Another matter, “You shall bring a sheaf [omer]” – that is what is written: “His harvest, the hungry eat” (Job 5:5). “His harvest,” this is Nimrod. “The hungry eat,” this is Abraham our patriarch, of blessed memory.11The midrash is alluding to the story in which Abraham pursued and defeated the four powerful kings who had conquered Sodom and taken Lot captive (see Genesis 14). The Sages identify Amraphel, leader of those kings, with Nimrod (see Bereishit Rabba 42:4).
“And put into baskets [ve’el metzinim]” (Job 5:5) – not with weapons and not with shields, but rather, with prayer and supplications.12Ve’el metzinim is expounded to mean ve’al tzina, meaning, without a shield. That is what is written: “Abram heard that his brother had been taken captive, and he marshaled his retainers, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen” (Genesis 14:14). Reish Lakish said in the name of bar Kappara: It was only Eliezer, as the name of Eliezer is three hundred and eighteen.13When the verse states that Abram took three hundred and eighteen men, it really means that he took only his servant Eliezer, as the numerical value of the name Eliezer is three hundred and eighteen.
“The thirsty imbibe their wealth” (Job 5:5); who appropriated all Nimrod’s wealth? Abraham and all who joined him. Another matter, “his harvest,” this is Pharaoh. “The hungry eat,” this is Moses.
“And put into baskets [ve’el metzinim],” not with weapons and not with shields, but rather, with prayer and supplications. That is what is written: “The Lord said to Moses: Why are you crying out to Me?” (Exodus 14:15). “The thirsty imbibe their wealth” – who appropriated all Pharaoh’s wealth? Moses and all who joined him.
Another matter, “his harvest,” this is Siḥon and Og. “The hungry eat,” this is Moses. “And put into baskets [ve’el metzinim],” that is what is written: “The Lord said to Moses: Do not fear him” (Numbers 21:34).14Moses had been afraid of Og and had been praying for success in confronting him (see Maharzu). “The thirsty imbibe their wealth” – who appropriated all the wealth of Siḥon and Og?
Moses, Aaron, and all who joined them. Another matter, “his harvest,” this is Sisera. “The hungry eat,” this is Deborah and Barak. “And put into baskets [ve’el metzinim]” – “from the heavens they battled” (Judges 5:20).15The fact that the heavens battled Sisera is a result of the fact that Deborah and Barak had prayed for success.
“The thirsty imbibe their wealth” – who appropriated all the wealth of Sisera? Deborah and Barak and all who joined them. Another matter, “his harvest,” this is Sennacherib. “The hungry eat,” this is Isaiah and Hezekiah.
“And put into baskets [ve’el metzinim]” – “King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amotz prayed” (II Chronicles 32:20). “The thirsty imbibe their wealth,” – who appropriated all the wealth of Sennacherib? Isaiah and Hezekiah and all who joined them. Another matter, “his harvest,” this is Haman.
“The hungry eat,” this is Mordekhai and Esther. “And put into baskets [ve’el metzinim]” – “Sackcloth and ashes were draped by the masses” (Esther 4:3).16It was customary to wear sackcloth and ashes on days of fasting and prayer. “The thirsty imbibe their wealth” – who appropriated all the wealth of Haman? Mordekhai and Esther and all who joined them.
Another matter, “his harvest,” these are the thirty-one kings [of Canaan]. “The hungry eat,” this is Joshua. “And put into baskets [ve’el metzinim]” – “The Lord said to Joshua: Arise” (Joshua 7:10).17Joshua had been praying to God for success (see Joshua 7:6–9). “The thirsty imbibe their wealth” – who appropriated all the wealth of the thirty-one kings?
Joshua and all who joined him. By what merit did Israel inherit the land? One must say: It was due to the merit of the mitzva of the omer, in whose regard it is written: “When you come [to the land]” (Leviticus 23:10). Therefore, Moses cautions Israel and says to them: “When you come to the land…you shall bring a sheaf [omer].”