In the first month (rishon), on the fourteenth day
of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread. . . (Ex. 12:18)
The School of R. Ishmael taught: We
find that the fourteenth is called the “first”, as it is said, on the first,
on the fourteenth day of the month.
R. Nahman b. Isaac said: ‘The
first’ [ba-rishon] means the preceding, for the Scripture says: Wast thou
born, before [rishon] Adam? (Job 15:7 – lit. “Are you the first man born?”)
If so, [what about], and ye
shall take you out the first [rishon] day, [the boughs of goodly
trees. . . ](Lev. 23:40) — does ‘rishon’ here too mean the preceding? —
There it is different, because it is written, and ye shall rejoice before
the Lord your God seven days: (ibid.) Just as the seventh [means]
the seventh of the Festival, so the first [means] the first of the Festival. .
.
For the School of R. Ishmael
taught: As a reward for [the observance of] the three ‘firsts’ [Israel] merited
three firsts. . .:
To cut off the seed of Esau - of
whom it is written, And the first came forth red, all over like an hairy
garment; (Gen. 25:25)
The building of the Temple -
whereof it is written, A glorious throne, set on high from the first is the
place of our sanctuary; (Jer. 17:12)
And the name of Messiah - for it is
written, First unto Zion, behold, behold them. (Is. 41:27)
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