יהושע כ״ד:כ״ט-ל״ג

בתמנת סרח. כך שמה ובמקום אחר (שופטים ב ט) הוא קורא אותה: תמנת חרס, על שם שהעמידו תמונת החמה על קברו (של יהושע), לומר, זה הוא שהעמיד החמה, וכל העובר עליה אומר חבל על זה שעשה דבר גדול כזה ומת. ויש אומרים, תמנת חרס שמה, ולמה נקרא שמה תמנת סרח, על שם שפירותיה מסריחין מרוב שמנן:

In Simnas-serach. This was its actual name. Elsewhere it is called Simnas-cheres²⁵See Shoftim 2:9. because they erected a figure of the sun upon his grave,²⁶See Shoftim 8:13 where חָרֶס refers to the sun. Also See Shoftim 14:18. to indicate that he is the one that caused the sun to stand still, and all who pass by it say, “Woe for the loss of this one, who did such a great thing and died.” Others say its actual name was Simnas-cheres, and why was it called Simnas- serach? because its fruit would rot because of their abundant richness.

להר געש. מלמד שרעש עליהם ההר להורגם לפי שלא הספידוהו כראוי:

The Storming Mountain It was so named to teach us that the hill stormed [shook] and threatened to kill them, because the people did not eulogize him properly.²⁷The verse merely states that “they buried him” and no mention is made of them having eulogized him, or mourned for him.

האריכו ימים. ימים האריכו, שנים לא האריכו, שנענשו:

Lived on after [Lit. they had length of days.] Their days were lengthened but their years were not lengthened for they were punished.

קברו בשכם. משכם גנבוהו, לשכם החזירוהו:

They buried in Shechem. From Shechem he was stolen [kidnapped]²⁸See Bereishis 37:14. and to Shechem they returned him.

בגבעת פינחס בנו. מהיכן היה לו לפנחס חלק בארץ, שירש מאשתו:

In the hill of his son, Pinchos.²⁹These words seem to imply that the hill belonged to Pinchos even during his father’s lifetime. But if he did not inherit it from Elozor, from where could he have gotten it? There are others who say that Pinchos did inherit the land from Elozor, and since inheritance takes effect immediately, it already belonged to Pinchos before Elozor was buried. From where did Pinchos have a portion in the land? He inherited it from his wife.