Why David Called Israel the Land of the Living

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Vayetzei 23:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

(Genesis 31:3) "And God said to Jacob..." This is what Scripture says (Psalms 142:6): "I cried to You, O LORD; I said, You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living." Who said this verse? David said it. "My portion in the land of the living" — he calls the Land of Israel "the land of the living." Why? Resh Lakish said in the name of Rabbi Eleazar haKappar: because the dead of the Land of Israel will live first at the days of the Messiah; therefore he calls it "the land of the living." David said: I yearn to dwell within it, but Saul does not let me, rather (1 Samuel 26:19) "for they have driven me out this day from joining myself to the inheritance of the LORD." Therefore "I cried to You, O LORD"; and because I did so, I became king over Israel.

Themes

DavidPsalmsWisdomHoly LandMusic

Biblical References

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