1. Hebrew Bible, Deuteronomy, 9.1, 9.6, 9.10, 9.22-9.24, 17.18 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 9.1. שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל אַתָּה עֹבֵר הַיּוֹם אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן לָבֹא לָרֶשֶׁת גּוֹיִם גְּדֹלִים וַעֲצֻמִים מִמֶּךָּ עָרִים גְּדֹלֹת וּבְצֻרֹת בַּשָּׁמָיִם׃ 9.1. וַיִּתֵּן יְהוָה אֵלַי אֶת־שְׁנֵי לוּחֹת הָאֲבָנִים כְּתֻבִים בְּאֶצְבַּע אֱלֹהִים וַעֲלֵיהֶם כְּכָל־הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהוָה עִמָּכֶם בָּהָר מִתּוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ בְּיוֹם הַקָּהָל׃ 9.6. וְיָדַעְתָּ כִּי לֹא בְצִדְקָתְךָ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ אֶת־הָאָרֶץ הַטּוֹבָה הַזֹּאת לְרִשְׁתָּהּ כִּי עַם־קְשֵׁה־עֹרֶף אָתָּה׃ 9.22. וּבְתַבְעֵרָה וּבְמַסָּה וּבְקִבְרֹת הַתַּאֲוָה מַקְצִפִים הֱיִיתֶם אֶת־יְהוָה׃ 9.23. וּבִשְׁלֹחַ יְהוָה אֶתְכֶם מִקָּדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ לֵאמֹר עֲלוּ וּרְשׁוּ אֶת־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נָתַתִּי לָכֶם וַתַּמְרוּ אֶת־פִּי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם וְלֹא הֶאֱמַנְתֶּם לוֹ וְלֹא שְׁמַעְתֶּם בְּקֹלוֹ׃ 9.24. מַמְרִים הֱיִיתֶם עִם־יְהוָה מִיּוֹם דַּעְתִּי אֶתְכֶם׃ 17.18. וְהָיָה כְשִׁבְתּוֹ עַל כִּסֵּא מַמְלַכְתּוֹ וְכָתַב לוֹ אֶת־מִשְׁנֵה הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת עַל־סֵפֶר מִלִּפְנֵי הַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם׃ | 9.1. Hear, O Israel: thou art to pass over the Jordan this day, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fortified up to heaven," 9.6. Know therefore that it is not for thy righteousness that the LORD thy God giveth thee this good land to possess it; for thou art a stiffnecked people." 9.10. And the LORD delivered unto me the two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spoke with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly." 9.22. And at Taberah, and at Massah, and at Kibroth-hattaavah, ye made the LORD wroth." 9.23. And when the LORD sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying: ‘Go up and possess the land which I have given you’; then ye rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God, and ye believed Him not, nor hearkened to His voice." 9.24. Ye have been rebellious against the LORD from the day that I knew you.—" 17.18. And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is before the priests the Levites." |
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2. Hebrew Bible, Genesis, 2.21, 6.4-6.12, 21.8, 22.1-22.19 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 2.21. וַיַּפֵּל יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים תַּרְדֵּמָה עַל־הָאָדָם וַיִּישָׁן וַיִּקַּח אַחַת מִצַּלְעֹתָיו וַיִּסְגֹּר בָּשָׂר תַּחְתֶּנָּה׃ 6.4. הַנְּפִלִים הָיוּ בָאָרֶץ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם וְגַם אַחֲרֵי־כֵן אֲשֶׁר יָבֹאוּ בְּנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים אֶל־בְּנוֹת הָאָדָם וְיָלְדוּ לָהֶם הֵמָּה הַגִּבֹּרִים אֲשֶׁר מֵעוֹלָם אַנְשֵׁי הַשֵּׁם׃ 6.5. וַיַּרְא יְהוָה כִּי רַבָּה רָעַת הָאָדָם בָּאָרֶץ וְכָל־יֵצֶר מַחְשְׁבֹת לִבּוֹ רַק רַע כָּל־הַיּוֹם׃ 6.6. וַיִּנָּחֶם יְהוָה כִּי־עָשָׂה אֶת־הָאָדָם בָּאָרֶץ וַיִּתְעַצֵּב אֶל־לִבּוֹ׃ 6.7. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶמְחֶה אֶת־הָאָדָם אֲשֶׁר־בָּרָאתִי מֵעַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה מֵאָדָם עַד־בְּהֵמָה עַד־רֶמֶשׂ וְעַד־עוֹף הַשָּׁמָיִם כִּי נִחַמְתִּי כִּי עֲשִׂיתִם׃ 6.8. וְנֹחַ מָצָא חֵן בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה׃ 6.9. אֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדֹת נֹחַ נֹחַ אִישׁ צַדִּיק תָּמִים הָיָה בְּדֹרֹתָיו אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִים הִתְהַלֶּךְ־נֹחַ׃ 6.11. וַתִּשָּׁחֵת הָאָרֶץ לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים וַתִּמָּלֵא הָאָרֶץ חָמָס׃ 6.12. וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים אֶת־הָאָרֶץ וְהִנֵּה נִשְׁחָתָה כִּי־הִשְׁחִית כָּל־בָּשָׂר אֶת־דַּרְכּוֹ עַל־הָאָרֶץ׃ 21.8. וַיִּגְדַּל הַיֶּלֶד וַיִּגָּמַל וַיַּעַשׂ אַבְרָהָם מִשְׁתֶּה גָדוֹל בְּיוֹם הִגָּמֵל אֶת־יִצְחָק׃ 22.1. וַיְהִי אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וְהָאֱלֹהִים נִסָּה אֶת־אַבְרָהָם וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אַבְרָהָם וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּנִי׃ 22.1. וַיִּשְׁלַח אַבְרָהָם אֶת־יָדוֹ וַיִּקַּח אֶת־הַמַּאֲכֶלֶת לִשְׁחֹט אֶת־בְּנוֹ׃ 22.2. וַיֹּאמֶר קַח־נָא אֶת־בִּנְךָ אֶת־יְחִידְךָ אֲשֶׁר־אָהַבְתָּ אֶת־יִצְחָק וְלֶךְ־לְךָ אֶל־אֶרֶץ הַמֹּרִיָּה וְהַעֲלֵהוּ שָׁם לְעֹלָה עַל אַחַד הֶהָרִים אֲשֶׁר אֹמַר אֵלֶיךָ׃ 22.2. וַיְהִי אַחֲרֵי הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וַיֻּגַּד לְאַבְרָהָם לֵאמֹר הִנֵּה יָלְדָה מִלְכָּה גַם־הִוא בָּנִים לְנָחוֹר אָחִיךָ׃ 22.3. וַיַּשְׁכֵּם אַבְרָהָם בַּבֹּקֶר וַיַּחֲבֹשׁ אֶת־חֲמֹרוֹ וַיִּקַּח אֶת־שְׁנֵי נְעָרָיו אִתּוֹ וְאֵת יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ וַיְבַקַּע עֲצֵי עֹלָה וַיָּקָם וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר־אָמַר־לוֹ הָאֱלֹהִים׃ 22.4. בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי וַיִּשָּׂא אַבְרָהָם אֶת־עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא אֶת־הַמָּקוֹם מֵרָחֹק׃ 22.5. וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָהָם אֶל־נְעָרָיו שְׁבוּ־לָכֶם פֹּה עִם־הַחֲמוֹר וַאֲנִי וְהַנַּעַר נֵלְכָה עַד־כֹּה וְנִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה וְנָשׁוּבָה אֲלֵיכֶם׃ 22.6. וַיִּקַּח אַבְרָהָם אֶת־עֲצֵי הָעֹלָה וַיָּשֶׂם עַל־יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ וַיִּקַּח בְּיָדוֹ אֶת־הָאֵשׁ וְאֶת־הַמַּאֲכֶלֶת וַיֵּלְכוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם יַחְדָּו׃ 22.7. וַיֹּאמֶר יִצְחָק אֶל־אַבְרָהָם אָבִיו וַיֹּאמֶר אָבִי וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֶּנִּי בְנִי וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה הָאֵשׁ וְהָעֵצִים וְאַיֵּה הַשֶּׂה לְעֹלָה׃ 22.8. וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָהָם אֱלֹהִים יִרְאֶה־לּוֹ הַשֶּׂה לְעֹלָה בְּנִי וַיֵּלְכוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם יַחְדָּו׃ 22.9. וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אָמַר־לוֹ הָאֱלֹהִים וַיִּבֶן שָׁם אַבְרָהָם אֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וַיַּעֲרֹךְ אֶת־הָעֵצִים וַיַּעֲקֹד אֶת־יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ וַיָּשֶׂם אֹתוֹ עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ מִמַּעַל לָעֵצִים׃ 22.11. וַיִּקְרָא אֵלָיו מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה מִן־הַשָּׁמַיִם וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָהָם אַבְרָהָם וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּנִי׃ 22.12. וַיֹּאמֶר אַל־תִּשְׁלַח יָדְךָ אֶל־הַנַּעַר וְאַל־תַּעַשׂ לוֹ מְאוּמָּה כִּי עַתָּה יָדַעְתִּי כִּי־יְרֵא אֱלֹהִים אַתָּה וְלֹא חָשַׂכְתָּ אֶת־בִּנְךָ אֶת־יְחִידְךָ מִמֶּנִּי׃ 22.13. וַיִּשָּׂא אַבְרָהָם אֶת־עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה־אַיִל אַחַר נֶאֱחַז בַּסְּבַךְ בְּקַרְנָיו וַיֵּלֶךְ אַבְרָהָם וַיִּקַּח אֶת־הָאַיִל וַיַּעֲלֵהוּ לְעֹלָה תַּחַת בְּנוֹ׃ 22.14. וַיִּקְרָא אַבְרָהָם שֵׁם־הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא יְהוָה יִרְאֶה אֲשֶׁר יֵאָמֵר הַיּוֹם בְּהַר יְהוָה יֵרָאֶה׃ 22.15. וַיִּקְרָא מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה אֶל־אַבְרָהָם שֵׁנִית מִן־הַשָּׁמָיִם׃ 22.16. וַיֹּאמֶר בִּי נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי נְאֻם־יְהוָה כִּי יַעַן אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתָ אֶת־הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה וְלֹא חָשַׂכְתָּ אֶת־בִּנְךָ אֶת־יְחִידֶךָ׃ 22.17. כִּי־בָרֵךְ אֲבָרֶכְךָ וְהַרְבָּה אַרְבֶּה אֶת־זַרְעֲךָ כְּכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם וְכַחוֹל אֲשֶׁר עַל־שְׂפַת הַיָּם וְיִרַשׁ זַרְעֲךָ אֵת שַׁעַר אֹיְבָיו׃ 22.18. וְהִתְבָּרֲכוּ בְזַרְעֲךָ כֹּל גּוֹיֵי הָאָרֶץ עֵקֶב אֲשֶׁר שָׁמַעְתָּ בְּקֹלִי׃ 22.19. וַיָּשָׁב אַבְרָהָם אֶל־נְעָרָיו וַיָּקֻמוּ וַיֵּלְכוּ יַחְדָּו אֶל־בְּאֵר שָׁבַע וַיֵּשֶׁב אַבְרָהָם בִּבְאֵר שָׁבַע׃ | 2.21. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the place with flesh instead thereof." 6.4. The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of nobles came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them; the same were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown." 6.5. And the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." 6.6. And it repented the LORD that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart." 6.7. And the LORD said: ‘I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and creeping thing, and fowl of the air; for it repenteth Me that I have made them.’" 6.8. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD." 6.9. These are the generations of Noah. Noah was in his generations a man righteous and wholehearted; Noah walked with God." 6.10. And Noah begot three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth." 6.11. And the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence." 6.12. And God saw the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. ." 21.8. And the child grew, and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned." 22.1. And it came to pass after these things, that God did prove Abraham, and said unto him: ‘Abraham’; and he said: ‘Here am I.’" 22.2. And He said: ‘Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.’" 22.3. And Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he cleaved the wood for the burnt-offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him." 22.4. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off." 22.5. And Abraham said unto his young men: ‘Abide ye here with the ass, and I and the lad will go yonder; and we will worship, and come back to you.’" 22.6. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt-offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took in his hand the fire and the knife; and they went both of them together." 22.7. And Isaac spoke unto Abraham his father, and said: ‘My father.’ And he said: ‘Here am I, my son.’ And he said: ‘Behold the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt-offering?’" 22.8. And Abraham said: ‘God will aprovide Himself the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son.’ So they went both of them together." 22.9. And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood." 22.10. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son." 22.11. And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said: ‘Abraham, Abraham.’ And he said: ‘Here am I.’" 22.12. And he said: ‘Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him; for now I know that thou art a God-fearing man, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from Me.’" 22.13. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the stead of his son." 22.14. And Abraham called the name of that place Adonai-jireh; as it is said to this day: ‘In the mount where the LORD is seen.’" 22.15. And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham a second time out of heaven," 22.16. and said: ‘By Myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son," 22.17. that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;" 22.18. and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast hearkened to My voice.’" 22.19. So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beer- sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba." |
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3. Anon., Jubilees, 6.22 (2nd cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE)
| 6.22. And He gave to Noah and his sons a sign that there should not again be a flood on the earth. |
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4. Philo of Alexandria, On The Eternity of The World, 125 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
| 125. But we must now proceed to consider the question which we postponed till the present time. What sort of a part of the earth is that, that we may begin from this, whether it is greater or less, that is not dissolved by time? Do not the very hardest and strongest stones become hard and decayed through the weakness of their conformation (and this conformation is a sort of course of a highly strained spirit, a bond not indissoluble, but only very difficult to unloose), in consequence of which they are broken up and made fluid, so that they are dissolved first of all into a thin dust, and afterwards are wholly wasted away and destroyed? Again, if the water were never agitated by the winds, but were left immoveable for ever, would it not from inaction and tranquillity become dead? at all events it is changed by such stagnation, and becomes very foetid and foul-smelling, like an animal deprived of life. |
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5. Philo of Alexandria, On The Confusion of Tongues, 106 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
| 106. For the good disposition being from the very birth of the man planted in virtue, and being spoken as of such, its name being Moses, dwelling in the whole world as his native city and country, becoming, as it were, a cosmopolite, being bound up in the body, smeared over as with "bitumen and Pitch," and appearing to be able to receive and to contain in security all the imaginations of all things which might be subjected to the outward senses, Weeps at being so bound up, being overwhelmed with a desire for an incorporeal nature. And he weeps over the miserable mind of men in general as being wandering and puffed up with pride, inasmuch as, being elated with false opinion, it thinks that it has in itself something firm and safe, and, as a general fact, that there something immutable in some creature or other, though the example of perpetual stability, which is at all times the same, is set up in God alone. XXIII. |
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6. Philo of Alexandria, On Giants, 27 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
| 27. But now, the spirit which is upon him is the wise, the divine, the indivisible, the undistributable, the good spirit, the spirit which is everywhere diffused, so as to fill the universe, which, while it benefits others, it not injured by having a participation in it given to another, and if added to something else, either as to its understanding, or its knowledge, or its wisdom. VII. |
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7. Philo of Alexandria, On The Creation of The World, 131, 135, 141, 22, 41, 57, 63, 66, 97, 128 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
| 128. These things, and more still are said in a philosophical spirit about the number seven, on account of which it has received the highest honours, in the highest nature. And it is honoured by those of the highest reputation among both Greeks and barbarians, who devote themselves to mathematical sciences. It was also greatly honoured by Moses, a man much attached to excellence of all sorts, who described its beauty on the most holy pillars of the law, and wrote it in the hearts of all those who were subject to him, commanding them at the end of each period of six days to keep the seventh holy; abstaining from all other works which are done in the seeking after and providing the means of life, devoting that day to the single object of philosophizing with a view to the improvement of their morals, and the examination of their consciences: for conscience being seated in the soul as a judge, is not afraid to reprove men, sometimes employing pretty vehement threats; at other times by milder admonitions, using threats in regard to matters where men appear to be disobedient, of deliberate purpose, and admonitions when their offences seem involuntary, through want of foresight, in order to prevent their hereafter offending in a similar manner. XLIV. |
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8. Philo of Alexandria, On Planting, 18 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
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9. Philo of Alexandria, On Dreams, 1.138, 2.10 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
| 1.138. Now of these souls some descend upon the earth with a view to be bound up in mortal bodies, those namely which are most nearly connected with the earth, and which are lovers of the body. But some soar upwards, being again distinguished according to the definitions and times which have been appointed by nature. 2.10. Moses moreover represents two persons as leaders of these two companies. The leader of the noble and good company is the self-taught and self-instructed Isaac; for he records that he was weaned, not choosing to avail himself at all of tender, and milk-like, and childish, and infantine food, but only of such as was vigorous and perfect, inasmuch as he was formed by nature, from his very infancy, for acts of virtue, and was always in the prime and vigour of youth and energy. But the leader of the company, which yields and which is inclined to softer measures, is Joseph; |
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10. Philo of Alexandria, On The Special Laws, 4.123 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
| 4.123. On which account Moses, in another passage, establishes a law concerning blood, that one may not eat the blood nor the Fat.{27}{#le 3:17.} The blood, for the reason which I have already mentioned, that it is the essence of the life; not of the mental and rational life, but of that which exists in accordance with the outward senses, to which it is owing that both we and irrational animals also have a common existence.CONCERNING THE SOUL OR LIFE OF MANXXIV. For the essence of the soul of man is the breath of God, especially if we follow the account of Moses, who, in his history of the creation of the world, says that God breathed into the first man, the founder of our race, the breath of life; breathing it into the principal part of his body, namely the face, where the outward senses are established, the body-guards of the mind, as if it were the great king. And that which was thus breathed into his face was manifestly the breath of the air, or whatever else there may be which is even more excellent than the breath of the air, as being a ray emitted from the blessed and thricehappy nature of God. |
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11. Philo of Alexandria, Questions On Genesis, 2.59 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
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12. Philo of Alexandria, That The Worse Attacks The Better, 23 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
| 23. This man, dwelling in the soul of each individual, is found at one time to be a ruler and monarch, and at another time to be a judge and umpire of the contest which take place in life. At times also he takes the place of a witness and accuser, and without being seen he corrects us from within, not suffering us to open our mouths, but taking up, and restraining, and birdling, with the reins of conscience the selfsatisfied and restive course of the tongue. |
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13. Philo of Alexandria, That God Is Unchangeable, 20-23, 30-32, 35-38, 40, 42-48, 51-69, 77-81, 183 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
| 183. On this account he who is not persuaded by, and who shows no respect to, conviction, when it thus opposes him, will, in his turn, incur destruction with the wounded, 46 whom the passions have wounded and overthrown; and his calamity will be a most sufficient lesson for all those who are not utterly impure, to endeavour to keep the judge, that is within them, favourable to them, and he will be so if they do not reverse what has been rightly decided by him.Troubles in essay writing? Check out a href="http://www.customwritings.com/"CustomWritings /a to get paper help! /p |
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14. Josephus Flavius, Jewish Antiquities, 1.222 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 1.222. 1. Now Abraham greatly loved Isaac, as being his only begotten and given to him at the borders of old age, by the favor of God. The child also endeared himself to his parents still more, by the exercise of every virtue, and adhering to his duty to his parents, and being zealous in the worship of God. |
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15. Plutarch, On Stoic Self-Contradictions, 1053f (1st cent. CE - 2nd cent. CE)
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16. Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin, 89b (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 89b. חבריה דמיכה דכתיב (מלכים א כ, לה) ואיש אחד מבני הנביאים אמר אל רעהו בדבר ה' הכני נא וימאן האיש להכותו וכתיב (מלכים א כ, לו) ויאמר לו יען אשר לא שמעת [וגו'],ונביא שעבר על דברי עצמו כגון עדו הנביא דכתיב (מלכים א יג, ט) כי כן צוה אותי וכתיב (מלכים א כ, ג) ויאמר לו גם אני נביא כמוך וכתיב (מלכים א יג, יט) וישב אתו וכתיב (מלכים א יג, כד) וילך וימצאהו אריה,תני תנא קמיה דרב חסדא הכובש את נבואתו לוקה אמר ליה מאן דאכיל תמרי בארבלא לקי מאן מתרי ביה אמר אביי חבריה נביאי,מנא ידעי אמר אביי דכתיב (עמוס ג, ז) כי לא יעשה ה' [אלהים] דבר כי אם גלה סודו ודילמא הדרי ביה אם איתא דהדרי ביה אודועי הוו מודעי לכלהו נביאי,והא יונה דהדרי ביה ולא אודעוהו יונה מעיקרא נינוה נהפכת אמרי ליה איהו לא ידע אי לטובה אי לרעה,המוותר על דברי נביא מנא ידע דאיענש דיהב ליה אות והא מיכה דלא יהיב ליה אות ואיענש היכא דמוחזק שאני,דאי לא תימא הכי אברהם בהר המוריה היכי שמע ליה יצחק אליהו בהר הכרמל היכי סמכי עליה ועבדי שחוטי חוץ אלא היכא דמוחזק שאני,(בראשית כב, א) ויהי אחר הדברים האלה והאלהים נסה את אברהם (אחר מאי),א"ר יוחנן משום רבי יוסי בן זימרא אחר דבריו של שטן דכתיב (בראשית כא, ח) ויגדל הילד ויגמל וגו' אמר שטן לפני הקב"ה רבונו של עולם זקן זה חננתו למאה שנה פרי בטן מכל סעודה שעשה לא היה לו תור אחד או גוזל אחד להקריב לפניך אמר לו כלום עשה אלא בשביל בנו אם אני אומר לו זבח את בנך לפני מיד זובחו מיד והאלהים נסה את אברהם,ויאמר קח נא את בנך אמר רבי שמעון בר אבא אין נא אלא לשון בקשה משל למלך בשר ודם שעמדו עליו מלחמות הרבה והיה לו גבור אחד ונצחן לימים עמדה עליו מלחמה חזקה אמר לו בבקשה ממך עמוד לי במלחמה זו שלא יאמרו ראשונות אין בהם ממש אף הקב"ה אמר לאברהם ניסיתיך בכמה נסיונות ועמדת בכלן עכשיו עמוד לי בנסיון זה שלא יאמרו אין ממש בראשונים,את בנך ב' בנים יש לי את יחידך זה יחיד לאמו וזה יחיד לאמו אשר אהבת תרוייהו רחימנא להו את יצחק וכל כך למה כדי שלא תטרף דעתו עליו,קדמו שטן לדרך אמר לו (איוב ד, ב) הנסה דבר אליך תלאה הנה יסרת רבים וידים רפות תחזק כושל יקימון מליך כי עתה תבא אליך ותלא אמר לו (תהלים כו, יא) אני בתומי אלך,אמר לו הלא יראתך כסלתך אמר לו זכר נא מי הוא נקי אבד כיון דחזא דלא קא שמיע ליה אמר ליה ואלי דבר יגונב כך שמעתי מאחורי הפרגוד השה לעולה ואין יצחק לעולה אמר לו כך עונשו של בדאי שאפילו אמר אמת אין שומעין לו,ר' לוי אמר אחר דבריו של ישמעאל ליצחק אמר לו ישמעאל ליצחק אני גדול ממך במצות שאתה מלת בן שמנת ימים ואני בן שלש עשרה שנה אמר לו ובאבר אחד אתה מגרה בי אם אומר לי הקב"ה זבח עצמך לפני אני זובח מיד והאלהים נסה את אברהם,תנו רבנן נביא שהדיח בסקילה רבי שמעון אומר בחנק מדיחי עיר הנדחת בסקילה רבי שמעון אומר בחנק,נביא שהדיח בסקילה מ"ט דרבנן אתיא הדחה הדחה ממסית מה להלן בסקילה אף כאן בסקילה,ור"ש מיתה כתיבא ביה וכל מיתה האמורה בתורה סתם אינה אלא חנק,מדיחי עיר הנדחת בסקילה מ"ט דרבנן גמרי הדחה הדחה או ממסית או מנביא שהדיח,ור"ש גמר הדחה הדחה מנביא,וליגמר ממסית דנין מסית רבים ממסית רבים ואין דנין מסית רבים ממסית יחיד אדרבה דנין הדיוט מהדיוט ואין דנין הדיוט מנביא,ור"ש כיון שהדיח אין לך הדיוט גדול מזה,אמר רב חסדא | 89b. bthe colleague ofthe prophet bMicah,son of Imla (see II Chronicles 18:7–8), bas it is written: “And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his colleague by the word of the Lord: Strike me, please. And the man refused to strike him”(I Kings 20:35). bAnd it is written: “Then he said he to him: Because you have not listenedto the voice of the Lord, behold, as soon as you leave me, a lion shall slay you. And as soon as he left from him, a lion found him; and slew him” (I Kings 20:36).,The mishna lists among those liable to receive death at the hand of Heaven: bAnd a prophet who violated his own statement.The Gemara comments: bFor example, Iddo the prophet,who, according to tradition, prophesied the punishment of Jeroboam in Bethel, bas it is written:“I will neither eat bread nor drink water in this place, bfor it so was commanded meby the word of the Lord” (I Kings 13:8–9). bAnd it is written: “And he said to him: I too am a prophet like you;and an angel spoke unto me by the word of the Lord, saying: Bring him back with you into your house, that he may eat bread and drink water” (I Kings 13:18). bAnd it is written: “And he went back with him,and ate bread in his house, and drank water” (I Kings 13:19). bAnd it is writtenthat he died at the hand of Heaven: b“And he went, and a lion met himby the way, and killed him” (I Kings 13:24).,§ bA itannataughta ibaraita bbefore Rav Ḥisda: One who suppresses his prophecy is flogged.Rav Ḥisda bsaida parable bto him: Is one who eats dates in a sieve flogged?How can he be flogged? bWho forewarns himif he eats dates infested with worms that no one sees? Likewise, as no one knows whether the prophet received a prophecy, how can he be forewarned? bAbaye said: His fellow prophetsforewarn him.,The Gemara asks: bFrom where do they knowthat he received a prophecy? bAbaye says:They know, bas it is written: “For the Lord God will do nothing, unless He reveals His counselto His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). The Gemara challenges: bAnd perhapsthe heavenly court breconsidered with regard tothe prophecy, and the prophet is no longer commanded to disseminate the prophecy. The Gemara answers: bIf it is so that they reconsidered with regard tothe prophecy, the heavenly court bwould have informed all the prophets. /b,The Gemara challenges: bButin the case of bJonah, they reconsidered it and did not inform themthat the people of Nineveh had repented for their sins and were therefore spared the foretold destruction. The Gemara explains: In the case of bJonah, from the outset,the heavenly court btold himto say: b“Nineveh will be overturned”(Jonah 3:4). Still, bhe did not know ifthe sentence would be bfor the good,as their corruption would be overturned through repentance, borif it would be bfor the bad,as the city would be overturned through destruction. Therefore, the prophecy was never revoked, but simply fulfilled in accordance with one of its possible interpretations.,The Gemara asks: In the case of bone who forgoes the statement of a prophet, from where does he knowthat the one prophesying is actually a prophet and bthat hewill be bpunishedfor failing to comply with the prophecy? The Gemara answers: It is referring to a case bwherethe prophet bprovides himwith ba signindicating that he is a prophet. The Gemara asks: bButin the case of bMicah, who did not provide himwith ba sign, andyet he was bpunished,how could he have known that Micah was a prophet? A case bwherehe has already bassumedthe bpresumptive statusof a prophet bis different,and no sign is necessary.,The Gemara continues: bSince if you do not say so,and claim that even the prophecy of one established as a prophet requires a sign, then in the case of bAbraham at Mount Moriah, how did Isaac listen to himand submit to being slaughtered as an offering? Likewise, in the case of bElijah at Mount Carmel, how didthe people brely upon him andenable him to bengagein the sacrifice of animals bslaughtered outsidethe Temple, which is prohibited? bRather,perforce, a case bwherehe has already bassumedthe bpresumptive statusof a prophet bis different. /b,§ Apropos the binding of Isaac, the Gemara elaborates: It is written: b“And it came to pass after these matters [ ihadevarim /i] that God tried Abraham”(Genesis 22:1). The Gemara asks: bAfter whatmatters? How does the binding of Isaac relate to the preceding events?, bRabbi Yoḥa said in the name of Rabbi Yosei ben Zimra:This means bafter the statement [ idevarav /i] of Satan, as it is written: “And the child grew, and was weaned,and Abraham prepared a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned” (Genesis 21:8). bSatan said before the Holy One, Blessed be He: Master of the Universe, this old man, you favored him with a product of the womb,i.e., a child, bat one hundred yearsof age. bFrom the entire feast that he prepared, did he not haveeven bone dove or one pigeon to sacrifice before Youas a thanks-offering? God bsaid toSatan: bDidAbraham bpreparethe feast for any reason bbut for his son? If I say to him: Sacrifice your son before Me,he would bimmediately slaughter him. Immediately,after these matters, the verse states: b“And God tried Abraham.” /b,The Torah continues: b“And He said: Take, please [ ina /i], your son”(Genesis 22:2). bRabbi Shimon bar Abba says:The word inais nothing other than an expression of entreaty.Why did God request rather than command that Abraham take his son? The Gemara cites ba parable of a flesh-and-blood king who confronted many wars. And he had one warriorfighting for him, band he overcamehis enemies. bOver time,there was ba fierce war confronting him.The king bsaid tohis warrior: bI entreat you, standfirm bfor me in this war,so bthatothers bwill not say: There is no substance in the firstvictories, and you are not a true warrior. Likewise, bthe Holy One, Blessed be He, also said to Abraham: I have tried you with several ordeals, and you have withstood them all. Now, standfirm bin this ordeal for Me, so thatothers bwill not say: There is no substance in the firstordeals.,God said to Abraham: “Please take your son, your only, whom you love, Isaac” (Genesis 22:2). When God said: b“Your son,”Abraham said: bI have two sons.When God said: b“Your only,”Abraham said: bThisson bis an onlyson bto his mother, and thatson bis an onlyson bto his mother.When God said: b“Whom you love,”Abraham said: bI love both of them.Then God said: b“Isaac.” And whydid God prolong His command to bthat extent?Why did He not say Isaac’s name from the outset? God did so, bso thatAbraham’s bmind would not be confusedby the trauma., bSatan precededAbraham bto the paththat he took to bind his son and bsaid to him: “If one ventures a word to you, will you be weary…you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands. Your words have upheld him that was falling…but now it comes upon you, and you are weary”(Job 4:2–5). Do you now regret what you are doing? Abraham bsaid to himin response: “And bI will walk with my integrity”(Psalms 26:11).,Satan bsaid toAbraham: b“Is not your fear of God your foolishness?”(Job 4:6). In other words, your fear will culminate in the slaughter of your son. Abraham bsaid to him: “Remember, please, whoever perished, being innocent”(Job 4:7). God is righteous and His pronouncements are just. bOnceSatan bsaw thatAbraham bwas not heeding him, he said to him: “Now a word was secretly brought to me,and my ear received a whisper thereof” (Job 4:12). bThisis what bI heard from behind theheavenly bcurtain [ ipargod /i],which demarcates between God and the ministering angels: bThe sheep is tobe sacrificed as ba burnt-offering, and Isaac is not tobe sacrificed as ba burnt-offering.Abraham bsaid to him:Perhaps that is so. However, bthis is the punishment of the liar, that evenif bhe speaks the truth,others bdo not listen to him.Therefore, I do not believe you and will fulfill that which I was commanded to perform.,The Gemara cites an alternative explanation of the verse: “And it came to pass after these matters that God tried Abraham” (Genesis 22:1). bRabbi Levi says:This means bafter the statement of Ishmael to Isaac,during an exchange between them described in the verse: “And Sarah saw the son of Hagar…mocking” (Genesis 21:9). bIshmael said to Isaac: I am greater than you inthe fulfillment of bmitzvot, as you were circumcisedat the bage of eight days,without your knowledge and without your consent, band Iwas circumcised at the bage of thirteen years,with both my knowledge and my consent. Isaac bsaid toIshmael: bAnd do you provoke me with one organ? If the Holy One, Blessed be He,were to bsay to me: Sacrifice yourself before Me, Iwould bsacrificemyself. bImmediately, God tried Abraham,to confirm that Isaac was sincere in his offer to give his life.,§ bThe Sages taught: A prophet who incitesothers to worship idols is executed bby stoning. Rabbi Shimon says:He is executed bby strangulation.Those bwho inciteresidents of a city to worship idols, leading the city to be declared ban idolatrous city,are executed bby stoning. Rabbi Shimon says:They are executed bby strangulation. /b,The Gemara elaborates: bA prophet who incitesothers to worship idols is executed bby stoning. What is the reasonfor the opinion bof the Rabbis?They bderivea verbal analogy to clarify the meaning of the word bincitementwritten with regard to a prophet who incites others to worship idols bfromthe word bincitementwritten with regard to a layman who binstigatesothers to worship idols. bJust as there,the layman who incites others to worship idols is executed bby stoning, so too here,the prophet who incites others to worship idols is executed bby stoning. /b, bAnd Rabbi Shimonsays: With regard to a prophet, the term bdeath is written concerning him. And every death stated in the Torah without specificationis referring to bnothing other than strangulation. /b,The Gemara continues: Those bwho inciteresidents of a city to worship idols, leading the city to be declared ban idolatrous city,are executed bby stoning. What is the reasonfor the opinion bof the Rabbis? They derivea verbal analogy to clarify the meaning of the word bincitementwritten with regard to those who incite residents of a city to worship idols, leading the city to be declared an idolatrous city, bfromthe word bincitementwritten beitherwith regard to a layman who binstigatesothers to worship idols bor fromthe word incitement written with regard to ba prophet who incitesothers to worship idols. Just as there, the layman who incites others to worship idols is executed by stoning, so too here, the prophet who incites others to worship idols is executed by stoning., bAnd Rabbi Shimon derivesa verbal analogy to clarify the meaning of the word bincitementwritten with regard to those who incite residents of a city to worship idols, leading the city to be declared an idolatrous city, bfromthe word bincitementwritten with regard to ba prophetwho incites others to worship idols, who, in his opinion, is executed by strangulation.,The Gemara challenges: bLet him derivethe punishment bfromthe punishment of one who is not a prophet who binstigatesothers to worship idols, as those cases are similar. The Gemara answers: Rabbi Shimon bderivesthe punishment for one who binstigates the multitudes fromthe punishment of one who binstigates the multitudes, and does not derivethe punishment for one who binstigates the multitudes fromthe punishment of one who binstigates an individual.The Gemara asks: bOn the contrary, one derivesthe punishment for ban ordinaryperson, i.e., one who is not a prophet, who instigates others bfromthe punishment of ban ordinaryperson who incites an idolatrous city, band one does not derivethe punishment for ban ordinaryperson who instigates others bfromthe punishment of ba prophetwho instigates others., bAnd Rabbi Shimonholds that in this case there is no distinction between prophet and layman; boncethe prophet has bincitedothers to idol worship, byou have no greaterexample of ban ordinaryperson bthan that. /b, bRav Ḥisda says: /b |
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17. Stoic School, Stoicor. Veter. Fragm., 2.310
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