1. Hebrew Bible, Song of Songs, 1.3-1.6, 1.9-1.11, 1.13-1.16, 2.3, 2.9, 2.14, 2.17, 4.1-4.5, 4.8, 4.12, 5.1-5.16, 6.1-6.2, 6.5-6.10, 6.12, 7.1-7.2, 7.4-7.9, 7.12, 8.1, 8.13-8.14 (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׃ 1.5. 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׃ 1.9. לְסֻסָתִי בְּרִכְבֵי פַרְעֹה דִּמִּיתִיךְ רַעְיָתִי׃ 1.11. תּוֹרֵי זָהָב נַעֲשֶׂה־לָּךְ עִם נְקֻדּוֹת הַכָּסֶף׃ 1.13. צְרוֹר הַמֹּר דּוֹדִי לִי בֵּין שָׁדַי יָלִין׃ 1.14. אֶשְׁכֹּל הַכֹּפֶר דּוֹדִי לִי בְּכַרְמֵי עֵין גֶּדִי׃ 1.15. הִנָּךְ יָפָה רַעְיָתִי הִנָּךְ יָפָה עֵינַיִךְ יוֹנִים׃ 1.16. הִנְּךָ יָפֶה דוֹדִי אַף נָעִים אַף־עַרְשֵׂנוּ רַעֲנָנָה׃ 2.3. כְּתַפּוּחַ בַּעֲצֵי הַיַּעַר כֵּן דּוֹדִי בֵּין הַבָּנִים בְּצִלּוֹ חִמַּדְתִּי וְיָשַׁבְתִּי וּפִרְיוֹ מָתוֹק לְחִכִּי׃ 2.9. דּוֹמֶה דוֹדִי לִצְבִי אוֹ לְעֹפֶר הָאַיָּלִים הִנֵּה־זֶה עוֹמֵד אַחַר כָּתְלֵנוּ מַשְׁגִּיחַ מִן־הַחֲלֹּנוֹת מֵצִיץ מִן־הַחֲרַכִּים׃ 2.14. יוֹנָתִי בְּחַגְוֵי הַסֶּלַע בְּסֵתֶר הַמַּדְרֵגָה הַרְאִינִי אֶתּ־מַרְאַיִךְ הַשְׁמִיעִינִי אֶת־קוֹלֵךְ כִּי־קוֹלֵךְ עָרֵב וּמַרְאֵיךְ נָאוֶה׃ 2.17. עַד שֶׁיָּפוּחַ הַיּוֹם וְנָסוּ הַצְּלָלִים סֹב דְּמֵה־לְךָ דוֹדִי לִצְבִי אוֹ לְעֹפֶר הָאַיָּלִים עַל־הָרֵי בָתֶר׃ 4.1. מַה־יָּפוּ דֹדַיִךְ אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה מַה־טֹּבוּ דֹדַיִךְ מִיַּיִן וְרֵיחַ שְׁמָנַיִךְ מִכָּל־בְּשָׂמִים׃ 4.1. הִנָּךְ יָפָה רַעְיָתִי הִנָּךְ יָפָה עֵינַיִךְ יוֹנִים מִבַּעַד לְצַמָּתֵךְ שַׂעְרֵךְ כְּעֵדֶר הָעִזִּים שֶׁגָּלְשׁוּ מֵהַר גִּלְעָד׃ 4.2. שִׁנַּיִךְ כְּעֵדֶר הַקְּצוּבוֹת שֶׁעָלוּ מִן־הָרַחְצָה שֶׁכֻּלָּם מַתְאִימוֹת וְשַׁכֻּלָה אֵין בָּהֶם׃ 4.3. כְּחוּט הַשָּׁנִי שִׂפְתֹתַיִךְ וּמִדְבָּרֵיךְ נָאוֶה כְּפֶלַח הָרִמּוֹן רַקָּתֵךְ מִבַּעַד לְצַמָּתֵךְ׃ 4.4. כְּמִגְדַּל דָּוִיד צַוָּארֵךְ בָּנוּי לְתַלְפִּיּוֹת אֶלֶף הַמָּגֵן תָּלוּי עָלָיו כֹּל שִׁלְטֵי הַגִּבּוֹרִים׃ 4.5. שְׁנֵי שָׁדַיִךְ כִּשְׁנֵי עֳפָרִים תְּאוֹמֵי צְבִיָּה הָרוֹעִים בַּשּׁוֹשַׁנִּים׃ 4.8. אִתִּי מִלְּבָנוֹן כַּלָּה אִתִּי מִלְּבָנוֹן תָּבוֹאִי תָּשׁוּרִי מֵרֹאשׁ אֲמָנָה מֵרֹאשׁ שְׂנִיר וְחֶרְמוֹן מִמְּעֹנוֹת אֲרָיוֹת מֵהַרְרֵי נְמֵרִים׃ 4.12. גַּן נָעוּל אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה גַּל נָעוּל מַעְיָן חָתוּם׃ 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׃ 5.9. מַה־דּוֹדֵךְ מִדּוֹד הַיָּפָה בַּנָּשִׁים מַה־דּוֹדֵךְ מִדּוֹד שֶׁכָּכָה הִשְׁבַּעְתָּנוּ׃ 5.11. רֹאשׁוֹ כֶּתֶם פָּז קְוּצּוֹתָיו תַּלְתַּלִּים שְׁחֹרוֹת כָּעוֹרֵב׃ 5.12. עֵינָיו כְּיוֹנִים עַל־אֲפִיקֵי מָיִם רֹחֲצוֹת בֶּחָלָב יֹשְׁבוֹת עַל־מִלֵּאת׃ 5.13. לְחָיָו כַּעֲרוּגַת הַבֹּשֶׂם מִגְדְּלוֹת מֶרְקָחִים שִׂפְתוֹתָיו שׁוֹשַׁנִּים נֹטְפוֹת מוֹר עֹבֵר׃ 5.14. יָדָיו גְּלִילֵי זָהָב מְמֻלָּאִים בַּתַּרְשִׁישׁ מֵעָיו עֶשֶׁת שֵׁן מְעֻלֶּפֶת סַפִּירִים׃ 5.15. שׁוֹקָיו עַמּוּדֵי שֵׁשׁ מְיֻסָּדִים עַל־אַדְנֵי־פָז מַרְאֵהוּ כַּלְּבָנוֹן בָּחוּר כָּאֲרָזִים׃ 5.16. חִכּוֹ מַמְתַקִּים וְכֻלּוֹ מַחֲּמַדִּים זֶה דוֹדִי וְזֶה רֵעִי בְּנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָם׃ 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׃ 6.2. דּוֹדִי יָרַד לְגַנּוֹ לַעֲרוּגוֹת הַבֹּשֶׂם לִרְעוֹת בַּגַּנִּים וְלִלְקֹט שׁוֹשַׁנִּים׃ 6.5. הָסֵבִּי עֵינַיִךְ מִנֶּגְדִּי שֶׁהֵם הִרְהִיבֻנִי שַׂעְרֵךְ כְּעֵדֶר הָעִזִּים שֶׁגָּלְשׁוּ מִן־הַגִּלְעָד׃ 6.6. שִׁנַּיִךְ כְּעֵדֶר הָרְחֵלִים שֶׁעָלוּ מִן־הָרַחְצָה שֶׁכֻּלָּם מַתְאִימוֹת וְשַׁכֻּלָה אֵין בָּהֶם׃ 6.7. כְּפֶלַח הָרִמּוֹן רַקָּתֵךְ מִבַּעַד לְצַמָּתֵךְ׃ 6.8. שִׁשִּׁים הֵמָּה מְּלָכוֹת וּשְׁמֹנִים פִּילַגְשִׁים וַעֲלָמוֹת אֵין מִסְפָּר׃ 6.9. אַחַת הִיא יוֹנָתִי תַמָּתִי אַחַת הִיא לְאִמָּהּ בָּרָה הִיא לְיוֹלַדְתָּהּ רָאוּהָ בָנוֹת וַיְאַשְּׁרוּהָ מְלָכוֹת וּפִילַגְשִׁים וַיְהַלְלוּהָ׃ 6.12. לֹא יָדַעְתִּי נַפְשִׁי שָׂמַתְנִי מַרְכְּבוֹת עַמִּי־נָדִיב׃ 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׃ 7.4. שְׁנֵי שָׁדַיִךְ כִּשְׁנֵי עֳפָרִים תָּאֳמֵי צְבִיָּה׃ 7.5. צַוָּארֵךְ כְּמִגְדַּל הַשֵּׁן עֵינַיִךְ בְּרֵכוֹת בְּחֶשְׁבּוֹן עַל־שַׁעַר בַּת־רַבִּים אַפֵּךְ כְּמִגְדַּל הַלְּבָנוֹן צוֹפֶה פְּנֵי דַמָּשֶׂק׃ 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׃ 7.12. לְכָה דוֹדִי נֵצֵא הַשָּׂדֶה נָלִינָה בַּכְּפָרִים׃ 8.1. מִי יִתֶּנְךָ כְּאָח לִי יוֹנֵק שְׁדֵי אִמִּי אֶמְצָאֲךָ בַחוּץ אֶשָׁקְךָ גַּם לֹא־יָבוּזוּ לִי׃ 8.1. אֲנִי חוֹמָה וְשָׁדַי כַּמִּגְדָּלוֹת אָז הָיִיתִי בְעֵינָיו כְּמוֹצְאֵת שָׁלוֹם׃ 8.13. הַיוֹשֶׁבֶת בַּגַּנִּים חֲבֵרִים מַקְשִׁיבִים לְקוֹלֵךְ הַשְׁמִיעִינִי׃ 8.14. בְּרַח דּוֹדִי וּדְמֵה־לְךָ לִצְבִי אוֹ לְעֹפֶר הָאַיָּלִים עַל הָרֵי בְשָׂמִים׃ | 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.’ 1.9. I have compared thee, O my love, To a steed in Pharaoh’s chariots. 1.10. Thy cheeks are comely with circlets, Thy neck with beads. 1.11. We will make thee circlets of gold With studs of silver. 1.13. My beloved is unto me as a bag of myrrh, That lieth betwixt my breasts. 1.14. My beloved is unto me as a cluster of henna In the vineyards of En-gedi. 1.15. Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; Thine eyes are as doves. . 1.16. Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant; Also our couch is leafy. 2.3. As an apple-tree among the trees of the wood, So is my beloved among the sons. Under its shadow I delighted to sit, And its fruit was sweet to my taste. 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. 2.14. 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.’ 2.17. 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. 4.1. Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; Thine eyes are as doves behind thy veil; Thy hair is as a flock of goats, that trail down from mount Gilead. 4.2. Thy teeth are like a flock of ewes all shaped alike, Which are come up from the washing; Whereof all are paired, and none faileth among them. 4.3. Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, And thy mouth is comely; Thy temples are like a pomegranate split open Behind thy veil. 4.4. Thy neck is like the tower of David Builded with turrets, Whereon there hang a thousand shields, All the armour of the mighty men. 4.5. Thy two breasts are like two fawns That are twins of a gazelle, Which feed among the lilies. 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. 4.12. A garden shut up is my sister, my bride; A spring shut up, a fountain sealed. 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.’ 5.9. ’What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? What is thy beloved more than another beloved, That thou dost so adjure us?’ 5.10. ’My beloved is white and ruddy, Pre-eminent above ten thousand. 5.11. His head is as the most fine gold, His locks are curled, And black as a raven. 5.12. His eyes are like doves Beside the water-brooks; Washed with milk, And fitly set. 5.13. His cheeks are as a bed of spices, As banks of sweet herbs; His lips are as lilies, Dropping with flowing myrrh. 5.14. His hands are as rods of gold Set with beryl; His body is as polished ivory Overlaid with sapphires. 5.15. His legs are as pillars of marble, Set upon sockets of fine gold; His aspect is like Lebanon, Excellent as the cedars. 5.16. His mouth is most sweet; Yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.’ 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?’ 6.2. ’My beloved is gone down into his garden, To the beds of spices, To feed in the gardens, And to gather lilies. 6.5. Turn away thine eyes from me, For they have overcome me. Thy hair is as a flock of goats, That trail down from Gilead. 6.6. Thy teeth are like a flock of ewes, Which are come up from the washing; Whereof all are paired, And none faileth among them. 6.7. Thy temples are like a pomegranate split open Behind thy veil. 6.8. There are threescore queens, And fourscore concubines, And maidens without number. 6.9. My dove, my undefiled, is but one; She is the only one of her mother; She is the choice one of her that bore her. The daughters saw her, and called her happy; Yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her. 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? 6.12. Before I was aware, my soul set me Upon the chariots of my princely people. 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. 7.4. Thy two breasts are like two fawns that are twins of a gazelle. 7.5. Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; Thine eyes as the pools in Heshbon, By the gate of Bath-rabbim; Thy nose is like the tower of Lebanon Which looketh toward Damascus. 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; 7.12. Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. 8.1. Oh that thou wert as my brother, That sucked the breasts of my mother! When I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; Yea, and none would despise me. 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, Deuteronomy, 33.26 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 33.26. אֵין כָּאֵל יְשֻׁרוּן רֹכֵב שָׁמַיִם בְעֶזְרֶךָ וּבְגַאֲוָתוֹ שְׁחָקִים׃ | 33.26. There is none like unto God, O Jeshurun, Who rideth upon the heaven as thy help, And in His excellency on the skies." |
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3. Hebrew Bible, Exodus, 2.3, 4.14 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 2.3. וְלֹא־יָכְלָה עוֹד הַצְּפִינוֹ וַתִּקַּח־לוֹ תֵּבַת גֹּמֶא וַתַּחְמְרָה בַחֵמָר וּבַזָּפֶת וַתָּשֶׂם בָּהּ אֶת־הַיֶּלֶד וַתָּשֶׂם בַּסּוּף עַל־שְׂפַת הַיְאֹר׃ 4.14. וַיִּחַר־אַף יְהוָה בְּמֹשֶׁה וַיֹּאמֶר הֲלֹא אַהֲרֹן אָחִיךָ הַלֵּוִי יָדַעְתִּי כִּי־דַבֵּר יְדַבֵּר הוּא וְגַם הִנֵּה־הוּא יֹצֵא לִקְרָאתֶךָ וְרָאֲךָ וְשָׂמַח בְּלִבּוֹ׃ | 2.3. And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch; and she put the child therein, and laid it in the flags by the river’s brink." 4.14. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and He said: ‘Is there not Aaron thy brother the Levite? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee; and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart." |
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4. Hebrew Bible, Genesis, 38 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
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5. Hebrew Bible, Psalms, 5.2, 8.1, 39.4, 81.1, 84.1, 94.15 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 5.2. אֲמָרַי הַאֲזִינָה יְהוָה בִּינָה הֲגִיגִי׃ 39.4. חַם־לִבִּי בְּקִרְבִּי בַּהֲגִיגִי תִבְעַר־אֵשׁ דִּבַּרְתִּי בִּלְשׁוֹנִי׃ 81.1. לַמְנַצֵּחַ עַל־הַגִּתִּית לְאָסָף׃ 81.1. לֹא־יִהְיֶה בְךָ אֵל זָר וְלֹא תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לְאֵל נֵכָר׃ 84.1. מָגִנֵּנוּ רְאֵה אֱלֹהִים וְהַבֵּט פְּנֵי מְשִׁיחֶךָ׃ 84.1. לַמְנַצֵּחַ עַל־הַגִּתִּית לִבְנֵי־קֹרַח מִזְמוֹר׃ 94.15. כִּי־עַד־צֶדֶק יָשׁוּב מִשְׁפָּט וְאַחֲרָיו כָּל־יִשְׁרֵי־לֵב׃ | 5.2. Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation." 39.4. My heart waxed hot within me; while I was musing, the fire kindled; Then spoke I with my tongue:" 81.1. For the Leader; upon the Gittith. [A Psalm] of Asaph." 84.1. For the Leader; upon the Gittith. A Psalm of the sons of Korah." 94.15. For right shall return unto justice, And all the upright in heart shall follow it." |
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6. 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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7. Hebrew Bible, Isaiah, 19.17, 50.5 (8th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 19.17. וְהָיְתָה אַדְמַת יְהוּדָה לְמִצְרַיִם לְחָגָּא כֹּל אֲשֶׁר יַזְכִּיר אֹתָהּ אֵלָיו יִפְחָד מִפְּנֵי עֲצַת יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת אֲשֶׁר־הוּא יוֹעֵץ עָלָיו׃ 50.5. אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה פָּתַח־לִי אֹזֶן וְאָנֹכִי לֹא מָרִיתִי אָחוֹר לֹא נְסוּגֹתִי׃ | 19.17. And the land of Judah shall become a terror unto Egypt, whensoever one maketh mention thereof to it; it shall be afraid, because of the purpose of the LORD of hosts, which He purposeth against it." 50.5. The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, And I was not rebellious, Neither turned away backward." |
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8. Hebrew Bible, Jeremiah, 2.3, 6.2 (8th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 2.3. לַשָּׁוְא הִכֵּיתִי אֶת־בְּנֵיכֶם מוּסָר לֹא לָקָחוּ אָכְלָה חַרְבְּכֶם נְבִיאֵיכֶם כְּאַרְיֵה מַשְׁחִית׃ 2.3. קֹדֶשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל לַיהוָה רֵאשִׁית תְּבוּאָתֹה כָּל־אֹכְלָיו יֶאְשָׁמוּ רָעָה תָּבֹא אֲלֵיהֶם נְאֻם־יְהוָה׃ 6.2. הַנָּוָה וְהַמְּעֻנָּגָה דָּמִיתִי בַּת־צִיּוֹן׃ 6.2. לָמָּה־זֶּה לִי לְבוֹנָה מִשְּׁבָא תָבוֹא וְקָנֶה הַטּוֹב מֵאֶרֶץ מֶרְחָק עֹלוֹתֵיכֶם לֹא לְרָצוֹן וְזִבְחֵיכֶם לֹא־עָרְבוּ לִי׃ | 2.3. Israel is the LORD’S hallowed portion, His first-fruits of the increase; all that devour him shall be held guilty, evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD." 6.2. The comely and delicate one, The daughter of Zion, will I cut off." |
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9. Hebrew Bible, Ezra, 3.2-3.4 (5th cent. BCE - 4th cent. BCE)
| 3.2. וַיָּקָם יֵשׁוּעַ בֶּן־יוֹצָדָק וְאֶחָיו הַכֹּהֲנִים וּזְרֻבָּבֶל בֶּן־שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל וְאֶחָיו וַיִּבְנוּ אֶת־מִזְבַּח אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְהַעֲלוֹת עָלָיו עֹלוֹת כַּכָּתוּב בְּתוֹרַת מֹשֶׁה אִישׁ־הָאֱלֹהִים׃ 3.3. וַיָּכִינוּ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ עַל־מְכוֹנֹתָיו כִּי בְּאֵימָה עֲלֵיהֶם מֵעַמֵּי הָאֲרָצוֹת ויעל [וַיַּעֲלוּ] עָלָיו עֹלוֹת לַיהוָה עֹלוֹת לַבֹּקֶר וְלָעָרֶב׃ 3.4. וַיַּעֲשׂוּ אֶת־חַג הַסֻּכּוֹת כַּכָּתוּב וְעֹלַת יוֹם בְּיוֹם בְּמִסְפָּר כְּמִשְׁפַּט דְּבַר־יוֹם בְּיוֹמוֹ׃ | 3.2. Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt-offerings thereon, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God." 3.3. And they set the altar upon its bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of the countries, and they offered burnt-offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt-offerings morning and evening." 3.4. And they kept the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt-offerings by number, according to the ordice, as the duty of every day required;" |
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10. Septuagint, 2 Maccabees, 1.1-2.18 (2nd cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE)
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11. Anon., Genesis Rabba, 16.6 (2nd cent. CE - 5th cent. CE)
| 16.6. וַיְצַו ה' אֱלֹהִים עַל הָאָדָם לֵאמֹר מִכֹּל עֵץ הַגָּן אָכֹל תֹּאכֵל (בראשית ב, טז), רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר צִוָּהוּ עַל שֵׁשׁ מִצְווֹת, וַיְצַו, עַל עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים, הֵיךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (הושע ה, יא): כִּי הוֹאִיל הָלַךְ אַחֲרֵי צָו. ה', עַל בִּרְכַּת הַשֵּׁם, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (ויקרא כד, טז): וְנֹקֵב שֵׁם ה'. אֱלֹהִים, אֵלּוּ הַדַּיָּנִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כב, כז): אֱלֹהִים לֹא תְקַלֵּל. עַל הָאָדָם, זוֹ שְׁפִיכַת דָּמִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ט, ו): שֹׁפֵךְ דַּם הָאָדָם. לֵאמֹר, זֶה גִּלּוּי עֲרָיוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה ג, א): לֵאמֹר הֵן יְשַׁלַּח אִישׁ אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ וגו'. מִכֹּל עֵץ הַגָּן אָכֹל, צִוָּהוּ עַל הַגָּזֵל. רַבָּנָן פָּתְרִין לֵיהּ כָּל עִנְיָנָא, וַיְצַו ה' אֱלֹהִים, רַחֲמָן אֲנִי וְדַיָּן אֲנִי לְהִפָּרַע. אֱלֹהִים, אָמַר לוֹ אֱלֹהִים אֲנִי, נְהֹג בִּי כֵּאלוֹהַּ, שֶׁלֹא תְקַלְּלֵנִי, כְּמָה דִכְתִיב: אֱלֹהִים לֹא תְקַלֵּל. גִּלּוּי עֲרָיוֹת מִנַּיִן (בראשית ב, כד): וְדָבַק בְּאִשְׁתּוֹ וְלֹא בְּאֵשֶׁת חֲבֵרוֹ, וְלֹא בְּזָכָר, וְלֹא בִּבְהֵמָה. אָכֹל תֹּאכֵל, אָמַר רַבִּי יַעֲקֹב דִּכְפַר חָנִין מָתַי יִתְכַּשֵּׁר לַאֲכִילָה מִשֶּׁתִּשָּׁחֵט, רָמַז לוֹ עַל אֵבָר מִן הַחַי. מוֹת תָּמוּת, מִיתָה לְאָדָם, מִיתָה לְחַוָּה, מִיתָה לוֹ, מִיתָה לְתוֹלְדוֹתָיו. | |
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12. 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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13. 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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14. Babylonian Talmud, Hulin, 67b (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 67b. באביה אסורה משום (ויקרא יא, מא) השרץ השורץ על הארץ,לימא מסייע ליה דתני חדא על הארץ להוציא את הזיזין שבעדשים ואת היתושים שבכליסים ותולעת שבתמרים ושבגרוגרות ותניא אידך כל השרץ השורץ על הארץ לרבות תולעת שבעיקרי זיתים ושבעיקרי גפנים,מאי לאו אידי ואידי בפירא והא באביה והא שלא באביה,לא אידי ואידי באביה ולא קשיא הא בפירא הא באילנא גופא,דיקא נמי דקתני תולעת שבעיקרי זיתים ושבעיקרי גפנים ש"מ,בעי רב יוסף פרשה ומתה מהו מקצתה מהו לאויר העולם מהו תיקו,בעי רב אשי לגג תמרה מהו לגג גרעינתה מהו מתמרה לתמרה מהו תיקו,אמר רב ששת בריה דרב אידי קוקיאני אסירי מאי טעמא מעלמא אתו,מתקיף לה רב אשי אי מעלמא אתו לישתכחו דרך בית הריעי,איכא דאמרי אמר רב שישא בריה דרב אידי קוקיאני שרו מאי טעמא מיניה גבלי אמר רב אשי פשיטא דאי מעלמא קא אתו לישתכחו דרך בית הריעי,והלכתא קוקיאני אסירי מ"ט מינם ניים ועיילי ליה באוסייה תולעים דרני דבשרא אסירי דכוורי שריין,אמר לה רבינא לאימיה אבלע לי ואנא איכול א"ל רב משרשיא בריה דרב אחא לרבינא מאי שנא מהא דתניא (ויקרא יא, יא) ואת נבלתם תשקצו לרבות את הדרנים שבבהמה,א"ל הכי השתא בהמה בשחיטה הוא דמשתריא והני מדלא קא מהניא להו שחיטה באיסורייהו קיימן אבל דגים באסיפה בעלמא מישתרי והני כי קא גבלן בהיתרא קא גבלן,ת"ר (ויקרא יא, מב) הולך על גחון זה נחש כל לרבות השילשול ואת הדומה לשילשול על ארבע זה עקרב כל הולך לרבות את החיפושית ואת הדומה לחיפושית מרבה רגלים זה נדל עד כל לרבות את הדומה ואת הדומה לדומה,תניא ר' יוסי בן דורמסקית אומר לויתן דג טהור הוא שנאמר (איוב מא, ז) גאוה אפיקי מגנים (איוב מא, כב) תחתיו חדודי חרש אפיקי מגנים אלו קשקשים שבו תחתיו חדודי חרש אלו סנפירין שפורח בהן:, br br big strongהדרן עלך אלו טרפות /strong /big br br | |
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15. Babylonian Talmud, Menachot, 29a (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 29a. bandthe beighteen of thesix bbranches; thisequals btwenty-twogoblets. Concerning the bknobs as well,it is clear how the number belevenwas reached. The Candelabrum contains the btwo knobs of itsmain shaft, as the verse states: “Its knobs” (Exodus 25:34), with the plural “knobs” indicating that there were two, bandthe bsix ofthe six bbranches,as it is written: “In one branch, a knob and a flower” (Exodus 25:33). In addition to these eight knobs, the verse states: b“And a knobunder two branches of one piece with it, band a knobunder two branches of one piece with it, band a knobunder two branches of one piece with it” (Exodus 25:35); bthisequals belevenknobs., bBut from where do wederive that the Candelabrum contained bnine flowers?According to the verse there are the btwo flowers of itsmain shaft, as it is written: “And its flowers” (Exodus 25:34), band the six ofthe six bbranches,as it is written: “In one branch, a knob and a flower” (Exodus 25:33), meaning that bthere are eight,not nine, flowers on the Candelabrum. bRav Shalman saidin response: bIt is written: “It was a beaten work, from the base to the flower”(Numbers 8:4), which teaches that there was a ninth flower near the base., bRav says: The height ofthe bCandelabrumis bnine handbreadths. Rav Shimi bar Ḥiyya raised an objection tothe statement of bRav:We learned in a mishna ( iTamid30b): bThere was a stone beforethe bCandelabrum and it had three steps, upon which the priestwould bstand and prepare the lampsfor kindling. If the Candelabrum was only nine handbreadths high, why would it be necessary for the priest to stand on an elevated surface to reach the lamps?,Rav bsaid to him: Shimi,is it byouwho is asking me such a question? bWhen I saidthat the height of the Candelabrum is nine handbreadths, I was referring not to the total height, which is eighteen handbreadths; rather, I meant that the Candelabrum is nine handbreadths bfrom the pointat which the bbranchesextend from the main shaft band above. /b,§ bIt is written: “And the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, of gold, and that perfect gold [ imikhlot zahav /i]”(II Chronicles 4:21). The Gemara asks: bWhatis meant by imikhlot zahav /i? Rav Ami says:It is a reference to the fact bthatthe Candelabrum and its vessels bexhausted [ ikilattu /i] all of Solomon’s pure [ isagur /i] gold [ izahav /i],which was used in its fashioning in such great quantities. bAs Rav Yehuda saysthat bRav said: Solomon made ten Candelabrums, and for each and every one he brought one thousand talents of gold, and they placedthe gold bin the furnaceto refine it bone thousand times, until they reducedthe gold btoone btalentfor each Candelabrum, as it is stated: “of a talent of pure gold shall it be made” (Exodus 25:39).,The Gemara asks: bIs that sothat all of Solomon’s gold was exhausted for the fashioning of the Candelabrum and its vessels? bBut isn’t it written: “And all King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold;silver was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon”(II Chronicles 9:20)? The Gemara answers: bWe are sayingthat Solomon’s bpure goldwas exhausted for the fashioning of the Candelabrum, but not all of his gold.,The Gemara asks: bAnd wouldrefining the gold breduceit bto this extent,that one thousand talents of gold would be reduced to one talent? bBut isn’t it taughtin a ibaraita /i: bRabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Yehuda, says: An incidentoccurred where the weight of bthe Candelabrum of the Temple wasfound to be bgreater thanthe weight of the Candelabrum bof Moses byone iKordikinigold dinar, and they placed it in the furnace eighty times untilthe weight of the Candelabrum bstood atprecisely one btalent.Evidently, putting the Candelabrum into a furnace reduces its weight by very little. The Gemara answers: bOnce it is standing, it is standing,i.e., since the gold was refined to such a degree in the time of Solomon, later when it was refined eighty times it was reduced by the weight of only one dinar.,§ bRabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani saysthat bRabbi Yonatan says: Whatis the meaning of that bwhich is written: “Upon the pure Candelabrum”(Leviticus 24:4)? It teaches bthatthe procedure for bfashioning it descended,i.e., was shown to Moses, bfrom the place of purity,i.e., by God, who showed Moses a model of the Candelabrum. The Gemara asks: bIf that is so,is that to say that phrase b“upon the pure Table”(Leviticus 24:6) also teaches bthatthe procedure for bfashioning itwas shown to Moses bfrom the place of purity? Rather,the expression “the bpureTable” teaches, bby inference, that it issusceptible to becoming britually impure. Here too,the expression “the bpureCandelabrum” teaches, bby inference, that it issusceptible to becoming britually impure. /b,The Gemara rejects this: bGranted,the inference drawn btherewith regard to the Table is bin accordance withthat bwhich Reish Lakishsays; bas Reish Lakish says: Whatis the meaning of that bwhich is written: “Upon the pure Table”(Leviticus 24:6)? The expression “pure Table” teaches, bby inference, that it issusceptible to becoming britually impure,but why? Isn’t the Table ba wooden vessel designated to restin a fixed place, band any wooden vessel that is designated to restin a fixed place bis not susceptible tobecoming britually impure? Rather,this bteaches thatthe Table was not always left in a fixed place; the priests would bliftthe Table with its shewbread bto display the shewbread to the pilgrimsstanding in the Temple courtyard, banda priest would bsay to them: See your affection before the Omnipresent.For this reason, the Table is susceptible to becoming ritually impure.,Parenthetically, the Gemara asks: bWhatis meant by: See byour affectionbefore God? It is bin accordance withthat bwhich Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levisays, bas Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: A great miracle was performed with the shewbread:Its condition at the time of bits removalfrom the Table, after having been left there for a week, was blikeits condition at the time of bits arrangementon the Table, bas it is stated: “To place hot bread on the day when it was taken away”(I Samuel 21:7), indicating that it was as hot on the day of its removal as it was on the day when it was placed on the Table.,The Gemara resumes stating its objection: bBut here,with regard to the Candelabrum, there is no reason to explain that the expression “the bpureCandelabrum” teaches, bby inference, that it issusceptible to becoming britually impure;this is bobvious,as the Candelabrums bare metal vessels, and metal vessels are susceptible tobecoming britually impurewhether or not they remain in a fixed location. bRather,it must be that the expression “the pure Candelabrum” teaches bthatthe procedure for bfashioning it descended,i.e., was shown to Moses, bfrom the place of purity. /b,§ bIt is taughtin a ibaraita /i: bRabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Yehuda, says: An Ark of fire and a Table of fire and a Candelabrum of fire descended from the Heavens, and Moses sawtheir format band fashionedthe vessels for the Tabernacle bin their likeness. As it is statedafter the command to fashion these items: b“And see that you make them after their pattern, which is being shown to you in the mount”(Exodus 25:40).,The Gemara asks: bIf that is so,is that to say that the verse: b“And you shall set up the Tabernacle according to its fashion which has been shown to you in the mount”(Exodus 26:30), balsoindicates that God showed Moses a Tabernacle of fire? The Gemara answers: bHere,with regard to the Tabernacle, bit is written: “According to its fashion,”meaning that it should be built according to the instructions given to Moses, whereas bthere,with regard to the Ark, Table, and Candelabrum, bit is written: “After their pattern,”indicating that an actual model of the items was shown to Moses.,Apropos this discussion the Gemara relates: bRabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba saysthat bRabbi Yoḥa says:The angel bGabrielwas bgirded with a type ofwide bbelt [ ipesikiyya /i]in the manner of artisans who tie up their clothes to prevent these clothes from hindering them in their work. bAnd he showedthe precise bway to fashion the Candelabrum to Moses, as it is written: “And this is the work of the Candelabrum”(Numbers 8:4), and the term “this” indicates that an exact replica was shown to him., bThe school of Rabbi Yishmael taught: Three matters were difficult for Mosesto comprehend precisely, buntil the Holy One, Blessed be He, showedthem to bhim with His finger, and these arethe three matters: The form of the bCandelabrum, andthe exact size of the bnew moon, andthe impure bcreeping animals.The bCandelabrumwas shown to him, bas it is written: “And this is the work of the Candelabrum”(Numbers 8:4). The bnew moonwas shown to him, bas it is written: “This month shall be for you the beginning of months”(Exodus 12:2). The bcreeping animalswere shown to him, bas it is written: “And these are they which are unclean for youamong the swarming things” (Leviticus 11:29). bAnd there arethose bwho saythat God balsoshowed Moses bthe ihalakhotof slaughtering, as it is stated: “Now this is that which you shall sacrifice upon the altar”(Exodus 29:38), and slaughtering is the first ritual of sacrifice.,§ The mishna teaches: With regard to the btwo passages that are in the imezuza /i,the absence of beach prevents fulfillment of the mitzva with the others. Andfurthermore, the absence of beven one letter prevents fulfillment of the mitzva withthe rest of bthem.The Gemara asks: Isn’t it bobviousthat the absence of even one letter prevents fulfillment of the mitzva, since it is written: “And you shall write them [ iukhtavtam /i]” (Deuteronomy 6:9), which teaches that the writing [ iketav /i] must be complete [ itam /i]?, bRav Yehuda saysthat bRav says:It bwas necessaryto state that bonlyto teach that even the absence of bthe thorn,i.e., the small stroke, bofa letter iyod /iprevents fulfillment of the mitzva. The Gemara asks: bButisn’t bthis also obvious,since the letter is not formed properly? bRather,it is necessary baccording to anotherstatement bthat Rav Yehuda saysthat bRavsays, bas Rav Yehuda saysthat bRav says: Any letter that is not encircled withblank bparchment onall bfour of its sides,i.e., where its ink connects to the letter above it, below it, preceding it, or succeeding it, is bunfit.When the mishna makes reference to one letter preventing fulfillment of the mitzva, it is referring to a letter that touches an adjacent letter., bAshiyan bar Nadbakh says in the name of Rav Yehuda:If bthe innerpart bofthe letter ihehwas perforatedit is bfit,but if the perforation was in bthe leg ofthe letter ihehit is bunfit. Rabbi Zeira says:This matter was bexplained to me by Rav Huna, and Rabbi Ya’akov says:This matter was bexplained to me by Rav Yehuda:If bthe innerpart bofthe letter ihehwas perforatedit is bfit.In a case where the perforation was in bthe leg ofthe letter iheh /i, then bif there remained inthe leg that is attached to the roof of the letter bthe equivalent of the measure of a small letter,i.e., the letter iyod /i, then it is bfit. But if not,it is bunfit. /b,The Gemara relates: bAgra, the father-in-law of Rabbi Abba, /b |
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16. Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin, 17a, 17b, 56a, 56b, 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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17. Babylonian Talmud, Sotah, 10b (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 10b. אלא ויקריא מלמד שהקריא אברהם אבינו לשמו של הקב"ה בפה כל עובר ושב כיצד לאחר שאכלו ושתו עמדו לברכו אמר להם וכי משלי אכלתם משל אלהי עולם אכלתם הודו ושבחו וברכו למי שאמר והיה העולם,(בראשית לח, טו) ויראה יהודה ויחשבה לזונה כי כסתה פניה משום דכסתה פניה חשבה לזונה,א"ר אלעזר שכסתה פניה בבית חמיה דא"ר שמואל בר נחמני א"ר יונתן כל כלה שהיא צנועה בבית חמיה זוכה ויוצאין ממנה מלכים ונביאים מנלן מתמר נביאים דכתיב (ישעיהו א, א) חזון ישעיהו בן אמוץ מלכים מדוד ואמר רבי לוי דבר זה מסורת בידינו מאבותינו אמוץ ואמציה אחים הוו,(בראשית לח, כה) היא מוצאת היא מיתוצאת מיבעי ליה א"ר אלעזר לאחר שנמצאו סימניה בא סמאל וריחקן בא גבריאל וקירבן,היינו דכתיב (תהלים נו, א) למנצח על יונת אלם רחוקים לדוד מכתם א"ר יוחנן משעה שנתרחקו סימניה נעשית כיונה אילמת לדוד מכתם שיצא ממנה דוד שהיה מך ותם לכל דבר אחר מכתם שהיתה מכתו תמה שנולד כשהוא מהול דבר אחר מכתם כשם שבקטנותו הקטין עצמו אצל מי שגדול ממנו ללמוד תורה כך בגדולתו,(בראשית לח, כה) והיא שלחה אל חמיה לאמר לאיש אשר אלה לו אנכי הרה ותימא ליה מימר אמר רב זוטרא בר טוביה אמר רב ואמרי לה אמר רב חנא בר ביזנא אמר רבי שמעון חסידא ואמרי לה אמר רבי יוחנן משום ר' שמעון בן יוחי נוח לו לאדם שיפיל עצמו לתוך כבשן האש ואל ילבין פני חבירו ברבים מנלן מתמר,(בראשית לח, כה) הכר נא א"ר חמא ברבי חנינא בהכר בישר לאביו בהכר בישרוהו בהכר בישר (בראשית לז, לב) הכר נא הכתנת בנך היא בהכר בישרוהו הכר נא למי,נא אין נא אלא לשון בקשה אמרה ליה בבקשה ממך הכר פני בוראך ואל תעלים עיניך ממני,(בראשית לח, כו) ויכר יהודה ויאמר צדקה ממני היינו דאמר רב חנין בר ביזנא א"ר שמעון חסידא יוסף שקדש ש"ש בסתר זכה והוסיפו לו אות אחת משמו של הקב"ה דכתיב (תהלים פא, ו) עדות ביהוסף שמו,יהודה שקדש ש"ש בפרהסיא זכה ונקרא כולו על שמו של הקב"ה כיון שהודה ואמר צדקה ממני יצתה בת קול ואמרה אתה הצלת תמר ושני בניה מן האור חייך שאני מציל בזכותך ג' מבניך מן האור מאן נינהו חנניה מישאל ועזריה,צדקה ממני מנא ידע יצתה בת קול ואמרה ממני יצאו כבושים,(בראשית לח, כו) ולא יסף עוד לדעתה אמר שמואל סבא חמוה דרב שמואל בר אמי משמיה דרב שמואל בר אמי כיון שידעה שוב לא פסק ממנה כתיב הכא ולא יסף עוד לדעתה וכתיב התם (דברים ה, יט) קול גדול ולא יסף,אבשלום נתגאה בשערו וכו' ת"ר אבשלום בשערו מרד שנאמר (שמואל ב יד, כה) וכאבשלום לא היה איש יפה וגו' ובגלחו את ראשו (וגו') והיה מקץ ימים לימים אשר יגלח כי כבד עליו וגלחו ושקל את שער ראשו מאתים שקלים באבן המלך תנא אבן שאנשי טבריא ואנשי ציפורי שוקלים בה,לפיכך נתלה בשערו שנאמר (שמואל ב יח, ט) ויקרא אבשלום לפני עבדי דוד ואבשלום רוכב על הפרד ויבא הפרד תחת שובך האלה הגדולה ויאחז ראשו באלה ויותן בין השמים ובין הארץ והפרד אשר תחתיו עבר [שקל ספסירא בעא למיפסקיה] תנא דבי רבי ישמעאל באותה שעה נבקע שאול מתחתיו,(שמואל ב יט, א) וירגז המלך ויעל על עליית השער ויבך וכה אמר בלכתו בני אבשלום בני בני [אבשלום] מי יתן מותי אני תחתיך אבשלום בני בני והמלך לאט את פניו ויזעק המלך קול גדול בני אבשלום אבשלום בני בני הני תמניא בני למה שבעה דאסקיה משבעה מדורי גיהנם ואידך איכא דאמרי דקריב רישיה לגבי גופיה ואיכא דאמרי דאייתיה לעלמא דאתי,(שמואל ב יח, יח) ואבשלום לקח ויצב לו בחייו מאי לקח אמר ריש לקיש שלקח מקח רע לעצמו את מצבת אשר בעמק המלך וגו' א"ר חנינא בר פפא בעצה עמוקה של מלכו של עולם | 10b. but bratheras ivayyakri /i, and he causedothers bto call.This bteaches that Abraham our forefather caused the name of the Holy One, Blessed be He, to be calledout bin the mouth of all passersby. How so? Afterthe guests of Abraham bate and drank, they arose to bless him. He said to them: But did you eat fromwhat is bmine?Rather, byou ate fromthe food of bthe God of the world.Therefore, byoushould bthank and praise and bless the One Who spoke and the world wascreated. In this way, Abraham caused everyone to call out to God.,The Gemara continues its discussion of the incident of Judah and Tamar. It is written: b“When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a prostitute, for she had covered her face”(Genesis 38:15). The Gemara asks: bBecause she had covered her face he thought her to be a prostitute?Prostitutes usually uncover their faces in order to attract men., bRabbi Elazar says:The verse means bthatTamar bcovered her face in the home of her father-in-law,Judah. Therefore, he did not recognize her when her face was uncovered. bAs Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani saysthat bRabbi Yonatan says: Any daughter-in-law who is modest in the house of her father-in-law merits that kings and prophets emerge from her. From where do wederive this? bFrom Tamar. Prophetsemerged from her, bas it is written: “The vision of Isaiah, the son of Amoz”(Isaiah 1:1). bKingsemerged from her, as seen bfrom David. And Rabbi Levi says: This matter is a traditionthat bwereceived bfrom our ancestors: Amoz,father of Isaiah, band Amaziah,king of Judea, bwere brothers.This indi-cates that Isaiah was also from the house of David and therefore a descendant of Tamar.,The verse describes Tamar’s court hearing: b“When she was brought forth [ imutzet /i],she sent to her father-in-law, saying: By the man whose these are, am I with child” (Genesis 38:25). The Gemara comments: bIt should havestated: bWhen she was imitutzet /i.The word imutzetalso carries the implication of being found. What then, is taught by the use of that term? bRabbi Elazar says: After her signs,which she was using to prove that she was impregnated by Judah, bwere brought out,the evil angel bSamael came and distanced themfrom each other in an attempt to prevent Judah’s admission and Tamar’s survival, which would enable the birth of King David. The angel bGabrielthen bcame and movedthe signs bcloseragain. Therefore, the word imutzetis used, as it alludes to the signs being found again.,The Gemara comments: bThis is as it is written: “For the leader, upon iyonat eilem reḥokim /i, a psalm [ imikhtam /i] of David”(Psalms 56:1). bRabbi Yoḥa saysthe verse means: bFrom the moment that her signs were distanced [ ireḥokim /i], she became like a mute dove [ iyona illemet /i].And the phrase b“a psalm [ imikhtam /i] of David”means: The one bfrom whom David emerged, as he was modest [ imakh /i] and flawless [ itam /i] with everyone. Alternatively, imikhtam /iindicates bthat imakkato /i,the place on his body that would have required wounding [ imakka /i], bwas complete [ itama /i],i.e., bthatDavid bwas born circumcised. Alternatively, imikhtam /iindicates that bjust as in his youthDavid bmade himself small in front of one who was greater than himin order bto learn Torahfrom that person, bso too, when he became greatand was crowned king, he still behaved in this manner, so that his modesty, imakh /i, was complete, itam /i, all of his life.,The verse concerning Tamar then states: b“She sent to her father-in-law, saying: By the man whose these are, am I with child”(Genesis 38:25). The Gemara comments: bAnd let her say to himexplicitly that she was impregnated by him. bRav Zutra bar Tuviyya saysthat bRav says, and some say Rav Ḥana bar Bizna saysthat bRabbi Shimon Ḥasida says, and some saythat bRabbi Yoḥa says in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai: It is more amenable for a person to throw himself into a fiery furnaceif faced with the choice of publicly embarrassing another or remaining silent even if it leads to being burned, band not humiliate another in public. From where do wederive this? bFrom Tamar,as she was prepared to be burned if Judah did not confess, rather than humiliate him in public.,The verse continues: “And she said: bDiscern, please,whose are these, the signet, and the cords, and the staff” (Genesis 38:25). bRabbi Ḥama, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, says: Withuse of the word bdiscernJudah binformed his fatherthat Joseph was lost, and also bwithuse of the word bdiscern they informedJudah about the signs. The Gemara explains: bWiththe word bdiscern he informedJacob his father when he brought him the coat of Joseph and said to his father: “And they sent the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father; and said: This have we found. bDiscern now whether it is your son’s coator not” (Genesis 37:32). bWiththe word bdiscern they informed him:“And she said: bDiscern, please, whose arethese.”,It states: “Discern, bplease [ ina /i].”The word ina /iis bnothing otherthan ba language of request.The Gemara explains: bShe said to him: I request of you: Discern the image of your Creatorin every person, band do not avert your eyes from me. /b,The verse states: b“And Judah acknowledged them, and said: She is more righteous than I;forasmuch as I gave her not to Shelah my son” (Genesis 38:26). bThis isthe same bas Rav Ḥanin bar Bizna saysthat bRabbi Shimon Ḥasida says: Joseph, who sanctified the name of Heaven in privateby not committing adultery with the wife of Potiphar, bmerited that one letter from the name of the Holy One, Blessed be He, was added to hisname, bas it is written: “He appointed it in Joseph [ ibihosef] for a testimony in his name,when He went forth against the land of Egypt” (Psalms 81:6). In this verse the name Joseph is written with an additional letter iheh /i, found in the ineffable name of God.,He continues: bJudah, who sanctified the name of Heaven in public, merited that his entirename bis called by the name of the Holy One, Blessed be He,for all the letters of the ineffable name of God are included within the name of Judah, with the addition of the letter idalet /i. bWhen he confessed and said: “She is more righteous than I,” a Divine Voice went forth and said: You saved Tamar and her two childrenin her womb bfrombeing burned by bthe fire.By byour life,i.e., bin your merit, I will save three of your children from the fire.And bwho are they? Haiah, Mishael, and Azariah(see Daniel, chapter 3).,Judah said: b“She is more righteous than I [ imimmenni /i].”The word “ imimmenni /i” can also be understood as “from me,” with Judah thereby admitting that he is the father. The Gemara asks: bFrom where did he knowthat it was in fact from him that Tamar was pregt? The Gemara answers: bA Divine Voice went forth and said: From Me these hiddenmatters bemerged,and this woman will be the mother of royalty, which requires that Judah be the father.,The same verse continues: b“And he knew her [ ileda’atah /i] again no more [ ivelo yasaf],”seemingly indicating that Judah did not engage in sexual intercourse with Tamar again. bShmuel the Elder, father-in-law of Rav Shmuel bar Ami, says in the name of Rav Shmuel bar Ami:The verse actually means that bonce he knewof bherthat her intentions were for the sake of Heaven, bhe did not desist fromengaging in sexual intercourse with bher again,as bit is written here: “ iVelo yasaf od leda’atah /i,” and it is written thereat the giving of the Torah: “These words the Lord spoke unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, bwith a great voice and it went on no more [ ivelo yasaf]”(Deuteronomy 5:18), which is interpreted to mean: A great voice that did not cease.,§ The mishna teaches: bAbsalom wasexcessively bproud of his hair,and therefore he was hung by his hair. bThe Sages taught( iTosefta3:16): bAbsalom rebelledand sinned bdue to his hair, as it is stated:“Now in all Israel bthere was noneto be so much praised bas Absalom for his beauty;from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. bAnd when he shaved his head, as it was at every year’s end that he shaved it; because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he shaved it, and he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels, by the king’s stone”(II Samuel 14:25–26). What is the king’s stone? The Sages btaught: A stone with which the people of Tiberias and the people of Tzippori weighitems.,The ibaraitacontinues: And since he was proud of his hair, btherefore, he was hung by his hair, as it is statedin the verse describing the battle between the forces of David and Absalom: b“And Absalom chanced to meet the servants of David. And Absalom was riding upon his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth, and his head caught hold of the terebinth, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went on”(II Samuel 18:9). After he was spotted by the opposing troops, Absalom btook a sword [ isafseira /i] and wanted to cut his hairto save himself. bThe school of Rabbi Yishmael taught: At that moment,the gates of bthe netherworld opened beneath himand he was afraid to fall into it, so he did not cut his hair, and he was killed by the opposing troops.,It is written with regard to David’s reaction after he learns of the death of Absalom: b“And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept; and as he went about he said: O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died in your place, O Absalom, my son, my son”(II Samuel 19:1), and a few verses later it adds: b“And the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice: O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son”(II Samuel 19:5). The Gemara asks: bWhyare there bthese eightmentions of b“my son”by David, i.e., to what do they correspond? The Gemara answers: bSeventimes he said “my son,” by bwhich he raised him up from the seven chambers of Gehenna. Andas for bthe other,eighth, time, bsome say thatDavid bbroughtthe bheadof Absalom bclose toAbsalom’s bbody, and some say thatwith this eighth mention David bbroughtAbsalom bto the World-to-Come. /b,It is written there: b“Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himselfthe pillar, which is in the king’s valley; for he said: I have no son to keep my name in remembrance” (II Samuel 18:18). The Gemara asks: bWhat didAbsalom btake? Reish Lakish says: He engaged in a bad transaction for himselfby accepting bad advice for which he was punished. The verse continues: b“The pillar, which is in the king’s valley [ ibe’emek hammelekh /i].” Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa says:This alludes to the pillar that is bin the deep [ iamukka /i] counsel of the King [ imelekh /i] of the universe,as God had already decreed in the aftermath of the incident with Bathsheba that this would occur. |
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18. Babylonian Talmud, Zevahim, 116a (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 116a. זכרים ונקבות תמימין ובעלי מומין (דאמר מר תמות וזכרות בבהמה ואין תמות וזכרות בעופות,ואיתקש בהמה לעוף,תמימין ובעלי מומין) לאפוקי מחוסר אבר דלא א"ר אלעזר מנין למחוסר אבר שנאסר לבני נח ת"ל (בראשית ו, יט) ומכל החי מכל בשר אמרה תורה הבא בהמה שחיין ראשי איברין שלה,ודילמא למעוטי טריפה ההוא מלחיות זרע נפקא,הניחא למ"ד טריפה אינה יולדת אלא למ"ד טריפה יולדת מאי איכא למימר האמר קרא אתך בדומין לך,ודילמא נח גופיה טריפה הוה תמים כתיב ביה ודילמא תמים בדרכיו צדיק כתיב ביה,ודילמא תמים בדרכיו צדיק במעשיו אי סלקא דעתך דנח גופיה טריפה הוה מי קאמר ליה לנח דכוותך עייל שלמים לא תעייל,ומאחר דנפקא לן מאתך לחיות זרע למה לי מהו דתימא אתך לצותא בעלמא אפי' זקן אפילו סריס קמשמע לן:,טהורין אבל לא טמאין: ומי הוו טמאין וטהורין בההיא שעתא א"ר שמואל בר נחמני א"ר יונתן מאותן שלא נעבדה בהן עבירה,מנא הוו ידעי כדרב חסדא דאמר רב חסדא העבירן לפני התיבה כל שהתיבה קולטתן בידוע שהוא טהור אין התיבה קולטתן בידוע שהן טמאין,רבי אבהו אמר אמר קרא (בראשית ז, טז) והבאים זכר ונקבה הבאין מאיליהן,אמר מר והכל קרבו עולות עולות אין שלמים לא והא כתיב (שמות כד, ה) ויזבחו זבחים שלמים לה' פרים אלא אימא הכל קרבו עולות [ושלמים,והתניא אבל שלמים לא כי אם עולות] עולות אין שלמים לא כמ"ד לא קרבו שלמים בני נח דאיתמר ר"א ור' יוסי בר חנינא חד אמר קרבו [שלמים בני נח] וחד אמר לא קרבו,מ"ט דמ"ד קרבו שלמים בני נח דכתיב (בראשית ד, ד) והבל הביא גם הוא מבכורות צאנו ומחלביהן איזהו דבר שחלבו קרב לגבי מזבח ואין כולו קרב לגבי מזבח הוי אומר זה שלמים,מ"ט דמ"ד לא קרבו דכתיב (שיר השירים ד, טז) עורי צפון ובואי תימן תתנער אומה שמעשיה בצפון ותבוא אומה שמעשיה בצפון ובדרום,ומר נמי הכתיב ומחלביהן משמניהן [דידהו],ומר נמי הכתיב עורי צפון [ההוא] בקיבוץ גליות הוא דכתיב,והא כתיב (שמות י, כה) ויאמר משה גם אתה תתן בידינו זבחים ועולות ועשינו לה' אלהינו זבחים לאכילה ועולות להקרבה,והא כתיב (שמות יח, יב) ויקח יתרו [חותן משה] עולה וזבחים ההוא לאחר מתן תורה הוא דכתיב,הניחא למ"ד [יתרו] אחר מתן תורה היה אלא למ"ד [יתרו] קודם מתן תורה היה מאי איכא למימר דאיתמר בני ר' חייא ור' יהושע בן לוי חד אמר יתרו קודם מתן תורה היה וחד אמר יתרו אחר מתן תורה היה למ"ד יתרו קודם מתן תורה היה קסבר שלמים הקריבו בני נח,כתנאי (שמות יח, א) וישמע יתרו כהן מדין מה שמועה שמע ובא ונתגייר ר' יהושע אומר מלחמת עמלק שמע שהרי כתיב בצדו (שמות יז, יג) ויחלש יהושע את עמלק ואת עמו לפי חרב,ר"א המודעי אומר מתן תורה שמע [ובא] שכשניתנה תורה לישראל היה קולו הולך מסוף העולם ועד סופו וכל [מלכי] עובדי כוכבים אחזתן רעדה בהיכליהן ואמרו שירה שנאמר (תהלים כט, ט) ובהיכלו כולו אומר כבוד,נתקבצו כולם אצל בלעם הרשע ואמרו לו מה קול ההמון אשר שמענו שמא מבול בא לעולם (אמר להם) (תהלים כט, י) ה' למבול ישב [אמר להם] וישב ה' מלך לעולם כבר נשבע הקב"ה שאינו מביא מבול לעולם,אמרו לו מבול של מים אינו מביא אבל מבול של אש מביא שנא' (ישעיהו סו, טז) כי (הנה) באש ה' נשפט אמר להן כבר נשבע שאינו משחית כל בשר,ומה קול ההמון הזה ששמענו אמר להם חמדה טובה יש לו בבית גנזיו שהיתה גנוזה אצלו תתקע"ד דורות קודם שנברא העולם וביקש ליתנה לבניו שנאמר (תהלים כט, יא) ה' עוז לעמו יתן [מיד] פתחו כולם ואמרו (תהלים כט, יא) ה' יברך את עמו בשלום,ר"א אומר קריעת ים סוף שמע ובא שנא' (יהושע ה, א) ויהי כשמוע כל מלכי האמורי ואף רחב הזונה אמרה לשלוחי יהושע (יהושע ב, י) כי שמענו את אשר הוביש ה' את מי ים סוף,מאי שנא התם דאמר (ליה) (יהושע ה, א) ולא היה בם עוד רוח ומ"ש הכא דקאמר (יהושע ב, יא) ולא קמה עוד רוח באיש | 116a. That which was taught in the ibaraita /i: All animals were fit to be sacrificed: bMales and females, unblemished and blemishedanimals, pertains to bthatwhich bthe Master saidas a principle concerning the ihalakhotof sacrifices: The requirements that an offering must have bunblemished status andthat a burnt offering must have bmale statusapply bto animalofferings, bbutthe requirements of bunblemished status and male statusdo bnotapply bto birds. /b, bAndin the verses that recount Noah’s sacrifices upon exiting the ark, ba domesticated animal is juxtaposed with a bird,in the verse: “of every pure animal, and of every pure fowl” (Genesis 8:20), which teaches that kosher animals had a status identical to that of birds, and could be sacrificed whether male or female, unblemished or blemished.,The Gemara adds: That which was taught in the ibaraita /i: bUnblemished and blemishedanimals, serves bto excludeanimals that are blacking a limb, whichwere bnotfit for sacrifice. As bRabbi Elazar says: From whereis it derived bthatan animal that is blacking a limb is forbidden to the descendants of Noah,i.e., gentiles, to be used as a sacrifice? bThe verse stateswith regard to Noah: b“And of every living being of all flesh,two of every sort shall you bring into the ark” (Genesis 6:19). With regard to the phrase: “And of every living being,” which is superfluous, bthe Torah stated: Bring an animal whose limbs areall bliving,not one lacking a limb, as that animal is disqualified from sacrifice.,The Gemara challenges: bBut perhapsthis phrase: “And of every living being,” serves bto exclude an animal with a wound that will cause it to die within twelve months [ itereifa /i]from being fit as a sacrifice. The Gemara explains: The disqualification of a itereifa bis derived fromthe phrase: b“To keep seed alive”(Genesis 7:3), as a itereifacannot propagate.,The Gemara challenges: bThis works out well according to the one who saysthat ba itereifacannot give birth.In this case the disqualification of the itereifais derived from the verse: “To keep seed alive,” while the disqualification of the animal lacking a limb is derived from the verse: “And of every living being.” bBut according to the one who saysthat ba itereifacan give birth, what can be said?According to this opinion, a itereifacannot be excluded by the phrase: “To keep seed alive.” The Gemara explains: bDoesn’t the verse statewith regard to the animals that were brought by Noah into the ark: “You shall bring into the ark, to keep them alive bwith you”(Genesis 6:19)? The term “with you” indicates that the verse is stated bwith regard toanimals that are bsimilar to you,not a itereifa /i.,The Gemara asks: bBut perhaps Noah himself was a itereifa /i.If so, one cannot exclude a itereifafrom the comparison of animals to Noah. The Gemara answers: bIt is written aboutNoah that he was b“complete”(Genesis 6:9), which indicates that he was physically whole and unblemished. The Gemara challenges: bBut perhapsthe verse means that bhis ways were complete,and it is not referring to Noah’s physical attributes. The Gemara explains: bIt isalready bwritten about himthat he was b“righteous”(Genesis 6:9), which means that his actions were perfect. Consequently, when the verse says that he was also complete, it must be referring to his body.,The Gemara challenges: bBut perhapsthe verse means that Noah was bcomplete in his manner,and he was brighteous in hisgood bdeeds.Accordingly, the verse would not exclude the possibility that Noah himself was a itereifa /i. The Gemara responds: bIf it enters your mindto say bthat Noah himself was a itereifa /i, would the Merciful One have said to him: Bring in itereifot blike youto the ark, but bdo not bring in wholeand perfect animals? It is not reasonable to say that there would be a preference for him to bring itereifot /i. Rather, Noah was certainly not a itereifa /i, and the fact that a itereifais disqualified for sacrifice is derived from “with you.”,The Gemara asks: bAnd once we derivethe disqualification of a itereifa bfromthe term b“with you,” why do Ineed the phrase b“to keep seed alive”?The Gemara answers: If one could derive only from b“with you,” you would saythat Noah brought the animals to the ark bonly forthe purpose of bcompanionship,and therefore bevenan animal that is boldor beven one who is castratedcan come into the ark, provided that it is not a itereifa /i. Therefore, the Merciful One writes: “To keep seed alive,” which bteaches usthat only animals that can bear offspring were allowed to be brought into the ark.,§ The ibaraitaalso teaches that before the Tabernacle was constructed, sacrifices were brought from animals and birds that were bkosher, but notfrom bnon-kosherspecies. This is based on the verse that describes what Noah sacrificed when he exited the ark: “And he took of every pure animal and of every pure fowl and offered burnt offerings on the altar” (Genesis 8:20). The Gemara asks: bAnd were there pure and impurespecies bat that time,during the period of Noah? The distinction between pure, i.e., kosher species, and impure, i.e., non-kosher species, was introduced only after the Torah was given (see Leviticus, chapter 11). bRabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani saysthat bRabbi Yonatan says:The pure animals that Noah took were bfrom those that had not been used in the performance of sin. /b,The Gemara asks: bFrom where didNoah and his sons bknowwhich animals had been used in the performance of a sin, in order to prevent them from entering the ark? The Gemara answers that it is bin accordance withthe statement bof Rav Ḥisda. As Rav Ḥisda says:Noah caused all of the animals to bpass before the ark. Allanimals bthat the ark accepted,i.e., drew in, was bknown to be pure;if bthe ark did not accept them,it was bknown that theywere bimpure. /b, bRabbi Abbahu saysthere is a different explanation as to how Noah knew which animals were pure or impure. bThe verse states: “And they that went in,went in bmale and femaleof all flesh” (Genesis 7:16), which means: Those bthat went in on their own.Consequently, Noah did not need to distinguish between pure and impure animals, as only the pure ones approached.,§ In describing the sacrificial service before the Tabernacle was constructed, bthe Master said: And allofferings brought before the construction of the Tabernacle were bsacrificedas bburnt offerings.The Gemara infers: bBurnt offerings, yes,were sacrificed, but bpeace offeringswere bnotsacrificed. The Gemara challenges: bButwith regard to the offerings that were sacrificed at Mount Sinai at the time of the giving of the Torah, bit is written:“And they offered burnt offerings, band sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord”(Exodus 24:5). This event occurred prior to the construction of the Tabernacle. bRather, saythat the ibaraitameans: bAllofferings bsacrificedwere either bburnt offerings or peace offerings. /b,The Gemara challenges: bAnd isn’t it taughtin another ibaraita /i: bBut peace offeringswere bnotsacrificed before the construction of the Tabernacle; brather, only burnt offeringswere sacrificed? Clearly, bburnt offerings, yes,were sacrificed, but bpeace offeringswere bnotsacrificed. The Gemara answers that this ibaraitais bin accordance withthe opinion of bthe one who saysthat bpeace offerings were not sacrificedby the bdescendants of Noah. As it was statedthat there is a dispute between bRabbi Elazar and Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥaninawith regard to this: bOne saysthat bthe descendants of Noah sacrificed peace offerings, and one saysthat bthey did not sacrificepeace offerings.,The Gemara explains the two opinions: bWhat is the reasoning of the one who saysthat bthe descendants of Noah sacrificed peace offerings? As it is written: “And Abel, he also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of the fat thereof”(Genesis 4:4). Abel, like all gentiles, is categorized as a descendant of Noah. The verse emphasizes that the fat was sacrificed. The Gemara analyzes: bWhat is an item,i.e., an offering, bthe fat of which is sacrificed upon the altar, butthat bis not sacrificed in its entirety upon the altar? You must say: This is the peace offering,the meat of which is consumed., bWhat is the reasoning of the one who saysthat bthey did not sacrificepeace offerings? bAs it is written: “Awake [ iuri /i], O north; and come, south… /bLet my beloved come into his garden, and eat his precious fruits” (Song of Songs 4:16). The Gemara interprets this homiletically: The bnation,i.e., the nations of the world, who are the descendants of Noah, bwhose acts,i.e., sacrifices, are only bin the north,i.e., they sacrifice only burnt offerings, which are slaughtered and their blood collected in the north of the Temple courtyard, bshall be removed [ ititna’er /i], andin its place bshall comethe Jewish bnation, whose acts,i.e., sacrifices, are bin the north and in the south,as they sacrifice burnt offerings, whose rites are performed in the north, and peace offerings, whose rites may also be performed in the south, as the entire courtyard is fit for their rites.,The Gemara asks: bAnd alsoaccording to bthe Masterwho holds that the descendants of Noah did not sacrifice peace offerings, bisn’t it written: “And of the fat thereof,”from which it may be derived that Abel sacrificed a peace offering? The Gemara answers: “The fat thereof,” does not mean that Abel sacrificed only the fats of his offerings; rather, it means that he sacrificed bthe fattest of them,i.e., the fattest and choicest of his animals.,The Gemara asks: bAnd alsoaccording to bthe Masterwho holds that the descendants of Noah did sacrifice peace offerings, bisn’t it written: “Awake, O north,”from which it may be derived that the nations of the world do not sacrifice peace offerings? The Gemara answers: In his opinion, bthatverse bis written with regard to the ingathering of the exiles,i.e., the Jewish exiles will come from the north and the south.,With regard to the opinion that the descendants of Noah did not sacrifice peace offerings, the Gemara asks: bBut isn’t it written: “And Moses said: You must also give into our hand sacrifices [ izevaḥim /i] and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God”(Exodus 10:25)? This indicates that sacrifices [ izevaḥim /i], i.e., peace offerings, were sacrificed before the Torah was given. The Gemara answers: In this context, b“ izevaḥim /i”is referring to animals to be used bfor consumption,as the word izevaḥcan also be translated as an animal for slaughter, band “burnt offerings”is referring to animals to be used bfor sacrifice. /b,The Gemara asks: bBut isn’t it writtenbefore the giving of the Torah: b“And Yitro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices [ izevaḥim /i]for God” (Exodus 18:12)? Since the word izevaḥimthere is referring to sacrifices, as the verse clearly states that Yitro took them for God, evidently peace offerings were sacrificed before the giving of the Torah. The Gemara answers: bThatverse bwas writtenwith regard to the period bafter the giving of the Torah,when the Jewish people were permitted to sacrifice peace offerings.,The Gemara notes: bThis works out well according to the one who saysthat the episode with bYitro was after the giving of the Torah. But according to the one who saysthat the episode with bYitro was before the giving of the Torah, what can be said? As it was stated: The sons of Rabbi Ḥiyya and Rabbi Yehoshua ben Leviengage in a dispute concerning this issue. bOne saysthat the episode with bYitro was before the giving of the Torah, and one saysthat the episode with bYitro was after the giving of the Torah.The Gemara answers: bThe one who saysthat the episode with bYitro was before the giving of the Torah maintainsthat bthe descendants of Noah did sacrifice peace offerings. /b,§ The Gemara notes that the disagreement between iamora’imwith regard to when Yitro came to Mount Sinai is blikea dispute between itanna’im /i:The Torah states with regard to Yitro, before he came to Mount Sinai: b“Now Yitro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heardof all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel His people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt” (Exodus 18:1). bWhat tiding did he hear that he came and converted? Rabbi Yehoshua says: He heardabout bthe war with Amalek, as it is written adjacent tothe verses that state that Yitro came: b“And Joshua weakened Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword”(Exodus 17:13)., bRabbi Elazar HaModa’i says: He heardabout bthe giving of the Torah and came. As when the Torah was given to the Jewish people, the voice ofthe Holy One, Blessed be He, bwent fromone bend of the world to theother bend, and all of the kings of the nations of the world were overcome with trembling in their palaces and recited a songof praise, bas it is stated:“The voice of the Lord makes the hinds to calve… band in his palace all say: Glory”(Psalms 29:9), i.e., each king in his own palace recited songs of praise to God.,At that time, ball ofthe kings bgathered around Balaam the wicked,who was the greatest gentile prophet, band said to him: What is the tumultuous sound,i.e., the loud noise, bthat we have heard? Perhaps a flood is coming todestroy bthe world, as it is stated: “The Lord sat enthroned at the flood”(Psalms 29:10)? Balaam bsaid to them: “The Lord sits as King forever”(Psalms 29:10), which means that bthe Holy One, Blessed be He, already took an oathafter the flood bnever to bring a flood to the world,as it is stated: “And the waters shall no more become a flood” (Genesis 9:15).,The kings bsaid to him: He will not bring a flood of water,as he vowed, bbutperhaps bHe will bring a flood of fire,as in the future the Lord will punish the nations with fire, bas it is stated: “For by fire will the Lord contend,and by His sword with all flesh; and the slain of the Lord shall be many” (Isaiah 66:16). Balaam bsaid to them: He already took an oath that He will not destroy all fleshin any manner, as it is stated: “To destroy all flesh” (Genesis 9:15). Therefore, there will not be a flood of fire.,They asked: bAndif so, bwhat is this tumultuous sound that we have heard?Balaam bsaid to them: He has a goodand bprecious item in His treasury, that was hidden away with Himfor b974 generations before the world was created, and He seeks to give it to his children, as it is stated: “The Lord will give strength to His people”(Psalms 29:11). “Strength” is a reference to the Torah, which is the strength of the Jewish people. bImmediately, they all began to say: “The Lord will bless His people with peace”(Psalms 29:11).,The Gemara offers another explanation of what Yitro heard: bRabbi Eliezer says: He heardabout bthe splitting of the Red Sea and came, as it is statedin a similar context with regard to the splitting of the Jordan in the days of Joshua: b“And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites,that were beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, that were by the sea, bheardhow that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel, until they were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them anymore, because of the children of Israel” (Joshua 5:1). bAnd even Rahab the prostitute said to Joshua’s messengers: “For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Seabefore you” (Joshua 2:10).,The Gemara asks: bWhat is different there,i.e., with regard to the splitting of the Jordan, bwherethe verse bstates: “Neither was there spirit in them anymore,” and what is different here,i.e., in the statement of Rahab, bwherethe verse bstates: “Neither did there remain [ ikama /i] any more spirit in any man”(Joshua 2:11)? |
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19. Anon., Midrash On Song of Songs, 4.12, 7.6
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