Midrash su Geremia 10:15

R. Nachman again asked R. Isaac: "What is the meaning of the passage (Jer. 10, 8) But at once they shall he shown to be brutish and foolish: it is a doctrine of vanities, it concerneth but wood." And he replied: "Thus said R. Jochanan: 'One thing will cause men to burn in Gehenna, and that is idolatry; for here the passage says, a doctrine of vanities, it concerneth but the wood; and further, the passage says (Ib. 15) They are vanity, the work of deception; in the time of their punishment shall they vanish.'"

There was once a certain matron⁵Lat.: matrona. who asked R. Jose ben Halafta: In how many days did the Holy One create his world? He said to her: < He did it > on the first day. She said to him: How do you teach me that? He said to her: Have you never made a {drinking} banquet?⁶Gk.: ariston. She said to him: Yes. And how many missus {i.e., kinds of food}⁷The Latin word means “dinner courses.” did you have? She said to him: Thus and so. He said to her: Did you set all of them before them simultaneously? She said to him: No, I cooked all the foods simultaneously, but only brought them in before them missus by missus. And all of them⁸I. e., the courses which represent the parts of the creation. are from a single scripture, as stated (in Jer. 10:16): FOR HE IS THE ONE WHO FORMS THE ALL….

R. Elazar said again: "A house in which the words of the Torah are not heard during the night will finally be burned, as it is said (Job 20, 26) Entire darkness is laid by for his treasures: a fire not blown by man will consume him; it will destroy anyone (Sarid) left in his tent. Sarid refers to a scholar, as it is said (Joel 3, 4) Among the remnant (shridim) whom the Lord calleth." R. Elazar said again: "He who does not benefit scholars with his estate will never come into any manner of blessing, as it is said (Job 20, 21) Nothing was spared (Sarid) from his craving to eat; therefore shall his wealth not prosper. And the word Sarid refers to a school, as it is said (Joel 3) Among the remnant (Shridim) whom the Lord calleth." And from the same passage, R. Elazar said again: "He who does not leave any bread after his meal will not reap the fruits of any blessing, as it is said (Job 20) Nothing was spared (Sarid) from his craving, and Sarid refers to a scholar as above. But did not R. Elazar say elsewhere that he who left pieces of bread after his meal is considered as if he were worshipping idols, as it is said (Is. 65, 11) That set out a table for the god of fortune and that fill for destiny the drink-offering. This presents no difficulty. In the latter saying he means, that he puts a whole loaf on the table [which is prohibited], but in the former passage he speaks of leaving some crumbs of bread for the poor. R. Elazar said again: "He who changes his word is considered as if he were to worship idols; it is written here (Gen. 27, 12) I will seem to him as a deceiver; and it is written (Jer. 10, 15) They are vanity, the work of deception." R. Elazar said again: "A man shall always remain obscure (without an office) and he will live." R. Zera said: "We have also taught so in the following Mishna: If there seems to be leprsoy in a house which is dark, windows must not be opened for investigation." Hence it is inferred as above.