1. Hebrew Bible, Deuteronomy, 4.15-4.19, 7.1-7.6, 12.3, 27.15 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 4.15. וְנִשְׁמַרְתֶּם מְאֹד לְנַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם כִּי לֹא רְאִיתֶם כָּל־תְּמוּנָה בְּיוֹם דִּבֶּר יְהוָה אֲלֵיכֶם בְּחֹרֵב מִתּוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ׃ 4.16. פֶּן־תַּשְׁחִתוּן וַעֲשִׂיתֶם לָכֶם פֶּסֶל תְּמוּנַת כָּל־סָמֶל תַּבְנִית זָכָר אוֹ נְקֵבָה׃ 4.17. תַּבְנִית כָּל־בְּהֵמָה אֲשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ תַּבְנִית כָּל־צִפּוֹר כָּנָף אֲשֶׁר תָּעוּף בַּשָּׁמָיִם׃ 4.18. תַּבְנִית כָּל־רֹמֵשׂ בָּאֲדָמָה תַּבְנִית כָּל־דָּגָה אֲשֶׁר־בַּמַּיִם מִתַּחַת לָאָרֶץ׃ 4.19. וּפֶן־תִּשָּׂא עֵינֶיךָ הַשָּׁמַיְמָה וְרָאִיתָ אֶת־הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְאֶת־הַיָּרֵחַ וְאֶת־הַכּוֹכָבִים כֹּל צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם וְנִדַּחְתָּ וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתָ לָהֶם וַעֲבַדְתָּם אֲשֶׁר חָלַק יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֹתָם לְכֹל הָעַמִּים תַּחַת כָּל־הַשָּׁמָיִם׃ 7.1. וּמְשַׁלֵּם לְשֹׂנְאָיו אֶל־פָּנָיו לְהַאֲבִידוֹ לֹא יְאַחֵר לְשֹׂנְאוֹ אֶל־פָּנָיו יְשַׁלֶּם־לוֹ׃ 7.1. כִּי יְבִיאֲךָ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֶל־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּה בָא־שָׁמָּה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ וְנָשַׁל גּוֹיִם־רַבִּים מִפָּנֶיךָ הַחִתִּי וְהַגִּרְגָּשִׁי וְהָאֱמֹרִי וְהַכְּנַעֲנִי וְהַפְּרִזִּי וְהַחִוִּי וְהַיְבוּסִי שִׁבְעָה גוֹיִם רַבִּים וַעֲצוּמִים מִמֶּךָּ׃ 7.2. וּנְתָנָם יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְפָנֶיךָ וְהִכִּיתָם הַחֲרֵם תַּחֲרִים אֹתָם לֹא־תִכְרֹת לָהֶם בְּרִית וְלֹא תְחָנֵּם׃ 7.2. וְגַם אֶת־הַצִּרְעָה יְשַׁלַּח יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בָּם עַד־אֲבֹד הַנִּשְׁאָרִים וְהַנִּסְתָּרִים מִפָּנֶיךָ׃ 7.3. וְלֹא תִתְחַתֵּן בָּם בִּתְּךָ לֹא־תִתֵּן לִבְנוֹ וּבִתּוֹ לֹא־תִקַּח לִבְנֶךָ׃ 7.4. כִּי־יָסִיר אֶת־בִּנְךָ מֵאַחֲרַי וְעָבְדוּ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים וְחָרָה אַף־יְהוָה בָּכֶם וְהִשְׁמִידְךָ מַהֵר׃ 7.5. כִּי־אִם־כֹּה תַעֲשׂוּ לָהֶם מִזְבְּחֹתֵיהֶם תִּתֹּצוּ וּמַצֵּבֹתָם תְּשַׁבֵּרוּ וַאֲשֵׁירֵהֶם תְּגַדֵּעוּן וּפְסִילֵיהֶם תִּשְׂרְפוּן בָּאֵשׁ׃ 7.6. כִּי עַם קָדוֹשׁ אַתָּה לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּךָ בָּחַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לִהְיוֹת לוֹ לְעַם סְגֻלָּה מִכֹּל הָעַמִּים אֲשֶׁר עַל־פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה׃ 12.3. הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ פֶּן־תִּנָּקֵשׁ אַחֲרֵיהֶם אַחֲרֵי הִשָּׁמְדָם מִפָּנֶיךָ וּפֶן־תִּדְרֹשׁ לֵאלֹהֵיהֶם לֵאמֹר אֵיכָה יַעַבְדוּ הַגּוֹיִם הָאֵלֶּה אֶת־אֱלֹהֵיהֶם וְאֶעֱשֶׂה־כֵּן גַּם־אָנִי׃ 12.3. וְנִתַּצְתֶּם אֶת־מִזְבּחֹתָם וְשִׁבַּרְתֶּם אֶת־מַצֵּבֹתָם וַאֲשֵׁרֵיהֶם תִּשְׂרְפוּן בָּאֵשׁ וּפְסִילֵי אֱלֹהֵיהֶם תְּגַדֵּעוּן וְאִבַּדְתֶּם אֶת־שְׁמָם מִן־הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא׃ 27.15. אָרוּר הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה פֶסֶל וּמַסֵּכָה תּוֹעֲבַת יְהוָה מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵי חָרָשׁ וְשָׂם בַּסָּתֶר וְעָנוּ כָל־הָעָם וְאָמְרוּ אָמֵן׃ | 4.15. Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves—for ye saw no manner of form on the day that the LORD spoke unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire—" 4.16. lest ye deal corruptly, and make you a graven image, even the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female," 4.17. the likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the heaven," 4.18. the likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth; ." 4.19. and lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun and the moon and the stars, even all the host of heaven, thou be drawn away and worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath allotted unto all the peoples under the whole heaven." 7.1. When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and shall cast out many nations before thee, the Hittite, and the Girgashite, and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;" 7.2. and when the LORD thy God shall deliver them up before thee, and thou shalt smite them; then thou shalt utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covet with them, nor show mercy unto them;" 7.3. neither shalt thou make marriages with them: thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son." 7.4. For he will turn away thy son from following Me, that they may serve other gods; so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and He will destroy thee quickly." 7.5. But thus shall ye deal with them: ye shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and hew down their Asherim, and burn their graven images with fire." 7.6. For thou art a holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be His own treasure, out of all peoples that are upon the face of the earth." 12.3. And ye shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and burn their Asherim with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods; and ye shall destroy their name out of that place." 27.15. Cursed be the man that maketh a graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and setteth it up in secret. And all the people shall answer and say: Amen." |
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2. Hebrew Bible, Exodus, 20.2, 20.4, 20.20, 20.22-20.23, 21.2-21.17, 34.17 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 20.2. אָנֹכִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִיךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים׃ 20.2. לֹא תַעֲשׂוּן אִתִּי אֱלֹהֵי כֶסֶף וֵאלֹהֵי זָהָב לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ לָכֶם׃ 20.4. לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה־לְךָ פֶסֶל וְכָל־תְּמוּנָה אֲשֶׁר בַּשָּׁמַיִם מִמַּעַל וַאֲשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ מִתַָּחַת וַאֲשֶׁר בַּמַּיִם מִתַּחַת לָאָרֶץ 20.22. וְאִם־מִזְבַּח אֲבָנִים תַּעֲשֶׂה־לִּי לֹא־תִבְנֶה אֶתְהֶן גָּזִית כִּי חַרְבְּךָ הֵנַפְתָּ עָלֶיהָ וַתְּחַלְלֶהָ׃ 20.23. וְלֹא־תַעֲלֶה בְמַעֲלֹת עַל־מִזְבְּחִי אֲשֶׁר לֹא־תִגָּלֶה עֶרְוָתְךָ עָלָיו׃ 21.2. כִּי תִקְנֶה עֶבֶד עִבְרִי שֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים יַעֲבֹד וּבַשְּׁבִעִת יֵצֵא לַחָפְשִׁי חִנָּם׃ 21.2. וְכִי־יַכֶּה אִישׁ אֶת־עַבְדּוֹ אוֹ אֶת־אֲמָתוֹ בַּשֵּׁבֶט וּמֵת תַּחַת יָדוֹ נָקֹם יִנָּקֵם׃ 21.3. אִם־כֹּפֶר יוּשַׁת עָלָיו וְנָתַן פִּדְיֹן נַפְשׁוֹ כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר־יוּשַׁת עָלָיו׃ 21.3. אִם־בְּגַפּוֹ יָבֹא בְּגַפּוֹ יֵצֵא אִם־בַּעַל אִשָּׁה הוּא וְיָצְאָה אִשְׁתּוֹ עִמּוֹ׃ 21.4. אִם־אֲדֹנָיו יִתֶּן־לוֹ אִשָּׁה וְיָלְדָה־לוֹ בָנִים אוֹ בָנוֹת הָאִשָּׁה וִילָדֶיהָ תִּהְיֶה לַאדֹנֶיהָ וְהוּא יֵצֵא בְגַפּוֹ׃ 21.5. וְאִם־אָמֹר יֹאמַר הָעֶבֶד אָהַבְתִּי אֶת־אֲדֹנִי אֶת־אִשְׁתִּי וְאֶת־בָּנָי לֹא אֵצֵא חָפְשִׁי׃ 21.6. וְהִגִּישׁוֹ אֲדֹנָיו אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִים וְהִגִּישׁוֹ אֶל־הַדֶּלֶת אוֹ אֶל־הַמְּזוּזָה וְרָצַע אֲדֹנָיו אֶת־אָזְנוֹ בַּמַּרְצֵעַ וַעֲבָדוֹ לְעֹלָם׃ 21.7. וְכִי־יִמְכֹּר אִישׁ אֶת־בִּתּוֹ לְאָמָה לֹא תֵצֵא כְּצֵאת הָעֲבָדִים׃ 21.8. אִם־רָעָה בְּעֵינֵי אֲדֹנֶיהָ אֲשֶׁר־לא [לוֹ] יְעָדָהּ וְהֶפְדָּהּ לְעַם נָכְרִי לֹא־יִמְשֹׁל לְמָכְרָהּ בְּבִגְדוֹ־בָהּ׃ 21.9. וְאִם־לִבְנוֹ יִיעָדֶנָּה כְּמִשְׁפַּט הַבָּנוֹת יַעֲשֶׂה־לָּהּ׃ 21.11. וְאִם־שְׁלָשׁ־אֵלֶּה לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה לָהּ וְיָצְאָה חִנָּם אֵין כָּסֶף׃ 21.12. מַכֵּה אִישׁ וָמֵת מוֹת יוּמָת׃ 21.13. וַאֲשֶׁר לֹא צָדָה וְהָאֱלֹהִים אִנָּה לְיָדוֹ וְשַׂמְתִּי לְךָ מָקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יָנוּס שָׁמָּה׃ 21.14. וְכִי־יָזִד אִישׁ עַל־רֵעֵהוּ לְהָרְגוֹ בְעָרְמָה מֵעִם מִזְבְּחִי תִּקָּחֶנּוּ לָמוּת׃ 21.15. וּמַכֵּה אָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ מוֹת יוּמָת׃ 21.16. וְגֹנֵב אִישׁ וּמְכָרוֹ וְנִמְצָא בְיָדוֹ מוֹת יוּמָת׃ 21.17. וּמְקַלֵּל אָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ מוֹת יוּמָת׃ 34.17. אֱלֹהֵי מַסֵּכָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה־לָּךְ׃ | 20.2. I am the LORD thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." 20.4. Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any manner of likeness, of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;" 20.20. Ye shall not make with Me—gods of silver, or gods of gold, ye shall not make unto you." 20.22. And if thou make Me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stones; for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast profaned it." 20.23. Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto Mine altar, that thy nakedness be not uncovered thereon." 21.2. If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve; and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing." 21.3. If he come in by himself, he shall go out by himself; if he be married, then his wife shall go out with him." 21.4. If his master give him a wife, and she bear him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself." 21.5. But if the servant shall plainly say: I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free;" 21.6. then his master shall bring him unto God, and shall bring him to the door, or unto the door-post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever." 21.7. And if a man sell his daughter to be a maid-servant, she shall not go out as the men-servants do." 21.8. If she please not her master, who hath espoused her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed; to sell her unto a foreign people he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her." 21.9. And if he espouse her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters." 21.10. If he take him another wife, her food, her raiment, and her conjugal rights, shall he not diminish." 21.11. And if he do not these three unto her, then shall she go out for nothing, without money." 21.12. He that smiteth a man, so that he dieth, shall surely be put to death." 21.13. And if a man lie not in wait, but God cause it to come to hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he may flee." 21.14. And if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from Mine altar, that he may die." 21.15. And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death. ." 21.16. And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death." 21.17. And he that curseth his father or his mother, shall surely be put to death." 34.17. Thou shalt make thee no molten gods." |
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3. Hebrew Bible, Genesis, 32.33 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 32.33. עַל־כֵּן לֹא־יֹאכְלוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת־גִּיד הַנָּשֶׁה אֲשֶׁר עַל־כַּף הַיָּרֵךְ עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה כִּי נָגַע בְּכַף־יֶרֶךְ יַעֲקֹב בְּגִיד הַנָּשֶׁה׃ | 32.33. Therefore the children of Israel eat not the sinew of the thigh-vein which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day; because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh, even in the sinew of the thigh-vein." |
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4. Hebrew Bible, Leviticus, 19.3, 19.5, 19.9-19.19, 19.23-19.27, 19.30-19.37, 20.26, 26.1 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 19.3. אֶת־שַׁבְּתֹתַי תִּשְׁמֹרוּ וּמִקְדָּשִׁי תִּירָאוּ אֲנִי יְהוָה׃ 19.3. אִישׁ אִמּוֹ וְאָבִיו תִּירָאוּ וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתֹתַי תִּשְׁמֹרוּ אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם׃ 19.5. וְכִי תִזְבְּחוּ זֶבַח שְׁלָמִים לַיהוָה לִרְצֹנְכֶם תִּזְבָּחֻהוּ׃ 19.9. וּבְקֻצְרְכֶם אֶת־קְצִיר אַרְצְכֶם לֹא תְכַלֶּה פְּאַת שָׂדְךָ לִקְצֹר וְלֶקֶט קְצִירְךָ לֹא תְלַקֵּט׃ 19.11. לֹא תִּגְנֹבוּ וְלֹא־תְכַחֲשׁוּ וְלֹא־תְשַׁקְּרוּ אִישׁ בַּעֲמִיתוֹ׃ 19.12. וְלֹא־תִשָּׁבְעוּ בִשְׁמִי לַשָּׁקֶר וְחִלַּלְתָּ אֶת־שֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֲנִי יְהוָה׃ 19.13. לֹא־תַעֲשֹׁק אֶת־רֵעֲךָ וְלֹא תִגְזֹל לֹא־תָלִין פְּעֻלַּת שָׂכִיר אִתְּךָ עַד־בֹּקֶר׃ 19.14. לֹא־תְקַלֵּל חֵרֵשׁ וְלִפְנֵי עִוֵּר לֹא תִתֵּן מִכְשֹׁל וְיָרֵאתָ מֵּאֱלֹהֶיךָ אֲנִי יְהוָה׃ 19.15. לֹא־תַעֲשׂוּ עָוֶל בַּמִּשְׁפָּט לֹא־תִשָּׂא פְנֵי־דָל וְלֹא תֶהְדַּר פְּנֵי גָדוֹל בְּצֶדֶק תִּשְׁפֹּט עֲמִיתֶךָ׃ 19.16. לֹא־תֵלֵךְ רָכִיל בְּעַמֶּיךָ לֹא תַעֲמֹד עַל־דַּם רֵעֶךָ אֲנִי יְהוָה׃ 19.17. לֹא־תִשְׂנָא אֶת־אָחִיךָ בִּלְבָבֶךָ הוֹכֵחַ תּוֹכִיחַ אֶת־עֲמִיתֶךָ וְלֹא־תִשָּׂא עָלָיו חֵטְא׃ 19.18. לֹא־תִקֹּם וְלֹא־תִטֹּר אֶת־בְּנֵי עַמֶּךָ וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ אֲנִי יְהוָה׃ 19.19. אֶת־חֻקֹּתַי תִּשְׁמֹרוּ בְּהֶמְתְּךָ לֹא־תַרְבִּיעַ כִּלְאַיִם שָׂדְךָ לֹא־תִזְרַע כִּלְאָיִם וּבֶגֶד כִּלְאַיִם שַׁעַטְנֵז לֹא יַעֲלֶה עָלֶיךָ׃ 19.23. וְכִי־תָבֹאוּ אֶל־הָאָרֶץ וּנְטַעְתֶּם כָּל־עֵץ מַאֲכָל וַעֲרַלְתֶּם עָרְלָתוֹ אֶת־פִּרְיוֹ שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים יִהְיֶה לָכֶם עֲרֵלִים לֹא יֵאָכֵל׃ 19.24. וּבַשָּׁנָה הָרְבִיעִת יִהְיֶה כָּל־פִּרְיוֹ קֹדֶשׁ הִלּוּלִים לַיהוָה׃ 19.25. וּבַשָּׁנָה הַחֲמִישִׁת תֹּאכְלוּ אֶת־פִּרְיוֹ לְהוֹסִיף לָכֶם תְּבוּאָתוֹ אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם׃ 19.26. לֹא תֹאכְלוּ עַל־הַדָּם לֹא תְנַחֲשׁוּ וְלֹא תְעוֹנֵנוּ׃ 19.27. לֹא תַקִּפוּ פְּאַת רֹאשְׁכֶם וְלֹא תַשְׁחִית אֵת פְּאַת זְקָנֶךָ׃ 19.31. אַל־תִּפְנוּ אֶל־הָאֹבֹת וְאֶל־הַיִּדְּעֹנִים אַל־תְּבַקְשׁוּ לְטָמְאָה בָהֶם אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם׃ 19.32. מִפְּנֵי שֵׂיבָה תָּקוּם וְהָדַרְתָּ פְּנֵי זָקֵן וְיָרֵאתָ מֵּאֱלֹהֶיךָ אֲנִי יְהוָה׃ 19.33. וְכִי־יָגוּר אִתְּךָ גֵּר בְּאַרְצְכֶם לֹא תוֹנוּ אֹתוֹ׃ 19.34. כְּאֶזְרָח מִכֶּם יִהְיֶה לָכֶם הַגֵּר הַגָּר אִתְּכֶם וְאָהַבְתָּ לוֹ כָּמוֹךָ כִּי־גֵרִים הֱיִיתֶם בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם׃ 19.35. לֹא־תַעֲשׂוּ עָוֶל בַּמִּשְׁפָּט בַּמִּדָּה בַּמִּשְׁקָל וּבַמְּשׂוּרָה׃ 19.36. מֹאזְנֵי צֶדֶק אַבְנֵי־צֶדֶק אֵיפַת צֶדֶק וְהִין צֶדֶק יִהְיֶה לָכֶם אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר־הוֹצֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם׃ 19.37. וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת־כָּל־חֻקֹּתַי וְאֶת־כָּל־מִשְׁפָּטַי וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אֹתָם אֲנִי יְהוָה׃ 20.26. וִהְיִיתֶם לִי קְדֹשִׁים כִּי קָדוֹשׁ אֲנִי יְהוָה וָאַבְדִּל אֶתְכֶם מִן־הָעַמִּים לִהְיוֹת לִי׃ 26.1. לֹא־תַעֲשׂוּ לָכֶם אֱלִילִם וּפֶסֶל וּמַצֵּבָה לֹא־תָקִימוּ לָכֶם וְאֶבֶן מַשְׂכִּית לֹא תִתְּנוּ בְּאַרְצְכֶם לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺת עָלֶיהָ כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם׃ 26.1. וַאֲכַלְתֶּם יָשָׁן נוֹשָׁן וְיָשָׁן מִפְּנֵי חָדָשׁ תּוֹצִיאוּ׃ | 19.3. Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and ye shall keep My sabbaths: I am the LORD your God." 19.5. And when ye offer a sacrifice of peace-offerings unto the LORD, ye shall offer it that ye may be accepted." 19.9. And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corner of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleaning of thy harvest." 19.10. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather the fallen fruit of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am the LORD your God." 19.11. Ye shall not steal; neither shall ye deal falsely, nor lie one to another." 19.12. And ye shall not swear by My name falsely, so that thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD." 19.13. Thou shalt not oppress thy neighbour, nor rob him; the wages of a hired servant shall not abide with thee all night until the morning." 19.14. Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling-block before the blind, but thou shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD." 19.15. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment; thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor favour the person of the mighty; but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour." 19.16. Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people; neither shalt thou stand idly by the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD." 19.17. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart; thou shalt surely rebuke thy neighbour, and not bear sin because of him." 19.18. Thou shalt not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD." 19.19. Ye shall keep My statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind; thou shalt not sow thy field with two kinds of seed; neither shall there come upon thee a garment of two kinds of stuff mingled together." 19.23. And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as forbidden; three years shall it be as forbidden unto you; it shall not be eaten." 19.24. And in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy, for giving praise unto the LORD." 19.25. But in the fifth year may ye eat of the fruit thereof, that it may yield unto you more richly the increase thereof: I am the LORD your God." 19.26. Ye shall not eat with the blood; neither shall ye practise divination nor soothsaying." 19.27. Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard." 19.30. Ye shall keep My sabbaths, and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD." 19.31. Turn ye not unto the ghosts, nor unto familiar spirits; seek them not out, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God." 19.32. Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and thou shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD." 19.33. And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not do him wrong." 19.34. The stranger that sojourneth with you shall be unto you as the home-born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God." 19.35. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure." 19.36. Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt." 19.37. And ye shall observe all My statutes, and all Mine ordices, and do them: I am the LORD." 20.26. And ye shall be holy unto Me; for I the LORD am holy, and have set you apart from the peoples, that ye should be Mine." 26.1. Ye shall make you no idols, neither shall ye rear you up a graven image, or a pillar, neither shall ye place any figured stone in your land, to bow down unto it; for I am the LORD your God." |
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5. Hebrew Bible, Numbers, 5, 19 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
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6. Hebrew Bible, Psalms, 96.4-96.5, 115.4 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 96.4. כִּי גָדוֹל יְהוָה וּמְהֻלָּל מְאֹד נוֹרָא הוּא עַל־כָּל־אֱלֹהִים׃ 96.5. כִּי כָּל־אֱלֹהֵי הָעַמִּים אֱלִילִים וַיהוָה שָׁמַיִם עָשָׂה׃ 115.4. עֲצַבֵּיהֶם כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵי אָדָם׃ | 96.4. For great is the LORD, and highly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. ." 96.5. For all the gods of the peoples are things of nought; But the LORD made the heavens." 115.4. Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men's hands." |
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7. Hebrew Bible, 1 Kings, 11.4-11.5 (8th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 11.4. וַיְהִי לְעֵת זִקְנַת שְׁלֹמֹה נָשָׁיו הִטּוּ אֶת־לְבָבוֹ אַחֲרֵי אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים וְלֹא־הָיָה לְבָבוֹ שָׁלֵם עִם־יְהוָה אֱלֹהָיו כִּלְבַב דָּוִיד אָבִיו׃ 11.4. וַיְבַקֵּשׁ שְׁלֹמֹה לְהָמִית אֶת־יָרָבְעָם וַיָּקָם יָרָבְעָם וַיִּבְרַח מִצְרַיִם אֶל־שִׁישַׁק מֶלֶךְ־מִצְרַיִם וַיְהִי בְמִצְרַיִם עַד־מוֹת שְׁלֹמֹה׃ 11.5. וַיֵּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה אַחֲרֵי עַשְׁתֹּרֶת אֱלֹהֵי צִדֹנִים וְאַחֲרֵי מִלְכֹּם שִׁקֻּץ עַמֹּנִים׃ | 11.4. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not whole with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father." 11.5. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the detestation of the Ammonites." |
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8. Hebrew Bible, Jeremiah, 2.5, 2.8, 2.11-2.12 (8th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 2.5. כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה מַה־מָּצְאוּ אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם בִּי עָוֶל כִּי רָחֲקוּ מֵעָלָי וַיֵּלְכוּ אַחֲרֵי הַהֶבֶל וַיֶּהְבָּלוּ׃ 2.8. הַכֹּהֲנִים לֹא אָמְרוּ אַיֵּה יְהוָה וְתֹפְשֵׂי הַתּוֹרָה לֹא יְדָעוּנִי וְהָרֹעִים פָּשְׁעוּ בִי וְהַנְּבִיאִים נִבְּאוּ בַבַּעַל וְאַחֲרֵי לֹא־יוֹעִלוּ הָלָכוּ׃ 2.11. הַהֵימִיר גּוֹי אֱלֹהִים וְהֵמָּה לֹא אֱלֹהִים וְעַמִּי הֵמִיר כְּבוֹדוֹ בְּלוֹא יוֹעִיל׃ 2.12. שֹׁמּוּ שָׁמַיִם עַל־זֹאת וְשַׂעֲרוּ חָרְבוּ מְאֹד נְאֻם־יְהוָה׃ | 2.5. Thus saith the LORD: What unrighteousness have your fathers found in Me, that they are gone far from Me, and have walked after things of nought, and are become nought?" 2.8. The priests said not: ‘Where is the LORD?’ And they that handle the law knew Me not, and the rulers transgressed against Me; the prophets also prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit." 2.11. Hath a nation changed its gods, which yet are no gods? But My people hath changed its glory For that which doth not profit." 2.12. Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye exceeding amazed, saith the LORD." |
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9. Hebrew Bible, Judges, 3.2 (8th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 3.2. רַק לְמַעַן דַּעַת דֹּרוֹת בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל לְלַמְּדָם מִלְחָמָה רַק אֲשֶׁר־לְפָנִים לֹא יְדָעוּם׃ 3.2. וְאֵהוּד בָּא אֵלָיו וְהוּא־יֹשֵׁב בַּעֲלִיַּת הַמְּקֵרָה אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ לְבַדּוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר אֵהוּד דְּבַר־אֱלֹהִים לִי אֵלֶיךָ וַיָּקָם מֵעַל הַכִּסֵּא׃ | 3.2. only that the generations of the children of Yisra᾽el might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing of those matters;" |
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10. Anon., 1 Enoch, 95.5, 98.5 (3rd cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE)
| 95.5. Woe to you who requite your neighbour with evil; For ye shall be requited according to your works. 98.5. And barrenness has not been given to the woman, But on account of the deeds of her own hands she dies without children. 98.5. the righteous; for ye shall have no hope of life. Woe to you who write down lying and godless words; for they write down their lies that men may hear them and act godlessly towards (their) |
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11. Septuagint, Wisdom of Solomon, 15.4 (2nd cent. BCE - 1st cent. BCE)
| 15.4. For neither has the evil intent of human art misled us,nor the fruitless toil of painters,a figure stained with varied colors |
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12. Diodorus Siculus, Historical Library, 40.3.4 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. BCE)
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13. Philo of Alexandria, On The Decalogue, 65 (1st cent. BCE - missingth cent. CE)
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14. Philo of Alexandria, Against Flaccus, 41 (1st cent. BCE - missingth cent. CE)
| 41. And when the multitude perceived this, I do not mean the ordinary and well-regulated population of the city, but the mob which, out of its restlessness and love of an unquiet and disorderly life, was always filling every place with tumult and confusion, and who, because of their habitual idleness and laziness, were full of treachery and revolutionary plans, they, flocking to the theatre the first thing in the morning, having already purchased Flaccus for a miserable price, which he with his mad desire for glory and with his slavish disposition, condescended to take to the injury not only of himself, but also of the safety of the commonwealth, all cried out, as if at a signal given, to erect images in the synagogues |
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15. Josephus Flavius, Jewish Antiquities, 3.91, 15.276, 18.55 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 3.91. 5. The first commandment teaches us that there is but one God, and that we ought to worship him only. The second commands us not to make the image of any living creature to worship it. The third, that we must not swear by God in a false matter. The fourth, that we must keep the seventh day, by resting from all sorts of work. 15.276. but, above all the rest, the trophies gave most distaste to the Jews; for as they imagined them to be images, included within the armor that hung round about them, they were sorely displeased at them, because it was not the custom of their country to pay honors to such images. 18.55. 1. But now Pilate, the procurator of Judea, removed the army from Caesarea to Jerusalem, to take their winter quarters there, in order to abolish the Jewish laws. So he introduced Caesar’s effigies, which were upon the ensigns, and brought them into the city; whereas our law forbids us the very making of images; |
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16. Josephus Flavius, Jewish War, 1.648-1.655, 2.197, 7.150 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 1.648. 2. There also now happened to him, among his other calamities, a certain popular sedition. There were two men of learning in the city [Jerusalem], who were thought the most skillful in the laws of their country, and were on that account held in very great esteem all over the nation; they were, the one Judas, the son of Sepphoris, and the other Matthias, the son of Margalus. 1.649. There was a great concourse of the young men to these men when they expounded the laws, and there got together every day a kind of an army of such as were growing up to be men. Now when these men were informed that the king was wearing away with melancholy, and with a distemper, they dropped words to their acquaintance, how it was now a very proper time to defend the cause of God, and to pull down what had been erected contrary to the laws of their country; 1.651. 3. At the same time that these men made this speech to their disciples, a rumor was spread abroad that the king was dying, which made the young men set about the work with greater boldness; they therefore let themselves down from the top of the temple with thick cords, and this at midday, and while a great number of people were in the temple, and cut down that golden eagle with axes. 1.652. This was presently told to the king’s captain of the temple, who came running with a great body of soldiers, and caught about forty of the young men, and brought them to the king. 1.653. And when he asked them, first of all, whether they had been so hardy as to cut down the golden eagle, they confessed they had done so; and when he asked them by whose command they had done it, they replied, at the command of the law of their country; and when he further asked them how they could be so joyful when they were to be put to death, they replied, because they should enjoy greater happiness after they were dead. 1.654. 4. At this the king was in such an extravagant passion, that he overcame his disease [for the time], and went out and spake to the people; wherein he made a terrible accusation against those men, as being guilty of sacrilege, and as making greater attempts under pretense of their law, and he thought they deserved to be punished as impious persons. 1.655. Whereupon the people were afraid lest a great number should be found guilty and desired that when he had first punished those that put them upon this work, and then those that were caught in it, he would leave off his anger as to the rest. With this the king complied, though not without difficulty, and ordered those that had let themselves down, together with their Rabbins, to be burnt alive, but delivered the rest that were caught to the proper officers to be put to death by them. 2.197. The Jews said, “We offer sacrifices twice every day for Caesar, and for the Roman people;” but that if he would place the images among them, he must first sacrifice the whole Jewish nation; and that they were ready to expose themselves, together with their children and wives, to be slain. |
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17. Josephus Flavius, Against Apion, 2.12, 2.75, 2.191 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 2.12. This is that wonderful relation which we have given us by this great grammarian. But that it is a false one is so plain, that it stands in need of few words to prove it, but is manifest from the works of Moses; for when he erected the first tabernacle to God, he did himself neither give order for any such kind of representation to be made at it, nor ordain that those who came after him should make such a one. Moreover, when in a future age Solomon built his temple in Jerusalem, he avoided all such needless decorations as Apion hath here devised. 2.12. though it seems this lamp-bearer of ours opened them easily, or thought he opened them, as he thought he had the ass’s head in his hand. Whether, therefore, he returned it to us again, or whether Apion took it and brought it into the temple again, that Antiochus might find it, and afford a handle for a second fable of Apion’s, is uncertain. 2.75. But then our legislator hath forbidden us to make images, not by way of denunciation beforehand, that the Roman authority was not to be honored, but as despising a thing that was neither necessary nor useful for either God or man; and he forbade them, as we shall prove hereafter, to make these images for any part of the animal creation 2.191. All materials, let them be ever so costly, are unworthy to compose an image for him; and all arts are unartful to express the notion we ought to have of him. We can neither see nor think of any thing like him, nor is it agreeable to piety to form a resemblance of him. |
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18. Josephus Flavius, Life, 65 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
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19. New Testament, Matthew, 5.1, 10.17 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 5.1. Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him. 10.17. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you. |
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20. Tosefta, Avodah Zarah, 5.2 (1st cent. CE - 2nd cent. CE)
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21. Cassius Dio, Roman History, 37.17.2 (2nd cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 37.17.2. They are distinguished from the rest of mankind in practically every detail of life, and especially by the fact that they do not honour any of the usual gods, but show extreme reverence for one particular divinity. They never had any statue of him even in Jerusalem itself, but believing him to be unnamable and invisible, they worship him in the most extravagant fashion on earth. |
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22. Tertullian, On Idolatry, 3-8, 11 (2nd cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 11. If we think over the rest of faults, tracing them from their generations, let us begin with covetousness, a root of all evils, 1 Timothy 6:10 wherewith, indeed, some having been ensnared, have suffered shipwreck about faith. 1 Timothy 1:19 Albeit covetousness is by the same apostle called idolatry. In the next place proceeding to mendacity, the minister of covetousness (of false swearing I am silent, since even swearing is not lawful )- is trade adapted for a servant of God? But, covetousness apart, what is the motive for acquiring? When the motive for acquiring ceases, there will be no necessity for trading. Grant now that there be some righteousness in business, secure from the duty of watchfulness against covetousness and mendacity; I take it that that trade which pertains to the very soul and spirit of idols, which pampers every demon, falls under the charge of idolatry. Rather, is not that the principal idolatry? If the selfsame merchandises - frankincense, I mean, and all other foreign productions - used as sacrifice to idols, are of use likewise to men for medicinal ointments, to us Christians also, over and above, for solaces of sepulture, let them see to it. At all events, while the pomps, while the priesthoods, while the sacrifices of idols, are furnished by dangers, by losses, by inconveniences, by cogitations, by runnings to and fro, or trades, what else are you demonstrated to be but an idols' agent? Let none contend that, in this way, exception may be taken to all trades. All graver faults extend the sphere for diligence in watchfulness proportionably to the magnitude of the danger; in order that we may withdraw not only from the faults, but from the means through which they have being. For although the fault be done by others, it makes no difference if it be by my means. In no case ought I to be necessary to another, while he is doing what to me is unlawful. Hence I ought to understand that care must be taken by me, lest what I am forbidden to do be done by my means. In short, in another cause of no lighter guilt I observe that fore-judgment. In that I am interdicted from fornication, I furnish nothing of help or connivance to others for that purpose; in that I have separated my own flesh itself from stews, I acknowledge that I cannot exercise the trade of pandering, or keep that kind of places for my neighbour's behoof. So, too, the interdiction of murder shows me that a trainer of gladiators also is excluded from the Church; nor will any one fail to be the means of doing what he subministers to another to do. Behold, here is a more kindred fore-judgment: if a purveyor of the public victims come over to the faith, will you permit him to remain permanently in that trade? Or if one who is already a believer shall have undertaken that business, will you think that he is to be retained in the Church? No, I take it; unless any one will dissemble in the case of a frankincense-seller too. In truth, the agency of blood pertains to some, that of odours to others. If, before idols were in the world, idolatry, hitherto shapeless, used to be transacted by these wares; if, even now, the work of idolatry is perpetrated, for the most part, without the idol, by burnings of odours; the frankincense-seller is a something even more serviceable even toward demons, for idolatry is more easily carried on without the idol, than without the ware of the frankincense-seller. Let us interrogate thoroughly the conscience of the faith itself. With what mouth will a Christian frankincense-seller, if he shall pass through temples, with what mouth will he spit down upon and blow out the smoking altars, for which himself has made provision? With what consistency will he exorcise his own foster-children, to whom he affords his own house as store-room? Indeed, if he shall have ejected a demon, let him not congratulate himself on his faith, for he has not ejected an enemy; he ought to have had his prayer easily granted by one whom he is daily feeding. No art, then, no profession, no trade, which administers either to equipping or forming idols, can be free from the title of idolatry; unless we interpret idolatry to be altogether something else than the service of idol-tendence. |
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23. Augustine, The City of God, 4.31 (4th cent. CE - 5th cent. CE)
| 4.31. What says Varro himself, whom we grieve to have found, although not by his own judgment, placing the scenic plays among things divine? When in many passages he is exhorting, like a religious man, to the worship of the gods, does he not in doing so admit that he does not in his own judgment believe those things which he relates that the Roman state has instituted; so that he does not hesitate to affirm that if he were founding a new state, he could enumerate the gods and their names better by the rule of nature? But being born into a nation already ancient, he says that he finds himself bound to accept the traditional names and surnames of the gods, and the histories connected with them, and that his purpose in investigating and publishing these details is to incline the people to worship the gods, and not to despise them. By which words this most acute man sufficiently indicates that he does not publish all things, because they would not only have been contemptible to himself, but would have seemed despicable even to the rabble, unless they had been passed over in silence. I should be thought to conjecture these things, unless he himself, in another passage, had openly said, in speaking of religious rites, that many things are true which it is not only not useful for the common people to know, but that it is expedient that the people should think otherwise, even though falsely, and therefore the Greeks have shut up the religious ceremonies and mysteries in silence, and within walls. In this he no doubt expresses the policy of the so-called wise men by whom states and peoples are ruled. Yet by this crafty device the malign demons are wonderfully delighted, who possess alike the deceivers and the deceived, and from whose tyranny nothing sets free save the grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. The same most acute and learned author also says, that those alone seem to him to have perceived what God is, who have believed Him to be the soul of the world, governing it by design and reason. And by this, it appears, that although he did not attain to the truth - for the true God is not a soul, but the maker and author of the soul - yet if he could have been free to go against the prejudices of custom, he could have confessed and counselled others that the one God ought to be worshipped, who governs the world by design and reason; so that on this subject only this point would remain to be debated with him, that he had called Him a soul, and not rather the creator of the soul. He says, also, that the ancient Romans, for more than a hundred and seventy years, worshipped the gods without an image. And if this custom, he says, could have remained till now, the gods would have been more purely worshipped. In favor of this opinion, he cites as a witness among others the Jewish nation; nor does he hesitate to conclude that passage by saying of those who first consecrated images for the people, that they have both taken away religious fear from their fellow citizens, and increased error, wisely thinking that the gods easily fall into contempt when exhibited under the stolidity of images. But as he does not say they have transmitted error, but that they have increased it, he therefore wishes it to be understood that there was error already when there were no images. Wherefore, when he says they alone have perceived what God is who have believed Him to be the governing soul of the world, and thinks that the rites of religion would have been more purely observed without images, who fails to see how near he has come to the truth? For if he had been able to do anything against so inveterate an error, he would certainly have given it as his opinion both that the one God should be worshipped, and that He should be worshipped without an image; and having so nearly discovered the truth, perhaps he might easily have been put in mind of the mutability of the soul, and might thus have perceived that the true God is that immutable nature which made the soul itself. Since these things are so, whatever ridicule such men have poured in their writings against the plurality of the gods, they have done so rather as compelled by the secret will of God to confess them, than as trying to persuade others. If, therefore, any testimonies are adduced by us from these writings, they are adduced for the confutation of those who are unwilling to consider from how great and maligt a power of the demons the singular sacrifice of the shedding of the most holy blood, and the gift of the imparted Spirit, can set us free. |
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24. Babylonian Talmud, Avodah Zarah, None
| 6b. מנין שלא יושיט אדם כוס של יין לנזיר ואבר מן החי לבני נח ת"ל (ויקרא יט, יד) ולפני עור לא תתן מכשול והא הכא דכי לא יהבינן ליה שקלי איהו וקעבר משום לפני עור לא תתן מכשול,הב"ע דקאי בתרי עברי נהרא דיקא נמי דקתני לא יושיט ולא קתני לא יתן ש"מ,איבעיא להו נשא ונתן מאי ר' יוחנן אמר נשא ונתן אסור ר"ל אמר נשא ונתן מותר איתיביה רבי יוחנן לריש לקיש אידיהן של עובדי כוכבים נשא ונתן אסורין מאי לאו לפני אידיהן לא אידיהן דוקא,א"ד איתיביה ר"ש בן לקיש לרבי יוחנן אידיהן של עובדי כוכבים נשא ונתן אסור אידיהן אין לפני אידיהן לא תנא אידי ואידי אידיהן קרי ליה,תניא כוותיה דר"ל כשאמרו אסור לשאת ולתת עמהם לא אסרו אלא בדבר המתקיים אבל בדבר שאינו מתקיים לא ואפילו בדבר המתקיים נשא ונתן מותר תני רב זביד בדבי רבי אושעיא דבר שאין מתקיים מוכרין להם אבל אין לוקחין מהם,ההוא מינאה דשדר ליה דינרא קיסרנאה לרבי יהודה נשיאה ביום אידו הוה יתיב ריש לקיש קמיה אמר היכי אעביד אשקליה אזיל ומודה לא אשקליה הויא ליה איבה א"ל ריש לקיש טול וזרוק אותו לבור בפניו אמר כל שכן דהויא ליה איבה כלאחר יד הוא דקאמינא:,להשאילן ולשאול מהן כו': בשלמא להשאילן דקא מרווח להו אבל לשאול מהן מעוטי קא ממעט להו אמר אביי גזרה לשאול מהן אטו להשאילן רבא אמר כולה משום דאזיל ומודה הוא:,להלוותם וללוות מהן: בשלמא להלוותם משום דקא מרווח להו אלא ללוות מהן אמאי אמר אביי גזרה ללוות מהן אטו להלוותם רבא אמר כולה משום דאזיל ומודה הוא:,לפורען ולפרוע מהן כו': בשלמא לפורען משום דקא מרווח להו אלא לפרוע מהן מעוטי ממעט להו אמר אביי גזירה לפרוע מהן אטו לפורען רבא אמר כולה משום דאזיל ומודה הוא,וצריכי דאי תנא לשאת ולתת עמהן משום דקא מרווח להו ואזיל ומודה אבל לשאול מהן דמעוטי קא ממעט להו שפיר דמי,ואי תנא לשאול מהן משום דחשיבא ליה מילתא ואזיל ומודה אבל ללוות מהן צערא בעלמא אית ליה אמר תוב לא הדרי זוזי,ואי תנא ללוות מהן משום דקאמר בעל כרחיה מיפרענא והשתא מיהא אזיל ומודה אבל ליפרע מהן דתו לא הדרי זוזי אימא צערא אית ליה ולא אזיל ומודה צריכא,רבי יהודה אומר נפרעין מהן כו': ולית ליה לרבי יהודה אף על פי שמיצר עכשיו שמח הוא לאחר זמן,והתניא רבי יהודה אומר אשה לא תסוד במועד מפני שניוול הוא לה ומודה ר' יהודה בסיד שיכולה לקפלו במועד שטופלתו במועד אע"פ שמצירה עכשיו שמחה היא לאחר זמן,אר"נ בר יצחק הנח להלכות מועד דכולהו מיצר עכשיו שמחה לאחר זמן רבינא אמר עובד כוכבים לענין פרעון לעולם מיצר,מתניתין דלא כר' יהושע בן קרחה דתניא ריב"ק אומר מלוה בשטר אין נפרעין מהן מלוה על פה נפרעין מהן מפני שהוא כמציל מידם,יתיב רב יוסף אחוריה דר' אבא ויתיב רבי אבא קמיה דרב הונא ויתיב וקאמר הלכתא כרבי יהושע בן קרחה והלכתא כר' יהודה,הלכתא כרבי יהושע הא דאמרן כר' יהודה דתניא הנותן צמר לצבע לצבוע לו אדום וצבעו שחור שחור וצבעו אדום | 6b. bFrom whereis it derived bthat a person may not extend a cup of wine to a nazirite,who is prohibited from drinking wine, bandthat he may not extend ba limbsevered bfrom a living animal to descendants of Noah? The verse states: “And you shall not put a stumbling block before the blind”(Leviticus 19:14). bBut here,in both cases, bif one does not give it to him, he can take it himself, andyet the one who provides it to him btransgresses due tothe prohibition: b“You shall not put a stumbling block before the blind.” /b,The Gemara answers: bHere we are dealing witha case bwhere they are standing onthe btwo sidesof ba river,and therefore the recipient could not have taken it himself. Since his help was instrumental, the one who conveyed the item has violated the prohibition of putting a stumbling block before the blind. The Gemara adds: The language of the ibaraita bis also precise, as it teaches:A person bmay not extend, and it does not teach: One may not give. Learn fromthe usage of the term extend that the ibaraitais referring to one located on one side of a river, who extends the item to the one on the other side.,§ bA dilemma was raised beforethe Sages: If one ignored the injunction of the mishna and bengaged in businesswith gentiles before their festival, bwhatis the status of the profit that he earned? bRabbi Yoḥa says:If he bengaged in business,it is bprohibitedto derive benefit from his profits. bReish Lakish says:If he bengaged in business,it is bpermittedto derive benefit from his profits. bRabbi Yoḥa raised an objection to Reish Lakishfrom a ibaraita /i: With regard to bthe festivals of gentiles,if one bengaged in business,these profits are bprohibited. What, is it notreferring to one who engages in business with gentiles bbefore their festivals?Reish Lakish responded: bNo,the ibaraitais referring to business conducted bspecificallyduring btheir festivals. /b, bThere arethose bwho saythat there is a different version of the above exchange. bRabbi Shimon ben Lakish raised an objection to Rabbi Yoḥafrom a ibaraita /i: With regard to bthe festivals of gentiles,if one bengaged in businessthese profits are bprohibited.Isn’t it correct to infer from the ibaraitathat if the business occurred during btheir festivals, yes,deriving benefit from the profits is prohibited, but if it took place bbefore their festivals, no,it is not prohibited? Rabbi Yoḥa responded: bNo; the itannacallsboth bthis,the days before the festival, band that,the festival itself: bTheir festivals. /b,The Gemara notes that it bis taughtin a ibaraita bin accordance withthe opinion bof Reish Lakish: Whenthe Sages bsaidthat it is bprohibited to engage withthe gentiles bin business, they prohibitedit bonly inthe case of ban item that endures. But with regard to an item that does not endure,it is bnotprohibited. bAnd even with regard to an item that endures,if one bdid engage in businesswith gentiles, deriving benefit from the profits is bpermitted. Rav Zevid taughta ibaraita bfrom the school of Rabbi Oshaya:With regard to ban item that does not endure, one may sellit bto them, but one may not buyit bfrom them. /b,The Gemara relates: There was an incident involving ba certain heretic who sent a Caesarean dinar to Rabbi Yehuda Nesia on the day ofthe heretic’s bfestival.Rabbi Yehuda Nesia bsaidto bReish Lakish,who bwas sitting before him: What shall I do?If bI takethe dinar, bhe will go and thankhis idol for the success of his endeavor, but if bI do not takethe dinar, bhe will harbor enmitytoward me. bReish Lakish said to him: Takeit band throw it into a pit in the presence ofthe heretic. Rabbi Yehuda Nesia bsaid: All the more so,this will cause bhim to harbor enmitytoward me. Reish Lakish explained: bI said,i.e., I meant, bthatyou should throw it bin an unusual manner,so that it looks as though the dinar inadvertently fell from your hand into the pit.,§ The mishna teaches that it is prohibited bto lend themitems band to borrowitems bfrom themduring the three days preceding their festivals. The Gemara asks: bGranted,it is prohibited bto lendthe items bto them, asthis bcauses themto have ba profit. Butwhy is it prohibited bto borrowthe items bfrom themduring this period? Doesn’t this serve to breduce for themthe property they possess during the festival? bAbaye said:The Sages issued ba decreethat it is prohibited bto borrowthe items bfrom them due tothe concern that he might come bto lendthe items bto them. Rava said: All of it,lending and borrowing, bisprohibited for the same reason, basin either situation the gentile might bgo and give thanksto his idol, as he will be pleased that the Jew was forced to borrow the items from him.,The mishna further teaches that it is prohibited bto lendmoney bto them or to borrowmoney bfrom them.The Gemara asks: bGranted,it is prohibited bto lendmoney bto them, asthis bcauses themto have ba profit. Butif one wants bto borrowmoney bfrom them, whyis it prohibited? bAbaye said:The Sages issued ba decreethat it is prohibited bto borrowmoney bfrom them, due tothe concern that he might come bto lendmoney bto them. Rava said: Allof it, lending and borrowing money, is prohibited for the same reason, basin either situation the gentile bwill go and give thanksto his object of idol worship.,The mishna also teaches that it is prohibited bto repay debtsowed to bthem and to collect payment of their debts.Once again, the Gemara asks: bGranted,it is prohibited bto repay debtsowed bto them, asgiving them the money at this time bcauses themto have ba profit. Butwhy is it prohibited bto collect payment of their debts?Doesn’t this serve to breduce theirfortune? bAbaye said:The Sages issued ba decreethat it is prohibited bto collect debts from them, due tothe concern that he might come bto repay their debts. Rava said: All of it,repaying and collecting debts, is prohibited for the same reason, basin either situation the gentile might bgo and give thanksto his idol for having had sufficient funds to pay his debts.,The Gemara notes: bAndall of the prohibitions listed in the mishna bare necessary. As, ifthe mishna had btaughtonly that it is prohibited bto engage with them in business,one could have said that the reason for the prohibition is bbecause it causesthe gentile to have ba profit, and he will go and give thanksto his idol. bButwith regard to bborrowingitems bfrom them, whichserves to breduce for themthe property they possess during the festival, one may bwelldo so., bAnd ifthe mishna had further btaughtonly that it is prohibited bto borrowitems bfrom them,one might have thought that this is bbecause the matter is significant tothe gentile, as he is pleased that the Jew is forced to borrow items from him, bandtherefore he might bgo and give thanks. Butit might have been supposed that bto borrowmoney bfrom themis permitted, as bthere is only distress forthe gentile when he lends money, as he would bsay:My bmoney will not return to me again,since the borrower may never repay the loan., bAnd ifthe mishna had btaughtin addition only that it is prohibited bto borrowmoney bfrom them,one might have thought that this is bbecausethe gentile bsays: I willforcibly bcollect paymentfrom the Jew bagainst his will,by means of the promissory note, band now in any event hewill bgo and give thanksthat the Jew is forced to borrow money from him. bButwith regard to bcollecting payment from them, asthis bmoney will never return to him again,one might bsaythat bhe has distressabout paying back the debt, bandhe will bnot go and give thanks.Since one might have reached these conclusions, it is bnecessaryfor the mishna to state each ruling explicitly.,§ The mishna teaches that bRabbi Yehuda says: One may collectthe brepaymentof debts bfrom them,because this causes the gentile distress. The Gemara asks: bAnd doesn’t Rabbi Yehuda acceptthe principle that beven though he is distressed now, he will be happy afterward? /b, bBut isn’t it taughtin a ibaraita /i: bRabbi Yehuda says: A woman may not apply limeto her skin bduringthe intermediate days of bthe Festivalin order to remove bodily hair and soften her skin, bbecausethis temporarily bdisfigures heruntil the lime is removed. bAnd Rabbi Yehuda concedes with regard to lime that she can peel off duringthe intermediate days of bthe Festival that she may apply it onthe intermediate days of bthe Festival,as beven though she is distressed now,as the lime renders her unattractive, bshe will be happy afterward,when the lime is removed and she becomes more attractive. It is evident from this ibaraitathat Rabbi Yehuda does take into account the joy that will be experienced at a later time with regard to permitting an action now., bRav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak saysin response: bLeaveaside bthe ihalakhotofthe intermediate days of ba Festival.These cannot be compared to other cases, baswith regard to ballthe labors permitted on a Festival this is the reason for the leniency: Although bhe is distressedby performing them bnow,as they involve effort and trouble, bhe will be happy afterwardon the Festival itself that he has performed them, when he enjoys the benefits of the labor he has performed. Due to the joy they will bring him on the Festival, these labors are permitted. bRavina saidthat there is a different answer: Rabbi Yehuda maintains that bwith regard to repayinga debt ba gentile is always distressed,even after the fact. But in general, Rabbi Yehuda does take into account the joy that will be experienced at a later time.,The Gemara notes: bThe mishna is not in accordance withthe opinion of bRabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa,as it states that one may not collect payment from a gentile during the three days preceding their festivals, without differentiating between various cases. bAs it is taughtin a ibaraita /i: bRabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa says:In the case of ba loan witha promissory bnote, one may not collect payment fromgentiles before their festivals, as one can demand repayment of the debt by presenting the promissory note in his possession at a later stage. By contrast, in the case of ba loan by oralagreement, bone may collect payment from them, because he isconsidered bas one who salvages money from them,since he has no promissory note and cannot be sure that the gentile will repay the loan at another time.,The Gemara relates: bRav Yosef sat behind Rabbi Abbain the study hall, band Rabbi Abba sat before Rav Huna,as a student before his teacher. bAndRav Huna bsat and saidthe following statements: bThe ihalakha /iis bin accordance withthe opinion of bRabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa, and the ihalakha /iis bin accordance withthe opinion of bRabbi Yehuda. /b,The Gemara explains: As for the statement that bthe ihalakha /iis bin accordance withthe opinion of bRabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa,this is referring to bthat which we saidwith regard to collecting a loan by oral agreement from gentiles during the days preceding their festivals. As for the statement that the ihalakhais bin accordance withthe opinion of bRabbi Yehuda,this is bas it is taughtin a mishna ( iBava Kamma100b): In the case of bone who gives wool to a dyer to dyeit bred for him andinstead bhe dyed it black,or one who gives wool to a dyer to dye it bblack andinstead bhe dyed it red, /b |
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25. Strabo, Geography, 16.2.35
| 16.2.35. An Egyptian priest named Moses, who possessed a portion of the country called the Lower [Egypt] * * * *, being dissatisfied with the established institutions there, left it and came to Judaea with a large body of people who worshipped the Divinity. He declared and taught that the Egyptians and Africans entertained erroneous sentiments, in representing the Divinity under the likeness of wild beasts and cattle of the field; that the Greeks also were in error in making images of their gods after the human form. For God [said he] may be this one thing which encompasses us all, land and sea, which we call heaven, or the universe, or the nature of things. Who then of any understanding would venture to form an image of this Deity, resembling anything with which we are conversant? on the contrary, we ought not to carve any images, but to set apart some sacred ground and a shrine worthy of the Deity, and to worship Him without any similitude. He taught that those who made fortunate dreams were to be permitted to sleep in the temple, where they might dream both for themselves and others; that those who practised temperance and justice, and none else, might expect good, or some gift or sign from the God, from time to time. |
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