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Reading Midrash -
Lesson 5

Sources for “Reading Midrash Aggada,” Lecture #4

ויקרא רבה א:ב

Petichta verse (not fully quoted in text)

 

ישובו יושבי בצלו יחיו דגן ויפרחו כגפן זכרו כיין לבנון (הושע יד:ח).

 

I. Explication of petichta verse - the status of convert

 

רבי אבהו פתח:
ישובו יושבי בצלו (הושע יד:ח),

אלו הגרים שבאין וחסין בצלו של הקדוש ברוך הוא.
יחיו דגן,

נעשו עיקר כישראל,

כמה דתימר

דגן בחורים ותירוש ינובב בתולות (זכריה ט:יז),
ויפרחו כגפן,

כמה דתימר :

גפן ממצרים תסיע תגרש גוים ותטעה (תהלים פ:ט).
 

 

II. Parenthetical comment
 

דבר אחר:
יחיו דגן,

בתלמוד.
ויפרחו כגפן,

באגדה.
 

 

III. The end of the petichta verse: Converts and the Temple


a

זכרו כיין לבנון
אמר הקב"ה:

חביב עלי שמותם של גרים,

כיין נסך שקרב לפני על גבי המזבח.

b

ולמה נקרא שמו לבנון?
1) על שם:

ההר הטוב הזה והלבנון (דברים ג:כג).
2) תני רשב"י:

למה נקרא שמו לבנון?
שמלבין עונותיהם של ישראל כשלג,

הה"ד : אם יהיו חטאיכם כשנים כשלג ילבינו

 ואם יאדימו כתולע כצמר יהיו (ישעיה א:יח).
3) ר' טביומי אמר:

על שם שכל לבבות שמחים בו,

הה"ד: יפה נוף משוש כל הארץ וגו'  (תהלים מח:ג).
4) ורבנן אמרי: על שם

והיו עיני ולבי שם כל הימים (מ"א ט:ג).

 

Vayikra Rabba 1:2

 

Petichta verse (not fully quoted in text):

They who sit in his shade shall be revived. They shall bring to life new grain; they shall blossom like the vine; His scent shall be like the wine of Lebanon. (Hosea 14:8)

 

I. Explication of petichta verse - the status of convert

 

R. Abbahu opened [his discourse with the text],

They who sit in his shade shall be revived (Hosea 14:8). 

These are the proselytes who come and take shelter under the shadow of the Holy One, blessed be He. 

They shall bring to life new grain (ibid.);

They become the root just like Israel,

even as thou sayest,

Corn shall make the young men flourish, and wine the maids (Zech. 9:17),

And they shall blossom like the vine (Hosea loc. cit.),

even as thou sayest,

Thou didst pluck up a vine out of Egypt;

Thou didst drive out the nations and didst plant it (Ps. 80: 9).

 

II. Parenthetical comment

 

Another interpretation:

They shall bring to life new grain (Hosea loc. cit.):

This speaks of Talmud;

And they shall blossom like the vine:

This speaks of Aggada.

 

III. The end of the petichta verse: Converts and the Temple

 

a

The mention thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon:

The Holy One, blessed be He, said:

'The names of proselytes are as pleasing to Me

as the wine of libation which is offered to Me on the altar;'

 

b

and why is the latter called 'Lebanon?'

1) In accordance with the verse,

That goodly mountain and the Lebanon (Deut. 3:23). 

2) R. Simeon b. Yohai taught:

 Why is the name thereof called 'Lebanon'?-

Because it makes white (malbin) the sins of Israel –

this is indicated by what is written,

Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white (yalbinu) as snow;

though they be red like crimson, they shall be as [white as] wool (Isa. 1:18). 

3) R. Tabyomi said:

Because all hearts (levavot) rejoice thereat;

this is indicated by what is written,

Fair in situation, the joy of the whole earth, even Mount Zion, etc (Ps. 48:3). 

4) The Rabbis say: Because [of the Scriptural passage]

And Mine eyes [enayim (from ayin)] and My heart [libbi (from lev)] shall be there perpetually (I Kings 9:3).

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