Devarim (28:9-10)You stand this day, all of you, before your God יהוה —your tribal heads, your elders, and your officials, every householder in Israel, your children, your wives, even the stranger within your camp, from woodchopper to waterdrawer—
Rashi (Devarim 29:10) FROM THE WOODCUTTER [UNTO THE DRAWER OF THE WATER] — This teaches that some of the Canaanites came in Moses' days to become proselytes just as the Gibeonites came in the days of Joshua, — and this is the meaning of what is stated of the Gibeonites, (Joshua 9:4) “And they also acted cunningly”; — and Moses made them woodcutters and drawers of water (cf. Midrash Tanchuma, Nitzavim 2).
Rashi says the woodchoppers and waterdrawers are the lowest in society. He says they are Cananites who decided to convert rather than be killed. Since they were an undesirable influence they were given the most menial tasks so that they should be avoided and not influence others. I saw in the Sefer Mishna Torah that they in fact were assigned to work in the Temple. He asks but this would seem as a reward for their trickery? He answers there are two ways of dealing with bad people 1) ostracize or isolate them 2) Expose them to good influences so they become good also. The Temple was the place of optimal good and thus they might become better.
Shana Tova from all of us who read your blog.
ReplyDeleteChazal tell us that converts are like thorns in the eyes.
ReplyDeleteNow, the main way that's been explained is that converts are potentially dangerous because they become disillusioned, leave and then turn on us.
But the other way to understand it is that they take everything very seriously and are actually sincere so it makes the rest of us look bad.
Same with the wood cutters. General labourers can be some of the most honest and decent people you'll meet. Then you put them up against the sophicates and it exposes how much being smart and successful leads to a lower standard.
Which chazal said that? Do you remember the names?
DeleteRabbi Chelbo in Yevamos 46b
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