Commentary for Pesachim 236:20

מאי לא יאצר תני רב יוסף לא יאצר זה בית אוצר ולא יחסן זה בית גניזה מאי כי ליושבים לפני ה' אר"א

He will think not to accept it from them, but the Holy One, blessed be He, will instruct him, 'Accept it from them: they furnished hospitality to My children in Egypt.' Immediately, 'Nobles shall come out of Egypt [bringing gifts].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ps, LXVIII, 32.');">¹⁷</span> Then Ethiopia shall argue with herself: If those [the Egyptians] who enslaved them are thus [treated], how much the more we, who did not enslave them! At that the Holy One, blessed be He, shall bid him: 'Accept it from then,.' Straightway, 'Ethiopia shall hasten to stretch out her hands unto God.'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid.');">¹⁸</span> Then shall the wicked Roman State argue with herself: If those who are not their brethren are thus [accepted], how much the more we, their brethren.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Rome was always identified with Edom, the state built by Esau's descendants; v. Gen. XXXV, 1.');">¹⁹</span> But the Holy One, blessed be He, will say to Gabriel: Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds [kaneh]; the multitude of ['adath] the bulls:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ps. LXVIII, 31.');">²⁰</span> rebuke the wild beast [Rome] and take thee possession [keneh] of the congregation ['edah].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., Israel.');">²¹</span> Another interpretation: rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, i.e.that dwells among the reeds, as it is written, The boar out of the wood doth ravage it, that which moveth in the field feedeth on it.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ps. LXXX, 14. Kaneh is now interpreted as the cane reeds of the forest, the boar (or, swine) being Rome. This interpretation is probably connected with the midrash that when Solomon married Pharaoh's daughter an angel planted a large reed in the sea whereon Rome was built');">²²</span> R'Hiyya B'Abba interpreted it in R'Johanan's name: Rebuke the wild beast all of whose actions may be recorded with the same pen.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Kaneh is now connected with the same word meaning feather, quill. - All their activities are of the same nature - evil to Israel.');">²³</span> 'The multitude of the bulls [abbirim], with the calves of the people':<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ps. LXVIII, 31.');">²⁴</span> that means that they slaughtered the valiant [abbirim] like calves which have no owners.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To protect them.');">²⁵</span> 'Everyone opening his hand with the desire of money':<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Reading mithrapes as mattir pas - the letters are almost the same - opening the hand, and connecting raze with razon, desire; the money that is given to ensure the fulfilment of one's wishes. E.V.: Every one submitting himself with pieces of silver.');">²⁶</span> they stretch out their hand to accept the money, but do not carry out its owners' wishes.' He hath scattered the people that delight in approaches': what caused Israel to be scattered among the nations? The approaches [to the nations] which they desired.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Maharsha retains the natural translation 'war': had they submitted to Nebuchadnezzar and Titus at the first and second Temples respectively, instead of desiring war, they would not have gone into exile. vkgn');">²⁷</span> He also sent to him: There are three hundred and sixty five thoroughfares in the great city of Rome, and in each there were three hundred and sixty five palaces; and in each palace there were three hundred and sixty five storeys,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' means a stairway, and is probably to be understood as in the text.');">²⁸</span> and each storey contained sufficient to provide the whole world with food.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Maharsha: The number three hundred and sixty five is symbolic, because the Gentiles depend on the solar year of three hundred and sixty five days.');">²⁹</span> R'Simeon B'Rabbi asked Rabbi - others say, R'Ishmael son of R'Jose asked Rabbi - For whom are all these [other storeys]? - For you, your companions and acquaintances, as it is said, And her gain and her hire shall be holiness to the Lord,' it shall not be stored nor treasured; for her gain shall be for them that dwell before th Lord.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Isa. XXIII, 18.');">³⁰</span> What does 'it shall not be stored' mean? - R'Joseph learned: 'It shall not be stored' refers to a storehouse [granary]; 'nor treasured,' to a treasure house.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., of gold and silver.');">³¹</span> What means 'for them that dwell before the Lord'? - Said R'Eleazar:

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