1. Hebrew Bible, Song of Songs, 1.2-1.8, 1.14, 2.2, 2.7-2.10, 2.13-2.15, 2.17, 3.5-3.6, 4.8-4.12, 4.16, 5.1-5.8, 6.1, 6.10, 7.1-7.3, 7.6-7.9, 7.11, 8.4, 8.6-8.7, 8.11-8.14 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 1.2. יִשָּׁקֵנִי מִנְּשִׁיקוֹת פִּיהוּ כִּי־טוֹבִים דֹּדֶיךָ מִיָּיִן׃ 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׃ 1.5. שְׁחוֹרָה אֲנִי וְנָאוָה בְּנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָם כְּאָהֳלֵי קֵדָר כִּירִיעוֹת שְׁלֹמֹה׃ 1.6. אַל־תִּרְאוּנִי שֶׁאֲנִי שְׁחַרְחֹרֶת שֶׁשֱּׁזָפַתְנִי הַשָּׁמֶשׁ בְּנֵי אִמִּי נִחֲרוּ־בִי שָׂמֻנִי נֹטֵרָה אֶת־הַכְּרָמִים כַּרְמִי שֶׁלִּי לֹא נָטָרְתִּי׃ 1.7. הַגִּידָה לִּי שֶׁאָהֲבָה נַפְשִׁי אֵיכָה תִרְעֶה אֵיכָה תַּרְבִּיץ בַּצָּהֳרָיִם שַׁלָּמָה אֶהְיֶה כְּעֹטְיָה עַל עֶדְרֵי חֲבֵרֶיךָ׃ 1.8. אִם־לֹא תֵדְעִי לָךְ הַיָּפָה בַּנָּשִׁים צְאִי־לָךְ בְּעִקְבֵי הַצֹּאן וּרְעִי אֶת־גְּדִיֹּתַיִךְ עַל מִשְׁכְּנוֹת הָרֹעִים׃ 1.14. אֶשְׁכֹּל הַכֹּפֶר דּוֹדִי לִי בְּכַרְמֵי עֵין גֶּדִי׃ 2.2. כְּשׁוֹשַׁנָּה בֵּין הַחוֹחִים כֵּן רַעְיָתִי בֵּין הַבָּנוֹת׃ 2.7. הִשְׁבַּעְתִּי אֶתְכֶם בְּנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַם בִּצְבָאוֹת אוֹ בְּאַיְלוֹת הַשָּׂדֶה אִם־תָּעִירוּ וְאִם־תְּעוֹרְרוּ אֶת־הָאַהֲבָה עַד שֶׁתֶּחְפָּץ׃ 2.8. קוֹל דּוֹדִי הִנֵּה־זֶה בָּא מְדַלֵּג עַל־הֶהָרִים מְקַפֵּץ עַל־הַגְּבָעוֹת׃ 2.9. דּוֹמֶה דוֹדִי לִצְבִי אוֹ לְעֹפֶר הָאַיָּלִים הִנֵּה־זֶה עוֹמֵד אַחַר כָּתְלֵנוּ מַשְׁגִּיחַ מִן־הַחֲלֹּנוֹת מֵצִיץ מִן־הַחֲרַכִּים׃ 2.13. הַתְּאֵנָה חָנְטָה פַגֶּיהָ וְהַגְּפָנִים סְמָדַר נָתְנוּ רֵיחַ קוּמִי לכי [לָךְ] רַעְיָתִי יָפָתִי וּלְכִי־לָךְ׃ 2.14. יוֹנָתִי בְּחַגְוֵי הַסֶּלַע בְּסֵתֶר הַמַּדְרֵגָה הַרְאִינִי אֶתּ־מַרְאַיִךְ הַשְׁמִיעִינִי אֶת־קוֹלֵךְ כִּי־קוֹלֵךְ עָרֵב וּמַרְאֵיךְ נָאוֶה׃ 2.15. אֶחֱזוּ־לָנוּ שׁוּעָלִים שׁוּעָלִים קְטַנִּים מְחַבְּלִים כְּרָמִים וּכְרָמֵינוּ סְמָדַר׃ 2.17. עַד שֶׁיָּפוּחַ הַיּוֹם וְנָסוּ הַצְּלָלִים סֹב דְּמֵה־לְךָ דוֹדִי לִצְבִי אוֹ לְעֹפֶר הָאַיָּלִים עַל־הָרֵי בָתֶר׃ 3.5. הִשְׁבַּעְתִּי אֶתְכֶם בְּנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַם בִּצְבָאוֹת אוֹ בְּאַיְלוֹת הַשָּׂדֶה אִם־תָּעִירוּ וְאִם־תְּעוֹרְרוּ אֶת־הָאַהֲבָה עַד שֶׁתֶּחְפָּץ׃ 3.6. מִי זֹאת עֹלָה מִן־הַמִּדְבָּר כְּתִימֲרוֹת עָשָׁן מְקֻטֶּרֶת מוֹר וּלְבוֹנָה מִכֹּל אַבְקַת רוֹכֵל׃ 4.8. אִתִּי מִלְּבָנוֹן כַּלָּה אִתִּי מִלְּבָנוֹן תָּבוֹאִי תָּשׁוּרִי מֵרֹאשׁ אֲמָנָה מֵרֹאשׁ שְׂנִיר וְחֶרְמוֹן מִמְּעֹנוֹת אֲרָיוֹת מֵהַרְרֵי נְמֵרִים׃ 4.9. לִבַּבְתִּנִי אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה לִבַּבְתִּינִי באחד [בְּאַחַת] מֵעֵינַיִךְ בְּאַחַד עֲנָק מִצַּוְּרֹנָיִךְ׃ 4.11. נֹפֶת תִּטֹּפְנָה שִׂפְתוֹתַיִךְ כַּלָּה דְּבַשׁ וְחָלָב תַּחַת לְשׁוֹנֵךְ וְרֵיחַ שַׂלְמֹתַיִךְ כְּרֵיחַ לְבָנוֹן׃ 4.12. גַּן נָעוּל אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה גַּל נָעוּל מַעְיָן חָתוּם׃ 4.16. עוּרִי צָפוֹן וּבוֹאִי תֵימָן הָפִיחִי גַנִּי יִזְּלוּ בְשָׂמָיו יָבֹא דוֹדִי לְגַנּוֹ וְיֹאכַל פְּרִי מְגָדָיו׃ 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׃ 5.2. אֲנִי יְשֵׁנָה וְלִבִּי עֵר קוֹל דּוֹדִי דוֹפֵק פִּתְחִי־לִי אֲחֹתִי רַעְיָתִי יוֹנָתִי תַמָּתִי שֶׁרֹּאשִׁי נִמְלָא־טָל קְוֻּצּוֹתַי רְסִיסֵי לָיְלָה׃ 5.3. פָּשַׁטְתִּי אֶת־כֻּתָּנְתִּי אֵיכָכָה אֶלְבָּשֶׁנָּה רָחַצְתִּי אֶת־רַגְלַי אֵיכָכָה אֲטַנְּפֵם׃ 5.4. דּוֹדִי שָׁלַח יָדוֹ מִן־הַחֹר וּמֵעַי הָמוּ עָלָיו׃ 5.5. קַמְתִּי אֲנִי לִפְתֹּחַ לְדוֹדִי וְיָדַי נָטְפוּ־מוֹר וְאֶצְבְּעֹתַי מוֹר עֹבֵר עַל כַּפּוֹת הַמַּנְעוּל׃ 5.6. פָּתַחְתִּי אֲנִי לְדוֹדִי וְדוֹדִי חָמַק עָבָר נַפְשִׁי יָצְאָה בְדַבְּרוֹ בִּקַּשְׁתִּיהוּ וְלֹא מְצָאתִיהוּ קְרָאתִיו וְלֹא עָנָנִי׃ 5.7. מְצָאֻנִי הַשֹּׁמְרִים הַסֹּבְבִים בָּעִיר הִכּוּנִי פְצָעוּנִי נָשְׂאוּ אֶת־רְדִידִי מֵעָלַי שֹׁמְרֵי הַחֹמוֹת׃ 5.8. הִשְׁבַּעְתִּי אֶתְכֶם בְּנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָם אִם־תִּמְצְאוּ אֶת־דּוֹדִי מַה־תַּגִּידוּ לוֹ שֶׁחוֹלַת אַהֲבָה אָנִי׃ 6.1. אָנָה הָלַךְ דּוֹדֵךְ הַיָּפָה בַּנָּשִׁים אָנָה פָּנָה דוֹדֵךְ וּנְבַקְשֶׁנּוּ עִמָּךְ׃ 6.1. מִי־זֹאת הַנִּשְׁקָפָה כְּמוֹ־שָׁחַר יָפָה כַלְּבָנָה בָּרָה כַּחַמָּה אֲיֻמָּה כַּנִּדְגָּלוֹת׃ 7.1. וְחִכֵּךְ כְּיֵין הַטּוֹב הוֹלֵךְ לְדוֹדִי לְמֵישָׁרִים דּוֹבֵב שִׂפְתֵי יְשֵׁנִים׃ 7.1. שׁוּבִי שׁוּבִי הַשּׁוּלַמִּית שׁוּבִי שׁוּבִי וְנֶחֱזֶה־בָּךְ מַה־תֶּחֱזוּ בַּשּׁוּלַמִּית כִּמְחֹלַת הַמַּחֲנָיִם׃ 7.2. מַה־יָּפוּ פְעָמַיִךְ בַּנְּעָלִים בַּת־נָדִיב חַמּוּקֵי יְרֵכַיִךְ כְּמוֹ חֲלָאִים מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵי אָמָּן׃ 7.3. שָׁרְרֵךְ אַגַּן הַסַּהַר אַל־יֶחְסַר הַמָּזֶג בִּטְנֵךְ עֲרֵמַת חִטִּים סוּגָה בַּשּׁוֹשַׁנִּים׃ 7.6. רֹאשֵׁךְ עָלַיִךְ כַּכַּרְמֶל וְדַלַּת רֹאשֵׁךְ כָּאַרְגָּמָן מֶלֶךְ אָסוּר בָּרְהָטִים׃ 7.7. מַה־יָּפִית וּמַה־נָּעַמְתְּ אַהֲבָה בַּתַּעֲנוּגִים׃ 7.8. זֹאת קוֹמָתֵךְ דָּמְתָה לְתָמָר וְשָׁדַיִךְ לְאַשְׁכֹּלוֹת׃ 7.9. אָמַרְתִּי אֶעֱלֶה בְתָמָר אֹחֲזָה בְּסַנְסִנָּיו וְיִהְיוּ־נָא שָׁדַיִךְ כְּאֶשְׁכְּלוֹת הַגֶּפֶן וְרֵיחַ אַפֵּךְ כַּתַּפּוּחִים׃ 7.11. אֲנִי לְדוֹדִי וְעָלַי תְּשׁוּקָתוֹ׃ 8.4. הִשְׁבַּעְתִּי אֶתְכֶם בְּנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָם מַה־תָּעִירוּ וּמַה־תְּעֹרְרוּ אֶת־הָאַהֲבָה עַד שֶׁתֶּחְפָּץ׃ 8.6. שִׂימֵנִי כַחוֹתָם עַל־לִבֶּךָ כַּחוֹתָם עַל־זְרוֹעֶךָ כִּי־עַזָּה כַמָּוֶת אַהֲבָה קָשָׁה כִשְׁאוֹל קִנְאָה רְשָׁפֶיהָ רִשְׁפֵּי אֵשׁ שַׁלְהֶבֶתְיָה׃ 8.7. מַיִם רַבִּים לֹא יוּכְלוּ לְכַבּוֹת אֶת־הָאַהֲבָה וּנְהָרוֹת לֹא יִשְׁטְפוּהָ אִם־יִתֵּן אִישׁ אֶת־כָּל־הוֹן בֵּיתוֹ בָּאַהֲבָה בּוֹז יָבוּזוּ לוֹ׃ 8.11. כֶּרֶם הָיָה לִשְׁלֹמֹה בְּבַעַל הָמוֹן נָתַן אֶת־הַכֶּרֶם לַנֹּטְרִים אִישׁ יָבִא בְּפִרְיוֹ אֶלֶף כָּסֶף׃ 8.12. כָּרְמִי שֶׁלִּי לְפָנָי הָאֶלֶף לְךָ שְׁלֹמֹה וּמָאתַיִם לְנֹטְרִים אֶת־פִּרְיוֹ׃ 8.13. הַיוֹשֶׁבֶת בַּגַּנִּים חֲבֵרִים מַקְשִׁיבִים לְקוֹלֵךְ הַשְׁמִיעִינִי׃ 8.14. בְּרַח דּוֹדִי וּדְמֵה־לְךָ לִצְבִי אוֹ לְעֹפֶר הָאַיָּלִים עַל הָרֵי בְשָׂמִים׃ | 1.2. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth— For thy love is better than wine. 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. 1.5. ’I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, As the tents of Kedar, As the curtains of Solomon. 1.6. Look not upon me, that I am swarthy, That the sun hath tanned me; My mother’s sons were incensed against me, They made me keeper of the vineyards; But mine own vineyard have I not kept.’ 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? 1.8. If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock And feed thy kids, beside the shepherds’tents. 1.14. My beloved is unto me as a cluster of henna In the vineyards of En-gedi. 2.2. As a lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters. 2.7. ’I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles, and by the hinds of the field, That ye awaken not, nor stir up love, until it please.’ 2.8. Hark! my beloved! behold, he cometh, Leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. 2.9. My beloved is like a gazelle or a young hart; Behold, he standeth behind our wall, He looketh in through the windows, He peereth through the lattice. 2.10. My beloved spoke, and said unto me: ‘Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. 2.13. The fig-tree putteth forth her green figs, And the vines in blossom give forth their fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. 2.14. O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the covert of the cliff, Let me see thy countece, let me hear thy voice; For sweet is thy voice, and thy countece is comely.’ 2.15. ’Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vineyards; For our vineyards are in blossom.’ 2.17. Until the day breathe, and the shadows flee away, Turn, my beloved, and be thou like a gazelle or a young hart Upon the mountains of spices. 3.5. ’I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles, and by the hinds of the field, That ye awaken not, nor stir up love, Until it please.’ 3.6. Who is this that cometh up out of the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all powders of the merchant? 4.8. Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, With me from Lebanon; Look from the top of Amana, From the top of Senir and Hermon, From the lions’dens, From the mountains of the leopards. 4.9. Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my bride; Thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, With one bead of thy necklace. 4.10. How fair is thy love, my sister, my bride! How much better is thy love than wine! And the smell of thine ointments than all manner of spices! 4.11. Thy lips, O my bride, drop honey— Honey and milk are under thy tongue; And the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon. 4.12. A garden shut up is my sister, my bride; A spring shut up, a fountain sealed. 4.16. Awake, O north wind; And come, thou south; Blow upon my garden, That the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, And eat his precious fruits. 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. 5.2. I sleep, but my heart waketh; Hark! my beloved knocketh: ‘Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled; For my head is filled with dew, My locks with the drops of the night.’ 5.3. I have put off my coat; How shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; How shall I defile them? 5.4. My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, And my heart was moved for him. 5.5. I rose up to open to my beloved; And my hands dropped with myrrh, And my fingers with flowing myrrh, Upon the handles of the bar. 5.6. I opened to my beloved; But my beloved had turned away, and was gone. My soul failed me when he spoke. I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. 5.7. The watchmen that go about the city found me, They smote me, they wounded me; The keepers of the walls took away my mantle from me. 5.8. ’I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, If ye find my beloved, what will ye tell him? That I am love-sick.’ 6.1. ’Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? Whither hath thy beloved turned him, That we may seek him with thee?’ 6.10. Who is she that looketh forth as the dawn, Fair as the moon, Clear as the sun, Terrible as an army with banners? 7.1. Return, return, O Shulammite; Return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulammite? As it were a dance of two companies. 7.2. How beautiful are thy steps in sandals, O prince’s daughter! The roundings of thy thighs are like the links of a chain, The work of the hands of a skilled workman. 7.3. Thy navel is like a round goblet, wherein no mingled wine is wanting; Thy belly is like a heap of wheat Set about with lilies. 7.6. Thy head upon thee is like Carmel, and the hair of thy head like purple; The king is held captive in the tresses thereof. 7.7. How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights! . 7.8. This thy stature is like to a palm-tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes. 7.9. I said: ‘I will climb up into the palm-tree, I will take hold of the branches thereof; and let thy breasts be as clusters of the vine, And the smell of thy countece like apples; 7.11. I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me. 8.4. ’I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem: Why should ye awaken, or stir up love, Until it please?’ 8.6. Set me as a seal upon thy heart, As a seal upon thine arm; For love is strong as death, Jealousy is cruel as the grave; The flashes thereof are flashes of fire, A very flame of the LORD. 8.7. Many waters cannot quench love, Neither can the floods drown it; If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, He would utterly be contemned. 8.11. Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; He gave over the vineyard unto keepers; Every one for the fruit thereof Brought in a thousand pieces of silver. 8.12. My vineyard, which is mine, is before me; Thou, O Solomon, shalt have the thousand, And those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred. 8.13. Thou that dwellest in the gardens, The companions hearken for thy voice: ‘Cause me to hear it.’ 8.14. Make haste, my beloved, And be thou like to a gazelle or to a young hart Upon the mountains of spices. |
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2. Hebrew Bible, Amos, 1.2 (8th cent. BCE - 6th cent. BCE)
| 1.2. וַיֹּאמַר יְהוָה מִצִיּוֹן יִשְׁאָג וּמִירוּשָׁלִַם יִתֵּן קוֹלוֹ וְאָבְלוּ נְאוֹת הָרֹעִים וְיָבֵשׁ רֹאשׁ הַכַּרְמֶל׃ | 1.2. And he said: The LORD roareth from Zion, And uttereth His voice from Jerusalem; and the pastures of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither." |
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3. Hebrew Bible, Isaiah, 3.11-3.12, 3.14-3.15, 5.7-5.9 (8th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 3.11. אוֹי לְרָשָׁע רָע כִּי־גְמוּל יָדָיו יֵעָשֶׂה לּוֹ׃ 3.12. עַמִּי נֹגְשָׂיו מְעוֹלֵל וְנָשִׁים מָשְׁלוּ בוֹ עַמִּי מְאַשְּׁרֶיךָ מַתְעִים וְדֶרֶךְ אֹרְחֹתֶיךָ בִּלֵּעוּ׃ 3.14. יְהוָה בְּמִשְׁפָּט יָבוֹא עִם־זִקְנֵי עַמּוֹ וְשָׂרָיו וְאַתֶּם בִּעַרְתֶּם הַכֶּרֶם גְּזֵלַת הֶעָנִי בְּבָתֵּיכֶם׃ 3.15. מלכם [מַה־] [לָּכֶם] תְּדַכְּאוּ עַמִּי וּפְנֵי עֲנִיִּים תִּטְחָנוּ נְאֻם־אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה צְבָאוֹת׃ 5.7. כִּי כֶרֶם יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאִישׁ יְהוּדָה נְטַע שַׁעֲשׁוּעָיו וַיְקַו לְמִשְׁפָּט וְהִנֵּה מִשְׂפָּח לִצְדָקָה וְהִנֵּה צְעָקָה׃ 5.8. הוֹי מַגִּיעֵי בַיִת בְּבַיִת שָׂדֶה בְשָׂדֶה יַקְרִיבוּ עַד אֶפֶס מָקוֹם וְהוּשַׁבְתֶּם לְבַדְּכֶם בְּקֶרֶב הָאָרֶץ׃ 5.9. בְּאָזְנָי יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת אִם־לֹא בָּתִּים רַבִּים לְשַׁמָּה יִהְיוּ גְּדֹלִים וְטוֹבִים מֵאֵין יוֹשֵׁב׃ | 3.11. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him; For the work of his hands shall be done to him." 3.12. As for My people, a babe is their master, And women rule over them. O My people, they that lead thee cause thee to err, And destroy the way of thy paths." 3.14. The LORD will enter into judgment With the elders of His people, and the princes thereof: ‘It is ye that have eaten up the vineyard; The spoil of the poor is in your houses;" 3.15. What mean ye that ye crush My people, And grind the face of the poor?’ Saith the Lord, the GOD of hosts." 5.7. For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, And the men of Judah the plant of His delight; And He looked for justice, but behold violence; For righteousness, but behold a cry." 5.8. Woe unto them that join house to house, That lay field to field, Till there be no room, and ye be made to dwell Alone in the midst of the land!" 5.9. In mine ears said the LORD of hosts: of a truth many houses shall be desolate, Even great and fair, without inhabitant." |
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4. Hebrew Bible, Zechariah, 4 (5th cent. BCE - 4th cent. BCE)
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5. Hebrew Bible, Daniel, 7, 10 (2nd cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE)
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6. New Testament, Apocalypse, 3.20, 12.1, 12.11, 12.15-12.16, 19.7, 21.2, 21.9, 22.17 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 3.20. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me. 12.1. A great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 12.11. They overcame him because of the Lamb's blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They didn't love their life, even to death. 12.15. The serpent spewed water out of his mouth after the woman like a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream. 12.16. The earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon spewed out of his mouth. 19.7. Let us rejoice and be exceedingly glad, and let us give the glory to him. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready. 21.2. I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband. 21.9. One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, who were laden with the seven last plagues came, and he spoke with me, saying, "Come here. I will show you the wife, the Lamb's bride. 22.17. The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" He who hears, let him say, "Come!" He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely. |
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7. Babylonian Talmud, Berachot, 4a (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 4a. בניהו בן יהוידע זה סנהדרין ואביתר אלו אורים ותומים,וכן הוא אומר (שמואל ב כ, כג) ובניהו בן יהוידע על הכרתי ועל הפלתי ולמה נקרא שמם כרתי ופלתי כרתי שכורתים דבריהם פלתי שמופלאים בדבריהם ואח"כ שר צבא למלך יואב,אמר רב יצחק בר אדא ואמרי לה אמר רב יצחק בריה דרב אידי מאי קרא (תהלים נז, ט) עורה כבודי עורה הנבל וכנור אעירה שחר.,רבי זירא אמר משה לעולם הוה ידע ודוד נמי הוה ידע,וכיון דדוד הוה ידע כנור למה ליה לאתעורי משנתיה,וכיון דמשה הוה ידע למה ליה למימר כחצות משה קסבר שמא יטעו אצטגניני פרעה ויאמרו משה בדאי הוא דאמר מר למד לשונך לומר איני יודע שמא תתבדה ותאחז,רב אשי אמר בפלגא אורתא דתליסר נגהי ארבסר הוה קאי והכי קאמר משה לישראל אמר הקב"ה למחר כחצות הלילה כי האידנא אני יוצא בתוך מצרים:,(תהלים פו, ב) לדוד שמרה נפשי כי חסיד אני לוי ור' יצחק חד אמר כך אמר דוד לפני הקב"ה רבונו של עולם לא חסיד אני שכל מלכי מזרח ומערב ישנים עד שלש שעות ואני (תהלים קיט, סב) חצות לילה אקום להודות לך,ואידך כך אמר דוד לפני הקב"ה רבונו של עולם לא חסיד אני שכל מלכי מזרח ומערב יושבים אגודות אגודות בכבודם ואני ידי מלוכלכות בדם ובשפיר ובשליא כדי לטהר אשה לבעלה ולא עוד אלא כל מה שאני עושה אני נמלך במפיבשת רבי ואומר לו מפיבשת רבי יפה דנתי יפה חייבתי יפה זכיתי יפה טהרתי יפה טמאתי ולא בושתי,א"ר יהושע בריה דרב אידי מאי קרא (תהלים קיט, מו) ואדברה בעדותיך נגד מלכים ולא אבוש,תנא לא מפיבשת שמו אלא איש בשת שמו ולמה נקרא שמו מפיבשת שהיה מבייש פני דוד בהלכה לפיכך זכה דוד ויצא ממנו כלאב,וא"ר יוחנן לא כלאב שמו אלא דניאל שמו ולמה נקרא שמו כלאב שהיה מכלים פני מפיבשת בהלכה,ועליו אמר שלמה בחכמתו (משלי כג, טו) בני אם חכם לבך ישמח לבי גם אני ואומר (משלי כז, יא) חכם בני ושמח לבי ואשיבה חורפי דבר.,ודוד מי קרי לנפשיה חסיד והכתיב (תהלים כז, יג) לולא האמנתי לראות בטוב ה' בארץ חיים ותנא משמיה דרבי יוסי למה נקוד על לולא אמר דוד לפני הקב"ה רבש"ע מובטח אני בך שאתה משלם שכר טוב לצדיקים לעתיד לבוא אבל איני יודע אם יש לי חלק ביניהם אם לאו,שמא יגרום החטא,כדר' יעקב בר אידי דר' יעקב בר אידי רמי כתיב (בראשית כח, טו) והנה אנכי עמך ושמרתיך בכל אשר תלך וכתיב (בראשית לב, ח) ויירא יעקב מאד אמר שמא יגרום החטא,כדתניא (שמות טו, טז) עד יעבור עמך ה' עד יעבור עם זו קנית,עד יעבור עמך ה' זו ביאה ראשונה עד יעבור עם זו קנית זו ביאה שנייה מכאן אמרו חכמים ראוים היו ישראל ליעשות להם נס בימי עזרא כדרך שנעשה להם בימי יהושע בן נון אלא שגרם החטא:,וחכ"א עד חצות: חכמים כמאן סבירא להו אי כרבי אליעזר סבירא להו לימרו כרבי אליעזר | 4a. bBenayahu ben Yehoyadacorresponds to bthe Sanhedrin,since he was the head of the Sanhedrin, and bEvyatarcorresponds to bthe iUrim VeTummim /i,as Evyatar ben Ahimelekh the priest would oversee inquiries directed to the iUrim VeTummim(see I Samuel 23:9)., bAnd so it saysregarding Benayahu ben Yehoyada’s position as head of the Sanhedrin: b“And Benayahu ben Yehoyada was over the iKeretiand over the iPeleti /i”(II Samuel 20:23). bAnd why wasthe Sanhedrin bcalled iKereti UPeleti /i?It was called iKereti /ibecause bthey were decisive [ ikoretim /i] in their pronouncements.It was called iPeleti /ibecause btheir pronouncementsand wisdom bwere wondrous [ imufla’im /i] /b. The head of the iKereti UPeletiwas the head of the Sanhedrin. According to the order of the verse, upon being instructed by King David to go to war, the Sages first consulted with Ahitophel, then with the Sanhedrin, then they would ask the iUrim VeTummim /i, bandonly bthereafterwas bthe general of the king’s army, Yoav,given the command to ready the military for battle., bRav Yitzḥak bar Adda, and some say Rav Yitzḥak, son of Rav Idi, said:From bwhat verseis it derived that David’s lyre would wake him at midnight? b“Awake, my glory; awake, harp and lyre; I will wake the dawn”(Psalms 57:9). This means that the playing lyre has already woken, and now I must engage in Torah study until dawn., bRabbi Zeiraoffered a different solution to the question of whether Moses and David knew exactly when it was midnight and bsaid:Moses bcertainly knewwhen it was midnight, band David also knew. /b,The Gemara asks: bIf David knew,then bwhy did he need the lyre?The Gemara answers: He needed the lyre bto wake him from his sleep. /b,Similarly with regard to Moses, bsince Moses knewthe precise moment of midnight, bwhy did he say: About midnight,instead of: At midnight? Moses did so because he bmaintained: Lest Pharaoh’s astrologers errand believe midnight to be earlier. Since no disaster would have occurred, bthey would say: Moses is a liar.Moses spoke in accordance with the principle barticulated by the Master: Accustom your tongue to say: I do not know, lest you become entangled ina web of bdeceit. /b, bRav Ashi said:This question is unfounded, as Moses bwas standing at midnight of the thirteenth, leading into the fourteenth,when he pronounced his prophecy, band Moses told Israelthat bthe Holy One, Blessed be He, saidthat btomorrow,at the exact time blike midnight tonight, I will go out into the midst of Egypt.This indicates that the passage should not be understood to mean about midnight, an approximation; but rather, like midnight, as a comparison, likening midnight tomorrow to midnight tonight.,The Gemara further explores King David’s character. It is said: “A prayer bof David…Keep my soul, for I am pious”(Psalms 86:1–2). Levi and Rabbi Yitzḥak debated the meaning of this verse and how David’s piety is manifest in the fact that he went beyond his fundamental obligations. bOne said:David’s declaration of piety referred to his awakening during the night to pray, and bso said David before the Holy One, Blessed be He: Master of the Universe, am I not pious? As all of the kings of the East and the West sleep until the third hourof the day, bbutalthough I am a king like them, b“At midnight I rise to give thanks”(Psalms 119:62)., bAnd the otherSage said: bDavid said the following before the Holy One, Blessed be He: Master of the Universe, am I not pious? For all of the kings of the East and the West sit in groupsbefitting btheir honoredstatus, but I sit as a judge who issues rulings for the people. Women come with questions of ritual impurity and bmy hands become soiled withtheir bbloodas I labor to determine whether or not it is blood of impurity and she has menstruating woman status, bandwith ba fetus that miscarriedat a stage of development before it was clear whether or not it is considered a birth, bandwith bplacenta,which women sometimes discharge unrelated to the birth of a child (see Leviticus 15:19–30 with regard to blood, and 12:1–8 with regard to miscarriage and placenta). King David went to all this trouble bin order to render a woman ritually pureand consequently permitted bto her husband.If, after examination, a Sage declares the woman ritually pure, she is permitted to be with her husband, which leads to increased love and affection, and ultimately to procreation (Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto). bAnd not onlydo I engage in activity considered to be beneath the station of a king, bbut I consult my teacher, Mefivoshet,son of King Saul’s son, Jonathan, with regard to beverything that I do. I say to him: Mefivoshet, my teacher, did I decide properly? Did I convict properly? Did I acquit properly? Did I ruleritually bpure properly? Did I ruleritually bimpure properly? And I was not embarrassed.Forgoing royal dignity should make me worthy to be called pious., bRav Yehoshua, son of Rav Idi, said: What versealludes to this? b“And I speak Your testimonies before kings and I will not be ashamed”(Psalms 119:46). This verse alludes both to David’s commitment to Torah, in contrast to the kings of the East and the West, as well as to the fact that he was not ashamed to discuss matters of Torah with Mefivoshet, a descendant of kings. David was not afraid to have his mistakes corrected by Mefivoshet., bIt was taughtin a iToseftafrom a tannaitic tradition: bHis name was not Mefivoshet, but rather Ish Boshet was his name. Why wasIsh Boshet breferred to as Mefivoshet? Because he would embarrass [ imevayesh /i] David in matters of ihalakha/b. According to this approach, Mefivoshet is an abbreviation of iboshet panim /i, embarrassment. bBecauseDavid was not embarrassed to admit his errors, bhe merited that Kilav,who, according to tradition, was exceedingly wise, bwould descend from him. /b, bRabbi Yoḥa said: His name was not Kilav; rather, his name was Daniel,as it appears in a different list of David’s descendants. bWhy was he called Kilav? Because he would embarrass [ imakhlim /i] Mefivoshet,the teacher or authority figure [av] bin matters of ihalakha./b, bIn hisbook of bwisdom, Solomon saidabout this wise son: b“My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will be glad, even mine”(Proverbs 23:15), as David enjoyed witnessing his son Kilav develop into a Torah luminary to the extent that Kilav was able to respond to Mefivoshet. bAndSolomon bsaysabout Kilav: b“Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may respond to those who taunt me”(Proverbs 27:11).,With regard to David’s statement, “Keep my soul, for I am pious,” the Gemara asks: bDid David call himself pious? Isn’t it written: “If I had not [ iluleh/b] bbelieved to look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living”(Psalms 27:13). The dots that appear over the word ilulehin the text indicate doubt and uncertainty of his piety, and whether he was deserving of a place in the land of the living (see iAvot DeRabbi Natan34). bIn the name of Rabbi Yosei, it was taughtin a iTosefta /i: bWhydo bdotsappear bover the word iluleh /i,as if there are some reservations? Because bDavid said before the Holy One, Blessed be He: Master of the Universe. Ihave every bconfidence in You that You grant an excellent reward to the righteous in the World-to-Comesince God’s ultimate goodness is manifest in the land of eternal life, bbutI still harbor uncertainty with regard to myself, and bI do not know whether or not Idefinitely bhave a portion among them.In any case, apparently David was uncertain whether or not he deserved to receive a portion of God’s reward for the righteous; how, then, could he characterize himself as pious?,The Gemara responds: His concern does not prove anything, as King David knew that he was pious. He was simply concerned blest a transgressionthat he might commit in the future bwill causehim to lose his opportunity to look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.,The Gemara cites a proof that there is room for one to fear lest he commit a transgression in the future bin accordance withthe opinion of bRabbi Ya’akov bar Idi, as Rabbi Ya’akov bar Idi raised a contradictionbetween two verses. bIt is writtenthat God told Jacob in his vision of the ladder: b“Behold, I am with you and I guard you wherever you go”(Genesis 28:15), yet when Jacob returned to Canaan and realized that Esau was coming to greet him, bit is written: “And Jacob became very afraid,and he was pained” (Genesis 32:8). Why did Jacob not rely on God’s promise? Jacob had concerns and bsaidto himself: bLest a transgressionthat I might have committed after God made His promise to me bwill causeGod to revoke His promise of protection.,Apparently, at times, transgression does cause God’s promise to go unfulfilled, bas it was taughtexplicitly in a ibaraitawith regard to the ostensibly redundant language in a verse in the Song of the Sea: b“Until Your people will cross, Lord, until the people You have acquired will cross.You bring them in and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, the place, Lord, which You made for Your dwelling” (Exodus 15:16–17).,The Gemara interprets homiletically that buntil Your people will crossrefers to the bfirst entryinto Eretz Yisrael during the time of Joshua, while buntil the people You have acquired pass overrefers to the bsecond entryfollowing the exile in Babylonia. bBased onthe juxtaposition of these two entries in this single verse, bthe Sages said: Israel was worthy of having a miracle performed on itsbehalf bin the time of Ezrathe scribe, just basone bwas performed on theirbehalf bin the time of Joshua bin Nun. However, transgression causedthe absence of a miracle.,The Gemara returns to explain what we learned in the mishna: bAnd the Rabbis say:The time for the recitation of the evening iShemais buntil midnight.The Gemara asks: bIn accordance with whoseopinion bdo they holdin explaining the verse: “When you lie down”? bIfthey explain this verse bin accordance withthe opinion of bRabbi Eliezer,who says that “when you lie down” is the time when people customarily go to sleep, then bletthe Rabbis also bsaythat the time for the recitation of iShemaextends, bin accordance withthe opinion of bRabbi Eliezer,until the end of the first watch. |
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8. Babylonian Talmud, Hagigah, 3a (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 3a. חייב בשמחה ואת שאינו לא שומע ולא מדבר ושוטה וקטן פטורין אף מן השמחה הואיל ופטורין מכל מצות האמורות בתורה מאי שנא לענין ראיה דפטירי ומאי שנא לענין שמחה דמחייבי,לענין ראיה גמר ראיה ראיה מהקהל דכתיב (דברים לא, יב) הקהל את העם האנשים והנשים והטף וכתיב (דברים לא, יא) בבא כל ישראל לראות,והתם מנלן דכתיב (דברים לא, יב) למען ישמעו ולמען ילמדו ותניא למען ישמעו פרט למדבר ואינו שומע ולמען ילמדו פרט לשומע ואינו מדבר,למימרא דכי לא משתעי לא גמר והא הנהו תרי אילמי דהוו בשבבותיה דרבי בני ברתיה דרבי יוחנן בן גודגדא ואמרי לה בני אחתיה דרבי יוחנן דכל אימת דהוה עייל רבי לבי מדרשא הוו עיילי ויתבי קמייהו ומניידי ברישייהו ומרחשין שפוותייהו,ובעי רבי רחמי עלייהו ואיתסו ואשתכח דהוו גמירי הלכתא וספרא וספרי וכולה הש"ס,אמר מר זוטרא קרי ביה למען ילמדו רב אשי אמר ודאי למען ילמדו הוא דאי סלקא דעתך למען ילמדו וכיון דלא משתעי לא גמר וכיון דלא שמע לא גמר,האי מלמען ישמעו נפקא אלא ודאי למען ילמדו הוא,אמר ר' תנחום חרש באזנו אחת פטור מן הראיה שנאמר (דברים לא, יא) באזניהם,והאי באזניהם מבעי ליה באזניהם דכולהו ישראל ההוא מנגד כל ישראל נפקא אי מנגד כל ישראל הוה אמינא אע"ג דלא שמעי כתב רחמנא באזניהם והוא דשמעי,ההוא מלמען ישמעו נפקא,אמר רבי תנחום חיגר ברגלו אחת פטור מן הראיה שנאמר רגלים,והא רגלים מבעי ליה פרט לבעלי קבין ההוא מפעמים נפקא דתניא פעמים אין פעמים אלא רגלים וכן הוא אומר (ישעיהו כו, ו) תרמסנה רגל רגלי עני פעמי דלים ואומר (שיר השירים ז, ב) מה יפו פעמיך בנעלים בת נדיב,דרש רבא מאי דכתיב מה יפו פעמיך בנעלים בת נדיב כמה נאין רגליהן של ישראל בשעה שעולין לרגל בת נדיב בתו של אברהם אבינו שנקרא נדיב שנאמר (תהלים מז, י) נדיבי עמים נאספו עם אלהי אברהם אלהי אברהם ולא אלהי יצחק ויעקב אלא אלהי אברהם שהיה תחילה לגרים,אמר רב כהנא דרש רב נתן בר מניומי משום ר' תנחום מאי דכתיב (בראשית לז, כד) והבור רק אין בו מים משמע שנאמר והבור רק איני יודע שאין בו מים אלא מים אין בו אבל נחשים ועקרבים יש בו,ת"ר מעשה ברבי יוחנן בן ברוקה ורבי אלעזר (בן) חסמא שהלכו להקביל פני ר' יהושע בפקיעין אמר להם מה חידוש היה בבית המדרש היום אמרו לו תלמידיך אנו ומימיך אנו שותין אמר להם אף על פי כן אי אפשר לבית המדרש בלא חידוש,שבת של מי היתה שבת של ר' אלעזר בן עזריה היתה ובמה היתה הגדה היום אמרו לו בפרשת הקהל ומה דרש בה,(דברים לא, יב) הקהל את העם האנשים והנשים והטף אם אנשים באים ללמוד נשים באות לשמוע טף למה באין כדי ליתן שכר למביאיהן אמר להם מרגלית טובה היתה בידכם ובקשתם לאבדה ממני,ועוד דרש (דברים כו, יז) את ה' האמרת היום וה' האמירך היום,אמר להם הקב"ה לישראל אתם עשיתוני חטיבה אחת בעולם ואני אעשה אתכם חטיבה אחת בעולם אתם עשיתוני חטיבה אחת בעולם דכתיב (דברים ו, ד) שמע ישראל ה' אלהינו ה' אחד ואני אעשה אתכם חטיבה אחת בעולם שנאמר | 3a. they are bobligated in rejoicing. And one who does not hear and does not speak, an imbecile, and a minor areall bexempt even from rejoicing, since they are exempt from all the mitzvot mentioned in the Torah.The Gemara asks: bWhat is different with regard tothe mitzva of bappearance, thata deaf person and a mute bare exemptfrom this mitzva? bAnd what is different with regard tothe mitzva of brejoicing, that they are obligated? /b,The Gemara explains: bWith regard totheir exemption from the obligation of bappearance,the itanna bderivesthis ihalakhaby means of a verbal analogy between the term bappearancestated with regard to the mitzva of appearance at the Temple on the pilgrim Festival and the term bappearancestated with regard to the mitzva bof assembly,i.e., the obligation to assemble in the Temple on iSukkotin the year following the Sabbatical Year. bAs it is written,with regard to the mitzva of assembly: b“Assemble the people, the men and the women and the little ones”(Deuteronomy 31:12), band it is writtenin that context: b“When all of Israel come to appear”(Deuteronomy 31:11). Just as a deaf person and a mute are not obligated to attend the assembly, they are likewise exempt from appearing in the Temple on the Festivals.,The Gemara asks: bAnd there,with regard to the mitzva of assembly, bfrom where do wederive that a deaf person and a mute are exempt? bAs it is writtenthere: b“That they may hear, and that they may learn”(Deuteronomy 31:12), band it is taughtin a ibaraitathat the phrase b“that they may hear” excludes one who speaks but does not hear;and the phrase b“and that they may learn” excludes one who hears but does not speak,as he is unable to learn.,The Gemara asks: bIs that to say that one whois bnotable to bspeakis bnotable to blearn? Butconsider the following incident. There were btwo mute people who were in the neighborhood of RabbiYehuda HaNasi. They were the bsons of the daughter of Rabbi Yoḥa ben Gudgeda, and some saythat they were the bsons of the sister of Rabbi Yoḥaben Gudgeda. bWhenever RabbiYehuda HaNasi bwould enter the study hall they wouldalso benter and sit beforethe Sages, band they would nod their headsas if they understood band move their lips. /b, bAnd RabbiYehuda HaNasi bprayed forGod to have bmercy upon them, and they were healed. And it was discovered that they had learnedand were proficient in ihalakha /i,i.e., Mishna; iSifra /i,the halakhic midrash on Leviticus; iSifrei /i,the halakhic midrash on Numbers and Deuteronomy; band the entire Talmud.This shows that those who cannot speak are able to learn., bMar Zutra saidthat one should bread intothe verse: bThat they may teach [ iyelamdu /i],instead of: “That they may learn [ iyilmedu /i]” (Deuteronomy 31:12). Even if a mute person is able to learn he cannot teach others. bRav Ashi saidthat the verse bis certainlyto be read: bThat they may teach. As, if it enters your mindthat one should read: b“That they may learn,”as it is written, bandyou will explain that bsince he is notable to bspeak heis bnotable to blearn,and similarly the reason for the exemption of a deaf person is that bsince he is notable to bhear he is notable to blearn,you will have erred. According to this interpretation, it is clear from the context that a deaf person is exempted by the phrase: “That they may hear,” not merely due to his lack of hearing but because his inability to hear prevents him from learning.,However, this is incorrect, for if so, bthisexemption of a mute could also be bderived from: “That they may hear,”as the verse has already taught the basic principle that anyone who cannot learn is not obligated in the mitzva of assembly. bRather,the verse bis certainlyto be read as: b“That they may teach,”which indicates that although a mute is able to learn himself, and therefore he is not exempted by the previous verse, he is nevertheless exempt because he is unable to teach others., bRabbi Tanḥum said: One who is deaf in one ear is exempt fromthe mitzva of bappearancein the Temple, bas it is statedwith regard to the mitzva of assembly: “When all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God in the place that He shall choose, you shall read this law before all Israel bin their ears”(Deuteronomy 31:11). This verse indicates that the obligation of assembly applies only to those who can hear with both ears. Since the two mitzvot are connected by verbal analogy, as explained above, this ihalakhaapplies to the mitzva of appearance as well.,The Gemara asks: bBut thisphrase: b“In their ears,” is necessaryto teach that the reading of the Torah at the assembly must enter bthe ears of the entire Jewish people.Consequently, it cannot serve as the source of the ihalakhaconcerning one who is deaf in one ear. The Gemara answers: bThat ihalakha /i, that the reading of the Torah must be heard by the entire Jewish people, bis derived fromthe phrase: b“Before all Israel”(Deuteronomy 31:11). The Gemara asks: bIfthat ihalakhawere derived bfrom: “Before all Israel,” I would saythat the mitzva applies beven though they cannot hear;therefore, bthe Merciful One writes: “In their ears,” and thatindicates that btheymust be able to bhear.If so, this phrase is not available for deriving the ihalakhaof someone who is deaf in one ear.,The Gemara answers: bThat ihalakha /i, that the people must hear, bis derived from: “That they may hear”(Deuteronomy 31:12). Therefore, the phrase: “In their ears,” is not required for that purpose. Rather, it teaches that only those who can hear with both ears are obligated in the mitzva of assembly, and by extension, in the mitzva of appearance as well., bRabbi Tanḥum said: One who is lame in one leg is exempt fromthe mitzva of bappearance, as it is stated:“Three btimes [ iregalim /i]shall you keep a feast for Me in the year” (Exodus 23:14).Since the term for feet is iraglayim /i, it can be inferred from here that the obligation to ascend involves the use of both of one’s legs.,The Gemara asks: bButthe term b“ iregalim /i” is necessaryto bexclude people with artificial legs.Although these people are capable of walking, as they do not have two natural legs they are exempt from ascending to the Temple. The Gemara responds: bThat ihalakhais bderived from:“Three boccasions [ ipe’amim /i]in the year all your males will appear before the Lord God” (Exodus 23:17). The term ipe’amimcan also mean legs, bas it is taughtin a ibaraita /i, with regard to the term b“ ipe’amim /i”: iPe’amimmeans nothing otherthan blegs. And so it says: “The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor and the steps [ ipa’amei /i] of the needy”(Isaiah 26:6), band it says: “How beautiful are your feet [ ife’amayikh /i] in sandals, daughter of the prince”(Song of Songs 7:2).,With regard to the aforementioned verse, bRava taught: What isthe meaning of that bwhich is written: “How beautiful are your feet in sandals, daughter of the prince [ inadiv /i]”? How pleasant are the feet [ iraglehen /i] of the Jewish people when they ascend toJerusalem bon the pilgrimage Festival [ iregel /i]. “Daughter of the prince”:this is referring to bthe daughter of Abraham our father who is called a prince, as it is stated: “The princes of the peoples are gathered together, the people of the God of Abraham”(Psalms 47:10). The Gemara asks: Is God only b“the God of Abraham,” and not the God of Isaac and Jacob? Rather,the verse mentions b“the God of Abraham,” ashe bwas the first of the converts.Abraham was the first prince, as all converts who follow in his path are called “the princes of the peoples.”,The Gemara cites another statement of Rabbi Tanḥum. bRav Kahana saidthat bRabbi Natan bar Manyumi taught in the name of Rabbi Tanḥum: What isthe meaning of bthat which is writtenwith regard to Joseph: “And they took him, and cast him into the pit; band the pit was empty, there was no water in it”(Genesis 37:24). bBy inference from that which is stated: “And the pit was empty,” don’t I know that there was no water in it? Rather,this teaches that bthere was no water in it, but there were snakes and scorpions in it. /b,§ bThe Sages taught:There was ban incident involving Rabbi Yoḥa ben Beroka and Rabbi Elazar ben Ḥisma, when they went to greet Rabbi Yehoshua in Peki’in.Rabbi Yehoshua bsaid to them: What novelidea bwastaught btoday in the study hall? They said to him: We are your students and we drinkfrom byour water,i.e., all of our Torah knowledge comes from you, and therefore how can we tell you something you have not already learned? bHe said to them: Even so, there cannot be a study hall without a novelty. /b,He asked them: bWhose week was it,i.e. who was the lecturer this week? They said to him: bIt was Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya’s week.He inquired: bAnd on whatsubject bwas the lecture today? They said to him:He spoke babout the portion ofthe mitzva of bassembly.Rabbi Yehoshua persisted: bAnd whatverse bdid he interpret homiletically with regard tothis mitzva?,They said to him that Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya interpreted the following verse: b“Assemble the people, the men and the women and the little ones”(Deuteronomy 31:12). This verse is puzzling: bIf men come to learn,and bwomen,who might not understand, bcomeat least bto hear, why do the little ones come?They come bin orderfor God to bgive a reward to those who bring them,i.e., God credits those who bring their children to the assembly. Rabbi Yehoshua bsaid to them:This bgood pearlof wisdom bwas in your hands, and you tried to conceal it from me? /b,Upon seeing that Rabbi Yehoshua was pleased to hear this idea, Rabbi Yoḥa ben Beroka and Rabbi Elazar ben Ḥisma said to him: bAdditionally,Rabbi Elazar binterpretedthe following verses bhomiletically: “You have affirmed, this day,that bthe Lordis your God, and that you will walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His mitzvot, and His ordices, and listen to His voice. bAnd the Lord has affirmed you, this day,to be His treasure, as He promised you, and that you should keep all His mitzvot” (Deuteronomy 26:17–18).,Rabbi Elazar explained: bThe Holy One, Blessed be He, said to the Jewish people: You have made Me a single entity in the world,as you singled Me out as separate and unique. bAndtherefore bI will make you a single entity in the world,as you will be a treasured nation, chosen by God. bYou have made Me a single entity in the world, as it is written: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One”(Deuteronomy 6:4). bAndtherefore bI will make you a single entity in the world, as it is stated: /b |
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9. Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin, 16b (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 16b. (דברי הימים א כז, לד) ואחרי אחיתופל בניהו בן יהוידע ואביתר ושר צבא למלך יואב אחיתופל זה יועץ וכן הוא אומר (שמואל ב טז, כג) ועצת אחיתופל אשר יעץ וגו' ובניהו בן יהוידע זו סנהדרין אביתר אלו אורים ותומים,וכן הוא אומר (דברי הימים א יח, יז) ובניהו בן יהוידע על הכרתי ועל הפלתי ולמה נקרא שמן כרתי ופלתי כרתי שכורתין דבריהן ופלתי שמופלאין מעשיהן ואחר כך שר הצבא למלך יואב,א"ר יצחק בריה דרב אדא ואמרי לה א"ר יצחק בר אבודימי מאי קרא (תהלים נז, ט) עורה כבודי עורה הנבל וכנור אעירה שחר:,ואין מוסיפין על העיר: מנהני מילי אמר רב שימי בר חייא אמר קרא (שמות כה, ט) ככל אשר אני מראה אותך את תבנית המשכן וכן תעשו לדורות הבאין,מתיב רבא כל הכלים שעשה משה משיחתן מקדשן מיכן ואילך עבודתן מחנכתן ואמאי נימא וכן תעשו לדורות הבאין,שאני התם דאמר קרא (במדבר ז, א) וימשחם ויקדש אותם אותם במשיחה ולא לדורות במשיחה,ואימא אותם במשיחה ולדורות אי במשיחה אי בעבודה אמר רב פפא אמר קרא (במדבר ד, יב) אשר ישרתו בם בקודש הכתוב תלאן בשירות,אלא אותם למה לי אי לאו אותם הוה אמינא לדורות במשיחה ובעבודה דהא כתיב וכן תעשו כתב רחמנא אותם אותם במשיחה ולא לדורות במשיחה:,ואין עושין סנהדראות כו': מנא לן כדאשכחן במשה דאוקי סנהדראות ומשה במקום שבעים וחד קאי,תנו רבנן מניין שמעמידין שופטים לישראל תלמוד לומר (דברים טז, יח) שופטים תתן שוטרים לישראל מניין תלמוד לומר שוטרים תתן שופטים לכל שבט ושבט מניין תלמוד לומר שופטים לשבטיך שוטרים לכל שבט ושבט מניין ת"ל שוטרים לשבטיך,שופטים לכל עיר ועיר מניין ת"ל שופטים לשעריך שוטרים לכל עיר ועיר מניין ת"ל שוטרים לשעריך רבי יהודה אומר אחד ממונה על כולן שנאמר תתן לך רשב"ג אומר לשבטיך ושפטו מצוה בשבט לדון את שבטו:,ואין עושין עיר הנדחת: מנה"מ אמר ר' חייא בר יוסף אמר רבי אושעיא דאמר קרא (דברים יז, ה) והוצאת את האיש ההוא או את האשה ההיא איש ואשה אתה מוציא לשעריך ואי אתה מוציא כל העיר כולה לשעריך:,אין עושין עיר הנדחת בספר: מ"ט (דברים יג, ו) מקרבך אמר רחמנא ולא מן הספר:,ולא שלש (ערי הנדחת): דכתיב אחת אבל עושין אחת או שתים דכתיב (דברים יג, יג) עריך תנו רבנן אחת אחת ולא שלש אתה אומר אחת ולא שלש או אינו אלא אחת ולא שתים כשהוא אומר עריך הרי שתים אמור הא מה אני מקיים אחת אחת ולא שלש,זימנין אמר רב בב"ד אחד הוא דאין עושין הא בשנים ושלשה בתי דינין עושין וזימנין אמר רב אפילו בשנים ושלשה בתי דינין לעולם אין עושין מ"ט דרב משום קרחה אמר ר"ל לא שנו אלא במקום אחד אבל בשנים ושלשה מקומות עושין רבי יוחנן אמר אין עושין משום קרחה,תניא כוותיה דר"י אין עושין שלש עיירות מנודחות בארץ ישראל אבל עושין אותם שתים כגון אחת ביהודה ואחת בגליל אבל שתים ביהודה ושתים בגליל אין עושין וסמוכה לספר אפילו אחת אין עושין מאי טעמא שמא ישמעו נכרים ויחריבו את ארץ ישראל,ותיפוק לי דמקרבך אמר רחמנא ולא מן הספר רבי שמעון היא דדריש טעמא דקרא:,סנהדרי גדולה היתה: מ"ט דרבנן דאמרי ומשה על גביהן אמר קרא (במדבר יא, טז) והתיצבו שם | 16b. It is: bAnd after Ahithophel was Benaiah, son of Jehoiada; and Ebiathar; and the general of the king’s army, Yoav(see I Chronicles 27:34). The individuals named in this verse correspond to the roles in the iaggadaas follows: bAhithophel isthe badvisorwhose counsel they sought first with regard to going to war, band so it says: “Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he counseledin those days, was like that of a man who inquires of the word of God; so was the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom” (II Samuel 16:23). bAnd Benaiah, son of Jehoiadacorresponds to bthe Sanhedrin,since he was the head of the Sanhedrin, and bEbiatharcorresponds to bthe iUrim VeTummim /i,as Ebiathar, son of Ahimelech the priest would oversee inquiries directed to the iUrim VeTummim(see I Samuel 23:9)., bAnd so it sayswith regard to the position of Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, as head of the Sanhedrin: b“And Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was over the iKeretiand over the iPeleti /i”(II Samuel 20:23). bAnd why wasthe Sanhedrin bcalled iKeretiand iPeleti /i?It was called iKereti /ibecause bthey were decisive [ ishekoretin /i] in their pronouncements.It was called iPeleti /ibecause btheir actionsand wisdom bwere wondrous [ ishemufla’in /i],as iPeletiand imufla’inshare the same root. According to the order of the verse, upon being instructed by King David to go to war, the Sages first consulted with Ahithophel, then with the Sanhedrin, and then they would ask the iUrim VeTummim /i; bandonly bthereafterwas bthe general of the king’s army, Yoav,given the command to ready the army for battle., bRabbi Yitzḥak, son of Rav Adda, and some say Rabbi Yitzḥak bar Avudimi, said: What is the versefrom which it is derived that David’s lyre would awaken him at midnight? b“Awake, my glory; awake, harp and lyre; I will awaken the dawn”(Psalms 57:9). This means that the self-playing lyre has already awoken, and now I must engage in Torah study until dawn.,§ The mishna teaches: bThey may extend the cityof Jerusalem or the courtyards of the Temple only on the basis of a court of seventy-one judges. The Gemara asks: bFrom where is this matterderived? bRav Shimi bar Ḥiyya says: The verse states: “According to all that I show you, the pattern of the Tabernacleand the pattern of all its vessels, band so shall you do”(Exodus 25:9). “And so shall you do” means bfor future generations;just as the Tabernacle was fashioned in all of its details according to Moses’ instructions, so too later, the Temple is fashioned according to the instructions of the Great Sanhedrin, whose members stand in place of Moses., bRava raises an objectionfrom a ibaraita /i: With regard to ball of the utensils that Moses fashioned, their anointmentwith the sacred oil is what bconsecrates them,rendering them fit for service in the Tabernacle. bFrom thatpoint bforward,i.e., in future generations, there is no need for anointment, but rather btheir servicein and of itself bdedicates them,meaning that when they are used for the first time in sacred service they become consecrated. Rava explains the objection: bAnd whyis this so? bLet us sayinstead that since the verse states: b“And so shall you do,”this teaches that it must be done bfor future generationsas in the Tabernacle, and therefore anointment with sacred oil should be required in the Temple as in the Tabernacle.,The Gemara answers: It bis different there, as the verse states:“And it came to pass on the day that Moses completed erecting the Tabernacle that he anointed it and sanctified it and all its vessels, and the altar and all its vessels, band he anointed them and he sanctified them”(Numbers 7:1). The verse emphasizes that he sanctified b“them,”and from this it is inferred that only those utensils need sanctification bby anointment, but forfuture bgenerationsthere is bnota requirement of sanctification bby anointment. /b,The Gemara asks: bAnd sayinstead: bThosevessels require sanctification specifically bby anointment, but forfuture bgenerationsit could be done beither by anointment or by service. Rav Pappa says: The verse stateswith regard to this: “And they shall take all service vessels bwith which they shall serve in the sanctuary”(Numbers 4:12). bThe verse renders it dependent upon service,meaning that the service is what sanctifies them.,The Gemara asks: bButif so, bwhy do Ineed the extra word b“them”?This emphasis seems superfluous. The Gemara answers: bHadthe verse bnotadded the word b“them,” I would say: Forfuture bgenerationsthe sanctification is accomplished bby anointment and by servicetogether, bas it is written: “And so shall you do.” Therefore, the Merciful One writes “them,”to teach: bTheyalone are consecrated bby anointment, but forfuture bgenerationsthe vessels are bnotconsecrated bby anointment. /b,§ The mishna teaches that they may bappointa lesser bSanhedrinfor the tribes only on the basis of a court of seventy-one judges. The Gemara asks: bFrom where do wederive this matter? The Gemara answers: It is bas we find with regard to Moses, who establishedlesser bcourtsfor all of the people (see Exodus 18:25–26), band Moses stands in place ofthe bseventy-onejudges on the Great Sanhedrin. Consequently, a lesser Sanhedrin that stands at the head of a tribe is appointed by the Great Sanhedrin., bThe Sages taughtin a ibaraita /i: bFrom whereis it derived bthatsociety must bestablish judges forthe bJewish people? The verse states: “You shall place judgesand officers over you in all of your gates that the Lord your God gives you for your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment” (Deuteronomy 16:18). bFrom whereis it derived that society must also establish bofficers forthe bJewish people? Thesame bverse states: “You shall placejudges and bofficers.” From whereis it derived that society must also establish bjudgesnot only for the entire Jewish people but also bfor each and every tribe? The verse states:“You shall place bjudgesand officers… bfor your tribes.” From whereis it derived that society must also establish bofficers for each and every tribe? Thesame bverse states:“You shall place judges and bofficers /b… bfor your tribes.” /b, bFrom whereis it derived that society must also establish bjudges for each and every city? The verse states:You shall place bjudgesand officers… bfor your gates,as the gate of the city is the seat of the elders of the city and its judges. bFrom whereis it derived that society must also establish bofficers for each and every city? The verse states:You shall place Judges and bofficers /b… bfor your gates. Rabbi Yehuda says:You must also have bonecourt bappointed over all of them, as it is stated: “You shall place over you,”meaning that there must be a single institution that is responsible for all of these appointments. bRabban Shimon ben Gamliel says:Another ihalakhais derived from the verse: b“For your tribes, and they shall judge.”This teaches that it is ba mitzva for a tribe to judgethe sinners from within bits tribe,and not to delegate the responsibility to other tribes.,§ The mishna states that ba city may be designatedas ban idolatrous cityonly in accordance with the ruling of the Great Sanhedrin, consisting of seventy-one judges. The Gemara asks: bFrom where are these mattersderived? bRabbi Ḥiyya bar Yosef saysthat bRabbi Oshaya says: As the verse stateswith regard to one who engages in idol worship: b“And you shall take out that man or that womanwho did that evil thing to your gates” (Deuteronomy 17:5), and it is inferred: bYou take out a man or a woman to your gatesfor the lesser Sanhedrin to judge them, bbut you do not take out the entire city to your gates;rather, they are to be judged by the Great Sanhedrin.,§ The mishna teaches that the court bmay not designatea city as ban idolatrous cityif it is bon the frontier.The Gemara asks: bWhat is the reasonfor this? The Gemara answers: The verse states: “Certain worthless people have gone out from your midst and have led astray the inhabitants of their city” (Deuteronomy 13:14). bThe Merciful One statesthat this ihalakhaapplies when they come bfrom your midst,meaning from within your country, bbut not from the frontier. /b,§ The mishna teaches: bAnd threeadjoining cities may bnotbe designated as bidolatrous cities.The source for this ruling is bas it is written:“If you shall hear concerning boneof your cities that the Lord your God has given you” (Deuteronomy 13:13), and not three cities. The mishna continues: bButthe court bmay designate onecity, bor twoadjoining cities as idolatrous cities. The source for this is bas it is written: “Your cities,”in the plural. bThe Sages taughtin a ibaraita /i: The verse states: b“One,”from which it is inferred: bOne, but not three. Do you saythat the meaning is bone, but not three, or rather,is this bnotthe meaning of the verse, that it is bone, but not two?The ibaraitaexplains that this cannot be. bWhenthe verse bstates: “Your cities,” two are stated. How do I realizethe meaning of: b“One”? One, but not three. /b, bAt times Rav said: It is in one court that they may not designatemore than two adjoining cities as idolatrous cities, bbut in two or three courts they may designatethem. bAnd at times Rav said: Even in two or three courts they may never designatethem. bWhat is the reasoning of Rav?It is bdue to desolation,to ensure there will not be large swaths of uninhabited land in Eretz Yisrael. bReish Lakish says: They taught onlythat the court may not designate three adjoining cities as idolatrous cities bin one region, but in two or three regions they may designatethem. bRabbi Yoḥa says: They may not designatethem, bdue to desolation. /b,The Gemara comments: It bis taughtin a ibaraita( iTosefta14:1) bin accordance withthe opinion bof Rabbi Yoḥa:The court bmay not designate threeadjoining bcitiesas bidolatrouscities bin Eretz Yisrael, but they may designate two, such as one in Judea and one in the Galilee. But they may not designate two in Judea or two in the Galilee. Andif the city is bnear the frontier, they may not designate even one. What is the reasonfor this? bPerhaps the gentiles will hearthat there is a city on the border that is desolate, band they willseize the opportunity to invade and bdestroy Eretz Yisrael. /b,The Gemara asks: bButlet bhim derivethis ihalakhafrom the fact bthat the Merciful One states: “From your midst,”from which it is inferred: bBut not from the frontier.The Gemara answers: This ibaraita bisin accordance with the opinion of bRabbi Shimon, as he interprets the reasonfor the mitzva bin the verseand draws halakhic conclusions based on that interpretation.,§ The mishna teaches that bthe Great Sanhedrin wascomposed of seventy-one judges, and that Rabbi Yehuda holds that it was composed of only seventy, as Moses gathered seventy men of the Elders of the Jewish people, and according to Rabbi Yehuda, Moses himself was not counted as part of the group. The Gemara asks: bWhat is the reasoning of the Rabbis, who saythat when bMosesgathered seventy men, he was bat the head ofthe court and is therefore counted among them? bThe verse states:“And the Lord said to Moses: Gather Me seventy men from the Elders of Israel, whom you know to be the Elders of the people and officers over them, and bring them to the Tent of Meeting band they shall stand there /b |
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10. Anon., 4 Ezra, 4.36-4.37, 5.24, 5.26
| 4.36. And Jeremiel the archangel answered them and said, `When the number of those like yourselves is completed; for he has weighed the age in the balance 4.37. and measured the times by measure, and numbered the times by number; and he will not move or arouse them until that measure is fulfilled.' 5.24. and from all the lands of the world thou hast chosen for thyself one region, and from all the flowers of the world thou hast chosen for thyself one lily 5.26. and from all the birds that have been created thou hast named for thyself one dove, and from all the flocks that have been made thou hast provided for thyself one sheep |
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11. Anon., Midrash On Song of Songs, 4.12, 7.6
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