1. Septuagint, Baruch, 3.9-4.4 (10th cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE)
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2. Hebrew Bible, Deuteronomy, 5.18, 7.9, 22.22, 32.4 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 5.18. וְלֹא תַחְמֹד אֵשֶׁת רֵעֶךָ וְלֹא תִתְאַוֶּה בֵּית רֵעֶךָ שָׂדֵהוּ וְעַבְדּוֹ וַאֲמָתוֹ שׁוֹרוֹ וַחֲמֹרוֹ וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר לְרֵעֶךָ׃ 7.9. וְיָדַעְתָּ כִּי־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים הָאֵל הַנֶּאֱמָן שֹׁמֵר הַבְּרִית וְהַחֶסֶד לְאֹהֲבָיו וּלְשֹׁמְרֵי מצותו [מִצְוֺתָיו] לְאֶלֶף דּוֹר׃ 22.22. כִּי־יִמָּצֵא אִישׁ שֹׁכֵב עִם־אִשָּׁה בְעֻלַת־בַּעַל וּמֵתוּ גַּם־שְׁנֵיהֶם הָאִישׁ הַשֹּׁכֵב עִם־הָאִשָּׁה וְהָאִשָּׁה וּבִעַרְתָּ הָרָע מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל׃ 32.4. כִּי־אֶשָּׂא אֶל־שָׁמַיִם יָדִי וְאָמַרְתִּי חַי אָנֹכִי לְעֹלָם׃ 32.4. הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ כִּי כָל־דְּרָכָיו מִשְׁפָּט אֵל אֱמוּנָה וְאֵין עָוֶל צַדִּיק וְיָשָׁר הוּא׃ | 5.18. Neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour’s wife; neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour’s house, his field, or his man-servant, or his maid-servant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour’s." 7.9. Know therefore that the LORD thy God, He is God; the faithful God, who keepeth covet and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations;" 22.22. If a man be found lying with a woman married to a husband, then they shall both of them die, the man that lay with the woman, and the woman; so shalt thou put away the evil from Israel." 32.4. The Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice; A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, Just and right is He. ." |
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3. Hebrew Bible, Exodus, 20.14 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 20.14. לֹא תַחְמֹד בֵּית רֵעֶךָ לֹא־תַחְמֹד אֵשֶׁת רֵעֶךָ וְעַבְדּוֹ וַאֲמָתוֹ וְשׁוֹרוֹ וַחֲמֹרוֹ וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר לְרֵעֶךָ׃ | 20.14. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house; thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s." |
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4. Hebrew Bible, Genesis, 2.17, 17.9-17.14 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 2.17. וּמֵעֵץ הַדַּעַת טוֹב וָרָע לֹא תֹאכַל מִמֶּנּוּ כִּי בְּיוֹם אֲכָלְךָ מִמֶּנּוּ מוֹת תָּמוּת׃ 17.9. וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים אֶל־אַבְרָהָם וְאַתָּה אֶת־בְּרִיתִי תִשְׁמֹר אַתָּה וְזַרְעֲךָ אַחֲרֶיךָ לְדֹרֹתָם׃ 17.11. וּנְמַלְתֶּם אֵת בְּשַׂר עָרְלַתְכֶם וְהָיָה לְאוֹת בְּרִית בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם׃ 17.12. וּבֶן־שְׁמֹנַת יָמִים יִמּוֹל לָכֶם כָּל־זָכָר לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם יְלִיד בָּיִת וּמִקְנַת־כֶּסֶף מִכֹּל בֶּן־נֵכָר אֲשֶׁר לֹא מִזַּרְעֲךָ הוּא׃ 17.13. הִמּוֹל יִמּוֹל יְלִיד בֵּיתְךָ וּמִקְנַת כַּסְפֶּךָ וְהָיְתָה בְרִיתִי בִּבְשַׂרְכֶם לִבְרִית עוֹלָם׃ 17.14. וְעָרֵל זָכָר אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יִמּוֹל אֶת־בְּשַׂר עָרְלָתוֹ וְנִכְרְתָה הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַהִוא מֵעַמֶּיהָ אֶת־בְּרִיתִי הֵפַר׃ | 2.17. but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.’" 17.9. And God said unto Abraham: ‘And as for thee, thou shalt keep My covet, thou, and thy seed after thee throughout their generations." 17.10. This is My covet, which ye shall keep, between Me and you and thy seed after thee: every male among you shall be circumcised." 17.11. And ye shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of a covet betwixt Me and you." 17.12. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any foreigner, that is not of thy seed." 17.13. He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised; and My covet shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covet." 17.14. And the uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken My covet.’" |
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5. Hebrew Bible, Leviticus, 19.17-19.18, 20.10 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 19.17. לֹא־תִשְׂנָא אֶת־אָחִיךָ בִּלְבָבֶךָ הוֹכֵחַ תּוֹכִיחַ אֶת־עֲמִיתֶךָ וְלֹא־תִשָּׂא עָלָיו חֵטְא׃ 19.18. לֹא־תִקֹּם וְלֹא־תִטֹּר אֶת־בְּנֵי עַמֶּךָ וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ אֲנִי יְהוָה׃ | 19.17. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart; thou shalt surely rebuke thy neighbour, and not bear sin because of him." 19.18. Thou shalt not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD." 20.10. And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death." |
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6. Hebrew Bible, Numbers, 15.38 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 15.38. דַּבֵּר אֶל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם וְעָשׂוּ לָהֶם צִיצִת עַל־כַּנְפֵי בִגְדֵיהֶם לְדֹרֹתָם וְנָתְנוּ עַל־צִיצִת הַכָּנָף פְּתִיל תְּכֵלֶת׃ | 15.38. ’Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them throughout their generations fringes in the corners of their garments, and that they put with the fringe of each corner a thread of blue." |
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7. Hebrew Bible, Proverbs, 11.13, 14.27, 15.33, 20.6, 20.19, 25.9 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 11.13. הוֹלֵךְ רָכִיל מְגַלֶּה־סּוֹד וְנֶאֱמַן־רוּחַ מְכַסֶּה דָבָר׃ 14.27. יִרְאַת יְהוָה מְקוֹר חַיִּים לָסוּר מִמֹּקְשֵׁי מָוֶת׃ 15.33. יִרְאַת יְהוָה מוּסַר חָכְמָה וְלִפְנֵי כָבוֹד עֲנָוָה׃ 20.6. רָב־אָדָם יִקְרָא אִישׁ חַסְדּוֹ וְאִישׁ אֱמוּנִים מִי יִמְצָא׃ 20.19. גּוֹלֶה־סּוֹד הוֹלֵךְ רָכִיל וּלְפֹתֶה שְׂפָתָיו לֹא תִתְעָרָב׃ 25.9. רִיבְךָ רִיב אֶת־רֵעֶךָ וְסוֹד אַחֵר אַל־תְּגָל׃ | 11.13. He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets; But he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter." 14.27. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." 15.33. The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; And before honour goeth humility." 20.6. Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness; but a faithful man who can find?" 20.19. He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth wide his lips." 25.9. Debate thy cause with thy neighbour, but reveal not the secret of another;" |
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8. Hebrew Bible, Psalms, 1.2 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 1.2. כִּי אִם בְּתוֹרַת יְהוָה חֶפְצוֹ וּבְתוֹרָתוֹ יֶהְגֶּה יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה׃ | 1.2. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night." |
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9. Hebrew Bible, Isaiah, 66.14 (8th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 66.14. וּרְאִיתֶם וְשָׂשׂ לִבְּכֶם וְעַצְמוֹתֵיכֶם כַּדֶּשֶׁא תִפְרַחְנָה וְנוֹדְעָה יַד־יְהוָה אֶת־עֲבָדָיו וְזָעַם אֶת־אֹיְבָיו׃ | 66.14. And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like young grass; and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward His servants, and He will have indignation against His enemies." |
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10. Hebrew Bible, Joshua, 1.8-1.9 (8th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 1.8. לֹא־יָמוּשׁ סֵפֶר הַתּוֹרָה הַזֶּה מִפִּיךָ וְהָגִיתָ בּוֹ יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה לְמַעַן תִּשְׁמֹר לַעֲשׂוֹת כְּכָל־הַכָּתוּב בּוֹ כִּי־אָז תַּצְלִיחַ אֶת־דְּרָכֶךָ וְאָז תַּשְׂכִּיל׃ 1.9. הֲלוֹא צִוִּיתִיךָ חֲזַק וֶאֱמָץ אַל־תַּעֲרֹץ וְאַל־תֵּחָת כִּי עִמְּךָ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר תֵּלֵךְ׃ | 1.8. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein; for then thou shalt make thy ways prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." 1.9. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not affrighted, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.’" |
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11. Theognis, Elegies, 4 (6th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
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12. Hebrew Bible, Ecclesiastes, 12.13 (5th cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE)
| 12.13. סוֹף דָּבָר הַכֹּל נִשְׁמָע אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִים יְרָא וְאֶת־מִצְוֺתָיו שְׁמוֹר כִּי־זֶה כָּל־הָאָדָם׃ | 12.13. The end of the matter, all having been heard: fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole man." |
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13. Xenophon, The Education of Cyrus, 8.7.13 (5th cent. BCE - 4th cent. BCE)
| 8.7.13. As for you, Cambyses, you must also know His words of counsel—(1) to Cambyses; that it is not this golden sceptre that maintains your empire; but faithful friends are a monarch’s truest and surest sceptre. But do not think that man is naturally faithful; else all men would find the same persons faithful, just as all find the other properties of nature the same. But every one must create for himself faithfulness in his friends; and the winning of such friends comes in no wise by compulsion, but by kindness. |
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14. Dead Sea Scrolls, Pesher On Habakkuk, 7.1, 8.1-8.3, 12.4 (2nd cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
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15. Dead Sea Scrolls, Ben Sira, 14.20-15.10 (2nd cent. BCE - 1st cent. CE)
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16. Septuagint, 1 Maccabees, 2.42, 2.50, 2.52, 2.67 (2nd cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE)
| 2.42. Then there united with them a company of Hasideans, mighty warriors of Israel, every one who offered himself willingly for the law. 2.50. Now, my children, show zeal for the law, and give your lives for the covet of our fathers. 2.52. Was not Abraham found faithful when tested, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness? 2.67. You shall rally about you all who observe the law, and avenge the wrong done to your people. |
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17. Septuagint, Ecclesiasticus (Siracides), 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19, 1.20, 1.21, 1.22, 1.23, 1.24, 1.25, 1.26, 1.27, 1.28, 1.29, 1.30, 2.1, 3.12, 3.17, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 4.10, 6.6, 6.7, 6.16, 6.18, 6.30, 6.37, 7.17, 9.10, 9.11, 9.12, 9.13, 9.14, 9.15, 9.16, 10.19, 13.22, 14.20, 14.20-15.10, 14.21, 15.1, 18.15, 18.21, 19.3, 19.8, 19.9, 19.13, 19.14, 19.15, 19.16, 19.17, 19.19, 21.1, 21.2, 21.5, 21.6, 21.9, 21.10, 21.11, 21.17, 22.12, 22.13, 22.15, 22.19, 22.22, 22.23, 23.16, 23.17, 23.18, 23.19, 23.20, 23.23, 23.27, 24, 24.10, 24.11, 24.12, 24.13, 24.14, 24.15, 24.16, 24.17, 24.23, 24.24, 24.25, 24.26, 24.27, 24.28, 24.29, 24.30, 24.31, 24.32, 24.33, 25.7, 25.8, 25.9, 25.10, 25.11, 27.16, 27.17, 27.18, 27.21, 31.5, 31.6, 31.7, 31.12-32.13, 34.9, 34.10, 34.11, 34.12, 34.13, 37.12, 38.12, 38.24, 38.25, 38.31, 38.32, 38.33, 38.34, 39.1, 39.2, 39.3, 39.4, 39.5, 39.6, 39.7, 39.8, 39.9, 39.10, 39.11, 40.18, 40.19, 40.20, 40.23, 40.24, 40.25, 40.26, 40.27, 41.4, 41.8, 42.1, 42.2, 44.1, 44.20, 45.5, 47.8, 47.17, 49.4, 49.9 (2nd cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE)
| 1.11. With him who fears the Lord it will go well at the end;on the day of his death he will be blessed. |
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18. Septuagint, Wisdom of Solomon, 19.20 (2nd cent. BCE - 1st cent. BCE)
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19. Josephus Flavius, Against Apion, 2.207 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 2.207. It does not give leave to conceal any thing from our friends, because that is not true friendship which will not commit all things to their fidelity: it also forbids the revelation of secrets even though an enmity arise between them. If any judge takes bribes, his punishment is death: he that overlooks one that offers him a petition, and this when he is able to relieve him, he is a guilty person. |
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20. Mishnah, Avot, 1.1 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 1.1. Moses received the torah at Sinai and transmitted it to Joshua, Joshua to the elders, and the elders to the prophets, and the prophets to the Men of the Great Assembly. They said three things: Be patient in [the administration of] justice, raise many disciples and make a fence round the Torah." |
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21. New Testament, Romans, 2.13 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 2.13. For it isn't the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified |
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22. Palestinian Talmud, Hagigah, None (2nd cent. CE - 5th cent. CE)
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23. Babylonian Talmud, Yoma, None (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 35b. מיתיבי (יחזקאל מד, יט) ולבשו בגדים אחרים ולא יקדשו את העם בבגדיהם,מאי לאו אחרים חשובין מהן לא אחרים פחותים מהן,תני רב הונא בר יהודה ואמרי לה רב שמואל בר יהודה אחר שכלתה עבודת ציבור כהן שעשתה לו אמו כתונת לובשה ועובד בה עבודת יחיד ובלבד שימסרנה לציבור פשיטא,מהו דתימא ניחוש שמא לא ימסרנה יפה יפה קמ"ל אמרו עליו על רבי ישמעאל בן פאבי שעשתה לו אמו כתונת של מאה מנה ולובשה ועובד בה עבודת יחיד ומסרה לציבור,אמרו עליו על ר' אלעזר בן חרסום שעשתה לו אמו כתונת משתי ריבוא ולא הניחוהו אחיו הכהנים ללובשה מפני שנראה כערום ומי מתחזי והאמר מר חוטן כפול ששה אמר אביי כחמרא במזגא,ת"ר עני ועשיר ורשע באין לדין לעני אומרים לו מפני מה לא עסקת בתורה אם אומר עני הייתי וטרוד במזונותי אומרים לו כלום עני היית יותר מהלל,אמרו עליו על הלל הזקן שבכל יום ויום היה עושה ומשתכר בטרפעיק חציו היה נותן לשומר בית המדרש וחציו לפרנסתו ולפרנסת אנשי ביתו פעם אחת לא מצא להשתכר ולא הניחו שומר בית המדרש להכנס עלה ונתלה וישב על פי ארובה כדי שישמע דברי אלהים חיים מפי שמעיה ואבטליון,אמרו אותו היום ערב שבת היה ותקופת טבת היתה וירד עליו שלג מן השמים כשעלה עמוד השחר אמר לו שמעיה לאבטליון אבטליון אחי בכל יום הבית מאיר והיום אפל שמא יום המעונן הוא הציצו עיניהן וראו דמות אדם בארובה עלו ומצאו עליו רום שלש אמות שלג פרקוהו והרחיצוהו וסיכוהו והושיבוהו כנגד המדורה אמרו ראוי זה לחלל עליו את השבת,עשיר אומרים לו מפני מה לא עסקת בתורה אם אומר עשיר הייתי וטרוד הייתי בנכסי אומרים לו כלום עשיר היית יותר מרבי אלעזר אמרו עליו על רבי אלעזר בן חרסום שהניח לו אביו אלף עיירות ביבשה וכנגדן אלף ספינות בים ובכל יום ויום נוטל נאד של קמח על כתיפו ומהלך מעיר לעיר וממדינה למדינה ללמוד תורה,פעם אחת מצאוהו עבדיו ועשו בו אנגריא אמר להן בבקשה מכם הניחוני ואלך ללמוד תורה אמרו לו חיי רבי אלעזר בן חרסום שאין מניחין אותך ומימיו לא הלך וראה אותן אלא יושב ועוסק בתורה כל היום וכל הלילה,רשע אומרים לו מפני מה לא עסקת בתורה אם אמר נאה הייתי וטרוד ביצרי הייתי אומרים לו כלום נאה היית מיוסף אמרו עליו על יוסף הצדיק בכל יום ויום היתה אשת פוטיפר משדלתו בדברים בגדים שלבשה לו שחרית לא לבשה לו ערבית בגדים שלבשה לו ערבית לא לבשה לו שחרית,אמרה לו השמע לי אמר לה לאו אמרה לו הריני חובשתך בבית האסורין אמר לה (תהלים קמו, ז) ה' מתיר אסורים הריני כופפת קומתך (תהלים קמו, ח) ה' זוקף כפופים הריני מסמא את עיניך (תהלים קמו, ח) ה' פוקח עורים נתנה לו אלף ככרי כסף לשמוע אליה לשכב אצלה להיות עמה ולא רצה לשמוע אליה,לשכב אצלה בעוה"ז להיות עמה לעוה"ב נמצא הלל מחייב את העניים רבי אלעזר בן חרסום מחייב את העשירים יוסף מחייב את הרשעים, big strongמתני׳ /strong /big בא לו אצל פרו ופרו היה עומד בין האולם ולמזבח ראשו לדרום ופניו למערב והכהן עומד במזרח ופניו למערב וסומך שתי ידיו עליו ומתודה,וכך היה אומר אנא השם עויתי פשעתי חטאתי לפניך אני וביתי אנא השם כפר נא לעונות ולפשעים ולחטאים שעויתי ושפשעתי ושחטאתי לפניך אני וביתי ככתוב בתורת משה עבדך (ויקרא טז, ל) כי ביום הזה יכפר וגו' והן עונין אחריו ברוך שם כבוד מלכותו לעולם ועד | 35b. bThe Gemara raises an objection.It is stated: “And it shall be that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, while they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within” (Ezekiel 44:17). This verse is referring to the Yom Kippur service, as during the year the High Priest performed the service in eight priestly vestments made partially of wool. Two verses later the prophet says: “And when they go forth into the outer court, into the outer court to the people, they shall remove their garments in which they serve, and lay them in the sacred chambers, band they shall put on other garments, so that they do not sanctify the people with their garments”(Ezekiel 44:19).,The Gemara infers: bWhat, doesn’t “other”mean bmore important thanthe first set of linen garments? The Gemara rejects this: bNo,although b“other”means different garments, it means garments binferior to them,the first set of linen garments. The High Priest does not don a second set of garments to effect atonement; rather, he dons them in deference to God to remove the spoon and the coal pan from the Holy of Holies., bRav Huna bar Yehuda, and some say Rav Shmuel bar Yehuda, taught: After the public service concluded, a priest whose mother had made hima priestly btunicmay bwear it and perform an individual servicewhile wearing bit,such as removal of the spoon and the coal pan, which is not a service in and of itself, bprovided he transfers it tothe possession of bthe public.All services performed by the priest must be performed while he is wearing sacred garments owned by the public, as all the Temple vessels are. The Gemara asks: This is bobvious;once he transfers it to the possession of the public, it is Temple property like any other vessel that an individual donates to the Temple. What is novel in this statement?,The Gemara answers: bLest you saythat the concern is that since he is the one wearing it bperhapshe will intend to retain ownership band will not transfer it wholeheartedly;therefore, bit teaches usthat if he transfers possession to the public, that is not a concern. Apropos this ihalakha /i, the Gemara relates: bThey said aboutthe High Priest bRabbi Yishmael ben Pabi that his mother made him a tunic worth one hundred imaneh /i. He donned it and performed an individual service and transferredpossession of it bto the public. /b,And similarly, bthey said aboutthe High Priest bRabbi Elazar ben Ḥarsum that his mother made him a tunicworth btwenty thousanddinars, bbut his fellow priests did not allow him to wear it becauseit was transparent and bhe appeared asone who is bnaked.The Gemara asks: bAnd couldhe bbe seenthrough a garment made to the specifications of the priestly vestments? bDidn’t the Master say: The threadsof the priestly vestments bwere six-fold?Since the clothes were woven from threads that thick, his body could not have been seen through them. bAbaye said: It is like wine ina thick bglasscup. His flesh could not actually be seen, but since it was very fine linen, it was somewhat translucent and his skin color was discernible.,§ Apropos the great wealth of Rabbi Elazar ben Ḥarsum, the Gemara cites that which bthe Sages taught: A poorperson, band a wealthyperson, band a wickedperson bcome toface bjudgmentbefore the Heavenly court for their conduct in this world. bTo the poorperson, the members of the court bsay: Why did you not engage in Torah? If herationalizes his conduct band says: I was poor and preoccupied withearning enough to pay for bmy susteceand that is why I did not engage in Torah study, bthey say to him: Were you any poorer than Hillel,who was wretchedly poor and nevertheless attempted to study Torah?, bThey said about Hillel the Elder that each and every day he would work and earn a half-dinar, half of which he would give to the guard of the study hall and half of whichhe spent bfor his sustece and the sustece of the members of his family. One time he did not findemployment bto earna wage, band the guard of the study hall did not allow him to enter. He ascendedto the roof, bsuspendedhimself, band sat at the edge of the skylight in order to hear the wordsof the Torah bof the living God from the mouths of Shemaya and Avtalyon,the spiritual leaders of that generation.,The Sages continued and bsaid: That day was Shabbat eve and it was thewinter bseason of Tevet, and snow fell upon him from the sky. When it was dawn, Shemaya said to Avtalyon: Avtalyon, my brother, every dayat this hour bthestudy bhallis already bbrightfrom the sunlight streaming through the skylight, band today it is dark; is it perhaps a cloudy day? They focused their eyes and saw the image of a man in the skylight. They ascended and found himcovered with bsnow three cubits high. They extricated himfrom the snow, band they washed him and smearedoil bon him, and they sat him opposite the bonfireto warm him. bThey said: Thisman bis worthyfor us bto desecrate Shabbat for him.Saving a life overrides Shabbat in any case; however, this great man is especially deserving. Clearly, poverty is no excuse for the failure to attempt to study Torah.,And if ba wealthyman comes before the heavenly court, the members of the court bsay to him: Why did you not engage in Torah? If he says: I was wealthy and preoccupied withmanaging bmy possessions, they say to him: Were you any wealthier than Rabbi Elazar,who was exceedingly wealthy and nevertheless studied Torah? bThey said about Rabbi Elazar ben Ḥarsum that his father left himan inheritance of bone thousand villages on land, and corresponding to them, one thousand ships at sea. And each and every day he takesa leather bjug of flour on his shoulder and walks from city to city and from state to state to study Torahfrom the Torah scholars in each of those places., bOne timeas he passed through the villages in his estate and bhis servants found him,did not recognize him, band,thinking he was a resident of the town, bthey pressed him into service [ iangarya /i]for the master of the estate. bHe said to them: I beseech you; let me be and I will go study Torah. They said:We swear bby the life of Rabbi Elazar ben Ḥarsum thatwe bwill not let you be.The Gemara comments: bAnd in all his days, he never went and sawall his possessions and his property; brather,he would bsit and engage inthe study of bTorah all day and all night. /b,And if a wicked man comes to judgment, the members of the court bsay to him: Why did you not engage in Torah? If he said: I was handsome and preoccupied with myevil binclination,as I had many temptations, bthey say to him: Were you any more handsome than Joseph,who did not neglect Torah despite his beauty? bThey said about Joseph the righteous: Each and every day, the wife of Potiphar seduced him with words.In addition, bthe clothes that she wore toentice bhim in the morning, she did not wear toentice bhim in the evening. The clothes that she wore toentice bhim in the evening, she did not wear toentice bhim in the morningof the next day.,One day bshe said to him: Submit to meand have relations with me. br bHe said to her: No. br bShe said to him: I will incarcerate you in the prison. He said to her:I do not fear you, as it is stated: b“God releases prisoners”(Psalms 146:7). br bShe said to him: I willcause you to be bbent overwith suffering. brHe said: b“God straightens those who are bent over”(Psalms 146:8). brShe said bI will blind your eyes. brHe said to her b“God opens the eyes of the blind”(Psalms 146:8). br bShe gave him a thousand talents of silver to submit to her, “to lie with her and be with her”(Genesis 39:10), band he refused. /b,The Gemara elaborates: Had he submitted to her bto lie with her in this world,it would have been decreed in Heaven that he would bbe with her in the World-to-Come.Therefore, he refused. bConsequently, Hillel obligates the poorto study Torah, bRabbi Elazar ben Ḥarsum obligates the wealthy,and bJoseph obligates the wicked.For each category of people, there is a role model who overcame his preoccupations and temptations to study Torah., strongMISHNA: /strong The High Priest bcomesand stands bnext to his bull, and his bull was standing between the Entrance Hall and the altarwith bits headfacing bto the south and its face to the west. And the priest stands to the eastof the bull, band his facepoints bto the west. Andthe priest bplaces his two hands onthe bull band confesses. /b, bAnd this is what he would sayin his confession: bPlease, God, I have sinned, I have done wrong,and bI have rebelled before You, I and my family. Please, God, grant atonement, please, for the sins, and for the wrongs, and for the rebellions that I have sinned, and done wrong, and rebelled before You, I and my family, as it is written in the Torah of Moses your servant: “For on this day atonement shall be madefor you to cleanse you of all your sins; you shall be clean before the Lord” (Leviticus 16:30). bAndthe priests and the people who were in the courtyard brespond after herecites the name of God: bBlessed be the name of His glorious kingdom forever and all time. /b |
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24. Anon., Letter of Aristeas, 190, 80, 166
| 166. mouth. And it is for this reason that a like practice is declared unclean in men. For by embodying in speech all that they receive through the ears, they involve others in evils and work no ordinary impurity, being themselves altogether defiled by the pollution of impiety. And your king, as we are informed, does quite right in destroying such men.' |
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