Commentary for Sotah 9:21

R. Awira expounded, and according to another version it was R. Eleazar: Come and see that the manner of the Holy One, blessed be He, is not like the manner of human beings. The manner of human beings is for the lofty to take notice of the lofty and not of the lowly; but the manner of the Holy One, blessed be He, is not so. He is lofty and He takes notice of the lowly, as it is said: For though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' lbid. ');">¹⁷</span> R. Hisda said, and according to another version it was Mar 'Ukba: Every man in whom is haughtiness of spirit, the Holy One, blessed be He, declares, I and he cannot both dwell in the world; as it is said: Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I destroy; him that hath an high look and a proud heart will I not suffer<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ps. CL. 5. ');">¹⁸</span> — read not 'him' [I cannot suffer], but 'with him'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Involves a slight change in the vocalization. ');">¹⁹</span> I cannot [dwell]. There are some who apply this teaching to those who speak slander; as it is said,'whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I destroy�. R. Alexandri said: Every man in whom there is haughtiness of spirit, even the slightest wind will disturb;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [The smallest disappointment is liable to discomfit him.] ');">²⁰</span> as it is said: But the wicked are like the troubled sea.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Isa. LVII, 20. ');">²¹</span> If the sea, which contains so many quarters of a <i>log</i>,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A liquid measure, equal to the contents of six eggs. ');">²²</span> is ruffled by the slightest wind, how much more so a human being who contains but one quarter of a <i>log</i>.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This was considered the minimum quantity of blood in the body essential to life. ');">²³</span> R. Hiyya b. Ashi said in the name of Rab: A disciple of the Sages should possess an eighth [of pride].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' He should have a little pride to maintain his self-respect. ');">²⁴</span> R. Huna the son of R. Joshua said: [This small amount of pride] crowns him like the awn of the grain. Raba said: [A disciple of the Sages] who possesses [haughtiness of spirit] deserves excommunication, and if he does not possess it he deserves excommunication.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To have too much is bad, and also too little because it prevents a Rabbi from exercising his authority. ');">²⁵</span> R. Nahman b. Isaac said: He should not possess it or part of it; is it a trifling matter concerning which it is written: Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Prov. XVI, 5. ');">²⁶</span> Hezekiah said: A man's prayer is not heard unless he makes his heart [soft] like flesh; as it is said, And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, shall all flesh come to worship, etc.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Isa. LXVI, 23. ');">²⁷</span> R. Zera said: Concerning flesh it is written: And it is healed;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. XIII, 18. Hence only one whose heart is soft like flesh will be healed, and not a man in his full pride. ');">²⁸</span> but it is not written concerning man, And he is healed. R. Johanan said: The word for man [adam] indicates dust, blood and gall;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The initials of these words in Hebrew form adam. ');">²⁹</span> the word for flesh [basar] indicates shame, stench and worm. Some declare that [instead of 'stench' we should have the word] Sheol, since its initial letter corresponds.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The initial of the word for 'stench' is samek, whereas the second letter in basar is similar in form to that of 'Sheol'. ');">³⁰</span> R. Ashi said: Every man in whom is haughtiness of spirit will in the end be degraded; as it is said,

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