“Blessed are you in the city, and blessed are you in the field” (Deuteronomy 28:3). “Blessed are you in the city” – Rabbi Yitzhak said: “In the city” – as reward for the mitzvot that you perform in the city: ḥalla, ritual fringes, sukka, and Shabbat lamps. “Blessed are you in the field” – as reward for the mitzvot that you perform in the field: gleanings, forgotten sheaves, and produce of the corner of the field.11These are left in the field so that the needy can take them.
The Rabbis say that you will be blessed in the city by means of your being blessed in the field – that the earth yielded its produce. “Blessed are you upon your arrival, and blessed are you upon your departure” (Deuteronomy 28:6). “Blessed are you upon your arrival” – Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon said: This verse is speaking of Moses. “Upon your arrival” – this is Moses.
Upon his arrival into the world, he drew the distant near; this is Batya daughter of Pharaoh.12She converted. “Blessed are you upon your departure” – this is Moses. Upon his departure from the world, he drew the distant near; this is Reuben.13Reuben had been distanced because of the sin relating to Bilha. See Bereshit Rabba 98:4.
From where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “Let Reuben live and not die” (Deuteronomy 33:6). Another matter: “Blessed are you upon your arrival” in your merchandise; “and blessed are you upon your departure” in your merchandise. David elaborated upon it: “The Lord will guard your departure and your arrival” (Psalms 121:8).
Another matter: “Blessed are you upon your arrival” – upon your arrival into the world; “and blessed are you upon your departure” – upon your departure from the world. Rabbi Berekhya said: It is written: “A time to be born and a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3:2) – do we not know that there is a time that a person is born and there is a time that a person dies? Rather, happy is the person for whom the time of his death is like the time of his birth; just as at the time of his birth he is pure, so, at the time of his death he is pure. That is, “blessed are you upon your arrival, and blessed are you upon your departure.”