When You Come Into Canaan a Land God Promised Israel

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Masei 7:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

"When you come" (Numbers 34:2). This is what Scripture said (Jeremiah 2:31): "O generation, see the word of the LORD! Have I been a wilderness (ha-midbar) to Israel?" Do not read it "a wilderness," but rather: "Have I been one who speaks (ha-medabber)" — that is, did I speak a word (davar) to Israel and not perform it for Israel? The land that I made a condition to give to them — did I perhaps say that it was beautiful and so mislead them? "Or a land of thick darkness (ma'pelyah)?" (ibid.). What is ma'pelyah? Did I perhaps tell you that I would bring you into the land and then delay you? For ma'pelyah means nothing other than an expression of delay, as it is said (Exodus 9:32): "for they ripen late (afilot)." Behold, you are entering into its midst. "When you come into the land of Canaan" — a land of commerce, a land of trade, as you say (Isaiah 23:8): "whose merchants (Kena'aneha) are the honored of the earth."

Themes

Divine PromiseAdam EveExodus

Biblical References

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