Rabbi Kornfeld,
Rashi D"H Chatzuva says that this cistus grass was used by Yehoshua to delineate the borders of Eretz Yisroel. Rabbeinu Chananel also says the same thing. I have two questions:
1. From where do Rashi and Rabbeinu Chananel know that Yehoshua used this type of grass?
2. Did Yehoshua use the grass to delineate the internal borders between the tribes, to delineate the external borders between Eretz Yisroel and its neighbors, or both?
Sincerely,
Mordechai
Mordechai,
1. Rashi's source is a Gemara in Bava Basra 56a, as the Mesores Hashas noted here.
2. Rashbam in Bava Basra writes that it was used to delineate the internal borders between the tribes.
Best wishes,
Mordecai Kornfeld
Rabbotai,
Didn't we learn elsewhere that Yehoshua planted some type of bush (memory fails me) to delineate properties and not cistus grass?
B'kavod,
Sam Kosofsky
It just depends on how you translate "Chatzuva."
Be well,
Mordecai Kornfeld