Vayechi CN Source Sheet

GrowTorah Weekly Parsha Divrei Torah - Bereisheit

(ח) יְהוּדָ֗ה אַתָּה֙ יוֹד֣וּךָ אַחֶ֔יךָ יָדְךָ֖... (יא) אֹסְרִ֤י לַגֶּ֙פֶן֙ עִירֹ֔ה וְלַשֹּׂרֵקָ֖ה בְּנִ֣י אֲתֹנ֑וֹ כִּבֵּ֤ס בַּיַּ֙יִן֙ לְבֻשׁ֔וֹ וּבְדַם־עֲנָבִ֖ים סוּתֹֽה׃ (יב) חַכְלִילִ֥י עֵינַ֖יִם מִיָּ֑יִן וּלְבֶן־שִׁנַּ֖יִם מֵחָלָֽב׃ {פ}
(יג) זְבוּלֻ֕ן לְח֥וֹף יַמִּ֖ים יִשְׁכֹּ֑ן וְהוּא֙ לְח֣וֹף אֳנִיֹּ֔ת וְיַרְכָת֖וֹ עַל־צִידֹֽן׃ {פ}
(יד) יִשָּׂשכָ֖ר חֲמֹ֣ר גָּ֑רֶם רֹבֵ֖ץ בֵּ֥ין הַֽמִּשְׁפְּתָֽיִם׃ (טו) וַיַּ֤רְא מְנֻחָה֙ כִּ֣י ט֔וֹב וְאֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ כִּ֣י נָעֵ֑מָה וַיֵּ֤ט שִׁכְמוֹ֙ לִסְבֹּ֔ל וַיְהִ֖י לְמַס־עֹבֵֽד׃ ... (כ) מֵאָשֵׁ֖ר שְׁמֵנָ֣ה לַחְמ֑וֹ וְה֥וּא יִתֵּ֖ן מַֽעֲדַנֵּי־מֶֽלֶךְ׃ {ס} (כא) נַפְתָּלִ֖י אַיָּלָ֣ה שְׁלֻחָ֑ה הַנֹּתֵ֖ן אִמְרֵי־שָֽׁפֶר׃ {ס}

Genesis 49:8-21

(8) You, O Judah, your brothers shall praise...(11) He tethers his ass to a vine, His ass’s foal to a choice vine; He washes his garment in wine, His robe in blood of grapes. (12) His eyes are darker than wine; His teeth are whiter than milk. (13) Zebulun shall dwell by the seashore; He shall be a haven for ships, And his flank shall rest on Sidon. (14) Issachar is a strong-boned ass, Crouching among the sheepfolds. (15) When he saw how good was security, And how pleasant was the country, He bent his shoulder to the burden, And became a toiling serf... (20) Asher’s bread shall be rich, And he shall yield royal dainties. (21) Naphtali is a hind let loose, Which yields lovely fawns.

רש"י על בראשית מ״ט:י״א:א׳

(א) אסרי לגפן עירה. נִתְנַבֵּא עַל אֶרֶץ יְהוּדָה שֶׁתְּהֵא מוֹשֶׁכֶת יַיִן כְּמַעְיָן; אִישׁ יְהוּדָה יֶאֱסֹר לַגֶּפֶן עַיִר אֶחָד וְיִטְעָנֶנּוּ מִגֶּפֶן אַחַת, וּמִשֹּׂרֵק אֶחָד בֶּן אָתוֹן אֶחָד:

Rashi on Genesis 49:11:1

(1) אסרי לגפן עירה BINDING UNTO THE VINE HIS FOAL — He (Jacob) prophesied of the land of Judah that it would run with wine like a fountain: the vines will be so productive that a man of Judah will bind to a vine one foal and he will fully load it with the grapes of only one vine, and from the produce of only one branch he would load one ass’s colt.

רש"י על בראשית מ״ט:י״א:ג׳

(ג) כבס ביין. כָּל זֶה לְשׁוֹן רִבּוּי יַיִן:

Rashi on Genesis 49:11:3

(3) כבס ביין HE WASHED IN WINE — all these phrases indicate abundance of wine.

רש"י על בראשית מ״ט:י״ב:א׳

(א) חכלילי. לְשׁוֹן אֹדֶם, כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, וְכֵן לְמִי חַכְלִלוּת עֵינָיִם (משלי כ"ג), שֶׁכֵּן דֶּרֶךְ שׁוֹתֵי יַיִן עֵינֵיהֶם מַאְדִּימִין:

Rashi on Genesis 49:12:1

(1) חכלילי [HIS EYES] ARE RED — חכלילי denotes redness, as the Targum renders it: they shall become red. Similar is (Proverbs 23:29) “who hath redness (חכלילות) of eyes?” Redness of eyes is associated with wine because that is what usually happens to those who drink much wine — their eyes become red.

רש"י על בראשית מ״ט:י״ב:ב׳

(ב) מחלב. מֵרֹב חָלָב, שֶׁיְּהֵא בְּאַרְצוֹ מִרְעֶה טוֹב לְעֶדְרֵי צֹאן; וְכֵן פֵּרוּשׁ הַמִּקְרָא: אֲדֹם עֵינַיִם יְהֵא מֵרֹב יַיִן וּלְבֶן שִׁנַּיִם יְהֵא מֵרֹב חָלָב. וּלְפִי תַרְגּוּמוֹ עֵינַיִם לְשׁוֹן הָרִים, שֶׁמִּשָּׁם צוֹפִים לְמֵרָחוֹק, וְעוֹד תִּרְגְּמוֹ בְּפָנִים אֲחֵרִים, לְשׁוֹן מַעְיָנוֹת וְקִלּוּחַ הַיְקָבִים, נַעֲווֹהִי – יְקָבִים שֶׁלּוֹ, וְלָשׁוֹן אֲרַמִּי הוּא בְּמַסֶּכֶת עֲ"זָ (דף ע"ד), נַעֲוָא אַרְתְּחוֹ יְחַוְּרָן בִּקְעָתֵהּ – תַּרְגּוּם שִׁנַּיִם, לְשׁוֹן שִׁנֵּי הַסְּלָעִים:

Rashi on Genesis 49:12:2

(2) מחלב [AND THE WHITENESS OF HIS TEETH IS] FROM MILK— because of abundance of milk, for there will be in his land good pasture for herds of flock. The verse is therefore to be explained as follows: There will be redness of eyes because of abundance of wine and there will be whiteness of teeth because of abundance of milk (the ם of of מיין and מחלב is not the מ comparativum: “His eyes shall be redder than wine etc.”). According to the Targum עינים means mountains which are called thus because from thence as a point of observation one can see afar off (i.e. it translates by “the mountains are red with wine”). He (Onkelos) further translates the verse in a different way, taking עינים in the sense of fountains and continuous flow of the wine-press. The word נעווהי which Onkelos uses signifies his wine-presses. It is an Aramaic word that occurs in (Avodah Zarah 74b): “as for a tank (נעוא), cleanse it with hot water”. (The translation of the Targum is therefore: “His vats will stream with wine”.) The words יחורון בקעתה his valleys (the places wore mountains are, as it wore, cloven, בקע) are the Targum of [לבן] שנים, taking the second word in the sense of שני הסלעים rocky crags (cf. 1 Samuel 14:4 and Rashi on פי החירות Exodus 14:2 — where פִי = שִׁנַּיִם — and the reference there to the valley between the rocks).

רש"י על בראשית מ״ט:י״ג:א׳

(א) לחוף ימים. עַל חוֹף יַמִּים תִּהְיֶה אַרְצוֹ (יבמות מ"ה); חוֹף, כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ סְפָר, מרק"א בְּלַעַז, וְהוּא יִהְיֶה מָצוּי תָּדִיר עַל חוֹף אֳנִיּוֹת בִּמְקוֹם הַנָּמֵל, שֶׁאֳנִיּוֹת מְבִיאוֹת שָׁם פְּרַקְמַטְיָא, שֶׁהָיָה זְבוּלֻן עוֹסֵק בִּפְרַקְמַטְיָא וּמַמְצִיא מָזוֹן לְשֵׁבֶט יִשָּׂשכָר, וְהֵם עוֹסְקִים בַּתּוֹרָה. הוּא שֶׁאָמַר מֹשֶׁה שְׂמַח זְבוּלֻן בְּצֵאתֶךָ וְיִשָּׂשכָר בְּאֹהָלֶיךָ (דברים ל"ג), זְבוּלֻן יוֹצֵא בִּפְרַקְמַטְיָא, וְיִשָּׂשכָר עוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה בְּאֹהָלִים:

Rashi on Genesis 49:13:1

(1) לחוף ימים TOWARDS THE COASTS OF THE SEAS — (לחוף is the same as על חוף): by the shore of the seas will be his land. הוף means “border” as Onkelos has it; old French marche; English border. [והוא לחוף אניות] means he will constantly be at the haven of ships — the port — whither the ships bring merchandise. For Zebulun was engaged in business and provided food for the tribe of Issachar whilst these engaged in the study of the Torah. It is to this that Moses alludes, (Deuteronomy 33:18) “Rejoice Zebulun in thy going out. and Issachar in thy tents”, — Zebulun goes forth to trade and Issachar studies the Torah in the tents (Midrash Tanchuma, Vayechi 11; cf. Rashi on Genesis ישב אהלים 25:27)

רש"י על בראשית מ״ט:ט״ו:א׳

(א) וירא מנחה כי טוב. רָאָה לְחֶלְקוֹ אֶרֶץ מְבֹרֶכֶת וְטוֹבָה לְהוֹצִיא פֵרוֹת:

Rashi on Genesis 49:15:1

(1) וירא מנחה כי טוב AND HE SAW THAT REPOSE WAS GOOD — He chose (ראה) as his portion a land that was blessed and well-fitted to produce fruits (cf. Onkelos; so that he need not engage overmuch in business.

רש"י על בראשית מ״ט:כ׳:א׳

(א) מאשר שמנה לחמו. מַאֲכָל הַבָּא מֵחֶלְקוֹ שֶׁל אָשֵׁר יְהֵא שָׁמֵן, שֶׁיִּהְיוּ זֵיתִים מְרֻבִּים בְּחֶלְקוֹ וְהוּא מוֹשֵׁךְ שֶׁמֶן כְּמַעְיָן; וְכֵן בֵּרְכוֹ מֹשֶׁה וְטֹבֵל בַּשֶּׁמֶן רַגְלוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁשָּׁנִינוּ בִמְנָחוֹת (דף פ"ה) פַּעַם אַחַת הֻצְרְכוּ אַנְשֵׁי לוּדְקִיָּא לְשֶׁמֶן וְכוּ':

Rashi on Genesis 49:20:1

(1) מאשר שמנה לחמו OUT OF ASHER COMETH HIS FAT BREAD —The food that will come from the territory of Asher will be fat, for there will be numerous olive-trees in his territory so that it will flow with oil like a fountain. Moses blessed him in a like manner: (Deuteronomy 28:24) “and he will dip his foot in oil”. So we learn in the Treatise of Menachot 85b: once the people of Laodicia were in need of oil. Their agent was able to obtain the very large quantity they required only at a city in Asher, having failed at Jerusalem and other cities.

רש"י על בראשית מ״ט:כ״א:א׳

(א) אילה שלחה. זוֹ בִקְעַת גִּינוֹסַר שֶׁהִיא קַלָּה לְבַשֵּׁל פֵּרוֹתֶיהָ כְּאַיָּלָה זוֹ שֶׁהִיא קַלָּה לָרוּץ. אַיָּלָה שְׁלֻחָה – אַיָּלָה מְשֻׁלַּחַת לָרוּץ:

Rashi on Genesis 49:21:1

(1) אילה שלחה is symbolical of the valley of Gennesareth which ripens its fruits very quickly, just as a hind runs rapidly (Genesis Rabbah 99:12). אילה שלחה means A HIND LET LOOSE that it may run where it pleases.

מגילה ו׳ א:ז׳

אָמַר זְבוּלוּן לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם לְאַחַיי נָתַתָּ לָהֶם שָׂדוֹת וּכְרָמִים וְלִי נָתַתָּ הָרִים וְגִבְעוֹת לְאַחַיי נָתַתָּ לָהֶם אֲרָצוֹת וְלִי נָתַתָּ יַמִּים וּנְהָרוֹת אָמַר לוֹ כּוּלָּן צְרִיכִין לָךְ עַל יְדֵי חִלָּזוֹן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר [עַמִּים הַר יִקְרָאוּ] וּשְׂפוּנֵי טְמוּנֵי חוֹל

Megillah 6a:7

The verse should be interpreted as follows: Zebulun said before the Holy One, Blessed be He: Master of the Universe! To my brothers, the tribes whose territory is adjacent to mine, You gave fields and vineyards, whereas to me You gave mountains and hills; to my brothers You gave lands, whereas to me You gave seas and rivers. God said back to him: Nevertheless, all will need you due to the ḥilazon, the small sea creature residing in your territory that is the source of the dye used in the ritual fringes [tzitzit]. As it is stated in Moses’ blessing to Zebulun: “They shall call the people to the mountain: There they shall sacrifice offerings of righteousness; for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of the hidden treasures of the sand” (Deuteronomy 33:19).

כתובות קי״א ב:י״ז

ושמא תאמר אינו מרוה ת"ל סותה ושמא תאמר אין בו טעם ת"ל חכלילי עינים מיין כל חיך שטועמו אומר לי לי ושמא תאמר לנערים יפה ולזקנים אינו יפה ת"ל ולבן שנים מחלב אל תיקרי לבן שינים אלא לבן שנים

Ketubot 111b:17

And lest you say that this wine does not inebriate those who drink it, the verse states: “And his vesture [suto] in the blood of grapes” (Genesis 49:11). This verse indicates that these wines will induce [mesit] a state of drunkenness. And lest you say that this wine has no flavor, the verse states: “His eyes shall be red [ḥakhlili] with wine” (Genesis 49:12). This unusual term is read homiletically as follows: Each palate [ḥeikh] that tastes it says: This is for me, for me [li li]. And lest you say that the wine is good for the young but it is not good for the old, the verse states: “And his teeth white [leven shinayim] with milk” (Genesis 49:12). Do not read this expression as leven shinayim; rather, read it as leven shanim, one of years, i.e., an elderly person.