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“One does not recite the benediction over a lamp unless one has profited from its light.” Rav says y’utu, and Samuel says y‘utu. He who says y’utu, (Gen. 34:15) “But with this we shall be agreeable (nē’ôt) to you.” He who says y‘utu, (Is. 50:4) “To know, to inform (lā‘ût) the weary of wisdom.” There (Mishnah Erubin 5:1) we have stated: How does one complete cities? Rav says m’abbrin, and Samuel says m‘abberin. He who says me’abberin, one adds a limb (אבר) to it. And he who says me‘abberin, like a pregnant (עוברה) woman. There (Mishnah Avodah Zarah 1:1) we have stated: Before the holidays of the Gentiles. Rav says ‘êdêhen and Samuel says ’êdêhen. He who says ’êdêhen, (Deut. 32:35) “For the day of their misfortune (אידם) is near.” He who says ‘êdêhen, (Is.44:9) “They are their witnesses (עידיהם), may they neither see nor know, so that they may come to naught.” How does Samuel deal with Rav’s reason? They are their witnesses, in the future they will bring to naught their worshippers on the day of judgment.

It is stated: One answers Amen after a Gentile who recited a benediction for the Eternal, [but if he recited a benediction with the Name one does not answer.] Rebbi Tanḥuma said, if a Gentile blesses you, answer after him Amen since it is written (Deut. 7:14) “You shall be blessed by all peoples.” A Gentile met Rebbi Joshua and blessed him. He answered: The word about you has already been said. He met a second one who cursed him; he answered: The word about you has already been said. His students said to him: Rebbi, did you say to the one what you said to the other? He said to them, so it is written (Gen. 27:29): “Those who curse you are cursed, but those who bless you are blessed.”

(Jewish) Christians asked Rebbi Simlai: How many aspects of divinity created the world? He answered them: Are you asking me? Go and ask the first Adam, as it is said (Deut. 4:32): “Please ask the first days etc.” It does not say there “when gods created man on the earth” but “from the day that God created man on the earth”. They said to him, but it is written (Gen. 1:1): “In the beginning, ĕlōhīm created …” He said to them: Is it written “they created” (plural)? It says “he created” (singular). Rebbi Simlai said, every place where the Christians read heretic meanings, their answer is at that place.

They came back and asked him: What is that which is written (Gen. 1:26): “Let us make a human in our image, as in our pattern.” He answered them, it is not written: “ĕlōhīm created man in their image” but (Gen. 1:27): “God created man in His image.” His students told him: these you pushed away with a stick, what can you answer us? He said to them: Adam was created from dust, Eve was created from Adam. After Adam “in our image, like our pattern;” it is impossible for a man without a woman, or for a woman without a man, and for both of them without the Shekhinah.

They came back and asked him: What is that which is written (Gen. 1:26): “Let us make a human in our image, as in our pattern.” He answered them, it is not written: “ĕlōhīm created man in their image” but (Gen. 1:27): “God created man in His image.” His students told him: these you pushed away with a stick, what can you answer us? He said to them: Adam was created from dust, Eve was created from Adam. After Adam “in our image, like our pattern;” it is impossible for a man without a woman, or for a woman without a man, and for both of them without the Shekhinah.

In prayer, Rebbi Yose bar Nahorai said: “He Who sanctifies Israel, renews months.” Rav Ḥiyya bar Ashi said: “He Who sanctifies Israel and the New Moon.” Samuel said, one must say “bestow on us.” Rav said, one must mention “time.” Rebbi Hoshaya stated: (Gen. 1:14) “They should be for signs and appointed times, days and years.”

In the house of Yannai they said, if she is sitting on the birthing stool. Hence, before that he should pray, because of (Jer. 18:6) “Lo, like clay in the potter’s hand …” Rebbi Yehudah ben Pazi in the name of the house of Yannai: The main pregnancy of Dinah was as a male. After the prayer of Rachel, she became a female. That is (Gen. 30:21): “Afterwards, she gave birth to a daughter and called her name Dinah.” After the prayer of Rachel, she became a female. And Rebbi Yehudah ben Pazi in the name of the house of Rebbi Yannai: Our mother Rachel was of the early prophetesses. She said, another one will be from me. That is what is written (Gen. 30:24): “May the Eternal add me another son.” She did not say other sons, but another son will be from me.

In the house of Yannai they said, if she is sitting on the birthing stool. Hence, before that he should pray, because of (Jer. 18:6) “Lo, like clay in the potter’s hand …” Rebbi Yehudah ben Pazi in the name of the house of Yannai: The main pregnancy of Dinah was as a male. After the prayer of Rachel, she became a female. That is (Gen. 30:21): “Afterwards, she gave birth to a daughter and called her name Dinah.” After the prayer of Rachel, she became a female. And Rebbi Yehudah ben Pazi in the name of the house of Rebbi Yannai: Our mother Rachel was of the early prophetesses. She said, another one will be from me. That is what is written (Gen. 30:24): “May the Eternal add me another son.” She did not say other sons, but another son will be from me.

Correspondingly, there are four things that a person has to pay for in this world and the principal remains for him in the future world: Idolatry, incest and adultery, and murder. But slander is equivalent to all of these. Idolatry from where? (Num. 15:31) “This soul shall certainly be cut off, its sin is inside it.” Why does the verse say “its sin is inside it?” This teaches that the soul is destroyed and its sin is still inside it. And it is written (Ex.32:21): “Please, this people has committed a grave sin, they made for themselves golden gods.” Incest and adultery from where? (Gen. 39:9) “How can I commit that grave evil and sin before God.” Murder from where? (Gen. 4:13) “Cain said to the Eternal, my sin is grave, it cannot be removed.” When he comes to calumny, it does not say in the singular “grave” or “the grave” but in the plural “grave” (Ps. 12:4): “May the Eternal cut off all slippery lips, all tongues peaking grave words.”

Correspondingly, there are four things that a person has to pay for in this world and the principal remains for him in the future world: Idolatry, incest and adultery, and murder. But slander is equivalent to all of these. Idolatry from where? (Num. 15:31) “This soul shall certainly be cut off, its sin is inside it.” Why does the verse say “its sin is inside it?” This teaches that the soul is destroyed and its sin is still inside it. And it is written (Ex.32:21): “Please, this people has committed a grave sin, they made for themselves golden gods.” Incest and adultery from where? (Gen. 39:9) “How can I commit that grave evil and sin before God.” Murder from where? (Gen. 4:13) “Cain said to the Eternal, my sin is grave, it cannot be removed.” When he comes to calumny, it does not say in the singular “grave” or “the grave” but in the plural “grave” (Ps. 12:4): “May the Eternal cut off all slippery lips, all tongues peaking grave words.”

In its written (Gen. 37:2): “And Joseph reported their evil slander to their father.” What did he say? Rebbi Meir, Rebbi Jehudah, and Rebbi Simeon. Rebbi Meir said, they are suspected of eating flesh from a living animal. Rebbi Jehudah said, they abuse the sons of the handmaidens and treat them like slaves. Rebbi Simeon said, they are infatuated with local girls. Rebbi Judah ben Pazi said, (Prov. 16:11) “Balance and scales of justice are the Eternal’s; all weight-stones are His work. “What did he say, they are suspected of eating flesh from a living animal? The Holy One, praise to Him, said: So I testify for them that they first slaughter and then eat, (Gen. 37:31) “they slaughtered the he-goat and dipped the coat into the blood.” What did he say, they abuse the sons of the handmaidens and treat them like slaves? (Ps. 105:17) “Joseph was sold as a slave.” What did he say, they are infatuated with local girls? Lo, a she-bear will attack you, (Gen. 39:7) “his master’s wife lifted her eyes to Joseph, etc.”

In its written (Gen. 37:2): “And Joseph reported their evil slander to their father.” What did he say? Rebbi Meir, Rebbi Jehudah, and Rebbi Simeon. Rebbi Meir said, they are suspected of eating flesh from a living animal. Rebbi Jehudah said, they abuse the sons of the handmaidens and treat them like slaves. Rebbi Simeon said, they are infatuated with local girls. Rebbi Judah ben Pazi said, (Prov. 16:11) “Balance and scales of justice are the Eternal’s; all weight-stones are His work. “What did he say, they are suspected of eating flesh from a living animal? The Holy One, praise to Him, said: So I testify for them that they first slaughter and then eat, (Gen. 37:31) “they slaughtered the he-goat and dipped the coat into the blood.” What did he say, they abuse the sons of the handmaidens and treat them like slaves? (Ps. 105:17) “Joseph was sold as a slave.” What did he say, they are infatuated with local girls? Lo, a she-bear will attack you, (Gen. 39:7) “his master’s wife lifted her eyes to Joseph, etc.”

In its written (Gen. 37:2): “And Joseph reported their evil slander to their father.” What did he say? Rebbi Meir, Rebbi Jehudah, and Rebbi Simeon. Rebbi Meir said, they are suspected of eating flesh from a living animal. Rebbi Jehudah said, they abuse the sons of the handmaidens and treat them like slaves. Rebbi Simeon said, they are infatuated with local girls. Rebbi Judah ben Pazi said, (Prov. 16:11) “Balance and scales of justice are the Eternal’s; all weight-stones are His work. “What did he say, they are suspected of eating flesh from a living animal? The Holy One, praise to Him, said: So I testify for them that they first slaughter and then eat, (Gen. 37:31) “they slaughtered the he-goat and dipped the coat into the blood.” What did he say, they abuse the sons of the handmaidens and treat them like slaves? (Ps. 105:17) “Joseph was sold as a slave.” What did he say, they are infatuated with local girls? Lo, a she-bear will attack you, (Gen. 39:7) “his master’s wife lifted her eyes to Joseph, etc.”

Rebbi Ḥanina said: Come and see, how hard is even a hint of calumny that the verses spoke untruth in order to make peace between Abraham and Sarah. (Gen. 18:12) “Sarah laughed to herself, saying: After having wilted I became dainty, but my master is old.” To Abraham He does not say so, but rather (Gen. 18:13): “Why now did Sarah laugh, saying how can I give birth, being old?” It is not written “my master is old” but “I am old”. Rabban Simeon ben Gamliel said: Come and see, how hard is even a hint of calumny that the verses spoke untruth in order to make peace between Joseph and his brothers. That is what is written (Gen.50:16–17): “They empowered [a messenger] to Joseph to say: Your father commanded before his death, saying: So you shall say to Joseph, please forgive etc.” We do not find that he (Jacob) commanded anything.

Rebbi Ḥanina said: Come and see, how hard is even a hint of calumny that the verses spoke untruth in order to make peace between Abraham and Sarah. (Gen. 18:12) “Sarah laughed to herself, saying: After having wilted I became dainty, but my master is old.” To Abraham He does not say so, but rather (Gen. 18:13): “Why now did Sarah laugh, saying how can I give birth, being old?” It is not written “my master is old” but “I am old”. Rabban Simeon ben Gamliel said: Come and see, how hard is even a hint of calumny that the verses spoke untruth in order to make peace between Joseph and his brothers. That is what is written (Gen.50:16–17): “They empowered [a messenger] to Joseph to say: Your father commanded before his death, saying: So you shall say to Joseph, please forgive etc.” We do not find that he (Jacob) commanded anything.

Rebbi Ḥanina said: Come and see, how hard is even a hint of calumny that the verses spoke untruth in order to make peace between Abraham and Sarah. (Gen. 18:12) “Sarah laughed to herself, saying: After having wilted I became dainty, but my master is old.” To Abraham He does not say so, but rather (Gen. 18:13): “Why now did Sarah laugh, saying how can I give birth, being old?” It is not written “my master is old” but “I am old”. Rabban Simeon ben Gamliel said: Come and see, how hard is even a hint of calumny that the verses spoke untruth in order to make peace between Joseph and his brothers. That is what is written (Gen.50:16–17): “They empowered [a messenger] to Joseph to say: Your father commanded before his death, saying: So you shall say to Joseph, please forgive etc.” We do not find that he (Jacob) commanded anything.

Rebbi Jeremiah said, Cahana asked R. Simeon ben Laqish: What is the rule for someone who mates sea animals? He said to him, it is written about them (Gen. 1:21): “By their kinds.” Rebbi Aḥa did not say so, but Rebbi Aḥa used to say in the name of Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish, wherever “by their kinds” is written, kilaim applies to it. Rebbi Cahana objected, it is written about the animals of the sea “by their kinds;” kilaim should apply to them! Rebbi Yose ben Rebbi Abun said, here did Cahana spread his net over Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish and caught him. Rebbi Jonah said, I can explain it, because of one who leads. He brings a string and binds it to the gills of a white fish and a green fish; they rub one another and spawn.

It was stated in the name of Rebbi Eleazar: “The Gentile may sow and wear kilaim, but he may not mate his animals as kilaim or graft his tree kilaim.” Why? Because about these, it is written “by their kinds.” But is it not also written for grasses “by their kinds?” It is not written for the commandment, only at the realization. If this is so, why was Earth cursed? Rebbi Judan bar Shalom said, because it transgressed the orders of the Holy One, praise to Him! (Gen. 1:11) “The earth should produce lawns, grasses producing seed,” but it produced only (Gen. 1:12) “lawns, grasses producing seed by their kinds.” Rebbi Phineas said, it enjoyed the commandment and added shade trees. In the opinion of Rebbi Yudan bar Shalom, Earth was justly cursed. In the opinion of Rebbi Phineas, why was Earth cursed? Like a man who said: The breastnipples should be cursed that this one suckled from. This follows Rebbi Nathan: Three stood in judgment and four went out cursed, (Gen. 3:17) “Earth is cursed because of you.”

It was stated in the name of Rebbi Eleazar: “The Gentile may sow and wear kilaim, but he may not mate his animals as kilaim or graft his tree kilaim.” Why? Because about these, it is written “by their kinds.” But is it not also written for grasses “by their kinds?” It is not written for the commandment, only at the realization. If this is so, why was Earth cursed? Rebbi Judan bar Shalom said, because it transgressed the orders of the Holy One, praise to Him! (Gen. 1:11) “The earth should produce lawns, grasses producing seed,” but it produced only (Gen. 1:12) “lawns, grasses producing seed by their kinds.” Rebbi Phineas said, it enjoyed the commandment and added shade trees. In the opinion of Rebbi Yudan bar Shalom, Earth was justly cursed. In the opinion of Rebbi Phineas, why was Earth cursed? Like a man who said: The breastnipples should be cursed that this one suckled from. This follows Rebbi Nathan: Three stood in judgment and four went out cursed, (Gen. 3:17) “Earth is cursed because of you.”

It was stated in the name of Rebbi Eleazar: “The Gentile may sow and wear kilaim, but he may not mate his animals as kilaim or graft his tree kilaim.” Why? Because about these, it is written “by their kinds.” But is it not also written for grasses “by their kinds?” It is not written for the commandment, only at the realization. If this is so, why was Earth cursed? Rebbi Judan bar Shalom said, because it transgressed the orders of the Holy One, praise to Him! (Gen. 1:11) “The earth should produce lawns, grasses producing seed,” but it produced only (Gen. 1:12) “lawns, grasses producing seed by their kinds.” Rebbi Phineas said, it enjoyed the commandment and added shade trees. In the opinion of Rebbi Yudan bar Shalom, Earth was justly cursed. In the opinion of Rebbi Phineas, why was Earth cursed? Like a man who said: The breastnipples should be cursed that this one suckled from. This follows Rebbi Nathan: Three stood in judgment and four went out cursed, (Gen. 3:17) “Earth is cursed because of you.”

Originally there were only two as it is written (Gen. 41:43): “He made him ride in his two-horse carriage.” Pharao came and made them three, as it is written (Ex. 14:7): “three-horse over everything.” The evil kingdom arose and made it four.

Rebbi dwelt in Sepphoris seventeen years and applied to himself (Gen. 47:28): “Jacob lived in Egypt seventeen years,” Jehudah lived in Sepphoris seventeen years. Of these he suffered from toothache for thirteen years. {Rebbi Yose ben Rebbi Abun said, all these thirteen years no woman lying-in died in the Land of Israel and no pregnant woman had a miscarriage in the Land of Israel.} Why did he have a toothache? Once he saw a calf to be slaughtered when it bellowed and said to him, Rebbi, save me! He said to it, for that you were created. At the end, how was he healed? He saw them killing a burrow of rats. He said to them, let them live, it is written (Ps. 145:9) “His mercy extends to all His creatures.”

It is written (Gen. 47:30): “You shall carry me from Egypt and bury me in their burial place.” What would Jacob lose at any place he would be? Rebbi Eleazar gave an inner reason, Rebbi Ḥanina gave an inner reason, Rebbi Joshua ben Levi gave an inner reason. What is the inner reason? Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish said, (Ps. 116:9) “I will walk before the Eternal in the Land of Life.” But the lands of life are only Tyre and its surroundings and Caesarea (maritima) and its surroundings; there is cheap (food), there is satiety. Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish in the name of Bar Qappara, the Land whose dead will live again in the days of the Messiah. What is the reason? (Is. 42:9) “He gives soul to the people on it.” That would mean that our teachers in the diaspora would lose out! Rebbi Simai said, the Holy One, praised be He, makes the earth erode before them and they roll like wine barrels. When they arrive at the Land of Israel their souls return to them. What is the reason? (Ez. 37:12) “I shall deposit you on the territory of Israel,” (v. 14) “give My spirit into you, and you will live.”

How does Rebbi Yose bar Ḥanina explain “In view of all this”? Since they accepted [the obligations] with good grace, the verse credits it to them as if they had accepted it voluntarily. How does Rebbi Eleazar explain “more than your forefathers?” He explains it for the future since Rebbi Ḥelbo, Simeon bar Abba said in the name of Rebbi Joḥanan: Your forefathers inherited the land of seven peoples, but you will in the future inherit the land of ten peoples. The three others are (Gen. 15:19) “the Qenites, the Qenizites and the Qadmonites.” Rebbi Jehudah said, [these are] Arabia, Salmaia and Nabataea. Rebbi Simeon says, Asia, Spain, and Damascus. Rebbi Eliezer ben Jacob says, Asia, Cartagena, and Thrace. Rebbi says, Edom, Moab, and the best of Ammon. “More than your forefathers”: Your forefathers, even though they were redeemed, were later subjugated again. But you when you are redeemed will not be subjugated again. What is the reason? (Jer. 30:6) “Inquire and see whether a male gives birth.” Just as a male cannot give birth so you, after you are redeemed, will not be subjugated again.

Rebbi Simeon ben Ioḥai was hidden in a cave for thirteen years, in a carob cave, until his body was covered with rust. At the end of thirteen years he said, should I not go out and see what voice is in the world? He went and sat at the entrance to the cave. He saw a catcher out to catch birds spreading out his net. He heard a heavenly voice saying “acquitted”, and [the bird] was saved. He said, no bird will be adjudicated without Heaven, so much less a human. When he saw that words of intercession were given, he said, let us go down and warm ourselves in the public baths of Tiberias. He said, we need to do something like our forefathers (Gen. 33:18): “He graced the entrance to the city,” they were putting up duty free shops and selling at wholesale prices. He said, let us purify Tiberias. He took lupines, cut them up and threw them down in irregular fashion. Where there was a corpse it was floating and came to the surface. A Samaritan saw him and said, should I not make fun of this old Jew? He took a corpse, went, and buried it at a purified place. He came to Rebbi Simeon bar Ioḥai and said to him, did you not purify place X? Come, and I shall take out [a corpse] from there! Rebbi Simeon bar Ioḥai saw by the Holy Spirit that he had put it there. He said, I decree that the upper ones shall go down and the lower ones come up. So it happenend to him. When he passed by Magdala, he heard the voice of the scribe who said, so bar Ioḥai purifies Tiberias? He said, it should come upon me if I did not hear that Tiberias once will be purified. Even so, you did not believe me! Immediately he turned into a bone heap.

The colleagues in the name of Rebbi Eleazar: Rebbi Eliezer agrees with the Sages that if a drink is stinking from the start it is impure. But did we not state: “The fluid oozing out from them Rebbi Eliezer declares pure but the Sages impure”? Rebbi Ila in the name of Rebbi Eleazar: Rebbi Eliezer agrees with the Sages about the waters of the ocean; even if they are stinking the Torah calls them water (Gen. 1:10): “The collection of water He called oceans.” Rebbi Jacob bar Zavdi in the name of Rebbi Abbahu: Rebbi Eliezer agrees with the Sages that beet juice does not prepare.

A woman came before Rebbi Eliezer. She said to him, I saw in my dream the pillar of the house breaking. He said, you will give birth to a male child. She went and gave birth to a male. After some time she came and asked for him. His students said, he is not here. They asked her, what do you want from him? She said to them, this woman saw in my dream that the pillar of the house was breaking. They said to her, you will give birth to a male child and the husband of that woman dies. When Rebbi Eliezer came, they told him what happened. He said to them, you killed a person for the dream goes only after its interpretation as it is said (Gen. 41:13): “It was just as he had interpreted it for us, so it happened.”

How does Rebbi Eliezer explain the reason of Rebbi Aqiba, (Num. 15:17) “To the Land into which I am bringing you?” The colleagues in the name of Rebbi Eleazar, Rebbi Abba in the name of Rebbi Eleazar, Rebbi Hila in the name of Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish: So did Rebbi Aqiba object to Rebbi Eliezer: Do you not agree that when Israel entered the Land and found there coarse and fine flour that this was subject to ḥallah? Did it not grow while exempt? He accepted that. Rebbi Yose said, I am wondering how could Rebbi Aqiba object to Rebbi Eliezer and how could the latter accept it? There, before they entered they had inherited it retroactively, as Rebbi Huna said in the name of Rebbi Samuel ben Naḥman: It is not written “to your posterity I shall give” but (Gen. 15:18): “to your posterity I gave”, I already gave it.

“If a tree was uprooted but it had a sunken branch;” blessing is in it. Rebbi Ḥuna in the name of Rebbi Joḥanan: There is bĕrîkhâ in it. Rebbi Mana said, some people are called Bĕrîkhâ as you say (Gen. 24:31): “Come, the Eternal’s blessed.”

But is it not written (Lev. 7:23): “Any fat of cattle, sheep, or goats you shall not eat”? Do you not have to understand the prohibition of usufruct from the prohibition of eating? There is a difference, for it is written (Lev. 7:24): “But fat of a carcass and fat of a torn animal”. But is it not written (Deut. 12:16): “Only the blood”? There is a difference, for it is written: “You shall pour it on the ground like water.” Since water is permitted for use, so blood is permitted for use. But is it not written (Gen. 32:33): “Therefore, the Children of Israel do not eat the sinew of the schiatic muscle”? Rebbi Abbahu said, I explained it by the sinew of a carcass or a torn animal. But is it not written (Lev. 23:14): “Bread, parched or fresh grains you shall not eat”? Rebbi Abba Mari the brother of Rebbi Yose said there is a difference since the verse fixed a time for it. But is it not written (Lev. 11:42): “Do not eat them for they are abominations”? Rebbi Mana said, that excludes their prohibition of usufruct.

It was stated in the name of Rebbi Jehudah: The proselyte himself brings and makes the declaration. What is the reason? (Gen. 17:5) “For I made you the father of the multitude of Gentiles.” In the past you were the father of Aram, from now onwards you will be father of all Gentiles. Rebbi Joshua ben Levi said, practice follows Rebbi Jehudah. A case came before Rebbi Abbahu and he instructed following Rebbi Jehudah.

They wanted to ordain Rebbi Zeïra but he did not want to take it upon himself. When he heard a Tanna stating: “For an ordained person, a bridegroom, a patriarch, the dignity deletes [his sins],” he accepted being ordained. An ordained person: (Lev. 19:32): “Before a white head you shall rise, give respect to an Elder, and fear your God, I am the Eternal.” What is written after that (v. 33): “If a proselyte lives in your land, you shall not trick him.” Just as all his sins are forgiven to the proselyte, so all sins are forgiven to one being ordained. The bridegroom: (Gen. 28:9) “Esaw went to Ismael and married Maḥalat bat Ismael.” But was her name Maḥalat, was it not Basemat? But all his sins were forgiven him. The president: (1S. 13:1) “Saul was one year old when he became king.” Was he one year old when he became king? But all his sins were forgiven him as to a baby of one year.

Rebbi dwelt in Sepphoris seventeen years and applied to himself (Gen. 47:28): “Jacob lived in Egypt seventeen years,” Jehudah lived in Sepphoris seventeen years. Of these he suffered from toothache for thirteen years. {Rebbi Yose ben Rebbi Abun said, all these thirteen years no woman lying-in died in the Land of Israel and no pregnant woman had a miscarriage in the Land of Israel.} Why did he have a toothache? Once he saw a calf to be slaughtered when it bellowed and said to him, Rebbi, save me! He said to it, for that you were created. At the end, how was he healed? He saw them killing a burrow of rats. He said to them, let them live, it is written (Ps. 145:9) “His mercy extends to all His creatures.”

It is written (Gen. 47:30): “You shall carry me from Egypt and bury me in their burial place.” What would Jacob lose at any place he would prophesy? Rebbi Eleazar gave an inner reason, Rebbi Joshua ben Levi gave an inner reason, Rebbi Ḥanina gave an inner reason. What is the inner reason? Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish said, (Ps. 116:9) “I will walk before the Eternal in the Land of Life.” But the lands of life are only Tyre and its surroundings and Caesarea (maritima) and its surroundings; there is cheap (food), there is plenty. Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish in the name of Bar Qappara, the Land whose dead will live again in the days of the Messiah. What is the reason? (Is. 42:9) “He gives soul to the people on it.” That would mean that our teachers in Babylonia would lose out! Rebbi Simai said, the Holy One, praised be He, walks before them and they roll like wine barrels. When they arrive in the Land of Israel their souls are with them. What is the reason? (Ez. 36:24) “I shall bring you to your soil,” (37:14) “give My spirit into you, and you will live.”

How does Rebbi Yose bar Ḥanina explain “In view of all this, we execute a contract and sign”? Since they accepted [the obligations] with good grace, the verse credits it to them as if they had accepted it voluntarily. How does Rebbi Eleazar explain “more than your forefathers?” He explains it for the future since Rebbi Ḥelbo, Simeon bar Abba said in the name of Rebbi Joḥanan: Your forefathers inherited the land of seven peoples, but you will in the future inherit the land of ten peoples. The three others are (Gen. 15:19) “the Qenites, the Qenizites and the Qadmonites.” Rebbi Jehudah said, [these are] Arabia, Salmaia and Nabataea. Rebbi Simeon says, Asia, Spain, and Damascus. Rebbi Eliezer ben Jacob says, Asia, Cartagena, and Thrace. Rebbi says, Edom, Moab, and the best of Ammon. “More than your forefathers”: Your forefathers, even though they were redeemed, were later subjugated again. But you when you are redeemed will not be subjugated again. What is the reason? (Jer. 30:6) “Inquire and see whether a male gives birth.” Just as a male cannot give birth so you, after you are redeemed, will not be subjugated again.

Or if thou wilt, I can say that he derives [his reason for commencing with the evening] from the account of the Creation ; for it is written : "It was evening and it was morning, one day" (Gen, i. 5).

This is like the teaching of R. Jacob b. Iddi who asked: It is written, "Behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee whithersoever thou goest" (Gen. xxviii. 15), and then it is written, "Jacob was greatly afraid" (ibid, xxxii. 8)! But Jacob said, "Perhaps sin will cause [His protection to be withheld]." This is like the teaching:

Rab Nahman b. Issac said : Also, his wife will not miscarry; for it is here written, "Thou fillest with Thy treasure," and elsewhere it is written, "And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb" (Gen. xxv. 24).

Whence do we learn that our father Abraham fixed a place for his prayer ? For it is written, (Gen. xix. 27) "And Abraham got up early in the morning to the place where he had stood". "Stood" means nothing else than prayer ; as it is said, "Then stood up Phineas and prayed" (Ps. cvL 30).

R. Johanan said in the name of R. Simeon b. Johai : From the day that the Holy One, blessed be He, created the Universe, nobody called Him "Lord" until Abraham came and so called Him ; as it is said, "And he said, O Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?" (Gen. xv. 8).

R. Johanan also said in the name of R. Simeon b. Johai: From the day that the Holy One, blessed be He, created the Universe, nobody praised Him until Leah came and praised Him ; as it is said, "This time will I praise the Lord" (Gen. xxix. 35).

But as for my son, although Joseph forcibly deprived him of his birthright — as it is written, 'But, forasmuch as he defiled his father's couch, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph' (I Chron. v. 1 ) — nevertheless he was not jealous of him; for it is written, 'And Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand' (Gen. xxxrii. 21)."

R. Adda b. Ahabah said : What Scriptural authority is there for this ? "And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field" (Gen. xxxi. 4).

[the righteous one] 'And they shall serve them, and they shall afflict them' (Gen. xv. 13) He did fulfil in them, but 'and afterward shall they come out with great substance' (ibid. v. 14) He did not fulfil in them."

Take the following as an analogy: "Thy name shall no more be called Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name" (Gen. xxxv. 10).

Bar Kappara taught : Whoever calls Abraham " Abram " transgresses a command ; as it is said, "Thy name shall be Abraham" (Gen. xvii. 5). R. Eliezer says: He transgresses a prohibition ; as it is said, "Thy name shall no more be called Abram" (ibid.).

It is here at any rate taught that [the mourner, although he is not in the same room as the body,] is exempt from reading the Shema', from Tefillah, Tefillin, and all the commandments mentioned in the Torah ! Rab Pappa replied : [The Baraita] is to be interpreted as referring to one who turns his face from the body and eats. Rab Ashe said : Since the duty of burying rests upon him, it is to be regarded as though the body was lying before him; as it is said, "And Abraham rose up from before his dead" (Gen. xxiii. 3) and it is said "That I may bury my dead from before me" (ibid. v. 4), i.e. so long as the duty of burial rested upon him, it was as though the body was actually before him.

R. Johanan had the habit of going and sitting at the gates of the baths, saying, "When the daughters of Israel leave, let them gaze upon me, and they will have children as beautiful as I." The Rabbis said to him, "Art thou not afraid of the Evil Eye?" He answered, "I am come from the seed of Joseph against whom the Evil Eye had no power ; for it is written, 'Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine by a fountain' (Gen. xlix. 22) ; and R. Abbahu said: Read not 'ale 'ayin 'by a fountain' but 'ole 'ayin 'overcoming the [Evil] Eye'."

Rab Judah said : It is forbidden to read the Shema' in the presence of a naked gentile. Why is a gentile specified ? Even by a naked Israelite it is likewise [forbidden] ! [That it is forbidden with an Israelite is obvious] ; but it was necessary to specify the case of a gentile. For thou mightest have said : Since it is written with reference to the gentiles, "Whose flesh is as the flesh of asses" (Ezek. xxiii. 20), argue that [in this matter the naked gentile is to be considered] only like an ass ; therefore he informs us that to them also [when exposed] is "nakedness" attributed ; for it is written, "And they saw not their father's nakedness" (Gen. ix. 23).

The question was asked : How is it if one erred and omitted the afternoon Tefillah — shall he say it twice in the evening ? If thou thinkest thou canst answer [by quoting] "If one erred and omitted the evening Tefillah, he should say it twice in the morning," [that is different] because it is one day ; as it is written, "And there was evening and there was morning one day " (Gen. i. 5). But here the Tefillah is the substitute for the sacrifice, and the day having passed, the sacrifice becomes void. Or is it perhaps because Tefillah is supplication, and one may pray whenever he wishes?

There is a teaching in agreement with both of them. There is a teaching in agreement with R. Jose b. R. Hannina: Abraham instituted the morning Tefillah; as it is said, "And Abraham got up early in the morning to the place where he had stood" (Gen. xix. 27) — "standing" means prayer; as it is said, "Then stood up Phineas and prayed" (Ps. cvi. 30).

Isaac instituted the afternoon Tefillah; as it is said, "And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at eventide" (Gen. xxiv. 63) — "meditation" [sihah] means prayer; as it is said, "A prayer of the afflicted when he fainteth, and poureth out his complaint [sihah] before the Lord" (Ps, cii. 1).

Jacob instituted the evening Tefillah ; as it is said, "And he lighted [paga'] upon the place, and tarried there all night" (Gen. xxviii. 11) — "alighting" means prayer; as it is said, "Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession [paga'] to Me" (Jer. vii. 16).

Thou sayest "the fourth hour"; but perhaps it means the sixth hour ! When the Bible states "In the heat of the day" (Gen. xviii. 1) it means the sixth hour. How, then, am I to understand "As the sun waxed hot, it melted" ? That refers to the fourth hour. In accordance with whose opinion is this? It can be neither R. Judah's nor the Rabbis'. If it were R. Judah's, up to [and including] the fourth hour is still morning ; and if it were the Rabbis', up to midday is still morning !

Our Rabbis have taught : "Bowing" means upon the face ; as it is said, "Then Bath Sheba bowed with her face to the earth" (ibid. i. 31)."Bending" means upon the knees; as it is said, "From kneeling on his knees" (ibid. viii. 54). "Prostrating" means spreading out the hands and legs ; as it is said, "Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to prostrate ourselves to thee to the earth?" (Gen. xxxvii. 10).

But perhaps thou wilt say that the Garden is the same as Eden ! Therefore there is a teaching to tell thee, "And a river went out of Eden to water the Garden" (Gen. ii. 10). Hence the Garden and Eden are distinct.

If, over fruits of the earth, etc. This is evident ! Rab Nahman b. Isaac said : It is only necessary for R. Judah who declares that wheat is a kind of tree ; for there is a teaching : The tree from which Adam ate was — so says R. Meir — the vine, because thou hast nothing which brings lamentation upon man as does wine; as it is said, "And he drank of the wine, and was drunken" (Gen. ix. 21). R. Nehemiah says: It was the fig-tree, for by the very thing that they were disgraced were they restored ; as it is said, "And they sewed fig-leaves together" (ibid. iii. 7). R. Judah said : It was wheat, because a child does not know to call "Father, mother" before it has tasted wheat.

Abbai declared : We also add : A benediction [immediately alights upon him who entertains] disciples of the wise ; as it is said, "The Lord hath blessed me for thy sake" (Gen. xxx. 27); or, if thou wilt, from this passage, as it is said, "The Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake " (ibid. xxxix. 5).

Rab Zotra b. Tobiah also said in the name of Rab (another version : Rab Hanna b. Bizna in the name of R. Simeon Hasida ; still another version : R. Johanan said in the name of R. Simeon b. Johai) : It were better for a man to cast himself into the midst of a fiery furnace rather than cause the face of his fellow-creature to blanche in public. Whence is this derived ? From Tamar ; as it is said, "When she was brought forth" etc. (Gen. xxxviii. 25).

"Lot's wife" ; as it is said, "But his wife looked back from behind him and she became a pillar of salt" (Gen. xix. 26). [not translated] [not translated]

But it mentions above thanksgiving and praise ! It has been taught : For Lot and his wife we say two benedictions — for his wife one says, "Blessed be the true Judge" ; and for Lot one says, "Blessed... Who rememberest the righteous." R. Johanan said : Even at the time of His wrath, the Holy One, blessed be He, remembers the righteous ; as it is said, "And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the Plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow" (Gen. xix. 29).

"To be given a Scroll of the Torah from which to read and decline to read" — for it is written, "For that is thy life and the length of thy days" (Deut. 30:20). "To be handed the cup of benediction to say Grace and decline" — for it is written, "I will bless them that bless thee" (Gen. 12:3). "To give oneself an air of superiority" — for R. Hamma b. R. Hannina said : Why did Joseph die before his brothers? Because he gave himself superior airs.

R. Berekiah said : A dream, though it be fulfilled in part, is never completely realised. Whence is this learnt? From Joseph; for it is written, "And behold the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowed down to me" (Gen. 37:9);

The next commenced and said : He who enters a town and is afraid of the Evil Eye, let him take his right thumb in his left hand and his left thumb in his right hand and say the following: "I, A the son of B, come from the seed of Joseph against whom the Evil Eye had no power ; as it is said, 'Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine by a fountain' (Gen. xlix. 22). Read not 'ale 'ayin 'by a fountain' but 'ole 'ayin 'overcoming the [Evil] Eye'." R. Jose b. R. Hannina said : It may be derived from the verse : "And let them grow [weyidgu] into a multitude in the midst of the earth" (ibid, xlviii. 16) ; i.e. as the fishes [dagim] in the sea are covered by the water and the Evil Eye cannot have power over them, in similar manner the Evil Eye has no power over the seed of Joseph. Should he, however, be afraid of his own Evil Eye, let him gaze upon the wing of his left nostril.

Is there such a Scriptural passage as "All dreams follow the mouth"? Yes; and it is like the statement of R. Eleazar who said : Whence is it that all dreams follow the mouth ? As it is said, "And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was" (Gen. xli. 13). Raba said : That is only so if he interprets it from the content of the dream; as it is said, "To each man according to his dream he did interpret" (ibid. v. 12).

R. Johanan also said : Three types of dream are fulfilled — a morning dream, a dream which his friend has about him, and a dream interpreted in the midst of a dream. Some add : Also a dream which is repeated ; as it is said, "And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice" (Gen. xli. 32).

R. Hannina said : Who dreams of a well will see peace ; as it is said, "And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of living water" (Gen. xxvi. 19). R. Nathan said : He will find Torah; as it is said, "Whoso findeth me findeth life" (Prov. viii. 35), and it is written here "a well of living water." Raba said : [It means] life literally.

Who dreams of shaving should on rising say, "And [Joseph] shaved himself and changed his raiment" (Gen. xli. 14), before another verse occurs to him, viz. : "If I be shaven, then my strength will go from me" (Judges xvi. 17). Who dreams of a well should on rising say, "A well of living waters" (Cant. iv. 15), before another verse occurs to him, viz. : "As a cistern welleth with her waters, so she welleth with her wickedness" (Jer. vi. 7). Who dreams of a reed should on rising say, "A bruised reed shall he not break" (Is. xlii. 3), before another verse occurs to him, viz. : "Behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed" (ibid, xxxvi. 6).

Who dreams of Ishmael, his prayer will be heard; but only of Ishmael the son of Abraham, and not of an ordinary Arab. Who dreams of a camel, death had been decreed upon him by Heaven, but he has been delivered therefrom. R. Hamma b. R. Hannina said : What is the Scriptural authority for this ? "I will go down with thee into Egypt ; and I will also surely bring thee up again" (Gen. xlvi. 4). Rab Nahman b. Isaac said : It may be derived from the following, "The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die" (II Sam. xii. 13).

Who dreams of a well-laden vine, his wife will not miscarry ; as it is said, "Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine" (Ps. cxxviii. 3). [Who dreams] of a choice vine may hope for the Messiah ; as it is said, "Binding his foal unto the vine and his ass' colt unto the choice vine" (Gen. xlix. 11).

Six things are a favourable symptom in an invalid : sneezing, perspiration, abdominal motion, seminal emission, sleep and a dream. "Sneezing" — for it is written, "His sneezings flash forth light" (Job xli. 10). "Perspiration" — for it is written, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread" (Gen, iii. 19). "Abdominal motion" — for it is written, "He that is bent down shall speedily be loosed ; and he shall not go down dying into the pit" (Is. li. 14). "Seminal emission" — for it is written, "Seeing seed, he will prolong his days" (ibid. liii. 10). "Sleep" — for it is written, "I should have slept, then had I been at rest" (Job iii. 13). "A dream" — for it is written, "Thou didst cause me to dream and make me to live" (Is. xxxviii. 16).

The school of R. Ishmael taught : Why are they called "cucumbers" [kishshuim] ? Because they are injurious [kashim] to the body like swords. But it is not so ! For lo, it is written, "And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb" (Gen. xxv. 23) — read not goyim "nations," but geim "lords"; and Rab Judah said in the name of Rab: These are Antoninus and Rabbi from whose table radish, lettuce and cucumbers were never absent either in Summer or Winter !

Why [is the Tigris called] Hiddekel (Gen. ii. 14). Rab Ashe said : Its waters are sharp [had] and swift [kal]. Why [is the Euphrates called] Perat? Because its waters are fruitful [parah] and multiply.

Then prayer [in such circumstances] is of no avail ! Rab Joseph quoted in objection : "And afterwards she bore a daughter and called her name Dinah" (Gen. xxx. 21). What means "and afterwards"? Rab said: After Leah passed judgment on herself, saying, "Twelve tribes are destined to issue from Jacob — six have issued from me and four from the handmaids, that makes ten ; if this child [which is expected from me] be a male, my sister Rachel will not even be like one of the handmaids." Immediately [the child in the womb] was changed to a daughter; as it is said, "And she called her name Dinah [judgment]"! We may not quote a miraculous event [against the Mishnah].

Rab Nahman b. Rab Hisda expounded : What means that which is written, "Then the Lord God formed man" (Gen. ii. 7), the word wayyiser "and He formed" being spelt with two letters yod? The Holy One, blessed be He, created two impulses, one good and the other evil.

"And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from the man, made He a woman" (Gen. ii. 22). Rab and Samuel [comment upon this] :

Nay, the retribution in connection with the flood [is referred to] ; for it is written, "And He blotted out every living substance which was upon the face of the ground, both man and cattle" (Gen. vii. 23).

It is quite right according to him who says that it was a face ; that is what is written, "Male and female created He them" (Gen. 5:2). But according to him who said it was a tail, what means "Male and female created He them"? It is [to be explained] according to R. Abbahu who asked : It is written "Male and female created He them," and it is written, "For in the image of God made He man" (ibid. ix. 6). How is this? At first He planned to create two, but in the end only one was created.

Rab Ashe said : With reference to what Rab Nahman said, viz. that Manoah was an 'Am ha'ares, he had not even learnt [the Scriptures which are taught] in an elementary school; as it is said, "And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man" (Gen. xxiv. 61) — they went behind the man, not in front of him.

Rab said : The evil impulse is like a fly and dwells between the two entrances of the heart ; as it is said, "Dead flies make the ointment of the perfumers fetid and putrid" (Eccles. x. 1). Samuel said : It is like a kind of wheat [hittah] ; as it is said, "Sin [hatt'at] croucheth at the door" (Gen. iv. 7).

Rab said : He beheld our father Jacob ; for it is written, "And Jacob said when he beheld them" (Gen. xxxii. 3). Samuel said : He beheld the ashes of [the sacrifice substituted for] Isaac ; as it is said, "God will provide Himself the lamb" (ibid. xxii. 8).

R. Isaac the Smith said : He beheld the money of the atonement; as it is said, "And thou shalt take the atonement money from the children of Israel" etc. (Exod. xxx. 16). R. Johanan said: He beheld the Temple ; for it is written, "In the mount where the Lord is seen" (Gen. xxii. 14).

R. Jose began [to speak] in honour of the hospitality and expounded : "Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite, for he is thy brother; thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian, because thou wast a stranger in his land" (Deut. xxiii. 8). Can we not use here an a fortiori argument? If the Egyptians are not to be abhorred, who only befriended the Israelites for their own needs — as it is said, "And if thou knowest any able men among them, then make them rulers over my cattle" (Gen. xlvii. 6) — how much more so, one who entertains a disciple of the wise in his house, giving him to eat and drink, and allowing him to enjoy his possessions!

R. Abin the Levite also said : One who takes leave of the dead should not say to him, "Go to peace" but "Go in peace" ; as it is said, "But thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace" (Gen. xv. 15).

Said R. Johanan: The following three keys have not been entrusted to the keeping of any angel:—for a woman in travail, for rain, and for resurrection. For a woman in travail, it is written (Gen., 30.22): "And God hearkened to her and opened her womb"; of rain it is written (Deut., 28.12): "The Lord will open unto thee His good treasure the heaven to give the rain of thy land in its season";

R. Samuel b. Nahamani said in the name of R. Jonathan, three men expressed their request in careless language; two of them were answered favorably, but the third was answered unfavorably. They are: Eliezer the servant of Abraham, Saul the son of Kish, and Jephthah the Gileadite. As to Eliezer, Scripture says (Gen., 24.14): "So let it come to pass that the damsel to whom I shall say, let down thy pitcher," etc. These words include one that is lame or blind. He was answered, however, favorably, in that he happened upon Rebekah. As to Saul, Scripture says (I Sam., 17.25): "And it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter." This might include a slave or a bastard, but he was answered favorably in that he happened upon David. As to Jephthah, Scripture says (Jud., 11.31): "Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, it shall be the Lord's and I will offer it up for a burnt-offering." This may mean even something unclean (unfit for a sacrifice), and, indeed, he was answered unfavorably, in that it was his daughter who came out of the house. It is with reference to this event that the prophet said to Israel (Jer., 8.22): "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?" Hence it is also written (ibid., 19.5): "Which I commanded not, nor spoke it, neither came it into My mind." "I commanded not" refers to the son of Mesha king of Moab, for it is said (II Kings, 3.27): "Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt-offering upon the wall. And there came great wrath upon Israel"; "nor spoke it" refers to the daughter of Jephthah; "neither came it into My mind" refers to Isaac the son of Abraham.

the expression "bear" is used in connection with a woman and with reference to the soil; the expression "remember" is also used both in reference to a woman and the soil. "Shutting up" is said with reference to woman (Gen., 20.18): "For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs"; and with reference to rain, it is said (Deut., 11.17): "And He will shut up the heavens"; "bear" is said of a woman, as it is written (Gen., 30.23): "And she conceived and bore a son"; and is also said of the soil, as it is written (Is., 55.10): "And maketh it bring forth and bud"; "remember" is used in connection with woman, as it is said (Gen., 21.1): "And the Lord remembered Sarah"; and it is said also of the soil, as it is written (Ps. 65.10): "Thou hast remembered the earth, and watered her, greatly enriching her with the river of God that is full of water."

the expression "bear" is used in connection with a woman and with reference to the soil; the expression "remember" is also used both in reference to a woman and the soil. "Shutting up" is said with reference to woman (Gen., 20.18): "For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs"; and with reference to rain, it is said (Deut., 11.17): "And He will shut up the heavens"; "bear" is said of a woman, as it is written (Gen., 30.23): "And she conceived and bore a son"; and is also said of the soil, as it is written (Is., 55.10): "And maketh it bring forth and bud"; "remember" is used in connection with woman, as it is said (Gen., 21.1): "And the Lord remembered Sarah"; and it is said also of the soil, as it is written (Ps. 65.10): "Thou hast remembered the earth, and watered her, greatly enriching her with the river of God that is full of water."

the expression "bear" is used in connection with a woman and with reference to the soil; the expression "remember" is also used both in reference to a woman and the soil. "Shutting up" is said with reference to woman (Gen., 20.18): "For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs"; and with reference to rain, it is said (Deut., 11.17): "And He will shut up the heavens"; "bear" is said of a woman, as it is written (Gen., 30.23): "And she conceived and bore a son"; and is also said of the soil, as it is written (Is., 55.10): "And maketh it bring forth and bud"; "remember" is used in connection with woman, as it is said (Gen., 21.1): "And the Lord remembered Sarah"; and it is said also of the soil, as it is written (Ps. 65.10): "Thou hast remembered the earth, and watered her, greatly enriching her with the river of God that is full of water."

Another time R. Johanan again met the same child and said to him: Tell me thy verse! The boy replied: "The foolishness of man perverteth his way; and his heart fretteth against the Lord" (Prov., 19.3). After pondering for a while over the matter R. Johanan said, is it possible that there is something in the Hagiographa to which Moses did not allude in the Pentateuch? Said the boy: "Is not this verse alluded to in the Pentateuch? Is it not written (Gen., 42.28): 'And their heart failed them, and they turned trembling one to another, saying, what is this that God hath done unto us?'" R. Johanan lifted his eyes and looked at the boy (in astonishment). The boy's mother then came in and took him away, saying: "Get away from him, that he may not do to you as he did to your father!"

We read in a Baraita ('Erubin, 45b): R. Eliezer said, the whole universe drinks from the ocean, as it is said (Gen., 2.6): "There went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground." Said R. Joshua to R. Eliezer, is not the water of the ocean salty?! Said R. Eliezer, it gets sweetened in the clouds. R. Joshua said, the whole universe drinks from the waters above (the firmament), as it is said (Deut., 11.11): "A land that drinketh water as the rain of heaven cometh down." How then can one explain the verse: "There went up a mist from the earth"? This verse teaches that the clouds rise and soar upward, where they open their mouths like a leathern bottle and receive the rain water, as it is said (Job, 36.27): "They distil rain from His vapour." They (the clouds) are perforated like a sieve and distil water to the ground, as it is said (II Samuel, 22.12): "Gathering of waters, thick clouds of the skies." Between each drop of rain there is no more space than the breadth of a hair, which is to impress upon us the truth that the day of rain is as miraculous a phenomenon as the day on which heaven and earth were created, for it is said (Job, 5.9): "Who doeth great things and unsearchable, marvellous things without number," and further on (ib., 5.10): "Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields," and elsewhere (Is., 40.28): "Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? His discernment is past searching out."

R. Joshua b. Levi said: The whole world is watered by the residue of the garden of Eden, for it is said (Gen., 2.10): "And a river went out of Eden to water the garden." It was taught that the residue in a vessel watering a kor will suffice to water a tarkab.

"And Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?" (Gen., 42. 1). Said R. Judah in the name of Rab, Jacob said to his sons, make no show of your plenty before the sons of Esau and of Ishmael, lest they become jealous of you.

We read in a Baraita: Joseph instructed his brethren, do not march in wide (hasty) steps, and bring the sun into town. "Do not march in wide (hasty) steps," because it was said a wide step takes away one five-hundredth of one's eye-sight, and "bring the sun into town," because it was said by R. Judah in the name of Rab, one should always enter (town) in day-time and leave it in day-time, for it is said (Gen., 44. 3): "As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away."

Resh Laḳish said: In years of famine one must refrain from conjugal relations, for it is said (Gen., 41. 50): "And unto Joseph were born two sons before the year of famine came." It was taught, however, that people who have no children may perform their marital duty even in years of famine.

R. Huna had wine in a ruinous house and wanted to remove it. He therefore engaged R. Adda b. 'Ahabah in a learned discussion until the wine was removed. As soon as they left the house, it fell in. When R. Adda b. 'Ahabah noticed that he was used for such a purpose, he became angry, saying, "Is not this an instance with regard to which R. Jannai said, one should never stay in a place of danger and say, I shall be saved by a miracle, for it might be that no miracle will be performed for him, and even if one should be performed, such performance would be charged against his merits?" Said R. Hanan, where is the biblical verse to prove it? "I am not worthy of all the mercies, and of all the truth" (Gen., 32. 11).

On the following occasions the alarm is sounded even on the Sabbath, etc. Our Rabbis have taught: When a city is surrounded by enemy troops, or is threatened with a flood; when a ship is foundering on the sea; when a person is pursued by Gentiles or by wild beasts or by bandits, the alarm is sounded even on the Sabbath. For any of these things individuals may volunteer to afflict themselves by fasting; R. Jose said, an individual is not allowed to afflict himself by fasting, for he might become dependent upon the public [by reason of incapacity for work] and find no mercy on their part. Said R. Judah in the name of Rab, what is R. Jose's (Scriptural) reason? It is written (Gen., 2. 7): "And man became a living soul;" the Torah means to say, keep alive the soul which I gave you.

2. This is the order of the Ma'amadot [It is said (Num., 28.2): "Command the children of Israel, and say unto them: My food which is presented unto Me for offering made by fire of a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in its due season." Now, how can the offering of a person be presented, if he does not stand by it? The Early Prophets have therefore instituted twenty-four divisions. (Corresponding to each division there was present in Jerusalem a post of priests, Levites and Israelites.) When the turn of a division came to go up to Jerusalem, the priests and Levites (as well as the lay representatives of the Israelites) of that division went up to Jerusalem, while the bulk of the Israelites belonging to that division assembled in the synagogues of their respective towns and read the chapter on Creation (Gen., 1. 1-31; 2. 1-3)]:

The bulk of the Israelites belonging to that division assembled in the synagogues of their respective towns and read the Chapter on Creation. What is the basis for this provision? Said R. Jacob b. 'Aḥa in the name of R. 'Asi: Were it not for the Ma'amadot, heaven and earth would not exist, as it is said (Gen., 15. 8): "And he (Abraham) said, O Lord, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?" Abraham said to the Holy One, blessed be He: "Master of the world! Peradventure the Israelites will sin before Thee, and Thou wilt then do unto them as Thou hast done unto the generation of the Flood and the generation of the Dispersion!" The Holy One replied: "No" (I will not do so unto them)! Whereupon Abraham said: "Master of the world! Whereby shall I know it?" The Holy One then said to him (ibid., 15. 9): "Take me a heifer of three years old." Abraham again said: "Master of the world! This may well be done when the Temple is in existence, but what shall become of them when the Temple is not in existence?" Said the Holy One: "I have already ordained for them the recitation of the order of sacrifices. Whenever they will recite it, I will account it unto them as if they offered up the sacrifices themselves and thus forgive them all their sins."

On the first day of the week they read Genesis, 1, verses 1-8. It was taught: The portion "In the beginning" (Gen., 1. 1-5) was divided between two readers, but the portion "Let there be a firmament" (ibid., 6-8) was read by one. It is quite correct that "Let there be a firmament" should be recited by one, because it contains only three verses, but how could "In the beginning," which has only five verses, be divided into two? Was it not taught in a Mishnah that no one who is called up to read in the Torah should read less than three verses? Rab answered this by declaring that the second reader goes back (repeats verse 3), while Samuel said that he divides the third verse into two halves. Why does Rab advise to go back instead of dividing? Because he holds that we must not divide any verse that has not been divided by Moses. Samuel, however, holds that we may divide. But did not R. Ḥanina, the Bible teacher, say: I had much difficulty with R. Ḥanina the Great, who did not allow me to divide a verse in two, except for little school children, because it was for educational purposes? Answer: Samuel is of the opinion that as division was allowed for children by reason of necessity, it is allowed here also by reason of necessity. But why does Samuel insist upon division, instead of advising to go back? Because of the apprehension that those who come in or leave the synagogue (while the third verse is being read) will misjudge the situation. An objection was raised from the following: A portion containing six verses must be divided between two readers, but if it contains only five verses, it should all be read by one person. If, however, the first reader reads only three, the second should read the two remaining verses and an additional verse from the immediately following portion. Others, however, say that the second reader must take three additional verses from the following portion, because one should never begin a portion unless he reads at least three verses. Now (according to Rab who advises to go back), this Baraita, too, ought to teach that the second reader should go back? Answer: This Baraita offers an entirely different case, where the second reader