The Seven Species

(8) a land of wheat and barley, of vines, figs, and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey;

(1) At the start of the barley harvest. The verse speaks about the harvest of the Omer.³²The barley for the omer was harvested on the second night of Pesach and offered on the following day.

(9) Then the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph. He said to him, “In my dream, there was a vine in front of me. (10) On the vine were three branches. It had barely budded, when out came its blossoms and its clusters ripened into grapes. (11) Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” (12) Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: The three branches are three days. (13) In three days Pharaoh will pardon you and restore you to your post; you will place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, as was your custom formerly when you were his cupbearer. (14) But think of me when all is well with you again, and do me the kindness of mentioning me to Pharaoh, so as to free me from this place.

The butler spoke about his dream: The (grape) vine relates to the Jewish people. "In this vine where three stems": this refers to Aharon, Miriam and Moses.

"It was budding": This budding relates to the flowering of the redemption of Israel.

"Out came its blossoms" The redemption of the Jews blossomed.

"It started to flower" - This refers to the flowering of the redemption of the Jewish people.

"Its clusters turned into grapes" the grapes which flowered immediately matured".

"And the goblet of Pharaoh is in my hand". From here the Rabbis set the custom of 4 cups of wine on the night of Pesach....

It would appear that these two things - oil and honey were not in Egypt. It therefore says "A land" a second time in the verse. This is proven from the fact that when Jacob sent a present to the viceroy of Egypt he sent a bit of honey...

The Torah mentions the idea of oil and honey many times in the Torah, even though much of the oil and honey is something that can get lost or dirty. Perhaps the reason for this is on the basis of the verse" That I will empty out my blessings to you without stopping" which the rabbis interpret to mean until your lips will continue from saying "Enough!". The idea of this is to show that G-d will inspire so much blessing with a generous eye, like when a person pours a cup of wine to someone he likes, he pours it all the way until the top....

(20) You shall further instruct the Israelites to bring you clear oil of beaten olives for lighting, for kindling lamps regularly.

After G-d had commanded concerning the Tabernacle and all of its vessels, he commanded again concerning the Menora and its lighting, and the oil which is fit for it. Because it is the most chosen of all the vessels (of the Mishkan). Just as in the beginning, G-d commanded the creation of the Aron, which is the most chosen of all the vessels, (as it contains the Torah and shards of the first set of tablets), and Torah of Hashem is complete, and is called Light, as we see in the verse תורה אור. So too G-d wanted to command here concerning the first part of the verse נר מצוה which is the Menorah.

The Menorah is fitting for the Jewish people to light for them during times of darkness. This is the olive oil which is pure. Our sages have compared the Jewish people to the olive tree as it states in the verse זית רענן יפה פרי תואר, The sages said further: Just as olive oil floats over all liquids, and doesn't mix with it, so to the Jewish people are above the nations of the world and don't mix with them. What is being hinted to here is as follows: Just as the Jews are compared to oil which is crushed, so too the Jews are afflicted, and even through their affliction, they lift themselves up through the Torah which is called pure oil, as is evidenced in the verse לריח שמניך טובים - this refers to both the written and the oral Torah. It is through these reasons we merit to see the light of the Living King (i.e. G-d)...