1. Hebrew Bible, Deuteronomy, 6.5, 17.2, 22.22, 24.1-24.4, 30.20 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 6.5. וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל־נַפְשְׁךָ וּבְכָל־מְאֹדֶךָ׃ 17.2. לְבִלְתִּי רוּם־לְבָבוֹ מֵאֶחָיו וּלְבִלְתִּי סוּר מִן־הַמִּצְוָה יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאול לְמַעַן יַאֲרִיךְ יָמִים עַל־מַמְלַכְתּוֹ הוּא וּבָנָיו בְּקֶרֶב יִשְׂרָאֵל׃ 17.2. כִּי־יִמָּצֵא בְקִרְבְּךָ בְּאַחַד שְׁעָרֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לָךְ אִישׁ אוֹ־אִשָּׁה אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה אֶת־הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה־אֱלֹהֶיךָ לַעֲבֹר בְּרִיתוֹ׃ 22.22. כִּי־יִמָּצֵא אִישׁ שֹׁכֵב עִם־אִשָּׁה בְעֻלַת־בַּעַל וּמֵתוּ גַּם־שְׁנֵיהֶם הָאִישׁ הַשֹּׁכֵב עִם־הָאִשָּׁה וְהָאִשָּׁה וּבִעַרְתָּ הָרָע מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל׃ 24.1. כִּי־תַשֶּׁה בְרֵעֲךָ מַשַּׁאת מְאוּמָה לֹא־תָבֹא אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ לַעֲבֹט עֲבֹטוֹ׃ 24.1. כִּי־יִקַּח אִישׁ אִשָּׁה וּבְעָלָהּ וְהָיָה אִם־לֹא תִמְצָא־חֵן בְּעֵינָיו כִּי־מָצָא בָהּ עֶרְוַת דָּבָר וְכָתַב לָהּ סֵפֶר כְּרִיתֻת וְנָתַן בְּיָדָהּ וְשִׁלְּחָהּ מִבֵּיתוֹ׃ 24.2. וְיָצְאָה מִבֵּיתוֹ וְהָלְכָה וְהָיְתָה לְאִישׁ־אַחֵר׃ 24.2. כִּי תַחְבֹּט זֵיתְךָ לֹא תְפָאֵר אַחֲרֶיךָ לַגֵּר לַיָּתוֹם וְלָאַלְמָנָה יִהְיֶה׃ 24.3. וּשְׂנֵאָהּ הָאִישׁ הָאַחֲרוֹן וְכָתַב לָהּ סֵפֶר כְּרִיתֻת וְנָתַן בְּיָדָהּ וְשִׁלְּחָהּ מִבֵּיתוֹ אוֹ כִי יָמוּת הָאִישׁ הָאַחֲרוֹן אֲשֶׁר־לְקָחָהּ לוֹ לְאִשָּׁה׃ 24.4. לֹא־יוּכַל בַּעְלָהּ הָרִאשׁוֹן אֲשֶׁר־שִׁלְּחָהּ לָשׁוּב לְקַחְתָּהּ לִהְיוֹת לוֹ לְאִשָּׁה אַחֲרֵי אֲשֶׁר הֻטַּמָּאָה כִּי־תוֹעֵבָה הִוא לִפְנֵי יְהוָה וְלֹא תַחֲטִיא אֶת־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ נַחֲלָה׃ | 6.5. And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." 17.2. If there be found in the midst of thee, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that doeth that which is evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing His covet," 22.22. If a man be found lying with a woman married to a husband, then they shall both of them die, the man that lay with the woman, and the woman; so shalt thou put away the evil from Israel." 24.1. When a man taketh a wife, and marrieth her, then it cometh to pass, if she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some unseemly thing in her, that he writeth her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house," 24.2. and she departeth out of his house, and goeth and becometh another man’s wife," 24.3. and the latter husband hateth her, and writeth her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, who took her to be his wife;" 24.4. her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD; and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance." 30.20. to love the LORD thy God, to hearken to His voice, and to cleave unto Him; for that is thy life, and the length of thy days; that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD swore unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them." |
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2. Hebrew Bible, Genesis, 21.23 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 21.23. וְעַתָּה הִשָּׁבְעָה לִּי בֵאלֹהִים הֵנָּה אִם־תִּשְׁקֹר לִי וּלְנִינִי וּלְנֶכְדִּי כַּחֶסֶד אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂיתִי עִמְּךָ תַּעֲשֶׂה עִמָּדִי וְעִם־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר־גַּרְתָּה בָּהּ׃ | 21.23. Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son; but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.’" |
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3. Hebrew Bible, Hosea, 2.4, 11.9 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 2.4. רִיבוּ בְאִמְּכֶם רִיבוּ כִּי־הִיא לֹא אִשְׁתִּי וְאָנֹכִי לֹא אִישָׁהּ וְתָסֵר זְנוּנֶיהָ מִפָּנֶיה וְנַאֲפוּפֶיהָ מִבֵּין שָׁדֶיהָ׃ 11.9. לֹא אֶעֱשֶׂה חֲרוֹן אַפִּי לֹא אָשׁוּב לְשַׁחֵת אֶפְרָיִם כִּי אֵל אָנֹכִי וְלֹא־אִישׁ בְּקִרְבְּךָ קָדוֹשׁ וְלֹא אָבוֹא בְּעִיר׃ | 2.4. Plead with your mother, plead; For she is not My wife, neither am I her husband; And let her put away her harlotries from her face, And her adulteries from between her breasts;" 11.9. I will not execute the fierceness of Mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim; For I am God, and not man, The Holy One in the midst of thee; And I will not come in fury." |
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4. Hebrew Bible, Leviticus, 5.1, 5.4 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 5.1. וְנֶפֶשׁ כִּי־תֶחֱטָא וְשָׁמְעָה קוֹל אָלָה וְהוּא עֵד אוֹ רָאָה אוֹ יָדָע אִם־לוֹא יַגִּיד וְנָשָׂא עֲוֺנוֹ׃ 5.1. וְאֶת־הַשֵּׁנִי יַעֲשֶׂה עֹלָה כַּמִּשְׁפָּט וְכִפֶּר עָלָיו הַכֹּהֵן מֵחַטָּאתוֹ אֲשֶׁר־חָטָא וְנִסְלַח לוֹ׃ 5.4. אוֹ נֶפֶשׁ כִּי תִשָּׁבַע לְבַטֵּא בִשְׂפָתַיִם לְהָרַע אוֹ לְהֵיטִיב לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יְבַטֵּא הָאָדָם בִּשְׁבֻעָה וְנֶעְלַם מִמֶּנּוּ וְהוּא־יָדַע וְאָשֵׁם לְאַחַת מֵאֵלֶּה׃ | 5.1. And if any one sin, in that he heareth the voice of adjuration, he being a witness, whether he hath seen or known, if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity;" 5.4. or if any one swear clearly with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall utter clearly with an oath, and it be hid from him; and, when he knoweth of it, be guilty in one of these things;" |
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5. Hebrew Bible, Malachi, 2.16 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 2.16. כִּי־שָׂנֵא שַׁלַּח אָמַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְכִסָּה חָמָס עַל־לְבוּשׁוֹ אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת וְנִשְׁמַרְתֶּם בְּרוּחֲכֶם וְלֹא תִבְגֹּדוּ׃ | 2.16. For I hate putting away, Saith the LORD, the God of Israel, And him that covereth his garment with violence, Saith the LORD of hosts; Therefore take heed to your spirit, That ye deal not treacherously." |
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6. Hebrew Bible, Numbers, 5.13, 8.14 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 5.13. וְשָׁכַב אִישׁ אֹתָהּ שִׁכְבַת־זֶרַע וְנֶעְלַם מֵעֵינֵי אִישָׁהּ וְנִסְתְּרָה וְהִיא נִטְמָאָה וְעֵד אֵין בָּהּ וְהִוא לֹא נִתְפָּשָׂה׃ 8.14. וְהִבְדַּלְתָּ אֶת־הַלְוִיִּם מִתּוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהָיוּ לִי הַלְוִיִּם׃ | 5.13. and a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, she being defiled secretly, and there be no witness against her, neither she be taken in the act;" 8.14. Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel; and the Levites shall be Mine." |
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7. Hebrew Bible, Isaiah, 50.1 (8th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 50.1. מִי בָכֶם יְרֵא יְהוָה שֹׁמֵעַ בְּקוֹל עַבְדּוֹ אֲשֶׁר הָלַךְ חֲשֵׁכִים וְאֵין נֹגַהּ לוֹ יִבְטַח בְּשֵׁם יְהוָה וְיִשָּׁעֵן בֵּאלֹהָיו׃ 50.1. כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה אֵי זֶה סֵפֶר כְּרִיתוּת אִמְּכֶם אֲשֶׁר שִׁלַּחְתִּיהָ אוֹ מִי מִנּוֹשַׁי אֲשֶׁר־מָכַרְתִּי אֶתְכֶם לוֹ הֵן בַּעֲוֺנֹתֵיכֶם נִמְכַּרְתֶּם וּבְפִשְׁעֵיכֶם שֻׁלְּחָה אִמְּכֶם׃ | 50.1. Thus saith the LORD: Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, Wherewith I have put her away? Or which of My creditors is it To whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities were ye sold, And for your transgressions was your mother put away." |
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8. Hebrew Bible, Jeremiah, 3.1, 3.8 (8th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 3.1. וְגַם־בְּכָל־זֹאת לֹא־שָׁבָה אֵלַי בָּגוֹדָה אֲחוֹתָהּ יְהוּדָה בְּכָל־לִבָּהּ כִּי אִם־בְּשֶׁקֶר נְאֻם־יְהוָה׃ 3.1. לֵאמֹר הֵן יְשַׁלַּח אִישׁ אֶת־אִשְׁתּוֹ וְהָלְכָה מֵאִתּוֹ וְהָיְתָה לְאִישׁ־אַחֵר הֲיָשׁוּב אֵלֶיהָ עוֹד הֲלוֹא חָנוֹף תֶּחֱנַף הָאָרֶץ הַהִיא וְאַתְּ זָנִית רֵעִים רַבִּים וְשׁוֹב אֵלַי נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה׃ 3.8. וָאֵרֶא כִּי עַל־כָּל־אֹדוֹת אֲשֶׁר נִאֲפָה מְשֻׁבָה יִשְׂרָאֵל שִׁלַּחְתִּיהָ וָאֶתֵּן אֶת־סֵפֶר כְּרִיתֻתֶיהָ אֵלֶיהָ וְלֹא יָרְאָה בֹּגֵדָה יְהוּדָה אֲחוֹתָהּ וַתֵּלֶךְ וַתִּזֶן גַּם־הִיא׃ | 3.1. . . . saying: If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, may he return unto her again? Will not that land be greatly polluted? But thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; and wouldest thou yet return to Me? Saith the LORD." 3.8. And I saw, when, forasmuch as backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a bill of divorcement, that yet treacherous Judah her sister feared not; but she also went and played the harlot;" |
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9. Dead Sea Scrolls, Damascus Covenant, 14.20 (2nd cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
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10. Dead Sea Scrolls, (Cairo Damascus Covenant) Cd-A, 14.20 (2nd cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
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11. Septuagint, Judith, 8.4 (2nd cent. BCE - 0th cent. CE)
| 8.4. Judith had lived at home as a widow for three years and four months. |
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12. Mishnah, Eduyot, 9.3, 9.10 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
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13. Mishnah, Nedarim, 11.12 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 11.12. At first they would say that three women must be divorced and receive their ketubah: She who says: “I am defiled to you”; “Heaven is between me and you”; “I have been removed from the Jews.” But subsequently they changed the ruling to prevent her from setting her eye on another and spoiling herself to her husband: She who said, “I am defiled unto you” must bring proof. “Heaven is between me and you” they [shall appease them] by a request. “I have been removed from the Jews” he [the husband] must annul his portion, and she may have relations with him, and she shall be removed from other Jews." |
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14. Mishnah, Sotah, 5.1, 9.9 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 5.1. Just as the water checks her so the water checks him, as it is said, “And shall enter”, “And shall enter” (Numbers 5:22,. Just as she is prohibited to the husband so is she prohibited to the lover, as it is said, “defiled … and is defiled” (Numbers 5:27,, the words of Rabbi Akiba. Rabbi Joshua said: thus Zechariah ben Hakatzav used to expound. Rabbi says: twice in the portion, “If she is defiled…defiled”--one referring [to her being prohibited] to the husband and the other to the paramour." 9.9. When murderers multiplied, the [ceremony of] breaking a heifer’s neck ceased. That was from the time of Eliezer ben Dinai, and he was also called Tehinah ben Perisha and he was afterwards renamed “son of the murderer”. When adulterers multiplied, the ceremony of the bitter waters ceased and it was Rabban Yoha ben Zakkai who discontinued it, as it is said, “I will not punish their daughters for fornicating, nor their daughters-in-law for committing adultery, for they themselves [turn aside with whores and sacrifice with prostitutes]” (Hosea 4:14). When Yose ben Yoezer of Zeredah and Yose ben Yoha of Jerusalem died, the grape-clusters ceased, as it is said, “There is not a cluster [of grapes] to eat; not a ripe fig I could desire [The pious are vanished from the land, none upright are left among men” (Micah 7:1-2)." |
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15. New Testament, 1 Corinthians, 7.10, 7.25, 7.39, 14.37 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 7.10. But to the married I command-- not I, but the Lord -- that the wife not leave her husband 7.25. Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord,but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord tobe trustworthy. 7.39. A wife is bound by law for as long as her husband lives;but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whoever shedesires, only in the Lord. 14.37. If any man thinks himself to be a prophet, orspiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, that theyare the commandment of the Lord. |
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16. New Testament, 1 Timothy, 5.3-5.16 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 5.3. Honor widows who are widows indeed. 5.4. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety towards their own family, and to repay their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God. 5.5. Now she who is a widow indeed, and desolate, has her hope set on God, and continues in petitions and prayers night and day. 5.6. But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives. 5.7. Also command these things, that they may be without reproach. 5.8. But if anyone doesn't provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever. 5.9. Let no one be enrolled as a widow under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man 5.10. being approved by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has been hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, and if she has diligently followed every good work. 5.11. But refuse younger widows, for when they have grown wanton against Christ, they desire to marry; 5.12. having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge. 5.13. Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 5.14. I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for reviling. 5.15. For already some have turned aside after Satan. 5.16. If any man or woman who believes has widows, let them relieve them, and don't let the assembly be burdened; that it might relieve those who are widows indeed. |
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17. New Testament, Romans, 7.2-7.4 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 7.2. For the woman that has a husband is bound by law to the husband while he lives, but if the husband dies, she is discharged from the law of the husband. 7.3. So then if, while the husband lives, she is joined to another man, she would be called an adulteress. But if the husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she is joined to another man. 7.4. Therefore, my brothers, you also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you would be joined to another, to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit to God. |
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18. New Testament, John, 8.2-8.11 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 8.2. At early dawn, he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him. He sat down, and taught them. 8.3. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set her in the midst 8.4. they told him, "Teacher, we found this woman in adultery, in the very act. 8.5. Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such. What then do you say about her? 8.6. They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger. 8.7. But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her. 8.8. Again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground. 8.9. They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle. 8.10. Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, "Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you? 8.11. She said, "No one, Lord."Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more. |
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19. New Testament, Luke, 2.36, 16.18 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 2.36. There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity 16.18. Everyone who divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery. He who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery. |
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20. New Testament, Mark, 10.2-10.12 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 10.2. Pharisees came to him testing him, and asked him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? 10.3. He answered, "What did Moses command you? 10.4. They said, "Moses allowed a certificate of divorce to be written, and to divorce her. 10.5. But Jesus said to them, "For your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment. 10.6. But from the beginning of the creation, 'God made them male and female. 10.7. For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will join to his wife 10.8. and the two will become one flesh,' so that they are no longer two, but one flesh. 10.9. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate. 10.10. In the house, his disciples asked him again about the same matter. 10.11. He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery against her. 10.12. If a woman herself divorces her husband, and marries another, she commits adultery. |
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21. New Testament, Matthew, 19.3-19.9 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 19.3. Pharisees came to him, testing him, and saying, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason? 19.4. He answered, "Haven't you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female 19.5. and said, 'For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall join to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?' 19.6. So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don't let man tear apart. 19.7. They asked him, "Why then did Moses command us to give her a bill of divorce, and divorce her? 19.8. He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so. 19.9. I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery. |
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22. Tosefta, Sotah, 5.9 (1st cent. CE - 2nd cent. CE)
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23. Babylonian Talmud, Berachot, 61b, 31a (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 31a. אייתי כסא דמוקרא בת ארבע מאה זוזי ותבר קמייהו ואעציבו,רב אשי עבד הלולא לבריה חזנהו לרבנן דהוו קא בדחי טובא אייתי כסא דזוגיתא חיורתא ותבר קמייהו ואעציבו,אמרו ליה רבנן לרב המנונא זוטי בהלולא דמר בריה דרבינא לישרי לן מר אמר להו ווי לן דמיתנן ווי לן דמיתנן אמרי ליה אנן מה נעני בתרך א"ל הי תורה והי מצוה דמגנו עלן,א"ר יוחנן משום רשב"י אסור לאדם שימלא שחוק פיו בעולם הזה שנאמר (תהלים קכו, ב) אז ימלא שחוק פינו ולשוננו רנה אימתי בזמן שיאמרו בגוים הגדיל ה' לעשות עם אלה אמרו עליו על ר"ל שמימיו לא מלא שחוק פיו בעוה"ז מכי שמעה מר' יוחנן רביה:,ת"ר אין עומדין להתפלל לא מתוך דין ולא מתוך דבר הלכה אלא מתוך הלכה פסוקה,והיכי דמי הלכה פסוקה,אמר אביי כי הא דר' זירא דאמר ר' זירא בנות ישראל החמירו על עצמן שאפילו רואות טיפת דם כחרדל יושבת עליה שבעה נקיים,רבא אמר כי הא דרב הושעיא דאמר רב הושעיא מערים אדם על תבואתו ומכניסה במוץ שלה כדי שתהא בהמתו אוכלת ופטורה מן המעשר,ואב"א כי הא דרב הונא דא"ר הונא א"ר זעירא המקיז דם בבהמת קדשים אסור בהנאה ומועלין בו,רבנן עבדי כמתניתין רב אשי עביד כברייתא.,ת"ר אין עומדין להתפלל לא מתוך עצבות ולא מתוך עצלות ולא מתוך שחוק ולא מתוך שיחה ולא מתוך קלות ראש ולא מתוך דברים בטלים אלא מתוך שמחה של מצוה,וכן לא יפטר אדם מחברו לא מתוך שיחה ולא מתוך שחוק ולא מתוך קלות ראש ולא מתוך דברים בטלים אלא מתוך דבר הלכה שכן מצינו בנביאים הראשונים שסיימו דבריהם בדברי שבח ותנחומים,וכן תנא מרי בר בריה דרב הונא בריה דר' ירמיה בר אבא אל יפטר אדם מחבירו אלא מתוך דבר הלכה שמתוך כך זוכרהו,כי הא דרב כהנא אלוייה לרב שימי בר אשי מפום נהרא עד בי צניתא דבבל כי מטא להתם א"ל מר ודאי דאמרי אינשי הני צניתא דבבל איתנהו מאדם הראשון ועד השתא,א"ל אדכרתן מילתא דרבי יוסי ברבי חנינא דאמר ר' יוסי ברבי חנינא מאי דכתיב (ירמיהו ב, ו) בארץ אשר לא עבר בה איש ולא ישב אדם שם וכי מאחר דלא עבר היאך ישב אלא לומר לך כל ארץ שגזר עליה אדם הראשון לישוב נתישבה וכל ארץ שלא גזר עליה אדם הראשון לישוב לא נתישבה,רב מרדכי אלוייה לרב שימי בר אשי מהגרוניא ועד בי כיפי ואמרי לה עד בי דורא:,ת"ר המתפלל צריך שיכוין את לבו לשמים אבא שאול אומר סימן לדבר (תהלים י, יז) תכין לבם תקשיב אזנך,תניא א"ר יהודה כך היה מנהגו של ר"ע כשהיה מתפלל עם הצבור היה מקצר ועולה מפני טורח צבור וכשהיה מתפלל בינו לבין עצמו אדם מניחו בזוית זו ומוצאו בזוית אחרת וכל כך למה מפני כריעות והשתחויות:,א"ר חייא בר אבא לעולם יתפלל אדם בבית שיש בו חלונות שנאמר (דניאל ו, יא) וכוין פתיחן ליה וגו',יכול יתפלל אדם כל היום כלו כבר מפורש על ידי דניאל (דניאל ו, יא) וזמנין תלתא וגו',יכול משבא לגולה הוחלה כבר נאמר (דניאל ו, יא) די הוא עבד מן קדמת דנא,יכול יתפלל אדם לכל רוח שירצה ת"ל (דניאל ו, יא) (לקבל) [נגד] ירושלם,יכול יהא כוללן בבת אחת כבר מפורש ע"י דוד דכתיב (תהלים נה, יח) ערב ובקר וצהרים וגו',יכול ישמיע קולו בתפלתו כבר מפורש על ידי חנה שנאמר (שמואל א א, יג) וקולה לא ישמע,יכול ישאל אדם צרכיו ואח"כ יתפלל כבר מפורש על ידי שלמה שנאמר (מלכים א ח, כח) לשמוע אל הרנה ואל התפלה רנה זו תפלה תפלה זו בקשה אין אומר דבר (בקשה) אחר אמת ויציב אבל אחר התפלה אפי' כסדר וידוי של יה"כ אומר איתמר,נמי אמר רב חייא בר אשי אמר רב אע"פ שאמרו שואל אדם צרכיו בשומע תפלה אם בא לומר אחר תפלתו אפילו כסדר יום הכפורים אומר:, אמר רב המנונא כמה הלכתא גברוותא איכא למשמע מהני קראי דחנה (שמואל א א, יג) וחנה היא מדברת על לבה מכאן למתפלל צריך שיכוין לבו רק שפתיה נעות מכאן למתפלל שיחתוך בשפתיו וקולה לא ישמע מכאן שאסור להגביה קולו בתפלתו ויחשבה עלי לשכורה מכאן ששכור אסור להתפלל,ויאמר אליה עלי עד מתי תשתכרין וגו' א"ר אלעזר מכאן לרואה בחברו | 31a. bHe brought a valuable cup worth four hundred izuzand broke it before them and they became sad. /b,The Gemara also relates: bRav Ashi made a weddingfeast bfor his sonand bhe saw the Sages, who were excessively joyous. He brought a cup ofextremely valuable bwhite glass and broke it before them, and they became sad. /b,Similarly, the Gemara relates: bThe Sages said to Rav Hamnuna Zuti at the weddingfeast bof Mar, son of Ravina: Let the Master sing for us.Since he believed that the merriment had become excessive, bhe said to them,singing: bWoe unto us, for we shall die, woe unto us, for we shall die. They said to him: What shall we respond after you?What is the chorus of the song? bHe said to them,you should respond: bWhere is Torah and where is mitzva that protect us? /b,In a similar vein, bRabbi Yoḥa said in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai: One is forbidden to fill his mouth with mirth in this world,as long as we are in exile ( ige’onim /i), bas it is stated:“When the Lord returns the captivity of Zion we will be as dreamers” (Psalms 126:1). Only b“then will our mouths fill with laughter and our lips with song”(Psalms 126:2). bWhenwill that joyous era arrive? When b“they will say among nations, the Lord has done great things with these”(Psalms 126:2). bThey said about Reish Lakish that throughout his life he did not fill his mouth with laughter in this world once he heard thisstatement bfrom his teacher, Rabbi Yoḥa. /b,We learned in the mishna that it is appropriate to stand and begin to pray from an atmosphere of gravity. Regarding this, bthe Sages taught: Onemay bneither standand begin to pray, directly bfrominvolvement in bjudgment nordirectly bfromdeliberation over the ruling in a bmatter of ihalakha /i,as his preoccupation with the judgment or the halakhic ruling will distract him from prayer. bRatherit is appropriate to pray directly bfrominvolvement in the study of bauniversally accepted bconclusive ihalakha /ithat leaves no room for further deliberation and will not distract him during prayer., bAndthe Gemara asks: bWhat is an exampleof a bconclusive ihalakha /i? /b,The Gemara offers several examples: bAbaye said:One blike this ihalakha bof Rabbi Zeira,as bRabbi Zeira said: The daughters of Israel were stringent with themselves;to the extent bthat even if they see a drop of blood corresponding tothe size of ba mustardseed bshe sits seven cleandays bfor it.By Torah law, a woman who witnesses the emission of blood during the eleven days following her fixed menstrual period is not considered a menstruating woman; rather she immerses herself and is purified the next day. However, the women of Israel accepted the stringency upon themselves that if they see any blood whatsoever, they act as it if were the blood of a izava /i, which obligates her to count seven more clean days before becoming ritually pure (see Leviticus 15:25).,Citing an additional example of a conclusive ihalakha /i, bRava said:One blike this ihalakha bof Rav Hoshaya, as Rav Hoshaya said: A person may employ artificeto circumvent obligations incumbent buponhim in dealing with bhis grain and bring it intothe courtyard bin its chaff so that his animal will eatfrom it, bandthe grain bis exemptfrom btithes. iHalakhadictates that one is obligated to tithe grain that has been threshed and piled, regardless of the ultimate purpose for which the grain was intended. By Torah law, one is exempt from tithing grain that was not threshed and is therefore still in its chaff. By rabbinic law, one is prohibited from eating this grain in the framework of a meal. Feeding animals is permitted without first tithing that grain., bAnd if you wish, sayinstead yet another example of a conclusive ihalakha /i, which is the recommended prelude to prayer. One blike this ihalakha bof Rav Huna,as bRav Huna saidthat bRabbi Zeira said: One who lets blood from a consecrated animalthat was consecrated as a sacrifice; deriving bbenefitfrom that blood bis prohibited.Although blood of an offering that was sprinkled on the altar is not considered Temple property, nevertheless, deriving benefit from the blood of a living, consecrated animal is considered prohibited use of Temple property. In so doing, bone misusesproperty consecrated to the Temple, and as in any other case of misusing Temple property, if he did so unwittingly, he is liable to bring a guilt-offering.,It is related that bthe Sages acted in accordance withthe opinion of bour mishnaand rose to pray from an atmosphere of gravity; bRav Ashi acted in accordance withthe opinion of bthe ibaraita /iand preceded his prayer with a conclusive ihalakha /i.,On the topic of proper preparation for prayer, bthe Sages taught: One may neither stand to pray froman atmosphere of bsorrow nor froman atmosphere of blaziness, nor froman atmosphere of blaughter, nor froman atmosphere of bconversation, nor froman atmosphere of bfrivolity, nor froman atmosphere of bpurposeless matters. Rather,one should approach prayer bfroman atmosphere imbued with bthe joy of a mitzva. /b, bSimilarly, a person should neither take leave of another froman atmosphere of bconversation, nor froman atmosphere of blaughter, nor froman atmosphere of bfrivolity, nor froman atmosphere of bpurposeless matters. Rather,one should take leave of another bfrominvolvement in a bmatter of ihalakha /i. As we found inthe books of the Bible dealing with bthe early prophets, that they would conclude their talks with words of praise and consolation. /b, bAnd so Mari, the grandson of Rav Huna, son of Rabbi Yirmeya bar Abba, taught in a ibaraita /i: One should only take leave of another frominvolvement in a bmatter of ihalakha /i, so that, consequently, he will remember him;whenever he recalls the one from whom he took leave, he will think well of him because of the new ihalakhathat he taught him ( iEliyahu Zuta /i)., bAsin the incident related by the Gemara bthat Rav Kahana accompanied Rav Shimi bar Ashi fromthe town of bPum Nahara to the palm grovein bBabylonia. When he arrived there,Rav Kahana bsaid toRav Shimi bar Ashi: bMaster, what is meant by that which people say: These palm treesof bBabylonia have beenin this place from the time of bAdam the firstman buntil now? /b,Rav Shimi bar Ashi bsaid to him: You reminded me of something that Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina,said, bas Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, said: What isthe meaning of bthat which is written: “In a land through which no man has passed and where no person [ iadam /i] has settled”(Jeremiah 2:6)? This verse is difficult; bsince it isa land through which bnoperson bhas passed, howcould anyone bhave settledthere permanently? The statement that “no person has settled there” is redundant. bRather,this verse comes bto teachthat bevery landthrough bwhich Adam the firstman passed and bdecreed that it would be settled was settled, and every landthrough bwhichAdam passed and bdecreed that it would not be settled was not settled.Based on this, what people say is true, and the palm trees of Babylonia are from the time of Adam, meaning that from the time of Adam this land was decreed to be suitable for growing palm trees ( iMe’iri /i). The Gemara cited an example of how one who parts from another with Torah learns something new.,Having mentioned the mitzva for a student to accompany his Rabbi, the Gemara relates that bRav Mordekhai accompaniedhis mentor, bRav Shimi bar Ashi,a great distance, bfromthe city of bHagronya to Bei Keifei; and some saythat he accompanied from Hagronya bto Bei Dura. /b,Returning to the topic of preparation for prayer, bthe Sages taughtin the iTosefta /i: bOne who prays must focus his heart toward Heaven. Abba Shaul says: An indication ofthe importance of this bmatteris stated in the verse: “The desire of the humble You have heard, Lord; bdirect their hearts, Your ear will listen”(Psalms 10:17). In other words, if one focuses his heart in prayer as a result of God directing his heart, his prayer will be accepted as God’s ear will listen.,With regard to one’s intent during prayer, bit was taughtin a ibaraitathat bRabbi Yehuda said: This was the custom of Rabbi Akiva, when he would pray with the congregation he would shortenhis prayer band go up, due tohis desire to avoid being an bencumbrance on the congregationby making them wait for him to finish his prayer. bBut when he prayed by himselfhe would extend his prayers to an extent that ba person would leaveRabbi Akiva alone bin one cornerof the study hall bandlater bfind himstill praying bin another corner. And whywould Rabbi Akiva move about bso much? Because of his bows and prostrations.Rabbi Akiva’s enthusiasm in prayer was so great, that as a result of his bows and prostrations, he would unwittingly move from one corner to the other (Rav Hai Gaon).,Many ihalakhotare derived from evoking the prayers of biblical characters. bRabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: One should always pray in a house with windows, as it is statedregarding Daniel: “And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went to his house. In his attic bthere were open windowsfacing Jerusalem, and three times a day he knelt upon his knees and prayed and gave thanks before his God, just as he had done before” (Daniel 6:11).,In the iTosefta /i, additional ihalakhotwere derived from Daniel’s prayer. I bmight havethought bthat one could prayas many times as he wishes bthroughout the entire day; it has already been articulated by Daniel,with regard to whom it is stated: b“And three timesa day he knelt upon his knees and prayed.” This teaches that there are fixed prayers., bI might have thought that thispractice of fixed prayer bbeganonly bwhen he came tothe Babylonian bexile; it was stated:“Just bas he had done before.” /b,Further, I bmight havethought bthat one may prayfacing bany direction he wishes; the verse states:The appropriate direction for prayer is b“facing Jerusalem.” /b,Daniel does not describe how these three prayers are distributed during the day. I bmight havethought bthat one may include allthree prayers bat one time; it has already been articulated by Davidthat one may not do so, bas it is written: “Evening and morning and noon,I pray and cry aloud and He hears my voice” (Psalms 55:18).,Furthermore, bI might havethought bthat one may make his voice heard in his iAmida bprayer; it has already been articulated by Hannahin her prayer, bas it is stated:“And Hannah spoke in her heart, only her lips moved band her voice could not be heard”(I Samuel 1:13)., iHalakhotregarding the order of the prayers were also learned from the prayers of biblical characters. I bmight havethought bthat one should request his own needs first, and afterwards recite prayersof thanksgiving and praise; bit has already been articulated by Solomonthat this is not so, as in Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the Holy Temple bit is stated: “To hear the song and the prayerthat Your servant prays before You today” (I Kings 8:28). In this verse, bsong is prayerin the sense of thanks and praise, and bprayer isone’s brequestof his personal needs. Therefore, one who is praying bdoes not speak matters of request afterhe began to recite iemet veyatziv /iprior to the iAmidaprayer, which is the essence of prayer. Rather, he begins with praise in the first three blessings of the iAmidaprayer, and only thereafter does he include requests for his needs. bBut after the iAmida bprayerthere is no limit. If he desires to recite beven the equivalent of the order of the confession of Yom Kippur,he may breciteit.,This bwas also statedby an iamora /i; bRav Ḥiyya bar Ashi saidthat bRav said: Althoughthe Sages bsaidthat bone requests hispersonal bneeds inthe blessing: bWho listens to prayer,that is with regard to one who wishes to do so as part of the iAmidaprayer. bIf he comesto add band reciteadditional requests baftercompleting bhis iAmida bprayer, evenif his personal requests are bthe equivalent of the order of the confession of Yom Kippur,he may brecitethem., bRav Hamnuna said: How many significant ihalakhot bcan be derived from these versesof the prayer bof Hannah?As it says: “And Hannah spoke in her heart, only her lips moved and her voice could not be heard, so Eli thought her to be drunk” (I Samuel 1:13). The Gemara elaborates: bFromthat which is stated bhere: “And Hannah spoke in her heart,”the ihalakhathat bone who prays must focus his hearton his prayer is derived. And bfromthat which is stated bhere: “Only her lips moved,”the ihalakhathat bone who prays must enunciatethe words bwith his lips,not only contemplate them in his heart, is derived. bFromthat which is written bhere: “And her voice could not be heard,”the ihalakhathat bone is forbidden to raise his voice in his iAmida bprayeras it must be recited silently. bFromthe continuation of the verse bhere: “So Eli thought her to be drunk,”the ihalakhathat ba drunk person is forbidden to pray.That is why he rebuked her.,On the subject of Eli’s rebuke of Hannah, as it is stated: b“And Eli said to her: How long will you remain drunk?Remove your wine from yourself” (I Samuel 1:14); bRabbi Elazar said: From herethe ihalakhathat bone who sees in another /b |
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24. Babylonian Talmud, Gittin, 90b (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 90b. ופרומה משני צדדיה ורוחצת עם בני אדם,עם בני אדם ס"ד אלא במקום שבני אדם רוחצין,זו מצוה מן התורה לגרשה שנאמר (דברים כד, א) כי מצא בה ערות וגו' ושלחה מביתו והלכה והיתה לאיש אחר הכתוב קראו אחר לומר שאין זה בן זוגו לראשון זה הוציא רשעה מביתו וזה הכניס רשעה לתוך ביתו,זכה שני שלחה שנאמר ושנאה האיש האחרון ואם לאו קוברתו שנאמר (דברים כד, ג) או כי ימות האיש האחרון כדאי הוא במיתה שזה הוציא רשעה מביתו וזה הכניס רשעה לתוך ביתו,(מלאכי ב, טז) כי שנא שלח ר' יהודה אומר אם שנאתה שלח ר' יוחנן אומר שנאוי המשלח,ולא פליגי הא בזוג ראשון הא בזוג שני,דאמר ר' אלעזר כל המגרש אשתו ראשונה אפילו מזבח מוריד עליו דמעות שנאמר (מלאכי ב, יג) וזאת שנית תעשו כסות דמעה את מזבח ה' בכי ואנקה מאין [עוד] פנות אל המנחה ולקחת רצון מידכם ואמרתם על מה על כי ה' העיד בינך ובין אשת נעוריך אשר אתה בגדתה בה והיא חברתך ואשת בריתך:, br br big strongהדרן עלך המגרש וסליקא לה מסכת גיטין /strong /big br br | |
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25. Babylonian Talmud, Pesahim, 117a (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 117a. א"ר חסדא א"ר יוחנן הללויה וכסיה וידידיה אחת הן רב אמר כסיה ומרחביה אחת הן רבה אמר מרחביה בלבד,איבעיא להו מרחב יה לרב חסדא מאי תיקו,איבעיא להו ידידיה לרב מאי ת"ש דאמר רב ידידיה נחלק לשנים לפיכך ידיד חול יה קודש,איבעיא להו הללויה לרב מאי ת"ש דאמר רב חזינא תילי דבי חביבא דכתיב בהו הללו בחד גיסא ויה בחד גיסא,ופליגא דריב"ל דאמר ריב"ל מאי הללויה הללוהו בהלולים הרבה,ופליגא דידיה אדידיה דאמר ריב"ל בעשרה מאמרות של שבח נאמר ספר תהלים בניצוח בנגון במשכיל במזמור בשיר באשרי בתהלה בתפלה בהודאה בהללויה גדול מכולן הללויה שכולל שם ושבח בבת אחת,אמר רב יהודה אמר שמואל שיר שבתורה משה וישראל אמרוהו בשעה שעלו מן הים והלל זה מי אמרו נביאים שביניהן תקנו להן לישראל שיהו אומרין אותו על כל פרק ופרק ועל כל צרה וצרה שלא תבא עליהן ולכשנגאלין אומרים אותו על גאולתן,תניא היה ר"מ אומר כל תושבחות האמורות בספר תהלים כלן דוד אמרן שנאמר (תהלים עב, כ) כלו תפלות דוד בן ישי אל תיקרי כלו אלא כל אלו,הלל זה מי אמרו רבי יוסי אומר אלעזר בני אומר משה וישראל אמרוהו בשעה שעלו מן הים וחלוקין עליו חביריו לומר שדוד אמרו ונראין דבריו מדבריהן אפשר ישראל שחטו את פסחיהן ונטלו לולביהן ולא אמרו שירה,ד"א פסלו של מיכה עומד בבכי וישראל אומרים את ההלל:,ת"ר כל שירות ותושבחות שאמר דוד בספר תהלים ר"א אומר כנגד עצמו אמרן רבי יהושע אומר כנגד ציבור אמרן וחכ"א יש מהן כנגד ציבור ויש מהן כנגד עצמו האמורות בלשון יחיד כנגד עצמו האמורות בלשון רבים כנגד ציבור,ניצוח וניגון לעתיד לבא משכיל על ידי תורגמן לדוד מזמור מלמד ששרתה עליו שכינה ואחר כך אמר שירה מזמור לדוד מלמד שאמר שירה ואחר כך שרתה עליו שכינה,ללמדך שאין השכינה שורה לא מתוך עצלות ולא מתוך עצבות ולא מתוך שחוק ולא מתוך קלות ראש ולא מתוך דברים בטלים אלא מתוך דבר שמחה של מצוה שנאמר (מלכים ב ג, טו) ועתה קחו לי מנגן והיה כנגן המנגן ותהי עליו יד ה',אמר רב יהודה אמר רב וכן לדבר הלכה אמר רב נחמן וכן לחלום טוב,איני והאמר רב גידל אמר רב כל ת"ח היושב לפני רבו ואין שפתותיו נוטפות מר תכוינה שנאמר (שיר השירים ה, יג) שפתותיו שושנים נוטפות מור עובר אל תקרי שושנים אלא ששונים אל תקרי מור עובר אלא מר עבר,לא קשיא הא ברבה הא בתלמידא,ואי בעית אימא הא והא ברבה ולא קשיא הא מקמי דפתח והא לבתר דפתח כי הא דרבה מקמי דפתח להו לרבנן אמר מילתא דבדיחותא ובדחו רבנן ולבסוף יתיב באימתא ופתח בשמעתא,ת"ר הלל זה מי אמרו ר"א אומר משה וישראל אמרוהו בשעה שעמדו על הים הם אמרו (תהלים קטו, א) לא לנו ה' לא לנו משיבה רוח הקודש ואמרה להן (ישעיהו מח, יא) למעני למעני אעשה רבי יהודה אומר יהושע וישראל אמרוהו בשעה שעמדו עליהן מלכי כנען הם אמרו לא לנו ומשיבה וכו',רבי אלעזר המודעי אומר דבורה וברק אמרוהו בשעה שעמד עליהם סיסרא הם אמרו לא לנו ורוח הקודש משיבה ואומרת להם למעני למעני אעשה ר' אלעזר בן עזריה אומר חזקיה וסייעתו אמרוהו בשעה שעמד עליהם סנחריב הם אמרו לא לנו ומשיבה וכו' רבי עקיבא אומר חנניה מישאל ועזריה אמרוהו בשעה שעמד עליהם נבוכדנצר הרשע הם אמרו לא לנו ומשיבה וכו' רבי יוסי הגלילי אומר מרדכי ואסתר אמרוהו בשעה שעמד עליהם המן הרשע הם אמרו לא לנו ומשיבה וכו',וחכמים אומרים נביאים שביניהן תיקנו להם לישראל שיהו אומרים אותו על כל פרק ופרק ועל כל צרה וצרה שלא תבא עליהם לישראל ולכשנגאלין אומרים אותו על גאולתן:,אמר רב חסדא הללויה סוף פירקא רבה בר רב הונא אמר הללויה ריש פירקא אמר רב חסדא חזינא להו לתילי דבי רב חנין בר רב דכתיב בהו הללויה באמצע פירקא אלמא מספקא ליה,אמר רב חנין בר רבא הכל מודים (תהלים קמה, כא) בתהלת ה' ידבר פי ויברך כל בשר שם קדשו לעולם ועד (הללויה) הללויה דבתריה ריש פירקא (תהלים קיב, י) רשע יראה וכעס שניו יחרק ונמס תאות רשעים תאבד הללויה דבתריה ריש פירקא (תהלים קלה, ב) ושעומדים בבית ה' הללויה דבתריה ריש פירקא,קראי מוסיפין אף את אלו (תהלים קי, ז) מנחל בדרך ישתה על כן ירים ראש הללויה דבתריה ריש פירקא (תהלים קיא, י) ראשית חכמה יראת ה' שכל טוב לכל עושיהם הללויה דבתריה ריש פירקא,נימא כתנאי עד היכן הוא אומר בית שמאי אומרים עד (תהלים קיג, ט) אם הבנים שמחה ובית הלל אומרים עד (תהלים קיד, ח) חלמיש למעינו מים ותניא אידך עד היכן הוא אומר בית שמאי אומרים עד (תהלים קיד, א) בצאת ישראל ממצרים ובית הלל אומרים עד (תהלים קטו, א) לא לנו ה' לא לנו | 117a. The mishna states that we will say before Him: iHalleluya /i. The Gemara discusses the meaning of this term. bRav Ḥisda saidthat bRabbi Yoḥa said:The word ihalleluya /iand the word ikesya /i(Exodus 17:16) and the name bYedidya(II Samuel 12:25) bareeach regarded as ba singleword, not an amalgamation of two smaller words, i.e., iHallelu /i- iya /i. bRav saidthat ikesyaand imerḥavya /i(Psalms 118:5) bare singlewords. bRabba said: Only imerḥavya /iis a single word; the others are two words., bA dilemma was raised beforethe Sages: According to the opinion of bRav Ḥisda, what isthe status of imerḥavya /i?Is it counted as two words or one? This dilemma was raised because Rav Ḥisda himself did not mention this term. No answer was found for this dilemma, and therefore the Gemara states: bLet it standunresolved.,Another bdilemma was raised beforethe Sages: According to the opinion of bRav, what isthe status of the name bYedidya?The Gemara answers: bComeand bhear, as Rav saidexplicitly: bYedidya is divided into twoseparate names. bTherefore, iyedid /iis ba mundaneword, whereas iya /iis ba sacredname, which must be treated respectfully like the other sacred names of God., bA dilemma was raised beforethe Sages: bAccording tothe opinion of bRav, what isthe status of ihalleluya /i?Is it one word or two? The Gemara answers: bComeand bhear, as Rav said: I saw a book of Psalms in the study hall of my uncle,Rabbi Ḥiyya, binwhich the word ihalleluis written on one side,at the end of a line, band iya /iwas written bon one side,at the beginning of the next line. This shows that the word ihalleluyacan indeed be split in two.,The Gemara comments: This opinion bdisputesthat bof Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, as Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: What isthe meaning of the word ihalleluya /i?It means bpraise Him [ ihalleluhu /i] with many praises [ ihillulim /i].According to this opinion, the iyaat the end of the word is a superlative, not a divine name.,The Gemara adds: This statement bofRabbi Yehoshua ben Levi bdisagrees withanother ruling that he bhimselfissued, bas Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: The book of Psalms is said bymeans of bten expressions of praise: By initzuaḥ /i, iniggun /i, imaskil /i, imizmor /i, ishir /i, iashrei /i, itehilla /i, itefilla /i, ihoda’a /i,and ihalleluya /i.He continues: bThe greatest of them allis ihalleluya /i, as it includesGod’s bname and praise at one time.This statement indicates that Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi considers ihalleluyato be a combination of two words, one of which is the name of God., bRav Yehuda saidthat bShmuel said: The song in the Torah,i.e., the Song at the Sea (Exodus 15:1–19), bMoses and the Jewish people recited it when they ascended from the sea.The Gemara asks: bAnd who said this ihallel /imentioned in the mishna, Psalms 113–118? The Gemara answers: The bProphets among them establishedthis hallel bfor the Jewish people, that theyshould brecite it on everyappropriate boccasion; and for every trouble, may it not come upon them,they recite the supplications included in ihallel /i. bWhen they are redeemed, they recite it over their redemption,as ihallelincludes expressions of gratitude for the redemption., bIt was taughtin a ibaraitathat bRabbi Meir would say: All the praises stated in the book of Psalms were recited by David, as it is stated: “The prayers of David, son of Yishai, are ended [ ikalu /i]”(Psalms 72:20). bDo not read ikalu /i; rather,read ikol elu /i, all of these,which indicates that the entire book of Psalms consists of the prayers of King David.,The Gemara clarifies: According to those who dispute Rabbi Meir’s claim that the entire book of Psalms was composed by King David, bwho recited this ihallel /i? Rabbi Yosei says: My son Elazar saysthat bMoses and the Jewish people recited it when they ascended from the sea. And his colleagues dispute him, saying that it was recited byKing bDavid. And the statement ofmy son, Elazar, bappearsmore accurate bthan their statement.The reason is as follows: Is it bpossible that the Jewish people slaughtered their Paschal lambs and tookand waved btheir ilulavim /iall those generations bwithout reciting a song?Rather, the Jews must have recited a song each year. Since it is the custom to sing ihallelnowadays, it is evidently an ancient institution., bAlternatively,is it possible that bMicah’s idol stood in tears, and the Jewish peoplewere breciting ihallel /ibefore it? The reference is to the idol of Micah, which was still standing in the days of David (see Judges 17). The Gemara states that the idol was crying, as a euphemism for its laughter, to avoid shaming the Jewish people ( ige’onim /i). The point is that the Jews would not have chanted: “They who make them shall be like them” (Psalms 115:8) at a time that they were worshipping idols. Rather, ihallelmust be older than that, and it dates back to the Song at the Sea., bThe Sages taughtin a ibaraitathat with regard to ball the songs and praise that David recited in the book of Psalms, Rabbi Eliezer says:David bsaid them about himself.They were the praises of an individual that were later transmitted to the community. bRabbi Yehoshua says: Heoriginally bsaid them about the community.He composed all of the psalms for the people, including those he wrote about himself. bAnd the Rabbis say: There are among thesepsalms some that are babout the community, and there are among thesepsalms some that are babout himself.The Rabbis clarify their opinion: The psalms bthat are stated in the singularform are babout himself,and bthose stated in the pluralform are babout the community. /b,The Gemara continues to discuss the book of Psalms. If a psalm begins with the terms initzuaḥor iniggun /i,this indicates that its praise will be fulfilled bin the future.Psalms that begin with the word imaskil /iwere delivered bbymeans of ba disseminator,a spokesman in a public address. The lecturer would speak softly, followed by a repetition of his discourse in the disseminator’s louder voice, so that everyone could hear. If a psalm begins: bof David a psalm,this bteaches that the Divine Presence rested upon himfirst band afterward he recitedthe bsong.However, if a psalm opens with: bA psalm of David,this bteaches that hefirst brecitedthe bsong, and afterward the Divine Presence rested upon him. /b,The Gemara adds: Incidentally, this serves bto teach you that the Divine Presence restsupon an individual bneither froman atmosphere of blaziness,nor bfroman atmosphere of bsadness, nor froman atmosphere of blaughter, nor froman atmosphere of bfrivolity, nor froman atmosphere of bidle chatter, but rather froman atmosphere imbued with bthe joy of a mitzva. As it is statedwith regard to Elisha, after he became angry at the king of Israel, his prophetic spirit left him until he requested: b“But now bring me a minstrel; and it came to pass when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him”(II Kings 3:15)., bRav Yehuda saidthat bRav said: And, sotoo, one should be joyful before stating ba matter of ihalakha /i. Rav Naḥman said: And, sotoo, one should be joyful before going to sleep, btoensure he will have ba good dream. /b,The Gemara asks: bIs that so,that one should introduce matters of ihalakhajoyfully? bDidn’t Rav Giddel saythat bRav said: Any Torah scholar who sits before his teacher and his lips are not dripping with bitternessdue to fear of his teacher, those lips bshall be burned, as it is stated: “His lips are as lilies [ ishoshanim /i] dripping with flowing myrrh [ inotefot mor over /i]”(Song of Songs 5:13). He interpreted homiletically: bDo not read itas ishoshanim /i, lilies; rather,read it as isheshonim /i, who are studying.Likewise, bdo not read itas imor over /i, flowing myrrh; rather,read it as imar over /i, flowing bitterness.In other words, lips that are studying Torah must be full of bitterness.,The Gemara explains: This is bnot difficult;there is no contradiction here, as bthisstatement, which teaches that one should introduce matters of ihalakhajoyfully, is referring bto a rabbi, and thatstatement, which teaches that one must be filled with bitterness, is referring bto a student,who must listen to his teacher with trepidation., bAnd if you wish, sayinstead that bthis and thatare referring bto a rabbi, andit is bnot difficult. Thisstatement, where it is taught that one must be joyful, is bbeforeone bbeginsteaching; bthatstatement, where it is taught that he must be filled with bitterness and trepidation, is bafterhe already bbeganteaching ihalakha /i. The Gemara adds: That explanation is blike thatpractice bof Rabba’s. Before he beganteaching ihalakha bto the Sages, he would say some humorouscomment, band the Sages would be cheered. Ultimately, he sat in trepidation and beganteaching bthe ihalakha /i. /b, bThe Sages taught: This ihallel /i, whoinitially brecited it? Rabbi Eliezer says: Moses and the Jewish people recited it when they stood by the sea. They said: “Not to us, God, not to us,but to Your name give glory” (Psalms 115:1). bThe Divine Spirit responded and said to them: “For My own sake, for My own sake, will I do it”(Isaiah 48:11). bRabbi Yehuda says: Joshua and the Jewish people recited it whenthey defeated bthe kings of Canaanwho bstood against them(see Joshua 12:7–24). bThey said: Not to us, andthe Divine Spirit bresponded:For My own sake., bRabbi Elazar HaModa’i says: Deborah and Barak recited it when Sisera stood against them(see Judges 4–5). bThey said: Not to us, and the Divine Spirit responded and said to them: For My own sake, for My own sake, will I do it. Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya says: Hezekiah and his company recited it when Sennacherib stood against them(see II Kings 18–19). bThey said: Not to us andthe Divine Spirit bresponded:For My own sake. bRabbi Akiva says: Haiah, Mishael, and Azariah recited it when the wicked Nebuchadnezzar stood against them(see Daniel 3). bThey said: Not to us, andthe Divine Spirit bresponded:For My own sake. bRabbi Yosei HaGelili says: Mordecai and Esther recited it when the wicked Haman stood against them. They said: Not to us, andthe Divine Spirit bresponded:For My own sake (see the book of Esther)., bAnd the Rabbis saythat ihallelwas not established for any specific event, but bthe Prophets among them instituted that the Jewish peopleshould brecite it on everyappropriate boccasion, and for every trouble, may it not come upon the Jewish people. When they are redeemed, they recite it over their redemption. /b,The Gemara continues to discuss the term ihalleluya /i. bRav Ḥisda said:The ihalleluya /istated in the final verse in several Psalms signifies bthe end of a chapter. Rabba bar Rav Huna said: iHalleluya /imarks bthe start ofa new bchapter,the beginning of the next psalm. bRav Ḥisda said: I saw a book of Psalms in the study hall of Rav Ḥanin bar Rav, in which it is written ihalleluyain the middle of the chapter,i.e., between the chapters, neither at the start of one psalm nor at the end of the next. bApparently,Rav Ḥanin bar Rav bwas uncertainwhere the word belonged., bRav Ḥanin bar Rava said: Everyone concedeswith regard to the verse: b“My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord; and let all flesh bless His holy name forever and ever”(Psalms 145:21), that the ihalleluyathat follows,the opening word of the subsequent psalm, marks bthe start ofthe next bchapter,not the conclusion of the previous one. Likewise, with regard to the verse: b“The wicked shall see and be vexed; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away; the desire of the wicked shall perish”(Psalms 112:10), the ihalleluyathat follows it,is bthe start ofthe next bchapter. Andsimilarly, with regard to: b“You who stand in the house of the Lord”(Psalms 135:2) the ihalleluyathat follows it,in verse 3, signifies bthe start ofthe next bchapter. /b,Those Sages who were expert in the bversesof the Bible badd these too: “He will drink of the brook in the way; therefore will he lift up the head”(Psalms 110:7); the ihalleluyathat follows it,the first word of the subsequent psalm, bis the start ofthe next bchapter.With regard to the verse: b“The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they who practice them;His praise endures forever” (Psalms 111:10), bthe ihalleluyathat follows it,marks bthe start ofthe next bchapter. /b,The Gemara suggests: bLet us sayit is bparallel toa dispute between the itanna’im /i,as we learned in the mishna: bUntil where does one recite ihallel /i? bBeit Shammai say: Until “A joyful mother of children, ihalleluya /i” (Psalms 113:9). bAnd Beit Hillel say: Until “The flint into a fountain of waters”(Psalms 114:8). bAnd it was taughtin banothersource, a ibaraita /i: bUntil where does one recite ihallel /i? bBeit Shammai say: Until “When Israel came forth out of Egypt”(Psalms 114:1), the beginning of the first passage after “A joyful mother of children, ihalleluya /i.” bAnd Beit Hillel say: Until “Not to us, God, not to us”(Psalms 115:1), which follows “the flint into a fountain of waters.” |
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26. Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat, 30b (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 30b. כל יומא דשבתא הוה יתיב וגריס כולי יומא ההוא יומא דבעי למינח נפשיה קם מלאך המות קמיה ולא יכיל ליה דלא הוה פסק פומיה מגירסא אמר מאי אעביד ליה הוה ליה בוסתנא אחורי ביתיה אתא מלאך המות סליק ובחיש באילני נפק למיחזי הוה סליק בדרגא איפחית דרגא מתותיה אישתיק ונח נפשיה,שלח שלמה לבי מדרשא אבא מת ומוטל בחמה וכלבים של בית אבא רעבים מה אעשה שלחו ליה חתוך נבלה והנח לפני הכלבים ואביך הנח עליו ככר או תינוק וטלטלו ולא יפה אמר שלמה (קהלת ט, ד) כי לכלב חי הוא טוב מן האריה המת ולענין שאילה דשאילנא קדמיכון נר קרויה נר ונשמתו של אדם קרויה נר מוטב תכבה נר של בשר ודם מפני נרו של הקב"ה:,אמר רב יהודה בריה דרב שמואל בר שילת משמיה דרב בקשו חכמים לגנוז ספר קהלת מפני שדבריו סותרין זה את זה ומפני מה לא גנזוהו מפני שתחילתו דברי תורה וסופו דברי תורה תחילתו דברי תורה דכתיב (קהלת א, ג) מה יתרון לאדם בכל עמלו שיעמול תחת השמש ואמרי דבי ר' ינאי תחת השמש הוא דאין לו קודם שמש יש לו סופו דברי תורה דכתיב (קהלת יב, יג) סוף דבר הכל נשמע את האלהים ירא ואת מצותיו שמור כי זה כל האדם מאי כי זה כל האדם אמר רבי (אליעזר) כל העולם כולו לא נברא אלא בשביל זה ר' אבא בר כהנא אמר שקול זה כנגד כל העולם כולו שמעון בן עזאי אומר ואמרי לה שמעון בן זומא אומר לא נברא כל העולם כולו אלא לצוות לזה,ומאי דבריו סותרין זה את זה כתיב (קהלת ז, ג) טוב כעס משחוק וכתיב (קהלת ב, ב) לשחוק אמרתי מהלל כתיב (קהלת ח, טו) ושבחתי אני את השמחה וכתיב (קהלת ב, ב) ולשמחה מה זה עושה לא קשיא טוב כעס משחוק טוב כעס שכועס הקב"ה על הצדיקים בעוה"ז משחוק שמשחק הקב"ה על הרשעים בעולם הזה ולשחוק אמרתי מהלל זה שחוק שמשחק הקב"ה עם הצדיקים בעולם הבא,ושבחתי אני את השמחה שמחה של מצוה ולשמחה מה זה עושה זו שמחה שאינה של מצוה ללמדך שאין שכינה שורה לא מתוך עצבות ולא מתוך עצלות ולא מתוך שחוק ולא מתוך קלות ראש ולא מתוך שיחה ולא מתוך דברים בטלים אלא מתוך דבר שמחה של מצוה שנאמר (מלכים ב ג, טו) ועתה קחו לי מנגן והיה כנגן המנגן ותהי עליו יד ה' אמר רב יהודה וכן לדבר הלכה אמר רבא וכן לחלום טוב,איני והאמר רב גידל אמר רב כל תלמיד חכם שיושב לפני רבו ואין שפתותיו נוטפות מר תכוינה שנאמר (שיר השירים ה, יג) שפתותיו שושנים נוטפות מור עובר אל תקרי מור עובר אלא מר עובר אל תקרי שושנים אלא ששונים לא קשיא הא ברבה והא בתלמיד ואיבעית אימא הא והא ברבה ולא קשיא הא מקמי דלפתח הא לבתר דפתח כי הא דרבה מקמי דפתח להו לרבנן אמר מילתא דבדיחותא ובדחי רבנן לסוף יתיב באימתא ופתח בשמעתא,ואף ספר משלי בקשו לגנוז שהיו דבריו סותרין זה את זה ומפני מה לא גנזוהו אמרי ספר קהלת לאו עיינינן ואשכחינן טעמא הכא נמי ליעיינן ומאי דבריו סותרים זה את זה כתיב (משלי כו, ד) אל תען כסיל כאולתו וכתיב (משלי כו, ה) ענה כסיל כאולתו לא קשיא הא בדברי תורה הא במילי דעלמא,כי הא דההוא דאתא לקמיה דרבי אמר ליה אשתך אשתי ובניך בני אמר ליה רצונך שתשתה כוס של יין שתה ופקע ההוא דאתא לקמיה דרבי חייא אמר ליה אמך אשתי ואתה בני אמר ליה רצונך שתשתה כוס של יין שתה ופקע אמר רבי חייא אהניא ליה צלותיה לרבי דלא לשווייה בני ממזירי דרבי כי הוה מצלי אמר יהי רצון מלפניך ה' אלהינו שתצילני היום מעזי. פנים ומעזות פנים,בדברי תורה מאי היא כי הא דיתיב רבן גמליאל וקא דריש עתידה אשה שתלד בכל יום שנאמר (ירמיהו לא, ח) הרה ויולדת יחדיו ליגלג עליו אותו תלמיד אמר אין כל חדש תחת השמש א"ל בא ואראך דוגמתן בעוה"ז נפק אחוי ליה תרנגולת,ותו יתיב רבן גמליאל וקא דריש עתידים אילנות שמוציאין פירות בכל יום שנאמר (יחזקאל יז, כג) ונשא ענף ועשה פרי מה ענף בכל יום אף פרי בכל יום ליגלג עליו אותו תלמיד אמר והכתיב אין כל חדש תחת השמש א"ל בא ואראך דוגמתם בעולם הזה נפק אחוי ליה צלף,ותו יתיב רבן גמליאל וקא דריש עתידה ארץ ישראל שתוציא גלוסקאות וכלי מילת שנאמר (תהלים עב, טז) יהי פסת בר בארץ ליגלג עליו אותו תלמיד ואמר אין כל חדש תחת השמש אמר ליה בא ואראך דוגמתן בעולם הזה נפק אחוי ליה כמיהין ופטריות ואכלי מילת נברא בר קורא:,. ת"ר לעולם יהא אדם ענוותן כהלל ואל יהא קפדן כשמאי מעשה בשני בני אדם | 30b. What did David do? bEvery Shabbat he would sit and learn all daylong to protect himself from the Angel of Death. On bthat day on whichthe Angel of Death bwas supposed to put his soul to rest,the day on which David was supposed to die, bthe Angel of Death stood before him and was unableto overcome him because bhis mouth did not pause from study.The Angel of Death bsaid: What shall I do to him? David had a garden [ ibustana /i] behind his house; the Angel of Death came, climbed, and shook the trees.David bwent out to see.As bhe climbed the stair, the stair broke beneath him.He was startled and bwas silent,interrupted his studies for a moment, band died. /b,Since David died in the garden, bSolomon sentthe following question bto the study hall: Father died and is lying in the sun, and the dogs of father’s house are hungry.There is room for concern lest the dogs come and harm his body. What shall I do? bThey sentan answer bto him: Cut up ananimal bcarcass and place it before the dogs.Since the dogs are hungry, handling the animal carcass to feed them is permitted. bAndwith regard to byour father,it is prohibited to move his body directly. bPlace a loafof bread bor an infant on top of him, andyou can bmove himinto the shade due to the bread or the infant. bAndis it bnot appropriatewhat bSolomon said: “ /bF bor a living dog is better than a dead lion.”The ultimate conclusion of this discussion is that life is preferable to death. bAndnow, bwith regard to the question that I asked before you;Rav Tanḥum spoke modestly, as, actually, they had asked him the question. bA lamp is called inerand a person’s soul isalso bcalled iner /i,as it is written: “The spirit of man is the lamp [ iner /i] of the Lord” (Proverbs 20:27). bIt is preferablethat bthe lamp ofa being of bflesh and blood,an actual lamp, bwill be extinguished in favor of the lamp of the Holy One, Blessed be He,a person’s soul. Therefore, one is permitted to extinguish a flame for the sake of a sick person.,Since contradictions in Ecclesiastes were mentioned, the Gemara cites additional relevant sources. bRav Yehuda, son of Rav Shmuel bar Sheilat, said in the name of Rav: The Sages sought to suppress the book of Ecclesiastesand declare it apocryphal bbecause its statements contradict each otherand it is liable to confuse its readers. bAnd why did they not suppress it? Because its beginningconsists of bmatters of Torah and its endconsists of bmatters of Torah.The ostensibly contradictory details are secondary to the essence of the book, which is Torah. The Gemara elaborates: bIts beginningconsists of bmatters of Torah, as it is written: “What profit has man of all his labor which he labors under the sun?”(Ecclesiastes 1:3), bandthe Sages of bthe schoolof bRabbi Yannai said:By inference: bUnder the sun is whereman bhas noprofit from his labor; however, bbefore the sun,i.e., when engaged in the study of Torah, which preceded the sun, bhe does haveprofit. bIts endingconsists of bmatters of Torah, as it is written: “The end of the matter, all having been heard: Fear God, and keep His mitzvot; for this is the whole man” ( /bEcclesiastes 12:13). With regard to this verse, the Gemara asks: bWhat isthe meaning of the phrase: bFor this is the whole man? Rabbi Eliezer said: The entire world was only created for thisperson. bRabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Thisperson bis equivalent to the entire world. Shimon ben Azzai says and some saythat bShimon ben Zoma says: The entire world was only created as companion to thisman, so that he will not be alone., bAndto the essence of the matter, the Gemara asks: bWhat isthe meaning of: bIts statementsthat bcontradict each other? It is written: “Vexation is better than laughter”(Ecclesiastes 7:3), band it is written: “I said of laughter: It is praiseworthy”(Ecclesiastes 2:2), which is understood to mean that laughter is commendable. Likewise in one verse bit is written: “So I commended mirth”(Ecclesiastes 8:15), bandin another verse bit is written: “And of mirth: What does it accomplish?”(Ecclesiastes 2:2). The Gemara answers: This is bnot difficult,as the contradiction can be resolved. bVexation is better than laughtermeans: The bvexationof bthe Holy One, Blessed be He, toward the righteous in this world is preferable to the laughter which the Holy One, Blessed be He, laughs with the wicked in this worldby showering them with goodness. bI said of laughter: It is praiseworthy, that isthe blaughter which the Holy One, Blessed be He, laughs with the righteous in the World-to-Come. /b,Similarly, “ bSo I commended mirth,”that is bthe joy of a mitzva. “And of mirth: What does it accomplish?” that is joy that is notthe joy bof a mitzva.The praise of joy mentioned here is bto teach you that the Divine Presence restsupon an individual bneither froman atmosphere of bsadness, nor froman atmosphere of blaziness, nor froman atmosphere of blaughter, nor froman atmosphere of bfrivolity, nor froman atmosphere of bidle conversation, nor froman atmosphere of bidle chatter, but rather froman atmosphere imbued with bthe joy ofa bmitzva. As it was statedwith regard to Elisha that after he became angry at the king of Israel, his prophetic spirit left him until he requested: b“But now bring me a minstrel; and it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him”(II Kings 3:15). bRav Yehuda said: And, sotoo, one should be joyful before stating ba matter of ihalakha /i. Rava said: And, so too,one should be joyful before going to sleep in order btohave a bgood dream. /b,The Gemara asks: Is bthat so,that one should introduce matters of ihalakhajoyfully? bDidn’t Rav Giddel saythat bRav said: Any Torah scholar who sits before his teacher and his lips are not dripping with myrrhdue to fear of his teacher, those lips bshall be burnt,as bit is stated: “His lips are as lilies, dripping with flowing myrrh [ ishoshanim notefot mor over /i]”(Song of Songs 5:13)? He interpreted homiletically: bDo not read imor over /i, flowing myrrh; rather,read imar over /i, flowing bitterness.Likewise, bdo not read ishoshanim /i, lilies; rather,read isheshonim /i, that are studying,meaning that lips that are studying Torah must be full of bitterness. The Gemara explains: This is bnot difficult,there is no contradiction here, as bthis,where it was taught that one should introduce matters of ihalakhajoyfully, is referring bto a rabbi, and that,where it was taught that one must be filled with bitterness, is referring bto a student,who must listen to his teacher with trepidation. bAnd if you wish, sayinstead that bthis and thatare referring bto a rabbi, andit is bnot difficult. This,where it was taught that he must be joyful, is bbeforehe bbeginsteaching, whereas bthat,where it was taught that he must be filled with bitterness and trepidation, is bafterhe already bbeganteaching ihalakha /i. That explanation is blike that which Rabbadid. bBefore he beganteaching ihalakha bto the Sages, he would say something humorous and the Sages would be cheered. Ultimately, he sat in trepidation and beganteaching the ihalakha /i., bAnd,the Gemara continues, the Sages bsought to suppress the book of Proverbs as wellbecause bits statements contradict each other. And why did they not suppress it? They said:In the case of bthe book of Ecclesiastes, didn’t we analyze it and find an explanationthat its statements were not contradictory? bHere too, let us analyze it. And what isthe meaning of: bIts statements contradict each other?On the one hand, bit is written: “Answer not a fool according to his folly,lest you also be like him” (Proverbs 26:4), bandon the other hand, bit is written: “Answer a fool according to his folly,lest he be wise in his own eyes” (Proverbs 26:5). The Gemara resolves this apparent contradiction: This is bnot difficult,as bthis,where one should answer a fool, is referring to a case where the fool is making claims babout Torah matters;whereas bthat,where one should not answer him, is referring to a case where the fool is making claims babout mundane matters. /b,The Gemara relates how Sages conducted themselves in both of those circumstances. bAs inthe case bof thatman bwho came before RabbiYehuda HaNasi and bsaid to him: Your wifeis bmy wife and your childrenare bmy children,Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi bsaid to him:Would byou like to drink a cup of wine? He drank and burstand died. Similarly, the Gemara relates: bThere was that man who came before Rabbi Ḥiyya and said to him: Your motheris bmy wife, and youare bmy son. He said to him:Would byou like to drink a cup of wine? He drank and burstand died. bRabbi Ḥiyya saidwith regard to the incident involving Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi: bRabbiYehuda HaNasi’s bprayerthat bhis children will not be rendered imamzerim /i,children of illicit relations, bwas effective for him. As when RabbiYehuda HaNasi bwould pray, he saidafter his prayer: bMay it be Your will, O Lord, my God, that You will deliver me today from impudent people and from insolence.Insolence, in this case, refers to imamzerut /i. It was due to his prayer that that man burst and was unsuccessful in disparaging Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi’s children., bIn matters of Torah, what isthe case with regard to which the verse said that one should respond to a fool’s folly? bAs inthe case bwhere Rabban Gamliel was sitting and he interpreteda verse bhomiletically: In the future,in the World-to-Come, ba woman will give birth every day, as it says: “The woman with child and her that gives birth together”(Jeremiah 31:7), explaining that birth will occur on the same day as conception. bA certain student scoffed at himand bsaid:That cannot be, as it has already been stated: b“There is nothing new under the sun”(Ecclesiastes 1:9). Rabban Gamliel bsaid to him: Come and I will show you an exampleof this bin this world. He took him outside and showed him a chickenthat lays eggs every day., bAnd furthermore: Rabban Gamliel sat and interpreteda verse bhomiletically: In the future,in the World-to-Come, btrees will produce fruits every day, as it is stated: “And it shall bring forth branches and bear fruit”(Ezekiel 17:23); bjust as a branchgrows bevery day, so too, fruitwill be produced bevery day. A certain student scoffed at himand bsaid: Isn’t it written: There is nothing new under the sun? He said to him: Come and I will show you an exampleof this bin this world. He went outside and showed him a caper bush,part of which is edible during each season of the year., bAnd furthermore: Rabban Gamliel sat and interpreteda verse bhomiletically: In the future,the World-to-Come, bEretz Yisrael will produce cakes andfine bwool garmentsthat will grow in the ground, bas it is stated: “Let abundant grain be in the land /b.” bA certain student scoffed at him and said: There is nothing new under the sun. He said to him: Come and I will show you an example in this world. He went outsideand bshowed him truffles and mushrooms,which emerge from the earth over the course of a single night and are shaped like a loaf of bread. bAnd with regard to wool garments,he showed him bthe covering of a heart of palm,a young palm branch, which is wrapped in a thin net-like covering.,Since the Gemara discussed the forbearance of Sages, who remain silent in the face of nonsensical comments, it cites additional relevant examples. bThe Sages taughtin a ibaraita /i: bA person should always be patient like Hillel and not impatient like Shammai.The Gemara related: There was ban incidentinvolving btwo people /b |
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27. Babylonian Talmud, Taanit, 9a (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 9a. (דברים יד, כב) עשר תעשר עשר בשביל שתתעשר,אשכחיה ר' יוחנן לינוקא דריש לקיש אמר ליה אימא לי פסוקיך א"ל עשר תעשר א"ל ומאי עשר תעשר א"ל עשר בשביל שתתעשר אמר ליה מנא לך א"ל זיל נסי,אמר ליה ומי שרי לנסוייה להקב"ה והכתיב (דברים ו, טז) לא תנסו את ה' א"ל הכי אמר רבי הושעיא חוץ מזו שנאמר (מלאכי ג, י) הביאו את כל המעשר אל בית האוצר ויהי טרף בביתי ובחנוני נא בזאת אמר ה' צבאות אם לא אפתח לכם את ארובות השמים והריקותי לכם ברכה עד בלי די,מאי עד בלי די אמר רמי בר חמא אמר רב עד שיבלו שפתותיכם מלומר די א"ל אי הות מטי התם להאי פסוקא לא הוית צריכנא לך ולהושעיא רבך,ותו אשכחיה ר' יוחנן לינוקיה דריש לקיש דיתיב ואמר (משלי יט, ג) אולת אדם תסלף דרכו ועל ה' יזעף לבו,יתיב רבי יוחנן וקא מתמה אמר מי איכא מידי דכתיבי בכתובי דלא רמיזי באורייתא א"ל אטו הא מי לא רמיזי והכתיב (בראשית מב, כח) ויצא לבם ויחרדו איש אל אחיו לאמר מה זאת עשה אלהים לנו,דל עיניה וחזא ביה אתיא אימיה אפיקתיה אמרה ליה תא מקמיה דלא ליעבד לך כדעבד לאבוך,(א"ר יוחנן מטר בשביל יחיד פרנסה בשביל רבים מטר בשביל יחיד דכתיב (דברים כח, יב) יפתח ה' לך את אוצרו הטוב לתת מטר ארצך פרנסה בשביל רבים דכתיב (שמות טז, ד) הנני ממטיר לכם לחם,מיתיבי ר' יוסי בר' יהודה אומר שלשה פרנסים טובים עמדו לישראל אלו הן משה ואהרן ומרים וג' מתנות טובות ניתנו על ידם ואלו הן באר וענן ומן באר בזכות מרים עמוד ענן בזכות אהרן מן בזכות משה מתה מרים נסתלק הבאר שנאמר (במדבר כ, א) ותמת שם מרים וכתיב בתריה ולא היה מים לעדה וחזרה בזכות שניהן,מת אהרן נסתלקו ענני כבוד שנאמר (במדבר כא, א) וישמע הכנעני מלך ערד מה שמועה שמע שמע שמת אהרן ונסתלקו ענני כבוד וכסבור ניתנה לו רשות להלחם בישראל והיינו דכתיב (במדבר כ, כט) ויראו כל העדה כי גוע אהרן,אמר ר' אבהו אל תקרי ויראו אלא וייראו כדדריש ר"ל דאר"ל כי משמש בארבע לשונות אי דלמא אלא דהא,חזרו שניהם בזכות משה מת משה נסתלקו כולן שנאמר (זכריה יא, ח) ואכחיד את שלשת הרועים בירח אחד וכי בירח אחד מתו והלא מרים מתה בניסן ואהרן באב ומשה באדר אלא מלמד שנתבטלו ג' מתנות טובות שנתנו על ידן ונסתלקו כולן בירח אחד,אלמא אשכחן פרנסה בשביל יחיד שאני משה כיון דלרבים הוא בעי כרבים דמי,רב הונא בר מנוח ורב שמואל בר אידי ורב חייא מווסתניא הוו שכיחי קמיה דרבא כי נח נפשיה דרבא אתו לקמיה דרב פפא כל אימת דהוה אמר להו שמעתא ולא הוה מסתברא להו הוו מרמזי אהדדי חלש דעתיה | 9a. b“A tithe shall you tithe [ ite’aser /i]”(Deuteronomy 14:22)? This phrase can be interpreted homiletically: bTake a tithe [ iasser /i] so that you will become wealthy [ ititasher /i],in the merit of the mitzva., bRabbi Yoḥa foundthe byoung son of Reish Lakish. He said tothe boy: bRecite to me your verse,i.e., the verse you studied today in school. The boy bsaid to him: “A tithe shall you tithe.”The boy further bsaid toRabbi Yoḥa: bButwhat is the meaning of this phrase: b“A tithe shall you tithe”?Rabbi Yoḥa bsaid to him:The verse means: bTake a tithe so that you will become wealthy.The boy bsaid toRabbi Yoḥa: bFrom where do youderive that this is so? Rabbi Yoḥa bsaid to him: Goand btestit.,The boy bsaid to him: And is it permitted to test the Holy One, Blessed be He? But isn’t it written: “You shall not test the Lord your God”(Deuteronomy 6:16)? Rabbi Yoḥa bsaid tothe boy that bRabbi Hoshaya said as follows:It is prohibited to test God in any way, bexcept in thiscase of tithes, bas it is stated: “Bring the whole tithe into the storeroom, that there may be food in My house, and test Me now by this, said the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing that there shall be more than sufficiency”(Malachi 3:10).,In relation to the above verse, the Gemara asks: bWhatis the meaning of the phrase: b“That there shall be more than sufficiency [ iad beli dai /i]”? Rami bar Ḥama saidthat bRav said:It means that the abundance will be so great bthat your lips will be worn out [ iyivlu /i],similar to the word ibeli /i, bfrom saying enough [ idai /i].Returning to the above incident, the Gemara adds that the boy bsaid toRabbi Yoḥa: Your claim appears explicitly in a verse. bIf I had arrived there,at this verse, bI would not have needed you or Hoshaya your teacher,as I could have understood it on my own.,The Gemara relates another story about the precociousness of this child. bAnd furthermore,on a different occasion bRabbi Yoḥa foundthe byoung son of Reish Lakish, when he was sittingand studying bandhe was brecitingthe verse: b“The foolishness of man perverts his way, and his heart frets against the Lord”(Proverbs 19:3). This verse means that when someone sins and every manner of mishap befalls him, he complains and wonders why these things are happening to him., bRabbi Yoḥa sat down and wonderedaloud about this verse, bsaying: Is there anything that is written in the Writings that is not alluded to in the Torahat all? I cannot think of any hint of this idea in the Torah itself. The child bsaid to him: Is that to saythat bthisidea is really bnot alluded toin the Torah? bBut isn’t it written,with regard to Joseph’s brothers: b“And their heart failed them and they turned trembling to one to another, saying: What is this that God has done to us?”(Genesis 42:28). This verse exemplifies the notion that when one sins and encounters troubles, he wonders why it is happening to him.,Impressed by the youth’s wisdom, Rabbi Yoḥa braised his eyes and stared at the boy.At this point, the boy’s bmother came and took him away, saying to him: Come away fromRabbi Yoḥa, bso that he does not do to you as he did to your father.Reish Lakish, the boy’s father, died during a heated dispute with Rabbi Yoḥa over a Torah matter. The argument ended with an offended look from Rabbi Yoḥa which caused Reish Lakish’s death, and the boy’s mother was afraid that her son might suffer the same fate.,§ After this brief digression, the Gemara turns to the fifth in the series of statements by Rabbi Yoḥa concerning rain. bRabbi Yoḥa said: Rainfalls even bfor the sake of an individual,in response to the petition of a single person in need of rain, whereas a blessing of bsustececomes only bfor the sake of many. Rainfalls even bfor the sake of an individual, as it is written: “The Lord will open for you His good treasure,the heavens, bto give the rain of your land”(Deuteronomy 28:12). The fact that this verse is written in the second person singular demonstrates that rain can fall even for the sake of an individual. Rabbi Yoḥa further proves that bsustececomes bfor the sake of many, as it is written: “Behold I will cause to rain bread from the heavens for you”(Exodus 16:4). Here, God is referring to the people in the plural form.,The Gemara braises an objectionfrom a ibaraita /i: bRabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Yehuda, says: Three good sustainers rose up for the Jewish peopleduring the exodus from Egypt, and bthey are: Moses, Aaron and Miriam. And three good gifts were givenfrom Heaven bthrough their agency, and these are they:The bwellof water, the pillar of bcloud, andthe bmanna.He elaborates: The bwellwas given to the Jewish people bin the merit of Miriam;the bpillar of cloudwas bin the merit of Aaron;and the bmanna in the merit of Moses.When bMiriam diedthe bwell disappeared, as it is stated: “And Miriam died there”(Numbers 20:1), band it says thereafterin the next verse: b“And there was no water for the congregation”(Numbers 20:2). bButthe well breturned in the merit of bothMoses and Aaron.,When bAaron diedthe bclouds of glory disappeared, as it is stated: “And the Canaanite, the king of Arad heard”(Numbers 33:40). bWhat report did he hear? He heard that Aaron had died and the clouds of glory had disappeared, and he thought thatthe Jewish people were no longer protected by Heaven and therefore bhe had been given permission to go to war against the Jewish people. And thisdisappearance of the clouds bisthe meaning of that bwhich is written: “And all the congregation saw that [ iki /i] Aaron was dead”(Numbers 20:29)., bRabbi Abbahu said: Do not readthe verse as: b“And they saw [ iva’yiru /i]”; rather,read it as: bAnd they were seen [ iva’yera’u /i],as the clouds which had concealed the Jewish people were temporarily removed. This is bas Reish Lakish taught. As Reish Lakish said:The term iki /iactually bhasat least bfourdistinct bmeanings: If; perhaps; but; because,or that. According to this interpretation, the verse would be rendered: And all the congregation was seen, because [ iki /i] Aaron was dead.,The ibaraitacontinues: bBoththe well and the clouds of glory breturned in the merit of Moses.However, when bMoses died all of them disappeared. As it is stated: “And I cut off the three shepherds in one month”(Zechariah 11:8). bBut didthe three shepherds really bdie in one month? Didn’t Miriam die inthe month of bNisan, and Aaron in Av and Moses in Adar? Rather,this verse bteachesus bthatwith the death of Moses the bthree good gifts that were given through their agency were annulled, andall three gifts bdisappeared in one month,which made it seem as though all three leaders had died at the same time.,The Gemara explains the difficulty from this ibaraita /i. bApparently, we findthat bsustececan come bfor the sake of an individual,as the ibaraitastates that sustece in the form of manna came for the sake of Moses. The Gemara answers: bMoses is different, since he requestedthe manna bfor many,and therefore he was considered blike many,not as an individual.,The Gemara relates a story concerning the aforementioned verse from Zechariah. bRav Huna bar Manoaḥ, Rav Shmuel bar Idi, and Rav Ḥiyya from Vastanya wereoften bfound before Rava,as they were among his most distinguished students. bWhen Rava died, they came before Rav Pappato learn from him. However, as also they were great Sages, bwhenever Rav Pappa would say a ihalakhathat did notsound breasonable to them, they would gesture to each otherthat Rav Pappa was not equal in stature to Rava. Rav Pappa bwas offendedby their behavior. |
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