Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Divide Up

Rashi at the beginning of the parsha says והיה כי תבוא וירשתה וישבת בה: מגיד שלא נתחייבו בבכורים עד שכבשו את הארץ וחלקוה.  What is being added here if Rashi already says in Shelach (15:18) that the words כי תבא mean לאחר ירושה וישיבה? (See Sifshei Chachamim.)  The Likutay Sichos (volume 9) points out a difference in the words.   The normal כי תבא is referring to the people, once a person receives his personal portion of the land, even before its completely divided up, the obligation kicks in already. Here וירשתה וישבתה is referring to the land, its only when the totality of the land is conquered that the obligation of bikkurim begins.

Why does the obligation of bikkurim start only after the entire land is divided up? It may be because bikkurim must be brought with simcha.  If someone else hasn't received their portion of land then that takes away from the simcha of even  the one who has their portion for they know that their buddy is still lacking (ibid.)

It is noteworthy that there are other texts of Rashi that say וירשתה וישבת בה – מגיד שלא נתחייבו בביכורים עד שכיבשו וחילקו (that is the text used in the mg.alhatorah.org site) which the aforementioned idea to resolve the Rashi would go out the window.  However, most Chumashim follow the text used above.

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