתה ימינו (תהלים עח נד), ואין נורא אלא בית המקדש, שנאמר נורא אלהים ממקדשיך (שם סח לו), ראה אותו חרב, שנאמר אין זה, כי אם בית אלהים שראה אותו בנוי, וכל הנביאים ראו אותו בנוי חרב ובנוי, אלא אמר הקב"ה אתם ראיתם אותו חרב בעולם הזה, אבל לעולם הבא אני בונה אותו בעצמי. ואני בכבודי חוזר לתוכו ואתם רואים, שנאמר כי עין בעין יראו בשוב ה' ציון (ישעיה נב ח).
(Gen. 28:17:) SO HE WAS AFRAID AND SAID: HOW AWESOME IS THIS PLACE! THIS is nothing but the Holy Temple, as stated (in Ps. 78:54): THEN HE BROUGHT THEM TO THE BORDER OF HIS SANCTUARY, THIS MOUNTAIN THAT HIS RIGHT HAND HAD PROCURED. Moreover, AWESOME can only refer to the Holy Temple. Thus it is stated (in Ps. 68:36 [35]): O GOD, YOU ARE AWESOME IN YOUR SANCTUARIES. He (Jacob) saw it destroyed, as stated (in Gen. 28:17): THIS IS NOTHING. (Ibid., cont.:) BUT THE HOUSE OF GOD, since he saw it < re >built. All the prophets also saw it built, destroyed, and < re > built. The Holy One simply said: You have seen it destroyed in this world, but in the world to come I am < re > building it myself. Then in my glory I am returning within it with you watching. Thus it is stated (in Is. 52:8): FOR EYE TO EYE THEY WILL SEE THE RETURN OF THE LORD TO ZION.31The midrash seems to picture Jacob’s dream ladder extending from the earthly Temple up eighteen miles to the heavenly temple. See Gen. R. 69:7.