Baba Batra 117 The division of the land of Israel

 

After wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, the Children of Israel are poised to answer the land of Israel. Today’s daf TB Baba Batra 117 presents three different possible explanations how the land was divided.

1.    “Rabbi Yoshiya says: Eretz Yisrael was divided among those who left Egypt, as it is stated: “According to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit” (Numbers 26:55), which teaches that the Jewish people would inherit Eretz Yisrael according to the names of their fathers, i.e., those who left Egypt. Rabbi Yoshiya continues: But how do I realize the meaning of the verse: “Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance” (Numbers 26:53), which indicates that the land was to be divided among those recently counted in the wilderness, i.e., those who would enter Eretz Yisrael? He answers: “Unto these” teaches that the land will be divided among those who are like these people who were counted, in that they were adults above the age of twenty, to exclude the children, who were not entitled to a portion in Eretz Yisrael, as they were not of age at the time of the Exodus.” (Sefaria.org translation)

Let’s say two brothers, Gershom and Eliezer were from the same tribe and were among the people who left Egypt. Gershom had 10 children and Eliezer had one child. Here are some’s children we each get one share for a total of 10 shares and Eliezer’s child would get one share

2.    “Rabbi Yonatan says: Eretz Yisrael was divided among those who entered Eretz Yisrael, as it is stated: “Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance” (Numbers 26:53). But how do I realize the meaning of the verse: “According to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit” (Numbers 26:55)? This teaches that this inheritance is different from all other inheritances in the world, for in all other inheritances in the world, the living inherit from the dead, but here, the dead inherit from the living. In other words, the portions of land received by those who entered Eretz Yisrael were transferred to their fathers who left Egypt, and then inherited by the current generation,” (Sefaria.org translation)

In this case Gershom’s children would each child would get 10 shares and Eliezer’s child would get one share. Now all the 11 shares would go back to the brother’s estate. This estate would be divided equally among the 11 children. Gershom’s children would get 5 ½ shares and Eliezer’s child would get 5 ½ shares

3.    “Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar says: Eretz Yisrael was divided to these and to those, so as to uphold these two verses. How so? If one was from among those who left Egypt, he takes his portion along with those who left Egypt. If one was from among those who entered Eretz Yisrael, he takes his portion along with those who entered Eretz Yisrael. If one was from both here and there, i.e., he was among those who left Egypt and also entered Eretz Yisrael himself, he takes his portion from here and there, as he is entitled to two portions.” (Sefaria.org translation)