Sanhedrin 183

Chapter 183

א יקבוהו לאום ואין לאום אלא עוברין שנאמר (בראשית כה, כג) ולאום מלאום יאמץ ואין קבה אלא קללה שנאמר (במדבר כג, ח) מה אקב לא קבה אל ואין בר אלא תורה שנאמר (תהלים ב, יב) נשקו בר פן יאנף
1 <i>'le'om'</i><span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] translated in the versions, the people shall curse him. Prov. XI, 26. ');"><sup>1</sup></span> can only mean 'embryo,' as it is written, <i>And one</i> le'om <i>shall be stronger than the other people</i>;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Gen. XXV, 23: as Jacob and Esau were not yet born, it must refer to them in their embryonic state. ');"><sup>2</sup></span>
ב עולא בר ישמעאל אומר מנקבין אותו ככברה כתיב הכא (משלי יא, כו) יקבוהו לאום וכתיב התם (מלכים ב יב, י) ויקב חור בדלתו ואמר אביי כי אוכלא דקצרי
2 and <i>'yikkebuhu</i>' can only denote cursing, as it is written, how shall I curse [<i>ekkob</i>]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H]. ');"><sup>3</sup></span> whom God hath not cursed?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Num. XXIII, 8. ');"><sup>4</sup></span>
ג ואם למדו מה שכרו אמר רבא אמר רב ששת זוכה לברכות כיוסף שנאמר (משלי יא, כו) וברכה לראש משביר ואין משביר אלא יוסף שנאמר (בראשית מב, ו) ויוסף הוא [השליט על הארץ הוא] המשביר לכל עם הארץ
3 and 'bar' can refer to nothing but the Torah, as it is written, Nourish yourselves bar<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] nashku, translated,'do homage'(A.J.V.) or 'kiss' (A.V.) is here connected with [H] and by thy command shall my people be provided for (Gen. XLI, 40). ');"><sup>5</sup></span> [on the Torah] lest he be angry.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ps. II, 12. ');"><sup>6</sup></span>
ד אמר רב ששת כל המלמד תורה בעוה"ז זוכה ומלמדה לעולם הבא שנאמר (משלי יא, כה) ומרוה גם הוא יורה
4 'Ulla b. Ishmael said: He is riddled with holes like a sieve:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., with ridicule and curses. According to Maharsha it denotes that all his knowledge will escape him as corn through a sieve, or water through a fuller's trough. ');"><sup>7</sup></span> here is written, 'the people yikkebuhu;' whilst elsewhere is written, wa-yikkob [and he bored] a hole in the lid of it.'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' II Kings XII, 10. ');"><sup>8</sup></span>
ה אמר רבא מניין לתחיית המתים מן התורה שנאמר (דברים לג, ו) יחי ראובן ואל ימות יחי ראובן בעולם הזה ואל ימות לעולם הבא רבינא אמר מהכא (דניאל יב, ב) ורבים מישני אדמת עפר יקיצו אלה לחיי עולם ואלה לחרפות לדראון עולם רב אשי אמר מהכא (דניאל יב, יג) ואתה לך [לקץ] ותנוח ותעמוד לגורלך לקץ הימין
5 Abaye said: Like a fuller's trough.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Upon which the washing is placed for the water to drain off; hence it is perforated. ');"><sup>9</sup></span> But if he teaches him, what is his reward? — Raba said in the name of R. Shesheth: He will receive blessings like Joseph's, as it is written, but blessing shall be upon the head of mashbir [him who selleth it]:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] Prov. Xl, 26. ');"><sup>10</sup></span>
ו אמר רבי אלעזר כל פרנס שמנהיג את הצבור בנחת זוכה ומנהיגם לעוה"ב שנאמר (ישעיהו מט, י) כי מרחמם ינהגם ועל מבועי מים ינהלם
6 'mashbir' can only refer to Joseph, as it is said, And Joseph was the Governor over the land, and it was he ha-mashbir [that sold] to all the people of the land.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Gen. XLII, 6. ');"><sup>11</sup></span> R. Shesheth said: Whoever teaches the Torah in this world will be privileged to teach it in the next, as it is written, And he that watereth shall water again too.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Prov. XI, 25. Having watered i.e., taught, in this world, he will do so in the next too. ');"><sup>12</sup></span>
ז וא"ר אלעזר גדולה דעה שניתנה בין שתי אותיות שנאמר (שמואל א ב, ג) כי אל דעות ה'
7 Raba said: Whence is resurrection derived from the Torah? From the verse, Let Reuben live, and not die:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XXXIII, 6. ');"><sup>13</sup></span> meaning, let Reuben live, in this world, and not die, in the next.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' But rise at the resurrection: it is so interpreted on account of its redundancy. ');"><sup>14</sup></span>
ח וא"ר אלעזר גדול מקדש שניתן בין שתי אותיות שנאמר (שמות טו, יז) פעלת ה' מקדש ה' כוננו ידיך מתקיף לה רב אדא קרחינאה אלא מעתה גדולה נקמה שניתנה בין שתי אותיות דכתיב (תהלים צד, א) אל נקמות ה' אל נקמות הופיע
8 Rabina said, [it is derived] from this verse, And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Dan. XII, 2. ');"><sup>15</sup></span> R. Ashi said: From this verse, But go thou thy way till the end be; for thou shalt rest and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. 13. ');"><sup>16</sup></span>
ט אמר ליה למילתיה הכי נמי כדעולא דאמר עולא שתי הופעיות הללו למה אחת למדת טובה ואחת למדת פורענות
9 R. Eleazar said: Every leader who leads the community with mildness will be privileged to lead them in the next world [too], as it is written, for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them; even by the springs of water shall he guide them.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Isa. XLIX, 10. ');"><sup>17</sup></span> R. Eleazar also said: Great is knowledge,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Knowledge in the sense of moral discernment. ');"><sup>18</sup></span>
י ואמר ר' אלעזר כל אדם שיש בו דעה כאילו נבנה בית המקדש בימיו שזה ניתן בין שתי אותיות וזה ניתן בין שתי אותיות
10 since it was placed between two Letters,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., two Divine Names. ');"><sup>19</sup></span> as it is written, For a God of knowledge is the Lord.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 1 Sam. II, 3. ');"><sup>20</sup></span>
יא ואמר ר' אלעזר כל אדם שיש בו דעה לסוף מתעשר שנאמר (משלי כד, ד) ובדעת חדרים ימלאו כל הון יקר ונעים
11 R. Eleazar also said: Great is the Sanctuary, since it was placed between two Letters, as it is written, Thou hast made for thee, O Lord, a Sanctuary: O Lord, thy hands have established it.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ex. XV, 17. ');"><sup>21</sup></span> R. Adda Karhina demurred: If so, then great is vengeance, since it was placed between two Letters, as it is written, O God of vengeance, O Lord: O God of vengeance, manifest thyself!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ps. XCIV, 1. ');"><sup>22</sup></span>
יב ואמר ר' אלעזר כל אדם שאין בו דעה אסור לרחם עליו שנאמר (ישעיהו כז, יא) כי לא עם בינות הוא על כן לא ירחמנו עושהו ויוצרו לא יחוננו
12 — He replied: For its purposes it is so indeed. Even as 'Ulla said: Why these two manifestations?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The verse being divided into two stichs, 'manifest thyself' is applied to each separately. ');"><sup>23</sup></span> One as a measure of reward [for the righteous] and the other as a measure of punishment [for the wicked].
יג וא"ר אלעזר כל הנותן פיתו למי שאין בו דעה יסורין באין עליו שנאמר (עובדיה א, ז) לחמך ישימו מזור תחתיך אין תבונה בו ואין מזור אלא יסורין שנאמר (הושע ה, יג) וירא אפרים את חליו ויהודה את מזורו
13 R. Eleazar also said: Whenever one has knowledge, it is as though the Temple was built in his days, since each [sc. knowledge and the Temple] was placed between two letters. R. Eleazar also said: Whoever has knowledge will eventually be wealthy, as it is written, And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Prov. XXIV, 4. ');"><sup>24</sup></span>
יד ואמר ר' אלעזר כל אדם שאין בו דעה לסוף גולה שנאמר (ישעיהו ה, יג) לכן גלה עמי מבלי דעת
14 R. Eleazar also said: Whosoever lacks knowledge, one may have no mercy upon him, as it is written, For it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy upon them, and he that formed them will show them no favour.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Isa. XXVII, 11 ');"><sup>25</sup></span> R. Eleazar also said: Whoever gives of his bread to one who lacks knowledge will be assailed by suffering, as it is written, They that eat thy bread have laid mazor [a wound]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] ');"><sup>26</sup></span>
טו ואמר ר"א כל בית שאין דברי תורה נשמעים בו בלילה אש אוכלתו שנאמר (איוב כ, כו) כל חשך טמון לצפוניו תאכלהו אש לא נופח ירע שריד באהלו אין שריד אלא ת"ח שנאמר (יואל ג, ה) ובשרידים אשר ה' קורא
15 under thee: there is no understanding in him;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Obad. I, 7. ');"><sup>27</sup></span> 'mazor' can refer only to suffering, as it is written, When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his mezoro [suffering].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] Hos. V, 13. ');"><sup>28</sup></span>
טז ואמר ר' אלעזר כל שאינו מהנה תלמידי חכמים מנכסיו אינו רואה סימן ברכה לעולם שנאמר (איוב כ, כא) אין שריד לאכלו על כן לא יחיל טובו אין שריד אלא תלמידי חכמים שנאמר ובשרידים אשר ה' קורא
16 R. Eleazar also said: Whoever lacks knowledge will ultimately be exiled, for it is written, Therefore my people are gone into exile, because they have no knowledge.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Isa.V, 13. ');"><sup>29</sup></span> R. Eleazar also said: The house in which the words of the Torah are not heard at night shall be consumed by fire, as it is written, All darkness is hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; he grudgeth [sarid]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] ');"><sup>30</sup></span>
יז ואמר רבי אלעזר כל שאינו משייר פת על שלחנו אינו רואה סימן ברכה לעולם שנאמר אין שריד לאכלו על כן לא יחיל טובו
17 him that is left in his tabernacle:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Job XX, 26. ');"><sup>31</sup></span> now, 'sarid' can refer only to the scholar, as it is written, And in those left [u-base-ridim]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] ');"><sup>32</sup></span>
יח והאמר רבי אלעזר כל המשייר פתיתים על שלחנו כאילו עובד ע"ז שנאמר (ישעיהו סה, יא) העורכים לגד שלחן והממלאים למני ממסך לא קשיא הא דאיכא שלימה בהדיה הא דליכה שלימה בהדיה
18 whom the Lord shall call.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Joel III, 5: the first part of the verse, all darkness is hid etc., is interpreted as, 'his secret places are not illumined by the study of the law;' the last part, he grudgeth etc., as 'he looks with disfavour upon any student who enters his house for a meal.' ');"><sup>33</sup></span> R. Eleazar also said: Whoever does not benefit a scholar with his goods will never see a sign of blessing, as it is written, There be none ['sarid'] that remaineth to eat it; therefore shall he not hope for prosperity.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Job XX, 21. ');"><sup>34</sup></span>
יט ואמר רבי אלעזר כל המחליף בדבורו כאילו עובד ע"ז כתיב הכא (בראשית כז, יב) והייתי בעיניו כמתעתע וכתיב התם (ירמיהו י, טו) הבל המה מעשה תעתועים
19 now 'sarid' refers to none but the scholar, as it is written, And in those left whom the Lord shall call.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Joel III, 5. ');"><sup>35</sup></span> R. Eleazar also said: He who leaves no bread on the table [at the end of his meal] will never see a sign of blessing, as it is written, There be none of his meat left; therefore shall he not hope for his prosperity.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Job XX, 21. ');"><sup>36</sup></span>
כ ואמר רבי אלעזר כל המסתכל בערוה קשתו ננערת שנאמר (חבקוק ג, ט) עריה תעור קשתך
20 But did not R. Eleazar say: He who leaves crumbs on his table is as though he engaged in idol worship, for it is written, That prepare a table for Gad, and that furnish the drink offering unto Meni?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Isa. LXV, 11. Gad and Meni are the names of two idols; v. p. 432, n. 4. ');"><sup>37</sup></span> — It is no difficulty: in the latter case a whole loaf is left therewith [i.e., with the pieces],<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Then it appears to have been set specially for these deities. ');"><sup>38</sup></span>
כא ואמר רבי אלעזר לעולם הוי קבל וקיים אמר רבי זירא אף אנן נמי תנינא בית אפל אין פותחין לו חלונות לראות נגעו ש"מ
21 but in the former there is no whole loaf left therewith.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So that the pieces appear to have been left for the poor. ');"><sup>39</sup></span> R. Eleazar also said: Whoever dissembles in his speech is as though he had engaged in idolatry: here it is written, And I shall seem to him as a deceiver,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Gen. XXVII, 12. ');"><sup>40</sup></span>
כב אמר ר' טבי אמר ר' יאשיה מאי דכתיב (משלי ל, טז) שאול ועוצר רחם ארץ לא שבעה מים וכי מה ענין שאול אצל רחם אלא לומר לך מה רחם מכניס ומוציא אף שאול מכניס ומוציא
22 and elsewhere it is said, They are vanity, and the work of deceivers.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Jer. X, 15. The reference is to idols. ');"><sup>41</sup></span> R. Eleazar also said: Whoever gazes upon one's shame,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Either the pudenda, or metaphorically, whoever lusts after a married woman. ');"><sup>42</sup></span>
כג והלא דברים קל וחומר ומה רחם שמכניסין בו בחשאי מוציאין ממנו בקולי קולות שאול שמכניסין בו בקולות אינו דין שמוציאין ממנו בקולי קולות מיכן תשובה לאומרין אין תחיית המתים מן התורה
23 his virility shall be emptied,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., he will lose the power to beget children. ');"><sup>43</sup></span> for it is written, Shame shall empty thy bow [i.e., strength].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Hab. III, 9. ');"><sup>44</sup></span>
כד תנא דבי אליהו צדיקים שעתיד הקדוש ברוך הוא להחיותן אינן חוזרין לעפרן שנאמר (ישעיהו ד, ג) והיה הנשאר בציון והנותר בירושלים קדוש יאמר לו כל הכתוב לחיים בירושלים מה קדוש לעולם קיים אף הם לעולם קיימין
24 R. Eleazar also said: Be always humble:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'obscure'. ');"><sup>45</sup></span> so shalt thou endure. R. Zera said: We have learned likewise. The windows of a dark house may not be opened to examine its leprosy.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If leprosy breaks out in the walls of a house and the priest, coming to examine it, (v. Lev. XIV, 36) finds the house too dark for a proper survey, the windows must not be opened to allow the light to enter, as it must be examined by its usual light. Thus its darkness protects it, since in the absence of a proper examination it cannot be pronounced unclean. Similarly, the darkness in which a man wraps himself, i.e., obscurity and humility, protects his life. ');"><sup>46</sup></span> This proves it. R. Tabi said in R. Josia's name: What is meant by, The grave; and the barren womb; and the earth that is not filled by water:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Prov. XXX, 16. ');"><sup>47</sup></span> now, what connection has the grave with the womb? But it is to teach thee: just as the womb receives and brings forth,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The child. ');"><sup>48</sup></span> so does the grave too receive and bring forth.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The dead are laid there, and will be taken out at the resurrection. ');"><sup>49</sup></span> Now, does this not furnish us with an <i>a fortiori</i> argument? If the womb, which receives in silence, yet brings forth amid great cries [of jubilation]; then the grave, which receives the dead amid cries [of grief], will much more so bring them forth amid great cries [of joy]! This refutes those who maintain that resurrection is not intimated in the Torah. [The] Tanna debe Eliyyahu [states]: The righteous, whom the Holy One, blessed be He, will resurrect, will not revert to dust,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the interval between the Messianic era and the time of the world to come; but their flesh will remain intact upon them until they live again in the future. ');"><sup>50</sup></span> for it is said, And it shall come to pass. that he that is left in Zion and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Isa. IV, 3. ');"><sup>51</sup></span> just as the Holy One endures for ever, so shall they endure for ever.