Commentary for Berakhot 20:21
אמר אביי ואיתימא ר' יצחק הרוצה להנות יהנה כאלישע ושאינו רוצה להנות אל יהנה כשמואל הרמתי שנאמר (שמואל א ז, יז) ותשובתו הרמתה כי שם ביתו וא"ר יוחנן שכל מקום שהלך שם ביתו עמו.
Abbai (another version : Rab Isaac) said : Whoever wishes to take advantage [of an offer of hospitality] may do so like Elisha ; and whoever does not wish to accept may do so like Samuel of Ramah ; as it is said, "And his return was to Ramah, for there was his house" (I Sam. vii. 17), and R. Johanan said : Wherever he went, he took his house with him.
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
M.: Raba b, Isaac which D.S. corrects to Rabbah b. Isaac.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
He can refuse the invitation without being thought proud. To offer and accept such invitations belongs to the ordinary courtesy of Oriental life. Cf. Lane, p. 296.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
Why mention "for there was his house," a fact well known? Since the preceding verse speaks of his circuit, these words are taken to apply not only to Ramah but also to the places there named.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
In the parallel passage, Nedarim 38 a, the teaching is ascribed to Raba.
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