Difference between revisions of "Duration of the Pre-Shemittah Blessing of the Produce/2"
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<mekorot><multilink><a href="SifraVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">Sifra Vayikra #2</a><a href="SifraVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">25:20-22</a><a href="Sifra Vayikra" data-aht="parshan">About the Sifra Vayikra</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="IbnEzraVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:20-22</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYosefBekhorShorVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:20-22</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RambanVayikra25-20" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="RambanVayikra25-20" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:20</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Nachman</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="AbarbanelVayikra25" data-aht="source">Abarbanel</a><a href="AbarbanelVayikra25" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Abarbanel" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel</a></multilink>, R. N"H Wessely in the <multilink><a href="BiurVayikra25" data-aht="source">Biur</a><a href="BiurVayikra25" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25</a><a href="Biur (Netivot HaShalom)" data-aht="parshan">About the Biur (Netivot HaShalom)</a></multilink></mekorot> | <mekorot><multilink><a href="SifraVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">Sifra Vayikra #2</a><a href="SifraVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">25:20-22</a><a href="Sifra Vayikra" data-aht="parshan">About the Sifra Vayikra</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="IbnEzraVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:20-22</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYosefBekhorShorVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:20-22</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RambanVayikra25-20" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="RambanVayikra25-20" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:20</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Nachman</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="AbarbanelVayikra25" data-aht="source">Abarbanel</a><a href="AbarbanelVayikra25" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Abarbanel" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel</a></multilink>, R. N"H Wessely in the <multilink><a href="BiurVayikra25" data-aht="source">Biur</a><a href="BiurVayikra25" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25</a><a href="Biur (Netivot HaShalom)" data-aht="parshan">About the Biur (Netivot HaShalom)</a></multilink></mekorot> | ||
<point><b>Context</b> – This reading is supported by the location of these verses after the discussion of the Jubilee year, rather than after the laws of Shemittah.</point> | <point><b>Context</b> – This reading is supported by the location of these verses after the discussion of the Jubilee year, rather than after the laws of Shemittah.</point> | ||
− | <point><b>"וְעָשָׂת אֶת הַתְּבוּאָה לִשְׁלֹשׁ הַשָּׁנִים"</b> – This position understands the phrase "לִשְׁלֹשׁ הַשָּׁנִים" simply, to mean a period of 36 months. In the sixth year enough produce will be harvested to nourish the people for three years.<fn>This position could say that the three years of produce refers to that eaten in the second half of the sixth year, the entire seventh and eighth years, and the first half of the ninth.  | + | <point><b>"וְעָשָׂת אֶת הַתְּבוּאָה לִשְׁלֹשׁ הַשָּׁנִים"</b> – This position understands the phrase "לִשְׁלֹשׁ הַשָּׁנִים" simply, to mean a period of 36 months. In the sixth year enough produce will be harvested to nourish the people for three years.<fn>This position could say that the three years of produce refers to that eaten in the second half of the sixth year, the entire seventh and eighth years, and the first half of the ninth.  Most of these sources, however, imply that the three years refer to the entire seventh, eighth and ninth years.  R. Wesseley explains that even though the harvest season begins earlier, the food of the sixth year is first brought into the house during Sukkot of the seventh year, and thus, first eaten then.  The advantage of this reading is that it explains the use of the definite article in the phrase "לִשְׁלֹשׁ הַשָּׁנִים".  Food is provided not just for three years = 36 months, but for <b>the</b> three years of the shemittah cycle.</fn></point> |
− | <point><b>"עַד הַשָּׁנָה הַתְּשִׁיעִת... תֹּאכְלוּ יָשָׁן"</b> – According to these sources, this verse means that the old grain will be eaten until and within (עד ועד בכלל) the ninth year.<fn>See note above that according R. Wesseley the old produce is eaten until the end of the ninth year, since the new grain will only be gathered indoors in Sukkot of the tenth year.  | + | <point><b>"עַד הַשָּׁנָה הַתְּשִׁיעִת... תֹּאכְלוּ יָשָׁן"</b> – According to these sources, this verse means that the old grain will be eaten until and within (עד ועד בכלל) the ninth year.<fn>See note above that according R. Wesseley the old produce is eaten until the end of the ninth year, since the new grain will only be gathered indoors in Sukkot of the tenth year.  Alternatively, one might say that the verse means into the ninth year, even though by Nissan new grain will be eaten.</fn></point> |
<point><b>"מַה נֹּאכַל בַּשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִת"</b> – This phrase is difficult since the nation should have sufficient food for the seventh year from the previous year's crops;<fn>Every year people eat of the previous years' harvest.</fn> it is only in the eighth year that food might be scarce. <br/> | <point><b>"מַה נֹּאכַל בַּשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִת"</b> – This phrase is difficult since the nation should have sufficient food for the seventh year from the previous year's crops;<fn>Every year people eat of the previous years' harvest.</fn> it is only in the eighth year that food might be scarce. <br/> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
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<li>Abarbanel alternatively suggests to repunctuate the verse, and to put a pause after the words, "מַה נֹּאכַל" rather than after "בַּשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִת". As such, the verse reads, "If you say, 'What shall we eat? [After all] in the seventh year we may not sow or harvest!?'"</li> | <li>Abarbanel alternatively suggests to repunctuate the verse, and to put a pause after the words, "מַה נֹּאכַל" rather than after "בַּשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִת". As such, the verse reads, "If you say, 'What shall we eat? [After all] in the seventh year we may not sow or harvest!?'"</li> | ||
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
− | <point><b>Exceptional Case</b> – R. Hoffmann questions this position, claiming that it is odd that the Torah would be concerned only with the exceptional case of Shemittah followed by Yovel rather than the worries brought by every Shemittah year.  Abarbanel, however, claims that is specifically the double-whammy that would cause people to worry. | + | <point><b>Exceptional Case</b> – R. Hoffmann questions this position, claiming that it is odd that the Torah would be concerned only with the exceptional case of Shemittah followed by Yovel rather than the worries brought by every Shemittah year.  Abarbanel, however, claims that is specifically the double-whammy that would cause people to worry.</point> |
<point><b>"וּזְרַעְתֶּם אֵת הַשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁמִינִת"</b></point> | <point><b>"וּזְרַעְתֶּם אֵת הַשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁמִינִת"</b></point> | ||
</opinion> | </opinion> |
Version as of 09:07, 18 May 2016
Pre-Shemittah Blessing of the Produce
Exegetical Approaches
Three Full Years
Hashem promises that the produce from the sixth year will feed the nation for three full years. This position subdivides regarding the situation spoken of in the verses:
Shemittah Followed by Yovel
The verses speak of a case in which Shemittah is followed by the Jubilee Year. Since there are then two consecutive years in which sowing is prohibited, Hashem promises that the food planted in the sixth year will sustain the people for three entire years.
- Ramban and Abarbanel suggests to rearrange the order of the verse so that it reads, "And if you say in the seventh year, "what shall we eat [in the eighth year]".
- Abarbanel alternatively suggests to repunctuate the verse, and to put a pause after the words, "מַה נֹּאכַל" rather than after "בַּשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִת". As such, the verse reads, "If you say, 'What shall we eat? [After all] in the seventh year we may not sow or harvest!?'"
Every Shemittah
The Shemittah year begins in Nissan, during the harvest season. As such, during every Shemittah cycle, no food is sown already in the second half of the sixth year, requiring the fifth year to make enough food to last for the entire sixth, seventh and eighth years.
Parts of Three Years
Hashem blesses the nation that the crops planted in the beginning of the sixth year will suffice to nourish them across parts of three years of the shemittah cycle: during the second half of the sixth year, the entire seventh year, and the first half of the eighth year.
Two Plus One
Hashem promises that the produce from the sixth year will provide food for two years and material to sow for the third year.