1. Septuagint, Tobit, 12.19 (10th cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE)
| 12.19. All these days I merely appeared to you and did not eat or drink, but you were seeing a vision. |
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2. Hebrew Bible, Genesis, 15.1-15.4, 18.1-18.15, 19.3 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 15.1. אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה הָיָה דְבַר־יְהוָה אֶל־אַבְרָם בַּמַּחֲזֶה לֵאמֹר אַל־תִּירָא אַבְרָם אָנֹכִי מָגֵן לָךְ שְׂכָרְךָ הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד׃ 15.1. וַיִּקַּח־לוֹ אֶת־כָּל־אֵלֶּה וַיְבַתֵּר אֹתָם בַּתָּוֶךְ וַיִּתֵּן אִישׁ־בִּתְרוֹ לִקְרַאת רֵעֵהוּ וְאֶת־הַצִפֹּר לֹא בָתָר׃ 15.2. וְאֶת־הַחִתִּי וְאֶת־הַפְּרִזִּי וְאֶת־הָרְפָאִים׃ 15.2. וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָם אֲדֹנָי יֱהוִה מַה־תִּתֶּן־לִי וְאָנֹכִי הוֹלֵךְ עֲרִירִי וּבֶן־מֶשֶׁק בֵּיתִי הוּא דַּמֶּשֶׂק אֱלִיעֶזֶר׃ 15.3. וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָם הֵן לִי לֹא נָתַתָּה זָרַע וְהִנֵּה בֶן־בֵּיתִי יוֹרֵשׁ אֹתִי׃ 15.4. וְהִנֵּה דְבַר־יְהוָה אֵלָיו לֵאמֹר לֹא יִירָשְׁךָ זֶה כִּי־אִם אֲשֶׁר יֵצֵא מִמֵּעֶיךָ הוּא יִירָשֶׁךָ׃ 18.1. וַיֹּאמֶר שׁוֹב אָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ כָּעֵת חַיָּה וְהִנֵּה־בֵן לְשָׂרָה אִשְׁתֶּךָ וְשָׂרָה שֹׁמַעַת פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל וְהוּא אַחֲרָיו׃ 18.1. וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְהוָה בְּאֵלֹנֵי מַמְרֵא וְהוּא יֹשֵׁב פֶּתַח־הָאֹהֶל כְּחֹם הַיּוֹם׃ 18.2. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה זַעֲקַת סְדֹם וַעֲמֹרָה כִּי־רָבָּה וְחַטָּאתָם כִּי כָבְדָה מְאֹד׃ 18.2. וַיִּשָּׂא עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה שְׁלֹשָׁה אֲנָשִׁים נִצָּבִים עָלָיו וַיַּרְא וַיָּרָץ לִקְרָאתָם מִפֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ אָרְצָה׃ 18.3. וַיֹּאמֶר אַל־נָא יִחַר לַאדֹנָי וַאֲדַבֵּרָה אוּלַי יִמָּצְאוּן שָׁם שְׁלֹשִׁים וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא אֶעֱשֶׂה אִם־אֶמְצָא שָׁם שְׁלֹשִׁים׃ 18.3. וַיֹּאמַר אֲדֹנָי אִם־נָא מָצָאתִי חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ אַל־נָא תַעֲבֹר מֵעַל עַבְדֶּךָ׃ 18.4. יֻקַּח־נָא מְעַט־מַיִם וְרַחֲצוּ רַגְלֵיכֶם וְהִשָּׁעֲנוּ תַּחַת הָעֵץ׃ 18.5. וְאֶקְחָה פַת־לֶחֶם וְסַעֲדוּ לִבְּכֶם אַחַר תַּעֲבֹרוּ כִּי־עַל־כֵּן עֲבַרְתֶּם עַל־עַבְדְּכֶם וַיֹּאמְרוּ כֵּן תַּעֲשֶׂה כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ׃ 18.6. וַיְמַהֵר אַבְרָהָם הָאֹהֱלָה אֶל־שָׂרָה וַיֹּאמֶר מַהֲרִי שְׁלֹשׁ סְאִים קֶמַח סֹלֶת לוּשִׁי וַעֲשִׂי עֻגוֹת׃ 18.7. וְאֶל־הַבָּקָר רָץ אַבְרָהָם וַיִּקַּח בֶּן־בָּקָר רַךְ וָטוֹב וַיִּתֵּן אֶל־הַנַּעַר וַיְמַהֵר לַעֲשׂוֹת אֹתוֹ׃ 18.8. וַיִּקַּח חֶמְאָה וְחָלָב וּבֶן־הַבָּקָר אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה וַיִּתֵּן לִפְנֵיהֶם וְהוּא־עֹמֵד עֲלֵיהֶם תַּחַת הָעֵץ וַיֹּאכֵלוּ׃ 18.9. וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו אַיֵּה שָׂרָה אִשְׁתֶּךָ וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה בָאֹהֶל׃ 18.11. וְאַבְרָהָם וְשָׂרָה זְקֵנִים בָּאִים בַּיָּמִים חָדַל לִהְיוֹת לְשָׂרָה אֹרַח כַּנָּשִׁים׃ 18.12. וַתִּצְחַק שָׂרָה בְּקִרְבָּהּ לֵאמֹר אַחֲרֵי בְלֹתִי הָיְתָה־לִּי עֶדְנָה וַאדֹנִי זָקֵן׃ 18.13. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־אַבְרָהָם לָמָּה זֶּה צָחֲקָה שָׂרָה לֵאמֹר הַאַף אֻמְנָם אֵלֵד וַאֲנִי זָקַנְתִּי׃ 18.14. הֲיִפָּלֵא מֵיְהוָה דָּבָר לַמּוֹעֵד אָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ כָּעֵת חַיָּה וּלְשָׂרָה בֵן׃ 18.15. וַתְּכַחֵשׁ שָׂרָה לֵאמֹר לֹא צָחַקְתִּי כִּי יָרֵאָה וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא כִּי צָחָקְתְּ׃ 19.3. וַיִּפְצַר־בָּם מְאֹד וַיָּסֻרוּ אֵלָיו וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ וַיַּעַשׂ לָהֶם מִשְׁתֶּה וּמַצּוֹת אָפָה וַיֹּאכֵלוּ׃ 19.3. וַיַּעַל לוֹט מִצּוֹעַר וַיֵּשֶׁב בָּהָר וּשְׁתֵּי בְנֹתָיו עִמּוֹ כִּי יָרֵא לָשֶׁבֶת בְּצוֹעַר וַיֵּשֶׁב בַּמְּעָרָה הוּא וּשְׁתֵּי בְנֹתָיו׃ | 15.1. After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying: ‘Fear not, Abram, I am thy shield, thy reward shall be exceeding great.’" 15.2. And Abram said: ‘O Lord GOD, what wilt Thou give me, seeing I go hence childless, and he that shall be possessor of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?’" 15.3. And Abram said: ‘Behold, to me Thou hast given no seed, and, lo, one born in my house is to be mine heir.’" 15.4. And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying: ‘This man shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.’" 18.1. And the LORD appeared unto him by the terebinths of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;" 18.2. and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood over against him; and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed down to the earth," 18.3. and said: ‘My lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant." 18.4. Let now a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and recline yourselves under the tree." 18.5. And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and stay ye your heart; after that ye shall pass on; forasmuch as ye are come to your servant.’ And they said: ‘So do, as thou hast said.’" 18.6. And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said: ‘Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.’" 18.7. And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto the servant; and he hastened to dress it." 18.8. And he took curd, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat." 18.9. And they said unto him: ‘Where is Sarah thy wife?’ And he said: ‘Behold, in the tent.’" 18.10. And He said: ‘I will certainly return unto thee when the season cometh round; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.’ And Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.—" 18.11. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, and well stricken in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.—" 18.12. And Sarah laughed within herself, saying: ‘After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?’" 18.13. And the LORD said unto Abraham: ‘Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying: Shall I of a surety bear a child, who am old?" 18.14. Is any thing too hard for the LORD. At the set time I will return unto thee, when the season cometh round, and Sarah shall have a son.’" 18.15. Then Sarah denied, saying: ‘I laughed not’; for she was afraid. And He said: ‘Nay; but thou didst laugh.’" 19.3. And he urged them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat." |
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3. Hebrew Bible, Judges, 6.21-6.22, 13.15-13.16 (8th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 6.21. וַיִּשְׁלַח מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה אֶת־קְצֵה הַמִּשְׁעֶנֶת אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדוֹ וַיִּגַּע בַּבָּשָׂר וּבַמַּצּוֹת וַתַּעַל הָאֵשׁ מִן־הַצּוּר וַתֹּאכַל אֶת־הַבָּשָׂר וְאֶת־הַמַּצּוֹת וּמַלְאַךְ יְהוָה הָלַךְ מֵעֵינָיו׃ 6.22. וַיַּרְא גִּדְעוֹן כִּי־מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה הוּא וַיֹּאמֶר גִּדְעוֹן אֲהָהּ אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה כִּי־עַל־כֵּן רָאִיתִי מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה פָּנִים אֶל־פָּנִים׃ 13.15. וַיֹּאמֶר מָנוֹחַ אֶל־מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה נַעְצְרָה־נָּא אוֹתָךְ וְנַעֲשֶׂה לְפָנֶיךָ גְּדִי עִזִּים׃ 13.16. וַיֹּאמֶר מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה אֶל־מָנוֹחַ אִם־תַּעְצְרֵנִי לֹא־אֹכַל בְּלַחְמֶךָ וְאִם־תַּעֲשֶׂה עֹלָה לַיהוָה תַּעֲלֶנָּה כִּי לֹא־יָדַע מָנוֹחַ כִּי־מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה הוּא׃ | 6.21. Then the angel of the Lord stretched out the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes; and the fire rose up out of the rock, and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the Lord departed out of his sight." 6.22. And when Gid῾on perceived that he was an angel of the Lord, Gid῾on said, Alas, O Lord God! because I have surely seen an angel of the Lord face to face." 13.15. And Manoaĥ said to the angel of the Lord, I pray thee, let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee." 13.16. And the angel of the Lord said to Manoaĥ, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it to the Lord. For Manoaĥ knew not that he was an angel of the Lord." |
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4. Septuagint, Tobit, 12.19 (4th cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE)
| 12.19. All these days I merely appeared to you and did not eat or drink, but you were seeing a vision. |
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5. Philo of Alexandria, On The Life of Abraham, 121, 118 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
| 118. And it is a thing that deserves to be looked on as a prodigy, that though they did not drink they seemed to drink, and that though they did not eat they presented the appearance of persons eating. But this was all natural and consistent with what was going on. And the most miraculous circumstance of all was, that these beings who were incorporeal presented the appearance of a body in human form by reason of their favour to the virtuous man, for otherwise what need was there of all these miracles except for the purpose of giving the wise man the evidence of his external senses by means of a more distinct sight, because his character had not escaped the knowledge of the Father of the universe. XXIV. |
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6. Philo of Alexandria, On The Eternity of The World, 141 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
| 141. And the island of Atalantes which was greater than Africa and Asia, as Plato says in the Timaeus, in one day and night was overwhelmed beneath the sea in consequence of an extraordinary earthquake and inundation and suddenly disappeared, becoming sea, not indeed navigable, but full of gulfs and eddies. |
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7. Philo of Alexandria, On The Cherubim, 106 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
| 106. Such a house then being prepared in the race of mankind, all things on earth will be filled with good hopes, expecting the return of the powers of God; and they will come, bringing laws from heaven, and bonds, for the purpose of sanctifying the hallowing it, according to the command of their Father; then becoming the associates and constant companions of these souls which love virtue, they sow in them the genus of happiness: as they gave to the wise Abraham his son Isaac as the most perfect proof of their gratitude for the hospitality which they experienced from him. 106. And after this commandment relating to the seventh day he gives the fifth, which concerns the honour to be paid to parents, giving it a position on the confines of the two tables of five commandments each; for being the concluding one of the first table, in which the most sacred duties to the Deity are enjoined, it has also some connection with the second table which comprehends the obligations towards our fellow creatures; |
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8. Philo of Alexandria, On The Confusion of Tongues, 59 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
| 59. For these men no longer obey reason as their ruler, but God, the governor of the universe, by whom they are assisted so as to display their energies in actions rather than in words. For when they hear of others doing such and such things, these men, which is a thing most contrary to what one would expect, say that, from some inspiration of God, they will act first and obey afterwards; in order that they may seem to have advanced to good actions, not in consequence of instruction and admonition, but by their own spontaneous and self-taught mind. And then, when they have accomplished these actions, they say that they will obey in order that they may form an opinion of what they have done, as to whether their actions are consistent with the divine injunctions and the sacred admonitions of scripture. XIV. |
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9. Philo of Alexandria, On The Decalogue, 150, 132 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
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10. Philo of Alexandria, On Flight And Finding, 112 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
| 112. for the word of the living God being the bond of every thing, as has been said before, holds all things together, and binds all the parts, and prevents them from being loosened or separated. And the particular soul, as far as it has received power, does not permit any of the parts of the body to be separated or cut off contrary to their nature; but as far as depends upon itself, it preserves every thing entire, and conducts the different parts to a harmony and indissoluble union with one another. But the mind of the wise man being thoroughly purified, preserves the virtues in an unbroken and unimpaired condition, having adapted their natural kindred and communion with a still more solid good will. XXI. |
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11. Philo of Alexandria, On The Life of Joseph, 29-31, 28 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
| 28. It is worth while, however, after having thus explained the literal account given to us of these events, to proceed to explain also the figurative meaning concealed under that account; for we say that nearly all, or that at all events, the greater part of the history of the giving of the law is full of allegories; now the disposition which we have at present under consideration, is called by the Hebrews Joseph; but the name being interpreted in the Greek language means, "the addition of the Lord," a name most felicitously given, and most appropriate to the account given of the person so called; for the democratic constitution in vogue among states is an addition of nature which has sovereign authority over everything; |
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12. Philo of Alexandria, On The Creation of The World, 3, 54, 70, 13 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
| 13. And he says that the world was made in six days, not because the Creator stood in need of a length of time (for it is natural that God should do everything at once, not merely by uttering a command, but by even thinking of it); but because the things created required arrangement; and number is akin to arrangement; and, of all numbers, six is, by the laws of nature, the most productive: for of all the numbers, from the unit upwards, it is the first perfect one, being made equal to its parts, and being made complete by them; the number three being half of it, and the number two a third of it, and the unit a sixth of it, and, so to say, it is formed so as to be both male and female, and is made up of the power of both natures; for in existing things the odd number is the male, and the even number is the female; accordingly, of odd numbers the first is the number three, and of even numbers the first is two, and the two numbers multiplied together make six. |
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13. Philo of Alexandria, On Sobriety, 8, 33 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
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14. Philo of Alexandria, On The Special Laws, 1.325, 2.13, 2.37, 2.58, 2.171, 3.32, 3.45-3.48, 3.121 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
| 1.325. Therefore, as it was aware that no inconsiderable number of wicked men are often mingled in these assemblies, and escape notice by reason of the crowds collected there, in order to prevent that from being the case in this instance, he previously excludes all who are unworthy from the sacred assembly, beginning in the first instance with those who are afflicted with the disease of effeminacy, men-women, who, having adulterated the coinage of nature, are willingly driven into the appearance and treatment of licentious women. He also banishes all those who have suffered any injury or mutilation in their most important members, and those who, seeking to preserve the flower of their beauty so that it may not speedily wither away, have altered the impression of their natural manly appearance into the resemblance of a woman. 2.13. for there are some men who swear, if chance so prompts them, to commit theft, or sacrilege, or adultery, or rape, or to inflict wounds or slaughter, or any similar acts of wickedness, and who perform them without any delay, making an excuse that they must keep their oaths, as if it were not better and more acceptable to God to do no iniquity, than to perform such a vow and oath as that. The national laws and ancient ordices of every people are established for the sake of justice and of every virtue, and what else are laws and ordices but the sacred words of nature having an authority and power in themselves, so that they differ in no respect from oaths? 2.37. And if the thing which he has vowed be his house, again he must have the priest for a valuer. But those who may chance to buy it shall not pay an equal ransom for it; but if the man who has vowed it chooses to ransom it, he shall pay its price and a fifth besides, punishing his own rashness and impetuous desire for his two faults, his rashness for making the vow, and his impetuous desire for wishing for things back again which he had before abandoned. But if any one else brings it he shall not pay more than its value. 2.58. But Moses, from a most honourable cause, called it consummation and perfection; attributing to the number six the origination of all the parts of the world, and to the number seven their perfection; for the number six is an oddeven number, being composed of twice three, having the odd number for the male and the even number for the female, from the union of which, production takes place in accordance with the unalterable laws of nature. 2.171. That the first fruit is a handful for their own land and for all lands, offered in thanksgiving for prosperity and a good season which the nation and the entire race of human beings were hoping to enjoy, has been demonstrated. We should not be unaware that many benefits have come by means of the first fruit: first, memory of God--it is not possible to find a more perfect good than this; then, the most just recompense to the real Cause of the fruitfulness. 3.32. And there are particular periods affecting the health of the woman when a man may not touch her, but during that time he must abstain from all connection with her, respecting the laws of nature. And, at the same time, he must learn not to waste his vigour in the pursuit of an unseemly and barbarous pleasure; for such conduct would be like that of a husbandman who, out of drunkenness or sudden insanity, should sow wheat or barley in lakes or flooded torrents, instead of over the fertile plains; for it is proper to cast seed upon fields when they are dry, in order that it may bear abundant fruit. 3.45. And it is very likely that there may be other Pasipha's also, with passions equally unbridled, and that not women only, but men likewise may fall madly in love with animals, from whom, perhaps, indescribable monsters may be born, being memorials of the excessive pollution of men; owing to which, perhaps, those unnatural creations of unprecedented and fabulous monsters will exist, such as hippocentaurs and chimaeras, and other similar animals. 3.46. But so great are the precautions which are taken against them in the holy laws of God, that in order to prevent the possibility of men ever desiring any unlawful connection, it is expressly commanded that even animals of different kinds shall not be put together. And no Jewish shepherd will endeavour to cross a sheep with a he-goat, or a ram with a she-goat, or a cow with a horse; and if he does, he must pay the penalty as breaking a solemn law of nature who is desirous to keep the original kinds of animals free from all spurious admixture. 3.47. And some persons prefer mules to every other kind of animal for the yoke, since their bodies are very compact, and are very strong and powerful; and accordingly, in the pastures and stalls where they keep their horses, they also keep asses of an extraordinary size, which they call celones, in order that they may breed with the mares; and then the mares produce a mixed animal, half horse and half ass, which, since Moses knew that its production was wholly contrary to nature, he forbade the existence of with all his might by a general injunction, that that no union or combination between different kinds of animals should on any account be permitted. 3.48. Therefore he provided thus against those evils in a manner suited to and consistent with nature; and from a long distance off, as from a watchtower, he admonished men and kept them in the straight path, in order that both men and women, learning from these percepts of his, might abstain from unlawful connections. 3.121. For the merciful and forgiving God can never be supposed to have given up any innocent person to be put to death; but whoever ingeniously escapes the judgment of a human tribunal by means of his own cunning and wariness, he is convicted when brought before the invisible tribunal of nature, by which alone the uncorrupted truth is discerned without being kept in the dark by the artifices of sophistical arguments. For such an investigation does not admit of arguments at all, laying bare all devices and intentions, and bringing the most secret counsels to light; and, in one sense, it does not look upon a man who has slain another as liable to justice, inasmuch as he has only sinned to be the minister of a divine judgment, but still he will have incurred an obscure and slight kind of defilement, which, however, may obtain allowance and pardon. |
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15. Philo of Alexandria, On The Contemplative Life, 70 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
| 70. And they do not use the ministrations of slaves, looking upon the possession of servants of slaves to be a thing absolutely and wholly contrary to nature, for nature has created all men free, but the injustice and covetousness of some men who prefer inequality, that cause of all evil, having subdued some, has given to the more powerful authority over those who are weaker. |
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16. Philo of Alexandria, On The Life of Moses, 1.117 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
| 1.117. but nature does not expend her powers to no purpose when they are not wanted, so as to provide rain for a land which does not require it, but it rejoices in the variety and diversity of scientific operations, and arranges the harmony of the universe from a number of opposite qualities. And for this reason it supplies the benefits which are derivable from water, to some countries, by bestowing it on them from above, namely from heaven, and to others it gives it from below by means of springs and rivers; |
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17. Philo of Alexandria, Allegorical Interpretation, 3.245 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
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18. Philo of Alexandria, Questions On Genesis, 4.2, 4.8, 4.11, 4.15-4.16, 4.19, 4.42, 4.124 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
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19. Josephus Flavius, Jewish Antiquities, 1.197 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 1.197. to which, when they agreed, he ordered cakes of meal to be made presently; and when he had slain a calf, he roasted it, and brought it to them, as they sat under the oak. Now they made a show of eating; and besides, they asked him about his wife Sarah, where she was; and when he said she was within, they said they would come again hereafter, and find her become a mother. |
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20. Anon., Genesis Rabba, 48.11, 48.14 (2nd cent. CE - 5th cent. CE)
| 48.11. וְאֶקְחָה פַת לֶחֶם וְסַעֲדוּ לִבְּכֶם אַחַר תַּעֲבֹרוּ (בראשית יח, ה), אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק בַּתּוֹרָה וּבַנְּבִיאִים וּבַכְּתוּבִים מָצִינוּ דַּהֲדָא פִּתָּא מְזוֹנִיתָא דְלִבָּא. בַּתּוֹרָה מִנַּיִן, וְאֶקְחָה פַת לֶחֶם וְסַעֲדוּ לִבְּכֶם. בַּנְּבִיאִים (שופטים יט, ה): סְעָד לִבְּךָ פַּת לֶחֶם. בַּכְּתוּבִים (תהלים קד, טו): וְלֶחֶם לְבַב אֱנוֹשׁ יִסְעָד. אָמַר רַב אַחָא וְסַעֲדוּ לְבַבְכֶם אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא וְסַעֲדוּ לִבְּכֶם, הֲדָא אָמְרָת אֵין יֵצֶר הָרָע שׁוֹלֵט בַּמַּלְאָכִים, הוּא דַּעְתֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי חִיָּא, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּא (תהלים מח, יד): שִׁיתוּ לְבַבְכֶם לְחֵילָה אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא לִבְּכֶם, הֲדָא אָמְרָת שֶׁאֵין יֵצֶר הָרָע שׁוֹלֵט לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא. כִּי עַל כֵּן עֲבַרְתֶּם עַל עַבְדְּכֶם, אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ מִיּוֹם שֶׁבָּרָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶת עוֹלָמוֹ הֱיִיתֶם מְזֻמָּנִים לָבוֹא אֶצְלִי, כִּי עַל כֵּן עֲבַרְתֶּם, הֵיךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (שמות י, י): יְהִי כֵן ה' עִמָּכֶם. וַיֹּאמְרוּ כֵּן תַּעֲשֶׂה כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ, אָמְרוּ אָנוּ אֵין לְפָנֵינוּ אֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה, אֲבָל אַתָּה שֶׁיֵּשׁ לְפָנֶיךָ אֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה, כֵּן תַּעֲשֶׂה לְעַצְמְךָ, כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ, יְהִי רָצוֹן שֶׁתִּזְכֶּה לַעֲשׂוֹת עוֹד סְעוּדָה אַחֶרֶת לְבַר דְּכַר דְּיִתְיְלֵיד לָךְ. 48.14. וַיִּקַּח חֶמְאָה וְחָלָב (בראשית יח, ח), אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא הַמְעֻלֶּה אֶחָד מִשִּׁשִּׁים בֶּחָלָב, וְהַבֵּינוֹנִי אֶחָד מֵאַרְבָּעִים, וְהַקִּבָּר אֶחָד מֵעֶשְׂרִים. רַבִּי יוֹנָה אָמַר הַמְעֻלָּה אֶחָד מִמֵּאָה, בֵּינוֹנִי אֶחָד מִשִּׁשִּׁים, וְהַקִּבָּר אֶחָד מֵעֶשְׂרִים. וּפַת הֵיכָן הִיא, אֶפְרַיִם מַקְשָׁאָה תַּלְמִידוֹ דְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי מֵאִיר אָמַר פִּירְסָה נִדָּה וְנִטְמֵאת הָעִסָּה. רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי אֲפִלּוּ פַּת הֵבִיא לִפְנֵיהֶם, מָה אִם דְּבָרִים שֶׁלֹא אָמַר הֵבִיא לִפְנֵיהֶם, דְּבָרִים שֶׁאָמַר לָהֶם עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה. (בראשית יח, ח): וְהוּא עֹמֵד עֲלֵיהֶם, הָכָא אַתְּ אָמַר וְהוּא עֹמֵד עֲלֵיהֶם, וּלְהַלָּן אָמַר (בראשית יח, ב): נִצָּבִים עָלָיו, אֶלָּא עַד שֶׁלֹא יָצָא יְדֵיהֶם נִצָּבִים עָלָיו, כֵּיוָן שֶׁיָּצָא יְדֵיהֶם וְהוּא עֹמֵד עֲלֵיהֶם, אֵימָתוֹ מֻטֶּלֶת עֲלֵיהֶם, מִיכָאֵל מִרְתַּת, גַּבְרִיאֵל מִרְתַּת. רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר וְרַבִּי אָבוּן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי מֵאִיר, מַתְלָא אֲמַר, עֲלַת לְקַרְתָּא הֲלֵךְ בְּנִימוּסָהּ, לְמַעְלָה שֶׁאֵין אֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה, עָלָה משֶׁה לַמָּרוֹם וְלֹא אָכַל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים ט, ט): וָאֵשֵׁב בָּהָר אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם וְאַרְבָּעִים לַיְלָה לֶחֶם לֹא אָכַלְתִּי וּמַיִם לֹא שָׁתִיתִי, אֲבָל לְמַטָּה שֶׁיֵּשׁ אֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה, וְהוּא עֹמֵד עֲלֵיהֶם תַּחַת הָעֵץ וַיֹּאכֵלוּ, וְכִי אוֹכְלִין הָיוּ, אֶלָּא נִרְאִין כְּאוֹכְלִין, רִאשׁוֹן רִאשׁוֹן מִסְתַּלֵּק. | |
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21. Anon., Leviticus Rabba, 34.8 (2nd cent. CE - 5th cent. CE)
| 34.8. רַבִּי סִימוֹן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אוֹמֵר בָּהּ אַרְבַּע שִׁיטִין, מִי הוּא שֶׁעָשָׂה חֶסֶד עִם מִי שֶׁלֹּא הָיוּ צְרִיכִין, אַבְרָהָם עִם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת, כְּתִיב (בראשית יח, ח): וְהוּא עֹמֵד עֲלֵיהֶם תַּחַת הָעֵץ וַיֹּאכֵלוּ, וְכִי אוֹכְלִין הָיוּ, אָמַר רַבִּי יוּדָן נִרְאִין כְּאוֹכְלִין וְשׁוֹתִין וְרִאשׁוֹן רִאשׁוֹן מִסְתַּלֵּק, וּמַה פָּרַע הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְבָנָיו, הַמָּן יוֹרֵד לָהֶם, וְהַבְּאֵר עוֹלָה לָהֶן, וְהַשְּׂלָו מָצוּי לָהֶם, וְעַנְנֵי כָבוֹד מַקִּיפִין אוֹתָם, וְעַמּוּד הֶעָנָן נוֹסֵעַ לִפְנֵיהֶם. וַהֲרֵי דְבָרִים קַל וָחֹמֶר, וּמָה אִם מִי שֶׁעָשָׂה חֶסֶד עִם מִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לְחֶסֶד פָּרַע הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְבָנָיו, מִי שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה חֶסֶד עִם מִי שֶׁצָּרִיךְ, עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה. רַבִּי סִימוֹן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר בָּהּ שִׁיטָה חֳרֵי, מִי הֵן שֶׁלֹּא עָשׂוּ חֶסֶד עִם מִי שֶׁלֹּא הָיוּ צְרִיכִין לְחֶסֶד, עַמּוֹנִי וּמוֹאָבִי עִם יִשְׂרָאֵל, דִּכְתִיב (דברים כג, ה): עַל דְּבַר אֲשֶׁר לֹא קִדְמוּ אֶתְכֶם בַּלֶּחֶם וּבַמַּיִם, וְכִי צְרִיכִין הָיוּ לָהֶם יִשְׂרָאֵל, וַהֲלוֹא כָּל אוֹתָן אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה שֶׁהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּמִּדְבָּר הָיָה הַמָּן יוֹרֵד לָהֶן וְהַבְּאֵר עוֹלָה וְהַשְּׂלָו מָצוּי לָהֶם וְעַנְנֵי כָּבוֹד מַקִּיפִין אוֹתָם וְעַמּוּד עָנָן נוֹסֵעַ לִפְנֵיהֶם. אֶלָּא דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ הוּא הַבָּא מִן הַדֶּרֶךְ מַקְדִּימִין לָהֶם בְּמַאֲכָל וּבְמִשְׁתֶּה, מַה פָּרַע לָהֶן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִתּוֹךְ כָּךְ (דברים כה, ד): לֹא יָבֹא עַמּוֹנִי וּמוֹאָבִי, וַהֲרֵי דְבָרִים קַל וָחֹמֶר וּמַה אִם מִי שֶׁלֹּא עָשׂוּ חֶסֶד עִם מִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ חֶסֶד רְאֵה מַה פָּרַע לָהֶם שְׂכָרָם, מִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ עוֹשֶׂה חֶסֶד עִם מִי שֶׁצָּרִיךְ חֶסֶד עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה. רַבִּי סִימוֹן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אוֹמֵר בָּהּ שִׁיטָה חֳרֵי, מִי הוּא שֶׁעָשָׂה חֶסֶד עִם מִי שֶׁחַיָּב לוֹ, יִתְרוֹ עִם משֶׁה (שמות ב, כ): וַיֹּאמֶר [להן] קִרְאֶן לוֹ וְיֹאכַל לָחֶם, רַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר בִּשְׂכָרוֹ הֶאֱכִילוֹ, דִּכְתִיב (שמות ב, יט): וְגַם דָּלֹה דָּלָה לָנוּ, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה וְרַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה וְרַבָּנָן, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר דָּלָה לָנוּ וְלַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ. רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה אָמַר דָּלָה לָנוּ וְלָרוֹעִים. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי דָּלָה לָנוּ בִּזְכוּת אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, וְלָרוֹעִים בִּשְׁבִיל לְהַטִּיל שָׁלוֹם. וְאֵימָתַי פָּרַע לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שְׂכָרוֹ, רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הַגְּלִילִי אוֹמֵר בִּימֵי שָׁאוּל, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שמואל א טו, ו): וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל אֶל הַקֵּינִי לְכוּ סוּרוּ רְדוּ וגו', וְכִי עִם כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל עָשָׂה חֶסֶד וַהֲלוֹא לֹא עָשָׂה אֶלָּא עִם משֶׁה לְבַדּוֹ, אֶלָּא לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁכָּל מִי שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה חֶסֶד עִם אֶחָד מִגְּדוֹלֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מַעֲלִין עָלָיו כְּאִלּוּ עוֹשֶׂה חֶסֶד עִם כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וַהֲרֵי דְבָרִים קַל וָחֹמֶר וּמַה מִּי שֶׁעָשָׂה חֶסֶד עִם מִי שֶׁחַיָּב לוֹ רְאֵה מַה פָּרַע לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, מִי שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה חֶסֶד עִם מִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ חַיָּב לוֹ עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה. רַבִּי סִימוֹן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אוֹמֵר בָּהּ שִׁיטָה חֳרֵי, אָמַר מִי הוּא שֶׁעָשָׂה חֶסֶד עִם מִי שֶׁצָּרִיךְ חֶסֶד, זֶה בּוֹעַז עִם רוּת, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (רות ב, יד): וַיֹּאמֶר לָה בֹעַז לְעֵת הָאֹכֶל גּשִׁי הֲלֹם, קְרִיבִי לְהָכָא, (רות ב, יד): וְאָכַלְתְּ מִן הַלֶּחֶם, מִלֶּחֶם שֶׁל קוֹצְרִים, (רות ב, יד): וְטָבַלְתְּ פִּתֵּךְ בַּחֹמֶץ, שֶׁכֵּן דֶּרֶךְ הַקּוֹצְרִים לִהְיוֹת טוֹבְלִין פִּתָּן בְּחֹמֶץ בִּשְׁעַת הַשָּׁרָב, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן מִכָּאן שֶׁמּוֹצִיאִין מִינֵי חֲמֻצִים לַגְּרָנוֹת. (רות ב, יד): וַתֵּשֶׁב מִצַּד הַקֹּצְרִים, וַדַּאי. (רות ב, יד): וַיִּצְבָּט לָהּ קָלִי, קָלֵיל זְעֵיר בְּרָאשֵׁי אֶצְבְּעוֹתָיו נָתַן לָהּ, וְהָכְתִיב (רות ב, יד): וַתֹּאכַל וַתִּשְׂבַּע וַתֹּתַר, אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק אֲנַן שַׁמְעִינַן מִינָהּ תַּרְתֵּי, אוֹ בְּרָכָה שׁוֹרָה בְּיָדוֹ שֶׁל אוֹתוֹ צַדִּיק, אוֹ בְּרָכָה שׁוֹרָה בְּמֵעֶיהָ שֶׁל אוֹתָהּ צַדֶּקֶת, אֶלָּא מִן מַה דִּכְתִיב: וַתֹּאכַל וַתִּשְׂבַּע וַתּוֹתַר, אָנוּ יוֹדְעִין שֶׁבְּרָכָה שׁוֹרָה בְּתוֹךְ מֵעֶיהָ שֶׁל אוֹתָהּ צַדֶּקֶת. אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק, לִמְדָתְךָ תּוֹרָה דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ שֶׁכְּשֶׁיְהֵא אָדָם עוֹשֶׂה מִצְוָה יְהֵא עוֹשֶׂה אוֹתָהּ בְּלֵב שָׂמֵחַ, שֶׁאִלּוּ הָיָה רְאוּבֵן יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַכְתִּיב עָלָיו (בראשית לז, כא): וַיִּשְׁמַע רְאוּבֵן וַיַּצִּלֵהוּ מִיָּדָם, הָיָה טוֹעֲנוֹ וּמוֹלִיכוֹ אֵצֶל אָבִיו, וְאִלּוּ הָיָה יוֹדֵעַ בֹּעַז שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַכְתִּיב עָלָיו: וַיִּצְבָּט לָהּ קָלִי, עֲגָלִים פְּטוּמִים הָיָה מַאֲכִילָהּ. רַבִּי כֹּהֵן וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמְרוּ לְשֶׁעָבַר הָיָה אָדָם עוֹשֶׂה מִצְוָה וְהַנָּבִיא כּוֹתְבָהּ, וְעַכְשָׁיו אָדָם עוֹשֶׂה מִצְוָה מִי כּוֹתְבָהּ, אֵלִיָהוּ וּמֶלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ, וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא חוֹתֵם עַל יְדֵיהֶם, כְּהַהוּא דִכְתִיב (מלאכי ג, טז): אָז נִדְבְּרוּ יִרְאֵי ה' אִישׁ אֶל רֵעֵהוּ וַיַּקְשֵׁב ה' וַיִּשְׁמָע וַיִּכָּתֵב סֵפֶר זִכָּרוֹן לְפָנָיו. תָּנֵי רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, יוֹתֵר מִמַּה שֶּׁבַּעַל הַבַּיִת עוֹשֶׂה עִם הֶעָנִי הֶעָנִי עוֹשֶׂה עִם בַּעַל הַבַּיִת, שֶׁכֵּן רוּת אוֹמֶרֶת לְנָעֳמִי (רות ב, יט): שֵׁם הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי עִמּוֹ הַיּוֹם בֹּעַז, אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה עִמִּי אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי עִמּוֹ, אָמְרָה לָהּ הַרְבֵּה פְּעֻלּוֹת וְטוֹבוֹת עָשִׂיתִי עִמּוֹ הַיּוֹם בִּשְׁבִיל פְּרוּסָה שֶׁנָּתַן לִי. | |
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22. Anon., Exodus Rabbah, 47.5 (4th cent. CE - 9th cent. CE)
| 47.5. וַיְהִי שָׁם עִם ה', וְכִי אֶפְשָׁר לוֹ לְאָדָם לִהְיוֹת אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם בְּלֹא מַאֲכָל וּבְלֹא מִשְׁתֶּה, רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן רַבִּי אָבִין בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר, הַמָּשָׁל אוֹמֵר אֲזַלְתְּ לְקַרְתָּא הַלֵּךְ בְּנִימוּסֶיהָ, לְמַעְלָה שֶׁאֵין אֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה עָלָה משֶׁה וְנִדְמָה לָהֶם, לְמַטָּה שֶׁיֵּשׁ אֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה יָרְדוּ מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת וְאָכְלוּ וְשָׁתוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית יח, ח): וְהוּא עֹמֵד עֲלֵיהֶם תַּחַת הָעֵץ וַיֹּאכֵלוּ, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן נִרְאִין כְּאוֹכְלִין, רִאשׁוֹן רִאשׁוֹן מִסְתַּלֵּק. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וַיְהִי שָׁם עִם ה', מַעֲשֶׂה בְּרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן שֶׁהָיָה עוֹלֶה מִטְבֶרְיָא לְצִפּוֹרִי, הָיָה רַבִּי חִיָּא תַּלְמִידוֹ אֶצְלוֹ, וְהָיָה רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן רוֹאֶה כֶּרֶם, אָמַר לְרַבִּי חִיָּא, אֵין אַתָּה רוֹאֶה כֶּרֶם זֶה שֶׁהָיָה שֶׁלִּי וּמָכַרְתִּי אוֹתוֹ בְּכָךְ וְכָךְ, אוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה בָּכָה רַבִּי חִיָּא בַּר אַבָּא וְאָמַר לוֹ, לֹא הִנַּחְתָּ לְעֵת זִקְנוּתְךָ כְּלוּם, אָמַר לוֹ וְכִי קַלָּה הִיא בְּעֵינֶיךָ שֶׁמָּכַרְתִּי דָּבָר שֶׁנִּבְרָא בְּשִׁשָּׁה יָמִים, וְקָנִיתִי דָּבָר שֶׁנִּתַּן לְאַרְבָּעִים יוֹם, עוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ וּמְלוֹאוֹ נִבְרָא בְּשִׁשָּׁה יָמִים, אֲבָל הַתּוֹרָה נִתְּנָה לְאַרְבָּעִים יוֹם. לֶחֶם לֹא אָכַל, אֲבָל מִלַּחְמָהּ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה אָכַל, וּמַיִם לֹא שָׁתָה, אֲבָל מֵימֶיהָ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה שָׁתָה, וְהָיָה לָמֵד תּוֹרָה בַּיּוֹם, וּפוֹשֵׁט אוֹתָהּ בֵּינוֹ לְבֵין עַצְמוֹ בַּלַּיְלָה, וְלָמָּה הָיָה עוֹשֶׂה כָּךְ, אֶלָּא לְלַמֵּד אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁיְהוּ יְגֵעִים בַּתּוֹרָה בַּיּוֹם וּבַלָּיְלָה. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ הָיָה אוֹמֵר לְתַלְמִידָיו בּוֹאוּ וְלִמְּדוּ תוֹרָה דְּשָׁחֲרִין וּדְקָרִין בַּלַּיְלָה. וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן הָיָה אוֹמֵר לְתַלְמִידָיו בּוֹאוּ וְלִמְדוּ תוֹרָה דְּאִימְטִין. אֶלָּא אַף עַל פִּי כֵן מוֹדֶה הָיָה רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן שֶׁאֵין רִנָּה שֶׁל תּוֹרָה אֶלָּא בַּלַּיְלָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (איכה ב, יט): קוּמִי רֹנִי בַלַּיְלָה, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (משלי לא, טו): וַתָּקָם בְּעוֹד לַיְלָה. רַבָּנִין אָמְרֵי בַּיּוֹם וּבַלַּיְלָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיְהִי שָׁם עִם ה' אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם וְאַרְבָּעִים לָיְלָה, לְכָךְ הִתְקִינוּ חֲכָמִים שֶׁיְהוּ הַמַּשְׁנִין יוֹשְׁבִין בַּבֹּקֶר וּבָעֶרֶב, לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר (יהושע א, ח): לֹא יָמוּשׁ סֵפֶר הַתּוֹרָה הַזֶּה וגו'. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וַיְהִי שָׁם עִם ה', לֶחֶם לֹא אָכַל וּמַיִם לֹא שָׁתָה בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, אֲבָל לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא הוּא אוֹכֵל מִלַּחְמָהּ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה וְהוּא שׁוֹתֶה מֵימֶיהָ, לְפִיכָךְ לֶחֶם לֹא אָכַל, אֶלָּא מֵאַיִן הָיָה אוֹכֵל, מִזִּיו הַשְּׁכִינָה הָיָה נִזּוֹן, וְאַל תִּתְמַהּ הַחַיּוֹת שֶׁנּוֹשְׂאוֹת אֶת הַכִּסֵּא מִזִּיו הַשְּׁכִינָה הֵן נִזּוֹנוֹת. | |
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