Sometimes, the most unexpected things can lead us to hidden riches. Take leprosy, for example. Yes, leprosy.
Now, I know what you're thinking. Leprosy? Good tidings? Seems impossible, right? But Rabbi Ḥiyya asks that very question in Vayikra Rabbah 17: "Is this good tidings for them, that leprosy will befall them?" It sounds strange, but stick with me.
Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai offers an intriguing explanation. He suggests that when the Canaanites heard the Israelites were approaching, they panicked and hid their wealth, burying it in their homes and fields. God, wanting to fulfill the promise to bring the Israelites to a land flowing with milk and honey – a land “full of everything good” (Deuteronomy 6:11) – devised a plan.
What did He do? According to this midrash, God brought tzara'at, often translated as leprosy, to the Canaanites' houses. The infected homes would then be torn down, revealing the hidden caches of treasure. So, in a roundabout way, the misfortune of leprosy led to the discovery of wealth, fulfilling God's promise to the Israelites. Talk about turning a negative into a positive!
But wait, there's more to the story. How did the Canaanites even know that the Israelites were coming? Rabbi Yishmael bar Naḥman tells us that Joshua, before engaging in war, sent three missives to the Canaanites. These weren't just simple announcements; they were a chance to choose their own destiny.
The first message: "One who wishes to evacuate, let him evacuate." Basically, get out while you still can. The second: "One who wishes to make peace, let him make peace." An offer of diplomacy. And the third, a stark warning: "One who wishes to wage war, let him do so."
Each group responded differently. The Girgashites, according to the midrash, chose to evacuate. As a reward for their peaceful choice, they were given land just as good as the one they left behind. Isaiah 36:17 says, “Until I arrive and take you to a land like your land.” Where did they go? Some say Africa.
Then, there were the Gibeonites. As it says in Joshua 10:1, “That the inhabitants of Givon had made peace.” They chose diplomacy and survived. Finally, the thirty-one kings chose war. And, well, they were defeated.
So, what's the takeaway here? It's a story about hidden treasures, both literal and metaphorical. It's about the consequences of choices, the fulfillment of promises, and the unexpected ways that divine providence can work. And maybe, just maybe, it's a reminder to look for the hidden blessings, even in the most unlikely of places.