1)

Why does the Torah repeat "al-Pi ha'Goral ... "?

1.

Rashi: To teach us that the Goral actually spoke, 1 thereby demonstrating that the lots worked via Ru'ach ha'Kodesh.

2.

Ramban and Seforno: To teach us that also the families of each tribe received their portion of land via a Goral. 2

3.

Bava Basra, 122a: To teach us that Eretz Yisrael was distributed by means of the Urim ve'Tumim. 3


1

Refer to 26:55:2:1.

2

Ramban: As the Torah explains in Bamidbar 33:54.

3

See Torah Temimah, note 11.

2)

"al-Pi be'Goral Techalek es ha?Aretz ". What was the main purpose of the Goral?

1.

R. Bachye #1: The Goral determined who received better-quality land and who received inferior-quality land, and the former had to pay the latter the difference. 1

2.

R. Bachye: #2: It prevented quarrels among the tribes as to who should receive what, 2 and that no-one would covet the other one?s portion, but would acknowledge that it comes from Hashem. 3


1

See R. Chavel?s footnotes, who equates this with the opinion of Rashi.

2

As the Pasuk writes in Mishlei 18:18 ?Medanim Yashbis ha?Goral, u?Vein Atzumim Yafrid?. See R. Bachye.

3

R. Bachye: As the Pasuk writes in Mishlei 16:33 ?be?Cheik Yutal es ha?Goral u?me?Hashem Kol Mishpato!?

3)

What are the connotations of the words "Bein Rav li'Me'at"?the fact that Eretz Yisrael

1.

Ramban: It implies that a larger tribe received a larger portion, and a smaller tribe, a smaller portion.

2.

Sifri: It teaches us that the land was divided by assessment - a Beis Kur (of poor-quality land) against a Beis Sa'ah (of superior-quality land). 1

3.

Oznayim la'Torah (citing the Ha'amek Davar): In the event that two people of equal standing inherited two pieces of land which could be divided in two ways, the Goral decided how to divide it.

4.

Bava Basra, 122a: It teaches us that each tribe received its portion according to the Goral, irrespective of whether it received a large portion - because it was small in number - or whether it received a small portion - because it was large in number - a proof that the Eretz Yisrael was divided according to the tribes and not according to the people. 2

5.

Yerushalmi Yoma, 4:1: It teaches us that - besides the fact that Eretz Yisrael was divided via Goralos and the Urim ve'Tumim, it was also divided via money (taking into aount the vakue of the land) - inasmuch as someone who lived closer to Yerushalayim received a smaller portion of land than someone who lived far from Yerushalyim - 'One Beis Sa'ah in Yehudaah was equivalent to five Beis-Sa'ah in the Galil'. 3


1

See Torah Temimah, note 18.

2

This is how the Rashbam and R.This is how the Rashbam and R Gershom explain it. See Torah Temimah, note 17, who disagrees and elaborates.

3

See Torah Temimah, citing Bava Basra, 122a for more details.

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:
Month: Day: Year:
Month: Day: Year:

KIH Logo
D.A.F. Home Page
Sponsorships & DonationsReaders' FeedbackMailing ListsTalmud ArchivesAsk the KollelDafyomi WeblinksDafyomi CalendarOther Yomi calendars