A thought on Parshas Vayishlach
"...va'yet ohalo me'hala l'Migdal Eder..."
"...and he pitched his tent from out beyond Migdal Eder..." (35:21)
Yakov came from burying his wife Rachel and set up camp in the area past Migdal Eder, which translates as "The Tower of the Flock." Now, it may be noteworthy that nowhere else in Chumash is there mention of a place called The Tower of the Flock. It actually does surface in the Mishna (Shekalim 7:4) as a place not far from Jerusalem where animals designated for Temple service might stray.
Of what importance is it that Yakov's campsite is mentioned here? What might be the significance of its name?Rabbeinu Bachya addresses this. The event preceding this encampment is, as I noted, the death of Rachel. Prior to her death, her second son Binyamin was born. This is significant because he was the last of the Twelve Shevatim or Tribes of Israel. With his birth, the Patriarchal family was now complete and from that point onward, the Children of Yakov became the Twelve Tribes of Israel, a unified family-based nation.
This is why the campsite is mentioned here: from that point on, the travels of our nation in Israel were national events. Each encampment, however brief and temporary, marked the movement of a nation. We transitioned from a small group of young people into the Flock of Israel. The point nearby thus took on our name, and its tower became "The Tower of the Flock" of Israel. It was ours. We owned that spot. We elevated it.
Now, as to the significance of the name (the second question), Rabbeinu Bachya offers more: there is one other place where Migdal Eder shows up in the Bible. No, it is not in Chumash. But it does surface in TaNaCh.
"...V'ata Migdal Eder Ofel Bas Tzion..." (Micha 4:8)"...and you, Tower of the Flock, High Point of the daughter of Tzion,
they will come back to you, and the original kingdom will arrive..."
In times to come (see the Targum Yonasan on our verse), this Migdal Eder will serve as the gathering place for the remnant of Israel to meet as they greet the Moshiach. The spot out there where the blessings given Avraham, Yitzchak and Yakov culminated in the formation of the Twelve Tribes, the place where we unified into our nation, will once again serve as the starting point of our ultimate nationhood. Migdal Eder will draw us back. The entire Flock will seek out the chosen shepherd who will guide us back along the original path.
I wonder if the latent sacred power was what those kadshim animals sensed as they wandered, per the Mishna, all the way from Jerusalem to Migdal Eder.
And now you have, herd, the rest of the story. Good Shabbos. D Fox
"...and he pitched his tent from out beyond Migdal Eder..." (35:21)
Yakov came from burying his wife Rachel and set up camp in the area past Migdal Eder, which translates as "The Tower of the Flock." Now, it may be noteworthy that nowhere else in Chumash is there mention of a place called The Tower of the Flock. It actually does surface in the Mishna (Shekalim 7:4) as a place not far from Jerusalem where animals designated for Temple service might stray.
Of what importance is it that Yakov's campsite is mentioned here? What might be the significance of its name?Rabbeinu Bachya addresses this. The event preceding this encampment is, as I noted, the death of Rachel. Prior to her death, her second son Binyamin was born. This is significant because he was the last of the Twelve Shevatim or Tribes of Israel. With his birth, the Patriarchal family was now complete and from that point onward, the Children of Yakov became the Twelve Tribes of Israel, a unified family-based nation.
This is why the campsite is mentioned here: from that point on, the travels of our nation in Israel were national events. Each encampment, however brief and temporary, marked the movement of a nation. We transitioned from a small group of young people into the Flock of Israel. The point nearby thus took on our name, and its tower became "The Tower of the Flock" of Israel. It was ours. We owned that spot. We elevated it.
Now, as to the significance of the name (the second question), Rabbeinu Bachya offers more: there is one other place where Migdal Eder shows up in the Bible. No, it is not in Chumash. But it does surface in TaNaCh.
"...V'ata Migdal Eder Ofel Bas Tzion..." (Micha 4:8)"...and you, Tower of the Flock, High Point of the daughter of Tzion,
they will come back to you, and the original kingdom will arrive..."
In times to come (see the Targum Yonasan on our verse), this Migdal Eder will serve as the gathering place for the remnant of Israel to meet as they greet the Moshiach. The spot out there where the blessings given Avraham, Yitzchak and Yakov culminated in the formation of the Twelve Tribes, the place where we unified into our nation, will once again serve as the starting point of our ultimate nationhood. Migdal Eder will draw us back. The entire Flock will seek out the chosen shepherd who will guide us back along the original path.
I wonder if the latent sacred power was what those kadshim animals sensed as they wandered, per the Mishna, all the way from Jerusalem to Migdal Eder.
And now you have, herd, the rest of the story. Good Shabbos. D Fox
posted by Rabbi Dr. Fox at 10:45 PM
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