The Torah promises that when the Israelites observe the commandments, God will banish wild beasts from the land. The Sages disagreed with regard to how this banishment will take effect: Will it be the elimination of the destructive beasts, or a change in their nature?

The verse states: “I will banish wild beasts from the land” (Leviticus 26:6). Rabbi Yehuda says: God will eliminate the wild beasts from the land. Rabbi Shimon says: God will restrain them so that they will not cause harm. Rabbi Shimon says: Which would be greater praise of the Lord: When there are no harmful beasts, or when there are harmful beasts that no longer cause harm? Say that it is a greater praise in a time when there are harmful beasts that no longer cause harm. Likewise, the verse states: “A psalm, a song for the Sabbath [Shabbat] day” (Psalms 92:1). This refers to the One who eliminates [mashbit] harmful creatures from the world, meaning eliminates them, in the sense that they will no longer cause harm. Likewise, the verse states: “Wolf will reside with sheep, and leopard will lie down with kid” (Isaiah 11:6). (Sifra, Behukotai 1)