Commentary for Bava Metzia 213:15
ברוך אתה בשדה שיהו נכסיך משולשין שליש בתבואה שליש בזיתים ושליש בגפנים ברוך אתה בבואך וברוך אתה בצאתך שתהא יציאתך מן העולם כביאתך לעולם מה ביאתך לעולם בלא חטא אף יציאתך מן העולם בלא חטא
Rab Judah said to Rabin son of R. Nahman: My brother Rabin, do not buy a field that is near a town; for R. Abbahu said in the name of R. Huna in Rab's name: One may not stand over his neighbour's field when its crop is full grown.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'when it is with its standing crop'. The reason is that he might injure it through the evil eye. ');"><sup>14</sup></span> But that is not so! For when R. Abba met Rab's disciples, and asked them: what comments did Rab make upon these verses: <i>Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out</i>?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XXVIII, 3, 6. ');"><sup>15</sup></span> They answered him: Thus did Rab say: <i>'Blessed shalt thou be in the city'</i> — that thy house shall be near a synagogue; <i>'and blessed shalt thou be in the field</i>' — that thy property shall be near the city; '<i>Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in</i>' — that thou shalt not find thy wife in doubt of <i>niddah</i><span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos. ');"><sup>16</sup></span> on returning home from thy travels; <i>'and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out'</i> — that thine offsprings shall be as thee.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Translating the Heb. [H] 'in respect of that which goeth forth from thee.' ');"><sup>17</sup></span> Whereupon he observed: R. Johanan did not interpret thus, but: <i>'Blessed shalt thou be in the city</i>' — that the privy closet shall be near to thy table,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Metaphorically: there shall be adequate and readily accessible sanitation. ');"><sup>18</sup></span> but not the synagogue.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., in his opinion it is not desirable that the synagogue shall be near at hand, because, as stated in the Gemara, one is rewarded for walking to the synagogue. ');"><sup>19</sup></span> R. Johanan's interpretation is in accordance with his opinion, viz., One is rewarded for walking [to a synagogue]. '<i>And blessed shalt thou be in the field</i>' — that thy estate shall be divided in three [equal] portions of cereals, Olives, and vines. <i>'Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out</i>' — that thine exit from the world shall be as thine entry therein: just as thou enterest it without sin, so mayest thou leave it without!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Reverting to the interpretation given in the name of Rab, the second passage contradicts Rab Judah's remark. ');"><sup>20</sup></span>
Explore commentary for Bava Metzia 213:15. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.