“He purchased the tract of the field where he had pitched his tent from the possession of the children of Hamor, father of Shekhem, for one hundred kesita” (Genesis 33:19). “He purchased the tract of the field where he had pitched his tent…for one hundred kesita”18Kesita is the name of a coin. – Rabbi Yudan bar Simon said: This is one of three places that the nations of the world cannot deride Israel and say: ‘They are stolen [property] in your hands,’ and these are: The Cave of Makhpela, the Temple, and Joseph’s tomb.
The Cave of Makhpela, as it is written: “Abraham heeded Efron, and Abraham weighed for Efron [the money…]” (Genesis 23:16). The Temple, as it is written: “David gave to Ornan for the place [six hundred shekels worth of gold]” (I Chronicles 21:25). Joseph’s tomb – “he purchased the tract of the field” (Genesis 33:19); Jacob purchased Shekhem. Rabbi Ḥiyya Rabba, Rabbi Shimon bar Rabbi, and Rabbi Shimon bar Ḥalafta forgot words from the Targum, and they came to a certain Arabian merchant to learn it from there.19To learn the meaning of words in the Targum from the language spoken by the Arabian.
He heard his voice that he said to another: ‘Lift this yahava upon me.’ We understand from him that yahava is a burden, as it is stated: “Cast your burden [yehavekha] upon the Lord, and He will sustain you” (Psalms 55:23). In addition, he heard the voice of an Arabian who said to another: ‘Why are you mekhaseh me,’ but he wished to say: ‘Why are you me’aseh me,’ as it is written: “You will crush [ve’asotem] the wicked, for they will be ashes” (Malachi 3:21).
In addition, they heard that a woman said to another: ‘Come to the bathhouse.’ She answered: “I am bereaved and lonely [vegalmuda]” (Isaiah 49:21). Galmuda – I am a menstruant. In addition, he heard another woman saying to another: ‘Lend me your broom,’ and she said: ‘Lend me metatekh,’ as it is stated: “I will sweep it with the broom [metateh] of destruction, the utterance of the Lord of hosts” (Isaiah 14:23). [They heard women say to another woman:] ‘We came to arouse lelivyatakh’20We came to wail with you. – “Who prepare for rousing their wailing [livyatan]” (Job 3:8). [And they heard:] ‘Lend me your diamond [kesitatekh].’ [And they heard:] ‘Take this lamb [kesita] out to the pasture.’21The price of one hundred kesita that Jacob paid could have been one hundred jewels or one hundred lambs.
“For one hundred kesita.” Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: One hundred precious stones, one hundred sheep, one hundred sela. Rabbi Simon said: Kof – kamilia [jewel], samekh22The letter samekh and the letter sin are interchangeable.– sela’im, tet – terayon [valuable coins]. Yod heh, what are they doing here?
Rabbi Yehuda of Sikhnin in the name of Rabbi Levi: These are gold pendants and emeralds that are typically placed in nose rings. Who writes the writ of sale? Rabbi Berekhya said: The Lord [Ya] writes the writ of sale. Who attests to the writ of sale?
The Lord [Ya] attests to the writ of sale. That is the yod heh of kesita. That is what is written: “There the tribes went up, the tribes of the Lord [Ya], a testimony for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord” (Psalms 122:4) – Ya attests on their behalf that they are the sons of their fathers. Here, too, He testified.