1. Hebrew Bible, Deuteronomy, 27.8, 31.4-31.6, 33.2 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 27.8. וְכָתַבְתָּ עַל־הָאֲבָנִים אֶת־כָּל־דִּבְרֵי הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת בַּאֵר הֵיטֵב׃ 31.4. וְעָשָׂה יְהוָה לָהֶם כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לְסִיחוֹן וּלְעוֹג מַלְכֵי הָאֱמֹרִי וּלְאַרְצָם אֲשֶׁר הִשְׁמִיד אֹתָם׃ 31.5. וּנְתָנָם יְהוָה לִפְנֵיכֶם וַעֲשִׂיתֶם לָהֶם כְּכָל־הַמִּצְוָה אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִי אֶתְכֶם׃ 31.6. חִזְקוּ וְאִמְצוּ אַל־תִּירְאוּ וְאַל־תַּעַרְצוּ מִפְּנֵיהֶם כִּי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ הוּא הַהֹלֵךְ עִמָּךְ לֹא יַרְפְּךָ וְלֹא יַעַזְבֶךָּ׃ 33.2. וַיֹּאמַר יְהוָה מִסִּינַי בָּא וְזָרַח מִשֵּׂעִיר לָמוֹ הוֹפִיעַ מֵהַר פָּארָן וְאָתָה מֵרִבְבֹת קֹדֶשׁ מִימִינוֹ אשדת [אֵשׁ] [דָּת] לָמוֹ׃ 33.2. וּלְגָד אָמַר בָּרוּךְ מַרְחִיב גָּד כְּלָבִיא שָׁכֵן וְטָרַף זְרוֹעַ אַף־קָדְקֹד׃ | 27.8. And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.’" 31.4. And the LORD will do unto them as He did to Sihon and to Og, the kings of the Amorites, and unto their land; whom He destroyed." 31.5. And the LORD will deliver them up before you, and ye shall do unto them according unto all the commandment which I have commanded you." 31.6. Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be affrighted at them; for the LORD thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.’" 33.2. And he said: The LORD came from Sinai, And rose from Seir unto them; He shined forth from mount Paran, And He came from the myriads holy, At His right hand was a fiery law unto them." |
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2. Hebrew Bible, Exodus, 3.2, 13.21-13.22, 14.21-14.31, 15.19, 15.25, 24.16-24.18, 33.9, 33.18, 40.34 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 3.2. וַיֵּרָא מַלְאַךְ יְהֹוָה אֵלָיו בְּלַבַּת־אֵשׁ מִתּוֹךְ הַסְּנֶה וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה הַסְּנֶה בֹּעֵר בָּאֵשׁ וְהַסְּנֶה אֵינֶנּוּ אֻכָּל׃ 3.2. וְשָׁלַחְתִּי אֶת־יָדִי וְהִכֵּיתִי אֶת־מִצְרַיִם בְּכֹל נִפְלְאֹתַי אֲשֶׁר אֶעֱשֶׂה בְּקִרְבּוֹ וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵן יְשַׁלַּח אֶתְכֶם׃ 13.21. וַיהוָה הֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵיהֶם יוֹמָם בְּעַמּוּד עָנָן לַנְחֹתָם הַדֶּרֶךְ וְלַיְלָה בְּעַמּוּד אֵשׁ לְהָאִיר לָהֶם לָלֶכֶת יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה׃ 13.22. לֹא־יָמִישׁ עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן יוֹמָם וְעַמּוּד הָאֵשׁ לָיְלָה לִפְנֵי הָעָם׃ 14.21. וַיֵּט מֹשֶׁה אֶת־יָדוֹ עַל־הַיָּם וַיּוֹלֶךְ יְהוָה אֶת־הַיָּם בְּרוּחַ קָדִים עַזָּה כָּל־הַלַּיְלָה וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת־הַיָּם לֶחָרָבָה וַיִּבָּקְעוּ הַמָּיִם׃ 14.22. וַיָּבֹאוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּתוֹךְ הַיָּם בַּיַּבָּשָׁה וְהַמַּיִם לָהֶם חֹמָה מִימִינָם וּמִשְּׂמֹאלָם׃ 14.23. וַיִּרְדְּפוּ מִצְרַיִם וַיָּבֹאוּ אַחֲרֵיהֶם כֹּל סוּס פַּרְעֹה רִכְבּוֹ וּפָרָשָׁיו אֶל־תּוֹךְ הַיָּם׃ 14.24. וַיְהִי בְּאַשְׁמֹרֶת הַבֹּקֶר וַיַּשְׁקֵף יְהוָה אֶל־מַחֲנֵה מִצְרַיִם בְּעַמּוּד אֵשׁ וְעָנָן וַיָּהָם אֵת מַחֲנֵה מִצְרָיִם׃ 14.25. וַיָּסַר אֵת אֹפַן מַרְכְּבֹתָיו וַיְנַהֲגֵהוּ בִּכְבֵדֻת וַיֹּאמֶר מִצְרַיִם אָנוּסָה מִפְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי יְהוָה נִלְחָם לָהֶם בְּמִצְרָיִם 14.26. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה נְטֵה אֶת־יָדְךָ עַל־הַיָּם וְיָשֻׁבוּ הַמַּיִם עַל־מִצְרַיִם עַל־רִכְבּוֹ וְעַל־פָּרָשָׁיו׃ 14.27. וַיֵּט מֹשֶׁה אֶת־יָדוֹ עַל־הַיָּם וַיָּשָׁב הַיָּם לִפְנוֹת בֹּקֶר לְאֵיתָנוֹ וּמִצְרַיִם נָסִים לִקְרָאתוֹ וַיְנַעֵר יְהוָה אֶת־מִצְרַיִם בְּתוֹךְ הַיָּם׃ 14.28. וַיָּשֻׁבוּ הַמַּיִם וַיְכַסּוּ אֶת־הָרֶכֶב וְאֶת־הַפָּרָשִׁים לְכֹל חֵיל פַּרְעֹה הַבָּאִים אַחֲרֵיהֶם בַּיָּם לֹא־נִשְׁאַר בָּהֶם עַד־אֶחָד׃ 14.29. וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הָלְכוּ בַיַּבָּשָׁה בְּתוֹךְ הַיָּם וְהַמַּיִם לָהֶם חֹמָה מִימִינָם וּמִשְּׂמֹאלָם 14.31. וַיַּרְא יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת־הַיָּד הַגְּדֹלָה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה יְהוָה בְּמִצְרַיִם וַיִּירְאוּ הָעָם אֶת־יְהוָה וַיַּאֲמִינוּ בַּיהוָה וּבְמֹשֶׁה עַבְדּוֹ׃ 15.19. כִּי בָא סוּס פַּרְעֹה בְּרִכְבּוֹ וּבְפָרָשָׁיו בַּיָּם וַיָּשֶׁב יְהוָה עֲלֵהֶם אֶת־מֵי הַיָּם וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הָלְכוּ בַיַּבָּשָׁה בְּתוֹךְ הַיָּם׃ 15.25. וַיִּצְעַק אֶל־יְהוָה וַיּוֹרֵהוּ יְהוָה עֵץ וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ אֶל־הַמַּיִם וַיִּמְתְּקוּ הַמָּיִם שָׁם שָׂם לוֹ חֹק וּמִשְׁפָּט וְשָׁם נִסָּהוּ׃ 24.16. וַיִּשְׁכֹּן כְּבוֹד־יְהוָה עַל־הַר סִינַי וַיְכַסֵּהוּ הֶעָנָן שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים וַיִּקְרָא אֶל־מֹשֶׁה בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי מִתּוֹךְ הֶעָנָן׃ 24.17. וּמַרְאֵה כְּבוֹד יְהוָה כְּאֵשׁ אֹכֶלֶת בְּרֹאשׁ הָהָר לְעֵינֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃ 24.18. וַיָּבֹא מֹשֶׁה בְּתוֹךְ הֶעָנָן וַיַּעַל אֶל־הָהָר וַיְהִי מֹשֶׁה בָּהָר אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם וְאַרְבָּעִים לָיְלָה׃ 33.9. וְהָיָה כְּבֹא מֹשֶׁה הָאֹהֱלָה יֵרֵד עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן וְעָמַד פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל וְדִבֶּר עִם־מֹשֶׁה׃ 33.18. וַיֹּאמַר הַרְאֵנִי נָא אֶת־כְּבֹדֶךָ׃ 40.34. וַיְכַס הֶעָנָן אֶת־אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וּכְבוֹד יְהוָה מָלֵא אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּן׃ | 3.2. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed." 13.21. And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; that they might go by day and by night:" 13.22. the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, departed not from before the people." 14.21. And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided." 14.22. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left." 14.23. And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen." 14.24. And it came to pass in the morning watch, that the LORD looked forth upon the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of cloud, and discomfited the host of the Egyptians." 14.25. And He took off their chariot wheels, and made them to drive heavily; so that the Egyptians said: ‘Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.’" 14.26. And the LORD said unto Moses: ‘Stretch out thy hand over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.’" 14.27. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea." 14.28. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, even all the host of Pharaoh that went in after them into the sea; there remained not so much as one of them." 14.29. But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left." 14.30. Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea-shore." 14.31. And Israel saw the great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians, and the people feared the LORD; and they believed in the LORD, and in His servant Moses." 15.19. For the horses of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought back the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea." 15.25. And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, and he cast it into the waters, and the waters were made sweet. There He made for them a statute and an ordice, and there He proved them;" 24.16. And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days; and the seventh day He called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud." 24.17. And the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel." 24.18. And Moses entered into the midst of the cloud, and went up into the mount; and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights." 33.9. And it came to pass, when Moses entered into the Tent, the pillar of cloud descended, and stood at the door of the Tent; and [the LORD] spoke with Moses." 33.18. And he said: ‘Show me, I pray Thee, Thy glory.’" 40.34. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle." |
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3. Hebrew Bible, Joel, 3.17 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
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4. Hebrew Bible, Psalms, 68.16-68.18 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 68.16. הַר־אֱלֹהִים הַר־בָּשָׁן הַר גַּבְנֻנִּים הַר־בָּשָׁן׃ 68.17. לָמָּה תְּרַצְּדוּן הָרִים גַּבְנֻנִּים הָהָר חָמַד אֱלֹהִים לְשִׁבְתּוֹ אַף־יְהוָה יִשְׁכֹּן לָנֶצַח׃ 68.18. רֶכֶב אֱלֹהִים רִבֹּתַיִם אַלְפֵי שִׁנְאָן אֲדֹנָי בָם סִינַי בַּקֹּדֶשׁ׃ | 68.16. A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; A mountain of peaks is the mountain of Bashan." 68.17. Why look ye askance, ye mountains of peaks, At the mountain which God hath desired for His abode? Yea, the LORD will dwell therein for ever." 68.18. The chariots of God are myriads, even thousands upon thousands; The Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in holiness." |
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5. Hebrew Bible, 1 Kings, 17.14 (8th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 17.14. כִּי כֹה אָמַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כַּד הַקֶּמַח לֹא תִכְלָה וְצַפַּחַת הַשֶּׁמֶן לֹא תֶחְסָר עַד יוֹם תתן־[תֵּת־] יְהוָה גֶּשֶׁם עַל־פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה׃ | 17.14. For thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel: The jar of meal shall not be spent, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the land.’" |
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6. Hebrew Bible, Isaiah, 11.6, 49.23, 65.25 (8th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 11.6. וְגָר זְאֵב עִם־כֶּבֶשׂ וְנָמֵר עִם־גְּדִי יִרְבָּץ וְעֵגֶל וּכְפִיר וּמְרִיא יַחְדָּו וְנַעַר קָטֹן נֹהֵג בָּם׃ 49.23. וְהָיוּ מְלָכִים אֹמְנַיִךְ וְשָׂרוֹתֵיהֶם מֵינִיקֹתַיִךְ אַפַּיִם אֶרֶץ יִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לָךְ וַעֲפַר רַגְלַיִךְ יְלַחֵכוּ וְיָדַעַתְּ כִּי־אֲנִי יְהוָה אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יֵבֹשׁוּ קוָֹי׃ 65.25. זְאֵב וְטָלֶה יִרְעוּ כְאֶחָד וְאַרְיֵה כַּבָּקָר יֹאכַל־תֶּבֶן וְנָחָשׁ עָפָר לַחְמוֹ לֹא־יָרֵעוּ וְלֹא־יַשְׁחִיתוּ בְּכָל־הַר קָדְשִׁי אָמַר יְהוָה׃ | 11.6. And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, And the leopard shall lie down with the kid; And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them." 49.23. And kings shall be thy foster-fathers, And their queens thy nursing mothers; They shall bow down to thee with their face to the earth, And lick the dust of thy feet; And thou shalt know that I am the LORD, For they shall not be ashamed that wait for Me." 65.25. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, And the lion shall eat straw like the ox; And dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, Saith the LORD." |
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7. Hebrew Bible, Joshua, 4.3, 4.6, 4.24, 5.1, 5.9, 7.1-7.16 (8th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 4.3. וְצַוּוּ אוֹתָם לֵאמֹר שְׂאוּ־לָכֶם מִזֶּה מִתּוֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּן מִמַּצַּב רַגְלֵי הַכֹּהֲנִים הָכִין שְׁתֵּים־עֶשְׂרֵה אֲבָנִים וְהַעֲבַרְתֶּם אוֹתָם עִמָּכֶם וְהִנַּחְתֶּם אוֹתָם בַּמָּלוֹן אֲשֶׁר־תָּלִינוּ בוֹ הַלָּיְלָה׃ 4.6. לְמַעַן תִּהְיֶה זֹאת אוֹת בְּקִרְבְּכֶם כִּי־יִשְׁאָלוּן בְּנֵיכֶם מָחָר לֵאמֹר מָה הָאֲבָנִים הָאֵלֶּה לָכֶם׃ 5.1. וַיְהִי כִשְׁמֹעַ כָּל־מַלְכֵי הָאֱמֹרִי אֲשֶׁר בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן יָמָּה וְכָל־מַלְכֵי הַכְּנַעֲנִי אֲשֶׁר עַל־הַיָּם אֵת אֲשֶׁר־הוֹבִישׁ יְהוָה אֶת־מֵי הַיַּרְדֵּן מִפְּנֵי בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל עַד־עברנו [עָבְרָם] וַיִּמַּס לְבָבָם וְלֹא־הָיָה בָם עוֹד רוּחַ מִפְּנֵי בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל׃ 5.1. וַיַּחֲנוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּגִּלְגָּל וַיַּעֲשׂוּ אֶת־הַפֶּסַח בְּאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר יוֹם לַחֹדֶשׁ בָּעֶרֶב בְּעַרְבוֹת יְרִיחוֹ׃ 5.9. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁעַ הַיּוֹם גַּלּוֹתִי אֶת־חֶרְפַּת מִצְרַיִם מֵעֲלֵיכֶם וַיִּקְרָא שֵׁם הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא גִּלְגָּל עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה׃ 7.1. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁעַ קֻם לָךְ לָמָּה זֶּה אַתָּה נֹפֵל עַל־פָּנֶיךָ׃ 7.1. וַיִּמְעֲלוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל מַעַל בַּחֵרֶם וַיִּקַּח עָכָן בֶּן־כַּרְמִי בֶן־זַבְדִּי בֶן־זֶרַח לְמַטֵּה יְהוּדָה מִן־הַחֵרֶם וַיִּחַר־אַף יְהוָה בִּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃ 7.2. וַיִּשְׁלַח יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אֲנָשִׁים מִירִיחוֹ הָעַי אֲשֶׁר עִם־בֵּית אָוֶן מִקֶּדֶם לְבֵית־אֵל וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם לֵאמֹר עֲלוּ וְרַגְּלוּ אֶת־הָאָרֶץ וַיַּעֲלוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים וַיְרַגְּלוּ אֶת־הָעָי׃ 7.2. וַיַּעַן עָכָן אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וַיֹּאמַר אָמְנָה אָנֹכִי חָטָאתִי לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְכָזֹאת וְכָזֹאת עָשִׂיתִי׃ 7.3. וַיָּשֻׁבוּ אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו אַל־יַעַל כָּל־הָעָם כְּאַלְפַּיִם אִישׁ אוֹ כִּשְׁלֹשֶׁת אֲלָפִים אִישׁ יַעֲלוּ וְיַכּוּ אֶת־הָעָי אַל־תְּיַגַּע־שָׁמָּה אֶת־כָּל־הָעָם כִּי מְעַט הֵמָּה׃ 7.4. וַיַּעֲלוּ מִן־הָעָם שָׁמָּה כִּשְׁלֹשֶׁת אֲלָפִים אִישׁ וַיָּנֻסוּ לִפְנֵי אַנְשֵׁי הָעָי׃ 7.5. וַיַּכּוּ מֵהֶם אַנְשֵׁי הָעַי כִּשְׁלֹשִׁים וְשִׁשָּׁה אִישׁ וַיִּרְדְּפוּם לִפְנֵי הַשַּׁעַר עַד־הַשְּׁבָרִים וַיַּכּוּם בַּמּוֹרָד וַיִּמַּס לְבַב־הָעָם וַיְהִי לְמָיִם׃ 7.6. וַיִּקְרַע יְהוֹשֻׁעַ שִׂמְלֹתָיו וַיִּפֹּל עַל־פָּנָיו אַרְצָה לִפְנֵי אֲרוֹן יְהוָה עַד־הָעֶרֶב הוּא וְזִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיַּעֲלוּ עָפָר עַל־רֹאשָׁם׃ 7.7. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אֲהָהּ אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה לָמָה הֵעֲבַרְתָּ הַעֲבִיר אֶת־הָעָם הַזֶּה אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן לָתֵת אֹתָנוּ בְּיַד הָאֱמֹרִי לְהַאֲבִידֵנוּ וְלוּ הוֹאַלְנוּ וַנֵּשֶׁב בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן׃ 7.8. בִּי אֲדֹנָי מָה אֹמַר אַחֲרֵי אֲשֶׁר הָפַךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל עֹרֶף לִפְנֵי אֹיְבָיו׃ 7.9. וְיִשְׁמְעוּ הַכְּנַעֲנִי וְכֹל יֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ וְנָסַבּוּ עָלֵינוּ וְהִכְרִיתוּ אֶת־שְׁמֵנוּ מִן־הָאָרֶץ וּמַה־תַּעֲשֵׂה לְשִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל׃ 7.11. חָטָא יִשְׂרָאֵל וְגַם עָבְרוּ אֶת־בְּרִיתִי אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִי אוֹתָם וְגַם לָקְחוּ מִן־הַחֵרֶם וְגַם גָּנְבוּ וְגַם כִּחֲשׁוּ וְגַם שָׂמוּ בִכְלֵיהֶם׃ 7.12. וְלֹא יֻכְלוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לָקוּם לִפְנֵי אֹיְבֵיהֶם עֹרֶף יִפְנוּ לִפְנֵי אֹיְבֵיהֶם כִּי הָיוּ לְחֵרֶם לֹא אוֹסִיף לִהְיוֹת עִמָּכֶם אִם־לֹא תַשְׁמִידוּ הַחֵרֶם מִקִּרְבְּכֶם׃ 7.13. קֻם קַדֵּשׁ אֶת־הָעָם וְאָמַרְתָּ הִתְקַדְּשׁוּ לְמָחָר כִּי כֹה אָמַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל חֵרֶם בְּקִרְבְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא תוּכַל לָקוּם לִפְנֵי אֹיְבֶיךָ עַד־הֲסִירְכֶם הַחֵרֶם מִקִּרְבְּכֶם׃ 7.14. וְנִקְרַבְתֶּם בַּבֹּקֶר לְשִׁבְטֵיכֶם וְהָיָה הַשֵּׁבֶט אֲשֶׁר־יִלְכְּדֶנּוּ יְהוָה יִקְרַב לַמִּשְׁפָּחוֹת וְהַמִּשְׁפָּחָה אֲשֶׁר־יִלְכְּדֶנָּה יְהוָה תִּקְרַב לַבָּתִּים וְהַבַּיִת אֲשֶׁר יִלְכְּדֶנּוּ יְהוָה יִקְרַב לַגְּבָרִים׃ 7.15. וְהָיָה הַנִּלְכָּד בַּחֵרֶם יִשָּׂרֵף בָּאֵשׁ אֹתוֹ וְאֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ כִּי עָבַר אֶת־בְּרִית יְהוָה וְכִי־עָשָׂה נְבָלָה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל׃ 7.16. וַיַּשְׁכֵּם יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בַּבֹּקֶר וַיַּקְרֵב אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל לִשְׁבָטָיו וַיִּלָּכֵד שֵׁבֶט יְהוּדָה׃ | 4.3. and command ye them, saying: Take you hence out of the midst of the Jordan, out of the place where the priests’feet stood, twelve stones made ready, and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the lodging-place, where ye shall lodge this night.’" 4.6. that this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask in time to come, saying: What mean ye by these stones?" 5.1. And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, that were beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, that were by the sea, heard how that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel, until they were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel." 5.9. And the LORD said unto Joshua: ‘This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you.’ Wherefore the name of that place was called Gilgal, unto this day." 7.1. But the children of Israel committed a trespass concerning the devoted thing; for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the devoted thing; and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel." 7.2. And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-aven, on the east side of Beth-el, and spoke unto them, saying: ‘Go up and spy out the land.’ And the men went up and spied out Ai." 7.3. And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him: ‘Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; make not all the people to toil thither; for they are but few.’" 7.4. So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men; and they fled before the men of Ai." 7.5. And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men; and they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them at the descent; and the hearts of the people melted, and became as water." 7.6. And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust upon their heads." 7.7. And Joshua said: ‘Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast Thou at all brought this people over the Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to cause us to perish? would that we had been content and dwelt beyond the Jordan!" 7.8. Oh, Lord, what shall I say, after that Israel hath turned their backs before their enemies!" 7.9. For when the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land hear of it, they will compass us round, and cut off our name from the earth; and what wilt Thou do for Thy great name?’" 7.10. And the LORD said unto Joshua: ‘Get thee up; wherefore, now, art thou fallen upon thy face?" 7.11. Israel hath sinned; yea, they have even transgressed My covet which I commanded them; yea, they have even taken of the devoted thing; and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have even put it among their own stuff." 7.12. Therefore the children of Israel cannot stand before their enemies, they turn their backs before their enemies, because they are become accursed; I will not be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you." 7.13. Up, sanctify the people, and say: Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow; for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel: There is a curse in the midst of thee, O Israel; thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you." 7.14. In the morning therefore ye shall draw near by your tribes; and it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD taketh shall come near by families; and the family which the LORD shall take shall come near by households; and the household which the LORD shall take shall come near man by man." 7.15. And it shall be that he that is taken with the devoted thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath; because he hath transgressed the covet of the LORD, and because he hath wrought a wanton deed in Israel.’" 7.16. So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel near by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken." |
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8. Hebrew Bible, Zechariah, 2.5 (5th cent. BCE - 4th cent. BCE)
| 2.5. וָאֶשָּׂא עֵינַי וָאֵרֶא וְהִנֵּה־אִישׁ וּבְיָדוֹ חֶבֶל מִדָּה׃ | 2.5. And I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand." |
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9. Hebrew Bible, Daniel, 2.46, 3.27 (2nd cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE)
| 2.46. בֵּאדַיִן מַלְכָּא נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר נְפַל עַל־אַנְפּוֹהִי וּלְדָנִיֵּאל סְגִד וּמִנְחָה וְנִיחֹחִין אֲמַר לְנַסָּכָה לֵהּ׃ 3.27. וּמִתְכַּנְּשִׁין אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּא סִגְנַיָּא וּפַחֲוָתָא וְהַדָּבְרֵי מַלְכָּא חָזַיִן לְגֻבְרַיָּא אִלֵּךְ דִּי לָא־שְׁלֵט נוּרָא בְּגֶשְׁמְהוֹן וּשְׂעַר רֵאשְׁהוֹן לָא הִתְחָרַךְ וְסָרְבָּלֵיהוֹן לָא שְׁנוֹ וְרֵיחַ נוּר לָא עֲדָת בְּהוֹן׃ | 2.46. Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an offering and sweet odours unto him." 3.27. And the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, and the king’s ministers, being gathered together, saw these men, that the fire had no power upon their bodies, nor was the hair of their head singed, neither were their cloaks changed, nor had the smell of fire passed on them." |
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10. Mishnah, Avot, 3.2 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 3.2. Rabbi Hanina, the vice-high priest said: pray for the welfare of the government, for were it not for the fear it inspires, every man would swallow his neighbor alive. R. Haiah ben Teradion said: if two sit together and there are no words of Torah [spoken] between them, then this is a session of scorners, as it is said: “nor sat he in the seat of the scornful…[rather, the teaching of the Lord is his delight]” (Psalms 1:1); but if two sit together and there are words of Torah [spoken] between them, then the Shekhinah abides among them, as it is said: “then they that feared the Lord spoke one with another; and the Lord hearkened and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before Him, for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon His name” (Malachi 3:16). Now I have no [scriptural proof for the presence of the Shekhinah] except [among] two, how [do we know] that even one who sits and studies Torah the Holy One, blessed be He, fixes his reward? As it is said: “though he sit alone and [meditate] in stillness, yet he takes [a reward] unto himself” (Lamentations 3:28)." |
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11. Mishnah, Sotah, 7.5 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 7.5. How were the blessings and curses [pronounced]?When Israel crossed the Jordan and came to Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal which are by Samaria, in the vicinity of Shechem which is near the terebinths of Moreh, as it is said, “Are they not the other side of the Jordan, [beyond the west road that is in the land of the Canaanites who dwell in the Arabah near Gilgal, by the terebinths of Moreh] (Deut. 11:30), and elsewhere it says, “And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Shechem unto the terebinth of Moreh” (Genesis 12:6) just as the terebinth of Moreh mentioned in this latter verse is Shechem, so the terebinth of Moreh mentioned in the former verse is Shechem. Six tribes went up Mt. Gerizim and six tribes went up Mt. Ebal, and the priests and Levites with the ark stood below in the middle, the priests surrounding the ark, the Levites [surrounding] the priests, and all Israel on this side and that side, as it is said, “And all Israel, with their elders, officials, and judges stood on both sides of the ark, facing the levitical priests” (Joshua 8:33). They turned their faces towards Mt. Gerizim and opened with the blessing: Blessed be anyone who does not make a graven or molten image”. And these and these respond amen. They then turned their faces towards Mt. Ebal and opened with the curse: “Cursed be anyone who makes a graven or molten image” (Deut. 27:15). And these and these respond amen. [So they continue] until they complete the blessings and curses. After that they brought the stones, built the altar and plastered it with plaster, and inscribed upon it all the words of the Torah in seventy languages, as it is said, “most distinctly (be’er hetev). Then they took the stones and went and spent the night in their place." |
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12. New Testament, 1 Corinthians, 10.1-10.6 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 10.1. Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fatherswere all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 10.2. andwere all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 10.3. andall ate the same spiritual food; 10.4. and all drank the samespiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them,and the rock was Christ. 10.5. However with most of them, God was notwell pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 10.6. Nowthese things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust afterevil things, as they also lusted. |
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13. New Testament, Colossians, 2.11-2.12 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 2.11. in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ; 2.12. having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. |
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14. New Testament, Romans, 2.29, 3.30, 15.8 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 2.29. but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God. 3.30. since indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith. 15.8. Now I say that Christ has been made a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers |
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15. Babylonian Talmud, Berachot, None (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 6a. אמר ר' יוסי ברבי חנינא זוכה לברכות הללו שנאמר (ישעיהו מח, יח) לוא הקשבת למצותי ויהי כנהר שלומך וצדקתך כגלי הים ויהי כחול זרעך וצאצאי מעיך וגו':,תניא אבא בנימין אומר אלמלי נתנה רשות לעין לראות אין כל בריה יכולה לעמוד מפני המזיקין,אמר אביי אינהו נפישי מינן וקיימי עלן כי כסלא לאוגיא,אמר רב הונא כל חד וחד מינן אלפא משמאליה ורבבתא מימיניה,אמר רבא האי דוחקא דהוי בכלה מנייהו הוי הני ברכי דשלהי מנייהו הני מאני דרבנן דבלו מחופיא דידהו הני כרעי דמנקפן מנייהו,האי מאן דבעי למידע להו לייתי קיטמא נהילא ונהדר אפורייה ובצפרא חזי כי כרעי דתרנגולא האי מאן דבעי למחזינהו ליתי שלייתא דשונרתא אוכמתא בת אוכמתא בוכרתא בת בוכרתא ולקליה בנורא ולשחקיה ולימלי עיניה מניה וחזי להו ולשדייה בגובתא דפרזלא ולחתמי' בגושפנקא דפרזלא דילמא גנבי מניה ולחתום פומיה כי היכי דלא ליתזק רב ביבי בר אביי עבד הכי חזא ואתזק בעו רבנן רחמי עליה ואתסי:,תניא אבא בנימין אומר אין תפלה של אדם נשמעת אלא בבית הכנסת שנאמר (מלכים א ח, כח) לשמוע אל הרנה ואל התפלה במקום רנה שם תהא תפלה,אמר רבין בר רב אדא א"ר יצחק מנין שהקב"ה מצוי בבית הכנסת שנאמר (תהלים פב, א) אלהים נצב בעדת אל,ומנין לעשרה שמתפללין ששכינה עמהם שנאמר אלהים נצב בעדת אל,ומנין לשלשה שיושבין בדין ששכינה עמהם שנאמר (תהלים פב, א) בקרב אלהים ישפוט,ומנין לשנים שיושבים ועוסקין בתורה ששכינה עמהם שנאמר (מלאכי ג, טז) אז נדברו יראי ה' איש אל רעהו ויקשב ה' וגו',מאי (מלאכי ג, טז) ולחושבי שמו אמר רב אשי חשב אדם לעשות מצוה ונאנס ולא עשאה מעלה עליו הכתוב כאילו עשאה,ומנין שאפילו אחד שיושב ועוסק בתורה ששכינה עמו שנאמר (שמות כ, כד) בכל המקום אשר אזכיר את שמי אבוא אליך וברכתיך,וכי מאחר דאפילו חד תרי מבעיא תרי מכתבן מלייהו בספר הזכרונות חד לא מכתבן מליה בספר הזכרונות,וכי מאחר דאפי' תרי תלתא מבעיא מהו דתימא דינא שלמא בעלמא הוא ולא אתיא שכינה קמ"ל דדינא נמי היינו תורה,וכי מאחר דאפי' תלתא עשרה מבעיא עשרה קדמה שכינה ואתיא תלתא עד דיתבי:,א"ר אבין בר רב אדא א"ר יצחק מנין שהקב"ה מניח תפילין שנאמר (ישעיהו סב, ח) נשבע ה' בימינו ובזרוע עוזו,בימינו זו תורה שנאמר (דברים לג, ב) מימינו אש דת למו ובזרוע עוזו אלו תפילין שנאמר (תהלים כט, יא) ה' עוז לעמו יתן,ומנין שהתפילין עוז הם לישראל דכתי' (דברים כח, י) וראו כל עמי הארץ כי שם ה' נקרא עליך ויראו ממך ותניא ר' אליעזר הגדול אומר אלו תפילין שבראש,א"ל רב נחמן בר יצחק לרב חייא בר אבין הני תפילין דמרי עלמא מה כתיב בהו א"ל (דברי הימים א יז, כא) ומי כעמך ישראל גוי אחד בארץ,ומי משתבח קוב"ה בשבחייהו דישראל אין דכתיב (דברים כו, יז) את ה' האמרת היום (וכתיב) וה' האמירך היום אמר להם הקב"ה לישראל אתם עשיתוני חטיבה אחת בעולם ואני אעשה אתכם חטיבה אחת בעולם,אתם עשיתוני חטיבה אחת בעולם שנאמר (דברים ו, ד) שמע ישראל ה' אלהינו ה' אחד ואני אעשה אתכם חטיבה אחת בעולם שנאמר ומי כעמך ישראל גוי אחד בארץ,אמר ליה רב אחא בריה דרבא לרב אשי תינח בחד ביתא בשאר בתי מאי,א"ל (דברים ד, ז) כי מי גוי גדול ומי גוי גדול (דברים לג, כט) אשריך ישראל (דברים ד, לד) או הנסה אלהים (דברים כו, יט)ולתתך עליון,אי הכי נפישי להו טובי בתי אלא כי מי גוי גדול ומי גוי גדול דדמיין להדדי בחד ביתא אשריך ישראל ומי כעמך ישראל בחד ביתא או הנסה אלהים בחד ביתא ולתתך עליון בחד ביתא | 6a. In terms of this reward, bRabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina said:One who waits in the synagogue for the other to finish his prayer bmerits the following blessings, as it is stated: “If only you had listened to My mitzvot then your peace would be as a river, and your righteousness as the waves of the sea. Your seed would be as the sand, and the offspring of your bodylike the grains thereof; his name would be neither cut off nor destroyed from before Me” (Isaiah 48:18–19). The explanation of this passage is based on the etymological similarity between the word mitzva and the word itzevet /i, which means group. If he keeps the other person company and does not abandon him after his prayer, all of the blessings that appear later in the verse will be fulfilled in him ( iTalmidei Rabbeinu Yona /i).,In another ibaraita bit was taughtthat bAbba Binyamin says: If the eye was given permission to see, no creature would be able to withstand theabundance and ubiquity of the bdemonsand continue to live unaffected by them.,Similarly, bAbaye said: They are more numerous than weare band they stand over us like mounds of earth surrounding a pit. /b, bRav Huna said: Each and every one of us has a thousanddemons bto his left and ten thousand to his right.God protects man from these demons, as it says in the verse: “A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; they will not approach you” (Psalms 91:7).,Summarizing the effects of the demons, bRava said: br bThe crowding at the ikalla /i,the gatherings for Torah study during Elul and Adar, bis fromthe demons; br bthose knees that are fatiguedeven though one did not exert himself bis fromthe demons; br bthose clothes of the Sages that wear out,despite the fact that they do not engage in physical labor, bis from frictionwith the demons; br bthose feet that are in pain is fromthe demons., bOne who seeks to knowthat the demons exist bshould place fine ashes around his bed, and in the morningthe demons’ footprints bappear like chickens’ footprints,in the ash. bOne who seeks to see them should take the afterbirth of a firstborn female black cat, born to a firstborn female black cat, burn it in the fire, grind it and place it in his eyes, and he will see them.He must then bplacethe ashes bin an iron tube sealed with an iron seal [ igushpanka /i] lest the demons steal it from him, andthen bseal the openingso bhe will not be harmed. Rav Beivai bar Abaye performed thisprocedure, bsawthe demons, band was harmed. The Sages prayed for mercy on hisbehalf band he was healed. /b, bIt was taughtin a ibaraitathat bAbba Binyamin said: One’s prayer is onlyfully bheard in a synagogue, as it is statedwith regard to King Solomon’s prayer in the Temple: “Yet have You turned toward the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, Lord my God, bto listen to the song and the prayerwhich Your servant prays before You on this day” (I Kings 8:28). The following verse concludes: “To hear the prayer Your servant directs toward this place” (I Kings 8:29). We see that one’s prayer is heard specifically in the Temple, of which the synagogue is a microcosm (Rav Yoshiyahu Pinto). It may be inferred that bin a place of song,a synagogue where God’s praises are sung, bthere prayer should be. /b,In explaining Abba Binyamin’s statement, bRavin bar Rav Adda saidthat bRabbi Yitzḥak said: From whereis it derived bthat the Holy One, Blessed be He, is located in a synagogue? As it is stated: “God stands in the congregation of God;in the midst of the judges He judges” (Psalms 82:1). The congregation of God is the place where people congregate to sing God’s praises, and God is located among His congregation., bAnd from whereis it derived that bten people who pray, the Divine Presence is with them? As it is stated: “God stands in the congregation of God,”and the minimum number of people that constitute a congregation is a quorum of ten., bFrom whereis it derived bthat three who sit in judgment, the Divine Presence is with them?It is derived from this same verse, bas it is stated: “In the midst of the judges He judges,”and the minimum number of judges that comprises a court is three., bFrom whereis it derived bthat two who sit and engage in Torahstudy, bthe Divine Presence is with them? As it is stated: “Then they that feared the Lord spoke one with the other, and the Lord listened,and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before Him, for them that fear the Lord, and that think upon His name” (Malachi 3:16). The Divine Presence listens to any two God-fearing individuals who speak with each other.,With regard to this verse, the Gemara asks: bWhatis the meaning of the phrase, b“And that think upon His name”? Rav Ashi said:If ba person intended to perform a mitzva, but due tocircumstances bbeyondhis bcontrol, he did not perform it, the verse ascribes himcredit bas if he performedthe mitzva, as he is among those that think upon His name.,The Gemara returns to Ravin bar Rav Adda’s statement: bAnd from whereis it derived bthat when even one who sits and engages in Torahstudy, bthe Divine Presence is with him? As it is stated: “In every place where I cause My Name to be mentioned, I will come to you and bless you”(Exodus 20:21); God blesses even a single person who mentions God’s name, a reference to Torah study ( iIyyun Ya’akov /i).,The Gemara asks: bSincethe Divine Presence rests bevenupon bonewho engages in Torah study, bwas it necessaryto say that the Divine Presence rests upon btwowho study Torah together? The Gemara answers: There is a difference between them. bTwopeople, btheir wordsof Torah bare written in the book of remembrance,as it is stated: “And a book of remembrance was written”; however ba singleindividual’s bwordsof Torah bare not written in a book of remembrance. /b,The Gemara continues: bSincethe Divine Presence rests bevenupon btwowho engage in Torah study, is it bnecessaryto mention bthree?The Gemara answers: Here too, a special verse is necessary blest you say that judgment is merely tokeep the bpeaceamong the citizenry, band the Divine Presence does not comeand rest upon those who sit in judgment as they are not engaged in Torah study. Ravin bar Rav Adda bteaches us thatsitting in bjudgment is also Torah. /b,The Gemara asks: bSincethe Divine Presence rests bevenupon bthree,is it bnecessaryto mention bten?The Gemara answers: bThe Divine Presence arrives before a group of ten,as the verse: “God stands in the congregation of God,” indicates that when the ten individuals who comprise a congregation arrive, the Divine Presence is already there. For a group of bthreejudges, however, the Divine Presence does not arrive buntil they sitand begin their deliberations, as in the midst of the judges He judges. God aids them in their judgment, but does not arrive before them.,The Gemara cites another aggadic statement: bRabbi Avin bar Rav Adda saidthat bRabbi Yitzḥak said: From whereis it derived bthat the Holy One, Blessed be He, wears phylacteries? As it is stated: “The Lord has sworn by His right hand, and by the arm of His strength”(Isaiah 62:8). Since it is customary to swear upon holy objects, it is understood that His right hand and the arm of His strength are the holy objects upon which God swore.,Specifically, b“His right hand” refers to the Torah, as it is statedin describing the giving of the Torah: b“From His right hand, a fiery law for His people”(Deuteronomy 33:2). b“The arm of His strength,”His left hand, brefers to phylacteries, as it is stated: “The Lord gave strength to His nation”(Psalms 29:11), in the form of the mitzva of phylacteries.,The Gemara asks: bAnd from whereis it derived bthat phylacteries provide strength for Israel? As it is written: “And all the nations of the land shall see that the name of the Lord is called upon you, and they will fear you”(Deuteronomy 28:10). bIt was taughtin a ibaraitathat bRabbi Eliezer the Great says: This isa reference to bthe phylacteries of the head,upon which the name of God is written in fulfillment of the verse: “That the name of the Lord is called upon you.”, bRav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said to Rav Ḥiyya bar Avin: What is written in the phylacteries of the Master of the world? Rav Ḥiyya bar Avin replied:It is written: b“Who is like Your people, Israel, one nation in the land?”(I Chronicles 17:21). God’s phylacteries serve to connect Him, in a sense, to the world, the essence of which is Israel.,Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak continues: bIs the Holy One, Blessed be He, glorified through the glory of Israel?Rav Ḥiyya bar Avin answered: bYes,as indicated by the juxtaposition of two verses; bas it is stated: “You have affirmed, this day,that bthe Lordis your God, and that you will walk in His ways and keep His laws and commandments, and listen to His voice.” bAnd thesubsequent bverse states: “And the Lord has affirmed, this day,that byouare His treasure, as He spoke to you, to keep His commandments” (Deuteronomy 26:17–18). From these two verses it is derived that bthe Holy One, Blessed be He, said to Israel: You have made Me a single entity [ iḥativa /i] in the world,as you singled Me out as separate and unique. bAndbecause of this, bI will make you a single entity in the world,and you will be a treasured nation, chosen by God., bYou have made Me a single entity in the world, as it is statedthat Israel declares God’s oneness by saying: b“Hear, Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One”(Deuteronomy 6:4). bAndbecause of this, bI will make you a single entity in the world,unique and elevated with the utterance: b“Who is like Your people, Israel, one nation in the land?”Consequently, the Holy One, Blessed be He, is glorified through the glory of Israel whose praises are written in God’s phylacteries., bRav Aḥa, son of Rava said to Rav Ashi: It works out wellwith regard to the contents of boneof the four bcompartmentsof God’s phylacteries of the head. However, all four compartments of Israel’s phylacteries of the head contain portions of the Torah that praise God. bWhatportions in praise of Israel are written in bthe rest of the compartmentsof God’s phylacteries of the head?,Rav Ashi bsaid to him:In those three compartments it is written: b“For who is a great nation,to whom God is close, like the Lord our God whenever we call upon Him?” (Deuteronomy 4:7); b“And who is a great nation,who has righteous statutes and laws, like this entire Torah which I set before you today?” (Deuteronomy 4:8); b“Happy are you, Israel,who is like you? A people saved by the Lord, the shield of your help, and that is the sword of your excellence. And your enemies shall dwindle away before you, and you shall tread upon their high places” (Deuteronomy 33:29); b“Or has God attemptedto go and take for Himself a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs and by wonders” (Deuteronomy 4:34); b“And to elevate youabove all nations that He has made, in praise, in name and in glory; that you may be a holy people to the Lord, your God, as He has spoken” (Deuteronomy 26:19).,Rav Aḥa, son of Rava, raises an objection: bIfall of these verses are included in God’s phylacteries of the head, bthere are too many compartmentsas more than four verses of praise were listed. bRather,the portions in God’s phylacteries must be arranged as follows: The verses b“For who is a great nation” and “And who is a great nation”are included bin one compartment,as they are similar. b“Happy are you, Israel” and "Who is like your people, Israel" are in one compartment. “Or has God attempted” is in one compartment and “And to elevate you” isin one bcompartment /b |
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16. Babylonian Talmud, Menachot, None (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 43b. bwhat do they do with,i.e., how do they interpret, bthisverse: b“With which you cover yourself”(Deuteronomy 22:12)? The Gemara answers that the Rabbis brequireit bfor that which is taughtin a ibaraita /i: The phrase b“on the four corners of your garment”(Deuteronomy 22:12) indicates that one is required to attach ritual fringes to a garment that has bfourcorners, bbut notto one that has bthreecorners.,The ibaraitacontinues: bDo you saythat a garment with bfourcorners is obligated bbut nota garment with bthreecorners? bOr is itteaching bonlythat a garment with bfourcorners is obligated bbut nota garment that has bfivecorners? bWhenthe verse bstates: “With which you cover yourself,”a garment bwith fivecorners bis thereby mentionedin the verse as being obligated. Then bhow do I realizethe meaning of: b“On the fourcorners of your garment”? It teaches that this obligation is limited to a garment that has bfourcorners, bbut notto one that has bthreecorners.,The Gemara asks: bBut what did you seethat led you bto includea garment bwith fivecorners band to excludea garment bwith threecorners, rather than including a garment with three corners and excluding a garment with five corners? The Gemara answers: bI includea garment bwith fivecorners, bas five includes four, and I excludea garment bwith threecorners, bas three does not include four. /b,The Gemara asks: bAndhow does bRabbi Shimonderive the ihalakhathat a five-cornered garment is required to have ritual fringes? The Gemara answers: He bderivesit bfromthe seemingly extraneous word: “With bwhich [ iasher /i]you cover yourself” (Deuteronomy 22:12). The Gemara asks: bAndwhat do bthe Rabbisderive from this word? The Gemara answers: bThey do not learnany new ihalakhotfrom the word b“which [ iasher /i].” /b,The Gemara asks: bAndas for bthe Rabbis, what do they do with thisphrase: b“That you may look upon it”(Numbers 15:39), from which Rabbi Shimon derives that a nighttime garment is exempt? The Gemara answers: bThey require it for that which is taughtin a ibaraita /i: The verse: b“That you may look upon it and remember”(Numbers 15:39), teaches that one should bsee this mitzvaof ritual fringes band remember another mitzva that is contingent on it. And whichmitzva bis that? It isthe mitzva of bthe recitation of iShema /i. As we learnedin a mishna (Berakhot 9b): bFrom when may one recite iShemain the morning? From whenone can bdistinguish betweenthe bsky-bluestrings bandthe bwhitestrings of his ritual fringes., bAndit bis taughtin banother ibaraita /i: The phrase b“that you may look upon it and remember”teaches that one should bsee this mitzvaof ritual fringes band remember another mitzva that is adjacent to itin the Torah. bAnd whichmitzva bis that? It is the mitzva of diverse kindsof wool and linen, bas it is written: “You shall not wear diverse kinds, wool and linen together. You shall prepare yourself twisted cords”(Deuteronomy 22:11–12).,It bis taughtin banother ibaraita /i: The verse states: b“That you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the Lord”(Numbers 15:39). This indicates that bonce a person is obligated in this mitzvaof ritual fringes, bhe is obligated in all of the mitzvot.The Gemara comments: bAnd this isin accordance with the opinion of bRabbi Shimon, who saysthat ritual fringes are ba positive, time-bound mitzva,and women are exempt from it. Only men are obligated in all mitzvot, including positive, time-bound mitzvot, just as they are obligated in the mitzva of ritual fringes.,It bis taughtin banother ibaraita /i: The verse states: b“That you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the Lord”;this teaches that bthis mitzvaof ritual fringes bis equivalent to all the mitzvotof the Torah., bAndit bis taughtin banother ibaraita /i: The verse states: b“That you may look upon it and rememberall the commandments of the Lord band dothem.” This teaches that blookingat the ritual fringes bleads to rememberingthe mitzvot, and brememberingthem bleads to doingthem. bAnd Rabbi Shimon bar Yoḥai says: Anyone who is diligent in this mitzvaof ritual fringes bmerits receiving the Divine Presence.It is bwritten here: “That you may look upon it [ ioto /i]”(Numbers 15:39), band it is written there: “You shall fear the Lord your God; and Him [ ioto /i] shall you serve”(Deuteronomy 6:13). Just as iotoin that verse is referring to the Divine Presence, so too in this verse it is referring to the Divine Presence., bThe Sages taughtin a ibaraita /i: bThe Jewish people are beloved, as the Holy One, Blessed be He, surrounded them with mitzvot:They have bphylacteries on their heads, and phylacteries on their arms, and ritual fringes on their garments, and a imezuzafor their doorways. Concerning them David said: “Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous ordices”(Psalms 119:164). This alludes to the two phylacteries, the four ritual fringes, and the imezuza /i, which total seven., bAnd when David entered the bathhouse and saw himself standing naked, he said: Woe to me that that I stand naked withoutany bmitzva. But once he remembered themitzva of bcircumcision that was in his flesh his mind was put at ease,as he realized he was still accompanied by this mitzva. bAfter he leftthe bathhouse, bhe recited a song aboutthe mitzva of circumcision, bas it is statedin the verse: b“For the leader, on the iSheminith /i: A Psalm of David”(Psalms 12:1). This is interpreted as a psalm babout circumcision, which was givento be performed bon the eighth [ ibashemini /i]day of the baby’s life., bRabbi Eliezer ben Ya’akov says: Anyone who has phylacteries on his head, phylacteries on his arm, ritual fringes on his garment, and a imezuzaon his doorway is strengthenedfrom ballsides bso that he will not sin, as it is statedin the verse: b“And a threefold cord is not quickly broken”(Ecclesiastes 4:12). This is interpreted as an allusion to the three mitzvot of phylacteries, ritual fringes, and imezuza /i. bAndthe verse bstates: “The angel of the Lord encamps round about them that fear Him, and delivers them”(Psalms 34:8). This is interpreted to mean that the angel of the Lord surrounds those who fulfill the mitzvot and saves them from sin., bIt is taughtin a ibaraitathat bRabbi Meir would say: What is different about itekheletfrom allother btypes of colorssuch that it was chosen for the mitzva of ritual fringes? It is bbecause itekheletis similarin its color btothe bsea, andthe bsea is similar tothe bsky, andthe bsky is similar to the Throne of Glory, as it is stated:“And they saw the God of Israel; band there was under His feet the like of a paved work of sapphire stone, and the like of the very heaven for clearness”(Exodus 24:10), indicating that the sky is like a sapphire brickwork. bAnd it is written: “The likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone”(Ezekiel 1:26)., bIt is taughtin a ibaraitathat bRabbi Meir would say:The bpunishment fornot attaching bwhitestrings is bgreater than the punishment fornot attaching bsky-bluestrings, despite the fact that the sky-blue strings are more important. Rabbi Meir illustrates this with ba parable: To what is this matter comparable?It is comparable bto a king of flesh and blood who said to his two subjectsthat they must bring him a seal. The king bsaid to oneof them: bBring me a seal of clay, and he said tothe other bone: Bring me a seal of gold. And both of them were negligent and did not bringthe seals. bWhich of themwill have ba greater punishment? You must saythat it is bthisone bto whom he said: Bring me a seal of clay, anddespite its availability and low cost, he bdid not bringit., bIt is taughtin a ibaraitathat bRabbi Meir would say: A person is obligated to recite one hundred blessings every day, as it is statedin the verse: b“And now, Israel, what [ ima /i] does the Lord your God require of you”(Deuteronomy 10:12). Rabbi Meir interprets the verse as though it said one hundred [ ime’a /i], rather than ima /i.,The Gemara relates that bon Shabbat and Festivals,when the prayers contain fewer blessings, bRav Ḥiyya, son of Rav Avya, made an effort to fillthis quota of blessings bwithblessings on bspices [ ibe’isparmakei /i] and sweet fruit,of which he would partake in order to recite extra blessings., bIt is taughtin a ibaraitathat bRabbi Meir would say: A man is obligated to recite three blessings every daypraising God for His kindnesses, and btheseblessings bare: Who did not make me a gentile; Who did not make me a woman;and bWho did not make me an ignoramus. /b, bRav Aḥa bar Ya’akov heard his son reciting the blessing: Who did not make me an ignoramus.Rav Aḥa bar Ya’akov bsaid to him:Is it bin factproper to go bthis farin reciting blessings? Rav Aḥa bar Ya’akov’s son bsaid to him: Rather, what blessingshould one brecite?If you will say that one should recite: bWho did not make me a slave, that isthe same as ba woman;why should one recite two blessings about the same matter? Rav Aḥa bar Ya’akov answered: Nevertheless, ba slave /b |
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