1. Hebrew Bible, Song of Songs, 1.3-1.4, 1.7, 2.5, 5.1, 5.8, 7.13 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 1.3. לְרֵיחַ שְׁמָנֶיךָ טוֹבִים שֶׁמֶן תּוּרַק שְׁמֶךָ עַל־כֵּן עֲלָמוֹת אֲהֵבוּךָ׃ 1.4. מָשְׁכֵנִי אַחֲרֶיךָ נָּרוּצָה הֱבִיאַנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ חֲדָרָיו נָגִילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה בָּךְ נַזְכִּירָה דֹדֶיךָ מִיַּיִן מֵישָׁרִים אֲהֵבוּךָ׃ 1.7. הַגִּידָה לִּי שֶׁאָהֲבָה נַפְשִׁי אֵיכָה תִרְעֶה אֵיכָה תַּרְבִּיץ בַּצָּהֳרָיִם שַׁלָּמָה אֶהְיֶה כְּעֹטְיָה עַל עֶדְרֵי חֲבֵרֶיךָ׃ 2.5. סַמְּכוּנִי בָּאֲשִׁישׁוֹת רַפְּדוּנִי בַּתַּפּוּחִים כִּי־חוֹלַת אַהֲבָה אָנִי׃ 5.1. דּוֹדִי צַח וְאָדוֹם דָּגוּל מֵרְבָבָה׃ 5.1. בָּאתִי לְגַנִּי אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה אָרִיתִי מוֹרִי עִם־בְּשָׂמִי אָכַלְתִּי יַעְרִי עִם־דִּבְשִׁי שָׁתִיתִי יֵינִי עִם־חֲלָבִי אִכְלוּ רֵעִים שְׁתוּ וְשִׁכְרוּ דּוֹדִים׃ 5.8. הִשְׁבַּעְתִּי אֶתְכֶם בְּנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָם אִם־תִּמְצְאוּ אֶת־דּוֹדִי מַה־תַּגִּידוּ לוֹ שֶׁחוֹלַת אַהֲבָה אָנִי׃ 7.13. נַשְׁכִּימָה לַכְּרָמִים נִרְאֶה אִם פָּרְחָה הַגֶּפֶן פִּתַּח הַסְּמָדַר הֵנֵצוּ הָרִמּוֹנִים שָׁם אֶתֵּן אֶת־דֹּדַי לָךְ׃ | 1.3. Thine ointments have a goodly fragrance; Thy name is as ointment poured forth; Therefore do the maidens love thee. 1.4. Draw me, we will run after thee; The king hath brought me into his chambers; We will be glad and rejoice in thee, We will find thy love more fragrant than wine! Sincerely do they love thee. 1.7. Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, Where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon; For why should I be as one that veileth herself Beside the flocks of thy companions? 2.5. ’Stay ye me with dainties, refresh me with apples; For I am love-sick.’ 5.1. I am come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends; Drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved. 5.8. ’I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, If ye find my beloved, what will ye tell him? That I am love-sick.’ 7.13. Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see whether the vine hath budded, whether the vine-blossom be opened, and the pomegranates be in flower; there will I give thee my love. |
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2. Hebrew Bible, Deuteronomy, 5.16, 21.18-21.19 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 5.16. כַּבֵּד אֶת־אָבִיךָ וְאֶת־אִמֶּךָ כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוְּךָ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְמַעַן יַאֲרִיכֻן יָמֶיךָ וּלְמַעַן יִיטַב לָךְ עַל הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לָךְ׃ 21.18. כִּי־יִהְיֶה לְאִישׁ בֵּן סוֹרֵר וּמוֹרֶה אֵינֶנּוּ שֹׁמֵעַ בְּקוֹל אָבִיו וּבְקוֹל אִמּוֹ וְיסְּרוּ אֹתוֹ וְלֹא יִשְׁמַע אֲלֵיהֶם׃ 21.19. וְתָפְשׂוּ בוֹ אָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ וְהוֹצִיאוּ אֹתוֹ אֶל־זִקְנֵי עִירוֹ וְאֶל־שַׁעַר מְקֹמוֹ׃ | 5.16. Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God commanded thee; that thy days may be long, and that it may go well with thee, upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." 21.18. If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, that will not hearken to the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and though they chasten him, will not hearken unto them;" 21.19. then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;" |
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3. Hebrew Bible, Exodus, 20.12 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 20.12. כַּבֵּד אֶת־אָבִיךָ וְאֶת־אִמֶּךָ לְמַעַן יַאֲרִכוּן יָמֶיךָ עַל הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לָךְ׃ | 20.12. Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." |
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4. Hebrew Bible, Job, 27.1, 28.18, 29.1 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 27.1. אִם־עַל־שַׁדַּי יִתְעַנָּג יִקְרָא אֱלוֹהַּ בְּכָל־עֵת׃ 27.1. וַיֹּסֶף אִיּוֹב שְׂאֵת מְשָׁלוֹ וַיֹּאמַר׃ 28.18. רָאמוֹת וְגָבִישׁ לֹא יִזָּכֵר וּמֶשֶׁךְ חָכְמָה מִפְּנִינִים׃ 29.1. וַיֹּסֶף אִיּוֹב שְׂאֵת מְשָׁלוֹ וַיֹּאמַר׃ 29.1. קוֹל־נְגִידִים נֶחְבָּאוּ וּלְשׁוֹנָם לְחִכָּם דָּבֵקָה׃ | 27.1. And Job again took up his parable, and said:" 28.18. No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; Yea, the price of wisdom is above rubies." 29.1. And Job again took up his parable, and said:" |
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5. Hebrew Bible, Numbers, 23.7 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 23.7. וַיִּשָּׂא מְשָׁלוֹ וַיֹּאמַר מִן־אֲרָם יַנְחֵנִי בָלָק מֶלֶךְ־מוֹאָב מֵהַרְרֵי־קֶדֶם לְכָה אָרָה־לִּי יַעֲקֹב וּלְכָה זֹעֲמָה יִשְׂרָאֵל׃ | 23.7. And he took up his parable, and said: From Aram Balak bringeth me, The king of Moab from the mountains of the East: ‘Come, curse me Jacob, And come, execrate Israel.’" |
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6. Hebrew Bible, Proverbs, 1, 1.6, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19, 2, 2.16, 2.17, 2.18, 2.19, 3, 3.15, 3.19, 3.21, 3.22, 3.23, 3.24, 3.25, 4, 4.3, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18, 4.19, 4.20, 4.21, 4.22, 4.23, 4.24, 4.25, 4.26, 4.27, 5, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.9, 5.10, 5.11, 5.12, 5.13, 5.14, 5.15, 5.16, 5.17, 5.18, 5.19, 5.20, 5.21, 5.22, 5.23, 6, 6.20, 6.21, 6.22, 6.23, 6.24, 6.25, 6.26, 6.27, 6.28, 6.29, 6.30, 6.31, 6.32, 6.33, 6.34, 6.35, 7, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 7.10, 7.11, 7.12, 7.13, 7.14, 7.15, 7.16, 7.17, 7.18, 7.19, 7.20, 7.21, 7.22, 7.23, 7.24, 7.25, 7.26, 7.27, 8, 8.11, 8.35, 9, 9.13, 9.14, 9.15, 9.16, 9.17, 9.18, 10.1, 10.1-22.16, 12.4, 13.24, 15.20, 19.14, 22.15, 22.17-24.22, 24.23, 24.24, 24.25, 24.28, 24.30, 24.31, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.11, 30.15, 30.16, 30.18, 30.19, 30.21, 30.22, 30.23, 30.24, 30.25, 30.26, 30.27, 30.28, 30.29, 30.30, 30.31, 31.1, 31.10, 31.11, 31.12, 31.13, 31.14, 31.15, 31.16, 31.17, 31.18, 31.19, 31.20, 31.21, 31.22, 31.23, 31.24, 31.25, 31.26, 31.27, 31.28, 31.29, 31.30, 31.31 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
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7. Hebrew Bible, Habakkuk, 2.18 (8th cent. BCE - 6th cent. BCE)
| 2.18. מָה־הוֹעִיל פֶּסֶל כִּי פְסָלוֹ יֹצְרוֹ מַסֵּכָה וּמוֹרֶה שָּׁקֶר כִּי בָטַח יֹצֵר יִצְרוֹ עָלָיו לַעֲשׂוֹת אֱלִילִים אִלְּמִים׃ | 2.18. What profiteth the graven image, That the maker thereof hath graven it, Even the molten image, and the teacher of lies; That the maker of his work trusteth therein, To make dumb idols?" |
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8. Hebrew Bible, Isaiah, 14.4 (8th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 14.4. וְנָשָׂאתָ הַמָּשָׁל הַזֶּה עַל־מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל וְאָמָרְתָּ אֵיךְ שָׁבַת נֹגֵשׂ שָׁבְתָה מַדְהֵבָה׃ | 14.4. that thou shalt take up this parable against the king of Babylon, and say: How hath the oppressor ceased! The exactress of gold ceased!" |
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9. Hebrew Bible, Joshua, 24.9 (8th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 24.9. וַיָּקָם בָּלָק בֶּן־צִפּוֹר מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב וַיִּלָּחֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּשְׁלַח וַיִּקְרָא לְבִלְעָם בֶּן־בְּעוֹר לְקַלֵּל אֶתְכֶם׃ | 24.9. Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel; and he sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you." |
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10. Hebrew Bible, Ezekiel, 17.2 (6th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 17.2. וּפָרַשְׂתִּי עָלָיו רִשְׁתִּי וְנִתְפַּשׂ בִּמְצוּדָתִי וַהֲבִיאוֹתִיהוּ בָבֶלָה וְנִשְׁפַּטְתִּי אִתּוֹ שָׁם מַעֲלוֹ אֲשֶׁר מָעַל־בִּי׃ 17.2. בֶּן־אָדָם חוּד חִידָה וּמְשֹׁל מָשָׁל אֶל־בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל׃ | 17.2. ’Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel," |
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11. Hebrew Bible, Ecclesiastes, 9.9, 10.8 (5th cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE)
| 9.9. רְאֵה חַיִּים עִם־אִשָּׁה אֲשֶׁר־אָהַבְתָּ כָּל־יְמֵי חַיֵּי הֶבְלֶךָ אֲשֶׁר נָתַן־לְךָ תַּחַת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ כֹּל יְמֵי הֶבְלֶךָ כִּי הוּא חֶלְקְךָ בַּחַיִּים וּבַעֲמָלְךָ אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּה עָמֵל תַּחַת הַשָּׁמֶשׁ׃ 10.8. חֹפֵר גּוּמָּץ בּוֹ יִפּוֹל וּפֹרֵץ גָּדֵר יִשְּׁכֶנּוּ נָחָשׁ׃ | 9.9. Enjoy life with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which He hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity; for that is thy portion in life, and in thy labour wherein thou labourest under the sun." 10.8. He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a fence, a serpent shall bite him." |
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12. Septuagint, Ecclesiasticus (Siracides), 1.1, 51.3, 51.13-51.30 (2nd cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE)
| 1.1. All wisdom comes from the Lord and is with him for ever. 1.1. The fear of the Lord delights the heart,and gives gladness and joy and long life. 51.3. and didst deliver me,in the greatness of thy mercy and of thy name,from the gnashings of teeth about to devour me,from the hand of those who sought my life,from the many afflictions that I endured 51.3. Do your work before the appointed time,and in Gods time he will give you your reward. 51.13. While I was still young, before I went on my travels,I sought wisdom openly in my prayer. 51.14. Before the temple I asked for her,and I will search for her to the last. 51.15. From blossom to ripening grape my heart delighted in her;my foot entered upon the straight path;from my youth I followed her steps. 51.16. I inclined my ear a little and received her,and I found for myself much instruction. 51.17. I made progress therein;to him who gives wisdom I will give glory. 51.18. For I resolved to live according to wisdom,and I was zealous for the good;and I shall never be put to shame. 51.19. My soul grappled with wisdom,and in my conduct I was strict;I spread out my hands to the heavens,and lamented my ignorance of her. 51.21. My heart was stirred to seek her,therefore I have gained a good possession. 51.22. The Lord gave me a tongue as my reward,and I will praise him with it. 51.23. Draw near to me, you who are untaught,and lodge in my school. 51.24. Why do you say you are lacking in these things,and why are your souls very thirsty? 51.25. I opened my mouth and said,Get these things for yourselves without money. 51.26. Put your neck under the yoke,and let your souls receive instruction;it is to be found close by. 51.27. See with your eyes that I have labored little and found myself much rest. 51.28. Get instruction with a large sum of silver,and you will gain by it much gold. 51.29. May your soul rejoice in his mercy,and may you not be put to shame when you praise him. |
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13. Septuagint, Wisdom of Solomon, 8.21, 9.1 (2nd cent. BCE - 1st cent. BCE)
| 8.21. But I perceived that I would not possess wisdom unless God gave her to me -- and it was a mark of insight to know whose gift she was -- so I appealed to the Lord and besought him,and with my whole heart I said: 9.1. O God of my fathers and Lord of mercy,who hast made all things by thy word |
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14. Mishnah, Avodah Zarah, 1.1, 2.3 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 1.1. On the three days preceding the festivals of idolaters, it is forbidden to conduct business with them, to lend articles to them or borrow from them, to lend or borrow any money from them, to repay a debt, or receive repayment from them. Rabbi Judah says: we should receive repayment from them, as this can only depress them; But they [the Rabbis] said to him: even though it is depressing at the time, they are glad of it subsequently." 2.3. The following things belonging to non-Jews are forbidden [for Jews to use] and the prohibition extends to any benefit that may be derived from them: wine, or a non-Jew’s vinegar that was formerly wine, Hadrianic earthenware, skins pierced at the animal’s heart. Rabban Shimon Gamaliel says: when its tear is round, [the skin] is forbidden, but if oblong it is permitted. Meat which is being brought into a place of idol worship is permitted, but that which is brought out is forbidden, because it is like a sacrifice to the dead, this is the opinion of Rabbi Akiba. With non-Jews going on a pilgrimage [to worship idols] it is forbidden to have any business transactions, but with those returning it is permitted. |
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15. Tosefta, Hulin, 2.21-2.24 (1st cent. CE - 2nd cent. CE)
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16. Anon., Qohelet Rabba, 1.8 (2nd cent. CE - 5th cent. CE)
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17. Pliny The Younger, Letters, 10.96.5 (2nd cent. CE - 2nd cent. CE)
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18. Pliny The Younger, Letters, 10.96.5 (2nd cent. CE - 2nd cent. CE)
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19. Babylonian Talmud, Avodah Zarah, None (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 17b. דנכיס יצריה א"ל אידך ניזיל אפיתחא דבי זונות ונכפייה ליצרין ונקבל אגרא כי מטו התם חזינהו [לזונות] איתכנעו מקמייהו,א"ל מנא לך הא א"ל (משלי ב, יא) מזמה תשמור עלך תבונה תנצרכה,א"ל רבנן לרבא מאי מזימה אילימא תורה דכתיב בה זימה ומתרגמינן עצת חטאין וכתיב (ישעיהו כח, כט) הפליא עצה הגדיל תושיה אי הכי זימה מבעי ליה ה"ק מדבר זימה תשמור עליך תורה תנצרכה,ת"ר כשנתפסו רבי אלעזר בן פרטא ורבי חנינא בן תרדיון א"ל ר' אלעזר בן פרטא לרבי חנינא בן תרדיון אשריך שנתפסת על דבר אחד אוי לי שנתפסתי על חמשה דברים,א"ל רבי חנינא אשריך שנתפסת על חמשה דברים ואתה ניצול אוי לי שנתפסתי על דבר אחד ואיני ניצול שאת עסקת בתורה ובגמילות חסדים ואני לא עסקתי אלא בתורה [בלבד],וכדרב הונא דאמר רב הונא כל העוסק בתורה בלבד דומה כמי שאין לו אלוה שנאמר (דברי הימים ב טו, ג) וימים רבים לישראל ללא אלהי אמת [וגו'] מאי ללא אלהי אמת שכל העוסק בתורה בלבד דומה כמי שאין לו אלוה,ובגמילות חסדים לא עסק והתניא רבי אליעזר בן יעקב אומר לא יתן אדם מעותיו לארנקי של צדקה אלא א"כ ממונה עליו תלמיד חכם כר' חנינא בן תרדיון הימנוה הוא דהוה מהימן מיעבד לא עבד,והתניא אמר לו מעות של פורים נתחלפו לי במעות של צדקה וחלקתים לעניים מיעבד עבד כדבעי ליה לא עבד,אתיוהו לרבי אלעזר בן פרטא אמרו מ"ט תנית ומ"ט גנבת אמר להו אי סייפא לא ספרא ואי ספרא לא סייפא ומדהא ליתא הא נמי ליתא ומ"ט קרו לך רבי רבן של תרסיים אני,אייתו ליה תרי קיבורי אמרו ליה הי דשתיא והי דערבא איתרחיש ליה ניסא אתיא זיבוריתא אותיבא על דשתיא ואתאי זיבורא ויתיב על דערבא אמר להו האי דשתיא והאי דערבא,א"ל ומ"ט לא אתית לבי אבידן אמר להו זקן הייתי ומתיירא אני שמא תרמסוני ברגליכם [אמרו] ועד האידנא כמה סבי איתרמוס אתרחיש ניסא ההוא יומא אירמס חד סבא,ומ"ט קא שבקת עבדך לחירות אמר להו לא היו דברים מעולם קם חד [מינייהו] לאסהודי ביה אתא אליהו אידמי ליה כחד מחשובי דמלכותא א"ל מדאתרחיש ליה ניסא בכולהו בהא נמי אתרחיש ליה ניסא וההוא גברא בישותיה הוא דקא אחוי,ולא אשגח ביה קם למימר להו הוה כתיבא איגרתא דהוה כתיב מחשיבי דמלכות לשדורי לבי קיסר ושדרוה על ידיה דההוא גברא אתא אליהו פתקיה ארבע מאה פרסי אזל ולא אתא,אתיוהו לרבי חנינא בן תרדיון אמרו ליה אמאי קא עסקת באורייתא אמר להו כאשר צוני ה' אלהי מיד גזרו עליו לשריפה ועל אשתו להריגה ועל בתו לישב בקובה של זונות עליו לשריפה שהיה | 17b. bas the inclinationto engage in idol worship bhas been slaughteredand the temptation to sin in this manner no longer exists. bThe other said to him: Let us go bythe path that leads to bthe entrance ofthe bbrothel and overpower our inclination, andthereby breceive a reward. When they arrived there, they sawthat bthe prostitutes yielded before their presence,i.e., they entered the building out of respect for the Sages.,One bsaid tothe other: bFrom where did you know this,that the prostitutes would retreat from us in embarrassment? bHe said to him:It is written: b“From lewdness [ imezimma /i] it shall watch over you; discernment shall guard you”(Proverbs 2:11), i.e., the Torah will serve as a safeguard against lewdness., bThe Sages said to Rava: Whatis the meaning of imezimma /i? If we saythat it is referring to the bTorahthat will guard you, bas it is written in it: “ iZimma /i”(Leviticus 18:17), band we translatethis term as: bThe counsel of [ iatzat /i] the sinners,demonstrating that izimmais referring to counsel or wisdom, bandthe term ietza bisalso bwrittenwith regard to the Torah: “This also comes forth from the Lord of hosts: bWonderful is His counsel [ ietza /i], and great is His wisdom”(Isaiah 28:29), this is difficult. The Gemara explains the difficulty: bIf so,the verse bshould havesaid: iZimma /i,and not imezimma /i. Rather, bthisis what the verse bis saying: From lewd matters [ imidevar zimma /i], it shall watch over you, the Torah shall guard you,i.e., the term discernment is a reference to the Torah.,§ The Gemara returns to its discussion of the judgments of the Sages by the Roman rulers. bThe Sages taught: When Rabbi Elazar ben Perata and Rabbi Ḥanina ben Teradyon were arrestedby the Romans during the time of the religious persecution of the Jewish people, bRabbi Elazar ben Perata said to Rabbi Ḥanina ben Teradyon: Fortunate are you, as you were arrested on one chargeonly, of teaching Torah publicly; bwoe is me, as I have been arrested on five charges. /b, bRabbi Ḥaninaben Teradyon bsaid to him: Fortunate are you, as you were arrested on five charges but you will be saved; woe is me, as I have been arrested on one charge, but I will not be saved.You will be saved bbecause you engaged in Torahstudy band in acts of charity, and I engaged in Torahstudy balone. /b,The Gemara comments: bAndthis is bin accordance witha statement bof Rav Huna, as Rav Huna says: Anyone who occupies himself with Torahstudy balone is considered like one who does not have a God. As it is stated: “Now for long seasons Israel was without the true God,and without a teaching priest, and without the Torah” (II Chronicles 15:3). bWhatis meant by b“without the true God”?This teaches bthat anyone who engages in Torahstudy balone is considered like one who does not havea true bGod. /b,The Gemara asks: bAndis it true that Rabbi Ḥanina ben Teradyon bdid not engage in acts of charity? But isn’t it taughtin a ibaraitathat bRabbi Eliezer ben Ya’akov says: A person should not donate his money to the charity purse [ ile’arnakei /i] unless a Torah scholar like Rabbi Ḥanina ben Teradyon is appointedas supervisor bover it?The Gemara answers: bHe was trustedto distribute the charity with honesty and integrity, but he himself bdid not performcharitable acts.,The Gemara asks: bBut isn’t it taughtin a ibaraitathat Rabbi Ḥanina ben Teradyon bsaid toRabbi Yosei ben Kisma: bI confusedmy own bcoinsthat I needed bforthe festivities of bPurim with coins of charity, and I distributed themall bto the poorat my own expense. How then can it be said that he never engaged in charitable acts? The Gemara responds: bHe did performacts of charity, but bhe did not perform asmany acts as bhe should have,in light of his wealth.,The Gemara returns to the description of the trial of the Sages. The Romans bbrought Rabbi Elazar ben Peratafor his trial and bsaid: What is the reasonthat byou taughtTorah, band what is the reasonthat byou stole,as these were the crimes of which he was accused. Rabbi Elazar ben Perata bsaid to them: If one is an armed robber [ isayafa /i], he is not a scholar [ isafra /i], and if one is a scholar he is not an armed robber,i.e., I am accused of two mutually exclusive crimes; band fromthe fact bthat thischaracterization bis nottrue, one may also conclude that bthatcharacterization bis also nottrue. They asked him: bButif you do not teach Torah, then bwhat is the reasonthat bthey call you rabbi?He answered: bI am the master [ irabban /i] of weavers [ itarsiyyim /i]. /b,In order to ascertain whether Rabbi Elazar ben Perata was in fact an expert weaver, bthey brought him two coilsof wool and bsaid to him: Which isthe bwarp, and which isthe bwoof?The threads used for each differ in their thickness and strength and would be immediately recognizable to an expert. bA miracle occurred,as ba female hornet cameand bsat onthe coil bof warp, and a male hornet came and sat onthe coil bof woof.Rabbi Elazar ben Perata bsaid to them: Thisis a coil bof warp, and thatis a coil bof woof.He realized that the male hornet was a sign that the coil was the woof, as the woof is threaded through the warp, while the warp, which is fixed in the loom and receives the woof, was the one on which the female hornet sat, as the female of a species receives the male.,The Romans bsaid to him: And what is the reasonthat byou did not come to the house of Abidan?This was a gathering place where debates on wisdom and faith were conducted. Rabbi Elazar ben Perata bsaid to them: I was old and fearedthat bperhaps I would be trampled under your feet,due to the huge crowds. The Romans bsaid: And until now, how many elders have been trampledthere, that you would be worried about such a possibility? The Gemara comments: bA miracle occurred,and on bthat day, one old man was trampled. /b,The Romans asked Rabbi Elazar ben Perata: bAnd what is the reasonthat byou emancipated your slave?Rabbi Elazar ben Perata bsaid to them: This matter never happened. One of them stood to testify against him,and bElijah came disguised as one of the of the Roman noblemen,and he bsaid tothat individual: bFromthe fact bthat miracles occurred forRabbi Elazar ben Perata bin everyother case, bin thisinstance bas well a miracle will occur for him, and that man,i.e., you, bisonly bdemonstrating his wickedness,since you cannot succeed in your aim and are merely showing yourself to be desperate to cause harm., bButthe man bpaid him no heed,and he bstood to sayhis testimony bto them.At that time bthere was a written letter that was composed bysome bof themost bimportant people ofthe Roman bEmpirein order bto sendit bto the Emperor’s court, and theyhad bsent it in the possession of that man,i.e., the potential witness. bElijah cameand bthrew ita distance of bfour hundred parasangs.The man bwent and did not comeback, and therefore all the charges against Rabbi Elazar ben Perata were dropped.,The Romans bbrought Rabbi Ḥanina ben Teradyonfor judgment, and they bsaid to him: Why did you occupy yourself with the Torah?Rabbi Ḥanina ben Teradyon bsaid to them,citing a verse: b“As the Lord my God commanded me”(Deuteronomy 4:5). bThey immediately sentenced him todeath by means of bburning, andthey sentenced bhis wife to executionby decapitation, band his daughterwas condemned bto sit in a brothel [ ikubba shel zonot /i].The Gemara explains the Divine decree that he should receive this punishment: bHewas sentenced btodeath by bburning, as he would /b |
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