## Sifrei Devarim Paragraph 39

###### Sifrei Devarim 39:1
[Sifrei Devarim 39:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/39:1)

(דברים יא יא) **וְהָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם עֹבְרִים שָׁמָּה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ אֶרֶץ הָרִים וּבְקָעֹת**, בְּשֶׁבַח אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר! אַתָּה אוֹמֵר כֵּן, אוֹ בִּגְנוּת אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, שֶׁמַּזְכִּיר בָּהּ הָרִים? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: **וּבְקָעֹת**, מַה בְּקָעוֹת לְשֶׁבַח אַף הָרִים לְשֶׁבַח; וְעוֹד שֶׁנּוֹתֵן טַעַם בָּהָר, טַעַם בַּבִּקְעָה – שֶׁפֵּרוֹת הָהָר קַלִּים וּפֵרוֹת הַבִּקְעָה שְׁמֵנִים.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
**Pisqa’ 39**²⁷
1. “But the Land, which you are crossing to possess,
is a land of *mountains and valleys*” (Dt. 11:11).
Scripture speaks *in praise* of the Land of Israel.
So you say!
But, perhaps, Scripture intends *to shame*
the Land of Israel by recalling its mountains
[upon which foreign cults were served]?
The Teaching states:
“and valleys” (Dt. 11:11)—
just as the *valleys* are recalled for praise
so too the mountains are recalled for praise!
For as long as there is flavor
[in fruit grown] on the mountain,
there will also be flavor in [the fruit of] the valley—
for the fruits of the mountains are mildly-flavored,
while the fruits of the valley are creamy-rich!

footnotes:
²⁷ H:76-79; JN1:112-116


###### Sifrei Devarim 39:2
[Sifrei Devarim 39:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/39:2)

רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַי אוֹמֵר: כְּשֶׁהִיא בִּקְעָה – עוֹשָׂה בֵּית כּוֹר, כְּשֶׁהוּא הַר – הֲרֵי הוּא עוֹשֶׂה בֵּית כּוֹר מִן הַצָּפוֹן, בֵּית כּוֹר מִן הַדָּרוֹם, בֵּית כּוֹר מִן הַמִּזְרָח, בֵּית כּוֹר מִן הַמַּעֲרָב, בֵּית כּוֹר מִלְמַעְלָה, וְנִמְצָא חֲמִשָּׁה מְכֻפָּלוֹת! שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל ה ה): ״כֹּה אָמַר ה׳ אֱלֹהִים זֹאת יְרוּשָׁלִַם בְּתוֹךְ הַגּוֹיִם שַׂמְתִּיהָ וּסְבִיבוֹתֶיהָ אֲרָצוֹת״, וּבְמָקוֹם אַחֵר קוֹרֵא אוֹתָהּ ״אֶרֶץ״; כֵּיצַד יִתְקַיְּמוּ שְׁנֵי כְתוּבִים הַלָּלוּ? אֶרֶץ שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ מִינֵי אֲרָצוֹת הַרְבֵּה: בֵּית הָאֲדָמָה, בֵּית הַחוֹלוֹת, בֵּית הֶעָפָר.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
2. R. Shimon b. Yohai says:
A field in a valley is planted with a *kor* of seed.
But a field on a mountain is planted
with a *kor* on the north slope,
with a *kor* on the south,
with a *ko*r on the east,
with a *kor* on the west,
with a *kor* on the summit.
It turns out that the mountain yields
five times more than the valley,
as it is said:
“I placed this Jerusalem in the midst of nations,
with *lands (‘aratzot*) surrounding her” (Ezek. 5:5).
But in other places
He calls [Jerusalem’s surroundings] “Land” *(‘eretz*; Dt. 32:13)!
How can the two scriptural usages be reconciled?
“Land” refers to diverse terrains (‘*aratzot*)—
a region of fertile earth, a region of sand, a region of dust.


###### Sifrei Devarim 39:3
[Sifrei Devarim 39:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/39:3)

דָּבָר אַחֵר: **אֶרֶץ הָרִים וּבְקָעֹת**, מַגִּיד שֶׁלֹּא שָׁווּ טַעַם פֵּרוֹת הָר לְטַעַם פֵּרוֹת בִּקְעָה וְלֹא טַעַם פֵּרוֹת בִּקְעָה לְטַעַם פֵּרוֹת הָר. אֵין לִי אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא שָׁווּ טַעַם פֵּרוֹת הָר לְטַעַם פֵּרוֹת בִּקְעָה וְלֹא טַעַם פֵּרוֹת בִּקְעָה לְטַעַם פֵּרוֹת הָר, מִנַּיִן שֶׁלֹּא שָׁווּ טַעַם פֵּרוֹת הָר זֶה לְטַעַם פֵּרוֹת הָר אַחֵר, וְלֹא טַעַם פֵּרוֹת בִּקְעָה זוֹ לְטַעַם פֵּרוֹת בִּקְעָה אַחֶרֶת? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: **אֶרֶץ הָרִים וּבְקָעֹת**, הָרִים – הָרִים הַרְבֵּה; בְּקָעוֹת – בְּקָעוֹת הַרְבֵּה.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
3. Another word:
“A land of *mountains and valleys*” (Dt. 11:11)—
this explains that the flavor of the *mountain-fruit*
was not equal to the flavor of the *valley-fruit*,
nor the flavor of the *valley-fruit*
to the flavor of the *mountain-fruit*.
I know only that
the flavor of the mountain-fruit
was not equal to the flavor of the valley-fruit,
nor was the flavor of the valley-fruit
equal to the flavor of the mountain-fruit.
But how do I know that
the flavor of the fruit on *this* mountain was not equal to
the flavor of the fruit on *another* mountain,
nor was the flavor of the fruit of *this* valley equal to
the flavor of the fruit of *another* valley?
The Teaching states:
“A land of *mountains and valleys*” (Dt. 11:11):
*mountains*—[the plural] means *many* mountains
[each lending a special flavor to its fruit];
—[the plural] means *many* valleys
[with similarly varied fruit].


###### Sifrei Devarim 39:4
[Sifrei Devarim 39:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/39:4)

רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַי אוֹמֵר: שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה אֲרָצוֹת נִתְּנוּ, כְּנֶגֶד שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְלֹא שָׁווּ טַעַם פֵּרוֹת שִׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל זֶה לְטַעַם פֵּרוֹת שִׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל זֶה וְלֹא טַעַם פֵּרוֹת שִׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל זֶה לְטַעַם פֵּרוֹת שִׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל זֶה! וְאֵלּוּ הֵם: (דברים ו י-יא) ״כִּי הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה בָא שָׁמָּה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ״, **וְהָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם עֹבְרִים שָׁמָּה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ**, **אֶרֶץ הָרִים וּבְקָעֹת**, ״אֶרֶץ אֲשֶׁר ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ דֹּרֵשׁ אֹתָהּ״, (דברים ח ז-י) ״כִּי ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ מְבִיאֲךָ אֶל אֶרֶץ טוֹבָה״, ״אֶרֶץ נַחֲלֵי מָיִם״, ״אֶרֶץ חִטָּה וּשְׂעֹרָה״, ״אֶרֶץ זֵית שֶׁמֶן וּדְבָשׁ״, ״אֶרֶץ אֲשֶׁר לֹא בְמִסְכֵּנֻת״, ״אֶרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אֲבָנֶיהָ בַרְזֶל״, ״עַל הָאָרֶץ הַטּוֹבָה אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לָךְ״, ״אֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבָשׁ״ – הֲרֵי שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה אֲרָצוֹת נִתְּנוּ כְּנֶגֶד שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְלֹא שָׁווּ טַעַם פֵּרוֹת שִׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל זֶה לְטַעַם פֵּרוֹת שִׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל זֶה וְלֹא טַעַם פֵּרוֹת שִׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל זֶה לְטַעַם פֵּרוֹת שִׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל זֶה, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: **אֶרֶץ הָרִים וּבְקָעֹת**, הָרִים – הָרִים הַרְבֵּה, בְּקָעוֹת – בְּקָעוֹת הַרְבֵּה.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
4. R. Shimon b. Yohai says:
*Twelve lands (‘aratzot*) were apportioned,
corresponding to the twelve tribes of Israel.
And the taste of the fruit of *this tribe* was not identical to
the taste of the fruit of *that tribe*,
nor was the taste of the fruit of *that tribe* identical to
the taste of the fruit of *this tribe*.
And here they are:
“And the *Land* which you are about to possess” (Dt. 11:10);
“But the *Land* which you are crossing over to possess” (Dt. 11:11);
“A *Land* of mountains and valleys” (Dt. 11:11);
“A *Land* after which HASHEM your God inquires” (Dt. 11:12).
“For HASHEM your God is bringing you into a good *Land* (Dt. 8:7);
“A *Land* with streams” (Dt. 8:7);
“A *Land* of wheat and barley” (Dt. 8:8);
“A *Land* of olive oil and honey” (Dt. 8:8);
“A *Land* where you will eat bread without poverty” (Dt. 8:9);
“A *Land* whose stones are iron” (Dt. 8:9);
“Because of the good *Land* which He has given you” (Dt. 8:10);
“A *Land* dripping with milk and honey” (Dt. 11:9).
This proves that:
twelve lands were apportioned,
corresponding to the twelve tribes of Israel.
And the taste of the fruit of *this tribe* was not equal to
the taste of the fruit of *that tribe*,
nor was the taste of the fruit of *that tribe*
equal to the taste of the fruit of *this tribe*.
The Teaching states:
“A land of *mountains and valleys*” (Dt. 11:11):
*mountains*—[the plural] means *many* mountains
[each lending a special flavor to its fruit];
*valleys*—[the plural] means *many* valleys
[with similarly varied fruit].


###### Sifrei Devarim 39:5
[Sifrei Devarim 39:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/39:5)

רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בֶּן הַמְשֻׁלָּם אוֹמֵר: מִנַּיִן אַתָּה אוֹמֵר, שֶׁכְּשֵׁם שֶׁנּוֹתֵן מַטְעַמִּים בָּאָרֶץ כָּךְ נוֹתֵן מַטְעַמִּים בַּיָּם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (בראשית א י): ״וּלְמִקְוֵה הַמַּיִם קָרָא יַמִּים״, וַהֲלֹא יָם אֶחָד הוּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית א ט): ״יִקָּווּ הַמַּיִם מִתַּחַת הַשָּׁמַיִם אֶל מָקוֹם אֶחָד״, מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״וּלְמִקְוֵה הַמַּיִם קָרָא יַמִּים״? מַגִּיד שֶׁלֹּא שָׁוֶה טַעַם דָּג הָעוֹלֶה מֵעַכּוֹ לְטַעַם דָּג הָעוֹלֶה מִצִּידוֹן, וְלֹא הָעוֹלֶה מִצִּידוֹן לָעוֹלֶה מִפַּמְיָיס!

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
5. R. Yose b. Meshullam says:
On what basis can you say that
just as He created delicacies in the Land,
so, too, He created delicacies in the sea?
**The Teaching states:**
**“And the gathering of waters He called seas” (Gn. 1:9).**
**Now isn’t there only one sea?**
**For it is said:**
**“Let the waters gather under the Heavens**
**to a single place” (Gn. 1:10)**.²⁸
So, what does the Teaching mean by
“And the gathering of waters He called seas?” (Gn. 1:9)
This teaches that
the taste of a fish from Akko
is not identical to the taste of a fish from Sidon,
nor does a fish from Sidon taste like one from Paneas.

footnotes:
²⁸ Cf. M.Miq.5:4, M.Par.8:8


###### Sifrei Devarim 39:6
[Sifrei Devarim 39:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/39:6)

לְפִי שֶׁעֲפָרוֹ שֶׁל הַר קַל וְשֶׁל בִּקְעָה שָׁמֵן, יָכוֹל יִהְיוּ מַיִם גּוֹרְשִׁים אֶת הֶעָפָר לִמְקוֹם בִּקְעָה וּתְהֵא בִּקְעָה מְחֻסֶּרֶת מַיִם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר **אֶרֶץ הָרִים וּבְקָעֹת**, הַר לְפִי מַה שֶּׁהוּא וּבִקְעָה לְפִי מַה שֶּׁהִיא, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (זכריה י א): ״שַׁאֲלוּ מֵה׳ מָטָר בְּעֵת מַלְקוֹשׁ״.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
6. Insofar as
the soil of the mountain is thin,
and that of the valley is rich—
is it possible for rain water to flush the soil to the valley,
[leaving the mountain eroded,] like a valley, lacking water?
The Teaching states:
“A Land of *mountains and valleys*” (Dt. 11:11):
*mountains*—as they normally are,
*and valleys*—as they normally are.
And, similarly, He says:
“Petition HASHEM for rain in the season of late rains” (Zech. 10:1).
Or insofar as
the Land of Israel is enfolded in mountains—
does it drink from what *is exposed*, [that is, from the rivers],
but not drink from what *is not exposed*, [that is, the rains]?
The Teaching states:
“Drinking its water from the *rains* of Heaven” (Dt. 11:11)—
it drinks from the exposed and the unexposed alike!
And similarly, He says:
“He also loads *clouds* with water”²⁹ (Oxford, et al., 2004), Pp. 1554. (Job 37:11).
And He says:
“He causes the world to turn according to His plans” (Job 37:12)—
so that the *clouds* surround the Land,
and water it from all sides.
Or insfar as
the Land drinks *rain* water—
does it not need to drink irrigation water ?
The Teaching states:
“Drinking its *water* from the *rains* of heaven” (Dt. 11:11).
When the verse specifies *water*,
it means that the Land drinks also from irrigation water.
And similarly He says:
“For HASHEM your God is bringing you to a good Land,
a Land with streams of *water*” (Dt. 8:7).
Or insfar as
the Land drinks *irrigation* water—
does it not drink *snow* run-off?
The Teaching states:
“Drinking its water from the rains of Heaven” (Dt. 11:11).
When the verse specifies *water*,
it means that the Land
also drinks s*now* run-off.
And similarly He says:
“As the rain and snow drop from the heavens” (Is. 55:10).
And He says:
“And to the snow, He calls out—become land!” (Job 37:6).
Or insofar as,
the Land drinks *snow* run-off—
does it not drink *dew*?
The Teaching states:
“Drinking its *water* from the rains of Heaven” (Dt. 11:11).
When the verse specifies *water*,
it means that the Land also drinks *dew*.

footnotes:
²⁹ Translation of the verse follows the explanatory note to the JPS translation as found in A. Berlin and M. Brettler, eds., The Jewish Study Bible


###### Sifrei Devarim 39:7
[Sifrei Devarim 39:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/39:7)

אוֹ לְפִי שֶׁאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל מְכֻפֶּלֶת בֶּהָרִים, יְהֵא גָלוּי שׁוֹתֶה, שֶׁאֵין גָּלוּי אֵין שׁוֹתֶה? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: **לִמְטַר הַשָּׁמַיִם תִּשְׁתֶּה מָּיִם**, גָּלוּי וְשֶׁאֵין גָּלוּי שׁוֹתֶה! וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (איוב לז יא): ״אַף בְּרִי יַטְרִיחַ עָב יָפִיץ עֲנַן אוֹרוֹ״, וְאוֹמֵר (איוב לז יב): ״וְהוּא מְסִבּוֹת מִתְהַפֵּךְ״, שֶׁיְּהוּ עֲנָנִים מַקִּיפוֹת אוֹתָהּ וּמַשְׁקוֹת אוֹתָהּ מִכָּל רוּחַ.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
Or insofar as
the Land of Israel is enfolded in mountains—
does it drink from what *is exposed*, [that is, from the rivers],
but not drink from what *is not exposed*, [that is, the rains]?
The Teaching states:
“Drinking its water from the *rains* of Heaven” (Dt. 11:11)—
it drinks from the exposed and the unexposed alike!
And similarly, He says:
“He also loads *clouds* with water”²⁹ (Oxford, et al., 2004), Pp. 1554. (Job 37:11).
And He says:
“He causes the world to turn according to His plans” (Job 37:12)—
so that the *clouds* surround the Land,
and water it from all sides.

footnotes:
²⁹ Translation of the verse follows the explanatory note to the JPS translation as found in A. Berlin and M. Brettler, eds., The Jewish Study Bible


###### Sifrei Devarim 39:8
[Sifrei Devarim 39:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/39:8)

אוֹ לְפִי שֶׁשּׁוֹתָה מֵי גְשָׁמִים, אֲבָל אֵינוֹ שׁוֹתָה מֵי שְׁלוּחִים? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: **לִמְטַר הַשָּׁמַיִם תִּשְׁתֶּה מָּיִם**, כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר **מָּיִם** אַף מֵי שְׁלוּחִים שׁוֹתָה! וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (דברים ח ז): ״כִּי ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ מְבִיאֲךָ אֶל אֶרֶץ טוֹבָה אֶרֶץ נַחֲלֵי מָיִם״.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
Or insfar as
the Land drinks *rain* water—
does it not need to drink irrigation water ?
The Teaching states:
“Drinking its *water* from the *rains* of heaven” (Dt. 11:11).
When the verse specifies *water*,
it means that the Land drinks also from irrigation water.
And similarly He says:
“For HASHEM your God is bringing you to a good Land,
a Land with streams of *water*” (Dt. 8:7).


###### Sifrei Devarim 39:9
[Sifrei Devarim 39:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/39:9)

אוֹ לְפִי שֶׁשּׁוֹתָה מֵי שְׁלוּחִים, אֲבָל אֵינָהּ שׁוֹתָה מֵי שְׁלָגִים? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: **לִמְטַר הַשָּׁמַיִם תִּשְׁתֶּה מָּיִם**, כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר **מָּיִם** אַף מֵי שְׁלָגִים שׁוֹתָה! וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (ישעיה נה י): ״כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר יֵרֵד הַגֶּשֶׁם וְהַשֶּׁלֶג מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם״, וְאוֹמֵר (איוב לז ו): ״כִּי לַשֶּׁלֶג יֹאמַר הֱוֵי אָרֶץ״.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
Or insfar as
the Land drinks *irrigation* water—
does it not drink *snow* run-off?
The Teaching states:
“Drinking its water from the rains of Heaven” (Dt. 11:11).
When the verse specifies *water*,
it means that the Land
also drinks s*now* run-off.
And similarly He says:
“As the rain and snow drop from the heavens” (Is. 55:10).
And He says:
“And to the snow, He calls out—become land!” (Job 37:6).


###### Sifrei Devarim 39:10
[Sifrei Devarim 39:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/39:10)

אוֹ לְפִי שֶׁשּׁוֹתָה מֵי שְׁלָגִים, אֲבָל אֵינָהּ שׁוֹתָה מֵי טְלָלִים? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: **לִמְטַר הַשָּׁמַיִם תִּשְׁתֶּה מָּיִם**, כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר **מָּיִם** אַף מֵי טְלָלִים שׁוֹתָה!

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
Or insofar as,
the Land drinks *snow* run-off—
does it not drink *dew*?
The Teaching states:
“Drinking its *water* from the rains of Heaven” (Dt. 11:11).
When the verse specifies *water*,
it means that the Land also drinks *dew*.


###### Sifrei Devarim 39:11
[Sifrei Devarim 39:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/39:11)

דָּבָר אַחֵר: מָה גְּשָׁמִים לִבְרָכָה אַף טְלָלִים לִבְרָכָה, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (בראשית כז כח): ״וְיִתֶּן לְךָ הָאֱלֹהִים מִטַּל הַשָּׁמַיִם״, וְאוֹמֵר (דברים לב ב): ״יַעֲרֹף כַּמָּטָר לִקְחִי״, וְאוֹמֵר (הושע יד ו): ״אֶהְיֶה כַטַּל לְיִשְׂרָאֵל״, וְאוֹמֵר (מיכה ה ו): ״וְהָיָה שְׁאֵרִית יַעֲקֹב כְּטַל מֵאֵת ה׳״.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
7. Another word:
Just as *rains* are for a blessing,
so too is *dew* for a blessing.
And similarly He says:
“May God give you of the *dew* of Heaven” (Gn. 27:28).
And He says:
“And may my teaching distill as the *dew*” (Dt. 32:2).
And He says:
“I will be to Israel like *dew*” (Hos. 14:6).
And He says:
“And the remnant of Jacob shall be like *dew* from HASHEM” (Mic. 5:6).