Commentary for Niddah 60:66

א"ר אלעזר

now which are the days' that make up 'months'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'in which there are the months' (of bearing). ');">⁶⁵</span> and do not make up years? The months of pregnancy of course.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'be saying, these are the months of bearing'. ');">⁶⁶</span> It is also taught all the Torah from beginning to end,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'all of it'. ');">⁶⁷</span> for it is said, And he taught me, and said unto me: 'Let thy heart hold fast my words, keep my commandments and live',<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Prov. IV, 4. ');">⁶⁸</span> and it is also said, When the converse of God was upon my tent.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Job XXIX, 4. ');">⁶⁹</span> Why the addition of<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'what'. ');">⁷⁰</span> 'and it is also said'? — In case you might say that it was only the prophet who said that,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So that it does not apply to other men. ');">⁷¹</span> come and hear 'when the converse of God was upon my tent.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Job XXIX, 4. ');">⁶⁹</span> As soon as it, sees the light an angel approaches, slaps it on its mouth and causes it to forget all the Torah completely,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'all of it'. ');">⁶⁷</span> as it is said, Sin coucheth at the door.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Gen. IV, 7. ');">⁷²</span> It does not emerge from there before it is made to take an oath,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Its nature is described presently. ');">⁷³</span> as it is said, That unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Isa. XLV, 23. ');">⁷⁴</span> 'That unto Me every knee shall bow' refers to the day of dying of which it is said All they that go down to the dust shall kneel before Him;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ps. XXII, 30. ');">⁷⁵</span> 'Every tongue shall swear' refers to the day of birth of which it is said, He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart, who hath not taken My name<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So the kre. The kethib is 'his name. ');">⁷⁶</span> in vain, and hath not sworn deceitfully.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ps. XXIV, 4. ');">⁷⁷</span> What is the nature of the oath that it is made to take? Be righteous, and be never wicked; and even if all the world tells you, You are righteous', consider yourself wicked.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'be in your eyes like a wicked man'. ');">⁷⁸</span> Always bear in mind<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'be knowing'. ');">⁷⁹</span> that the Holy One, blessed be He, is pure, that his ministers are pure and that the soul which He gave you is pure; if you preserve it in purity, well and good, but if not, I will take it away from you. The school of R. Ishmael taught: This may be compared to the case of a priest who handled over some <i>terumah</i> to an 'am ha-arez and told him, 'If you preserve it under conditions of cleanness, well and good, but if not, I will burn it in your presence'. R. Eleazar

Explore commentary for Niddah 60:66. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.