בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי נָשִׂיא לִבְנֵי אֶפְרַיִם אֱלִישָׁמָע בֶּן עַמִּיהוּד. זֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב: לִי גִלְעָד לִי מְנַשֶּׁה, וְאֶפְרַיִם מָעוֹז רֹאשִׁי, יְהוּדָה מְחוֹקְקִי (שם ס, ט). לִי גִלְעָד. אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אִם יֹאמְרוּ לְךָ עַכּוּ״ם שֶׁאֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְחַיֶּה מֵתִים. אֱמֹר לָהֶם, הֲרֵי אֵלִיָּהוּ מֵעִיד, שֶׁהֶחְיֵיתִי הַמֵּת עַל יָדוֹ. הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר, לִי גִלְעָד, שֶׁהָיָה אֵלִיָּהוּ מִתּוֹשָׁבֵי גִּלְעָד. וְלִי מְנַשֶּׁה, אִם יֹאמְרוּ לְךָ, שֶׁאֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְקַבֵּל שָׁבִים. אֱמֹר לָהֶם, הֲרֵי מְנַשֶּׁה מֵעִיד שֶׁקִּבַּלְתִּי אוֹתוֹ בִּתְשׁוּבָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל אֵלָיו וַיֵּעָתֵר לוֹ וַיִּשְׁמַע תְּפִלָּתוֹ וַיְשִׁיבֵהוּ יְרוּשָׁלַיִם לְמַלְכוּתוֹ וַיֵּדַע מְנַשֶּׁה כִּי ה' הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים (דה״ב לג, יג). הֱוֵי, לִי מְנַשֶּׁה. אֶפְרַיִם מָעוֹז רֹאשִׁי, וְאִם יֹאמְרוּ לְךָ, שֶׁאֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא פּוֹקֵד עֲקָרוֹת. אֱמֹר לָהֶם, הֲרֵי אֶלְקָנָה מֵהַר אֶפְרַיִם מֵעִיד שֶׁפָּקַדְתִּי חַנָּה אִשְׁתּוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: כִּי פָקַד ה' אֶת חַנָּה וַתַּהַר (ש״א ב, כא). יְהוּדָה מְחוֹקְקִי, אִם יֹאמְרוּ לְךָ, שֶׁאֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַצִּיל אֶת הַצַּדִּיקִים מִן הָאֵשׁ, אֱמֹר לָהֶם חֲנַנְיָה מִישָׁאֵל וַעֲזַרְיָה מְעִידִין שֶׁהִצַּלְתִּי אוֹתָן מִן הַכִּבְשָׁן, וְהֵם מִשֵּׁבֶט יְהוּדָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיְהִי בָּהֶם מִבְּנֵי יְהוּדָה, דָּנִיֵּאל חֲנַנְיָה מִישָׁאֵל וַעֲזַרְיָה (דניאל א, ו). הֱוֵי, יְהוּדָה מְחוֹקְקִי. דָּבָר אַחֵר, לִי גִּלְעָד. אִם יֹאמַר לְךָ אָדָם, לָמָּה בָּנָה אֵלִיָּהוּ מִזְבֵּחַ בַּכַּרְמֶל וְהִקְרִיב עָלָיו קָרְבָּן, וּבֵית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ הָיָה קַיָּם בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה, וְאָמַר מֹשֶׁה, אִישׁ אִישׁ מִבֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁחַט וְאֶל פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וְגוֹ' (ויקרא יז, ג-ד). אֱמֹר לוֹ: כָּל מַה שֶּׁעָשָׂה אֵלִיָּהוּ, לִשְׁמוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עָשָׂה, וְעַל פִּי הַגְּבוּרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיְהִי כַּעֲלוֹת הַמִּנְחָה וְיִגַּשׁ אֵלִיָּהוּ הַנָּבִיא וַיֹּאמַר (מל״א יח, לו). הֱוֵי, לִי גִלְעָד. וְלִי מְנַשֶּׁה, אִם יֹאמַר לְךָ אָדָם, לָמָּה גִּדְעוֹן הִקְרִיב בַּבָּמָה, וַהֲרֵי הָיָה אָסוּר, שֶׁהֲרֵי שִׁילֹה קַיֶּמֶת הָיְתָה. אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא, שִׁבְעָה דְּבָרִים עָשָׂה גִּדְעוֹן, הִקְרִיב פַּר הַנֶּעֱבָד, וּפַר הַמֻּקְצֶה, וּבָנָה מִזְבֵּחַ, וְכָרַת עֵצִים מִן הָאֲשֵׁרָה, וְהִקְרִיב בַּלַּיְלָה קָרְבָּן עַל יָדוֹ בְּלֹא כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל, וְהָיָה מִן הַכּוֹמָרִים. וְכָל מַה שֶּׁעָשָׂה, עַל פִּי הַגְּבוּרָה עָשָׂה. וַיְהִי בַּלַּיְלָה הַהוּא, וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ ה', קַח אֶת פַּר הַשּׁוֹר אֲשֶׁר לְאָבִיךָ, וּפַר הַשֵּׁנִי שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים, וְהָרַסְתָּ אֶת מִזְבַּח הַבַּעַל אֲשֶׁר לְאָבִיךָ, וְאֶת הָאֲשֵׁרָה אֲשֶׁר עָלָיו תִּכְרֹת, וּבָנִיתָ מִזְבֵּחַ לַה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ עַל רֹאשׁ הַמָּעוֹז הַזֶּה בַּמַּעֲרָכָה, וְלָקַחְתָּ אֶת הַפָּר הַשֵּׁנִי וְהַעֲלִיתָ עוֹלָה בַּעֲצֵי הָאֲשֵׁרָה אֲשֶׁר תִּכְרֹת (שופטים ו, כה-כו). הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר, לִי מְנַשֶּׁה. יְהוּדָה מְחוֹקְקִי, וְאִם יֹאמַר לְךָ אָדָם, הֲרֵי דָּוִד עָבַר עַל לֹא תַּעֲשֶׂה. אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אֱמֹר לוֹ: דָּוִד לִמֵּד הַשָּׂבִים, כְּסוֹפֵר הַמְּלַמֵּד תִּינוֹקוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: אֲלַמְּדָהּ פּוֹשְׁעִים דְּרָכֶיךָ, וַחֲטָאִים אֵלֶיךָ יָשׁוּבוּ (תהלים נא, טו). הֱוֵי, יְהוּדָה מְחוֹקְקִי. אֶפְרַיִם מָעוֹז רֹאשִׁי, וְאִם יֹאמַר לְךָ אָדָם, לָמָּה חִלֵּל יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת בִּירִיחוֹ. אֱמֹר לוֹ: עַל פִּי הַגְּבוּרָה עָשָׂה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, רְאֵה נָתַתִּי בְּיָדְךָ אֶת יְרִיחוֹ וְאֶת מַלְכָּהּ גִּבּוֹרֵי הֶחָיִל, וְסַבּוֹתֶם אֶת הָעִיר כָּל אַנְשֵׁי הַמִּלְחָמָה הַקֵּיף אֶת הָעִיר פַּעַם אֶחָת, כֹּה תַּעֲשֶׂה שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים, וְשִׁבְעָה כֹהֲנִים יִשְׂאוּ שִׁבְעָה שׁוֹפְרוֹת הַיּוֹבְלִים לִפְנֵי הָאֲרוֹן, וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי תָּסֹבּוּ אֶת הָעִיר שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים (יהושע ו, ב-ד). וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁהָיְתָה שַׁבָּת. שֶׁאֵין שִׁבְעָה יָמִים בְּלֹא שַׁבָּת. הֱוֵי אֶפְרַיִם מָעוֹז רֹאשִׁי. וְעוֹד דָּבָר אַחֵר עָשָׂה יְהוֹשֻׁעַ מִדַּעְתּוֹ מַה שֶּׁלֹּא נֶאֱמַר לוֹ. כֵּיוָן שֶׁנִּכְבְּשָׁה חוֹמַת יְרִיחוֹ, שַׁבָּת הָיָה. אָמַר יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, הַשַּׁבָּת כֻּלּוֹ קֹדֶשׁ, וְכָל מַה שֶּׁכָּבַשְׁנוּ בְּשַׁבָּת, יְהֵא קֹדֶשׁ לַה', שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: כָּל כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב וּכְלֵי נְחֹשֶׁת וּבַרְזֶל קֹדֶשׁ הוּא לַה', אוֹצָר ה' יָבוֹא (יהושע ו, יט). אָמַר רַבִּי בְּרֶכְיָה הַכֹּהֵן בְּרַבִּי, כְּעִיר הַנִּדַּחַת עֲשָׂאָהּ, וְעִיר הַנִּדַּחַת אֲסוּרָה בַּהֲנָאָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְשָׂרַפְתָּ בָּאֵשׁ אֶת הָעִיר וְאֶת כָּל שְׁלָלָהּ כָּלִיל לַה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ (דברים יג, יז). אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בַּר שָׁלוֹם, לִמֵּד לְיִשְׂרָאֵל מַה שֶּׁאָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, רֵאשִׁית עֲרִיסוֹתֵיכֶם חַלָּה תָּרִימוּ תְּרוּמָה (במדבר טו, כ). לְכָךְ אָמַר יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, הוֹאִיל וְכָבַשְׁנוּ אוֹתָהּ תְּחִלָּה, נַקְדִּישׁ אֶת כָּל שְׁלָלָהּ לַגָּבֹהַּ. אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וְכָךְ עָשִׂיתָ, חַיֶּיךָ, הֲרֵי קָרְבָּנְךָ מְסַיֵּעַ אֶת שִׁבְטְךָ וְדוֹחֶה אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי נָשִׂיא לִבְנֵי אֶפְרַיִם. זֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב: בַּאֲשֶׁר דְּבַר מֶלֶךְ שִׁלְטוֹן, וּמִי יֹאמַר לוֹ מַה תַּעֲשֶׂה, שׁוֹמֵר מִצְוָה לֹא יֵדַע דָּבָר רַע (קהלת ח, ד-ה). וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר, אָמַר אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, לִי דִּבֵּר צוּר יִשְׂרָאֵל, מוֹשֵׁל בָּאָדָם, צַדִּיק מוֹשֵׁל יִרְאַת אֱלֹהִים (ש״ב כג, ג). מִי הוּא שֶׁמּוֹשֵׁל בְּיִצְרוֹ. מִי שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה רְצוֹנוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם. וּמִי הוּא זֶה, זֶה יוֹסֵף אֲבִי מְנַשֶּׁה אֲבִי אָבִיו שֶׁל יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן נוּן. מַה כְּתִיב בּוֹ, וַיְהִי אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, וַתִּשָּׂא אֵשֶׁת אֲדוֹנָיו אֶת עֵינֶיהָ אֶל יוֹסֵף, וַיְמָאֵן, וְלֹא שָׁמַע אֵלֶיהָ (בראשית לט, ז-י). אָמַר לֵיהּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אַתָּה לֹא שָׁמַעְתָּ לָהּ, חַיֶּיךָ, אֲנִי מַמְלִיכְךָ עַל מִצְרַיִם וְיִהְיוּ כֻּלָּם שׁוֹמְעִין לִדְבָרֶיךָ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיֹּאמַר פַּרְעֹה לְכָל מִצְרַיִם לְכוּ אֶל יוֹסֵף וְגוֹ' (שם מא, נה). וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר, אַתָּה תִּהְיֶה עַל בֵּיתִי וְגוֹ' (שם פסוק מ), וְלֹא יַעֲשׂוּ בְּנֵי פַּלְטְרִין שֶׁלִּי דָּבָר חוּץ מִדַּעְתְּךָ. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר, וְיוֹסֵף הוּא הַשַּׁלִּיט עַל הָאָרֶץ הוּא הַמַּשְׁבִּיר (שם מב, ו). עַל שֶׁשָּׁלַט בְּיִצְרוֹ, נַעֲשָׂה שַׁלִּיט בָּאָרֶץ. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיְהִי אִישׁ מַצְלִיחַ (שם לט, ב). לֹא הָיָה צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר אֶלָּא צַדִּיק, לָמָּה כְּתִיב אִישׁ מַצְלִיחַ. אָמַר לֵיהּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, שָׁוִיתָ מַה שֶּׁלֹּא שָׁוָה אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן. וְאֵין מַצְלִיחַ אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן שִׁוְיָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְצָלְחוּ הַיַּרְדֵּן לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ (ש״ב יט, יח). אָמַר לֵיהּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אֵין קָרְבָּן יָחִיד דּוֹחֶה אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת, חַיֶּיךָ, קָרְבַּן בִּנְךָ דּוֹחֶה אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת בִּשְׁבִיל מִצְוָה שֶׁעָשִׂיתָ. הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר, בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי נָשִׂיא לִבְנֵי אֶפְרַיִם אֱלִישָׁמָע בֶּן עַמִּיהוּד. אָמַר רַבִּי עֲזַרְיָה, אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְיוֹסֵף, אַתָּה שָׁמַרְתָּ מִצְוַת לֹא תִּנְאַף, וְקִיַּמְתָּ אֶת הַתּוֹרָה קֹדֶם שֶׁנְּתַתִּיהָ, חַיֶּיךָ, אֵין שֵׁבֶט מַפְסִיק בֵּין שְׁנֵי בָּנֶיךָ בְּקָרְבָּן, אֶלָּא אֶפְרַיִם בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי, וּמְנַשֶּׁה בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי. רַבִּי מֵאִיר וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן קָרְחָה הָיוּ דּוֹרְשִׁין אֶת הַשֵּׁמוֹת, אֱלִישָׁמָע, אֵלַי שָׁמַע, וְלַאֲדוֹנָתוֹ לֹא שָׁמַע. עַמִּיהוּד, עִמִּי הָיָה הוֹדוֹ, וְלֹא עִם אַחֵר. וְכֵן גַּמְלִיאֵל בֶּן פְּדָהצוּר. אָמַר יוֹסֵף, גַּמְלִיאֵל, גָּמַל אֵל עִמִּי גְּמוּלִים טוֹבִים. בֶּן פְּדָהצוּר, פָּדַנִי צוּר מִצָּרָתִי מִבֵּית הַסֹּהַר. וְכֵן כְּתִיב: יִגְמְלֵנִי ה' כְּצִדְקִי כְּבוֹר יָדַי וְגוֹ' (תהלים יח, כא). אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר אַמִּי, מַהוּ כְּבוֹר יָדַי. כְּבוֹרְיוּת יָדַי, שֶׁהָיִיתִי בָּרוּר בְּמִצְוֹת. יִגְמְלֵנִי ה'. כָּל אָדָם שֶׁהוּא עָנִי, יָרֵא מִן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. וּכְשֶׁהוּא עָשִׁיר, בּוֹטֵחַ בְּעָשְׁרוֹ וְאֵין עָלָיו יִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם. אֲבָל יוֹסֵף, כְּשֶׁהָיָה עֶבֶד, יָרֵא אֶת ה', כְּשֶׁהָיְתָה אֲדוֹנָתוֹ מְשַׁדַּלְתּוֹ, וְהוּא אוֹמֵר לָהּ, וְאֵיךְ אֶעֱשֶׂה הָרָעָה הַגְּדוֹלָה הַזֹּאת וְחָטָאתִי לֵאלֹהִים (בראשית לט, ט). וּכְשֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה מֶלֶךְ, הוֹסִיף יִרְאָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיֹּאמַר אֲלֵיהֶם יוֹסֵף בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי, זֹאת עֲשׂוּ וִחְיוּ, אֶת הָאֱלֹהִים אֲנִי יָרֵא (שם מב, יח). וּכְשֶׁיָּרְדוּ אֶחָיו אֶצְלוֹ שֵׁנִית, וַיַּרְא יוֹסֵף אִתָּם אֶת בִּנְיָמִין וְגוֹ' (שם מג, טז). וַהֲרֵי אֵין דֶּרֶךְ הַמְּלָכִים לְהָכִין מִיּוֹם לַחֲבֵרוֹ. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, שַׁבָּת הָיְתָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְהָכֵן (שם). וְאֵין וְהָכֵן אֶלָּא שַׁבָּת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְהָיָה בַּיּוֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁי וְהֵכִינוּ (שמות טז, ה). אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אַתָּה שָׁמַרְתָּ אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִתְּנָה, חַיֶּיךָ, שֶׁאֲנִי עוֹשֶׂה שֶׁבֶּן בִּנְךָ יִהְיֶה מַקְרִיב בְּשַׁבָּת. מִנַּיִן, מִמַּה שֶּׁקָּרְאוּ בָּעִנְיָן בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי נָשִׂיא לִבְנֵי אֶפְרַיִם. (Numb. 7:48:) “On the seventh day it was the prince of the Children of Ephraim.” This text is related (to Ps. 60:9), “Gilead is Mine and Manasseh is Mine; Ephraim also is My chief stronghold; Judah is My scepter.” Resh Laqish said, “If the idolaters should say to you that the Holy One, blessed be He, does not enliven the dead, say to them, ‘See here, Elijah bears witness that I enlivened the dead through his hand.’110Cf. Numb. R. 14:1. Ergo (in Ps. 60:9), ‘Gilead is mine,’ as Elijah was of the inhabitants of Gilead. (Ibid., cont.:) ‘And Manasseh is Mine.’ If they should say to you that the Holy One, blessed be He, does not receive repentant sinners, say to them, ‘See here, Manasseh bears witness that I received him through repentance, since it is stated (in II Chron. 33:13), “When he (i.e., Manasseh) prayed unto him, He (i.e., the Holy One, blessed be He,) granted his request, heard his [entreaty,] and restored him to Jerusalem and to his kingdom […].”’ Ergo (in Ps. 60:9), ‘and Manasseh is Mine.’ (Ibid., cont.:) ‘Ephraim also is My chief stronghold.’ And if they say to you that the Holy One, blessed be He, does not attend to (pqd) barren women, say to them, ‘See here, Elkanah of Mount Ephraim bears witness that I attended to (pqd) his wife Hannah, as stated (in I Sam. 2:21), “For the Lord visited (pqd) hannah; [so she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters].”’ (Ibid., cont.:) ‘Judah is my scepter.’ If they say to you that the Holy One, blessed be He, does not rescue from the fire, say to them, ‘See here, Hananiah and his friends bear witness that I rescued them from the fire, as stated (in Dan. 1:6), “Now among those from the Children of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.”’ Ergo (in Ps. 60:9), ‘Judah is my scepter.’” Another interpretation (of Ps. 60:9), “Gilead is Mine”: If someone says to you, “Why did Elijah build an altar up on Mount Carmel and sacrifice on it, when the Temple existed at that time? For Moses has said (in Lev. 17:3–4), ‘If any single person from the house of Israel slaughters [an ox, a lamb or a goat in the camp]…, And does not bring it unto the entrance of the tent of meeting [to offer a sacrifice to the Lord before the Tabernacle of the Lord, blood guilt shall be imputed to that person],’” say to him, “Everything that Elijah did, he did for the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, and by divine command.111yTa‘an. 2:8 (65d); Lev. R. 22:9. It is so stated (in I Kings 18:36), ‘And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the oblation (minhah), the prophet Elijah drew near and said […, and that I have done all these things at Your bidding].’” Ergo (in Ps. 60:9), “Gilead is Mine.” (Ibid., cont.:) “And Manasseh is Mine.” If someone says to you, “Why did Gideon sacrifice in a high place (bamah); see here, it was forbidden because there was Shiloh in existence?” [In answer to this question,] R. Abba bar Lahana said, “Gideon did seven [unlawful] things:112yMeg. 1:14 (or 12) (72c); Zev. 14:6; M. Sam. 13; see Tem. 28b-29a. (1) He sacrificed a bull which had been worshipped, (2) a bull which had been set aside (for idolatry), (3) he built an altar, (4) he cut wood [for it] from the asherah, (5) he sacrificed at night, (6) without the high priest, and (7) he was among idol-serving priests. Yet whatever he did, he did by divine command. It is so stated (in Jud. 6:25-26), ‘And it came to pass during that night that the Lord said to him, “Take the bull ox that belongs to your father […]”’” Ergo (in Ps. 60:9), “and Manasseh is Mine.” (Ibid., cont.:) “Judah is my scepter.” If someone says to you, “See here, David transgressed against a negative commandment,”113Buber, n. 147, suggests that the allusion is to the Bathsheba incident (II Sam. 11). This interpretation is suggested by citation of Ps. 51:15 which follows, since according to the introduction of this Psalm, David wrote it when Nathan came to him to condemn him for the Bathsheba affair. Cf. also Numb. R. 14:1, which alludes in this context to David building an altar and offering sacrifices on a high place (II Sam. 24:18-25 // I Chron. 21:18-26). the Holy One, blessed be He, said, “Say to him, ‘David taught the penitents, like a scribe teaching children.’” It is so stated (in Ps. 51:15), “Let me teach transgressors your ways and the sinners shall return unto You.” Ergo (in Ps. 60:9), “Judah is My scepter. (Ibid.:) “Ephraim also is My chief stronghold.” If someone says to you, “Why did Joshua profane the Sabbath in Jericho,” say to him, “He acted on divine command.” It is so stated (in Joshua 6:2), “Then the Lord said unto Joshua, ‘See, I have given Jericho into your hand […].’” It is also written (in vss. 3-4), “So you shall go around the city […]; thus shall you do for six days. And seven priests […]; but on the seventh day you shall go around the city seven times, [and the priests shall blow on the shofars].’” And how is it shown that it was on the Sabbath? In that there are never seven days without a Sabbath.114See yShab. 1:3 or 8 (4ab); Gen. R. 14:10; Seder Olam Rabbah 11. Ergo, “Ephraim also is My chief stronghold.” Now Joshua did yet another thing on his own initiative, which was not told to him. When Jericho was conquered, it was Sabbath. He said, “All of the Sabbath is holy, so whatever we conquer on the Sabbath will be holy to the Lord, as stated (in Josh. 6:19), “But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are holy to the Lord […].” R. Berekhyah the Priest Berabbi said, “He treated it like a city condemned (for idolatry), and in the case of a city condemned (for idolatry) it is forbidden [to derive] benefit [from it]. Thus it is stated (in Deut. 13:17), ‘and you shall burn with fire the city with all its plunder, wholly for the Lord your God.’” R. Judah bar Shallum the Levite said, “[Joshua] taught Israel what the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel (in Numb. 15:20), ‘You shall set aside the first of your dough [as a hallah offering].’ Joshua said, ‘In as much as we conquered it first, we shall dedicate all its booty to the most high.’ The Holy One, blessed be He, said, ‘In as much as you have done so, see, your offering is supporting your tribe and overriding the Sabbath.’ Thus it is stated (in Numb. 7:48), ‘On the seventh day it was the prince of the Children of Ephraim (who made the offering).’” This text is related (to Eccl. 8:4–5), “For a king's word is supreme […]. Whoever observes a commandment shall not know anything evil.” And so it says (in II Sam. 23:3), “The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has said to me, ‘One who governs over a person, who governs righteously the fear of God.” And who is the one who governs over his [evil] drive.115See above, Gen. 5:6. One who does the will of the Omnipresent. And who is this? This was Joseph, the father of [Ephraim], the father of the father of Joshua ben Nun. What is written about him (in Gen. 39:7–8)? “And it came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph […]. But he refused […].” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, “You did not heed her. By your life, I am making you king over Egypt. Then they all shall obey you, as stated (in Gen. 41:55), “then Pharaoh said to all Egypt, ‘Go unto Joseph.’” It also says (in vs. 40), “You shall be over my house,” and the children of my palace116Lat.: praetorium; Gk.: praitorion. shall do nothing without your consent. So it says (in Gen. 42:6), “Now Joseph was the governor over the land.” Because he governed his [evil] drive, he became governor over the land. (Gen. 39:2:) “And he was a successful man. It was only necessary to say "righteous man." Why is “successful man,” written? The Holy One, blessed be He, said to [Joseph], “You achieved what the first Adam did not achieve.”117I.e., unlike Adam, Joseph resisted temptation and overcame his evil drive. Successful (rt.: tslh) simply means achievement. Thus it is stated (in II Sam. 19:18), “and they crossed (rt.: tslh) the Jordan ahead of the king.”118The context is the successful return of King David to Jerusalem after his forces had achieved the defeat of Absalom. Cf. also Gen. R. 86:4. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, “No sacrifice by an individual overrides the Sabbath; yet by your life, the sacrifice by your son (Ephraim) will override the Sabbath, because of the good work (mitswah) that you did (in resisting temptation).” Ergo (in Numb. 7:48), “On the seventh day it was the prince of the Children of Ephraim, Elishama ben Ammihud.” R. Azariah said, “The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, [i.e.] to Joseph, ‘You have kept the commandment (mitswah) (from Exod. 20:13 = Deut. 5:17), of “You shall not commit adultery.” So you have fulfilled the Torah before I gave it. By your life, no tribe shall come between your two sons with a sacrifice. Instead (according to Numb. 7:48) Ephraim [shall bring an offering] on the seventh day; and (according to Numb. 7:54) Manasseh, on the eighth day.’” R. Meir and R. Joshua ben Qorhah were interpreting the names, “Elishama [means], he (Joseph) heeded (shama') my God (Eli), and he did not heed his mistress. Ben Ammihud (‘MYHWD) means, His glory (HWDW) was with me (‘MY) and not with another. Similarly also in the case of (Numb. 7:54), Gamaliel ben Pedahzur [prince of the Children of Manasseh, means that] Joseph said, God (El) has recompensed (gamal) my people with a good recompense (gemulim).’ Ben pedahzur (pdhtswr) means, the Rock (tswr) redeemed (pdh) me from my distress of the prison. And so is it written (according to Ps. 18:21), ‘The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the purity of my hands…’” R. Samuel bar Abba said, “What is the meaning of ‘according to the purity of my hands?’ According to the purity of my hands, because I was pure through good works.”119yTa’an. 3:12 (or 10) (67a). (Ps. 18:21:) “The Lord rewarded me.” How? When someone is poor, he trusts in the Holy One, blessed be He; but when he [becomes] wealthy, he trusts in his wealth and has no fear of [God]. However, when Joseph was a slave, he feared the Lord. When his mistress enticed him with words, he said to her (in Gen. 39:9), “then how shall I do this great evil and sin against God?” Also when he became king he added [to his] fear [of the Holy One, blessed be He], as stated (in Gen. 42:18), “And Joseph said to them on the third day, ‘Do this and live, for I fear God.’” And when his brothers came down to him a second time (according to Gen. 43:16), “When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, [he said… ‘Slaughter and prepare (wehakhen) an animal, for the men will eat with me at noon].’”120Because this verse uses the word, wehakhen, and because the same word also occurs in Exod. 16:5, it is assumed that the conditions of Exod. 16:5 apply here to Gen. 43:16. Now surely it is not customary for kings to prepare [food] one day ahead for the next. R. Johanan said, “It was the Sabbath, as stated (in Gen 42:16, ‘and prepare.’ And prepare only means [preparation for] the Sabbath, as stated (in Exod. 16:5), ‘And it shall come to pass on the sixth day, that when they prepare.’”121Mekhilta deRabbi Ishmael, Beshallah, 1; Numb. R. 14:2; TDER 24 (or 26), p. 131. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, “You have kept the Sabbath before it was given. By your life, I will have the son of your son offer [his sacrifice] on the Sabbath day, as stated (in Numb. 7:48), “On the seventh day it was the prince of the Children of Ephraim.”