Difference between revisions of "Duration of the Pre-Shemittah Blessing of the Produce/2"
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<opinion>Every Shemittah | <opinion>Every Shemittah | ||
− | <p>The Sabbatical year begins in | + | <p>The Sabbatical year begins in Nisan, during the harvest season.  As such, during every Shemittah cycle, any crops planted even n the sixth year are not harvested, requiring the fifth year to make enough food to last for the entire sixth, seventh and eighth  years.</p> |
<mekorot>Karaite opinion cited by <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></mekorot> | <mekorot>Karaite opinion cited by <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></mekorot> | ||
− | <point><b>New Year</b> – According to the Karaites, there is only one New Year,<fn><a href="MishnaRoshHaShanah1-1" data-aht="source">Mishna Rosh HaShanah 1:1</a> which emphasizes how there are four different new years might be reacting to this position.</fn> in | + | <point><b>New Year</b> – According to the Karaites, there is only one New Year,<fn><a href="MishnaRoshHaShanah1-1" data-aht="source">Mishna Rosh HaShanah 1:1</a> which emphasizes how there are four different new years might be reacting to this position.</fn> in Nisan, as proven from the verse "הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לָכֶם רֹאשׁ חֳדָשִׁים רִאשׁוֹן הוּא לָכֶם לְחׇדְשֵׁי הַשָּׁנָה".  As such, both Shemittah and Yovel begin then.  <multilink><a href="IbnEzraVayikra25-9" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraVayikra25-9" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:9</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink> questions this approach from several verses:<br/> |
<ul> | <ul> | ||
− | <li>He points out that Sukkot is referred to as coming "בְּצֵאת הַשָּׁנָה",‎<fn>See <a href="Shemot23-16" data-aht="source">Shemot 23:16</a> and <a href="Shemot34-22" data-aht="source">Shemot 34:22</a>.</fn>‎ suggesting that Tishrei (and not | + | <li>He points out that Sukkot is referred to as coming "בְּצֵאת הַשָּׁנָה",‎<fn>See <a href="Shemot23-16" data-aht="source">Shemot 23:16</a> and <a href="Shemot34-22" data-aht="source">Shemot 34:22</a>.</fn>‎ suggesting that Tishrei (and not Nisan) marks the change from one year to the next. The Karaites might respond that the verse refers to the end of an agricultural year, but not a ritual one. </li> |
− | <li>Ibn Ezra further notes that the shofar blast that marks the Jubilee year is blown after Yom | + | <li>Ibn Ezra further notes that the shofar blast that marks the Jubilee year is blown after Yom HaKippurim, suggesting that the year begins in Tishrei.</li> |
<li>Finally, he points to the order of the nation's words "הֵן לֹא נִזְרָע וְלֹא נֶאֱסֹף" to prove that in the Sabbatical year planting precedes sowing, in contrast to the claims of the Karaites.</li> | <li>Finally, he points to the order of the nation's words "הֵן לֹא נִזְרָע וְלֹא נֶאֱסֹף" to prove that in the Sabbatical year planting precedes sowing, in contrast to the claims of the Karaites.</li> | ||
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
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<point><b>"וְעָשָׂת אֶת הַתְּבוּאָה לִשְׁלֹשׁ הַשָּׁנִים"</b> – <p>Since there are two years in which there is no harvesting, food must last for three years. Moreover, the language of "שְׁלֹשׁ הַשָּׁנִים" with a definite article makes sense since the verse refers not just to 36 months but to three full years of the Shemittah cycle.</p></point> | <point><b>"וְעָשָׂת אֶת הַתְּבוּאָה לִשְׁלֹשׁ הַשָּׁנִים"</b> – <p>Since there are two years in which there is no harvesting, food must last for three years. Moreover, the language of "שְׁלֹשׁ הַשָּׁנִים" with a definite article makes sense since the verse refers not just to 36 months but to three full years of the Shemittah cycle.</p></point> | ||
<point><b>"וּזְרַעְתֶּם אֵת הַשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁמִינִת"</b> – This verse presents no problem for this position, as crops are planted in the second half of the eighth year.</point> | <point><b>"וּזְרַעְתֶּם אֵת הַשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁמִינִת"</b> – This verse presents no problem for this position, as crops are planted in the second half of the eighth year.</point> | ||
− | <point><b>"עַד הַשָּׁנָה הַתְּשִׁיעִת... תֹּאכְלוּ יָשָׁן"</b> – This verse, too, is easily understood since only in the ninth year are the crops from the eighth year harvested.<fn>"עַד הַשָּׁנָה" means until and not through (עד ולא עד בכלל).</fn></point> | + | <point><b>"עַד הַשָּׁנָה הַתְּשִׁיעִת... תֹּאכְלוּ יָשָׁן"</b> – This verse, too, is easily understood since only in the ninth year are the crops from the eighth year harvested.<fn>"עַד הַשָּׁנָה" means until the ninth year, and not through the ninth year (עד ולא עד בכלל).</fn></point> |
<point><b>Economic difficulties</b> – According to this approach, in every Shemittah cycle the command imposes huge economic stress on the people, as there are two full years with nothing to reap.  Cases in which Yovel follows Shemittah would be almost unbearably difficult, with three harvest-free years.  Many might find it difficult that Hashem would obligate such difficult commandments.</point> | <point><b>Economic difficulties</b> – According to this approach, in every Shemittah cycle the command imposes huge economic stress on the people, as there are two full years with nothing to reap.  Cases in which Yovel follows Shemittah would be almost unbearably difficult, with three harvest-free years.  Many might find it difficult that Hashem would obligate such difficult commandments.</point> | ||
<point><b>Context</b> – This approach does not explain why these verses interrupt a series of laws that relate to the Jubilee year rather than being placed amidst the discussion of the Shemittah year.</point> | <point><b>Context</b> – This approach does not explain why these verses interrupt a series of laws that relate to the Jubilee year rather than being placed amidst the discussion of the Shemittah year.</point> | ||
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<p>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.</p> | <p>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.</p> | ||
<mekorot><multilink><a href="SifraVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">Sifra Vayikra #1</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="RashiVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">Rashi</a><a href="RashiVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:20-22</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RalbagVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">Ralbag #2</a><a href="RalbagVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:20-22</a><a href="R. Levi b. Gershom (Ralbag, Gersonides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Levi b. Gershom</a></multilink>,<fn>Ralbag also brings the opinion that the verses might refer to a case in which Yovel follows Shemittah.</fn> <multilink><a href="ShadalVayikra25-21-22" data-aht="source">Shadal</a><a href="ShadalVayikra25-21-22" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:21-22</a><a href="R. Shemuel David Luzzatto (Shadal)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="HoilMosheVayikra25-21" data-aht="source">Hoil Moshe</a><a href="HoilMosheVayikra25-21" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:21</a><a href="R. Moshe Yitzchak Ashkenazi (Hoil Moshe)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe Yitzchak Ashkenazi</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RDavidZviHoffmannVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">R. David Zvi Hoffmann</a><a href="RDavidZviHoffmannVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:20-22</a><a href="R. David Zvi Hoffmann" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Zvi Hoffmann</a></multilink></mekorot> | <mekorot><multilink><a href="SifraVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">Sifra Vayikra #1</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="RashiVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">Rashi</a><a href="RashiVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:20-22</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RalbagVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">Ralbag #2</a><a href="RalbagVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:20-22</a><a href="R. Levi b. Gershom (Ralbag, Gersonides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Levi b. Gershom</a></multilink>,<fn>Ralbag also brings the opinion that the verses might refer to a case in which Yovel follows Shemittah.</fn> <multilink><a href="ShadalVayikra25-21-22" data-aht="source">Shadal</a><a href="ShadalVayikra25-21-22" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:21-22</a><a href="R. Shemuel David Luzzatto (Shadal)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="HoilMosheVayikra25-21" data-aht="source">Hoil Moshe</a><a href="HoilMosheVayikra25-21" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:21</a><a href="R. Moshe Yitzchak Ashkenazi (Hoil Moshe)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe Yitzchak Ashkenazi</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RDavidZviHoffmannVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">R. David Zvi Hoffmann</a><a href="RDavidZviHoffmannVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:20-22</a><a href="R. David Zvi Hoffmann" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Zvi Hoffmann</a></multilink></mekorot> | ||
− | <point><b>"וְעָשָׂת אֶת הַתְּבוּאָה לִשְׁלֹשׁ הַשָּׁנִים"</b> – These sources understand | + | <point><b>"וְעָשָׂת אֶת הַתְּבוּאָה לִשְׁלֹשׁ הַשָּׁנִים"</b> – These sources understand the phrase "שְׁלֹשׁ הַשָּׁנִים" to refer to three years of the Shemittah cycle (hence the definite article).  Even though the produce will only feed the people for 24 months, these are spread across three years.<fn>Crops planted in the first half of the sixth year are eaten in the second half of the sixth year, the entire seventh year, and the first half of the eighth  year.</fn></point> |
− | <point><b>עַד הַשָּׁנָה הַתְּשִׁיעִת</b> – This verse is difficult for | + | <point><b>עַד הַשָּׁנָה הַתְּשִׁיעִת</b> – This verse is difficult for these sources since they claim that already in the second half of the eighth year the nation can eat from the new harvest:<fn>See Abarbanel who raises this question.</fn>  <br/> |
<ul> | <ul> | ||
<li>Rashi explains that even though some crops can be eaten earlier, until Sukkot of the ninth year there is still some produce that has not yet been brought into the house.<fn>See the Hoil Moshe who points to the grape and olive crops which are only ready at the very end of the year.</fn></li> | <li>Rashi explains that even though some crops can be eaten earlier, until Sukkot of the ninth year there is still some produce that has not yet been brought into the house.<fn>See the Hoil Moshe who points to the grape and olive crops which are only ready at the very end of the year.</fn></li> | ||
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<point><b>Context</b> – Abarbanel questions why, according to this approach, the verses do not follow the discussion of Shemittah but rather interrupt the unit relating to Yovel.</point> | <point><b>Context</b> – Abarbanel questions why, according to this approach, the verses do not follow the discussion of Shemittah but rather interrupt the unit relating to Yovel.</point> | ||
<point><b>Most common case</b> – According to this approach, the Torah decided to focus on the most common scenario, a regular Sabbatical year, rather than the more exceptional case of the Jubilee year.  Even though the latter might be more worrisome, it only occurs once every 50 years.</point> | <point><b>Most common case</b> – According to this approach, the Torah decided to focus on the most common scenario, a regular Sabbatical year, rather than the more exceptional case of the Jubilee year.  Even though the latter might be more worrisome, it only occurs once every 50 years.</point> | ||
− | <point><b>"מַה נֹּאכַל בַּשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִת"</b> – This position might say that the people are | + | <point><b>"מַה נֹּאכַל בַּשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִת"</b> – This position might say that the people are questioning not what they will eat the entire year, but what they will eat in the second half of the seventh year, by which point they would normally be harvesting the food grown the season before.</point> |
− | <point><b>"וּזְרַעְתֶּם אֵת הַשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁמִינִת"</b> – This verse does not present any problems for this position as it maintains that the people do begin to sow in the eighth year. | + | <point><b>"וּזְרַעְתֶּם אֵת הַשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁמִינִת"</b> – This verse does not present any problems for this position as it maintains that the people do begin to sow in the eighth year.<fn>Ralbag explains the need to tell us this, suggesting that the verse is trying to emphasize how the produce from the sixth year will suffice not just for eating but also for the next batch of planting.  Cf. Rashbam and HaKetav VeHaKabbalah below.</fn> </point> |
</category> | </category> | ||
<category>Two Plus One | <category>Two Plus One | ||
− | <p>Hashem promises that the produce from the sixth year will provide food for two years, and | + | <p>Hashem promises that the produce from the sixth year will provide food for two years, and whatever is needed to sow for the third year.</p> |
<mekorot><multilink><a href="RashbamVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">Rashbam</a><a href="RashbamVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:20-22</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel b. Meir</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="HaKetavVeHaKabbalahVayikra25-21" data-aht="source">HaKetav VeHaKabbalah</a><a href="HaKetavVeHaKabbalahVayikra25-21" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:21</a><a href="R. Yaakov Mecklenburg (HaKetav VeHaKabbalah)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yaakov Mecklenburg</a></multilink></mekorot> | <mekorot><multilink><a href="RashbamVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">Rashbam</a><a href="RashbamVayikra25-20-22" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:20-22</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel b. Meir</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="HaKetavVeHaKabbalahVayikra25-21" data-aht="source">HaKetav VeHaKabbalah</a><a href="HaKetavVeHaKabbalahVayikra25-21" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:21</a><a href="R. Yaakov Mecklenburg (HaKetav VeHaKabbalah)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yaakov Mecklenburg</a></multilink></mekorot> | ||
<point><b>"וְעָשָׂת אֶת הַתְּבוּאָה לִשְׁלֹשׁ הַשָּׁנִים"</b> – These sources read  "לִשְׁלֹשׁ הַשָּׁנִים" to refer to three full years (36 months).  Even though the crops only need to suffice for two years to feed the nation, they must also be used for planting in the third year.  As such, they provide for three years.</point> | <point><b>"וְעָשָׂת אֶת הַתְּבוּאָה לִשְׁלֹשׁ הַשָּׁנִים"</b> – These sources read  "לִשְׁלֹשׁ הַשָּׁנִים" to refer to three full years (36 months).  Even though the crops only need to suffice for two years to feed the nation, they must also be used for planting in the third year.  As such, they provide for three years.</point> | ||
− | <point><b>"וּזְרַעְתֶּם אֵת הַשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁמִינִת"</b> – This statement comes to highlight the blessing, that there will be enough grains | + | <point><b>"וּזְרַעְתֶּם אֵת הַשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁמִינִת"</b> – This statement comes to highlight the extent of the blessing, that there will be not only enough to eat but also sufficient grains be able to plant them in the eighth year.</point> |
− | <point><b>"וַאֲכַלְתֶּם מִן הַתְּבוּאָה יָשָׁן"</b> – This position would likely reread the word "וַאֲכַלְתֶּם" in this verse to mean "and you shall subsist" from the old grain (since by harvest time they no longer need to eat of it | + | <point><b>"וַאֲכַלְתֶּם מִן הַתְּבוּאָה יָשָׁן"</b> – This position would likely reread the word "וַאֲכַלְתֶּם" in this verse to mean "and you shall subsist" from the old grain (since by harvest time they no longer need to eat of it.)  Alternatively, it could understand the verse to mean that you shall eat from [what grows from the seeds] of the old grain.</point> |
− | <point><b>"עַד הַשָּׁנָה הַתְּשִׁיעִת"</b> – These sources understand this to mean until (not through) the ninth year and that the verse is saying that | + | <point><b>"עַד הַשָּׁנָה הַתְּשִׁיעִת"</b> – These sources understand this to mean until (not through) the ninth year and that the verse is saying that first in the ninth year will the people plant from new grains.</point> |
+ | <point><b>Context</b> – The context of Yovel is difficult for this position.</point> | ||
+ | <point><b>Common case</b> – This position would say that the Torah preferred to focus on the regular scenario that occurs every Sabbatical year, rather than the unique case of a Jubilee year which rarely affected an individual.</point> | ||
<point><b>"מַה נֹּאכַל בַּשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִת"</b> – This position could explain like Ramban above that the words of the verse should be reordered to read, "And if you say in the seventh year, "what shall we eat [in the eighth year]".</point> | <point><b>"מַה נֹּאכַל בַּשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִת"</b> – This position could explain like Ramban above that the words of the verse should be reordered to read, "And if you say in the seventh year, "what shall we eat [in the eighth year]".</point> | ||
</category> | </category> |
Version as of 12:06, 19 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 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]?
- 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 Sabbatical year begins in Nisan, during the harvest season. As such, during every Shemittah cycle, any crops planted even n the sixth year are not harvested, requiring the fifth year to make enough food to last for the entire sixth, seventh and eighth years.
- He points out that Sukkot is referred to as coming "בְּצֵאת הַשָּׁנָה",8 suggesting that Tishrei (and not Nisan) marks the change from one year to the next. The Karaites might respond that the verse refers to the end of an agricultural year, but not a ritual one.
- Ibn Ezra further notes that the shofar blast that marks the Jubilee year is blown after Yom HaKippurim, suggesting that the year begins in Tishrei.
- Finally, he points to the order of the nation's words "הֵן לֹא נִזְרָע וְלֹא נֶאֱסֹף" to prove that in the Sabbatical year planting precedes sowing, in contrast to the claims of the Karaites.
Since there are two years in which there is no harvesting, food must last for three years. Moreover, the language of "שְׁלֹשׁ הַשָּׁנִים" with a definite article makes sense since the verse refers not just to 36 months but to three full years of the Shemittah cycle.
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.
- Rashi explains that even though some crops can be eaten earlier, until Sukkot of the ninth year there is still some produce that has not yet been brought into the house.16
- Netziv, instead, suggests that the verse is saying that even though it is not necessary, enough crops will grow to last until the ninth year.17
- Ralbag, in contrast, claims that this part of the verse refers to a year in which Yovel follows Shemittah, in which case the old grains must sustain the nation through the ninth year.18 Abarbanel questions this splitting of the verses, writing, "איך יפרשהו לשעורין חלק לשמטה וחלק ביובל?"
Two Plus One
Hashem promises that the produce from the sixth year will provide food for two years, and whatever is needed to sow for the third year.