1. Hebrew Bible, Deuteronomy, 6.4, 17.15, 31.10-31.13 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 6.4. שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָד׃ 17.15. שׂוֹם תָּשִׂים עָלֶיךָ מֶלֶךְ אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בּוֹ מִקֶּרֶב אַחֶיךָ תָּשִׂים עָלֶיךָ מֶלֶךְ לֹא תוּכַל לָתֵת עָלֶיךָ אִישׁ נָכְרִי אֲשֶׁר לֹא־אָחִיךָ הוּא׃ 31.11. בְּבוֹא כָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵרָאוֹת אֶת־פְּנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בַּמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִבְחָר תִּקְרָא אֶת־הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת נֶגֶד כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאָזְנֵיהֶם׃ 31.12. הַקְהֵל אֶת־הָעָם הָאֲנָשִׁים וְהַנָּשִׁים וְהַטַּף וְגֵרְךָ אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ לְמַעַן יִשְׁמְעוּ וּלְמַעַן יִלְמְדוּ וְיָרְאוּ אֶת־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם וְשָׁמְרוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת־כָּל־דִּבְרֵי הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת׃ 31.13. וּבְנֵיהֶם אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יָדְעוּ יִשְׁמְעוּ וְלָמְדוּ לְיִרְאָה אֶת־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם כָּל־הַיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם חַיִּים עַל־הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם עֹבְרִים אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן שָׁמָּה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ׃ | 6.4. HEAR, O ISRAEL: THE LORD OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE." 17.15. thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose; one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee; thou mayest not put a foreigner over thee, who is not thy brother." 31.10. And Moses commanded them, saying: ‘At the end of every seven years, in the set time of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles," 31.11. when all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which He shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing." 31.12. Assemble the people, the men and the women and the little ones, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law;" 31.13. and that their children, who have not known, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over the Jordan to possess it.’" |
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2. Hebrew Bible, 2 Kings, 23.3 (8th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 23.3. וַיַּרְכִּבֻהוּ עֲבָדָיו מֵת מִמְּגִדּוֹ וַיְבִאֻהוּ יְרוּשָׁלִַם וַיִּקְבְּרֻהוּ בִּקְבֻרָתוֹ וַיִּקַּח עַם־הָאָרֶץ אֶת־יְהוֹאָחָז בֶּן־יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ וַיִּמְשְׁחוּ אֹתוֹ וַיַּמְלִיכוּ אֹתוֹ תַּחַת אָבִיו׃ 23.3. וַיַּעֲמֹד הַמֶּלֶךְ עַל־הָעַמּוּד וַיִּכְרֹת אֶת־הַבְּרִית לִפְנֵי יְהוָה לָלֶכֶת אַחַר יְהוָה וְלִשְׁמֹר מִצְוֺתָיו וְאֶת־עֵדְוֺתָיו וְאֶת־חֻקֹּתָיו בְּכָל־לֵב וּבְכָל־נֶפֶשׁ לְהָקִים אֶת־דִּבְרֵי הַבְּרִית הַזֹּאת הַכְּתֻבִים עַל־הַסֵּפֶר הַזֶּה וַיַּעֲמֹד כָּל־הָעָם בַּבְּרִית׃ | 23.3. And the king stood on the platform, and made a covet before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep His commandments, and His testimonies, and His statutes, with all his heart, and all his soul, to confirm the words of this covet that were written in this book; and all the people stood to the covet." |
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3. Hebrew Bible, Ezekiel, 1.1 (6th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 1.1. וּדְמוּת פְּנֵיהֶם פְּנֵי אָדָם וּפְנֵי אַרְיֵה אֶל־הַיָּמִין לְאַרְבַּעְתָּם וּפְנֵי־שׁוֹר מֵהַשְּׂמֹאול לְאַרְבַּעְתָּן וּפְנֵי־נֶשֶׁר לְאַרְבַּעְתָּן׃ 1.1. וַיְהִי בִּשְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה בָּרְבִיעִי בַּחֲמִשָּׁה לַחֹדֶשׁ וַאֲנִי בְתוֹךְ־הַגּוֹלָה עַל־נְהַר־כְּבָר נִפְתְּחוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וָאֶרְאֶה מַרְאוֹת אֱלֹהִים׃ | 1.1. Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river Chebar that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God." |
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4. Hebrew Bible, Nehemiah, 8.4 (5th cent. BCE - 4th cent. BCE)
| 8.4. וַיַּעֲמֹד עֶזְרָא הַסֹּפֵר עַל־מִגְדַּל־עֵץ אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ לַדָּבָר וַיַּעֲמֹד אֶצְלוֹ מַתִּתְיָה וְשֶׁמַע וַעֲנָיָה וְאוּרִיָּה וְחִלְקִיָּה וּמַעֲשֵׂיָה עַל־יְמִינוֹ וּמִשְּׂמֹאלוֹ פְּדָיָה וּמִישָׁאֵל וּמַלְכִּיָּה וְחָשֻׁם וְחַשְׁבַּדָּנָה זְכַרְיָה מְשֻׁלָּם׃ | 8.4. And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam." |
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5. Septuagint, 3 Maccabees, 7.13 (2nd cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE)
| 7.13. When they had applauded him in fitting manner, their priests and the whole multitude shouted the Hallelujah and joyfully departed. |
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6. Philo of Alexandria, Hypothetica, 7.13 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
| 7.13. and, in fact, they do constantly assemble together, and they do sit down one with another, the multitude in general in silence, except when it is customary to say any words of good omen, by way of assent to what is being read. And then some priest who is present, or some one of the elders, reads the sacred laws to them, and interprets each of them separately till eventide; and then when separate they depart, having gained some skill in the sacred laws, and having made great advancers towards piety. |
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7. Josephus Flavius, Jewish Antiquities, 4.209 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 4.209. 12. When the multitude are assembled together unto the holy city for sacrificing every seventh year, at the feast of tabernacles, let the high priest stand upon a high desk, whence he may be heard, and let him read the laws to all the people; and let neither the women nor the children be hindered from hearing, no, nor the servants neither; |
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8. Mishnah, Bikkurim, 3.2, 3.4 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 3.2. How were the bikkurim taken up [to Jerusalem]? All [the inhabitants of] the cities of the maamad would assemble in the city of the maamad, and they would spend the night in the open street and they would not entering any of the houses. Early in the morning the officer would say: “Let us arise and go up to Zion, into the house of the Lord our God” (Jeremiah 31:5)." 3.4. The flute would play before them, until they reached the Temple Mount. When they reached the Temple Mount even King Agrippas would take the basket and place it on his shoulder and walk as far as the Temple Court. When he got to the Temple Court, the Levites would sing the song: “I will extol You, O Lord, for You have raised me up, and You have not let my enemies rejoice over me” (Psalms 30:2)." |
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9. Mishnah, Berachot, 2.2, 4.3-4.4, 5.2, 9.5 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 2.2. These are the breaks between the sections: between the first blessing and the second, between the second and “Shema,” between “Shema” and “And it shall come to pass if you listen” between “And it shall come to pass if you listen” and “And the Lord said” and between “And the Lord said” and “Emet veYatziv” (true and firm). Rabbi Judah says: between “And the Lord said” and “Emet veYatziv” one should not interrupt. Rabbi Joshua ben Korhah said: Why was the section of “Shema” placed before that of “And it shall come to pass if you listen”? So that one should first accept upon himself the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven and then take upon himself the yoke of the commandments. Why does the section of “And it shall come to pass if you listen” come before that of “And the Lord said”? Because “And it shall come to pass if you listen” is customary during both day and night, whereas [the section] “And the Lord said” is customary only during the day." 4.3. Rabban Gamaliel says: every day a man should pray the eighteen [blessings]. Rabbi Joshua says: an abstract of the eighteen. Rabbi Akiva says: if he knows it fluently he prays the eighteen, and if not an abstract of the eighteen." 4.4. Rabbi Eliezer says: if a man makes his prayers fixed, it is not [true] supplication. Rabbi Joshua says: if one is traveling in a dangerous place, he says a short prayer, saying: Save, O Lord, Your people the remt of Israel. In every time of crisis may their needs be before You. Blessed are You, O Lord, who hears prayer." 5.2. They mention [God’s] power to bring rain in the blessing for the resurrection of the dead. And they ask for rain in the blessing for [fruitful] years. And havdalah in “Who grant knowledge.” Rabbi Akiva says: he says it as a fourth blessing by itself. Rabbi Eliezer says: in the thanksgiving blessing." 9.5. One must bless [God] for the evil in the same way as one blesses for the good, as it says, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). “With all your heart,” with your two impulses, the evil impulse as well as the good impulse. “With all your soul” even though he takes your soul [life] away from you. “With all your might” with all your money. Another explanation, “With all your might” whatever treatment he metes out to you. One should not show disrespect to the Eastern Gate, because it is in a direct line with the Holy of Holies. One should not enter the Temple Mount with a staff, or with shoes on, or with a wallet, or with dusty feet; nor should one make it a short cut, all the more spitting [is forbidden]. All the conclusions of blessings that were in the Temple they would say, “forever [lit. as long as the world is].” When the sectarians perverted their ways and said that there was only one world, they decreed that they should say, “for ever and ever [lit. from the end of the world to the end of the world]. They also decreed that a person should greet his fellow in God’s name, as it says, “And behold Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, ‘May the Lord be with you.’ And they answered him, “May the Lord bless you’” (Ruth 2:. And it also says, “The Lord is with your, you valiant warrior” (Judges 6:12). And it also says, “And do not despise your mother when she grows old” (Proverbs 23:22). And it also says, “It is time to act on behalf of the Lord, for they have violated Your teaching” (Psalms 119:126). Rabbi Natan says: [this means] “They have violated your teaching It is time to act on behalf of the Lord.”" |
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10. Mishnah, Eduyot, 8.7 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 8.7. Rabbi Joshua said: I have received a tradition from Rabban Yoha ben Zakkai, who heard it from his teacher, and his teacher [heard it] from his teacher, as a halakhah [given] to Moses from Sinai, that Elijah will not come to pronounce unclean or to pronounce clean, to put away or to bring near, but to put away those brought near by force and to bring near those put away by force. The family of Beth Tzriphah was on the other side of the Jordan and Ben Zion put it away by force; and yet another family was there, and Ben Zion brought it near by force. It is such as these that Elijah will come to pronounce unclean or to pronounce clean, to put away or to bring near. Rabbi Judah says: to bring near, but not to put away. Rabbi Shimon says: to conciliate disputes. And the Sages say: neither to put away nor to bring near, but to make peace in the world, for it is said, “Behold I send to you Elijah the prophet”, etc., “and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to their fathers” (Malachi 3:23-2." |
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11. Mishnah, Rosh Hashanah, 4.5 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 4.5. The order of blessings [in the Musaf Amidah of Rosh Hashanah]:He says “patriarchs”, “powers” and the “sanctification of the name” and includes the kingship verses with them and does not blow [the shofar]. The sanctification of the day and blows [the shofar], the remembrance-verses and blows [the shofar], and the shofar-verses and blows [the shofar]. Then he says the blessing of the Temple service and “thanksgiving” and the blessing of the priests, the words of Rabbi Yoha ben Nuri. Rabbi Akiva said to him: if he does not blow the shofar for the kingship-verses, why should he say them? Rather he says: “patriarchs”, “powers” and the “sanctification of the name” and includes the kingship verse with the sanctification of the day and blows the shofar, then he says the remembrance-verses and blows, and the shofar-verses and blows. Then he says the Temple service and “thanksgiving” and the blessing of the priest." |
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12. Mishnah, Sotah, 7.2, 7.8 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 7.2. The following are recited in the holy tongue (Hebrew):The reading made at the offering of the firstfruits, The recitation at halitzah, The blessings and curses, The priestly blessing, The blessing of the high priest, The section of the king, The section of the calf whose neck is broken, And the priest anointed [to accompany the army] in battle when he speaks to the people." 7.8. How was the procedure in connection with the portion read by the king?At the conclusion of the first day of the festival (Sukkot) in the eighth [year], at the end of the seventh year, they erect a wooden platform in the Temple court, and he sits upon it, as it is said, “At the end of seven years, in the set time” etc (Deuteronomy 31:10). The synagogue attendant takes a Torah scroll and hands it to the head of the synagogue, the head of the synagogue hands it to the deputy and he hands it to the high priest, and the high priest hands it to the king and the king stands and receives it, but reads it while sitting. King Agrippa stood and received it and read standing, and the sages praised him. When he reached, “You shall not place a foreigner over you” (ibid 17:15) his eyes ran with tears. They said to him, “Fear not, Agrippas, you are our brother, you are our brother!” [The king] reads from the beginning of “These are the words” (ibid 1:1) until the Shema ((ibid 6:4-9), and the Shema, and “It will come to pass if you hear” (ibid 11:13-21 the second part of the Shema), and “You shall surely tithe” (ibid 14:22-29), and “When you have finished tithing” (ibid 26:12-15) and the portion of the king (ibid 17:14-20) and the blessings and curses (ibid, until he finishes all the section. The blessings that the high priest recites, the king recites, except that he substitutes one for the festivals instead of one for the pardon of sin." |
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13. Mishnah, Sukkah, 4.4 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 4.4. The mitzvah of the lulav how was it carried out? If the first day of the festival fell on Shabbat, they brought their lulavim to the Temple Mount, and the attendants would receive them and arrange them on top of the portico, and the elders laid theirs in the chamber. And they would teach the people to say, “Whoever gets my lulav in his hand, let it be his as a gift.” The next day they got up early, and came [to the Temple Mount] and the attendants threw down [their lulavim] before them, and they snatched at them, and so they used to come to blows with one another. When the court saw that they reached a state of danger, they instituted that each man should take [his lulav] in his own home." |
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14. Mishnah, Taanit, 2.2 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 2.2. [When] they stand up to pray they bring down before the ark an old man conversant [with the prayers], one who has children and whose house is empty [of food], so that his heart is complete prayer. He recites before them twenty-four benedictions, the eighteen recited daily, to which he adds six." |
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15. Mishnah, Tamid, 5.1, 5.3, 7.2 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 5.1. The superintendent said to them: Bless one blessing! And they blessed. They then read the Ten Commandments, the Shema, the “And it will be if you hearken” (the second paragraph of Shema) and Vayomer (the third paragraph of Shema), and they blessed the people with three blessings: Emet veYatziv, and Avodah, and the priestly benediction. On Shabbat they added a blessing to be said by the watch which was leaving." 5.3. He then handed them over to the attendants, who stripped them of their garments, and they would leave on them only the pants. There were windows there on which was inscribed the name of the garment to which each was assigned." 7.2. They went and stood on the steps of the Sanctuary. The first ones stood at the south side of their fellow priests with five vessels in their hands: one held the teni, the second the kuz, the third the firepan, the fourth the dish, and the fifth the spoon and its covering. They blessed the people with a single blessing, except in the country they recited it as three blessings, in the Temple as one. In the Temple they pronounced the divine name as it is written, but in the country by its substitute. In the country the priests raised their hands as high as their shoulders, but in the Temple above their heads, except the high priest, who did not raise his hands above the diadem. Rabbi Judah says: the high priest also raised his hands above the diadem, since it says, “And Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them” (Leviticus 9:22)." |
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16. Mishnah, Yoma, 3.8, 4.2, 6.2, 7.1 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 3.8. He came to his bull and his bull was standing between the Ulam and the altar, its head to the south and its face to the west. And the priest stands on the eastside facing the west. And he lays both his hands upon it and confesses. And thus he would say: “Please, ‘Hashem’! I have done wrong, I have transgressed, I have sinned before You, I and my house. Please, ‘Hashem’! Forgive the wrongdoings, the transgressions, the sins which I have committed and transgressed and sinned before You, I and my house, as it is written in the torah of Moses Your servant: “For on this day shall atonement be made for you [to cleanse you of all your sins; you shall be clean before the Lord”] (Leviticus 16:30). And they answered after him: “Blessed be the name of His glorious kingdom for ever and ever!”" 4.2. He bound a thread of crimson wool on the head of the goat which was to be sent away, and he placed it at the gate where it was later to be sent away, and on the goat that was to be slaughtered [he placed a thread of crimson wool on its neck] at the place of the slaughtering. He came to his bull a second time, pressed his two hands upon it and made confession. And thus he would say: “Please, ‘Hashem’! I have done wrong, I have transgressed, I have sinned before You, I and my house and the sons of Aaron Your holy people. Please, ‘Hashem’! Forgive the wrongdoings, the transgressions, the sins which I have committed and transgressed and sinned before You, I and my house and the sons of Aaron Your holy people, as it is written in the torah of Moses Your servant: “For on this day shall atonement be made for you [to cleanse you of all your sins; you shall be clean before the Lord”] (Leviticus 16:30). And they answered after him: “Blessed be the name of His glorious kingdom for ever and ever!”" 6.2. He then came to the scapegoat and laid his two hands upon it and he made confession. And thus he would say: “Please, ‘Hashem’! They have done wrong, they have transgressed, they have sinned before You, Your people the House of Israel. Please, in the name of Hashem (Bashem)! Forgive the wrongdoings, the transgressions, the sins which your people, the House of Israel, have committed and transgressed and sinned before You, as it is written in the torah of Moses Your servant: “For on this day shall atonement be made for you [to cleanse you of all your sins; you shall be clean before the Lord”] (Leviticus 16:30). And the priests and the people standing in the courtyard, when they would hear God’s name explicated coming out of the high priest’s mouth, would bend their knees, bow down and fall on their faces and say “Blessed be the name of His glorious kingdom for ever and ever!”" 7.1. The high priest [then] came to read. If he wished to read in linen garments, he reads, and if not he reads in his own white cloak. The synagogue attendant would take a Torah scroll and give it to the head of the synagogue, and the head of the synagogue gives it to deputy high priest, and the deputy high priest gives it to the high priest, and the high priest stands and receives it, and reads, [section] beginning] “After the death …” (Leviticus 16:1-34) and “But on the tenth…” (Leviticus 23:26-32). Then he would roll up the Torah scroll and put it in his bosom and say, “More than what I have read out before you is written here.” And “On the tenth …” (Numbers 29:7-11) which is in the Book of Numbers he recites by heart. And he recites on it eight benedictions: “For the law”, “For the Temple service,” “For thanksgiving,” “For the forgiveness of sins” and “For the Temple” on its own, and “For Israel” on its own and “For Jerusalem” on its own, “For the priests” on their own and “For the rest of the prayer.”" |
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17. New Testament, Acts, 13.15, 14.2, 18.12-18.17 (1st cent. CE - 2nd cent. CE)
| 13.15. After the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, speak. 14.2. But the disobedient Jews stirred up and embittered the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers. 18.12. But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat 18.13. saying, "This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law. 18.14. But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If indeed it were a matter of wrong or of wicked crime, Jews, it would be reasonable that I should bear with you; 18.15. but if they are questions about words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves. For I don't want to be a judge of these matters. 18.16. He drove them from the judgment seat. 18.17. Then all the Greeks laid hold on Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. Gallio didn't care about any of these things. |
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18. New Testament, John, 18.20 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 18.20. Jesus answered him, "I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where the Jews always meet. I said nothing in secret. |
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19. New Testament, Luke, 4.20, 8.41, 8.49, 11.1-11.4, 13.14 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 4.20. He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. 8.41. Behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus' feet, and begged him to come into his house 8.49. While he still spoke, one from the ruler of the synagogue's house came, saying to him, "Your daughter is dead. Don't trouble the Teacher. 11.1. It happened, that when he finished praying in a certain place, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples. 11.2. He said to them, "When you pray, say, 'Our Father in heaven, May your name be kept holy. May your kingdom come. May your will be done on Earth, as it is in heaven. 11.3. Give us day by day our daily bread. 11.4. Forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.' 13.14. The ruler of the synagogue, being indigt because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the multitude, "There are six days in which men ought to work. Therefore come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day! |
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20. New Testament, Mark, 5.22, 5.35-5.36, 5.38, 14.49 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 5.22. Behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, came; and seeing him, he fell at his feet 5.35. While he was still speaking, they came from the synagogue ruler's house saying, "Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more? 5.36. But Jesus, when he heard the message spoken, immediately said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Don't be afraid, only believe. 5.38. He came to the synagogue ruler's house, and he saw an uproar, weeping, and great wailing. 14.49. I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you didn't arrest me. But this is so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. |
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21. New Testament, Matthew, 9.18, 9.23 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 9.18. While he told these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live. 9.23. When Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the flute players, and the crowd in noisy disorder |
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22. Tosefta, Menachot, 13.21 (1st cent. CE - 2nd cent. CE)
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23. Tosefta, Sotah, 7.16 (1st cent. CE - 2nd cent. CE)
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24. Tosefta, Sukkah, 4.6 (1st cent. CE - 2nd cent. CE)
| 4.6. Why did they blow three blasts? To make the people cease from work. The sexton took the trumpets, and went to the top of the highest roof in the city to summon those near the city to cease from work. Those near the limits of the city assembled themselves together and came to the schoolhouse. They did not come immediately the trumpets blew, but waited till all were gathered together, and then all came at once. When did they assemble? After one could fill a bottle of water, or fry a fish, or light his lamp. " |
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25. Tosefta, Kippurim, 1.12 (1st cent. CE - 2nd cent. CE)
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26. Babylonian Talmud, Pesahim, None (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 49b. ואינו מתקבל:,תנו רבנן לעולם ימכור אדם כל מה שיש לו וישא בת תלמיד חכם לא מצא בת תלמיד חכם ישא בת גדולי הדור לא מצא בת גדולי הדור ישא בת ראשי כנסיות לא מצא בת ראשי כנסיות ישא בת גבאי צדקה לא מצא בת גבאי צדקה ישא בת מלמדי תינוקות ולא ישא בת עמי הארץ מפני שהן שקץ ונשותיהן שרץ ועל בנותיהן הוא אומר (דברים כז, כא) ארור שוכב עם כל בהמה,תניא ר' אומר עם הארץ אסור לאכול בשר (בהמה) שנאמר (ויקרא יא, מו) זאת תורת הבהמה והעוף כל העוסק בתורה מותר לאכול בשר בהמה ועוף וכל שאינו עוסק בתורה אסור לאכול בשר בהמה ועוף:,אמר רבי אלעזר עם הארץ מותר לנוחרו ביום הכיפורים שחל להיות בשבת אמרו לו תלמידיו ר' אמור לשוחטו אמר להן זה טעון ברכה וזה אינו טעון ברכה:,אמר רבי אלעזר עם הארץ אסור להתלוות עמו בדרך שנאמר (דברים ל, כ) כי היא חייך ואורך ימיך על חייו לא חס על חיי חבירו לא כל שכן,אמר רבי שמואל בר נחמני אמר רבי יוחנן עם הארץ מותר לקורעו כדג אמר רבי שמואל בר יצחק ומגבו:,תניא אמר רבי עקיבא כשהייתי עם הארץ אמרתי מי יתן לי תלמיד חכם ואנשכנו כחמור אמרו לו תלמידיו רבי אמור ככלב אמר להן זה נושך ושובר עצם וזה נושך ואינו שובר עצם:,תניא היה רבי מאיר אומר כל המשיא בתו לעם הארץ כאילו כופתה ומניחה לפני ארי מה ארי דורס ואוכל ואין לו בושת פנים אף עם הארץ מכה ובועל ואין לו בושת פנים:,תניא רבי אליעזר אומר אילמלא אנו צריכין להם למשא ומתן היו הורגין אותנו,תנא רבי חייא כל העוסק בתורה לפני עם הארץ כאילו בועל ארוסתו בפניו שנאמר (דברים לג, ד) תורה צוה לנו משה מורשה אל תקרי מורשה אלא מאורסה,גדולה שנאה ששונאין עמי הארץ לתלמיד חכם יותר משנאה ששונאין עובדי כוכבים את ישראל ונשותיהן יותר מהן: תנא שנה ופירש יותר מכולן,תנו רבנן ששה דברים נאמרו בעמי הארץ אין מוסרין להן עדות ואין מקבלין ממנו עדות ואין מגלין להן סוד ואין ממנין אותן אפוטרופוס על היתומים ואין ממנין אותן אפוטרופוס על קופה של צדקה ואין מתלוין עמהן בדרך ויש אומרים אף אין מכריזין על אבידתו,ותנא קמא זמנין דנפיק מיניה זרעא מעליא ואכיל ליה שנאמר (איוב כז, יז) יכין וצדיק ילבש:,וכן מי שיצא וכו':,למימרא דרבי מאיר סבר כביצה הוא דחשיב ורבי יהודה סבר כזית נמי חשיב ורמינהי עד כמה הן מזמנין עד כזית ורבי יהודה אומר עד כביצה,אמר רבי יוחנן מוחלפת השיטה,אביי אמר לעולם לא תיפוך התם בקראי פליגי הכא בסברא פליגי התם בקראי פליגי רבי מאיר סבר (דברים ח, י) ואכלת זו אכילה ושבעת זו שתיה ואכילה בכזית ורבי יהודה סבר ואכלת ושבעת אכילה שיש בה שביעה ואיזו זו בכביצה,הכא בסברא פליגי דרבי מאיר סבר חזרתו כטומאתו מה טומאתו בכביצה אף חזרתו בכביצה ור' יהודה סבר חזרתו | 49b. band unacceptable. /b, bThe Sages taught: A person should alwaysbe willing to bsell all he hasin order to bmarry the daughter of a Torah scholar.If bhe cannot find the daughter of a Torah scholar, he should marry the daughter ofone of the bgreatpeople bof the generation,who are pious although they are not Torah scholars. If bhe cannot find the daughter ofone of the bgreatpeople bof the generation, he should marry the daughter ofone of bthe heads of the congregations.If bhe cannot find the daughter ofone of bthe heads of the congregations, he should marry the daughter ofone of bthe charity collectors.If bhe cannot find the daughter ofone of bthe charity collectors, he should marry the daughter ofone of bthe schoolteachers.However, bhe should not marry the daughter of an ignoramus [ iam ha’aretz /i] because they are vermin and their wives aresimilar to ba creeping animal,as their lifestyle involves the violation of numerous prohibitions. bAnd with regard to their daughtersthe verse bstates: “Cursed is he who lies with an animal”(Deuteronomy 27:21), as they are similar to animals in that they lack any knowledge or moral sense.,The Gemara continues its discussion with regard to an ignoramus. bIt was taughtin a ibaraitathat bRabbiYehuda HaNasi bsays: It is prohibited for an ignoramus to eat meat, as it is stated: “This is the law [ itorah /i] of the beast and of the fowl”(Leviticus 11:46). He expounds: bAnyone who engages in Torahstudy bis permitted to eat the meat of animals and fowl, and anyone who does not engage in Torahstudy bis prohibited to eat the meat of animals or fowl. /b,The Gemara proceeds to mention some sharply negative statements of the Sages in which they overstated their negative sentiments with regard to ignoramuses, although these ignoramuses were wicked in addition to being boors ( ige’onim /i). bRabbi Elazar said: It is permitted to stab an ignoramusto death bon Yom Kippur that occurs on Shabbat. His students said to him: Master,at least bsaythat it is permitted bto slaughter him. He said to them:I intentionally used the word stab, as bthisterm, slaughtering, brequires a blessingwhen one slaughters an animal, band thatterm, stabbing, bdoes not require a blessingin any context., bRabbi Elazar said: It is prohibited to accompany an ignoramuswhile traveling bon the roaddue to concern that the ignoramus might try to harm his traveling partner, bas it is statedwith regard to Torah: b“For it is your life and the length of your days”(Deuteronomy 30:20). An ignoramus has not studied any Torah, indicating that bhe is not concerned about his own life;with regard bto another’s life, all the more so. /b, bRabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani saidthat bRabbi Yoḥa said: It is permitted to tearopen ban ignoramus like a fish. Rabbi Shmuel bar Yitzḥak said: Andone may cut him open bfrom his backand thereby cause his immediate death by piercing his spinal cord rather than his stomach., bIt was taughtin a ibaraitathat bRabbi Akiva said: When I was an ignoramus I said: Who will give me a Torah scholarso that bI will bite him like a donkey? His students said to him: Master, saythat you would bite him blike a dog! He said to them:I specifically used that wording, as bthis one,a donkey, bbites and breaks bones, and that one,a dog, bbites but does not break bones. /b, bIt was taughtin a ibaraitathat bRabbi Meir would say: Anyone who marries off his daughter to an ignoramusis considered bas though he binds her and places her before a lion.Why is this so? bJust as a lion maulsits prey band eats and has no shame, so too, an ignoramus strikeshis wife bandthen bengages in sexual relationswith her without appeasing her first, band has no shame. /b, bIt was taughtin a ibaraitathat bRabbi Eliezer says: If we did not needthe ignoramuses bfor business, they would kill us. /b,The Gemara shifts to a discussion of an ignoramus who has some degree of sensitivity ( iMe’iri /i). bRabbi Ḥiyya taught: Anyone who engages in Torahstudy bin the presence of an ignoramus,causing the ignoramus embarrassment and anguish over his inability to study Torah, bis considered as though he had sexual relations withthe ignoramus’s bbetrothedbride bin his presence, as it is stated: “Moses commanded us the Torah, an inheritance[imorasha/b] for the congregation of Jacob” (Deuteronomy 33:4). bDo not read itas binheritance [ imorasha /i]; rather,read it as bbetrothed [ ime’orasa /i].The Torah is compared to the betrothed bride of the Jewish people until one studies it and thereby consummates his marriage with it.,Similarly, he said: bThe hatred which ignoramuses have for a Torah scholar is greater than the hatred that the nations of the world have for the Jewish people. Andthe bwivesof the ignoramuses hate Torah scholars bmore thanthe ignoramuses themselves. bIt was taughtin the iToseftathat one bwho studiedTorah band lefthis studies hates Torah scholars bmore than all of them. /b, bThe Sages taught: Six statements were made with regard to ignoramuses: One may not entrust them with testimony,i.e., one may not appoint them as witnesses to a particular event or transaction. Additionally, bone may not accept testimony from them,as they are not considered trustworthy, and bone should not reveal a secret to them,as they will reveal it. bOne may not appoint them as steward [ iapotropos /i] overan estate belonging to borphans,due to concern that they might make improper use of the orphans’ property. Likewise, bone may not appoint them as guardian over a charity fund.Finally, bone should not accompany themwhile traveling bon the road,due to concern for one’s safety. bAnd there are those who say: One does not even announce their lostitems, meaning that if one finds a lost article from such a person, he is allowed to keep it without making an effort to locate the owner ( iMe’iri /i).,The Gemara asks: What is the reasoning of bthe first itanna /i,who holds that one must announce having found the lost article of an ignoramus? The Gemara explains: bSometimes upstanding offspring will come from him and will consumethe property, bas it is stated: “He may prepare it but the just shall put it on”(Job 27:17). It is possible for a wicked person to prepare something for himself that will later be used by a righteous person.,The Gemara returns to explaining the mishna. It was taught: bAnd so too, one who leftJerusalem with sacrificial meat in his possession must return to Jerusalem to burn it, just as one is required to return in order to remove leaven from his possession. According to Rabbi Meir, this ihalakhaapplies with regard to an egg-bulk of sacrificial meat or leaven, whereas Rabbi Yehuda disagrees and says the minimum amount for both is an olive-bulk.,The Gemara asks: bIs that to say that Rabbi Meir holdsthat ban egg-bulk isthe minimal amount that is considered bsignificant, and Rabbi Yehuda holds that an olive-bulk is alsoconsidered bsignificant?The Gemara braises a contradictionfrom a mishna in iBerakhot /i: bHow muchfood must one eat in order bto obligatethose with whom he ate bin a izimmun /i? An olive-bulkof food is sufficient according to the unattributed opinion in the mishna, which is generally that of Rabbi Meir. bAnd Rabbi Yehuda says: An egg-bulkis the minimum measure to obligate those with whom one ate in a izimmun /i. This seems to contradict the opinions of Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Yehuda stated in the mishna here., bRabbi Yoḥa said: The opinions are reversedin one of these sources, and must be emended., bAbaye said: Actually, do not reversethe opinions. bThere, they disagree with regard tothe interpretation of bverses,while bhere, they disagree with regard to logical reasoning.How so? bThere,with regard to izimmun /i, bthey disagree with regard tothe interpretation of bverses. Rabbi Meir holdsthat the verse: “And you shall eat and be satisfied and bless the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 8:10) should be understood as follows: b“And you shall eat,” that is eating; “and be satisfied,” that is drinking.The standard halakhic principle is that beatingis defined as the consumption of ban olive-bulk. And Rabbi Yehuda holds: “And you shall eat and you shall be satisfied”refers bto eating that includes satisfaction. And what isconsidered eating with satisfaction? It is consumption of ban egg-bulk. /b,However, bhere,in the cases of leaven and consecrated food, bthey disagreenot with regard to the interpretation of verses but bwith regard to logical reasoning, as Rabbi Meir holds:The requirement to breturnconsecrated food bis analogous to its ritual impurity. Just as itssusceptibility to britual impurity isonly when it is the size of an begg-bulk, so too,the requirement to breturn it isonly when it is the size of an begg-bulk. And Rabbi Yehuda holds:The requirement to breturnconsecrated food |
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27. Babylonian Talmud, Qiddushin, None (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 66a. שורך נרבע והלה שותק נאמן ותנא תונא ושנעבדה בו עבירה ושהמית על פי עד אחד או ע"פ הבעלים נאמן האי ע"פ עד אחד היכי דמי אי דקא מודו בעלים היינו ע"פ הבעלים אלא לאו דשתיק,וצריכא דאי אשמעינן הך קמייתא אי לאו דקים ליה בנפשיה דעבד חולין בעזרה לא הוה מייתי,אבל נטמאו טהרותיך מימר אמרינן האי דשתיק דסבר חזי ליה בימי טומאתו,ואי אשמעינן הא משום דקא מפסיד ליה בימי טהרתו אבל שורו נרבע מימר אמר כל השוורים לאו לגבי מזבח קיימי צריכא,איבעיא להו אשתו זינתה בעד אחד ושותק מהו אמר אביי נאמן רבא אמר אינו נאמן הוי דבר שבערוה ואין דבר שבערוה פחות משנים,אמר אביי מנא אמינא לה דההוא סמיא דהוה מסדר מתנייתא קמיה דמר שמואל יומא חד נגה ליה ולא הוה קאתי שדר שליחא אבתריה אדאזיל שליח בחדא אורחא אתא איהו בחדא כי אתא שליח אמר אשתו זינתה אתא לקמיה דמר שמואל א"ל אי מהימן לך זיל אפקה ואי לא לא תפיק,מאי לאו אי מהימן עלך דלאו גזלנא הוא ורבא אי מהימן לך כבי תרי זיל אפקה ואי לא לא תפקה,ואמר אביי מנא אמינא לה דתניא מעשה בינאי המלך שהלך לכוחלית שבמדבר וכיבש שם ששים כרכים ובחזרתו היה שמח שמחה גדולה וקרא לכל חכמי ישראל אמר להם אבותינו היו אוכלים מלוחים בזמן שהיו עסוקים בבנין בית המקדש אף אנו נאכל מלוחים זכר לאבותינו והעלו מלוחים על שולחנות של זהב ואכלו,והיה שם אחד איש לץ לב רע ובליעל ואלעזר בן פועירה שמו ויאמר אלעזר בן פועירה לינאי המלך ינאי המלך לבם של פרושים עליך ומה אעשה הקם להם בציץ שבין עיניך הקים להם בציץ שבין עיניו,היה שם זקן אחד ויהודה בן גדידיה שמו ויאמר יהודה בן גדידיה לינאי המלך ינאי המלך רב לך כתר מלכות הנח כתר כהונה לזרעו של אהרן שהיו אומרים אמו נשבית במודיעים ויבוקש הדבר ולא נמצא ויבדלו חכמי ישראל בזעם,ויאמר אלעזר בן פועירה לינאי המלך ינאי המלך הדיוט שבישראל כך הוא דינו ואתה מלך וכהן גדול כך הוא דינך ומה אעשה אם אתה שומע לעצתי רומסם ותורה מה תהא עליה הרי כרוכה ומונחת בקרן זוית כל הרוצה ללמוד יבוא וילמוד,אמר רב נחמן בר יצחק מיד נזרקה בו אפיקורסות דהוה ליה למימר תינח תורה שבכתב תורה שבעל פה מאי מיד ותוצץ הרעה על ידי אלעזר בן פועירה ויהרגו כל חכמי ישראל והיה העולם משתומם עד שבא שמעון בן שטח והחזיר את התורה ליושנה,היכי דמי אילימא דבי תרי אמרי אישתבאי ובי תרי אמרי לא אישתבאי מאי חזית דסמכת אהני סמוך אהני,אלא בעד אחד וטעמא דקא מכחשי ליה בי תרי הא לאו הכי מהימן,ורבא לעולם תרי ותרי וכדאמר רב אחא בר רב מניומי בעדי הזמה הכא נמי בעדי הזמה,ואיבעית אימא כדרבי יצחק דאמר רבי יצחק שפחה הכניסו תחתיה,אמר רבא | 66a. bYour ox was usedby a man bfor an act of bestialityand is therefore unfit for an offering, band the other,the owner of the ox, bis silent,the witness is bdeemed credible. And the itanna /iof the mishna also btaught( iBekhorot41a): bAndwith regard to an animal bthat was used for a transgressionor bthat killed,if this is attested to bby one witness or by the owner,he is bdeemed credible.The Gemara clarifies this case: bWhat are the circumstancesof bthiscase of the mishna, where the knowledge is established bby one witness? If the owner admitsto the claim, bthis isthe same as: bBy the owner. Rather, is it notreferring to a case bwherethe owner remains bsilent? /b,The Gemara comments: bAndeach of these statements of Abaye is bnecessary. As, had he taught usonly bthat firstcase, where the witness said someone ate forbidden fat, one might have said that he is deemed credible for the following reason: bWere it notfor the fact bthat he himselfwas bconvinced that he had committeda transgression, bhe would notcommit the transgression of bbringing a non-sacredanimal btothe Temple bcourtyardon the basis of the testimony of one witness. Consequently, his silence is evidently an admission., bButif the witness said: bYour ritually purefoods bwere rendered ritually impure,and the accused was silent, bwe would say:The reason bthathe is bsilentand refrains from denying the claim is bthat he thinkshe is not suffering any significant loss, as the food bis fit for himto eat bon his days of ritual impurity,because he is not required to destroy ritually impure foods., bAnd hadAbaye btaught usonly the case of: Your ritually pure food was rendered ritually impure, one might have said that the reason bthiswitness is deemed credible is bthat he causes him a loss on his days of ritual impurity,and therefore his silence is tantamount to a confession. bButin the case of: bHis ox was usedby a man bfor an act of bestiality,the owner of the ox bcan saywith regard to his animal: bNot all the oxen standready to be sacrificed basan offering on the baltar.Perhaps one would think that the owner does not bother denying the claim because he merely forfeits the possibility of sacrificing his ox as an offering, which he considers an inconsequential matter. It is only if there were two witnesses to the act that the animal is put to death, whereas here there was only one witness. It is therefore bnecessaryfor Abaye to specify all these cases.,§ bA dilemma was raised beforethe Sages: If a husband is told bby one witnessthat bhis wife committed adultery, andthe husband remains bsilent, what isthe ihalakha /i? bAbaye said:The witness is bdeemed credible. Rava said: He is not deemed credible.Why not? Because bit is a matter involving forbidden relations, and there is no matterof testimony bfor forbidden sexual relationsthat can be attested to by bfewer than twowitnesses., bAbaye said: From where do I saythis claim of mine? It happened bthatthere was ba certain blind man who would review imishnayotbefore Mar Shmuel. One daythe blind man bwas late for him and was not arriving.Mar Shmuel bsent a messenger after himto assist him. bWhilethe bmessenger was goingto the blind man’s house bby one way,the blind man barrivedat the house of study bby a differentroute, and therefore the messenger missed him and reached his house. bWhenthe bmessenger cameback, bhe saidthat he had been to the blind man’s house and saw that bhis wife committed adultery.The blind man bcame before Mar Shmuelto inquire whether he must pay heed to this testimony. Mar Shmuel bsaid to him: Ifthis messenger bis trusted by you, goand bdivorce her, but if not, do not divorceher.,Abaye comments: bWhat, is it notcorrect to say that this means that bif he is trusted by you that he is not a thiefbut is a valid witness, you must rely on him? This would prove that a single witness can testify in a case of this kind. bAnd Ravaexplains that Mar Shmuel meant: bIfhe bis trusted by you like twowitnesses, bgoand bdivorce her, but if not, do not divorceher. Consequently, Rava maintains that this episode affords no proof., bAnd Abaye said: From where do I saythis claim of mine? bAs it is taughtin a ibaraita /i: bAn incidentoccurred bwith King Yannai, who went tothe region of bKoḥalit in the desert and conquered sixty cities there. And upon his return he rejoicedwith ba great happinessover his victory. bAnd hesubsequently bsummoned all the Sages of the Jewish peopleand bsaid to them: Our ancestorsin their poverty bwould eat salty foods when they were busy with the building of the Temple; we too shall eat salty foods in memory of our ancestors. And they brought salty food on tables of gold, and ate. /b, bAnd there was oneperson bpresent, a scoffer,a man of ban evil heart and a scoundrel called Elazar ben Po’ira. And Elazar ben Po’ira said to King Yannai: King Yannai, the hearts of the Pharisees,the Sages, bare against you.In other words, they harbor secret resentment against you and do not like you. The king replied: bAnd what shall I doto clarify this matter? Elazar responded: bHave them stand bywearing bthe frontplate between your eyes.Since the frontplate bears the Divine Name, they should stand in its honor. Yannai, who was a member of the priestly Hasmonean family, also served as High Priest, who wears the frontplate. bHe hadthe Pharisees bstand bywearing bthe frontplate between his eyes. /b,Now bthere was a certain elder present called Yehuda ben Gedidya, and Yehuda ben Gedidya said to King Yannai: King Yannai, the crown of the monarchy suffices for you,i.e., you should be satisfied that you are king. bLeave the crown of the priesthood for the descendants of Aaron.The Gemara explains this last comment: bAs they would saythat Yannai’s bmother was taken captive in Modi’in,and she was therefore disqualified from marrying into the priesthood, which meant that Yannai was a iḥalal /i. bAnd the matter was investigated and was not discovered,i.e., they sought witnesses for that event but none were found. bAnd the Sages of Israel were expelled inthe king’s brage,due to this rumor., bAnd Elazar ben Po’ira said to King Yannai: King Yannai, such is the judgment of a common person in Israel.In other words, merely expelling a slanderer is appropriate if the subject of the slander is a commoner. bBut you are a king and a High Priest.Is bthis your judgmentas well? Yannai replied: bAnd what should I do?Elazar responded: bIf you listen to my advice, crush them.Yannai countered: bBut what will become of the Torah?He retorted: bBehold,it bis wrapped and placed in the corner. Anyone who wishes to study can come and study.We have no need for the Sages.,The Gemara interjects: bRav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak says: Immediately, heresy was injected intoYannai, bas he should have saidto Elazar ben Po’ira: This bworks out wellwith regard to bthe Written Torah,as it can be studied by all on their own, but bwhatwill become of bthe Oral Torah?The Oral Torah is transmitted only by the Sages. The ibaraitacontinues: bImmediately, the evilarose and bcaught fire through Elazar ben Po’ira, and all the Sages of the Jewish people were killed. And the world was desolateof Torah buntil Shimon ben Shataḥ came and restored the Torah to its formerglory. This completes the ibaraita /i.,Abaye asks: bWhat are the circumstancesof this case? How did those who conducted the investigation refute the rumor that Yannai’s mother had been taken captive? bIf we say that twowitnesses bsaidthat bshe was taken captive, and twoothers bsaidthat bshe was not taken captive, what did you see that you rely on thesewho said that she was not taken captive? Instead, brely on thesewho said that she was taken captive. In such a scenario, one cannot say definitively that the matter was investigated and found to be false., bRather,it must be referring bto one witnesswho testified she was taken captive, and two testified that she was not taken captive. bAnd the reasonthat the lone witness is not deemed credible is only bthat he is contradicted by theother btwo,from which it may be inferred that bif not for thatfact, bhe would be deemed credible.This supports Abaye’s claim that an uncontested lone witness is deemed credible in a case of this kind., bAnd Ravacould reply that this incident affords no proof, for the following reason: bActually,one can say that there were btwowitnesses who testified that she was captured band twowho testified that she was not, bandthe case was decided bin accordance with thatwhich bRav Aḥa bar Rav Minyumi saysin a different context, that it is referring bto conspiring witnesses.The second pair of witnesses did not contradict the testimony of the first pair but established them as liars by stating that the first pair were not there to witness the event. This serves to disqualify the testimony of the first pair altogether. bHere too,it is referring btowitnesses who rendered the first set bconspiring witnesses. /b, bAnd if you wish, saythat this is bin accordance withthe version of the story stated bby Rabbi Yitzḥak, as Rabbi Yitzḥak says: They replacedYannai’s mother bwith a maidservant.The first witnesses saw that Yannai’s mother was about to be taken captive, but the second pair revealed that she had actually been replaced with a maidservant, thereby negating the testimony of the first set., bRava says: /b |
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28. Babylonian Talmud, Sotah, None (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 41a. (נחמיה ח, ג) ויקרא בו לפני הרחוב אשר לפני שער המים אמר רב חסדא בעזרת נשים,וקורא אחרי מות ואך בעשור ורמינהי מדלגין בנביא ואין מדלגין בתורה,אמר אביי לא קשיא כאן בכדי שיפסוק התורגמן כאן בכדי שלא יפסוק התורגמן,והא עלה קתני מדלגין בנביא ואין מדלגין בתורה ועד כמה מדלגין עד כדי שלא יפסוק התורגמן מכלל דבתורה כלל כלל לא,אלא אמר אביי לא קשיא כאן בענין אחד כאן בשני עניינין,והתניא מדלגין בתורה בענין אחד ובנביא בשני עניינין וכאן וכאן בכדי שלא יפסוק התורגמן,ואין מדלגין מנביא לנביא ובנביא של שנים עשר מדלגין ובלבד שלא ידלג מסוף הספר לתחילתו,וגולל את התורה ומניחה בחיקו כו' וכל כך למה שלא להוציא לעז על ס"ת,ובעשור שבחומש הפקודים קורא על פה וליכרכיה לספר וליקרי א"ר הונא בר יהודה א"ר ששת לפי שאין גוללין ס"ת בצבור,וליתי ס"ת אחרינא וליקרי רב הונא בר יהודה אמר משום פגמו של ראשון ר"ש בן לקיש אמר לפי שאין מברכין ברכה שאינה צריכה,ומי חיישינן לפגמא והאמר רבי יצחק נפחא ר"ח טבת שחל להיות בשבת מביא שלש תורות וקורא אחת מעניינו של יום ואחת של ר"ח ואחת בשל חנוכה,תלתא גברי בתלתא סיפרי ליכא פגמא חד גברא בתרי סיפרי איכא פגמא,ומברך עליה שמנה ברכות כו' ת"ר [מברכין] על התורה כדרך שמברכין בבהכ"נ ועל העבודה ועל ההודאה ועל מחילת עון כתיקנן על המקדש בפני עצמו ועל הכהנים בפני עצמן על ישראל בפני עצמן ועל ירושלים בפני עצמה,והשאר תפלה ת"ר השאר תפלה תחנה רנה ובקשה שעמך ישראל צריכין ליוושע וחותם בשומע תפלה מכאן ואילך כל אחד ואחד מביא ספר תורה מתוך ביתו וקורא בו וכל כך למה כדי להראות חזותו לרבים, big strongמתני׳ /strong /big פרשת המלך כיצד מוצאי יו"ט הראשון של חג בשמיני במוצאי שביעית עושין לו בימה של עץ בעזרה והוא יושב עליה שנאמר (דברים לא, י) מקץ שבע שנים במועד וגו,חזן הכנסת נוטל ס"ת ונותנה לראש הכנסת וראש הכנסת נותנה לסגן והסגן נותנה לכהן גדול וכ"ג נותנה למלך והמלך עומד ומקבל וקורא יושב,אגריפס המלך עמד וקבל וקרא עומד ושבחוהו חכמים וכשהגיע (דברים יז, טו) ללא תוכל לתת עליך איש נכרי זלגו עיניו דמעות אמרו לו אל תתירא אגריפס אחינו אתה אחינו אתה,וקורא מתחילת (דברים א, א) אלה הדברים עד (דברים ו, ד) שמע ושמע והיה אם שמוע עשר תעשר כי תכלה לעשר ופרשת המלך וברכות וקללות עד שגומר כל הפרשה,ברכות שכהן גדול מברך אותן המלך מברך אותן אלא שנותן של רגלים תחת מחילת העון, big strongגמ׳ /strong /big בשמיני סלקא דעתך אימא בשמינית,וכל הני למה לי,צריכי דאי כתב רחמנא מקץ הוה אמינא נימנו מהשתא ואע"ג דלא מתרמי בשמיטה כתב רחמנא שמיטה,ואי כתב רחמנא שמיטה ה"א בסוף שמיטה כתב רחמנא במועד,ואי כתב במועד ה"א מריש שתא כתב רחמנא בחג הסוכות,ואי כתב רחמנא בחג הסוכות הוה אמינא אפי' יו"ט אחרון כתב רחמנא בבוא כל ישראל | 41a. b“And he read there before the broad place that was before the Gate of the Water”(Nehemiah 8:3). According to this opinion, the High Priest would read from the Torah in the Temple courtyard. bRav Ḥisda saysin response: The ibaraitaalso means that the reading takes place bin the women’s courtyard. /b,§ It is taught in the mishna that the High Priest receives the Torah scroll band readsthe Torah portion beginning with the verse: b“After the death”(Leviticus 16:1), bandthe portion beginning with the verse: b“But on the tenth”(Leviticus 23:26). Since these two portions are not adjacent to each other, the High Priest skips the section between the two portions. The Gemara braises a contradictionfrom a mishna ( iMegilla24a): bOne may skipsections when reading the ihaftara bin the Prophets, but one may not skipsections when reading bin the Torah. /b, bAbaye said:This is bnot difficult. There,in the mishna in tractate iMegillathat teaches that one may not skip, the intention is that one should not skip if the sections are so far apart from one another that the delay caused by doing so will be bof such length that the translatorwho recites the Aramaic translation bwill concludehis translation before the next section is reached. However, in the case of the mishna bhere,it is permitted to skip verses because the two passages are in close proximity to one another. The delay caused is bof suchshort blength that the translator willstill bnot concludehis translation.,The Gemara challenges this resolution: bBut isn’t it taught aboutthis mishna in a ibaraita /i: bOne may skipsections when reading bin the Prophets, but one may not skipsections when reading bin the Torah. And how much may one skipfrom one passage to another bin the Prophets?One may skip when the section skipped is bof suchshort blength thatwhen the furling of the scroll is completed bthe translator willstill bnot have concludedhis translation. bBy inference,when reading bin the Torahone may bnotskip bat all. /b, bRather, Abaye saidanother explanation: This is bnot difficult.In the mishna bhere,it is permitted to skip because both passages pertain bto a single topic. There,in the mishna in tractate iMegillathat teaches that one may not skip, the ihalakhais referring to a case where the passages pertain bto twodifferent btopics. /b, bAndthis is bas it is taughtin a ibaraita /i: bOne may skipsections when reading bin the Torahwhen both sections pertain bto a single topic, and in the Prophetsone may skip from one section to another even if they pertain bto twodifferent btopics. Andboth bhere and there,one may skip only bwhenthe section skipped is bof suchshort blength thatwhen the furling of the scroll is completed bthe translator willstill bnot have concludedhis translation., bAnd one may not skip fromone book of the bProphets toanother book of the bProphets,even if both pertain to the same topic. bBut amongthe books bof the Twelve Prophets one may skip, provided that one does not skip from the end of the book to its beginning.Rather, if one wishes to read from several of the Twelve Prophets, he must read the passages in the order that they are written.,§ It is taught in the mishna: bAnd he furls the Torahscroll, band places it on his bosom,and says: More than what I have read before you is written here. The Gemara comments: bAnd whymust he say ball of this?It is bso as to not cast aspersions onthe bTorah scroll,because people might think the portion that he read by heart is not written there.,It is stated in the mishna that bhe reads by heartthe portion beginning with: b“And on the tenth,” from the book of Numbers(29:7–11). The Gemara asks: bBut let him furl theTorah bscrollto that portion band readit from the text. bRav Huna bar Yehuda saysthat bRav Sheshet says:This is not done bbecause one may not furl a Torah scroll in public,out of respect for the congregation.,The Gemara asks: bButwhy not blet them bring another Torah scrollthat has previously been furled to that portion band readfrom it? bRav Huna bar Yehuda says:People might then mistakenly think that the second scroll was brought bdue to a flawthat was found binthe bfirstscroll. bRabbi Shimon ben Lakish says:Another scroll is not brought bbecausethen the High Priest will need to recite an additional blessing over it, and bone may not recite a blessing that is unnecessary. /b,The Gemara questions Rav Huna bar Yehuda’s answer: bBut are wereally bconcerned thatpeople will think that there is ba flawin the first scroll? bBut didn’t Rabbi Yitzḥak Nappaḥa say:When bthe New Moon of Tevet,which always occurs during Hanukkah, boccurs on Shabbat, one brings three Torahscrolls. bAnd he reads from onescroll bthe topic of the day,i.e., the weekly portion; bandfrom bonescroll the portion bof the New Moon; andfrom bonescroll the portion bof Hanukkah.It is apparent from the statement of Rabbi Yitzḥak Nappaḥa that many Torah scrolls may be used, and there is no concern that people will mistakenly think that one or more has a flaw.,The Gemara answers: When bthree menread bfrom three scrolls, there is noconcern that people will think that one of the scrolls has ba flaw,since people assume that it is befitting for each individual to read from his own scroll. However, when bone manreads bfrom twodifferent Torah bscrolls, there isa concern that people will think that the first scroll has ba flaw,and they will not realize that this was done only to avoid forcing the community to wait while the scroll is furled.,§ It is taught in the mishna: bAndafter the reading the High Priest brecites eight blessings. The Sages taughtthat these are the eight blessings: bHe recites a blessing concerning the Torah in theusual bway one recitesa blessing in bthe synagogue, andhe recites the three blessings bconcerning theTemple bservice, and concerning thanksgiving, and concerning forgiveness for iniquity,and all are recited bin accordance with their established formsin the iAmidaprayer. He recites the blessing bconcerning the Temple in and of itself,the blessing bconcerning the priests in and of itself,the blessing bconcerning the Jewish people in and of itself, andthe blessing bconcerning Jerusalem in and of itself. /b,With regard to the end of the mishna, which states: bAnd the rest of the prayer, the Sages taught: Thetext of bthe rest of the prayeris as follows: bA supplication, a song, and a request that Your people, Israel, are in need of redemption. And he concludesthe blessing bwith:Blessed are You, Lord, bthe One Who hears prayer. From thispoint bforward, each and every personpresent bbrings a Torah scroll from his home and reads from it. And whydo ball thesepeople bring their personal Torah scrolls? Everyone brings his own bin order to show itsbeautiful bappearance to the public,as a way of showing fondness for the mitzva., strongMISHNA: /strong bHowis bthe portion ofthe Torah that is read by bthe kingrecited at the assembly, when all the Jewish people would assemble? At bthe conclusion of the first day of the festivalof iSukkot /i, bon the eighth,after bthe conclusion of the Sabbatical Year, they make a wooden platform forthe king bin theTemple bcourtyard, and he sits on it, as it is stated: “At the end of every seven years, in the Festivalof the Sabbatical Year” (Deuteronomy 31:10)., bThe synagogue attendant takes a Torah scroll and gives it to the head of the synagoguethat stands on the Temple Mount. bAnd the head of the synagogue gives it to the deputyHigh Priest, band the deputyHigh Priest bgives it to the High Priest, and the High priest gives it to the king. And the king stands, and receivesthe Torah scroll, band readsfrom it while bsitting. /b, bKing Agrippa arose, and receivedthe Torah scroll, band readfrom it while bstanding, and the Sages praised himfor this. bAnd whenAgrippa barrived atthe verse in the portion read by the king that states: b“You may not appoint a foreigner over you”(Deuteronomy 17:15), btears flowed from his eyes,because he was a descendant of the house of Herod and was not of Jewish origin. The entire nation bsaid to him: Fear not, Agrippa. You are our brother, you are our brother. /b, bAndthe king breads from the beginning ofDeuteronomy, from the verse that states: b“And these are the words”(Deuteronomy 1:1), buntilthe words: b“Hear,O Israel” (Deuteronomy 6:4). bAndhe then reads the sections beginning with: b“Hear,O Israel” (Deuteronomy 6:4–9), b“And it shall come to pass, if you shall hearken”(Deuteronomy 11:13–21), b“You shall tithe”(Deuteronomy 14:22–29), b“When you have made an end of the tithing”(Deuteronomy 26:12–15), band the passage concerning theappointment of ba king(Deuteronomy 17:14–20), band the blessings and curses(Deuteronomy 28), buntil he finishes the entire portion. /b,The same bblessings that the High Priest reciteson Yom Kippur, bthe king recitesat this ceremony, bbut he deliversa blessing bconcerning the Festivals in place ofthe blessing concerning bforgiveness for iniquity. /b, strongGEMARA: /strong The mishna states that the assembly takes place on the eighth. The Gemara asks: Does it benter your mindthat the assembly takes place bon the eighthday of the festival of iSukkot /i? The mishna clearly states that the ceremony takes place at the conclusion of the first day of the Festival. Rather, bsaythat it takes place bduring the eighthyear of the Sabbatical cycle.,The verse describes in detail when the assembly takes place: “At the end of every seven years, in the Festival of the Sabbatical Year, in the festival of iSukkot /i, when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 31:10–11). The Gemara asks: bAnd why do Ineed ball thesedetails?,The Gemara answers: All of these details bare necessary, as, if the Merciful One had writtenonly b“at the endof every seven years” (Deuteronomy 31:10), bI would have saidthat bwe count from now,i.e., from when this was said, bandthat the tally of years begins from the fortieth year in the wilderness, beven thoughby this calculation the assembly bwould not occur in the Sabbatical Year.Therefore, bthe Merciful One writes: “The Sabbatical Year.” /b, bAnd if the Merciful One had writtenonly the phrase: At the end of every seven years of the b“Sabbatical Year,” I would have saidthat it takes place bat the end of the Sabbatical Year.Therefore, bthe Merciful One writes: “In the Festival,”and the first Festival following the Sabbatical Year is in the month of Tishrei., bAnd ifthe Torah bhad writtenonly: “At the end of every seven years bin the Festivalof the Sabbatical Year,” bI would have saidthat it takes place bonthe festival of bRosh Hashanah,which is on the first day of Tishrei. Therefore, bthe Merciful Onealso bwrites: “In the festival of iSukkot /i.” /b, bAnd if the Merciful One had writtenonly: b“In the festival of iSukkot /i,” I would have saidthat it could refer bevento bthe lastday of the bFestival.Therefore, bthe Merciful Onealso bwrites: “When all Israel comes”(Deuteronomy 31:11) |
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29. Babylonian Talmud, Yoma, None (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 71b. (איוב יד, ט) מריח מים יפריח ועשה קציר כמו נטע,ויום טוב היה עושה לאוהביו ת"ר מעשה בכהן גדול אחד שיצא מבית המקדש והוו אזלי כולי עלמא בתריה כיון דחזיונהו לשמעיה ואבטליון שבקוהו לדידיה ואזלי בתר שמעיה ואבטליון,לסוף אתו שמעיה ואבטליון לאיפטורי מיניה דכהן גדול אמר להן ייתון בני עממין לשלם אמרו ליה ייתון בני עממין לשלם דעבדין עובדא דאהרן ולא ייתי בר אהרן לשלם דלא עביד עובדא דאהרן, big strongמתני׳ /strong /big כהן גדול משמש בשמונה כלים וההדיוט בארבעה בכתונת ומכנסים ומצנפת ואבנט מוסיף עליו כ"ג חשן ואפוד ומעיל וציץ באלו נשאלין באורים ותומים ואין נשאלין אלא למלך ולאב ב"ד ולמי שהציבור צריך בו, big strongגמ׳ /strong /big ת"ר דברים שנאמר בהן שש חוטן כפול ששה משזר שמונה מעיל שנים עשר פרוכת עשרים וארבעה חושן ואפוד עשרים ושמונה,חוטן כפול ששה מנא לן דאמר קרא (שמות לט, א) ויעשו את הכתנת שש ואת המצנפת שש ואת פארי המגבעות שש ואת מכנסי הבד שש משזר חמשה קראי כתיבי חד לגופיה דכיתנא ניהוו וחד שיהא חוטן כפול ששה וחד שיהיו שזורין וחד לשאר בגדים שלא נאמר בהן שש וחד לעכב,מאי משמע דהאי שש כיתנא הוא אמר רבי יוסי ברבי חנינא דאמר קרא בד דבר העולה מן הקרקע בד בד ואימא עמרא עמרא איפצולי מיפצלא כיתנא נמי איפצולי מפציל כיתנא אגב לקותיה מפציל,רבינא אמר מהכא (יחזקאל מד, יח) פארי פשתים יהיו על ראשם ומכנסי פשתים יהיו על מתניהם,אמר ליה רב אשי הא מקמי דאתי יחזקאל מאן אמרה ולטעמיך הא דאמר רב חסדא דבר זה מתורת משה רבינו לא למדנו מדברי יחזקאל בן בוזי למדנו (יחזקאל מד, ט) כל בן נכר ערל לב וערל בשר לא יבא אל מקדשי (לשרתני) הא מקמי דאתי יחזקאל מאן אמרה אלא גמרא גמירי לה ואתא יחזקאל ואסמכה אקרא הכא נמי גמרא גמירי לה ואתא יחזקאל ואסמכה אקרא,משזר שמונה מנא לן דכתיב (שמות לט, כד) ויעשו על שולי המעיל רמוני תכלת וארגמן ותולעת שני משזר ויליף משזר משזר מפרוכת מה להלן עשרים וארבעה אף כאן עשרים וארבעה דהוה כל חד וחד תמני,ונילף מחשן ואפוד מה להלן עשרים ושמונה אף כאן עשרים ושמונה דנין דבר שלא נאמר בו זהב מדבר שלא נאמר בו זהב לאפוקי חשן ואפוד שנאמר בהן זהב אדרבה דנין בגד מבגד לאפוקי פרוכת דאהל הוא,אלא דנין מאבנט ודנין בגד ודבר שלא נאמר בו זהב מבגד ודבר שלא נאמר בו זהב ואין דנין דבר שאין בו זהב מדבר שיש בו זהב,רב מרי אמר תעשנו כתיב תעשנו לזה ולא לאחר,רב אשי אמר ועשית כתיב שיהיו כל עשיות שוות והיכי נעביד נעביד תלתא דעשרה עשרה הוו להו תלתין נעביד תרי דתשעה תשעה וחד דעשרה אמר קרא ועשית שיהיו כל עשיותיו שוות,מעיל שנים עשר מנא לן דכתיב (שמות כח, לא) ועשית את מעיל האפוד | 71b. bfrom the scent of water it will blossom and put forth branches like a plant”(Job 14:8–9). If the figurative trunk of one’s family is drying up through lack of Torah, he should plant himself in a place of water, i.e., a family of scholars, water being a metaphor for Torah. This will ensure that his children will blossom into Torah scholars.,§ It was taught in the mishna: The people escort the High Priest to his house. bAnd he would make a feast for his loved ones. The Sages taughtin a ibaraita /i: bThere was an incident involving one High Priest who exited the Holy Temple and everyone followed him. When they saw Shemaya and Avtalyon,the heads of the Sanhedrin, walking along, in deference to them bthey leftthe High Priest bby himself and walked after Shemaya and Avtalyon. /b, bEventually, Shemaya and Avtalyon came to take leave of the High Priestbefore returning to their homes. Envious of the attention they received, bheangrily bsaid to them: Let the descendants ofthe gentile bnations come in peace.Shemaya and Avtalyon descended from converts, and he scornfully drew attention to that fact. bThey said to him: Let the descendants of thegentile bnations come in peace, who perform the acts of Aaron,who loved and pursued peace; band let not a descendant of Aaron come in peace, who does not perform the acts of Aaronand who speaks condescendingly to descendants of converts., strongMISHNA: /strong Throughout the year bthe High Priest serves in eight garments, and the common priestserves bin four: In a tunic and trousers and a mitre and a belt. The High Priest addsanother four garments bbeyondthose worn by the common priest: bA breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a frontplate.When dressed bin theseeight garments, the High Priest may bbe consulted forthe decision of the iUrim VeTummim /i. And he may be consultedfor the decision of the iUrim VeTummim bonly on behalf of the king, or on behalf of the president of the court, or on behalf of one whom the community needs.Individual inquiries are not posed to the iUrim VeTummim /i., strongGEMARA: /strong bThe Sages taughtin a ibaraita /i: With regard to those bitemsof the priestly vestments about which bit is statedthey must be made with blinen [ ishesh /i], their threadsare spun bsix-fold,as suggested by the use of the term ishesh /i, which also means six. When the Torah states that certain items are btwined,it means their threads are spun beight /b- bfold. /bThreads used to weave the brobewere spun from btwelvestrands. The threads of the bcurtainwere spun from btwenty-fourstrands. The threads used to weave the bbreastplate and ephodwere spun from btwenty-eightstrands.,The Gemara asks: That bthe threadsmade from isheshare spun bsix-fold, from where do wederive this? bThe verse states: “And they made the tunics of linen[ishesh/b] of woven work for Aaron and for his sons. bAnd the mitre of linen, and the adorning mitres of linen, and the linen [ ibad /i] trousers of twined linen”(Exodus 39:27–28). bFive mentionsof the word linen are bwritten;four times as “ ishesh /i” and an additional instance of “ ibad /i,” both meaning linen. bOnemention is stated bfor that ihalakha bitself,to teach bthat they should bemade of blinen. And onemention is written to teach bthat the threads should bespun bsix-fold, isheshbeing interpreted as six. bAnd onemention teaches that the six strands bshould be spun togetherinto one. bAnd onemention teaches that this also applies bto the other garments,even though the term isheshis not statedwith regard to them. bAnd onemention teaches that this requirement is bindispensableand that garments not made this way are invalid.,The Gemara asks: bFrom wheremay it bbe inferred that thisterm ishesh /imeans blinen? Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, said: As the versealso bstates: “ iBad /i,”and uses it interchangeably with ishesh /i. And ibadrefers to bsomething which sprouts from the ground stalk by stalk [ ibad bad /i],each one by itself. This is a fitting description of flax, the plant used to produce linen, as opposed to other plants, such as cotton, whose fibers grow meshed together. The Gemara asks: bAnd saythat it refers to bwool,since when it grows from the animal, each hair grows separately. The Gemara answers: bWool splits,with each hair dividing into several hairs, so it does not fully fit the description of sprouting stalk by stalk. The Gemara asks: But bflax also splitsinto individual hairs. The Gemara answers: bFlax,unlike wool, bsplitsonly bwhen beaten. /b, bRavina said:We have a proof for the matter bfrom here:The verse states: b“They shall have linen[ipishtim/b] bmitres upon their heads, and linen trousers upon their loins”(Ezekiel 44:18). The term ipishtimused in Ezekiel certainly refers to linen; therefore, it is clear that the terms isheshand ibad /i, used in the Torah for the same garments, also refer to linen., bRav Ashi said to him: But before Ezekiel came, who saidthis ihalakha /i? How was it known? Ravina retorted: bAnd according to your reasoning,the same question could be asked with regard to bthat which Rav Ḥisda saidconcerning the disqualification of an uncircumcised priest from serving in the Temple: bThis matter we did not learn from the Torah of Moses our teacher,as it is not written explicitly in the Torah; rather, bwe learned it from the words of Ezekiel ben Buzi,as the verse states: b“No foreigner, uncircumcised of heart or uncircumcised of flesh, shall enter into My sanctuary”(Ezekiel 44:9). One could ask here as well: bBefore Ezekiel came, who saidthis ihalakha /i? bRather,perforce, bthey learned it as a tradition andthen bEzekiel came and supported it with a verse. Here, too, they learned it as a tradition andthen bEzekiel came and supported it with a verse. /b,The Gemara continues to explain the ibaraita /i. That the use of the term btwinedimplies that the thread should be spun from beightstrands, bfrom where do wederive this? bAs it is written: “And they made upon the skirts of the robe pomegranates of sky-blue, and purple, and scarlet, twined”(Exodus 39:24); band derivea verbal analogy from the term b“twined”used in this verse and the term b“twined” fromthe verse about bthe curtain: Just as there,with regard to the curtain, there are btwenty-fourstrands, as will be explained, bso too here,there are btwenty-fourstrands in total. And since each pomegranate is made of three colors, sky-blue, purple, and scarlet, it must be bthat each one of them wasspun from beightstrands.,The Gemara challenges this derivation: bLet us derivethe number of strands instead bfromthe bbreastplate and ephodand say: bJust as there,with regard to the breastplate and ephod, there are btwenty-eightstrands, bso too, herethere are btwenty-eightstrands. The Gemara answers: It is preferable to bderivethe ihalakhotof ban item,i.e., the pomegranates, bwith regard to whichthe use of bgoldthreads bis not stated, fromthe ihalakhotof ban item,i.e., the curtain, bwith regard to whichthe use of bgoldthreads bisalso bnot stated.This would come bto excludethe possibility of deriving them from the bbreastplate and ephod, with regard to whichthe use of bgoldthreads bis stated.The Gemara asks: bOn the contrary,it should be preferable to bderivethe ihalakhotof one bgarment fromanother bgarment,i.e., the ihalakhotof the robe from the ihalakhotof the breastplate and ephod. This would come bto excludethe possibility of deriving them from the bcurtain, which is a tent,i.e., part of the Temple building, and not a garment. The Gemara accepts that the derivation is flawed., bRather,the need for thread of eight strands bis derived from the belt,which had twenty-four threads in total, band a garment and an item with regard to whichthe use of bgoldthread bis not stated,i.e., the pomegranates, bare derivedfrom ba garment and an item with regard to whichthe use of bgoldthread bis not stated. And an item with no gold,such as the pomegranates and robe, bis not derived from an item that has gold in it,such as the breastplate and ephod., bRav Mari saidanother reason not to derive the number of strands in a pomegranate from the breastplate and ephod: “Like the work of the ephod byou shall make it”(Exodus 28:15) bis writtenwith regard to the breastplate to indicate that byou shall make it,i.e., the breastplate, like the ephod, which indicates that bfor this,i.e., the breastplate, you shall use thread of twenty-eight strands, band not for anything else. /b, bRav Ashi saidanother reason that there could not be twenty-eight strands in a pomegranate: b“And you shall makepomegranates of sky-blue, and of purple, and of scarlet” (Exodus 28:33) bis writtento indicate bthat all the makings of it must be equal,i.e., that each color thread should be made from the same number of strands. However, if there are twenty-eight strands in total, the three threads, each of a different color, cannot be made with an equal number of strands, as bhow should we doit? bLet us make threecolored threads bof tenstrands beach;then bthey are thirtystrands in total, which is too many. bLet us make twocolored threads bof ninestrands band one of ten;but bthe verse states: “And you shall make,”to indicate bthat all the makings of it must be equal.Perforce, the threads used for the pomegranates and the robe must be derived from an item woven from threads of a number of strands divisible by three, such as the curtain.,The Gemara continues to explain the ibaraita /i: That the brobemust be woven from threads spun from btwelvestrands, bfrom where do wederive this? bAs it is written: “And you shall make the robe of the ephod /b |
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30. Theodosius Ii Emperor of Rome, Theodosian Code, 16.8.4, 16.8.13-16.8.14 (5th cent. CE - 5th cent. CE)
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31. Anon., Avot Derabbi Nathan A, 35 (6th cent. CE - 8th cent. CE)
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