Canaan, Father of the Land Given to You as a Gift

Mekhilta DeRabbi Shimon Ben Yochai 13:10

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And it shall be when [the LORD brings you]" (Exodus 13:11). "It shall be" always signals something immediate. "When the LORD brings you": perform the commandment stated in this matter, for as its reward you will enter the land. "To the land of the Canaanite": Was it then the land of the Canaanite alone? Was it not the land of five peoples? Rather, this teaches that Canaan was the father of them all, as it says, "And Canaan begot Sidon his firstborn, and Heth" (Genesis 10:15). "Which He swore to you and to your fathers": all of it through your merit and the merit of your fathers. "And He gives it to you": let it not be in your eyes as the inheritance of your fathers, but rather as though it were now given to you as a gift.

Themes

Holy LandCommandmentsPatriarchs

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