תלמוד על ירמיהו 2:34
Tractate Kallah
Another interpretation of Ye that inflame yourselves among the terebinths: Whoever arouses himself and masturbates forfeits his life, as it is stated, And Er, Judah’s first-born, was wicked in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord slew him.74Gen. 38, 7. His sin was that he prevented pregnancy; cf. Midrash Rabbah, Genesis, LXXXV, 4 (Sonc. ed., p. 792). And whoever deliberately causes an erection is a transgressor, as it is stated, And the thing which he did was evil in the sight of the Lord.75ibid. 10; cf. the preceding verse.
Even children meet the Divine Presence, as it is stated, A seed shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord unto the next generation.76Ps. 22, 31; cf. Sanh. 110b (Sonc. ed., p. 761). It shall be told indicates that when God’s glory can be related by a person, i.e. even a child when he is able to speak, he earns his right to a share in the World to Come. For what sin do a man’s children die [young]?77Shab. 32b (Sonc. ed., p. 148); cf. Midrash Ecclesiastes 4, 1 (Sonc. ed., p. 110). R. Eliezer said: For the sin of [unfulfilled] vows, as it is said, Suffer not thy mouth to bring thy flesh into guilt … and destroy the work of thy hands.78Eccl. 5, 5. R. Nathan said: For the sin of [neglecting] the mezuzah, as it is written, And thou shalt write them upon the doorposts of thy house, and upon thy gates which is followed by that your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children.79The prolonged life of the children is made conditional in Deut. 11, 20f., on the fulfilment of the preceding commandment. R. Nehorai said: For the sin of [neglecting] the ẓiẓith, as it is written, Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the innocent poor.80Jer. 2, 34; skirts refers to the precept of ẓiẓith. R. Joshua81GRA. emends to ‘R. Judah the Prince’. said: For the sin of [neglecting the study of] the Torah children die young, as it is stated, Seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.82Hos. 4, 6. The parallel in Shab. 32b (Sonc. ed., p. 148) cites Jer. 2, 30. R. ‘Aḳiba said: Whoever does not occupy himself with [the study of] the Torah causes poverty to come upon his children.
What should a man do so that his children shall grow rich and flourish?83Reading with GRA ויתקיימו. Let him fulfil the will of God and the wishes of his wife. This is the will of God: Let him freely distribute his money to the poor, as it is stated, He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the needy; his righteousness endureth for ever.84Ps. 112, 9.
Even children meet the Divine Presence, as it is stated, A seed shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord unto the next generation.76Ps. 22, 31; cf. Sanh. 110b (Sonc. ed., p. 761). It shall be told indicates that when God’s glory can be related by a person, i.e. even a child when he is able to speak, he earns his right to a share in the World to Come. For what sin do a man’s children die [young]?77Shab. 32b (Sonc. ed., p. 148); cf. Midrash Ecclesiastes 4, 1 (Sonc. ed., p. 110). R. Eliezer said: For the sin of [unfulfilled] vows, as it is said, Suffer not thy mouth to bring thy flesh into guilt … and destroy the work of thy hands.78Eccl. 5, 5. R. Nathan said: For the sin of [neglecting] the mezuzah, as it is written, And thou shalt write them upon the doorposts of thy house, and upon thy gates which is followed by that your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children.79The prolonged life of the children is made conditional in Deut. 11, 20f., on the fulfilment of the preceding commandment. R. Nehorai said: For the sin of [neglecting] the ẓiẓith, as it is written, Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the innocent poor.80Jer. 2, 34; skirts refers to the precept of ẓiẓith. R. Joshua81GRA. emends to ‘R. Judah the Prince’. said: For the sin of [neglecting the study of] the Torah children die young, as it is stated, Seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.82Hos. 4, 6. The parallel in Shab. 32b (Sonc. ed., p. 148) cites Jer. 2, 30. R. ‘Aḳiba said: Whoever does not occupy himself with [the study of] the Torah causes poverty to come upon his children.
What should a man do so that his children shall grow rich and flourish?83Reading with GRA ויתקיימו. Let him fulfil the will of God and the wishes of his wife. This is the will of God: Let him freely distribute his money to the poor, as it is stated, He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the needy; his righteousness endureth for ever.84Ps. 112, 9.
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