כאאמרMrחזקיהKhzkyhמאיMyדכתיבDkhtyv(איוב(yvvלו,Lv,טז)Tz)ואףVfהסיתךHsytkhמפיMfyצרTsrרחבRkhvלאLמוצקMvtskתחתיהTkhtyhבואVvוראהVrhשלאShlכמדתKhmdtהקדושHkdvshברוךVrvkhהואHvמדתMdtבשרVshrודםVdmמדתMdtבשרVshrודםVdmאדםDmמסיתMsytאתTחבירוKhvyrvמדרכיMdrkhyחייםKhyymלדרכיLdrkhyמיתהMythוהקדושVhkdvshברוךVrvkhהואHvמסיתMsytאתTהאדםHdmמדרכיMdrkhyמיתהMythלדרכיLdrkhyחייםKhyymשנאמרShnmrואףVfהסיתךHsytkhמפיMfyצרTsrמגיהנםMgyhnmשפיהShfyhצרTsrשעשנהShshnhצבורTsvvr
21morning and evening he has thereby fulfilled the precept of '[This book of the law] shall not depart'. It is forbidden, however, to say this in the presence of 'amme ha-arez.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Plur. 'of 'am ha-arez, v. Glos. Such a pronouncement might deter the common people from educating their children in the study of the Torah, seeing that the Scriptural precept is fulfilled by the twice daily recital of the Shema'.');"><sup>24</sup></span> But Raba said, It is a meritorious act to say it in t presence of amme ha-arez.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For they would argue thus: if merely for the recital of the Shema' twice daily the reward is offered: 'Then thou shalt make thy ways prosperous and then thou shalt have good success' (Jos. ibid.) , how great shall be the reward for those that devote their whole time to the study of the Torah!');"><sup>25</sup></span> Ben Damah the son of R'Ishmael's sister once asked R'Ishmael, May one such as I who have studied the whole of the Torah learn Greek wisdom?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Probably the study of Greek philosophy. V. supra ');"><sup>26</sup></span> He thereupon read to him the following verse, This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Jos. ibid.');"><sup>27</sup></span> Go then and find a time that is neither day nor night and learn then Greek wisdom. This, however, is at variance with the view of R'Samuel B'Nahmani. For R'Samuel B'Nahmani said in the name of R'Jonathan, This verse is neither duty nor command but a blessing. For when the Holy One, blessed be He, saw that the words of the Torah were most precious to Joshua, as it is written, His minister Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tent,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ex. XXXIII, 11.');"><sup>28</sup></span> He said to him, 'Joshua, since the words of the Torah are so precious to thee, [I assure thee,] 'this book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth'! A Tanna of the School of R'Ishmael taught: The words of the Torah should not be unto thee as a debt,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which must be paid off, one's whole desire being to discharge the debt so as to be free from it.');"><sup>29</sup></span> neither art thou at liberty to desist from it.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. Ab. II, 16.');"><sup>30</sup></span> Hezekiah said, What is the meaning of the verse, Yea, He hath allured thee out of the mouth of straits into a broad place, where there is no straitness?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Job. XXXVI, 16.');"><sup>31</sup></span> Come and see that the manner of the Holy One, blessed be He, is not like that [of men] of flesh and blood. A man of flesh and blood allures another out of the ways of life into the ways of death;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. Deut. XIII, 7 where the same expression is used of enticement into idolatry.');"><sup>32</sup></span> but the Holy One, blessed be He, allures man out of the ways of death into the ways of life,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e. - to the Torah which delivers from the fire of Gehenna.');"><sup>33</sup></span> as it is written, 'Yea, He hath allured thee out of the mouth of straits', that is, out of Gehen whose mouth is narrow so that its smoke is stored up