Commentary for Sotah 82:15

ואמר רבי אלעזר כל המחניף לחבירו סוף נופל בידו ואם אינו נופל בידו נופל ביד בניו ואם אינו נופל ביד בניו נופל ביד בן בנו שנא' (ירמיהו כח, ה) ויאמר ירמיה לחנניה אמן כן יעשה ה' יקם ה' את דבריך וכתי'

Not only that, but their prayer remains unheard; as it continues, They cry not for help when He chasteneth them.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because their cry receives no response. ');">¹³</span> (Mnemonic:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. p. 171, n. 6. The first word refers to what has just preceded. ');">¹⁴</span> Anger, embryo, Gehinnom, in his hand, menstruant, exile). R. Eleazar also said: As for any man in whom is flattery, even the embryos in their mothers' wombs curse him; as it is said: He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Prov. XXIV, 24. ');">¹⁵</span> — the word kob ['abhor'] means nothing but 'curse', as it is said: Whom God hath not cursed;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Num. XXIII, 8. ');">¹⁶</span> and le'om [nation] means nothing but 'embryo', as it is said: And the one le'om [nation] shall be stronger than the other nation.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Gen. XXV, 23. The context deals with the unborn sons of Rebekkah. ');">¹⁷</span> R. Eleazar also said: Every man in whom is flattery will fall into Gehinnom; as it is said: Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil etc.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Isa. V, 20. ');">¹⁸</span> What is Written after that? Therefore as the tongue of fire devoureth the stubble, and as the dry grass sinketh down in the flame etc.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. 24. ');">¹⁹</span> R. Eleazar also said: Whoever flattereth his neighbour<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [Var. lec. 'the wicked'] ');">²⁰</span> will finally fall into his hand; if he does not fall into his hand, he will fall into the hand of his sons; and if he does not fall into his sons' hand, he will fall into the hand of his grandsons; as it is stated: And Jeremiah said to Hananiah, Amen; the Lord do so; the Lord perform thy words,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Jer. XXVIII, 6. In the Massoretic text the reading is 'The prophet Jeremiah said: Amen; the Lord etc.' ');">²¹</span> and it is written,

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