וּלְקַחְתֶּם לָכֶם בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן (ויקרא כג, מ), רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא פָּתַח (משלי ח, י): קְחוּ מוּסָרִי וְאַל כָּסֶף, קְחוּ מוּסָרָהּ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה וְאַל כָּסֶף, (ישעיה נה, ב): לָמָּה תִשְׁקְלוּ כֶסֶף בְּלוֹא לֶחֶם, לָמָּה אַתֶּם שׁוֹקְלִים כֶּסֶף לִבְנֵי עֵשָׂו בְּלוֹא לֶחֶם, עַל שֶׁלֹּא שְׂבַעְתֶּם מִלַּחְמָהּ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה. (ישעיה נה, ב): וִיגִיעֲכֶם בְּלוֹא לְשָׂבְעָה, לָמָּה אַתֶּם יְגֵעִים וְאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם שְׂבֵעִים, בְּלֹא לְשָׂבְעָה, עַל שֶׁלֹּא שְׂבַעְתֶּם מִיֵּינָהּ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה, דִּכְתִיב (משלי ט, ה): וּשְׁתוּ בְּיַיִן מָסָכְתִּי. רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה וְרַבִּי חִיָּא אֲבוֹי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בֶּן נְהוֹרָאי אָמַר, כְּתִיב (ירמיה ל, כ): וּפָקַדְתִּי עַל כָּל לֹחֲצָיו, אֲפִלּוּ עַל גַּבָּאֵי צְדָקָה, חוּץ מִשְּׂכַר סוֹפְרִים וּמַשְׁנִים, שֶׁאֵינָן נוֹטְלִין אֶלָּא שְׂכַר בַּטָּלָה בִּלְבָד, אֲבָל שְׂכַר דָּבָר אֶחָד מִן הַתּוֹרָה אֵין כָּל בְּרִיָּה יְכוֹלָה לִתֵּן מַתַּן שְׂכָרָהּ. תָּנֵי מֵרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה נִקְצָצִין מְזוֹנוֹתָיו שֶׁל אָדָם חוּץ מִמַּה שֶּׁמּוֹצִיא בְּשַׁבָּתוֹת וְיָמִים טוֹבִים וְרָאשֵׁי חֳדָשִׁים וּמַה שֶּׁהַתִּינוֹקוֹת מוֹלִיכִים לְבֵית רַבָּן, אִם מוֹסִיף מוֹסִיפִים לוֹ אִם פּוֹחֵת פּוֹחֲתִין לוֹ. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן הֲוָה מְטַיֵּל, סָלֵק מִטְבֶרְיָא לְצִפּוֹרִין, וַהֲוָה רַבִּי חִיָּא בַּר אַבָּא מִסְמַךְ לֵיהּ, מָטוֹן חַד בֵּית חֲקַל אֲמַר הָדֵין בֵּית חַקְלָא הֲוָה דִידִי וְזַבֵּינִית יָתֵיהּ בִּגְלַל לְמִזְכֵּי בְּאוֹרַיְתָא. מָטוֹן חַד דְּבֵית כַּרְמָא אֲמַר הָדֵין בֵּית כַּרְמָא דִידִי הֲוֵית וְזַבֵּינִית יָתֵיהּ בִּגְלַל לְמִזְכֵּי בְּאוֹרַיְתָא. מָטוֹן חַד דְּבֵית זֵיתָא, אֲמַר הָדֵין בֵּית זֵיתָא דִידִי הֲוָה וְזַבֵּינִית יָתֵיהּ בִּגְלַל לְמִזְכֵּי בְּאוֹרַיְתָא, שָׁרֵי רַבִּי חִיָּא בָּכֵי, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מָה אַתְּ בָּכֵי, אֲמַר לֵיהּ עַל דְּלָא שְׁבַקְתְּ לְסִיבוּתָךְ כְּלוּם. אָמַר לוֹ קַלָּה הִיא בְּעֵינֶיךָ מַה שֶּׁעָשִׂיתִי שֶׁמָּכַרְתִּי דָבָר שֶׁנִּבְרָא לְשִׁשָּׁה יָמִים וְקָנִיתִי דָּבָר שֶׁנִּתַּן לְאַרְבָּעִים יוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות לד, כח): וַיְהִי שָׁם עִם ה' אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם וְאַרְבָּעִים לַיְלָה, וּכְתִיב (דברים ט, ט): וָאֵשֵׁב בָּהָר אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם וְאַרְבָּעִים לַיְלָה. כַּד דְּמַךְ רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן הֲוָה דּוֹרוֹ קוֹרֵא עָלָיו (שיר השירים ח, ז): אִם יִתֵּן אִישׁ אֶת כָּל הוֹן בֵּיתוֹ בָּאַהֲבָה, שֶׁאָהַב רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אֶת הַתּוֹרָה, (דברים ט, ט): בּוֹז יָבוּזוּ לוֹ. כַּד דְּמַךְ רַבִּי הוֹשַׁעְיָא אִישׁ טִירְיָא רָאוּ מִטָּתוֹ שֶׁפָּרְחָה בָּאֲוִיר, וְהָיָה דּוֹרוֹ קוֹרֵא עָלָיו (שיר השירים ח, ז): אִם יִתֵּן אִישׁ אֶת כָּל הוֹן בֵּיתוֹ בָּאַהֲבָה, שֶׁאָהַב הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְאַבָּא הוֹשַׁעְיָא אִישׁ טִירְיָא, בּוֹז יָבוּזוּ לוֹ. כַּד דְּמַךְ רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, הָיָה דּוֹרוֹ קוֹרֵא עָלָיו (שיר השירים ג, ו): מִי זֹאת עֹלָה מִן הַמִּדְבָּר כְּתִימְרוֹת עָשָׁן מְקֻטֶּרֶת מֹר וּלְבוֹנָה מִכֹּל אַבְקַת רוֹכֵל, מַהוּ מִכֹּל אַבְקַת רוֹכֵל, אֶלָּא דַהֲוָה קָרָיי וְתָנָיי וּפַּיְיטָן וְדַרְשָׁן. אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא מִשְּׂכַר לְקִיחָה אַתָּה לָמֵד שְׂכַר לְקִיחָה, בְּמִצְרַיִם כְּתִיב (שמות יב, כב): וּלְקַחְתֶּם אֲגֻדַּת אֵזוֹב, בְּכַמָּה הֲוָת טִימְיָא דִּידֵיהּ בְּאַרְבָּעָה מִינֵי, וְהוּא גָּרַם לְיִשְׂרָאֵל לִירַשׁ בִּזַּת הַיָּם, בִּזַּת סִיחוֹן וְעוֹג, בִּזַּת שְׁלשִׁים וְאֶחָד מְלָכִים. לוּלָב שֶׁעוֹמֵד עַל הָאָדָם בְּכַמָּה דָּמִים, וְכַמָּה מִצְווֹת יֵשׁ בּוֹ, עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה. לְפִיכָךְ משֶׁה מַזְהִיר אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאוֹמֵר לָהֶם: וּלְקַחְתֶּם לָכֶם בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן. “You shall take for you on the first day the fruit of a pleasant tree, branches of date palms, and a bough of a leafy tree, and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days” (Leviticus 23:40).
“You shall take for you on the first day” – Rabbi Abba bar Kahana began: “Take my admonishment, and not silver” (Proverbs 8:10) – take the admonishment of Torah and not silver. “Why do you weigh out silver not for bread?” (Isaiah 55:2) – why do you weigh out silver for the descendants of Esau?1Why do you have to pay large sums of money in taxes to the Roman government or other foreign governmental authorities, who are considered descendants of Esau? “Not for bread” – it is because you did not get your fill of the bread of Torah. “And your exertion for no satisfaction” (Isaiah 55:2) – why do you exert yourselves while the nations of the world are satisfied? “For no satisfaction” – it is because you did not get your fill of the wine of Torah, as it is written: “Drink of the wine that I mixed” (Proverbs 9:5).
Rabbi Berekhya and Rabbi Ḥiyya his father said in the name of Rabbi Yosei ben Nehorai: It is written: “I will reckon with all his oppressors” (Jeremiah 30:20), even charity collectors,2If they force people to pay more than they can afford to charity (Etz Yosef). other than for the wages of Bible teachers and Mishna teachers, who do not collect wages, but rather reimbursement for lost time. But wages for [teaching even] one matter of Torah, no person is able to pay its wages.3Torah study is so valuable that those who teach Torah can never be truly compensated for what they have imparted to their students. It is taught: From Rosh HaShana, a person’s sustenance is determined, with the exception of his expenditures for Shabbatot, festivals, and the New Moon, and the expenditures of taking the children to school. If he increases, it is increased for him; if he decreases, it is decreased for him.4If a person spends more or less than what could have been expected for these particular causes, God will adjust his yearly income accordingly.
Rabbi Yoḥanan was strolling, ascending from Tiberias to Tzippori, and Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba was supporting him. They arrived at a certain field. He said: ‘This field was mine and I sold it in order to acquire Torah.’5I sold it in order to use the funds so I could engage in Torah study. They arrived at a certain vineyard. He said: ‘This vineyard was mine and I sold it in order to acquire Torah.’ They arrived at a certain olive grove. He said: ‘This olive grove was mine and I sold it in order to acquire Torah.’ Rabbi Ḥiyya began weeping. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: ‘Why are you weeping?’ He said to him: ‘Because you did not leave anything for your old age.’ [Rabbi Yoḥanan] said to him: ‘Is it insignificant in your eyes what I did, that I sold an item that was created in six days and acquired an item that was given in forty days, as it is stated: “He was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights” (Exodus 34:28), and it is written: “I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights” (Deuteronomy 9:9)?’ When Rabbi Yoḥanan died, his generation read in his regard: “If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love” (Song of Songs 8:7), the love that Rabbi Yoḥanan had for the Torah, “he would be scorned [boz yavuzu lo].”6He will gain a portion of the plunder [biza] of the war of Gog and Magog (Yefe To’ar).
When Rabbi Hoshaya of Tireya died, they saw his bier floating in the air. His generation read in his regard: “If a man would give all the wealth of his house for the love” that the Holy One blessed be He loved Rabbi Hoshaya of Tireya, he would be scorned.7He would be scorned for thinking that money is sufficient to attain this love.
When Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Shimon died, his generation read in his regard: “Who is this coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, and with all the powders of the merchant?” (Song of Songs 3:6). What is “with all the powders of the merchant”? It is that he was a master of Bible, of Mishna, liturgy, and homiletics.
Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: From the reward for taking you derive the reward for taking. In Egypt, it is written: “You shall take a bundle of hyssop” (Exodus 12:22). How much was its price? It was four maot, and it led to Israel taking possession of the plunder at the sea, the plunder of Siḥon and Og, and the plunder of the thirty-one kings [of Canaan]; the palm branch that costs a person a considerable sum of money and includes several mitzvot, all the more so. Therefore, Moses exhorts Israel and says to them: “You shall take for you on the first day.”
דָּבָר אַחֵר, וּלְקַחְתֶּם לָכֶם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים טז, יא): תּוֹדִיעֵנִי אֹרַח חַיִּים שׂבַע שְׂמָחוֹת, אָמַר דָּוִד לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא תּוֹדִיעֵנִי בְּאֵיזֶה פִּילוֹן מְפֻלָּשׁ לְחַיֵּי הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, רַבִּי יוּדָן אָמַר, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְדָוִד אִם חַיִּים אַתָּה צָרִיךְ, יִסּוּרִין אַתָּה צָרִיךְ, כְּדִכְתִיב (משלי ו, כג): וְדֶרֶךְ חַיִּים תּוֹכְחוֹת מוּסָר. שׂבַע שְׂמָחוֹת, שִׂבְּעָנוּ בַּחֲמִשָּׁה שְׂמָחוֹת, מִקְרָא, מִשְׁנָה, תַּלְמוּד, תּוֹסֶפְתָּא וְאַגָּדוֹת. דָּבָר אַחֵר, שׂבַע שְׂמָחוֹת אֶת פָּנֶיךָ, אֵלּוּ שֶׁבַע כִּתּוֹת שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים שֶׁעֲתִידִים לְהַקְבִּיל פְּנֵי שְׁכִינָה וּפְנֵיהֶם דּוֹמוֹת לַחַמָּה וּלְבָנָה, לָרָקִיעַ, לַכּוֹכָבִים, לַבְּרָקִים וּלְשׁוֹשַׁנִּים וְלַמְּנוֹרָה הַטְּהוֹרָה שֶׁהָיְתָה בְּבֵית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ. לַחַמָּה מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שיר השירים ו, י): בָּרָה כַּחַמָּה. לַלְּבָנָה מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שיר השירים ו, י): יָפָה כַלְּבָנָה. לָרָקִיעַ מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דניאל יב, ג): וְהַמַּשְׂכִּלִים יַזְהִרוּ כְּזֹהַר הָרָקִיעַ. לַכּוֹכָבִים מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דניאל יב, ג): וּמַצְדִּיקֵי הָרַבִּים כַּכּוֹכָבִים לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד. לַבְּרָקִים מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (נחום ב, ה): מַרְאֵיהֶן כַּלַּפִּידִים כַּבְּרָקִים יְרוֹצֵצוּ. לְשׁוֹשַׁנִּים מִנַּיַן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים מה, א): לַמְנַצֵּחַ עַל שׁשַׁנִּים. לַמְּנוֹרָה הַטְּהוֹרָה מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (זכריה ד, ב): וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלַי מָה אַתָּה רֹאֶה וָאֹמַר רָאִיתִי וְהִנֵּה מְנוֹרַת זָהָב כֻּלָּהּ. (תהלים טז, יא): נְעִמוֹת בִּימִינְךָ נֶצַח, וְכִי מִי מוֹדִיעֵנוּ אֵיזוֹ כַּת הַחֲבִיבָה וְהַנְּעִימָה שֶׁבָּהֶן, תְּרֵין אָמוֹרָאִין, חַד אָמַר זוֹ שֶׁבָּאָה מִכֹּחָהּ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה וּמִכֹּחָן שֶׁל מִצְווֹת, וְאָחֳרָנָא אָמַר אֵלּוּ סוֹפְרִין וּמַשְׁנִין שֶׁמְּלַמְּדִין תִּינוֹקוֹת בַּאֲמִתָּן, שֶׁהֵן עֲתִידִין לַעֲמֹד בִּימִינוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: נְעִמוֹת בִּימִינְךָ נֶצַח. דָּבָר אַחֵר, שׂבַע שְׂמָחוֹת, אַל תְּהִי קוֹרֵא כֵּן אֶלָּא שֶׁבַע שְׂמָחוֹת, אֵלּוּ שֶׁבַע מִצְווֹת שֶׁבֶּחָג, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן, אַרְבָּעָה מִינִין שֶׁבַּלּוּלָב, וְסֻכָּה, חֲגִיגָה וְשִׂמְחָה. אִם שִׂמְחָה לָמָּה חֲגִיגָה וְאִם חֲגִיגָה לָמָּה שִׂמְחָה, אָמַר רַבִּי אָבִין מָשָׁל לִשְׁנַיִם שֶׁנִּכְנְסוּ אֵצֶל הַדַּיָּן וְלֵית אֲנַן יָדְעִין מַאן הוּא נוֹצֵחַ, אֶלָּא מַאן דְּנָסַב בָּאיָין בִּידֵיהּ, אֲנַן יָדְעִין דְּהוּא נָצוֹחַיָיא, כָּךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם בָּאִין וּמְקַטְרְגִים לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה וְלֵית אֲנַן יָדְעִין מַאן נָצַח, אֶלָּא בַּמֶּה שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל יוֹצְאִין מִלִּפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְלוּלָבֵיהֶן וְאֶתְרוֹגֵיהֶן בְּיָדָן, אָנוּ יוֹדְעִין דְיִשְׂרָאֵל אִינוּן נָצוֹחַיָּא, לְפִיכָךְ משֶׁה מַזְהִיר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וְאוֹמֵר לָהֶם: וּלְקַחְתֶּם לָכֶם בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן. Another matter: “You shall take for you” – that is what is written: “Inform me of the way of life, abundant joy” (Psalms 16:11). David said before the Holy One blessed be He: Inform me which gate leads directly to life in the World to Come. Rabbi Yudan said: The Holy One blessed be He said to David: If it is life that you need, you need suffering [yisurin], as it is written: “Rebukes of admonition [musar] are the way of life” (Proverbs 6:23).
“Abundant joy [sova semaḥot]” (Psalms 16:11) – He satisfied us [sabenu] with five joys [semaḥot]: Bible, Mishna, Talmud, Tosefta, and aggada. Alternatively, “abundant joy in Your presence” (Psalms 16:11) – these are the seven groups of righteous people who are destined to receive the Divine Presence, and their faces are similar to the sun, the moon, the firmament, the stars, lightning, lilies, and the pure candelabrum8The candelabrum that was made of pure gold. that was in the Temple. To the sun, from where is it derived? As it is stated: “Pure like the sun” (Song of Songs 6:10). The moon, from where is it derived? As it is stated: “Fair like the moon” (Song of Songs 6:10). The firmament, from where is it derived? As it is stated: “The wise will shine like the radiance of the firmament” (Daniel 12:3). The stars, from where is it derived? As it is written: “Those who lead the multitudes to righteousness, like the stars, forever and ever” (Daniel 12:3). Lightning, from where is it derived? As it is stated: “Their appearance is like torches, they romp like lightning” (Nahum 2:5). Lilies, from where is it derived? As it is stated: “For the conductor, for lilies” (Psalms 45:1). The pure candelabrum, from where is it derived? As it is stated: “He said to me: What do you see? I said: I saw, and behold, a candelabrum of gold in its entirety” (Zechariah 4:2).
“Eternal pleasure [ne’imot] is by Your right hand” (Psalms 16:11). Who will inform us which group is the most beloved and delightful [hane’ima] among them? There are two amora’im; one said: The one that comes from the power of Torah and from the power of mitzvot. The other said: These are the Bible teachers and the Mishna teachers, who teach children accurately, as they are destined to stand to the right of the Holy One blessed be He. That is what is written: “Eternal pleasure is by Your right hand.”
Another matter: “Sova semaḥot” (Psalms 16:11) – do not read it so, but rather, as “seven [sheva] celebrations [semaḥot]”; these are the seven mitzvot of the festival of Sukkot, and these are: The four species of the palm branch, sukka, the festival peace offerings, and the peace offerings of rejoicing. If [one brings] festival offerings, why [also] offerings of rejoicing; if offerings of rejoicing, why festival offerings? Rabbi Avin said: This is analogous to two [litigants] who came before a judge and we do not know who prevailed. But if one comes and takes palm branches in his hand we know that he is the one who prevailed. So, Israel and the nations of the world litigate before the Holy One blessed be He on Rosh HaShana, and we do not know who prevailed. But when Israel emerges from before the Holy One blessed be He with their palm branches and their citrons in their hands, we know that it is Israel that emerged victorious. Therefore, Moses exhorts Israel and says to them: “You shall take for you on the first day.”
דָּבָר אַחֵר, וּלְקַחְתֶּם לָכֶם בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים קב, יח): פָּנָה אֶל תְּפִלַּת הָעַרְעָר וְלֹא בָזָה אֶת תְּפִלָּתָם, שֶׁנִּצְּחוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּדִּין וְנִמְחֲלוּ עֲוֹנוֹתֵיהֶם וְהֵן אוֹמְרִים נָצְחוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל א טו, כט): וְגַם נֵצַח יִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא יְשַׁקֵּר וְלֹא יִנָּחֵם, הוּא שֶׁדָּוִד אוֹמֵר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל אִם קִיַּמְתֶּם מִצְוַת לוּלָב שֶׁנִּקְרָא נָעִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים טז, יא): נְעִמוֹת בִּימִינְךָ נֶצַח, הֲרֵי אַתָּה מְבֻשָּׂר שֶׁנִּצַּחְתָּ לְאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְגַם נֵצַח יִשְׂרָאֵל, לְפִיכָךְ משֶׁה מַזְהִיר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וְאוֹמֵר לָהֶם: וּלְקַחְתֶּם לָכֶם. אָמַר רַבִּי אָבִין, פָּנָה אֶל תְּפִלַּת הָעַרְעָר, וְאָמַר רַבִּי אָבִין אֵין אָנוּ יְכוֹלִין לַעֲמֹד עַל אַפּוֹ שֶׁל דָּוִד, פְּעָמִים שֶׁקּוֹרֵא עַצְמוֹ עָנִי, פְּעָמִים שֶׁקּוֹרֵא עַצְמוֹ מֶלֶךְ, הָא כֵיצַד בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהָיָה צוֹפֶה וּמַבִּיט שֶׁצַּדִּיקִים עֲתִידִין לַעֲמֹד מִמֶּנּוּ כְּגוֹן: אָסָא, יְהוֹשָׁפָט, חִזְקִיָּה וְיֹאשִׁיָּה, הָיָה קוֹרֵא עַצְמוֹ מֶלֶךְ, שֶׁנֶאֱמַר (תהלים עב, א): אֱלֹהִים מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ לְמֶלֶךְ תֵּן, וּבְשָׁעָה שֶׁצּוֹפֶה רְשָׁעִים יוֹצְאִים מִמֶּנּוּ, כְּגוֹן: אָחָז, מְנַשֶּׁה, אָמוֹן, הָיָה קוֹרֵא עַצְמוֹ עָנִי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים קב, א): תְּפִלָּה לְעָנִי כִי יַעֲטֹף. רַבִּי אֲלֶכְּסַנְדְּרִי פָּתַר קְרָיָה בַּפּוֹעֵל הַזֶּה, מָה הַפּוֹעֵל הַזֶּה יוֹשֵׁב וּמְשַׁמֵּר לִכְשֶׁיַּפְלִיג מְלַאכְתּוֹ קִמְעָא וְיַלְקִישֶׁנָּה בַּסּוֹף כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (בראשית ל, מב): וְהָיוּ הָעֲטֻפִים לְלָבָן, מַהוּ הָעֲטֻפִים, רַבִּי יִצְחָק בְּרַבִּי חִלְקִיָה אָמַר לַקִּישָׁא. דָּבָר אַחֵר, פָּנָה אֶל תְּפִלַּת הָעַרְעָר, הָיָה לוֹ לוֹמַר לֹא בָזָה תְּפִלָּתוֹ, וְאִם לֹא בָזָה תְּפִלָּתָם, הָיָה לוֹ לוֹמַר פָּנָה אֶל תְּפִלַּת הָעַרְעָרִים, אֶלָּא פָּנָה אֶל תְּפִלַּת הָעַרְעָר, זֶה תְּפִלָּתוֹ שֶׁל מְנַשֶּׁה מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה, שֶׁהָיָה עַרְעָר מִמַּעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים, וְלֹא בָזָה אֶת תְּפִלָּתָם, זוֹ תְּפִלָּתוֹ וּתְפִלַּת אֲבוֹתָיו, דִּכְתִיב (דברי הימים ב לג, יג): וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל אֵלָיו וַיֵּעָתֶר לוֹ, מַהוּ וַיֵּעָתֶר לוֹ, אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בַּר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בַּעֲרָבְיָא צָוְוחִין לַחֲתִירָתָא עֲתִירָתָא. (דברי הימים ב לג, יג): וַיְשִׁיבֵהוּ יְרוּשָׁלִַם לְמַלְכוּתוֹ, בַּמֶּה הֱשִׁיבוֹ רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר יוֹנָה אָמַר בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אַחָא, בָּרוּחַ הֱשִׁיבוֹ, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר מַשִּׁיב הָרוּחַ, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה (דברי הימים ב לג, יג): וַיֵּדַע מְנַשֶּׁה כִּי ה' הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה אָמַר מְנַשֶּׁה אִית דִּין וְאִית דַּיָּנָא. רַבִּי יִצְחָק פָּתַר קְרָיָא בַּדּוֹרוֹת הַלָּלוּ שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם לֹא מֶלֶךְ וְלֹא נָבִיא, לֹא כֹהֵן וְלֹא אוּרִים וְתֻמִּים, וְאֵין לָהֶם אֶלָּא תְּפִלָּה זוֹ בִּלְבָד, אָמַר דָּוִד לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם אַל תִּבְזֶה אֶת תְּפִלָּתָם, (תהלים קב, יט): תִּכָּתֶב זֹאת לְדוֹר אַחֲרוֹן, מִכָּאן שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְקַבֵּל הַשָּׁבִים, (תהלים קב, יט): וְעַם נִבְרָא יְהַלֶּל יָהּ, שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בּוֹרֵא אוֹתָן בְּרִיָּה חֲדָשָׁה. דָּבָר אַחֵר, תִּכָּתֶב זֹאת לְדוֹר אַחֲרוֹן, זֶה דּוֹרוֹ שֶׁל חִזְקִיָּהוּ, שֶׁהָיָה נָטוּי לְמִיתָה, וְעַם נִבְרָא יְהַלֶּל יָהּ, שֶׁבְּרָאָן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּרִיָּה חֲדָשָׁה, דָּבָר אַחֵר, תִּכָּתֶב זֹאת לְדוֹר אַחֲרוֹן, זֶה דּוֹרוֹ שֶׁל מָרְדְּכַי שֶׁהָיוּ נְטוּיִין לְמִיתָה, וְעַם נִבְרָא יְהַלֶּל יָהּ, שֶׁבְּרָאָן בְּרִיָּה חֲדָשָׁה. דָּבָר אַחֵר, תִּכָּתֶב זֹאת לְדוֹר אַחֲרוֹן, אֵלּוּ דּוֹרוֹת הַלָּלוּ שֶׁהֵם נְטוּיִין לְמִיתָה, וְעַם נִבְרָא יְהַלֶּל יָהּ, שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עָתִיד לִבְראוֹת אוֹתָן בְּרִיָּה חֲדָשָׁה, וּמֶה עָלֵינוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת, לִקַּח לוּלָב וְאֶתְרוֹג וּנְקַלֵּס לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, לְפִיכָךְ משֶׁה מַזְהִיר אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאוֹמֵר לָהֶם: וּלְקַחְתֶּם לָכֶם בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן. Another matter: “You shall take for you on the first day” – that is what is written: “He has heeded the prayer of the destitute; He did not despise their prayer” (Psalms 102:18), as Israel prevailed at trial, and their iniquities were atoned; and they say: Israel prevailed [natzeḥu], as it is stated: “Moreover, the Eternity [netzaḥ] of Israel will not lie and will not regret” (I Samuel 15:29). That is what David said to Israel: ‘If you have fulfilled the mitzva of the palm branch, which is called delightful [ne’ima],’ as it is stated: “Eternal pleasure [ne’imot] is by Your right hand,” ‘you will be informed that you have prevailed over the nations of the world,’ as it is stated: “Moreover, the Eternity [netzaḥ] of Israel.” Therefore, Moses exhorts Israel and says to them: “You shall take for you on the first day.”
Rabbi Avin said: “He has heeded the prayer of the destitute” (Psalms 102:18) – and Rabbi Avin said: We are unable to ascertain David’s nature; sometimes he calls himself poor, sometimes he calls himself king. How [is this to be understood]? When he would gaze and see that righteous individuals were destined to emerge from him, such as Asa, Yehoshafat, Hezekiah, and Yoshiya, he would call himself king, as it is stated: “Endow the king with Your justice, God” (Psalms 72:1). But when he would gaze [and see] wicked individuals emerging from him, such as Aḥaz, Menashe, and Amon, he would call himself poor, as it is stated: “The prayer of a poor man, when he feels overwhelmed” (Psalms 102:1).
Rabbi Alexandri interpreted the verse9Referring to Psalms 102:1. regarding this laborer, just as this laborer sits and waits for when he takes a short break from his labor and ultimately finishes it later,10He has to make up the lost work time at the end of the day. just as it says: “The atufim will be for Lavan” (Genesis 30:42). What are “the atufim”? Rabbi Yitzḥak ben Rabbi Ḥilkiya: The late ones.11Thus, when David says: “The prayer of the poor man when he feels overwhelmed [ki yaatof],” he is alluding to the fact that when he was engaged in some pressing activity he would pray later than others.
Another matter: “He has heeded the prayer of the destitute [haarar]; [He did not despise their prayer]” (Psalms 102:18) – it should have said: “He did not despise his prayer.” If it says: “He did not despise their prayer,” it should have said: “He has heeded the prayer of the destitute [haararim].”12It should have used the plural formulation of the Hebrew word for destitute. Rather, “He has heeded the prayer of the destitute” – this is the prayer of Menashe king of Judah, who was destitute of good deeds. “He did not despise their prayer” – this is his prayer and the prayer of his ancestors, as it is written: “He prayed to Him, and He acceded to his entreaty” (II Chronicles 33:13). What is “He acceded to his entreaty [vaye’ater lo]”? Rabbi Elazar bar Rabbi Shimon said: In Arabia, they call digging [ḥatirata] atirata.13God dug a tunnel under His Throne of Glory so that Menashe’s prayer could reach Him (see Devarim Rabba 2:20; Rut Rabba 5:6). He restored him to Jerusalem to his kingdom” (II Chronicles 33:13) – how did He restore him? He restored him with the wind, just as it is said: He causes the wind to blow. At that moment, “Menashe knew that the Lord, He is God” (II Chronicles 33:13). At that moment, Menashe said: There is justice, and there is a Judge.
Rabbi Yitzḥak interpreted the verse regarding these generations that have neither a king nor a prophet, neither a [High] Priest nor the Urim and the Tumim, and they have nothing other than prayer alone. David said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, do not despise their prayers. “Let this be written for the generation to come”’ (Psalms 102:19) – from here [it may be inferred] that the Holy One blessed be He accepts penitents. “And a people which shall be created shall praise the Lord” (Psalms 102:19), [indicates] that the Holy One blessed be He creates them as a new creation.
Another matter: “Let this be written for the generation to come” (Psalms 102:19) – this is the generation of Hezekiah, which was on the verge of death. “And a people which shall be created shall praise the Lord” (Psalms 102:19), [indicates] that the Holy One blessed be He created them as a new creation. Alternatively, “let this be written for the generation to come” – this is the generation of Mordekhai, which was on the verge of death. “And a people which shall be created shall praise the Lord,” [indicates] that He created them as a new creation. Alternatively, “let this be written for the generation to come,” refers to these generations, which are on the verge of death. “And a people which shall be created shall praise the Lord,” [indicates] that the Holy One blessed be He is destined to create them as a new creation. What is incumbent upon us to do? To take a palm branch and a citron and laud the Holy One blessed be He. Therefore, Moses exhorts Israel and says to them: “You shall take for you on the first day.”
דָּבָר אַחֵר, וּלְקַחְתֶּם לָכֶם בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים צו, יב): יַעֲלֹז שָׂדַי וְכָל אֲשֶׁר בּוֹ, יַעֲלֹז שָׂדַי, זֶה הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ד, ח): וַיְהִי בִּהְיוֹתָם בַּשָּׂדֶה. וְכָל אֲשֶׁר בּוֹ, אֵלּוּ הַבְּרִיּוֹת, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (תהלים כד, א): לַה' הָאָרֶץ וּמְלוֹאָהּ, (דברי הימים א טז, לג): אָז יְרַנְּנוּ עֲצֵי הַיָּעַר, אָמַר רַבִּי אַחָא הַיָּעַר, (תהלים צו, יב): וְכָל עֲצֵי הַיָּעַר. הַיָּעַר אֵלּוּ אִילָנוֹת שֶׁעוֹשִׂין פֵּרוֹת, וְכָל עֲצֵי הַיָּעַר, אֵלּוּ אִילָנוֹת שֶׁאֵינָן עוֹשִׂין פֵּרוֹת, לִפְנֵי מִי, (תהלים צח, ט): לִפְנֵי ה', לָמָּה, (תהלים צח, ט): כִּי בָא בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה וְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים, מַה לַּעֲשׂוֹת (תהלים צח, ט): יִשְׁפֹּט תֵּבֵל בְּצֶדֶק וְעַמִּים בְּמֵישָׁרִים. Another matter: “You shall take for you on the first day” – that is what is written: “The fields and everything within them will exult” (Psalms 96:12). “The fields will exult” – this is the world, as it is stated: “It came to pass when they were in the field” (Genesis 4:8).14This verse is stated regarding the incident of Cain and Abel. The midrash elsewhere asserts that they argued about how to divide the entire world between them (see Bereshit Rabba 22:7). “And everything within them” – these are the creatures, just as it says: “The earth and all its contents are the Lord’s” (Psalms 24:1). “Then the trees of the forest will sing” (I Chronicles 16:33) – Rabbi Aḥa said: “[The trees of] the forest [will sing]”; “all the trees of the forest [will sing]” (Psalms 96:12).15Two verses employ almost the same terminology, but the verse in Psalms adds the word “all.” “The forest” – these are trees that produce fruit. “All the trees of the forest” – these are trees that do not produce fruit. Before whom [will they sing]? “Before the Lord” (Psalms 98:9). Why? Because “He comes” (Psalms 98:9) on Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur. To do what? “He will judge the world with righteousness and peoples with uprightness” (Psalms 98:9).
דָּבָר אַחֵר, וּלְקַחְתֶּם לָכֶם בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים כו, ו): אֶרְחַץ בְּנִקָּיוֹן כַּפָּי, בְּמִקָּח וְלֹא בְגָזֵל, דִּתְנִינַן תַּמָּן לוּלָב הַגָּזוּל וְהַיָּבֵשׁ פָּסוּל, שֶׁל אֲשֵׁרָה וְשֶׁל עִיר הַנִּדַּחַת פָּסוּל. (תהלים כו, ו): וַאֲסֹבְבָה אֶת מִזְבַּחֲךָ ה', כְּהַהִיא דִּתְנִינַן תַּמָּן, בְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם מַקִּיפִין אֶת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ פַּעַם אַחַת וְאוֹמֵר אָנָא ה' הוֹשִׁיעָה נָא, אָנָא ה' הוֹשִׁיעָה נָא, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר אֲנִי וָהוֹ הוֹשִׁיעָה נָא, אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם מַקִּיפִין הַמִּזְבֵּחַ שִׁבְעָה פְּעָמִים, (תהלים כו, ז): לַשְׁמִעַ בְּקוֹל תּוֹדָה, אֵלּוּ הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת, (תהלים כו, ז): וּלְסַפֵּר כָּל נִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ, אָמַר רַבִּי אָבִין זֶה הַלֵּל, שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ לְשֶׁעָבַר וְיֵשׁ בּוֹ לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא וְיֵשׁ בּוֹ לַדּוֹרוֹת הַלָּלוּ וְיֵשׁ בּוֹ לִימוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ וְיֵשׁ בּוֹ לִימוֹת גּוֹג וּמָגוֹג, (תהלים קיד, א): בְּצֵאת יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרָיִם, לְשֶׁעָבַר, (תהלים קטו, א): לֹא לָנוּ ה', לַדּוֹרוֹת הַלָּלוּ. (תהלים קטז, א): אָהַבְתִּי כִּי יִשְׁמַע ה', לִימוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ. (תהלים קיח, י): כָּל גּוֹיִם סְבָבוּנִי, לִימוֹת גּוֹג וּמָגוֹג. (תהלים קיח, כח): אֵלִי אַתָּה וְאוֹדֶךָּ אֱלֹהַי אֲרוֹמְמֶךָּ, לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא. Another matter: “You shall take for you on the first day” – that is what is written: “I wash my hands in purity” (Psalms 26:6) – with a transaction and not with robbery, as we learned there: A lulav that was stolen or that is dry is unfit; of an ashera tree or from a city incited to idolatry, is unfit.16Mishna Sukka 3:1. “I circle Your altar, Lord,” (Psalms 26:6) – as we learned there: Each day they would circle the altar one time and say: “Lord, please save us” (Psalms 118:25), Lord, please save us. Rabbi Yehuda says: Ani vaho,17This is part of God’s seventy-two letter name and has the same numerical value as please Lord [ana followed by the Tetragrammaton]. please save us. And on that day,18The seventh day of Sukkot. they would circle the altar seven times.19Mishna Sukka 4:5.
“Proclaiming thankfulness” (Psalms 26:7) – these are the offerings. “Relating all Your wonders” (Psalms 26:7) – Rabbi Avin said: This is Hallel; it contains [thanks] for the past, it contains [thanks] for the future, it contains [thanks] for these generations, it contains [thanks] for the messianic era, and it contains [thanks] for the days of Gog and Magog. “When Israel departed from Egypt” (Psalms 114:1) – for the past; “not for us, Lord” (Psalms 115:1) – for these generations; “I love that the Lord hears [my voice and my supplications]” (Psalms 116:1) – for the messianic era. “All the nations surrounded me” (Psalms 118:10) – for the days of Gog and Magog; “You are my God and I will thank You; my God, and I will exalt You” (Psalms 118:28) – for the future.
דָּבָר אַחֵר, וּלְקַחְתֶּם לָכֶם, תָּנֵי רַבִּי חִיָּא בְּמִקָּח וְלֹא בְגָזֵל. לָכֶם, לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מִכֶּם. לָכֶם, מִשֶּׁלָּכֶם וְלֹא הַגָּזוּל. אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי מִי שֶׁלּוֹקֵחַ לוּלָב גָּזוּל לְמָה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה לְלִסְטִים שֶׁיּוֹשֵׁב בְּפָרָשַׁת דְּרָכִים וּמְקַפֵּחַ לְעוֹבְרִים וְשָׁבִים, חַד זְמַן עֲבַר עֲלוֹי חַד לִגְיוֹן לְמִגְבֵּי דִּימוֹסְיָא דְּהַהִיא מְדִינְתָּא קָם קֳדָמֵיהּ וְקַפְּחֵיהּ וּנְסַב כָּל מַה דַּהֲוָה בִּידֵיהּ, בָּתַר יוֹמִין אִצְתַּיַּד הַהוּא לִיסְטָא וְאִתְחֲבַשׁ בַּפִּילָקֵי, שָׁמַע הַהוּא לִגְיוֹנָא וַאֲזַל לְגַבֵּיהּ וַאֲמַר לֵיהּ הַב לִי מַה דְּקַפַּחְתָּנִי וַאֲנָא מַלֵּיף עֲלָיךְ זְכוּ קֳדָם מַלְכָּא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ מִן כָּל מַה דְּקַפַּחִית וּמִן כָּל מַה דִּנְסֵבִית לֵית לֵיהּ לְהַהוּא גַבְרָא כְּלוּם, אֶלָּא הָדֵין טַפֵּיטָא דִּתְחוֹתִי וְהוּא מִן דִּידָךְ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ הַב יָתֵהּ לִי וַאֲנָא מַלֵּיף עֲלָךְ זְכוּ קֳדָם מַלְכָּא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ נַסְבֵיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ תֶּהֱוֵי יָדַע דְאַתְּ עָלֵיל לְמָחָר קֳדָם מַלְכָּא לְדִינָא וְהוּא שָׁאֵיל וַאֲמַר לָךְ אִית לָךְ בַּר נָשׁ מַלֵּיף עֲלָךְ זְכוּ, וְאַתְּ אֲמַר לֵיהּ אִית לִגְיוֹן פְּלַן מוֹלִיף עָלַי זְכוּ, וְהוּא מְשַׁלַּח וְקָרֵי לִי וַאֲנָא אָתֵי לְמֵילַף עֲלָךְ זְכוּ קֳדָמוֹי, לְמָחָר אוֹקִימְתֵּיהּ קֳדָם מַלְכָּא בְּדִינָא, שָׁאַל לֵיהּ מַלְכָּא אֲמַר לֵיהּ אִית לָךְ בַּר נָשׁ מַלֵיף עֲלָךְ זְכוּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ אִית לִגְיוֹן פְּלוֹנִי מַלֵּיף עָלַי זְכוּ. שְׁלַח מַלְכָּא וְקַרְיָא לֵיהּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ חָכֵם אַתְּ עַל הָדֵין גַּבְרָא זְכוּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ חָכֵם אֲנָא כַּד שְׁלַחְתַּנִי לְמִגְבֵּי דֵימוֹסְיָא דְהַהוּא מְדִינְתָּא קָם קֳדָמַי וְקַפַּח וְנָסַב כָּל מַה דַּהֲוָה עִמִּי וְהָדֵין טַפֵּיטָא דְּהוּא מִן דִּידִי מַסְהִיד עֲלוֹי, כָּל הָעָם צָוְחִין וְאָמְרִין אוֹי לוֹ לָזֶה שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה סַנֵּיגוֹרוֹ קַטֵּיגוֹרוֹ. כָּךְ אָדָם לוֹקֵחַ לוּלָב לִזְכּוֹת בּוֹ, וְאִם הָיָה גָזוּל צוֹוֵחַ לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְאוֹמֵר גָּזוּל אֲנִי חָמוּס אֲנִי, וּמַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת אוֹמְרִים אוֹי לָזֶה שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה סָנֵגוֹרוֹ קָטֵגוֹרוֹ. Another matter: “You shall take for you” – Rabbi Ḥiyya taught: With a transaction and not with robbery; “for you” – for each and every one of you; “for you” – from what is yours and not what is stolen. Rabbi Levi said: One who takes a stolen palm branch,20To use for the mitzva. to what is the matter comparable? To a bandit who is sitting at a crossroads and robbing the passersby. One time, a legionnaire passed by him to collect the taxes for the province, and he rose before him, robbed him, and took everything that was in his possession. Sometime later, the bandit was apprehended and incarcerated in prison. The legionnaire went to him and said to him: ‘Give me what you robbed from me, and I will advocate on your behalf before the king.’ He said to him: ‘From everything that I have robbed and from everything that I have taken, this man21A reference to himself. has nothing other than this rug that is beneath me, and it is from what was yours.’ He said to him: ‘Give it to me, and I will advocate on your behalf before the king.’ He said to him: ‘Take it.’ He said to him: ‘You should know that tomorrow when you enter before the king to stand trial and he asks and says to you: Do you have a person who will advocate on your behalf, say to him: I have so-and-so legionnaire who will advocate on my behalf. He will send and summon me, and I will come and advocate on your behalf before him.’
The next day, they stood him on trial before the king. The king asked him, saying to him: ‘Do you have a person who will advocate on your behalf?’ He said to him: ‘I have so-and-so legionnaire who will advocate on my behalf.’ The king sent and summoned him and said to him: ‘Do you know anything in favor of this man?’ He said to him: ‘I know that when you sent me to collect the taxes of that province, he rose before me and took everything that was in my possession. This rug that was from what was mine attests in his regard.’ All the people were crying out and saying: ‘Woe unto this one whose advocate became his prosecutor.’ So, a person takes a palm branch in order to accrue merit, but if it is stolen, it cries out before the Holy One blessed be He and says: ‘I was obtained by robbery; I was obtained by villainy!’ The ministering angels say: ‘Woe unto this one, whose advocate became his prosecutor.’
בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן, זֶה חֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר, וְאַתָּה אוֹמֵר בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן, רַבִּי מָנָא דִּשְׁאָב וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ דְּסִכְנִין בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר, מָשָׁל לִמְדִינָה שֶׁחַיֶּבֶת לִיפָס לַמֶּלֶךְ, וְהָלַךְ הַמֶּלֶךְ לִגְבּוֹתָהּ, בְּתוֹךְ עֲשָׂרָה מִילִין יָצְאוּ גְּדוֹלֵי הַמְדִינָה וְקִלְסוּהוּ, הִתִּיר לָהֶם שְׁלִישׁ מִדָּמוֹסָא שֶׁלָּהֶם, בְּתוֹךְ חֲמִשָּׁה מִילִין יָצְאוּ בֵּינוֹנֵי הַמְדִינָה וְקִלְסוּהוּ, הִתִּיר לָהֶם עוֹד שְׁלִישׁ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁנִּכְנַס לַמְדִינָה יָצְאוּ כָּל בְּנֵי הַמְדִינָה אֲנָשִׁים וְנָשִׁים וְטַף וְקִלְסוּהוּ וְהִתִּיר לָהֶם הַכֹּל, אֲמַר לְהוֹן מַלְכָּא מַה דַּאֲזַל אֲזַל, מִן הָכָא נָחֵיל חֻשְׁבְּנָא. כָּךְ בְּעֶרֶב רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה גְּדוֹלֵי הַדּוֹר מִתְעַנִּין וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַתִּיר לָהֶם שְׁלִישׁ מֵעֲוֹנוֹתֵיהֶן, וּמֵרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה וְעַד יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים הַיְחִידִים מִתְעַנִּין וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַתִּיר לָהֶם שְׁלִישׁ מֵעֲוֹנוֹתֵיהֶן, וּבְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים כֻּלָּן מִתְעַנִּין אֲנָשִׁים וְנָשִׁים וְטַף, וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אוֹמֵר לָהֶם לְיִשְׂרָאֵל מַה דַּאֲזַל אֲזַל מִן הָכָא וּלְהַלָּן נָחֵיל חֻשְׁבְּנָא. וּמִיּוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים עַד הֶחָג כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲסוּקִין בְּמִצְווֹת, זֶה עוֹסֵק בְּסֻכָּתוֹ וְזֶה בְּלוּלָבוֹ, וּבְיוֹם טוֹב הָרִאשׁוֹן שֶׁל חָג כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹמְדִין לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְלוּלָבֵיהֶן וְאֶתְרוֹגֵיהֶן לִשְׁמוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וְאוֹמֵר לָהֶם, מַה דַּאֲזַל אֲזַל, מִן הָכָא נָחֵיל חֻשְׁבָּנָא. לְפִיכָךְ משֶׁה מַזְהִיר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל: וּלְקַחְתֶּם לָכֶם בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן. אָמַר רַב אַחָא (תהלים קל, ד): כִּי עִמְךָ הַסְּלִיחָה, מֵרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה הַסְּלִיחָה מַמְתֶּנֶת אֶצְלְךָ, כָּל כָּךְ לָמָּה, לְמַעַן תִּוָּרֵא, בִּשְׁבִיל לִתֵּן אֵימָתְךָ עַל בְּרִיּוֹתֶיךָ. “On the first day” – this is the fifteenth [of Tishrei], and you say “on the first day”? Rabbi Mana of She’av and Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: This is analogous to a province that owed tax to the king. The king went to collect it. [When he came] within ten mil, all the prominent people of the province emerged and lauded him. He forgave them one-third of their tax debt. [When he came] within five mil, the province’s middle class emerged and lauded him, and he forgave them another third. When he entered the province, all the residents of the province, men, women, and children, emerged and lauded him, and he forgave them everything. The king said to them: ‘What has passed has passed; from here we will begin a new account.’
So, on the day before Rosh HaShana the prominent leaders of the generation fast, and the Holy One blessed be He forgives [the public] one-third of their iniquities. From Rosh HaShana until Yom Kippur [many] private individuals fast, and the Holy One blessed be He forgives [the public] one-third of their iniquities. On Yom Kippur everyone fasts, men, women, and children, and the Holy One blessed be He says to Israel: ‘What has passed has passed; from here we will begin a new account.’ From Yom Kippur until the festival of Sukkot, all of Israel is engaged in mitzvot; this one is engaged with his sukka, and that one with his palm branch. On the first day of the festival, all of Israel stand before the Holy One blessed be He with their palm branches and their citrons in [honor of] the name of the Holy One blessed be He. He says to them: ‘What has passed has passed; from here we will begin a new account.’ Therefore, Moses exhorts Israel and says to them: “You shall take for you on the first day.”
Rav Aḥa said: “For forgiveness is with You” (Psalms 130:4) – from Rosh HaShana, forgiveness is in abeyance with you. Why to that extent? “So You will be feared” (Psalms 130:4) – in order to impose fear of You upon Your creations.
בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן, בַּיּוֹם וְלֹא בַּלַּיְלָה, בַּיּוֹם וַאֲפִלּוּ בְּשַׁבָּת, בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן, אֵינוֹ דוֹחֶה אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת אֶלָּא יוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן בִּלְבָד. (ויקרא כג, מ): פְּרִי עֵץ הָדָר, תָּנֵי רַבִּי חִיָּא עֵץ שֶׁטַּעַם עֵצוֹ וּפִרְיוֹ שָׁוֶה, זֶה אֶתְרוֹג. הָדָר, בֶּן עַזַּאי אָמַר הַדָּר בְּאִילָנוֹ מִשָּׁנָה לְשָׁנָה. תַּרְגּוּם עֲקִילַס הַגֵּר, הָדָר, שֶׁהוּא דָר עַל הַמָּיִם. (ויקרא כג, מ): כַּפֹּת תְּמָרִים, רַבִּי טַרְפוֹן אוֹמֵר: כָּפוּת, אִם הָיָה פָּרוּד יִכְפְּפֶנּוּ. (ויקרא כג, מ): וַעֲנַף עֵץ עָבֹת, שֶׁעֲנָפָיו חוֹפִין אֶת עֵצוֹ, הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר זֶה הֲדַס. (ויקרא כג, מ): וְעַרְבֵי נָחַל, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא שֶׁל נַחַל שֶׁל בִּקְעָה וְשֶׁל הָרִים מִנַּיִן, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר וְעַרְבֵי נָחַל. אַבָּא שָׁאוּל אוֹמֵר וְעַרְבֵי נָחַל שְׁנַיִם, עֲרָבָה לַלּוּלָב וַעֲרָבָה לַמִּקְדָּשׁ, רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: פְּרִי עֵץ הָדָר, אֶחָד. וְכַפֹּת תְּמָרִים, אֶחָד. וַעֲנַף עֵץ עָבֹת, שְׁלשָׁה, וְעַרְבֵי נָחַל, שְׁתֵּי דָּלִיּוֹת וְאַחַת שֶׁאֵינָה קְטוּמָה. רַבִּי טַרְפוֹן אוֹמֵר אֲפִלּוּ שְׁלָשְׁתָּן קְטוּמוֹת. “On the first day” – during the day but not at night; during the day, and even on Shabbat; “on the first day” – only the first day alone overrides Shabbat.
“The fruit of a pleasant [hadar] tree” – Rabbi Ḥiyya taught: A tree that the taste of its trunk and its fruit are equal; this is the citron. “Hadar” – ben Azai said: It dwells [hadar] on its tree from year to year. Aquila the proselyte translated hadar: that it dwells [dar] on the water. “Branches of [kapot] date palms” – Rabbi Tarfon says: Bound [kafut]; if it was separated, one should bind it.22If the leaves of the branch are separating, one should bind them to the spine. “A bough of a leafy tree” – whose leaves cover its branch; one must say this is a myrtle. “Willows of the brook” – I have derived only of the brook; of the valley and of the mountains, from where is it derived? The verse states: “Willows of the brook.”23The plural term willows implies that different types of willows may be used, including those that do not grow on a brook. Abba Shaul says: “Willows of the brook” – two; a willow branch for the palm branch and a willow branch for the Temple.24The plural term willows alludes to two mitzvot involving the willow branch: to take a willow branch as one of the four species, and to take a willow branch in the Temple, apart from the four species (see Mishna Sukka 4:5). Rabbi Shimon says: “The fruit of a pleasant tree” – one; “branches [kapot] of date palms” – one;25Even though kapot is plural, it is written without a vav, so it is expounded as though it is singular. Thus, one must take only one citron [etrog] and one palm branch [lulav]. “a bough of a leafy tree” – three;26The word tree is unnecessary in this verse. It is therefore understood that it is added because the number of words in this phrase is significant. Since the phrase “a bough of a leafy tree [anaf etz avot]” includes three Hebrew words, it is understood that one must take three branches of a myrtle. “willows of the brook” – two boughs. And [of the three myrtle branches, there must be] one that is not severed. Rabbi Tarfon says: Even if the three of them are severed [they remain valid].
דָּבָר אַחֵר, פְּרִי עֵץ הָדָר, זֶה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁכָּתוּב בּוֹ (תהלים קד, א): הוֹד וְהָדָר לָבָשְׁתָּ. כַּפֹּת תְּמָרִים, זֶה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁכָּתוּב בּוֹ (תהלים צב, יג): צַדִּיק כַּתָּמָר יִפְרָח. וַעֲנַף עֵץ עָבֹת, זֶה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, דִּכְתִיב (זכריה א, ח): וְהוּא עֹמֵד בֵּין הַהֲדַסִּים. וְעַרְבֵי נָחַל, זֶה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ (תהלים סח, ה): סֹלּוּ לָרֹכֵב בָּעֲרָבוֹת בְּיָהּ שְׁמוֹ. Another matter: “The fruit of a pleasant [hadar] tree” – this is the Holy One blessed be He, in whose regard it is written: “You are clothed in splendor and glory [hadar]” (Psalms 104:1). “Branches of date palms” – this is the Holy One blessed be He, in whose regard it is written: “The righteous blossoms like a date palm” (Psalms 92:13). “A bough of a leafy tree” – this is the Holy One blessed be He, as it is written: “He stands among the myrtle shrubs” (Zechariah 1:8). “Willows of [ve’arvei] the brook” – this is the Holy One blessed be He, in whose regard it is written: “Praise Him who rides in the highest heavens [baaravot], whose name is the Lord” (Psalms 68:5).
דָּבָר אַחֵר, פְּרִי עֵץ הָדָר, זֶה אַבְרָהָם שֶׁהִדְּרוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּשֵׂיבָה טוֹבָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית כד, א): וְאַבְרָהָם זָקֵן בָּא בַּיָּמִים, וּכְתִיב (ויקרא יט, לב): וְהָדַרְתָּ פְּנֵי זָקֵן. כַּפֹּת תְּמָרִים, זֶה יִצְחָק, שֶׁהָיָה כָּפוּת וְעָקוּד עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. וַעֲנַף עֵץ עָבֹת, זֶה יַעֲקֹב, מָה הֲדַס זֶה רָחוּשׁ בְּעָלִין, כָּךְ הָיָה יַעֲקֹב רָחוּשׁ בְּבָנִים. וְעַרְבֵי נָחַל, זֶה יוֹסֵף, מָה עֲרָבָה זוֹ כְּמוּשָׁה לִפְנֵי שְׁלשָׁה מִינִין הַלָּלוּ, כָּךְ מֵת יוֹסֵף לִפְנֵי אֶחָיו. דָּבָר אַחֵר, פְּרִי עֵץ הָדָר, זוֹ שָׂרָה שֶׁהִדְּרָהּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּשֵׂיבָה טוֹבָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית יח, יא): וְאַבְרָהָם וְשָׂרָה זְקֵנִים. כַּפֹּת תְּמָרִים, זוֹ רִבְקָה, מַה תְּמָרָה זוֹ יֵשׁ בָּהּ אֹכֶל וְיֵשׁ בָּהּ עֳקָצִין, כָּךְ הֶעֱמִידָה רִבְקָה צַדִּיק וְרָשָׁע. וַעֲנַף עֵץ עָבֹת, זוֹ לֵאָה, מָה הֲדַס זֶה רָחוּשׁ בְּעָלִין, כָּךְ הָיְתָה לֵאָה רְחוּשָׁה בְּבָנִים. וְעַרְבֵי נָחַל, זוֹ רָחֵל, מָה עֲרָבָה זוֹ כְּמוּשָׁה לִפְנֵי שְׁלשֶׁת הַמִּינִין, כָּךְ רָחֵל מֵתָה לִפְנֵי אֲחוֹתָהּ. Another matter: “The fruit of a pleasant [hadar] tree” – this is Abraham our patriarch, whom the Holy One blessed be He glorified [shehidero] with old age, as it is stated: “Abraham was old, advanced in years” (Genesis 24:1). “Branches of [kapot] date palms” – this is Isaac, who was tied [kafut] and bound upon the altar. “A bough of a leafy tree” – this is Jacob; just as the myrtle is teeming with leaves, so Jacob was teeming with sons. “Willows of the brook” – this is Joseph. Just as this willow withers before the other three species, so Joseph died before his brothers.
Another matter: “The fruit of a pleasant [hadar] tree” – this is Sarah, whom the Holy One blessed be He glorified [shehidera] with old age, as it is stated: “Abraham and Sarah were old” (Genesis 18:11). “Branches of date palms” – this is Rebecca; just as the date palm has edible fruit and has thorns, so Rebecca produced a righteous one and a wicked one. “A bough of a leafy tree” – this is Leah; just as the myrtle is teeming with leaves, so Leah was teeming with sons. “Willows of the brook” – this is Rachel; just as this willow withers before the other three species, so Rachel died before her sister.
דָּבָר אַחֵר, פְּרִי עֵץ הָדָר, זוֹ סַנְהֶדְרֵי גְדוֹלָה שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁהִדְּרָם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּשֵׂיבָה טוֹבָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא יט, לב): מִפְּנֵי שֵׂיבָה תָּקוּם. כַּפֹּת תְּמָרִים, אֵלּוּ תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים שֶׁכּוֹפִין אֶת עַצְמָן לִלְמֹד תּוֹרָה אֵלּוּ מֵאֵלּוּ. וַעֲנַף עֵץ עָבֹת, אֵלּוּ שָׁלשׁ שׁוּרוֹת שֶׁל תַּלְמִידִים שֶׁיּוֹשְׁבִין לִפְנֵיהֶם. וְעַרְבֵי נָחַל, אֵלּוּ שְׁנֵי סוֹפְרִים שֶׁל דַּיָּנִין שֶׁעוֹמְדִים לִפְנֵיהֶם וְכוֹתְבִין דִּבְרֵי הַמְזַכִּים וְדִבְרֵי הַמְחַיְּבִין. Another matter: “The fruit of a pleasant [hadar] tree” – this is the Great Sanhedrin of Israel, whom the Holy One blessed be He glorified [shehideram] with good old age, as it is stated: “You shall rise before the elderly [and show deference [vehadarta] to the old]” (Leviticus 19:32).27“The old [zaken]” is interpreted by the Sages as one who has acquired wisdom [zeh shekana ḥokhma], in this case, a reference to the elders of the Great Sanhedrin. “Branches of [kapot] date palms” – these are Torah scholars, who humble [shekofin] themselves to learn from one another. “A bough of a leafy tree” – these are the three rows of students who sit before them.28Three rows of students would sit before the Great Sanhedrin when they deliberated a case. The allusion here is based on the three Hebrew words in the phrase “a bough of a leafy tree [anaf etz avot].” “Willows of the brook” – these are the two judges’ scribes who stand before them and record the words of those who acquit and the words of those who convict.
דָּבָר אַחֵר, פְּרִי עֵץ הָדָר, אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, מָה אֶתְרוֹג זֶה יֵשׁ בּוֹ טַעַם וְיֵשׁ בּוֹ רֵיחַ, כָּךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל יֵשׁ בָּהֶם בְּנֵי אָדָם שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶם תּוֹרָה וְיֵשׁ בָּהֶם מַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים. כַּפֹּת תְּמָרִים, אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, מָה הַתְּמָרָה הַזּוֹ יֵשׁ בּוֹ טַעַם וְאֵין בּוֹ רֵיחַ, כָּךְ הֵם יִשְׂרָאֵל יֵשׁ בָּהֶם שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶם תּוֹרָה וְאֵין בָּהֶם מַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים. וַעֲנַף עֵץ עָבֹת, אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, מָה הֲדַס יֵשׁ בּוֹ רֵיחַ וְאֵין בּוֹ טַעַם, כָּךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל יֵשׁ בָּהֶם שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶם מַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים וְאֵין בָּהֶם תּוֹרָה. וְעַרְבֵי נָחַל, אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, מָה עֲרָבָה זוֹ אֵין בָּהּ טַעַם וְאֵין בָּהּ רֵיחַ, כָּךְ הֵם יִשְׂרָאֵל יֵשׁ בָּהֶם בְּנֵי אָדָם שֶׁאֵין בָּהֶם לֹא תּוֹרָה וְלֹא מַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים, וּמָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עוֹשֶׂה לָהֶם, לְאַבְּדָן אִי אֶפְשָׁר, אֶלָּא אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יֻקְשְׁרוּ כֻלָּם אֲגֻדָּה אַחַת וְהֵן מְכַפְּרִין אֵלּוּ עַל אֵלּוּ, וְאִם עֲשִׂיתֶם כָּךְ אוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה אֲנִי מִתְעַלֶּה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (עמוס ט, ו): הַבּוֹנֶה בַשָּׁמַיִם מַעֲלוֹתָו, וְאֵימָתַי הוּא מִתְעֲלֶה כְּשֶׁהֵן עֲשׂוּיִין אֲגֻדָּה אַחַת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (עמוס ט, ו): וַאֲגֻדָּתוֹ עַל אֶרֶץ יְסָדָהּ, לְפִיכָךְ משֶׁה מַזְהִיר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל: וּלְקַחְתֶּם לָכֶם בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן. Another matter: “The fruit of a pleasant [hadar] tree” – this is Israel; just as the citron has taste and has fragrance, so Israel has people among them who have Torah and have good deeds. “Branches of date palms” – this is Israel; just as the date palm has taste but has no fragrance, so Israel has people among them who have Torah but do not have good deeds. “A bough of a leafy tree” – this is Israel; just as the myrtle has fragrance but has no taste, so Israel has people among them who have good deeds but do not have Torah. “Willows of the brook” – this is Israel; just as the willow has no taste and has no fragrance, so Israel has people among them who do not have Torah and do not have good deeds. What does the Holy One blessed be He do to them? To eradicate them is not possible. Rather, the Holy One blessed be He said: Let them all be bound together in a single bundle and they will atone for one another. If you do so, at that moment, I will be ascendant [mitaleh]. That is what is written: “Who built His upper chamber [maalotav] in the heavens” (Amos 9:6). When is He ascendant? When they are made into a single group, as it is stated: “And established His group upon earth” (Amos 9:6). Therefore, Moses exhorts Israel and says to them: “You shall take for you on the first day.”
רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן פָּזִי פָּתַח (משלי ד, י): שְׁמַע בְּנִי וְקַח אֲמָרָי, הַרְבֵּה קִיחוֹת צִוִּיתִי אֶתְכֶם בִּשְׁבִיל לְזַכּוֹתְכֶם, אָמַרְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶם (במדבר יט, ב): וְיִקְחוּ אֵלֶיךָ פָרָה אֲדֻמָּה תְּמִימָה, שֶׁמָּא בִּשְׁבִילִי, אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִילְכֶם לְטַהֵר אֶתְכֶם, דִּכְתִיב (במדבר יט, יט): וְהִזָּה הַטָּהֹר עַל הַטָּמֵא. אָמַרְתִּי לָכֶם (שמות כה, ב): וְיִקְחוּ לִי תְּרוּמָה, בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁאָדוּר בֵּינֵיכֶם. (שמות כה, ה): וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ, כִּבְיָכוֹל אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא קְחוּ אוֹתִי וְאָדוּר בֵּינֵיכֶם, וְיִקְחוּ תְרוּמָה אֵינוֹ אוֹמֵר אֶלָּא וְיִקְחוּ לִי, אוֹתִי אַתֶּם לוֹקְחִים. אָמַרְתִּי לָכֶם (ויקרא כד, ב): וְיִקְחוּ אֵלֶיךָ שֶׁמֶן זַיִת זָךְ, וְכִי אוֹרָה שֶׁלָּכֶם אֲנִי צָרִיךְ, וְהָא כְתִיב (דניאל ב, כב): וּנְהוֹרָא עִמֵּהּ שְׁרֵא, אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל לְזַכּוֹתְכֶם וּלְכַפֵּר עַל נַפְשׁוֹתֵיכֶם שֶׁמְּשׁוּלָה כַּנֵּר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי כ, כז): נֵר ה' נִשְׁמַת אָדָם חֹפֵשׂ כָּל חַדְרֵי בָטֶן, וְעַכְשָׁיו שֶׁאָמַרְתִּי לָכֶם: וּלְקַחְתֶּם לָכֶם בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן, כְּדֵי לְזַכּוֹתְכֶם כְּדֵי שֶׁאוֹרִיד לָכֶם מָטָר, לְכָךְ משֶׁה מַזְהִיר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל: וּלְקַחְתֶּם לָכֶם בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן. Rabbi Yehuda in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Pazi began: “Hear, my son, and take my sayings” (Proverbs 4:10) – I [God] have commanded you many acts of taking in order to accord you merit. I said to you: “They shall take to you a completely red cow” (Numbers 19:2). Was it, perhaps, for My benefit? No, it was for your benefit, to purify you, as it is written: “The pure person shall sprinkle upon the impure person” (Numbers 19:19).
I said to you: “They shall take Me a gift [veyikḥu li teruma]” (Exodus 25:2), so that I will dwell in your midst. “They shall make Me a sanctuary” (Exodus 25:8) – as it were, the Holy One blessed be He said: Take Me and I will reside in your midst. It does not say: They shall take a gift [veyikḥu teruma], but rather, “they shall take Me [veyikḥu li].” It is I that you are taking.
I said to you: “They shall take to you pure olive oil” (Leviticus 24:2) – do I require your light? But is it not written: “The light rests with Him” (Daniel 2:22)? It is, rather, in order to accord you merit and to atone for your souls, which are likened to a lamp, as it is stated: “The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord; He searches all the chambers of the belly” (Proverbs 20:27).
Now that I have said to you: “You shall take for you on the first day,” it is in order to accord you merit so I will cause rain to fall for you. Therefore, Moses exhorts Israel and says to them: “You shall take for you on the first day.”
רַבִּי מָנֵי פָּתַח (תהלים לה, י): כָּל עַצְמֹתַי תֹּאמַרְנָה ה' מִי כָמוֹךָ, לֹא נֶאֱמַר פָּסוּק זֶה אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל לוּלָב, הַשִּׁדְרָה שֶׁל לוּלָב דּוֹמָה לַשִּׁדְרָה שֶׁל אָדָם, וְהַהֲדַס דּוֹמֶה לָעַיִן, וַעֲרָבָה דּוֹמָה לַפֶּה, וְהָאֶתְרוֹג דּוֹמֶה לַלֵּב, אָמַר דָּוִד אֵין בְּכָל הָאֵיבָרִים גָּדוֹל מֵאֵלּוּ, שֶׁהֵן שְׁקוּלִין כְּנֶגֶד כָּל הַגּוּף, הֱוֵי: כָּל עַצְמוֹתַי תֹּאמַרְנָה. Rabbi Mani began: “All my bones will say: Lord, who is comparable to You” (Psalms 35:10) – this verse is stated only for the sake of the palm branch. The spine of the palm branch resembles the spine of a person, the myrtle resembles the eye, the willow resembles the mouth, and the citron resembles the heart. David said: There are none among the limbs greater than these, as they are equal in significance to the entire body. That is, “all my bones will say.”
דָּבָר אַחֵר, וּלְקַחְתֶּם לָכֶם בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן, אַחַר כָּל אוֹתָהּ הַחָכְמָה שֶׁכָּתוּב בִּשְׁלֹמֹה (דברי הימים ב א, יב): הַחָכְמָה וְהַמַּדָּע נָתוּן לָךְ, (מלכים א ה, י יא): וַתֵּרֶב חָכְמַת שְׁלֹמֹה וַיֶּחְכַּם מִכָּל הָאָדָם, יָשַׁב לוֹ תָּמֵהַּ עַל אַרְבָּעָה מִינִין הַלָּלוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי ל, יח): שְׁלשָׁה הֵמָּה נִפְלְאוּ מִמֶּנִּי, שְׁלשָׁה הֵמָּה פֶּסַח, מַצָּה וּמָרוֹר, (משלי ל, יח): וְאַרְבָּעָה לֹא יְדַעְתִּים, אֵלּוּ אַרְבָּעָה מִינִים שֶׁבַּלּוּלָב שֶׁבִּקֵּשׁ לַעֲמֹד עֲלֵיהֶם. פְּרִי עֵץ הָדָר, מִי יֹאמַר שֶׁהוּא אֶתְרוֹג, כָּל הָאִילָנוֹת עוֹשִׂין פֵּרוֹת הָדָר. כַּפֹּת תְּמָרִים, הַתּוֹרָה אָמְרָה טֹל שְׁתֵּי כַפּוֹת תְּמָרִים לְהַלֵּל בָּהֶן, וְהוּא אֵינוֹ נוֹטֵל אֶלָּא לוּלָב, לִבָּהּ שֶׁל תְּמָרָה. וַעֲנַף עֵץ עָבֹת, מִי יֹאמַר שֶׁהוּא הֲדַס, הֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר (נחמיה ח, טו): צְאוּ הָהָר וְהָבִיאוּ עֲלֵי זַיִת וגו'. וְעַרְבֵי נָחַל, כָּל הָאִילָנוֹת גְּדֵלִין בַּמַּיִם. וְאַרְבָּעָה לֹא יְדַעְתִּים, חָזַר וּמַזְכִּירָן פַּעַם אַחֶרֶת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי ל, כט): שְׁלשָׁה הֵמָּה מֵיטִיבֵי וגו', אֵלּוּ אַרְבָּעָה מִינִין שֶׁכָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל הוֹלֵךְ וְרָץ וְלוֹקֵחַ לוֹ מֵהֶן לְהַלֵּל לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וְהֵם נִרְאִים קְטַנִּים בְּעֵינֵי אָדָם וּגְדוֹלִים הֵמָּה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. וּמִי פֵּרַשׁ לָהֶם לְיִשְׂרָאֵל עַל אַרְבָּעָה הַמִּינִין הָאֵלּוּ שֶׁהֵן אֶתְרוֹג לוּלָב הֲדַס וַעֲרָבָה, חֲכָמִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי ל, כד): וְהֵמָּה חֲכָמִים מְחֻכָּמִים. Another matter: “You shall take for you on the first day” – after all that wisdom that is written regarding Solomon: “Wisdom and knowledge is granted to you” (I Chronicles 2:12), “Solomon’s wisdom exceeded [the wisdom of all the people].… He became the wisest of all people” (I Kings 5:10–11), he sat and wondered regarding these four species, as it is stated: “There are three things that are beyond me” (Proverbs 30:18). “There are three things” – the paschal offering, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs. “And four I do not know” (Proverbs 30:18) – these are the four species of the palm branch that he sought to ascertain. “The fruit of a pleasant tree” – who will say that it is a citron? All trees produce pleasant fruit. “Branches of date palms” – the Torah said: Take two branches of date palms29This is based on the fact that the verse employs the plural term “branches.” with which to praise, but one takes only the lulav, from the heart of the date palm.30It is at a stage before it hardens into a branch. “A bough of a leafy tree” – who will say that this is a myrtle? It says elsewhere: “Go out to the mountain and bring olive branches, [pine branches, myrtle branches, date palm branches, and branches of a leafy tree, to make sukkot]” (Nehemiah 8:15). “Willows of the brook” – all trees grow with water. “And four I do not know” – he again mentioned them another time, as it is stated: “There are three that are accomplished [striders, and four accomplished walkers]” (Proverbs 30:29) – these are the four species that each and every individual of Israel goes, runs, and takes of them for himself to praise the Holy One blessed be He. They appear insignificant in the eyes of man, but they are significant before the Holy One blessed be He. Who clarified for Israel regarding these four species that they are the citron, palm branch, myrtle, and willow? It was the Sages, as it is stated: “[They are four that are small upon the earth], but they are exceedingly wise” (Proverbs 30:24).
רַבִּי בְּרֶכְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר, בִּזְכוּת וּלְקַחְתֶּם לָכֶם בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן, הֲרֵי אֲנִי נִגְלָה לָכֶם רִאשׁוֹן, וּפוֹרֵעַ לָכֶם מִן הָרִאשׁוֹן זֶה עֵשָׂו הָרָשָׁע, דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ (בראשית כה, כה): וַיֵּצֵא הָרִאשׁוֹן, וּבוֹנֶה לָכֶם רִאשׁוֹן, זֶה בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ (ירמיה יז, יב): כִּסֵּא כָבוֹד מָרוֹם מֵרִאשׁוֹן מְקוֹם מִקְדָּשֵׁנוּ. וּמֵבִיא לָכֶם רִאשׁוֹן, זֶה מֶלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ, דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ (ישעיה מא, כז): רִאשׁוֹן לְצִיּוֹן הִנֵּה הִנָּם וְלִירוּשָׁלִַם מְבַשֵּׂר אֶתֵּן. Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Levi: By the merit of “you shall take for you on the first day,” I [God] will be revealed to you first, and I will exact retribution from the first, that is, the wicked Esau, in whose regard it is written: “The first emerged” (Genesis 25:25). I will build for you the first; this is the Temple, in whose regard it is written: “Throne of glory, exalted from the first, the place of our Temple” (Jeremiah 17:12). I will bring to you the first; this is the messianic king, in whose regard it is written: “The first to Zion, behold, they are here, and to Jerusalem I will provide a herald” (Isaiah 41:27).