Kinah Dimonah and Adadah the Towns That Spell Divine Justice

Yalkut Shimoni on Nach 27:2

"And Kinah and Dimonah and Adadah" (Joshua 15:22). Rav Huna bar Natan said to Rav Ashi: What is the meaning of what is written, "And Kinah and Dimonah and Adadah"? He said to him: It is counting the towns of the Land of Israel. He said to him: And do I not know that it is counting the towns of the Land of Israel? Rather, Rav Geviha of Bei Argiza explained a reason in it: Whoever harbors envy [kin'ah] against his fellow and stays silent [domem], the One who dwells forever [shochen adei ad] executes judgment for him. But then "Ziklag and Madmannah and Sansannah" (Joshua 15:31) - what is the meaning of these too? He said to him: Were Rav Geviha here, he would explain a reason. Rav Acha of Bei Chozai explained it thus: Whoever has a cry over a withheld morsel [tza'akat legima] against his fellow and stays silent [domem], the One who dwells in the bush [shochen ba-sneh] executes judgment for him.

Themes