The Rabbis say: “The advantage of land” – even things that you consider superfluous in the world, like flies, fleas, and gnats, they, too, are included in the creation of the world, as it is written: “The heavens and the earth and their entire host were completed” (Genesis 2:1). “A king is subservient to a field,” [“King” –] this is the Holy One blessed be He, in whose regard it is written: “The Lord reigns; He is clothed in grandeur” (Psalms 93:1).
“Is subservient to a field,” this is Zion, as it is written: “Zion will be plowed as a field” (Micah 3:12). Therefore, “one who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver” – one who loves mitzvot will not be satisfied with mitzvot. “Nor one who loves abundance, [with produce]” – anyone who avidly pursues mitzvot, but does not have a mitzva that is fixed for the generations,4That will have a long-term effect. what benefit does he have?5After his death.
Know that it is so, as Moses performed so many mitzvot and acts of righteousness and had many good deeds to his credit, and he had a mitzva fixed for the generations. That is what is written: “Then, Moses designated [three cities beyond the Jordan toward the rising sun]” (Deuteronomy 4:41).6Although Moses had done many mitzvot during his lifetime, and the three cities he designated as cities of refuge would not function in that capacity until the Israelites settled the Land of Israel, he nonetheless made sure to designate them before he died so as to fulfill a mitzva with a lasting effect.