Commentary for Berakhot 115:1
אמר רבי ירמיה בן אלעזר נתקללה בבל נתקללו שכניה נתקללה שומרון נתברכו שכניה נתקללה בבל נתקללו שכניה דכתיב (ישעיהו יד, כג) ושמתיה למורש קפוד ואגמי מים נתקללה שומרון נתברכו שכניה דכתיב (מיכה א, ו) ושמתי שומרון לעי השדה למטעי כרם וגו'
R. Jeremiah b. Eleazar said : When Babylon was cursed, her neighbours were cursed ; but when Samaria was cursed, her neighbours were blessed. When Babylon was cursed, her neighbours were cursed ; for it is written, "I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water" (ibid.). When Samaria was cursed, her neighbours were blessed ; for it is written, "Therefore I will make Samaria a heap in the field, a place for the planting of vineyards" (Micah i. 6).
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
It was to become perpetual ruins, and thus an eyesore to bordering States ; whereas Samaria was to become a vineyard plantation.
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