Pisqa’ 56¹⁰

1. “Are they not across the Jordan” (Dt. 11:30)— across the Jordan and beyond: words of R. Judah.

footnotes: ¹⁰ H:113-114;JN1:181-182.

“Beyond the road that goes in the direction of the sun” (Dt. 11:30)— in the East, where the sun rises.

“By (‘eitzel) the terebinths¹¹ of Moreh” (‘eilonei moreh;Dt. 11:30)—

“And Abram traversed the Land until the place called Shechem, until (`ad*) the terebinth of Moreh” (*‘alon moreh; Gn. 12:6)—** just as the terebinth of Moreh mentioned elsewhere (Gn. 12:6) is called Shechem, so, too, the terebinths of Moreh mentioned here (Dt. 11:30) **must refer to Shechem.**¹² 2. Said R. Elazar b. R. Yose: I said to the Samaritan scribes— you have corrupted [the text of] the Torah! Yet you gain nothing by copying that text (Dt. 11:30) as follows: “By the terebinths of Moreh, that is, Shechem.” But we [disciples of sages], however, learn [from our own tradition¹³) as the source of exegetical tradition.] that the verse puts Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal in Samaritan territory. For it is stated: “Are they not across the Jordan . . . by the terebinths of Moreh” (Dt. 11:30). And elsewhere He states: “And Abram traversed the Land . . . until the place called Shechem, until the terebinth of Moreh” (Gn. 12:6). Just as the terebinth of Moreh mentioned elsewhere (Gn. 12:6) is called Shechem, so, too, the terebinths of Moreh mentioned here (Dt. 11:30) **must refer to Shechem.**¹⁴ 56:1. 3. R. Eliezer says: This does not refer to Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal, in Samaritan territory. For it is stated: “Are they not across the Jordan” (Dt. 11:30)— that is, adjacent to trans-Jordan [on the east], [while Samaria is on the western side of the Jordan]. “Beyond the road that goes in the direction of the sun” (Dt. 11:30)— that is, to the west, where the sun sets. “In the Land of the Canaanite” (Dt. 11:30)— the reference must be to the Hivites [rather than the Samaritans]. “Who dwell in the Arabah” (Dt. 11:30)— [while Samaritans] live in the midst of the hills. “Opposite Gilgal”¹⁵ (Dt. 11:30)— and they cannot even see Gilgal [from the hills of Samaria]!

footnotes: ¹¹ Probably a grove of pistachios. ¹² // M. Sotah 7:2. ¹³ RH’s text names analogical reasoning (gezerah shawah ¹⁴ // M. Sotah 7:2 and Pisqa’ ¹⁵ Gilgal is in the Jordan valley.

4. R. Eliezer b. Jacob says: this verse comes only to prepare them for the second entry [into the Land], as it had already done for the first [entry under Joshua (e.g., Nu. 13:17)]. Thus: “Take the road” (Dt. 11:30)— instructs Israel to avoid trampling the fields. “Who dwell” (Dt. 11:30)— in settlements rather than in the desert. “In the Arabah”— through the plain, rather than the hills.