The Vine With Three Branches and Why Israel Is Likened to a Vine

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 146:6

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And it came to pass after these things, they sinned" (Genesis 40:1). "Deliver me from all my transgressions; make me not the reproach of the fool" (Psalms 39:9). Rav Hama bar Hanina said: The nations of the world were not fit to have wretched and afflicted ones among them; why are there? So that they not taunt Israel, saying, "Are you not a nation of the wretched?" Rav Shmuel bar Nachman said: They were not fit to have those covered with scabs; why are there? So they not taunt Israel, saying, "Are you not a nation of lepers?" "Deliver me from all my transgressions" — this is Joseph; "And she called to the men of her house," she put him on the lips of all. The Holy One said, "Better that these turn upon one another and not turn upon this righteous one." Hence, "after these things, they sinned." The Rabbis said: The chief cupbearer — a fly was found in his goblet; the chief baker — a fly was found in his loaf. The Rabbis say: they sought to lay hands on the king's daughter; "sinned" is said here, and "sin against God" is said there (Genesis 39:9). Hanan in the name of Yochanan: "Come and see the works of God, awesome in deed toward the children of men" (Psalms 66:5) — He angers masters against servants to give greatness to the righteous, "Pharaoh was angry at his servants" (Genesis 41:10); and He angers servants against masters to give greatness to the righteous, "Bigthan and Teresh were angry" at Ahasuerus to give greatness to Mordecai (Esther 2:21). Rav Hanin said: they made devices to choke him. Shmuel said: they hid a snake in his cup; hence, "the matter was investigated and found out." "And in the vine were three branches" (Genesis 40:10). Rabbi Hiyya said: these are three proud officers who arise from Israel in every generation. Rava said: these are three gentile officers who plead Israel's merit in every generation. Rabbi Eliezer taught: the vine is the world; three branches are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; "it was as though it budded, its blossom shot forth," these are the matriarchs; "its clusters ripened into grapes," these are the tribes. Rabbi Yehoshua said to him: do they show a person what has already been? They show a person only what is destined to be. Rather, the vine is the Torah; the three branches are Moses, Aaron, and Miriam; the blossom is the Sanhedrin; the ripened grapes are the righteous of every generation. Rabbi Elazar of Modiin said: the vine is Jerusalem; the three branches are the Temple, the king, and the high priest; the blossom is the young priests; the grapes are the libations. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi applied it all to gifts: the vine is the Torah; the three branches are the well, the pillar of cloud, and the manna. And Rabbi Yirmiyah bar Abba said: the vine is Israel, as it says, "You brought a vine out of Egypt" (Psalms 80:9); the three branches are the three pilgrimage festivals; "it budded," the time came for Israel to be fruitful; "its blossom shot forth," the time came for Israel to be redeemed; "its clusters ripened," the time came for Egypt to drink the cup of poison. Resh Lakish said: this nation is likened to a vine. Its boughs are the householders; its clusters are the scholars; its leaves are the common folk; its tendrils are the empty ones of Israel. And this is what they sent from there: "Let the clusters pray for mercy upon the leaves, for were it not for the leaves the clusters could not survive." As the vine — they harvest it and it is silent, they tread it and it is silent, yet in the end its strength rises and overcomes the one who drinks; so Israel. As the vine is planted not in disorder but in rows, so Israel camped in the wilderness by their banners. As the vine is lowest of all trees yet its fruit rules over all, so Israel is lowly in this world but destined to inherit from one end of the earth to the other. As one watchman stands above the vine to guard it, so the Guardian of Israel stands above them, "He neither slumbers nor sleeps." As the vine lives though leaned on dry wood, so Israel lives by the merit of its ancestors though they have died.

Themes

IsraelRedemptionTorah

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