“He will bind his foal to the vine, and to the branch of the vine his donkey’s foal; he launders his garments in wine, and in the blood of grapes, his clothes” (Genesis 49:11). “He will bind his foal to the vine” – Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Neḥemya, and the Rabbis: Rabbi Yehuda said: A vine with a poor yield, one binds a donkey to it;59The vineyards of Judah would be so productive that even a vine with a poor yield would require a donkey to carry its produce. “and to the branch of the vine [velasoreka],” two of “his donkey’s foal.”60The midrash interprets soreka to refer to a better-producing vine.
“He launders his garments in wine” – this is the milk;61This is a reference to white wine. “and in the blood of grapes, his clothes” – this is the red. Rabbi Neḥemya said: “He will bind his foal [iro] to the vine” – from when He brings the vine62The children of Israel are called a vine (see Psalms 80:9). into His city [iro] – “the city that I have chosen” (I Kings 11:32). “And to the branch of the vine his donkey’s [atono] foal” – steadfast [ha’etanim] children are worthy to be produced from him.
The Rabbis say: I am bound to the vine and the vine branch.63God is bound to Israel. “His foal” and “his donkey” – upon the arrival of the one in whose regard it is written: “A humble man riding on a donkey…” (Zechariah 9:9).64Upon the arrival of the Messiah, it will be demonstrated how God is bound to Israel. “He launders his garments in wine” – as [the Messiah] clarifies matters of Torah for them; “and in the blood of grapes, his clothes” – as he clarifies their errors for them.
Rabbi Ḥanin said: Israel does not need the teaching of the messianic king in the future, as it is stated: “Nations will seek him” (Isaiah 11:10) – not Israel. If so, why does the messianic king come, and what does he come to do? To gather the exiles of Israel and to give them thirty mitzvot. That is what is written: “I said to them: If it is proper in your eye, [give Me My fee…So they weighed out My fee: thirty silver coins]” (Zechariah 11:12) – Rav said: These are the thirty mighty men.65They are the righteous individuals in every generation.
They are known as silver based on Proverbs 10:20. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: These are thirty mitzvot. They said to Rabbi Yoḥanan: Rav does not accept that the verse is speaking only regarding the nations of the world.66According to Rabbi Yoḥanan the verse is directed at the nations of the world, which is why the Messiah is to introduce new mitzvot to them. Rav did not accept that point and therefore interpreted the thirty coins differently.
According to the opinion of Rav, when Israel merit, their majority will be in the Land of Israel and their minority in Babylon.67The majority of the thirty righteous individuals will be in the Land of Israel, where their spiritual level and influence will be even greater than when they are outside of the land.