Midrash for Sheviit 4:6
הַמְזַנֵּב בִּגְפָנִים וְהַקּוֹצֵץ קָנִים, רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הַגְּלִילִי אוֹמֵר, יַרְחִיק טֶפַח. רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר, קוֹצֵץ כְּדַרְכּוֹ, בַּקַּרְדֹּם אוֹ בַמַּגָּל, וּבַמְּגֵרָה, וּבְכָל מַה שֶׁיִּרְצֶה. אִילָן שֶׁנִּפְשַׁח, קוֹשְׁרִין אוֹתוֹ בַּשְּׁבִיעִית, לֹא שֶׁיַּעֲלֶה, אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא יוֹסִיף:
One who is pruning grapes or cutting reeds - Rabbi Yosi the Galilean says, he should distance [his cutting] a handbreadth [from the ground]. Rabbi Akiva says, one may cut in a normal way, using a hatchet, sickle, saw, or whatever one wishes. If a tree split, one may bind it during the Sabbatical year; not in order to help it grow more, but rather that the split shouldn't widen.
Eikhah Rabbah
“He is like a bear in ambush to me, a lion in hiding” (Lamentations 3:10).
“He is like a bear in ambush to me” – this is Nebuchadnezzar. “A lion in hiding” – this is Nevuzaradan. Alternatively: “A bear in ambush” – this is Vespasian; “a lion in hiding” – this is Trajan.
“He has twisted my ways and mauled me; He rendered me desolate” (Lamentations 3:11).
“He has twisted my ways and mauled me [vaifashḥeni]” – split me, as we say: A tree that was split [nifshaḥ], one may tie it during the Sabbatical Year.19Mishna Sheviit 4:6.
“He drew His bow, and set me as the target for the arrow” (Lamentations 3:12).
“He drew His bow, and set me as the target for the arrow” – there were two amora’im; one said: Like a shield for arrows,20Although the shield blocks the arrows, the arrows pierce and damage the shield (Maharzu). and one said: Like a beam for arrows that everyone fires at it but it remains standing. Rabbi Yudan said: He fortified me to withstand them all. What do you find written after the ninety-eight rebukes in the book of Deuteronomy? “You are standing today, all of you” (Deuteronomy 29:9), and we translate it: “You exist this day, all of you,” mighty to withstand them all.
“He is like a bear in ambush to me” – this is Nebuchadnezzar. “A lion in hiding” – this is Nevuzaradan. Alternatively: “A bear in ambush” – this is Vespasian; “a lion in hiding” – this is Trajan.
“He has twisted my ways and mauled me; He rendered me desolate” (Lamentations 3:11).
“He has twisted my ways and mauled me [vaifashḥeni]” – split me, as we say: A tree that was split [nifshaḥ], one may tie it during the Sabbatical Year.19Mishna Sheviit 4:6.
“He drew His bow, and set me as the target for the arrow” (Lamentations 3:12).
“He drew His bow, and set me as the target for the arrow” – there were two amora’im; one said: Like a shield for arrows,20Although the shield blocks the arrows, the arrows pierce and damage the shield (Maharzu). and one said: Like a beam for arrows that everyone fires at it but it remains standing. Rabbi Yudan said: He fortified me to withstand them all. What do you find written after the ninety-eight rebukes in the book of Deuteronomy? “You are standing today, all of you” (Deuteronomy 29:9), and we translate it: “You exist this day, all of you,” mighty to withstand them all.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy