חלוקת הארץ בגורל, גבולות ארץ ישראל, וירושת השבטים

And you shall inherit the land by lottery to your families. This means that the land was divided among the families of each tribe, as previously enumerated. For a tribe or family with many people, they would receive a larger portion, and for those with fewer, a smaller portion. Whatever portion comes out to a person or family in the lottery, that is what they receive. The inheritance is given to the tribes of your fathers. The teacher notes that there are different opinions and calculations about how this division worked, some based on those who left Egypt, and others on those entering the land, as discussed earlier in Parshas Pinchas and in the Gemara. The verse is teaching the process of dividing the land among the tribes and families by lottery.

Rashi explains that the phrase "El asher yeytse lo shama" is a shortened verse, and we need to add the word "makom" (place). So it means: to the place that the lottery comes out for him, that is what he receives. Wherever the lottery goes, that is what he gets.

Rashi explains that "Lematot avoseichem" means according to the count of those who left Egypt. Another explanation is that it refers to twelve boundaries, corresponding to the number of tribes. The teacher notes that this is a bit difficult, since the land was ultimately divided among nine and a half tribes, not twelve, because two and a half tribes took their portion on the other side of the Yarden. But Rashi brings both explanations.

If you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those whom you leave will become like thorns in your eyes and coverings in your sides, and they will oppress you in the land you dwell in. The teacher explains that if you allow the nations to remain, they will cause you trouble and pain, like thorns in your eyes and obstacles at your sides, and they will oppress you in the land.

Rashi explains that those whom you leave from them will be to you for bad. The teacher notes that this seems obvious from the verse, but Rashi is emphasizing that they will be a negative influence and cause harm.

Rashi explains that "Lesikim be'eineichem" means like pegs that poke your eyes. The translation of "yiseydos" (pegs) is "sikhayo"—so these are like thorns or pegs in your eyes, causing pain and irritation.

Rashi explains that "Litzninim" refers to coverings of thorns, like a barrier of thorns that covers and closes you in, imprisoning you so you cannot come in or go out. It means you will be surrounded and trapped by them.

Rashi says that "Vetzoreru eschem" means as the Targum translates—it means to oppress or imprison you.

And it will be that what I intended to do to them, I will do to you. The teacher explains that if you do not drive them out, Hashem will do to you what was supposed to be done to them—you will be oppressed and punished as they would have been.

Hashem spoke to Moshe, saying. The teacher simply reads the verse as Hashem instructing Moshe to speak to the people.

Instruct the Bnei Yisrael and say to them: When you come to the land of Canaan, this is the land that will fall to you as an inheritance, the land of Canaan to its boundaries. The teacher explains that this verse introduces the boundaries of Eretz Yisrael, which are important because many mitzvos apply only within these boundaries. The Torah specifies the borders so we know exactly where the mitzvos apply.

Rashi explains that since many mitzvos apply only in the land and not outside, the Torah needed to write the boundaries of the land on all sides. This tells you that only within these borders do the mitzvos apply.

Rashi explains that "Tipol lachem"—it will fall to you—refers to the division of the land by lottery. The division is called a "falling" because the lottery falls to a person or tribe. The Midrash adds that Hashem caused the heavenly officers of the seven nations to fall before Moshe, showing that they had no more power.

The southern boundary will be from the Midbar Tzin by the side of Edom, and the southern border will be from the edge of the Yam HaMelech to the east. The teacher explains that the Torah now describes the borders of Eretz Yisrael, starting with the southern side, moving from east to west. The southern border begins at the southeast corner by the Yam HaMelech and goes along the Midbar Tzin next to Edom. The teacher gives a detailed explanation of the four sides and corners of the land, describing how the border runs from the southeast to the southwest, then up the west side, across the north, and down the east side, forming a circuit around the land.

Rashi explains that "Paas Negev" means the southern side, which runs from east to west. The southern border starts from the Midbar Tzin, which is next to Edom. The teacher clarifies that this is the southernmost point, and the border runs along the Midbar Tzin, with Edom to the north of it. The border then continues from the edge of the Yam HaMelech on the east.

Rashi gives a detailed explanation of the geography: The Midbar Tzin is next to Edom, and there are three lands on the southern side of Eretz Yisrael—part of Egypt, all of Edom, and all of Moav. Egypt is at the southwest corner, Edom is next to it toward the east, and Moav is at the far southeast. When the Jews left Egypt, Hashem could have brought them directly into Eretz Yisrael through the north, but instead took them around through the south, as described in various verses. The teacher follows Rashi's explanation of how the Jews traveled around the borders of these lands before entering Eretz Yisrael, and how the southern border of Eretz Yisrael was defined in relation to these neighboring lands.

Rashi here is summarized as explained above—the teacher does not add further explanation for this unit.

The border will turn from the south to Maaleh Akrabim, pass to Tzin, and its end will be south of Kadesh Barnea, then go to Chatzar Adar and pass to Atzmon. The teacher explains that the border does not run in a straight line but angles and curves, passing south of Maaleh Akrabim and Kadesh Barnea, then continues to Chatzar Adar and Atzmon. Each segment of the border has a beginning and end, and the line widens or narrows as it moves along the southern edge of the land.

Rashi explains that whenever it says "Venasav" or "Veyatza," it means the border did not go straight but curved outward or angled. Here, the border curves northward in a slant toward the west, passing south of Maaleh Akrabim, so Maaleh Akrabim is inside the boundary.

Rashi explains that "Ve'ovar Tzinah" means it passes to Tzin, similar to how "Mitzrayma" means to Egypt. It is describing the path of the border as it passes by Tzin.

Rashi explains that "Vehayu totze'otav" means its ends—referring to the ends of the border line—are at the south of Kadesh Barnea. This marks the end of that segment of the southern border.

Rashi explains that "Veyatza Chatzer Adar" means the border spreads out further north as it passes Chatzar Adar and continues to Atzmon. After passing Kadesh Barnea, the border widens, then narrows again as it turns toward the Nachal Mitzrayim and the sea, marking the southwestern corner of Eretz Yisrael.

This verse is describing the end of the southern border of Eretz Yisrael. The border turns from Atsmon and goes to the river of Egypt, which is the Nachal Mitzrayim, and then its end is by the sea. So the border finishes at the sea, which is the western border. This is the end of the southern boundary, and from there, it doesn't continue further west; it stops at the sea.

Rashi explains that when it says Ve'hoyu Tots'osov HaYamah, it means to the western edge, to the western border. There is no more southern border that continues further west from there; from that point on, it ends at the sea.

This verse is now describing the western border of Eretz Yisrael. The border for you will be the Great Sea, meaning the Mediterranean, and that will be the western boundary. The verse repeats that this will be your western border.

Rashi says VeGvul Yam means the western border. What is the western border? It is the sea.

Rashi explains Ve'haya Lachem HaYam HaGadol means that the Great Sea is the border.

Rashi adds that the word Gvul here includes the islands that are within the sea. Those islands are also considered part of the boundary of Eretz Yisrael. He says these are called "islands" in the language of the nations.

This verse now describes the northern border. From the Great Sea, you should slant or turn towards Hor HaHor. So the northern border starts at the Great Sea and goes to Hor HaHor, which is in the northwest corner. The head of Hor HaHor sticks out into the sea, and there is a width of the sea both inside and outside of it.

Rashi says Gvul Tzofon means the northern border, the boundary of the north.

From the Great Sea, you should slant towards Hor HaHor, which is in the northwest corner. Its head juts into the sea, and there is a width of the sea both inside and outside of it. The verse is telling you to slant from the west towards the north to Hor HaHor.

Rashi explains Tisau means you should slant or tilt from the west towards the north to Hor HaHor.

Rashi says Tisau is a language of turning or slanting, like in the verses "El Ta HaRatzim" and "VeTa'ei HaSha'ar HaYitziah". In the language of the nations, it refers to a structure that is slanted or turned.

This verse continues the northern border. From Hor HaHor, you should turn to Levo Chamas, and the end of the border is at Tzedada. So the border goes from Hor HaHor to Levo Chamas (which Rashi says is Antioch), and ends at Tzedada.

Rashi explains MeHor HaHor means you turn and go along the northern border towards the east, and you reach Levo Chamas, which is Antioch.

Rashi explains Tots'os HaGvul means the end of the border. Whenever it says Tots'os HaGvul, it means either the border ends there completely and doesn't go further, or from there it spreads out and continues at an angle, extending further than the first width. For the first width, it's called Tots'os because that's where that measurement ends.

Now the verse says the border goes out to Zifron, and its end is at Chatzer Eynan. This will be your northern border. So from Tzedada, the border continues further north at an angle, and ends at Chatzer Eynan, which is the northeast corner.

Rashi explains that Ve'hoyu Tots'osov Chatzer Eynan means that Chatzer Eynan is the end of the northern border, and it is in the northeast corner. From there, you turn to the eastern border.

Now the verse says you should turn to the eastern border, from Chatzer Eynan to Shefama. So now we're going from the northeast corner down the eastern border.

Rashi explains Ve'his'aveisem is a language of turning or slanting, just like Tisau.

Rashi says Shefama is on the eastern border, and from there it goes to Rivla.

This verse describes the border going down from Shefam to Rivla on the east side of Ayin, and then it goes down and reaches the side of the Yam Kinneres to the east. So the border descends from north to south, and reaches the eastern side of the Yam Kinneres.

Rashi explains Mikedem LaAyin is the name of a place, and the border goes on its east. So Ayin is inside the border, and it is part of Eretz Yisrael.

Rashi says Veyorad HaGvul means whenever the border goes from north to south, it is called descending.

Rashi explains Umacha Al Keseif means it goes along the side.

The verse says Yam Kinneres Kedma, meaning the Yam Kinneres is inside the border to the west, and the border is to the east of the Yam Kinneres. From there, it goes down to the Jordan, which comes from the north to the south at an angle, tilting towards the east, and comes close to Eretz Kanaan opposite the Yam Kinneres, and continues along the eastern side of Eretz Yisrael until it falls into the Yam HaMelech. From there, the border ends at the Yam HaMelech, which is the beginning of the southeastern corner. This completes the border of Eretz Yisrael on all four sides.

This verse is describing the end of the boundaries of Eretz Yisrael. The border goes down to the Yarden, the Jordan River, and its end point is the Yam HaMelech, the Salt Sea, or the Dead Sea. The Torah is telling us that this is the land that will be for you, for your borders all around. So, the verse is summing up the description of the borders, saying that the land is surrounded by these boundaries, and this is the area that is considered Eretz Yisrael for the purposes of the mitzvos that apply in the land.

Moshe commands the Bnei Yisrael, saying: This is the land that you are to inherit by lottery, which Hashem commanded to give to the nine and a half tribes. Here, the Torah is making it clear that this division of the land is specifically for the nine and a half tribes, not all twelve, because the other two and a half tribes already took their portion on the other side of the Yarden. The inheritance is to be divided by lottery, as Hashem instructed, to these nine and a half tribes.

The tribe of the sons of Reuven, to their father's house, and the tribe of the sons of Gad, to their father's house, and half the tribe of Menashe—they took their inheritance. The verse is telling us that these two and a half tribes already received their portion of land, on the other side of the Yarden. The Torah lists them specifically: Reuven, Gad, and half of Menashe. The teacher notes that it's interesting how only half of Menashe took land on this side, and wonders how it was decided which half would be here and which half would be in Eretz Yisrael proper, but the Torah doesn't specify, and Rashi doesn't address it here.

The two tribes and the half-tribe took their inheritance on the other side of the Yarden, near Yericho, to the east, towards the sunrise. The verse is emphasizing that these two and a half tribes received their portion on the eastern side of the Jordan River, across from Yericho, in the direction of the sunrise, which is the east.

Rashi explains the phrase Kedma Mizrocha as referring to the face of the world, which is the east. The eastern direction is called the 'face,' and the western direction is called the 'back.' Therefore, when the Torah says Kedma Mizrocha, it means the front, which is the east. Because of this, the south is considered the right side, and the north is the left side, since when you face east, your right is south and your left is north.