Difference between revisions of "Duration of the Pre-Shemittah Blessing of the Produce/2"
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<point><b>Context</b> – This reading is supported by the location of these verses in the middle of a 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 in the middle of a discussion of the Jubilee year, rather than after the laws of Shemittah.</point> | ||
<point><b>"וְעָשָׂת אֶת הַתְּבוּאָה לִשְׁלֹשׁ הַשָּׁנִים"</b> – This position can understand 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>"וְעָשָׂת אֶת הַתְּבוּאָה לִשְׁלֹשׁ הַשָּׁנִים"</b> – This position can understand 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 this position, this verse means that the old grain will be eaten through (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>"עַד הַשָּׁנָה הַתְּשִׁיעִת... תֹּאכְלוּ יָשָׁן"</b> – According to this position, this verse means that the old grain will be eaten through (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.  See, though, the note below, regarding Ramban's reading of the phrase.</fn></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 a Jubilee Year rather than the worries brought by every Shemittah year.  Abarbanel, however, claims that there is no need to discuss the regular scenario since there might be many years when there is a crop failure which necessitates one year's harvest to subsist for two.  Thus, it is specifically the severe scenario that the verses must address.</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 a Jubilee Year rather than the worries brought by every Shemittah year.  Abarbanel, however, claims that there is no need to discuss the regular scenario since there might be many years when there is a crop failure which necessitates one year's harvest to subsist for two.  Thus, it is specifically the severe scenario that the verses must address.</point> | ||
<point><b>"מַה נֹּאכַל בַּשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִת"</b> – It is unclear why the nation should be questioning "מַה נֹּאכַל בַּשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִת" since they 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. Commentators offer several possible re-readings of the verse:<br/> | <point><b>"מַה נֹּאכַל בַּשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִת"</b> – It is unclear why the nation should be questioning "מַה נֹּאכַל בַּשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִת" since they 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. Commentators offer several possible re-readings of the verse:<br/> | ||
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<li>This position might assert that the Jubilee year is not counted among the years of the Shemittah cycle, and thus, the eighth year of the verse refers to the year after Yovel.</li> | <li>This position might assert that the Jubilee year is not counted among the years of the Shemittah cycle, and thus, the eighth year of the verse refers to the year after Yovel.</li> | ||
<li>Abarbanel, instead, suggests that the phrase is attached to the previous verse and means that due to the blessing, it will be as if you planted in the eighth year.</li> | <li>Abarbanel, instead, suggests that the phrase is attached to the previous verse and means that due to the blessing, it will be as if you planted in the eighth year.</li> | ||
| − | <li>R"Y Bekhor Shor, Ramban,<fn>Ramban is not explicit but this</fn> and R. Wessely claim that in reality the verses are addressing both the regular scenario and the more exceptional Yovel year.  The phrase "וּזְרַעְתֶּם אֵת הַשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁמִינִת" goes back to a normal cycle in which sowing is permitted in the eighth year.<fn>R. Wessely explains that the doubling in the verse of "תֹּאכְלוּ יָשָׁן"/ "וַאֲכַלְתֶּם... יָשָׁן" can be understood if one explains that one phrase refers to a regular Shemittah cycle and the other to a Jubilee year.  Ramban appears to understand the whole verse to refer to the regular cycle, | + | <li>R"Y Bekhor Shor, Ramban,<fn>Ramban is not explicit but this</fn> and R. Wessely claim that in reality the verses are addressing both the regular scenario and the more exceptional Yovel year.  The phrase "וּזְרַעְתֶּם אֵת הַשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁמִינִת" goes back to a normal cycle in which sowing is permitted in the eighth year.<fn>R. Wessely explains that the doubling in the verse of "תֹּאכְלוּ יָשָׁן"/ "וַאֲכַלְתֶּם... יָשָׁן" can be understood if one explains that one phrase refers to a regular Shemittah cycle and the other to a Jubilee year.  Ramban appears to understand the whole verse to refer to the regular cycle, and explains the end phrase "עַד הַשָּׁנָה הַתְּשִׁיעִת" to mean until (not through) the ninth year.  The verse is emphasizing how the nation can feel free to sow normally without trying to quicken the process and harvest earlier since the old food will last until the beginning of the ninth year when the new grain is brought indoors around Sukkot.</fn></li> |
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
</opinion> | </opinion> | ||
Version as of 11:21, 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.
Sources:Sifra Vayikra #2, Ibn Ezra, R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, Ramban, Abarbanel, R. N"H Wessely in the Biur
Context – This reading is supported by the location of these verses in the middle of a discussion of the Jubilee year, rather than after the laws of Shemittah.
"וְעָשָׂת אֶת הַתְּבוּאָה לִשְׁלֹשׁ הַשָּׁנִים" – This position can understand 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.1
"עַד הַשָּׁנָה הַתְּשִׁיעִת... תֹּאכְלוּ יָשָׁן" – According to this position, this verse means that the old grain will be eaten through (עד ועד בכלל) the ninth year.2
Exceptional Case – 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 a Jubilee Year rather than the worries brought by every Shemittah year. Abarbanel, however, claims that there is no need to discuss the regular scenario since there might be many years when there is a crop failure which necessitates one year's harvest to subsist for two. Thus, it is specifically the severe scenario that the verses must address.
"מַה נֹּאכַל בַּשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִת" – It is unclear why the nation should be questioning "מַה נֹּאכַל בַּשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִת" since they should have sufficient food for the seventh year from the previous year's crops;3 it is only in the eighth year that food might be scarce. Commentators offer several possible re-readings of the verse:
- Ramban and Abarbanel suggest to rearrange the order of the verse (לסרס המקרא) 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, putting a pause after the words, "מַה נֹּאכַל" rather than after "בַּשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִת".4 As such, the verse reads, "If you say, 'What shall we eat? [After all] in the seventh year we may not sow or harvest!?'"
- R. Wessely, instead, suggests that the people are asking, "how will we eat [in peace] in the seventh year knowing that we won't be sowing or gathering [for the next year]?
"וּזְרַעְתֶּם אֵת הַשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁמִינִת" – This phrase is difficult for this position as it suggests that the people will be sowing in the eighth year, while these sources maintain that the eighth year is a Jubilee year when this is forbidden:
- This position might assert that the Jubilee year is not counted among the years of the Shemittah cycle, and thus, the eighth year of the verse refers to the year after Yovel.
- Abarbanel, instead, suggests that the phrase is attached to the previous verse and means that due to the blessing, it will be as if you planted in the eighth year.
- R"Y Bekhor Shor, Ramban,5 and R. Wessely claim that in reality the verses are addressing both the regular scenario and the more exceptional Yovel year. The phrase "וּזְרַעְתֶּם אֵת הַשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁמִינִת" goes back to a normal cycle in which sowing is permitted in the eighth year.6
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.
Sources:Karaite opinion brought in Ibn Ezra
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.
עַד הַשָּׁנָה הַתְּשִׁיעִת
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.
