📖 Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 51

רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר: כְּמוֹ רָאשֵׁי חֳדָשִׁים מִתְחַדְּשִׁים וּמִתְקַדְּשִׁים בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, כָּךְ יִהְיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִתְחַדְּשִׁים וּמִתְקַדְּשִׁים לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״דַּבֵּר אֶל ��ָּל עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵיהֶם קְדֹשִׁים תִּהְיוּ כִּי קָדוֹשׁ אֲנִי ה'״. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים: שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ עֲתִידִים לַעֲבֹר וּלְחַדֵּשׁ, מַה כְּתִיב עֲלֵיהֶם? ״וְנָגֹלּוּ כַסֵּפֶר הַשָּׁמָיִם״. כְּאָדָם הַקּוֹרֵא בַּתּוֹרָה וְגוֹלֵל אוֹתָהּ וְחוֹזֵר וּפוֹתֵחַ וְגוֹלֵל אוֹתָהּ, כָּךְ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עָתִיד לָגֹל אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְנָגֹלּוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם כַּסֵּפֶר וְהָאָרֶץ כַּבֶּגֶד תִּבְלֶה״. כְּאָדָם שֶׁהוּא פּוֹשֵׁט אֶת טַלִּיתוֹ וּמְקַפֵּל אוֹתָהּ וְחוֹזֵר וּפוֹתֵחַ וְלוֹבֵשׁ אוֹתָהּ וּמְחַדֵּשׁ אוֹתָהּ בִּמְקוֹמָהּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהָאָרֶץ כַּבֶּגֶד תִּבְלֶה״.

THE NEW HEAVENS AND EARTH RABBAN GAMALIEL said: Just as the New Moons are renewed and sanctified in this world, so will Israel be sanctified and renewed in the future world just like the New Moons, as it is said, "Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy" (Lev. 19:2). The sages say: The heavens and the earth are destined to pass away and to be renewed. What is written concerning them? "And all the host of the heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll" (Isa. 34:4). Just as when a man reads in a scroll of the Torah and he rolls it, and again he opens it to read therein and he rolls it (together), likewise in the future will the Holy One, blessed be He, roll together the heavens like a scroll, as it is said, "And the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll" (ibid.); "And the earth shall wax old like a garment" (Isa. 51:6); just as a man spreads out his garment and folds it up, and again he unfolds it || and puts it on and renews it (thereby), likewise the Holy One, blessed be He, in the future will fold up the earth and again will He spread it out and put it in its place like a garment, as it is said. "And the earth shall wax old like a garment" (ibid.).

וְכָל יוֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ יִטְעֲמוּן טַעַם מִיתָה שְׁנֵי יָמִים, שֶׁאֵין נֶפֶשׁ אָדָם וּבְהֵמָה עַל הָאָרֶץ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְיֹשְׁבֶיהָ כְּמוֹ כֵן יְמֻתוּן״. וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי מְחַדֵּשׁ אֶת הַכֹּל וּמְחַיֶּה אֶת הַמֵּתִים וּמְקַיֵּם אוֹתָהּ לְפָנָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״יְחַיֵּנוּ מִיֹּמָיִם בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי יְקִימֵנוּ וְנִחְיֶה לְפָנָיו״.

All its inhabitants shall taste the taste of death for two days, when there will be no soul of man or beast upon the earth, as it is said, "And they that dwell therein shall die in like manner" (ibid.). On the third day He will renew them all and revive the dead, and He will establish it before Him, as it is said, "On the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live before him" (Hos. 6:2).

רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: כָּל צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם עֲתִידִים לַעֲבֹר וּלְהִתְחַדֵּשׁ. מַה כְּתִיב עֲלֵיהֶם? ״וְכָל צְבָאָם כִּנְבֹל עָלֶה מִגֶּפֶן״. מָה גֶּפֶן וְהַתְּאֵנָה הַזֹּאת נוֹבְלִים וְעוֹמְדוֹת כְּאֵשׁ יָבֵשׁ, וְחוֹזֶרֶת וּפוֹרַחַת וְנוֹצֶצֶת וּמוֹצִיאוֹת עָלִים חֲדָשִׁים רַעֲנַנִּים, כָּךְ כָּל צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם עֲתִידִין לִיבּוֹל, וְהֵן חוֹזְרִין וּמִתְחַדְּשִׁין לְהוֹדִיעַ לְפָנָיו שֶׁיֵּשׁ מְבַלֶּה וְאֵינוֹ בוֹלֶה. וְאֵין עוֹד לֹא רָעָב וְלֹא רַע וְלֹא מַגֵּפָה, וְאֵין עוֹד צָרוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי הִנְנִי בוֹרֵא שָׁמַיִם חֲדָשִׁים וָאָרֶץ חֲדָשָׁה״.

Rabbi Eliezer said: All the host of heaven in the future will pass away and will be renewed. What is written concerning them? "And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved" (Isa. 34:4). Just as the leaves fade from off the vine and the fig tree, and the latter remain standing as a dry tree, and again they blossom afresh and bear buds and produce new leaves and fresh leaves. Likewise in the future will all the host of heaven fade away like a vine and a fig tree, and they will again be renewed before Him to make known that there is passing away (which) does not (really) pass away. No more shall there be evil, and no more shall there be plague, and (there shall) not be the former misfortunes, as it is said, "For, behold, I create new heavens" (Isa. 65:17).

רַבִּי יַנַּאי אוֹמֵר: כָּל צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם עוֹבְרִים וּמִתְחַדְּשִׁים בְּכָל יוֹם. וּמַהוּ צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם? הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְהַיָּרֵחַ וְהַכּוֹכָבִים וְהַמַּזָּלוֹת. תֵּדַע לְךָ שֶׁהוּא כֵּן – בֹּא וּרְאֵה: כְּשֶׁהַשֶּׁמֶשׁ נוֹטָה לָבֹא לַמַּעֲרָב, וְהוּא רוֹחֵץ בְּמֵי אוֹקְיָאנוֹס כְּאָדָם שֶׁהוּא רוֹחֵץ אֶת נֵרוֹ בְּתוֹךְ הַמַּיִם. כָּךְ מֵימֵי אוֹקְיָאנוֹס מְכַבִּין שַׁלְהֲבוֹתָיו שֶׁל שֶׁמֶשׁ, וְאֵין נֹגַהּ לוֹ, וְאֵין שַׁלְהֶבֶת שֶׁל שֶׁמֶשׁ מֵאִיר כָּל הַלַּיְלָה בָּעוֹלָם עַד שֶׁיָּבֹא לַמִּזְרָח. וּכְשֶׁיָּבֹא לַמִּזְרָח, רוֹחֵץ בִּנְהַר שֶׁל אֵשׁ כְּאָדָם שֶׁהוּא מַדְלִיק אֶת נֵרוֹ בְּתוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ. כָּךְ הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ מַדְלִיק אֶת נֵרוֹתָיו וְלוֹבֵשׁ שַׁלְהֲבוֹתָיו וְעוֹלֶה לְהָאִיר עַל הָאָרֶץ, וּמְחַדֵּשׁ בְּכָל יוֹם מַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית. כֵּן עַד שֶׁיָּבֹא הָעֶרֶב. וּלְעֵת הָעֶרֶב, הַיָּרֵחַ וְהַכּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת רוֹחֲצִים בִּנְהַר שֶׁל בָּרָד וְעוֹלִין לְהָאִיר עַל הָאָרֶץ. לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְחַדֵּשׁ אוֹתָם וּמוֹסִיף עַל אוֹרָם אוֹר שִׁבְעַת יָמִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהָיָה אוֹר הַלְּבָנָה כְּאוֹר הַחַמָּה וְאוֹר הַחַמָּה יִהְיֶה שִׁבְעָתַיִם כְּאוֹר שִׁבְעַת הַיָּמִים בְּיוֹם חֲבֹשׁ ה' אֶת שֶׁבֶר עַמּוֹ וּמַחַץ מַכָּתוֹ יִרְפָּא״. בְּאֵי זֶה יוֹם? בְּיוֹם גְּאֻלַּת יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״בְּיוֹם חֲבֹשׁ ה' אֶת עַמּוֹ״.

Rabbi Jannai said: || All the hosts of heaven pass away and are renewed every day. What are the hosts of heaven? The sun, the moon, the stars, and the constellations. Know that it is so. Come and see, for when the sun turns in order to set in the west, it bathes in the waters of the Ocean and extinguishes the flames of the sun, and no light is left, and it has no flame all night long until it comes to the east. When it arrives at the east it washes itself in the river of fire, like a man who kindles his lamp in the midst of the fire. Likewise the sun kindles its lamps and puts on its flames and ascends to give light upon the earth, and it renews every day the work of the Creation. And thus (it is) until even comes. At evening-time the moon and the stars and the constellations wash themselves in the river of hail, and they ascend to give light upon the earth. In the future that is to come, the Holy One, blessed be He, will renew them and add to their light a sevenfold light, as it is said, "Moreover, the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days" (Isa. 30:26). "In the day" (ibid.). Like which day? In the day of the redemption of Israel, as it is said, "In the day that the Lord bindeth up the hurt of his people" (ibid.).

רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר: עוֹלָה שֶׁמַּקְרִיבִין בְּכָל שַׁבָּת כְּבָשִׂים שְׁנַיִם, וְעוֹלַת רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ פָּרִים שְׁנַיִם. וְאֵלּוּ שְׁנַיִם? שְׁנֵי עוֹלָמוֹת: הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וְהָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. אַיִל אֶחָד וְשָׂעִיר אֶחָד, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהֵם גּוֹי אֶחָד וֵאלֹהֵיהֶם אֶחָד. כְּבָשִׂים בְּנֵי שָׁנָה שִׁבְעָה תְּמִימִים, כְּנֶגֶד מַקְרִיבֵיהֶם לְמְחַדְּשָׁן כְּמוֹ רָאשֵׁי חֳדָשִׁים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״זֹאת עֹלַת חֹדֶשׁ בְּחָדְשׁוֹ״.

Rabban Gamaliel said: The Sabbath burnt offering which they brought || every Sabbath (consisted of) two he-lambs, and the burnt offering for the New Moon which they brought every New Moon consisted of two young bullocks. Two for each occasion, corresponding to what? Corresponding to the two worlds, this world and the world to come. "One ram and one he-goat": just as they are a single nation, their God is (likewise) one. "Seven he-lambs of the first year without blemish" (Num. 28:11), corresponding to those who bring their offerings, to Him who renews them like the New Moons, as it is said, "This is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year" (Num. 28:14).

רַבִּי זְכַרְיָה אוֹמֵר: אַחַר ״עֹלַת הַחֹדֶשׁ״ מַה כְּתִיב? ״וּשְׂעִיר עִזִּים אֶחָד לְחַטָּאת לַה'״. הַחַטָּאת לָמָּה? כְּשֶׁבָּרָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶת עוֹלָמוֹ, בָּרָא שְׁנֵי מְאוֹרוֹת גְּדוֹלִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹהִים אֶת שְׁנֵי הַמְּאוֹרוֹת הַגְּדוֹלִים״, הַגָּדוֹל אֶחָד וְהַקָּטָן אֶחָד. וְהִקְשָׁה הַיָּרֵחַ אֶת עָרְפּוֹ שֶׁלֹּא לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹן בּוֹרְאוֹ, שֶׁלֹּא רָצָה לִהְיוֹת קָטָן. לְפִיכָךְ מַקְרִיבִים עָלָיו שְׂעִיר חַטָּאת לְמַעְלָה לְעוֹלַת רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּשְׂעִיר עִזִּים אֶחָד לְחַטָּאת לַה'״. אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: הַשָּׂעִיר הַזֶּה יִהְיֶה כַּפָּרָה עָלַי עַל שֶׁמִּעַטְתִּי אֶת הַיָּרֵחַ.

Rabbi Zechariah said: After (the words) "the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year" (ibid.), what is written? "And one he-goat for a sin offering unto the Lord" (Num. 28:15). For what purpose was the sin offering? When the Holy One, blessed be He, created His world, He created two great luminaries, as it is said, "And God made the two great lights" (Gen. 1:16). The one He made larger and the other smaller, and the moon obstinately refused to do the will of its Creator so as to be made smaller; therefore Israel offered on its behalf the he-goat for a sin offering heavenwards as one of the burnt offerings of the New Moon, as it is said, "And one he-goat for a sin offering unto the Lord" (Num. 28:15). What is the meaning of "unto the Lord"? The Holy One, blessed be He, said: This he-goat shall be an atonement for Me, because I have diminished the (size of the) moon.

רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ עָתִיד לַעֲלוֹת וּלְהִתְחַדֵּשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״הִנְנִי עֹשֶׂה חֲדָשָׁה עַתָּה תִצְמָח הֲלוֹא תֵדָעוּהָ״. וּשְׁעָרָיו שֶׁטָּבְעוּ לָאָרֶץ עֲתִידִין לַעֲלוֹת וּלְהִתְחַדֵּשׁ כָּל אֶחָד בִּמְקוֹמוֹ, ״וְשַׁעַר הֶחָצֵר הַפְּנִימִי הַפּוֹנֶה קָדִים״ וְכוּ'.

Rabbi Eliezer said: In the future the Temple will be raised up and renewed, as it is said, "Behold, I will do a new thing; now shall it spring forth; shall ye not know it?" (Isa. 43:19). || And its gates which are buried in the earth will be renewed in the future and arise every one in its place, and the gate of the inner court which turned to the east. On the six days of work its doors shall be closed, and on the Sabbath day they are opened by themselves, as it is said, "Thus saith the Lord God: The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the Sabbath day it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened" (Ezek. 46:1).

רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: בֶּחֳדָשִׁים וּבְשַׁבָּתוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל יוֹשְׁבִים שָׁם וְרוֹאִין אֶת הַדְּלָתוֹת נִפְתָּחִין מֵאֲלֵיהֶם, וְיוֹדְעִין שֶׁשְּׁכִינָתוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שָׁם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי ה' אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בָּא בוֹ״. מִיָּד כּוֹרְעִים וּמִשְׁתַּחֲוִים לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים. וְכֵן לְשֶׁעָבַר וְכֵן לֶעָתִיד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהִשְׁתַּחֲווּ עַם הָאָרֶץ פֶּתַח הַשַּׁעַר הַהוּא בַּשַּׁבָּתוֹת וּבֶחֳדָשִׁים״.

Rabbi Jehudah said: On Sabbath and New Moons Israel stood there, (and they perceived) that the Sabbath day had come, and they sanctified the Sabbath day; and so also on the New Moons the Israelites were standing there and saw the doors opening by themselves, and they knew that in that hour it was New Moon, and they sanctified the New Moon, and afterwards (this was done) among the heavenly ones. Therefore Israel sanctifies the New Moons first in the lower regions (on earth) and afterwards (it is sanctified) in the heavenly regions, because they have defined the beginning of the Molad of the Moon in the presence of Israel, who saw the doors open by themselves, and they knew that the Shekhinah of the Holy One, blessed be He (was therein), as it is said, "For the Lord, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it" (Ezek. 44:2). Forthwith they fall down and prostrate themselves before their God. So it was in the past and so will it be in the future that is to come, as it is said, "And the people of the || land shall worship at the door of that gate before the Lord in the Sabbaths and in the New Moons" (Ezek. 46:3).

רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן אוֹמֵר: וַהֲלֹא כָּתוּב ״אֵין כָּל חָדָשׁ תַּחַת הַשָּׁמֶשׁ״! אָמְרוּ לוֹ: הַצַּדִּיקִים מִתְחַדְּשִׁים וְכָל מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם, אֲבָל הָרְשָׁעִים אֵין לָהֶם דָּבָר חָדָשׁ תַּחַת הַשָּׁמֶשׁ.

Rabbi said: Is it not written, "There is no new thing under the sun" (Eccles. 1:9)? The (sages) said to him: The righteous and all their works will be renewed, but the wicked will not be renewed and "no new thing" shall be given to them, (even) to all who worship and trust under the sun, therefore it is said, "There is no new thing under the sun" (ibid.).

רַבִּי פִּנְחָס אוֹמֵר: מֵי הַבְּאֵר עֲתִידִין לַעֲלוֹת תַּחַת מִפְתַּן הַבַּיִת וּמַפְרִים וְנוֹבְעִים וְיוֹצְאִים שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר נְחָלִים כְּנֶגֶד שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר שְׁבָטִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל מז א): ״וַיְשִׁבֵנִי אֶל פֶּתַח הַבַּיִת וְהִנֵּה מַיִם יֹצְאִים מִתַּחַת מִפְתַּן הַבַּיִת וְכוּ' הַיְמָנִית מִנֶּגֶב לַמִּזְבֵּחַ״. שְׁלֹשָׁה כְּלַפֵּי דָּרוֹם לַעֲלוֹת בָּהֶם עַד הַשְּׁוָקִים, וּשְׁלֹשָׁה כְּלַפֵּי הַמַּעֲרָב לַעֲבֹר בָּהֶם עַד הַבִּרְכַּיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״בְּצֵאת הָאִישׁ קָדִים וְקָו בְּיָדוֹ וַיָּמָד אֶלֶף בָּאַמָּה וַיַּעֲבִרֵנִי בַמַּיִם מֵי אָפְסָיִם״. וּשְׁלֹשָׁה כְּלַפֵּי צָפוֹן לַעֲבֹר בָּהֶם עַד הַצַּוָּאר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיָּמָד אֶלֶף בָּאַמָּה וַיַּעֲבִרֵנִי בַמַּיִם מֵי אָפְסָיִם״. וְיוֹרְדִין לְנַחַל קִדְרוֹן נַחַל אֲשֶׁר לֹא יוּכַל אָדָם לַעֲבֹר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי גָאוּ הַמַּיִם מֵי שָׂחוּ נַחַל אֲשֶׁר לֹא יֵעָבֵר״. וְהַמַּיִם נִמְשָׁכִין וְיוֹרְדִין אֶל עַרְבוֹת יְרִיחוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְיָרְדוּ עַל הָעֲרָבָה״.

Rabbi Phineas said: In the future the waters of the well will ascend from under the threshold of the Temple, and they will overflow and bubble over and issue forth and become twelve streams corresponding to the twelve tribes, as it is said, "And he brought me back unto the door of the house; and behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward, for the forefront of the house was toward the east: and the waters came down from under, from the right side of the house, on the south of the altar" (Ezek. 47:1). Three (streams) towards the south to pass through them up to the ankles, and three (streams) towards the west to pass through them up to the knees, as it is said, "When the man went forth eastward with the line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the ankles. Again he measured a thousand, and he caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the knees" (Ezek. 47:3, 4). And three (streams) towards the east to pass through them up to the neck, for the neck is the extremity of the body, as it is said, "And he measured a thousand cubits, and he caused me to pass through the waters that were to the extremity" (Ezek. 47:3). And (the waters) descended to the brook of Kidron, and they rose higher than in "the stream, that I could not pass through" (Ezek. 47:5), as it is said, "For the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a stream that could not be passed through" (ibid.). And the waters are drawn (thence), and they flow down to the fords of the Jordan, as it is said, "And they shall go down into || the Arabah" (Ezek. 47:8).

וְכָל שָׂדֶה וְכֶרֶם שֶׁאֵינָם עוֹשִׂין פְּרִי מַשְׁקִין מֵאוֹתָם הַמַּיִם הָאֵלֶּה וְנִכְנָסִין לַיָּם הַמֶּלַח וְהֵם מְרַפְּאִין אוֹתוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּבָאוּ הַיָּמָּה אֶל הַיָּמָּה הַמּוּצָאִים וְנִרְפְּאוּ הַמָּיִם״, וְשָׁם הֵם דַּוָּגִין כְּלַל מִנֶּה הַכָּתוּב שֶׁהֵם נִמְתָּקִין כְּמָן וְעוֹלִין בַּנַּחַל עַד יְרוּשָׁלַיִם וְשָׁם נֶאֱחָזִין בְּמִכְמְרוֹתֵיהֶן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (יחזקאל מז, י) ״וְהָיָה עָמְדוּ עָלָיו דַּוָּגִים״, ״יַעַמְדוּ״ כְּתִיב, ״מֵעֵין גֶּדִי וְעַד עֵין עֶגְלַיִם מִשְׁטוֹחַ לַחֲרָמִים״.

Every field and vineyard which did not yield fruit, people water them with those waters and they yield fruit, as it is said, "And it shall come to pass, that every living creature which swarmeth, in every place whither the rivers come, shall live… for these waters are come thither, that all things may be healed and live" (Ezek. 47:9). Then (the waters) enter the Salt Sea and they heal it. And the waters "shall go towards the sea,… and the waters shall be healed" (Ezek. 47:8). And there they generate all kinds (of fish). The Scripture text (here) gives a general rule concerning the fish, that they will be as sweet as Manna. They ascend in the stream as far as Jerusalem, and there they are caught in its nets, as it is said, "And it shall come to pass that fishers shall stand by it" (Ezek. 47:10). It is written, "They shall stand by it."

וְשָׁם הֵם נִצְמָחִים מֵאֲלֵיהֶם עַל שְׂפַת הַנַּחַל כָּל מִין עֵץ אִילָן עוֹשֶׂה פְּרִי לְמִינוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וְעַל הַנַּחַל יַעֲלֶה עַל שְׂפָתוֹ מִזֶּה וּמִזֶּה״, וְכָל חֹדֶשׁ הֵם מְבַכְּרִים אֶת פֵּירוֹתֵיהֶם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״לָחֳדָשָׁיו יְבַכֵּר״, אֵלּוּ נֶאֱכָלִין וְאֵלּוּ עוֹלִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל מז, יב) ״כִּי מֵימָיו מִן הַמִּקְדָּשׁ הֵמָּה יוֹצְאִים וְהָיָה פִרְיוֹ לְמַאֲכָל וְעָלֵהוּ לִתְרוּפָה״.

There upon the bank of the stream grow all kinds of trees bearing according to their kind. By the river they shall stand, "upon the banks thereof on this side and on that side" (Ezek. 47:12). Every month they bring forth new fruit, as it is said, "It shall bring forth new fruit every month" (ibid.). Some of them are for food and others are growing, as it is said, "Because the waters thereof issue out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for healing" (ibid.).

וְכָל אָדָם שֶׁהוּא חוֹלֶה וְרוֹחֵץ בְּאוֹתָם הַמַּיִם מִתְרַפֵּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לְכָל אֲשֶׁר יָבֹא נַחֲלַיִם יִחְיֶה״. וְכָל אָדָם שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ מַכָּה לוֹקֵחַ מֵעֲלֵיהֶם וְנוֹתֵן עַל מַכָּתוֹ וּמִתְרַפֵּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהָיָה פִרְיוֹ לְמַאֲכָל וְעָלֵהוּ לִתְרוּפָה״. מַה הוּא ״לִתְרוּפָה״? אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: לְתַרְפְּיָא – מְצִיצִין עָלֶיהָ וְשָׂרָף מְזוֹנֵיהּ.

Every man who is ill and bathes in those waters, will be healed, as it is said, "In every place whither the rivers come, he shall live… and every thing shall live whithersoever the river cometh" (Ezek. 47:9). Every man who has a wound will be healed by taking of their leaves and applying them to his wound, as it is said, "And the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for healing" (Ezek. 47:12). What is the meaning of "for healing"? Rabbi Jochanan said: For a laxative; || suck its leaves and one's food is digested.