Derasha on Bamidbar 35:33 · TT unit 1

Parashas Masei · Passuk 35:33 · TT note 1

The Complete Passuk

וְלֹא־תַחֲנִ֣יפוּ אֶת־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אַתֶּם֙ בָּ֔הּ כִּ֣י הַדָּ֔ם ה֥וּא יַחֲנִ֖יף אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְלָאָ֣רֶץ לֹֽא־יְכֻפַּ֗ר לַדָּם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שֻׁפַּךְ־בָּ֔הּ כִּי־אִ֖ם בְּדַ֥ם שֹׁפְכֽוֹ׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Yerushalmi Taanis 3:3 (TT note on “יַחֲנִיף אֶת הָאָרֶץ”).

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Yerushalmi Taanis
תַּנְיָא, בַּעֲוֹן שְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים הַגְּשָׁמִים נֶעֱצָרִים, דִּכְתִיב כִּי הַדָּם הוּא יַחֲנִיף אֶת הָאָרֶץ — כִּי הַדָּם הוּא יַחֵן אַף עַל הָאָרֶץ.

English: It was taught: Because of the sin of bloodshed the rains are withheld, as it is written “for the blood, it pollutes the land” — for the blood, it brings anger upon the land.

Type of Learning

Bloodshed as a cause of drought through pollution of the land.

What Is Learned

Unatoned murder pollutes the land and results in the withholding of rain.