TEHILLIM LIGHT

Commentaries

[ג] Mizmor 1, Verse 3

וְֽהָיָ֗ה כְּעֵץ֮ שָׁת֪וּל עַֽל־פַּלְגֵ֫י מָ֥יִם אֲשֶׁ֤ר פִּרְי֨וֹ ׀ יִתֵּ֬ן בְּעִתּ֗וֹ וְעָלֵ֥הוּ לֹֽא־יִבּ֑וֹל וְכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה יַצְלִֽיחַ׃

vəhaya kəʿeytz shatul ʿal–ppalgey mayim ʾasher piryo yitteyn bəʿitto vəʿaleyhu loʾ yibbol vəkhol ʾasher–yaʿaseh yatzliyaḥ

He is like a tree that has been planted beside streams of water, which yields its fruit in due season. His leaf does not wither and everything that he does is successful.

MIDRASH TEHILLIM

1.....(1.10)
He is like a tree that has been planted beside streams of water
God lifted Adam up and planted Him in the Garden of Eden. That brings fruits in its season. Adam brought forth Cain. His leave will not wither. Abel will not wither. Seth will prosper. Not so the wicked (the Serpent)
God gave three good gifts to Israel - mercy, modesty and loving kindness.
If a man has no modesty, his forebears did not stand on Mount Sinai.
2.....(1.11)
He is like a tree that has been planted...
The word PLANTED is not used here, the word denoting - FIXED FIRMLY is used instead. telling you that even if all the winds come and blow at the righteous man, they will be unable to budge him from his place.
3.....(1.12)
blessed is the man (who speaks about Noah)...
It is written - Noah was a righteous man (Bereshit/Genesis 6:9). He didn't walk in the councel of the wicked. That is the wicked of three generations: the generation of Enosh (wicked), the generation of the flood (sinners), the generation of the dispersion of the races of men (scorners).
His delight is in the Torah of the Lord. That is in the seventh commandments [commanded the sons of Noah].
And he will be like a tree planted securely in rivers of water. That God set Noah securely in the ark.
...his fruit in his seasons. Noah was five hundred years old before he begot sons - Shem, Ham and Japheth.
4.....(1.13)
blessed is the man...
That is Avraham, of whom God said - He is a prophet (Bereshit/Genesis 20:7).
The man that walks not in the counsel of the wicked. Avraham did not walk in the counsel of the generation which decided to build the tower.
Nor stand in the way of sinners. That is Avraham, stood not with the men of Sodom.
Nor sit in the seat of the scornful, meaning men like Abimelech, who offered land to Avraham, but Avraham would not settle on that land, for his delight was in the Torah of the Lord.
And will be like a tree that is planted by the rivers of water. God lifted Avraham up and planted him in the Garden of Eden. This verse can be also interpreted as - God planted Avraham in the Land of Israel.
That brings forth his fruit in his time. That is Ishmael, Isaac and children of Keturah, their leaf wil not wither. Not so for the wicked, this is Nimrod and his friends.
5.....(1.14)
...another word of blessed is the man...
Tribe of Levi walked not in the counsel of the generation of the wilderness.
Not stood in the way of sinners (who made the golden calf).
Not sit in the seat of the scornful, who celebrated after making the golden calf.
God planted the tribe of Levi in the Land of Israel, the entire tribe entered the Land.
6.....(1.19)
And he will be like a tree...
Wisdom of Torah is likened to the tree of life in the Garden of Eden, because it is as precious as life itself to all living things.

RASHI

1.
and its leaves do not wilt...
Even the inferior part of it serves a purpose. The conversation of Torah scholars is essential and requires study.

RADAK

1.
...beside streams of water... :
... there is a stream of water on one side and a stream of water on the other side, and they will be passing under the tree.
2.
That bringeth forth its fruit in its season:
... in the time for learning, learn, and in the time for work, work....

Rabbi HIRSCH

1.
He shall be like a tree, planted by choice upon brooks of water...
VAHAYA (be, become) - through absorption of all his thoughts, endeavors and actions into the Torah, he becomes KAEYTZ (tree).
...
According to an explanation of our Sages (Avodah Zorah 19a) -
SHATUL ( שתל) is the TRANSPLANTING of young shoots into soil best suited for their growth.
To indicate the ORIGINAL planting a different word is used - (נטע) NATA.
It appears to be phonetically related to the Rabbinic (שדל), the expression of the earnest endeavor.
From the above the following interpretation can be derived:
He draws nourishment for the development of his mind and character, not from the environment in which he happens to find himself by accident of birth or circumstances, but after serious deliberation he implants himself at the Source (Torah), where he can develop so as to assure for himself prosperity and welfare.
PALGEY - the significance of the plural form used here. One might suppose that the tree could stand by one brook, but it could certainly not stand near many at the same time. Perhaps, therefore, this is intended to convey the thought that though there are many brooks, he, deliberately, planted himself only at that place where he shall receive the best nourishment. But if one considers that, actually, (פלג) means “to divide,” “to go apart,” then (palgey mayim) would denote many separate branches of water, all springing from the same source, many brooks stemming from one common reservoir. This would be the real allegorical description of the Torah which, from the One Source of the Divine Truth, saturates life within and without, in all its aspects, and makes it bear fruit.

WORDS

shatul

שָׁת֪וּל

SHATAL ( שתל) (to) TRANSPLANT (ing) (of young shoots into soil best suited for their growth.)
As a Noun - graft, transplant (in medicine)
To indicate the ORIGINAL planting a different word is used - (נטע) NATA