The Torah as the Trade That Doubles Both Merchants

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Terumah 1:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

"And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: Speak unto the children of Israel, that they take for Me an offering (terumah), etc." (Exodus 25:1–2). This is what Scripture says: "For I have given you a good acquisition (leqach); etc." (Proverbs 4:2). "Acquisition" (leqach) refers to My Torah. In the way of the world, there were two merchants in a province. This one had acquired raw silk (metaxa), and that one had acquired finished silk (holoserikon). They stood, this one with that one. One said to his fellow: Do you wish to make an exchange? He said to him: Yes. They exchanged, this one with that one. This one gave the raw silk and took for himself the finished silk. It turns out that there is one item in the hand of this one, and one item in the hand of that one. But the Torah is not so. This one studies the Order of Seeds (Zera'im), and that one studies the Order of Damages (Neziqin). The two of them stood, this one with that one. One said to his fellow: Teach me the Order of Seeds, and I will teach you the Order of Damages. It turns out that there are two in the hand of this one, and two in the hand of that one. Is there a greater acquisition than this? Hence: "For I have given you a good acquisition, etc."

Themes

TorahWisdom

Biblical References

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