1. Hebrew Bible, Exodus, 1.1, 1.20, 1.22, 14.10 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 1.1. הָבָה נִתְחַכְּמָה לוֹ פֶּן־יִרְבֶּה וְהָיָה כִּי־תִקְרֶאנָה מִלְחָמָה וְנוֹסַף גַּם־הוּא עַל־שֹׂנְאֵינוּ וְנִלְחַם־בָּנוּ וְעָלָה מִן־הָאָרֶץ׃ 1.1. וְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הַבָּאִים מִצְרָיְמָה אֵת יַעֲקֹב אִישׁ וּבֵיתוֹ בָּאוּ׃ 1.22. וַיְצַו פַּרְעֹה לְכָל־עַמּוֹ לֵאמֹר כָּל־הַבֵּן הַיִּלּוֹד הַיְאֹרָה תַּשְׁלִיכֻהוּ וְכָל־הַבַּת תְּחַיּוּן׃ | 1.1. NOW THESE are the names of the sons of Israel, who came into Egypt with Jacob; every man came with his household:" 1.20. And God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty." 1.22. And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying: ‘Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.’" 14.10. And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians were marching after them; and they were sore afraid; and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD." |
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2. Hebrew Bible, Genesis, 12.10, 13.2-13.3, 15.6, 26.4-26.5, 28.11, 28.18, 45.6, 47.4 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 13.2. וְאַבְרָם כָּבֵד מְאֹד בַּמִּקְנֶה בַּכֶּסֶף וּבַזָּהָב׃ 13.3. וַיֵּלֶךְ לְמַסָּעָיו מִנֶּגֶב וְעַד־בֵּית־אֵל עַד־הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר־הָיָה שָׁם אהלה [אָהֳלוֹ] בַּתְּחִלָּה בֵּין בֵּית־אֵל וּבֵין הָעָי׃ 15.6. וְהֶאֱמִן בַּיהוָה וַיַּחְשְׁבֶהָ לּוֹ צְדָקָה׃ 26.4. וְהִרְבֵּיתִי אֶת־זַרְעֲךָ כְּכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם וְנָתַתִּי לְזַרְעֲךָ אֵת כָּל־הָאֲרָצֹת הָאֵל וְהִתְבָּרֲכוּ בְזַרְעֲךָ כֹּל גּוֹיֵי הָאָרֶץ׃ 26.5. עֵקֶב אֲשֶׁר־שָׁמַע אַבְרָהָם בְּקֹלִי וַיִּשְׁמֹר מִשְׁמַרְתִּי מִצְוֺתַי חֻקּוֹתַי וְתוֹרֹתָי׃ 28.11. וַיִּפְגַּע בַּמָּקוֹם וַיָּלֶן שָׁם כִּי־בָא הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וַיִּקַּח מֵאַבְנֵי הַמָּקוֹם וַיָּשֶׂם מְרַאֲשֹׁתָיו וַיִּשְׁכַּב בַּמָּקוֹם הַהוּא׃ 28.18. וַיַּשְׁכֵּם יַעֲקֹב בַּבֹּקֶר וַיִּקַּח אֶת־הָאֶבֶן אֲשֶׁר־שָׂם מְרַאֲשֹׁתָיו וַיָּשֶׂם אֹתָהּ מַצֵּבָה וַיִּצֹק שֶׁמֶן עַל־רֹאשָׁהּ׃ 45.6. כִּי־זֶה שְׁנָתַיִם הָרָעָב בְּקֶרֶב הָאָרֶץ וְעוֹד חָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים אֲשֶׁר אֵין־חָרִישׁ וְקָצִּיר׃ 47.4. וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֶל־פַּרְעֹה לָגוּר בָּאָרֶץ בָּאנוּ כִּי־אֵין מִרְעֶה לַצֹּאן אֲשֶׁר לַעֲבָדֶיךָ כִּי־כָבֵד הָרָעָב בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן וְעַתָּה יֵשְׁבוּ־נָא עֲבָדֶיךָ בְּאֶרֶץ גֹּשֶׁן׃ | 12.10. And there was a famine in the land; and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was sore in the land." 13.2. And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold." 13.3. And he went on his journeys from the South even to Beth-el, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Beth-el and Ai;" 15.6. And he believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness." 26.4. and I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these lands; and by thy seed shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves;" 26.5. because that Abraham hearkened to My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.’" 28.11. And he lighted upon the place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took one of the stones of the place, and put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep." 28.18. And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it." 45.6. For these two years hath the famine been in the land; and there are yet five years, in which there shall be neither plowing nor harvest." 47.4. And they said unto Pharaoh: ‘To sojourn in the land are we come; for there is no pasture for thy servants’flocks; for the famine is sore in the land of Canaan. Now therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants dwell in the land of Goshen.’" |
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3. Hebrew Bible, Jonah, 1.5, 1.14, 1.16 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 1.5. וַיִּירְאוּ הַמַּלָּחִים וַיִּזְעֲקוּ אִישׁ אֶל־אֱלֹהָיו וַיָּטִלוּ אֶת־הַכֵּלִים אֲשֶׁר בָּאֳנִיָּה אֶל־הַיָּם לְהָקֵל מֵעֲלֵיהֶם וְיוֹנָה יָרַד אֶל־יַרְכְּתֵי הַסְּפִינָה וַיִּשְׁכַּב וַיֵּרָדַם׃ 1.14. וַיִּקְרְאוּ אֶל־יְהוָה וַיֹּאמְרוּ אָנָּה יְהוָה אַל־נָא נֹאבְדָה בְּנֶפֶשׁ הָאִישׁ הַזֶּה וְאַל־תִּתֵּן עָלֵינוּ דָּם נָקִיא כִּי־אַתָּה יְהוָה כַּאֲשֶׁר חָפַצְתָּ עָשִׂיתָ׃ 1.16. וַיִּירְאוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים יִרְאָה גְדוֹלָה אֶת־יְהוָה וַיִּזְבְּחוּ־זֶבַח לַיהוָה וַיִּדְּרוּ נְדָרִים׃ | 1.5. And the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god; and they cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it unto them. But Jonah was gone down into the innermost parts of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep." 1.14. Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said: ‘We beseech Thee, O LORD, we beseech Thee, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not upon us innocent blood; for Thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased Thee.’" 1.16. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly; and they offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows." |
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4. Hebrew Bible, Numbers, 20.15 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 20.15. וַיֵּרְדוּ אֲבֹתֵינוּ מִצְרַיְמָה וַנֵּשֶׁב בְּמִצְרַיִם יָמִים רַבִּים וַיָּרֵעוּ לָנוּ מִצְרַיִם וְלַאֲבֹתֵינוּ׃ | 20.15. how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and our fathers;" |
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5. Septuagint, Ecclesiasticus (Siracides), 44.19-44.20 (2nd cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE)
| 44.19. Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations,and no one has been found like him in glory; |
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6. Philo of Alexandria, On The Migration of Abraham, 128-131, 127 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
| 127. We have now, then, said enough about gifts which God is accustomed to bestow on those who are to become perfect, and through the medium of them on others also. In the next passage it is said, that "Abraham went as the Lord commanded Him. |
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7. Philo of Alexandria, De Providentia, 2.15 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
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8. Philo of Alexandria, Questions On Genesis, 4.184 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
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9. Josephus Flavius, Jewish Antiquities, 9.209, 9.212, 20.100 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 9.209. and upon the rise of a most terrible storm, which was so great that the ship was in danger of sinking, the mariners, the master, and the pilot himself, made prayers and vows, in case they escaped the sea: but Jonah lay still and covered [in the ship,] without imitating any thing that the others did; 9.212. Now at the first they durst not do so, as esteeming it a wicked thing to cast a man who was a stranger, and who had committed his life to them, into such manifest perdition; but at last, when their misfortune overbore them, and the ship was just going to be drowned, and when they were animated to do it by the prophet himself, and by the fear concerning their own safety, they cast him into the sea; |
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10. Mishnah, Eduyot, 1.5 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 1.5. And why do they record the opinion of a single person among the many, when the halakhah must be according to the opinion of the many? So that if a court prefers the opinion of the single person it may depend on him. For no court may set aside the decision of another court unless it is greater than it in wisdom and in number. If it was greater than it in wisdom but not in number, in number but not in wisdom, it may not set aside its decision, unless it is greater than it in wisdom and in number." |
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11. Mishnah, Hagigah, 1.8 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 1.8. [The laws concerning] the dissolution of vows hover in the air and have nothing to rest on. The laws concerning Shabbat, hagigot, and trespassing are as mountains hanging by a hair, for they have scant scriptural basis but many halakhot. [The laws concerning] civil cases and [Temple] worship, purity and impurity, and the forbidden relations have what to rest on, and they that are the essentials of the Torah." |
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12. Mishnah, Orlah, 3.9 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 3.9. Doubtful orlah: in the land of Israel is prohibited, in Syria is permitted, and outside the land one may go down and purchase [from a non-Israelite] as long as he has not seen him gathering it. A vineyard planted with vegetables [which are kilayim], and they [the vegetables] are sold outside of it: in the land of Israel these are prohibited, and in Syria they are permitted; outside the land one may go down and purchase them as long as he does not gather [them] with [one’s own] hand. New [produce] is prohibited by the Torah in all places. And orlah is a halachah. And kilayim are an enactment of the scribes." |
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13. Mishnah, Toharot, 4.11 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 4.11. \"If there is doubt concerning the hands as to whether they have contracted uncleanness, have conveyed uncleanness or have attained cleanness, they are deemed clean.\" \"Any doubt that arose in a public domain is deemed clean. \"A condition of doubt concerning an ordice of the scribes\": [For instance, he is uncertain whether] he ate unclean food or drank unclean liquids, whether he immersed his head and the greater part of his body in drawn water, or whether there fell on his head and the greater part of his body three log of drawn water, such a condition of doubt is deemed clean. But if a condition of doubt arose concerning a father of uncleanness even though it was only rabbinical, it is deemed unclean." |
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14. Tosefta, Yadayim, 2.16 (1st cent. CE - 2nd cent. CE)
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15. Anon., Genesis Rabba, 64.4, 68.11 (2nd cent. CE - 5th cent. CE)
| 64.4. עֵקֶב אֲשֶׁר שָׁמַע אַבְרָהָם בְּקֹלִי (בראשית כו, ה), רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְרַבִּי חֲנִינָא, תַּרְוֵיהוֹן אָמְרֵי בֶּן אַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁמוֹנָה שָׁנָה הִכִּיר אַבְרָהָם אֶת בּוֹרְאוֹ. רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ אָמַר בֶּן שָׁלשׁ שָׁנִים הִכִּיר אַבְרָהָם אֶת בּוֹרְאוֹ, מִנְיַן עֵקֶ"ב שָׁמַע אַבְרָהָם בְּקוֹל בּוֹרְאוֹ. (בראשית כו, ה): וַיִּשְׁמֹר מִשְׁמַרְתִּי מִצְוֹתַי חֻקּוֹתַי וְתוֹרֹתָי, רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן מִשֵּׁם רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר אֲפִלּוּ הִלְכוֹת עֵרוּבֵי חֲצֵרוֹת הָיָה אַבְרָהָם יוֹדֵעַ. תּוֹרֹתָי, שְׁתֵּי תוֹרוֹת, שֶׁקִּיֵּם אֲפִלּוּ מִצְוָה קַלָּה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה. רַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר אֲפִלּוּ שֵׁם חָדָשׁ שֶׁעָתִיד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִקְרוֹא לִירוּשָׁלַיִם הָיָה אַבְרָהָם יוֹדֵעַ, דִּכְתִיב (בראשית כב, יד): וַיִּקְרָא שֵׁם הַמָּקוֹם ה' יִרְאֶה, וּכְתִיב (יחזקאל מח, לה): וְשֵׁם הָעִיר מִיּוֹם ה' שָׁמָּה, וּכְתִיב (ירמיה ג, יז): בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִקְרְאוּ לִיְרוּשָׁלָיִם כִּסֵּא ה'. רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה אָמַר בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אֵין כָּל יוֹם וָיוֹם שֶׁאֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְחַדֵּשׁ הֲלָכָה בְּבֵית דִּין שֶׁל מַעְלָה, מַאי טַעְמֵיהּ (איוב לז, ב): שִׁמְעוּ שָׁמוֹעַ בְּרֹגֶז קֹלוֹ וְהֶגֶה מִפִּיו יֵצֵא, וְאֵין הֶגֶה אֶלָּא תוֹרָה, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יהושע א, ח): וְהָגִיתָ בוֹ יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה. 68.11. וַיִּקַח מֵאַבְנֵי הַמָּקוֹם (בראשית כח, יא), רַבִּי יְהוּדָה וְרַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה וְרַבָּנָן, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר שְׁנֵים עֶשְׂרֵה אֲבָנִים נָטַל, כָּךְ גָּזַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁהוּא מַעֲמִיד שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר שְׁבָטִים, אָמַר אַבְרָהָם לֹא הֶעֱמִידָן, יִצְחָק לֹא הֶעֱמִידָן, אֲנִי אִם מִתְאַחוֹת הֵן שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר אֲבָנִים זוֹ לָזוֹ יוֹדֵעַ אֲנִי שֶׁאֲנִי מַעֲמִיד שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר שְׁבָטִים, כֵּיוָן שֶׁנִּתְאַחוּ שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר אֲבָנִים זוֹ לָזוֹ, יָדַע שֶׁהוּא מַעֲמִיד שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר שְׁבָטִים. רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה אָמַר נָטַל שָׁלשׁ אֲבָנִים, אָמַר, אַבְרָהָם יִחֵד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שְׁמוֹ עָלָיו, יִצְחָק יִחֵד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שְׁמוֹ עָלָיו, וַאֲנִי אִם מִתְאַחוֹת הֵן שָׁלשׁ אֲבָנִים זוֹ לָזוֹ, יוֹדֵעַ אֲנִי שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְיַחֵד שְׁמוֹ עָלַי, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁנִּתְאַחוּ, יָדַע שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְיַחֵד שְׁמוֹ עָלָיו. רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי מִעוּט אֲבָנִים שְׁנַיִם, אַבְרָהָם יָצָא מִמֶּנּוּ פְּסֹלֶת, יִשְׁמָעֵאל וְכָל בְּנֵי קְטוּרָה. וְיִצְחָק יָצָא עֵשָׂו וְכָל אַלּוּפָיו. וַאֲנִי אִם מִתְאַחוֹת שְׁתֵּי אֲבָנִים זוֹ לָזוֹ, יוֹדֵעַ אֲנִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ יוֹצֵא הֵימֶנִּי פְּסֹלֶת. רַבִּי לֵוִי וְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר זִמְרָא אָמַר עֲשָׂאָן כְּמִין מַרְזֵב וְנָתַן תַּחַת רֹאשׁוֹ, שֶׁהָיָה מִתְיָרֵא מִן הַחַיּוֹת. רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה וְרַבִּי לֵוִי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חָמָא בַּר חֲנִינָא אָמַר כְּתִיב (מיכה א, ג): כִּי הִנֵּה ה' יֹצֵא מִמְּקוֹמוֹ וְיָרַד וְדָרַךְ עַל בָּמֳתֵי אָרֶץ וגו', מִי שֶׁנִּגְלָה עָלָיו הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה. רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר אוֹתָן הָאֲבָנִים שֶׁנָּתַן יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ תַּחַת רֹאשׁוֹ נַעֲשׂוּ תַּחְתָּיו כְּמִטָּה וּכְפַרְנוֹס, מָה רְטִיבָה הִרְטִיב (שיר השירים א, יז): קֹרוֹת בָּתֵּינוּ אֲרָזִים וגו'. צַדִּיקִים וְצַדִּיקוֹת נְבִיאִים וּנְבִיאוֹת שֶׁיָּצְאוּ מִמֶּנּוּ. וַיִּשְׁכַּב בַּמָּקוֹם הַהוּא, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה וְרַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר כָּאן שָׁכַב אֲבָל כָּל אַרְבַּע עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה שֶׁהָיָה טָמוּן בְּבֵית עֵבֶר לֹא שָׁכָב. וְרַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה אָמַר כָּאן שָׁכַב, אֲבָל כָּל עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה שֶׁעָמַד בְּבֵיתוֹ שֶׁל לָבָן לֹא שָׁכָב, וּמָה הָיָה אוֹמֵר, רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר חֲמֵשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת שֶׁבְּסֵפֶר תְּהִלִּים, מַאי טַעְמֵיהּ (תהלים קכד, א): שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת לְדָוִד לוּלֵי ה' שֶׁהָיָה לָנוּ יֹאמַר נָא יִשְׂרָאֵל, יִשְׂרָאֵל סָבָא. רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן אָמַר כָּל סֵפֶר תְּהִלִּים הָיָה אוֹמֵר, מַה טַּעַם (תהלים כב, ד): וְאַתָּה קָדוֹשׁ יוֹשֵׁב תְּהִלּוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל, יִשְׂרָאֵל סָבָא. | 64.4. “Because Avraham hearkened to My voice…” (Bereshit 26:5) R’ Yocha and R’ Chanina both said - Avraham came to consciousness of his Creator at age forty-eight. Resh Lakish said - Avraham came to consciousness of his Creator at age three. From where did they learn this? ‘Because (ekev, also meaning heel) Abraham hearkened to the voice of his Creator, “and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My instructions.\" (Bereshit 26:5) R’ Yonatan said in the name of R’ Yocha – even the laws of mixing courtyards were known to Avraham, ‘My instructions (torati)’, Avraham kept two torahs, even the simple commandments of the oral law. R’ Simon said – even the new name which the Holy One would call Jerusalem in the future was known to Avraham, as it is written “And Avraham named that place, The Lord will see…” (Bereshit 22:14), and it is written “…and the name of the city from that day will be ‘The Lord is There.’” (Yechezkiel 48:35), and it is written “At that time, they will call Jerusalem ‘The Throne of the Lord’…” (Yermiyahu 3:17) R’ Berachia said in the name of R’ Yehudah: there is no day on which the Holy One does not innovate law in the heavenly court. What is his proof? “Hear attentively the noise of His voice and the sound (hegeh) that emanates from His mouth.” (Iyov 37:2) Hegeh only refers to Torah, as it says “…you shall meditate (hegita) therein day and night..” (Yehoshua 1:8)" |
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16. Babylonian Talmud, Yoma, None (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 28b. big strongגמ׳ /strong /big תניא ר' ישמעאל אומר ברק ברקאי ר"ע אומר עלה ברקאי נחומא בן אפקשיון אומר אף ברקאי בחברון מתיא בן שמואל (אומר) הממונה על הפייסות אומר האיר פני כל המזרח עד שבחברון רבי יהודה בן בתירא אומר האיר פני כל המזרח עד בחברון ויצאו כל העם איש איש למלאכתו,אי הכי נגה ליה טובא לשכור פועלים קאמרינן,אמר רב ספרא צלותיה דאברהם מכי משחרי כותלי,אמר רב יוסף אנן מאברהם ניקום וניגמר אמר רבא תנא גמר מאברהם ואנן לא גמרינן מיניה דתניא (ויקרא יב, ג) וביום השמיני ימול בשר ערלתו מלמד שכל היום כשר למילה אלא שהזריזין מקדימין למצות שנאמר (בראשית כב, ג) וישכם אברהם בבקר ויחבוש וגו',אלא אמר רבא רב יוסף הא קא קשיא ליה דתנן חל ערבי פסחים להיות בע"ש נשחט בשש ומחצה וקרב בשבע ומחצה ונשחטיה מכי משחרי כותלי,מאי קושיא ודילמא כותלי דבית המקדש בשש ומחצה משחרי משום דלא מכווני טובא א"נ שאני אברהם דאיצטגנינות גדולה היתה בלבו א"נ משום דזקן ויושב בישיבה הוה דא"ר חמא בר' חנינא מימיהן של אבותינו לא פרשה ישיבה מהם,היו במצרים ישיבה עמהם שנאמר (שמות ג, טז) לך ואספת את זקני ישראל היו במדבר ישיבה עמהם שנאמר (במדבר יא, טז) אספה לי שבעים איש מזקני ישראל אברהם אבינו זקן ויושב בישיבה היה שנאמר (בראשית כד, א) ואברהם זקן בא בימים יצחק אבינו זקן ויושב בישיבה היה שנאמר (בראשית כז, א) ויהי כי זקן יצחק יעקב אבינו זקן ויושב בישיבה היה שנאמר (בראשית מח, י) ועיני ישראל כבדו מזוקן,אליעזר עבד אברהם זקן ויושב בישיבה היה שנאמר (בראשית כד, ב) ויאמר אברהם אל עבדו זקן ביתו המושל בכל אשר לו אר"א שמושל בתורת רבו (בראשית טו, ב) הוא דמשק אליעזר א"ר אלעזר שדולה ומשקה מתורתו של רבו לאחרים,אמר רב קיים אברהם אבינו כל התורה כולה שנאמר (בראשית כו, ה) עקב אשר שמע אברהם בקולי וגו' א"ל רב שימי בר חייא לרב ואימא שבע מצות הא איכא נמי מילה ואימא שבע מצות ומילה א"ל א"כ מצותי ותורותי למה לי,אמר (רב) ואיתימא רב אשי קיים אברהם אבינו אפילו עירובי תבשילין שנאמר תורותי אחת תורה שבכתב ואחת תורה שבעל פה,מתיא בן שמואל אמר וכו' והוא אומר הן מאן אמר הן אילימא הך דקאי אאיגרא הוא חלים והוא מפשר אלא הך דקאי אארעא מנא ידע,איבעית אימא הך דקאי אארעא ואיבעית אימא הך דקאי אאיגרא איבעית אימא הך דקאי אאיגרא אמר איהו האיר פני כל המזרח וא"ל הך דקאי אארעא עד שבחברון וא"ל איהו הן,ואיבעית אימא הך דקאי אארעא אמר איהו האיר פני כל המזרח וא"ל עד שבחברון וא"ל הן,ולמה הוצרכו לכך וכו' ומי מיחליף והתניא רבי אומר אינו דומה תימור של לבנה לתימור של חמה תימור של לבנה מתמר ועולה כמקל תימור של חמה מפציע לכאן ולכאן תנא דבי רבי ישמעאל יום המעונן היה ומפציע לכאן ולכאן אמר רב פפא שמע מינה יומא דעיבא כוליה שמשא,למאי נפקא מינה לשטוחי עורות אי נמי לכדדרש רבא אשה לא תלוש לא בחמה ולא בחמי חמה,אמר רב נחמן זוהמא דשימשא קשי משימשא וסימניך דנא דחלא שברירי דשימשא קשו משימשא וסימניך דילפא | 28b. strongGEMARA: /strong bIt was taughtin a ibaraitathat the Sages disputed the precise expression that was employed in the Temple. bRabbi Yishmael saysthat the formula is: bThe light flashed; Rabbi Akiva says: The light has risen,which is brighter than a mere flash. bNaḥuma ben Apakshiyon says:There is beven light in Hebron. Matya ben Shmuel saysthat bthe appointedpriest in charge of bthe lotteries says: The entire eastern sky is illuminatedall the way bto Hebron. Rabbi Yehuda ben Beteira saysthat this is what the appointed priest said: bThe entire eastern sky is illuminatedall the way bto Hebron and the entire nation has gone out, each and every person toengage in bhis labor. /b,The Gemara questions Rabbi Yehuda ben Beteira’s version of the formula: bIfit is bsothat the people have gone to work, it has bgrown considerably lighter.People go to work after it is light. Apparently, Rabbi Yehuda ben Beteira is referring to a time after sunrise, not a time adjacent to dawn. The Gemara answers: It is that people have gone out bto hire workersthat bwe are saying.Owners of fields rose early, adjacent to dawn, to hire workers so that they could begin working when it is light.,§ bRav Safra said:The time for the afternoon bprayer of Abrahambegins bfrom when the wallsbegin to bblackenfrom shade. When the sun begins to descend from the middle of the sky, producing shadows on the walls, that marks the beginning of the setting of the sun and then the afternoon prayer may be recited., bRav Yosef said:And will bwe arise and derivea ihalakha bfrom Abraham?Didn’t Abraham live before the Torah was given to the Jewish people, and therefore ihalakhotcannot be derived from his conduct? bRava said:The itannaderiveda ihalakha bfrom Abraham’sconduct, band we do not derivea ihalakha bfrom hisconduct? bAs it was taughtin a ibaraitawith regard to the verse: b“And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised”(Leviticus 12:3), this verse bteaches that the entire day is suitable forperformance of the mitzva of bcircumcision. However, the vigilant are earlyin their performance of bmitzvotand circumcise in the morning, bas it is statedwith regard to the binding of Isaac: b“And Abraham arose early in the morning and saddledhis donkey” (Genesis 22:3). He awakened early to fulfill the mitzva without delay. Apparently, ihalakhais derived from the conduct of Abraham., bRather, Rava said:With regard to bRav Yosef,it was not the matter of deriving ihalakhafrom the conduct of Abraham that is difficult. Rather, bthis is difficult for him, as we learnedin a mishna: When bPassover eves occur on Shabbat eves,the daily afternoon offering is slaughtered bat six and a half hoursof the day band sacrificedon the altar bat seven and a half hours.The afternoon offering was slaughtered as early as possible to enable all the Paschal lambs, which were slaughtered after the daily afternoon offering was sacrificed, to be slaughtered and roasted before sunset, so that no labor would be performed on Shabbat. Now, if indeed this ihalakhais derived from the conduct of Abraham, blet us slaughterthe offering even earlier, bfrom when the wallsbegin to bblacken,just after the end of the sixth hour of the day. Apparently, ihalakhais not derived from the conduct of Abraham.,The Gemara rejects this: bWhat is the difficulty? br bPerhaps the walls of the Templebegin to bblackenonly bat six and a halfhours of the day bbecause they are not perfectly aligned.The Temple walls were broad at the bottom and gradually narrowed as they reached the top; therefore, the upper part of the wall did not cast a shadow on the wall opposite it until six and a half hours of the day. br bOr, alternatively,it is bdifferentwith regard to bAbrahambecause bthere was greatknowledge of bastronomy [ iitztagninut /i] in his heart.He was able to precisely calculate the movements of the heavenly bodies and was therefore able to discern immediately after noon that the sun had begun its descent. Others require a half hour to be certain that the descent of the sun has begun. br bOr, alternativelyAbraham was different bbecause he was an Elder and satand studied Torah bin a yeshiva,where the Divine Presence rests. There he developed the expertise to determine the precise hour. bAs Rabbi Ḥama, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, said: From the days of our ancestors, yeshiva never left them.Our ancestors were leaders of their generations, who taught Torah to students who came to them.,When bthey were in Egyptthere was ba yeshiva with them, as it is stated: “Go and gather the Elders of Israel”(Exodus 3:16), indicating that there were Sages among them who studied Torah. And similarly, when bthey were in the desert,there was ba yeshiva with them, as it is stated: “Gather for me seventy men from the Elders of Israel”(Numbers 11:16). bAbraham our Patriarchwas himself ban Elder and would sit in yeshiva, as it is stated: “And Abraham was old, advanced in years”(Genesis 24:1). From the apparent redundancy of the terms old and advanced in years, it is derived that old means that he was a wise Elder and prominent in Torah, and advanced in years means that he was elderly. Similarly, bIsaac our Patriarch was an Elder and sat in yeshiva, as it is stated: “And it came to pass when Isaac was oldand his eyes were dim” (Genesis 27:1). Similarly, bJacob our Patriarch was an Elder and sat in yeshiva, as it is stated: “And Israel’s eyes were heavy with age”(Genesis 48:10)., bEliezer, servant of Abraham, was an Elder and sat in yeshiva, as it is stated: “And Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his household, who ruled over all he had”(Genesis 24:2). bRabbi Elazar said:The verse means that bhe had mastery over the Torah of his master,having gained proficiency in all of the Torah of Abraham. That is the meaning of the verse: b“He is Damascus [ iDammesek /i] Eliezer”(Genesis 15:2). bRabbi Elazar said:The word iDammesekis a contraction of he bwho draws [ idoleh /i] and gives drink [ imashke /i] to others from his master’s Torah. /b,Apropos the previous statement, the Gemara cites that bRav said: Abraham our Patriarch fulfilled the entire Torahbefore it was given, bas it is stated: “Because [ iekev /i] Abraham hearkened to My voice and keptMy charge, My mitzvot, My statutes and My Torahs” (Genesis 26:5). bRav Shimi bar Ḥiyya said to Rav: And saythat the verse means that he fulfilled only the bsevenNoahide bmitzvotand not the entire Torah. The Gemara asks: bBut isn’t there also circumcisionthat Abraham clearly observed, which is not one of the Noahide laws? Apparently, Abraham fulfilled more than just those seven. The Gemara asks: bAnd saythat he fulfilled only bthe seven mitzvot and circumcision.Rav bsaid to him: If so, why do Ineed the continuation of the verse, that Abraham kept: bMy mitzvot and My Torah?That is a clear indication that he fulfilled mitzvot beyond the seven Noahide mitzvot, and apparently fulfilled the entire Torah., bRav said, and some say Rav Ashisaid: bAbraham our Patriarch fulfilledthe entire Torah, beventhe mitzva of bthe joining of cooked foods,a rabbinic ordice instituted later, bas it is stated: My Torahs.Since the term is in the plural, it indicates that Abraham kept two Torahs; bone, the Written Torah, and one, the Oral Torah.In the course of fulfilling the Oral Torah, he fulfilled all the details and parameters included therein.,§ It was taught in the mishna that bMatya ben Shmuel saysthat the appointed priest asks: bIs the entire eastern sky illuminated even to Hebron? And he says: Yes.The Gemara asks: bWho said yes? If we sayit is bthatperson bwho is standing on the roof,does bhe dream andalso binterprethis dream? Is it reasonable that the one asking the question answers it? bRather,say that it was bthatperson bwho is standing on the groundwho said yes. bFrom where does he knowthat the sky is illuminated such that he is able to answer yes?,The Gemara suggests two possible solutions: bIf you wish, sayit was bthatperson bwho is standing on the groundwho answered yes, band if you wish, sayit was bthatperson bwho is standing on the roofwho answered. bIf you wish, say thatthe person bwho is standing on the roof said: The entire eastern sky is illuminated. And thatperson bwho is standing on the ground said to him:Has it illuminated beven to Hebron? And hewho is standing on the roof bsaid to him: Yes. /b, bAnd if you wish, sayinstead bthatthe person bwho is standing on the ground said: Is the entire eastern sky illuminated? And hewho is standing on the roof bsaid to him:Do you mean that it is illuminated even bto Hebron? And hewho is standing on the ground bsaid to him: Yes,that is what I mean.,§ The mishna asks: bAnd why did they need toascertain bthis?The mishna answered that there was an incident where they confused the light of the moon with the light of the rising sun and slaughtered the daily morning offering too early. The Gemara asks: bAnd aresunlight and moonlight bmistakenfor one another? bWasn’t it taughtin a ibaraitathat bRabbiYehuda HaNasi bsays: A column ofthe light of the bmoon is not similar to a column ofthe light of the bsun; a column ofthe light of the bmoon rises like a staffin one column while ba column ofthe light of the bsun diffuses to here and to there?The Gemara answers that bthe school of Rabbi Yishmael taught:It bwas a cloudy day, andthen even the moonlight bdiffuses to here and to there,which caused them to err and believe that it was the rising sun. bRav Pappa said: Learn from thisstatement of Rabbi Yishmael that ba cloudy day issimilar to ba completely sunnyday because the sunlight is further diffused by the clouds.,The Gemara asks: bWhat are thepractical bramificationsof the statement that a cloudy day is similar to a completely sunny day? The Gemara explains: The ramifications are with regard bto spreading hidesto dry them. On a cloudy day, wherever the hides are placed they will be exposed to sunlight. bAlternatively,the ramifications are according btothat bwhich Rava taughtwith regard to imatza /i: bA womanmay bneither kneaddough for imatzafor Passover binthe light of bthe sun normay she prepare the dough bwith hot waterheated bin the sun.On a cloudy day, one may not knead the dough anywhere outside since the light of the sun is diffused everywhere.,Apropos a cloudy day, the Gemara cites that bRav Naḥman said: The hazylight bof the sunthrough the clouds bis more damaging than thelight of the bsunitself. bAnd your mnemonicis bthecover of ba jar of vinegar:As long as the jar is tightly closed, the odor of the vinegar does not spread and it intensifies. Even the slightest opening in the lid releases an odor more powerful than the odor generated by vinegar that was not sealed in a jar. The same is true with regard to the rays of the sun. With regard to sunlight that is obscured behind clouds, when it escapes through breaks in the clouds it is more powerful than direct sunlight. bDazzling sunlight,which shines through cracks in the clouds, bis more harmfulto the eyes bthandirect bsunlight. And your mnemonic is a drip;water that drips on a person is more bothersome than water in which one completely immerses his body. |
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17. Anon., Pirqe Rabbi Eliezer, 10
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