Commentary for Sotah 8:18

אלא א"ר יוחנן

'Ulla said: He is as though he had erected an idolatrous altar; as it is said: Cease ye from man whose breath is in his nostrils;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Understood in the sense: who is proud. ');">¹⁶</span> for wherein [bammeh] is he to be accounted of?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Isa. II, 22. ');">¹⁷</span> — read not bammeh but bamah [an idolatrous altar]. What means, Hand to hand, he shall not escape punishment?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Prov. XVI, 5. ');">¹⁸</span> Rab said: Whoever has intercourse with a married woman, though he proclaim the Holy One, blessed be He, to be Possessor of heaven and earth as did our father Abraham, of whom it is written: I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Gen. XIV, 22. ');">¹⁹</span> he will not escape the punishment of Gehinnom. The students of the School of R. Shila objected: [On that interpretation] the phrase 'Hand to hand etc.' should have read: 'Of my [God's] hand will not escape punishment'! But, said they of the School of R. Shila, [the meaning is:] Though he received the Torah as did our teacher Moses, of whom it is written: At his right hand was a fiery law unto them,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XXXIII, 2. ');">²⁰</span> he will not escape the punishment of Gehinnom. R. Johanan objected: [On that interpretation] the phrase 'Hand to hand' should have read 'Hand from hand'!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since the interpretation implies that the adulterer receives from, and does not give to. ');">²¹</span> But, said R. Johanan,

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