The Field of Ephron That Rose in Everyone's Eyes

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 102:21

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah arose" (Genesis 23:17). This teaches that it had fallen and rose: that it had belonged to a small man and was made to belong to a great man. "Which was in Machpelah [the doubled place]": this teaches that it was doubled in the eyes of each and every person, for whoever is buried there is assured that his reward is doubled and redoubled. Rabbi Abbahu said: the Holy One, blessed be He, bent down the stature of Adam and buried him within it. "The field and the cave that was in it" (Genesis 23:17): there we have learned [in the Mishnah], one who sells his field must write down its landmarks and its boundaries — from here, "the field and the cave that was in it and all the trees that were in the field."

Themes

Holy LandPatriarchs

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Book of JubileesThe First TorahThe familiar picture has Moses on Mount Sinai, receiving the divine word directly from God. Forty days and forty nights of dictation. But what if I told you thePrayer of JosephJacob The AngelWas Jacob, the patriarch, just an ordinary man? Tradition whispers secrets, suggesting his story is far grander than we might imagine. Some even say his true na3 EnochThe Souls Of The PatriarchsSome of these images paint a picture of them continuing to fight for us, even from the next world. One such story tells of the souls of the patriarchs – AbrahamBen SiraA Prayer to End the Arrogance of TyrantsIt pulls no punches in its call for humility and divine justice. Ben Sira, a sage writing in Hebrew around 200 BCE, gives us these powerful words: "Make an end Ben SiraThou Art My Father and Mighty SalvationIt's in those moments that People often turn to something greater, something beyond ourselves. And that's precisely what we find in the words attributed to Ben Book of JubileesGod Commands Moses to Write Down All HistoryBook of Jubilees turns to God Commands Moses to Write Down All History. God commands Moses, "Write down for thyself all these words which I declare unto thee on