Pisqa’ 80139H:134-135; JN1:227. 1. “When HASHEM your God cuts down the nations” (Dt.12:29)— accept upon yourselves the commandment stated in this context, in reward for which140This common-place appears also at Pisqa’ 55.1. 263.2 “HASHEM your God cuts down the nations
“And you shall disinherit them and settle in their land” (Dt.12:29)— inferring from what is stated elsewhere: “And you shall disinherit them and settle in their cities and houses” (Dt.19:1), is it possible to say that you may not add to the [existing] structures? The Teaching states: “And you shall disinherit them and settle in their land” (Dt.12:29)— any place you wish to build, build!
2. “And you shall disinherit them and settle in their land” (Dt.12:29). The story is told: R. Judah b. Betyra and R. Matya b. Heresh, R. Hananiah b. Ahi, R. Joshua, and R. Jonathan, were leaving [to journey beyond] the Land. When they reached Poltos,141Following F:146, n.4, Hammer renders the name to Paltana. I am unable to locate the reference. Presumably it is at or just beyond the border to the Land of Israel. they recalled the Land of Israel. They lifted up their eyes and their tears flowed. They tore their garments, and recited this verse: “And you shall dispossess them and settle there, and take care to preserve all these laws” (Dt.11:31-32). They said: settling the Land of Israel outweighs all the commandments of the Torah!
The story is told: R. Elazar b. Shammua and R. Yohanan the Sandler, were going to Nisibis,142A city on the Parthian-Roman frontier. to the home of R. Judah b. Betyra, to learn Torah from him. When they reached Sidon,143A city on the coast of Lebanon. they recalled the Land of Israel. They lifted up their eyes and their tears flowed. They tore their garments, and recited this verse: “And you shall dispossess them and settle there and take care to preserve all these laws” (Dt.11:31-32). They said: settling the Land of Israel outweighs all the commandments of the Torah! So they turned around and returned to the Land of Israel.144F:146, n.3 doubts that the two stories before us are original to Sifre.
(דברים יב כט) כִּי יַכְרִית ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֶת הַגּוֹיִם, עֲשֵׂה מִצְוָה הָאֲמוּרָה בָעִנְיָן, שֶׁבִּשְׂכָרָהּ יַכְרִית ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֶת הַגּוֹיִם.
Pisqa’ 80139H:134-135; JN1:227.
1. “When HASHEM your God cuts down the nations” (Dt.12:29)—
accept upon yourselves
the commandment stated in this context,
in reward for which140This common-place appears also at Pisqa’ 55.1. 263.2
“HASHEM your God cuts down the nations
אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה בָּא שָׁמָּה לָרֶשֶׁת אוֹתָם מִפָּנֶיךָ, בִּשְׂכַר שֶׁתָּבוֹא – תִּירַשׁ.
upon whom you are about to come, to disinherit from before you” (Dt.12:29)—
as a reward for coming you will dispossess them.
וְיָרַשְׁתָּה אוֹתָם וְיָשַׁבְתָּ בְּאַרְצָם, מִכְּלָל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יט א) ״וִירִשְׁתָּהּ וְיָשַׁבְתָּ בְּעָרֵיהֶם וּבְבָתֵּיהֶם״ יָכוֹל אִי אַתָּה רַשַּׁי לְהוֹסִיף עַל הַבִּנְיָן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״וְיָרַשְׁתָּ אוֹתָם וְיָשַׁבְתָּ בְּאַרְצָם״: כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁאַתָּה רוֹצֶה לִבְנוֹת – בְּנֵה.
“And you shall disinherit them and settle in their land” (Dt.12:29)—
inferring from what is stated elsewhere:
“And you shall disinherit them and settle in their cities and houses” (Dt.19:1),
is it possible to say that
you may not add to the [existing] structures?
The Teaching states:
“And you shall disinherit them and settle in their land” (Dt.12:29)—
any place you wish to build, build!
וְיָרַשְׁתָּ אוֹתָם וְיָשַׁבְתָּ, מַעֲשֶׂה בְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה בֶּן בְּתֵירָה וְרַבִּי מַתְיָה בֶן חָרָשׁ וְרַבִּי חֲנַנְיָה בֶּן אֲחִי רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְרַבִּי יוֹנָתָן שֶׁהָיוּ יוֹצְאִים חוּצָה לָאָרֶץ וְהִגִּיעוּ לִפְלַטְנוֹם, וְזָכְרוּ אֶת אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל; זָקְפוּ עֵינֵיהֶם וְזָלְגוּ דִּמְעוֹתֵיהֶם וְקָרְעוּ בִּגְדֵיהֶם, וְקָרְאוּ אֶת הַמִּקְרָא הַזֶּה (דברים יא לא): ״וִירִשְׁתֶּם אֹתָהּ וִישַׁבְתֶּם בָּהּ וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם לַעֲשׂוֹת אֵת כָּל הַחֻקִּים הָאֵלֶּה״. אָמְרוּ: יְשִׁיבַת אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁקוּלָה כְּנֶגֶד כָּל הַמִּצְווֹת שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה.
2. “And you shall disinherit them and settle in their land” (Dt.12:29).
The story is told:
R. Judah b. Betyra and R. Matya b. Heresh,
R. Hananiah b. Ahi, R. Joshua, and R. Jonathan,
were leaving [to journey beyond] the Land.
When they reached Poltos,141Following F:146, n.4, Hammer renders the name to Paltana. I am unable to locate the reference. Presumably it is at or just beyond the border to the Land of Israel.
they recalled the Land of Israel.
They lifted up their eyes
and their tears flowed.
They tore their garments,
and recited this verse:
“And you shall dispossess them and settle there, and take care to preserve all these laws” (Dt.11:31-32).
They said: settling the Land of Israel
outweighs all the commandments of the Torah!
מַעֲשֶׂה בְּרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן שַׁמּוּעַ וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן הַסַּנְדְּלָר שֶׁהָיוּ הוֹלְכִים לִנְצִיבִים אֵצֶל רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בֶּן בְּתֵירָה לִלְמֹד מִמֶּנּוּ תּוֹרָה, וְהִגִּיעוּ לְצַיְדָן וְזָכְרוּ אֶת אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל. זָקְפוּ עֵינֵיהֶם וְזָלְגוּ דִּמְעוֹתֵיהֶם וְקָרְעוּ בִּגְדֵיהֶם וְקָרְאוּ אֶת הַמִּקְרָא הַזֶּה (דברים יא לא): ״וִירִשְׁתֶּם אוֹתָהּ וִישַׁבְתֶּם בָּהּ וְשָׁמַרְתָּ לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת כָּל הַחֻקִּים הָאֵלֶּה וְאֶת הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים״. אָמְרוּ: יְשִׁיבַת אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁקוּלָה כְּנֶגֶד כָּל הַמִּצְווֹת שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה! חָזְרוּ וּבָאוּ לָהֶם לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל.
The story is told:
R. Elazar b. Shammua and R. Yohanan the Sandler,
were going to Nisibis,142A city on the Parthian-Roman frontier.
to the home of R. Judah b. Betyra,
to learn Torah from him.
When they reached Sidon,143A city on the coast of Lebanon.
they recalled the Land of Israel.
They lifted up their eyes
and their tears flowed.
They tore their garments,
and recited this verse:
“And you shall dispossess them and settle there and take care to preserve all these laws” (Dt.11:31-32).
They said: settling the Land of Israel
outweighs all the commandments of the Torah!
So they turned around
and returned to the Land of Israel.144F:146, n.3 doubts that the two stories before us are original to Sifre.