Talmud su Deuteronomio 7:78

HALAKHAH: ²⁹This and the the following paragraph also are Halakhah 3:8 in Avodah zara, where the differences in spelling are noted. Evidence points to Šabbat as the primary source. Much of the argument is found in Babli Šabbat 82b–83b. There is written abomination about the menstruating woman, and there is written abomination about idolatry, and there is written abomination about vermin. There is written abomination about the menstruating woman, for anybody who would commit any of these abomination s³⁰Lev. 18:29. The verse refers to all prohibitions of a sexual nature., etc. Abomination about idolatry, and do not bring any abomination into your house³¹Deut. 7:26. This verse refers uniquely to idols and idolatry., etc. Abomination about vermin, do not eat any abomination³²Deut. 14:2. The verse refers to all food prohibitions.. But I do not know to which of them it was compared. Rebbi Aqiba says, it was compared to abomination regarding the menstruating woman. As the menstruating woman imparts impurity by load, also idolatry imparts impurity by load²In Lev. 15:20–21 it is stated that anything the menstruating woman lies on becomes an original source of impurity. This means that if a woman in her period lies on top of ten mattresses and somebody touches the lowest one, which the woman never touched, he becomes impure as if he had touched the woman herself.. Or since the menstruating woman imparts impurity through a cover stone³³Stone is impervious to impurity. In general, anything not susceptible to impurity cannot transmit impurity. The one and only exception is impurity caused by genital discharges where impurity by load (Note 2) applies to anything under the affected person and even a stone plate covering a mattress will not shield the mattress from impurity if a person afflicted by a genital discharge sits on the stone. Babli Niddah 69b., does idolatry impart impurity through a cover stone? Rebbi Zeriqan in the name of Rav Jehudah, but some say in the name of Rav Ḥisda: Rebbi Aqiba agrees with the Sages that idolatry does not impart impurity through a cover stone. But the rabbis say it was compared to abomination s of vermin. As vermin imparts impurity by motion³⁴Here one has a serious discrepancy between the technical terminology of the Babli and the Yerushalmi. In the Babli impurity by motion is a form of impurity by load: If a person suffering from a genital discharge moves something indirectly or is moved with it, he imparts impurity. In the Yerushalmi this is consistently designated by its Mishnaic name, מִדְרָס, “stepping on.” This kind of impurity emphatically does not exist for vermin, or anything other than genital discharges. Therefore היסט the “motion” mentioned here must be that of a person’s hand touching an impure object. Transfer of impurity by touch is the only one mentioned for the eight kinds of impure vermin., so also idolatry imparts impurity by motion. Or as vermin in the size of a lentil imparts impurity³⁵Mishnah Ahilut 1:8. This minimum size for generation of impurity does not apply to complete limbs. does idolatry in the size of a lentil also impart impurity? Rebbi Zeˋira, Rebbi Isaac bar Naḥman in the name of Rebbi Eleazar, Rebbi Abbahu in the name of Rebbi Joḥanan: They were yoked to Baal Peor and ate sacrifices to the dead³⁶Ps. 106:28.. As the dead in the volume of an olive impart impurity so idolatry in the volume of an olive imparts impurity. Or since a corpse imparts impurity once a person puts his finger tips in³⁷This refers to “tent” impurity (Ševuot 2:1 Note 34) which is created by any part of a person’s body being under the same roof as a corpse, even if it is only a finger tip., could I think that idolatry imparts once a person puts his finger tips in? Tearing down, tearing down from the leprous house³⁸A house afflicted with recurrent “leprosy” must be torn down (Lev. 14:45). Pagan altars must be torn down (Deut. 12:3). By the nature of the topics, the verb נתץ is used in the singular in the first case, in the plural in the second. Therefore this is a comparison (הקש), not an “equal cut” (גזירה שוה); the laws will be similar, not exactly identical.. Since in a leprous house when he entered with his head and most of his body³⁹Based on Lev. 14:46, which decrees impurity for anybody coming into the house, Sifra Meṣoraˋ Pereq 5(4), Mishnah Negaˋim 13:8., so idolatry when he entered with his head and most of his body. Rebbi Ḥanania said, this means that the impurity of idolatry is not consistent⁴⁰Neither R. Aqiba nor the rabbis are consistent in their comparisons.. For otherwise, why does one compare if for the facile [impurity] and does not compare for the strict? Rebbi Mana said, it is consistent. Why was it compared to a corpse and to vermin? To inform in both cases about the facile [impurity] attached to it⁴¹The impurity of idols and idolatry should follow the rules common for impurities generated either by dead vermin or by bodily discharges. This argument is known in the Babli tradition as הַצַּד הַשָּׁוֶה “the equal part;” cf. H. Guggenheimer, Logical Problems in Jewish Tradition, in: “Confrontations with Judaism”, ed. Ph. Longworth, London 1966, p. 185.. This is for a broken idol. But a whole one even in the most minute size⁴²This is consistent with the impurity of animals as food, where a complete creature always is biblically forbidden irrespective of size (cf. Nazir 6:1 Note 64)., as Rebbi Ḥuna, Rebbi Ḥama bar Gorion said in the name of Rav: Baal was the penis gland in the form of a bean: They selected the Baal of circumcision as god⁴³Jud. 8:33. Instead of “Baal of Covenant” one reads “Baal of circumcision” referring to the place of circumcision. This identifies the Semitic Baal with the Greek and Roman Priapus..

What is Rebbi Aqiba’s reason? You should treat it as an abomination⁴⁴Deut. 7:26., like a menstruating woman. What is the rabbis’ reason? You should detest it, like vermin. How do the rabbis uphold Rebbi Aqiba’s reason, you should treat it as abomination? Treat it as excrement, make it vile⁴⁵Babli 46a, Mekhilta dR. Ismael Mišpatim 20 (p. 332 ed. Horovitz-Rabin).. How does Rebbi Aqiba uphold the rabbis’ reason, you should treat it as abomination? Call it feces, treat it as excrement, make it vile. From where “make it vile” for the rabbis? Rebbi Samuel, Rebbi Abbahu in the name of Rebbi Eleazar: you shall call it excrement; treat it as excrement, make it vile What is called King’s Face is called Dog’s Face. Spring of the Cup Spring of the Thorn. The Place of Fortune Place of Undress⁴⁶All these places and most of their idolatrous or obscene meanings are unknown. A similar list is as Tannaitic text in the Babli 46a, Tosephta 6:4. [Perhaps כוס should be read as كُس “behind”, in particular as part of the female anatomy (E. G.)]. Rebbi Tanḥuma in the name of Rav Huna: The Ai which is near Bet-Awen East of Bethel⁴⁷Jos. 7:2.. Earlier it was called Bethel but now one calls it Bet-Awen⁴⁸It seems that the translator of the LXX read the verse in the way of the Talmud and eliminated the mention of Bet-Awen, “the House of Iniquity”, as a gloss, as accepted by the moderns. (However, E. Täubler in a marginal Note to his copy of M. Noth’s Das Buch Josua, Tübingen 1938, identifies Bet-Awen as the old name of “The Ai (ruin)”; cf. Arabic ١ون “calm, tranquillity”.). It was stated in the name of Rebbi Eleazar: If one does not want to call it ‘Omda one calls it ‘Amida⁴⁹Yalqut Jos. ad 7:2; Gen. rabba 39(24), on Gen. 12:8. since Rebbi Abba bar Cahana said, there one calls a good deed ˋomda⁵⁰Syriac עמד. but the flow of urine ‘amida⁵¹Greek ἀμίς, -ίδος, ἡ, “chamber pot” (identified by Musaphia.). How does Rebbi Aqiba interpret you shall call it excrement? Rebbi Yose ben Rebbi Abin, Rav Huna in the name of Rav Joseph⁵²Since Rav Joseph lived two generations after Rav Huna, one has to read with the text in Avodah zarah: Rebbi Ḥuna.: from here that one does not tell anybody to leave unless he entered with his head and most of his body.

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 voluntarily¹³The Babli (Qiddušin 31a, Baba Qama 38a, 87a, Avodah Zarah 3a) holds that the person who is obligated receives greater reward than the person who is not obligated. This opinion, quoted in the name of R. Ḥanina and undisputed in the Babli, clearly is not accepted in the Yerushalmi and is never quoted there. One must assume that the statement was the opinion of R. Ḥanina when he was still in Babylonia.. 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 peoples¹⁴Deut. 7:1: The Hittites, Girgashites, Emorites, Canaanites, Perizites, Ḥiwwites, Yebusites., 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.¹⁵These three, promised to Abraham, are never mentioned by Moses. The list, with minor deviations, also appears in Gen.rabba 44(27) and Babli Baba Batra 56a.” Rebbi Jehudah said, [these are] Arabia, Salmaia¹⁶A people living in the desert between Syria and Mesopotamia [Pliny Hist.Nat. vi, 26, 30.] These identifications are given in the Midrash in the name of Rebbi, in the Babli in the name of R. Meïr. and Nabataea. Rebbi Simeon says, Asia, Spain, and Damascus¹⁷The same list in Gen.rabba; in the Babli the list contains Asia, Spain, and an unidentified region variously written ערדיסקיס, ערדסקס, ערסקיס, אדרסקא, עידסקיס.. Rebbi Eliezer ben Jacob says, Asia, Cartagena, and Thrace¹⁸In Gen.rabba.תרקי . The last identification is a conjecture by A. Neubauer. The word cannot mean Turkey since in Talmudic times the Turk peoples were still living in the Altai mountains. This list is not in the Babli.. Rebbi says, Edom, Moab, and the best of Ammon¹⁹This is attributed to the rabbis in Gen.rabba, to R. Jehudah in the Babli.. “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 again²⁰The image of the male as symbol of the sterility of the days of the Messiah is found in Yerushalmi Midrashim [Mekhilta deR.Ismael,Bešallaḥ 1 (ed. Horovitz-Rabin p. 118), Cant.rabba 1(37)]. It is discussed at length in the author’s The Scholar’s Haggadah (Northvale NJ, 1995), pp. 314–316..

⁴⁸To this and the following paragraph there exists an almost parallel text in Sanhedrin 6:9 (ן), an enlarged version in the Babli Yebamot 78b–79a and Num.rabba 8(4), and a shortened version in Midrash Samuel 28[5].[“The dedicated ones”]⁴⁹Reading of G; in L: “It was stated”. The following text deals with the identity of “the dedicated ones”, their exclusion from the Jewish marriage community, and proof that they were among the returnees from Babylon.. Rebbi Immi in the name of Rebbi Joshua ben Levi, because of: “At that moment Joshua dedicated them as hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation.⁵⁰Jos. 9:27.” One understands “for the congregation.” But “for the Eternal’s altar”⁵¹This is also mentioned in Jos. 9:27, but the service in the Tabernacle is reserved for priests and Levites. The statement is interpreted to mean that their status will only be determined when the Eternal’s altar is given its permanent place.? But Joshua kept them in limbo. He said, I shall not include nor exclude them. But he who sometime in the future will build the Temple, if he wants to include them he may include, exclude them he may exclude. David came and excluded them as it is said⁵²2S. 21:2.: “But the Gibeonites are not part of the Children of Israel.” Why did he exclude them? Because “⁵³2S. 21:1. there was a famine in David’s time, three years year after year.” David said, for four sins⁵⁴In ן “three” and this also seems to be the reading underlying the Babli’s version and Pirqe R.Eliezer Chapter 17. The number is 4 in Ta‘anit 3:3 (66c 1. 29). the rains are locked away. For the sins of foreign worship, incest and adultery, murder, and the sins of those who publicly promise money for welfare but do not pay. From where for the sin of foreign worship? “⁵⁵Deut. 11:16–17. Beware, lest you be seduced” etc. What is written afterwards? “The Eternal’s rage will be inflamed against you and he locks the sky, etc.” From where for the sins of the incestuous and adulterers? “⁵⁶Jer. 3:2–3. While the prophet obviously speaks of Baal worship, all his imagery is that of sexual transgressions. Quoted in the name of R. Jehudah in Sifra Qedošim Pereq7(4). You distorted the Land by your immorality and your evil deeds.” What is the punishment? “Rainshowers were withheld, there was no late rain,” etc. From where because of the murderers? “⁵⁷Num. 35:33. Because blood will distort the Land.” From where for the sins of those who publicly promise money for welfare but do not pay? “⁵⁸Prov. 25:14. In the name of different Amoraim in the Babli, Ta‘anit8b, Midrash Prov. 25(14). Clouds and wind but no rain means the man who prides himself by lying gifts.” David checked his entire generation and did not find one of these. He turned to ask the urim and tummim. That is what is written: “⁵³2S. 21:1. David asked before the Eternal” by urim and tummim.⁵⁹In MT, there is a lacuna in 2S. 21:1 between “David asked before the Eternal,” and “The Eternal said, because of Saul and the House of blood guilt.” It is explained that he asked by applying the urim and tummim oracle. In the Babli and the sources dependent on it, R. Eleazar explains that “asking before the Eternal” means applying the urim and tummim oracle since in Num. 27:21 it says, “before Eleazar the priest he shall stand and ask the urim and tummim.” Rebbi Eleazar said, “Ask the Eternal, all the meek of the Land, who execute His Law.⁶⁰Zeph. 2:3. The homily is slightly more explicit in the Babli, where it is credited to R. Simeon ben Laqish. It addresses a seeming inconsistency in 2S. 21:1 where God’s answer is that the famine is a punishment for two crimes, the first “about Saul” and the second “about the House of blood guilt because he killed the Gibeonites.” The verse of the prophet is read to mean that even at the moment a person is judged for his misdeeds his “works”, his good deeds, are mentioned in the Heavenly court. But here the sin “about Saul” was not Saul’s but David’s and the entire people’s since they let him be buried in Transjordan and did not bring him to his proper burial in his ancestral land until prodded by the absence of rain (2S. 21:14, where the coming of rain is described as a direct consequence of the proper burials given to Saul and Jonathan.)” What means “Whose Law is Work”? He enforces His Law and this is His Action⁶¹While the Babli certainly reads with the Masoretes פָּעָלוּ, it might be that the Yerushalmi reads פָּעֳלוֹ.. “⁵³2S. 21:1. The Eternal said, because of Saul and the House of blood guilt.” “Because of Saul,” whom you did not grant the last favor, “and because of the House of blood guilt, for he had killed the Gibeonites.” David sent and called them, what is between you and the house of Saul? They told him, because he killed seven of our men, two hewers of wood, two drawers of water, a religious leader, a scribe, and a beadle. He asked them, what do you want now? They said to him: “⁶²2S. 21:6. May there be given to us seven men of his sons and we shall hang them before the Eternal on the hill of Saul, the elected of the Eternal.” He said to them, what use is it for you that they be killed? Take silver and gold for yourselves! But they answered, ⁶³2S. 21:4.“there is no money for us from Saul and his house.” He said, maybe they are afraid⁶⁴In ן: They are afraid one in front of the other (to accept blood money).; he separated them and spoke to each one separately, trying to mollify him by himself, and asked him: What use is it for you that they be killed? Take gold and silver! But he said, “there is no money for us from Saul and his house.” It is written “for me”⁶⁵In 2S. 21:4, the Ketib is “for me” but the Qere “for us”. The homily explains both readings; both are correct.. At this moment, David said that the Holy One gave three good gifts to Israel: They are merciful, decent, and charitable⁶⁶In addition to the sources mentioned in Note 48, the following is also in Midrash Psalms 1,17.. From where that they are merciful? “He gave you mercy⁶⁷Deut. 13:18..” From where that they are decent? “That His fear should be on your faces.⁶⁸Ex. 20:20.” This is a sign, for a decent person does not sin. About anybody indecent it is clear that his ancestors did not stand on Mount Sinai. From where that they are charitable? “The Eternal, your God, kept for you covenant and charity.⁶⁹Deut. 7:12.” But these, nothing of this in found in them. Immediately he went to exclude them as it is said: “But the Gibeonites are not of the Children of Israel.⁵²2S. 21:2.” And Ezra also excluded them, as it is said: “And the dedicated ones dwelt in the Ophel.⁷⁰Neh. 3:26, 11:21. The emphasis is on their dwelling separately.” Also in the future the Holy One, praise to Him, will exclude them as it is written: “One crossing the city they cause to be lost.⁷¹This quote (as well as the version of G) is clearly corrupt; it telescopes a quote and its interpretation into one sentence. The correct text is in ן:
וְהָעוֹבֵד הָעִיר יַעַבְדוּהוּ מִכֹּל שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל.
יַאֲבִידוּהוּ מִכֹּל שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל.
(Ez. 48:19) “The city worker will cultivate it, from all the tribes of Israel.” (Interpretation) ‘He will cause him to be lost from all the tribes of Israel.’
Ezechiel, in his description of the future Israel, gives Jerusalem a strip of land from the Meditteranean to the Dead Sea, which will be cultivated by the Temple workers to provide food for the city. The verse is taken out of context and, in Galilean dialect, ע and א are identified, changing “cultivate” into “getting lost”. The city worker is the dedicated one.”

Rav Huna said that in the days of Rebbi Eleazar ben Azariah they tried to include them⁸⁶To permit marriage with Gibeonites.. Rebbi Abbahu inverts the wording: In the days of Rebbi Eleazar they said, who could purify the altar’s part⁸⁷R. Eleazar ben Azariah vetoed the admission of Gibeonites into the Jewish marriage pool by arguing that Jos. 9:23,27 implies that Joshua made the Gibeonites Temple slaves, in addition to their being the people’s slaves by Jos. 9:21. Now the servitude to the people had certainly lapsed. The “dedicated ones” returned from Babylonia as free men and one had to assume that already in the time of the Judges they had regularly been manumitted in this respect. But nobody could manumit Temple slaves, and marriage with slaves was impossible. In this version, the exlusion of Gibeonites from the Jewish marriage pool is a legal necessity which cannot be changed.? That implies that Joshua excluded them. He excluded them only as disqualified for marriage. If you would say, disqualified (because of sins)⁸⁸It seems that one should read with the parallel in Ketubot 3:1 (27a 1. 59), Notes 16–19, עבדות “slavery” instead of עבירות “sins”. then the rapist of a Gibeonite girl should not have to pay the fine, but we have stated⁸⁹Implied by Mishnah Ketubot 3:1. The same Mishnah states that the statutory fine is not applicable to the rape of a virgin slave girl. If Gibeonites were excluded as Temple slaves, they should be classified with slaves in matters of the fine (and be excluded from marriage in all its forms.) Cf. Tosafot Yebamot 79a, s.v. ונתינים. It follows that R. Abbahu’s argument is rejected.: The rapist of a Gibeonite girl has to pay the fine.” Rebbi Eleazar said, he cursed them as a snake, as it is said: “But now you are cursed⁹⁰Jos. 9:23..” And it is written: “The people of Israel said to the Ḥiwwite.⁹¹Jos. 9:7.” But were they Ḥiwwites⁹²In 2S. 20:2, they are described as Emorites.? They acted like the snake⁹³In Amaraic חִוְיָא. The name of Eve, חַוָּה, instead of the Hebrew חַיָּה, hints at her relationship with the snake. which said, I know that the Holy One, praise to Him, did say “because on the day you eat from it, you will die a death⁹⁴Gen. 2:17..” I shall go and trick them so that they eat and will be punished and I shall inherit the earth for myself. So these people acted; they said, we know that the Holy One, praise to Him, said to Israel: “You shall certainly ban them, the Hittite, the Emorite, and the Perizite, as the Eternal, your God, has commanded you⁹⁵Misquoted from Deut. 20:17.” And it is written: “You shall not conclude a covenant with them.⁹⁶Deut. 7:2.” We shall go and trick them that they conclude a covenant with us. As you take it, if they kill us, they violate their oath. If they let us live, they violated the [divine] decision. In any case, they will be punished and we shall inherit the Land.

²²The entire paragraph has a parallel in the Babli, 54b. Anything received in barter for an idol must be destroyed as if it were the idol itself. Everybody agrees that substitutes are forbidden. What about substitutes of substitutes? Rebbi Ḥanina said, a disagreement between Rebbi Ismael and the rabbis. Rebbi Ismael ben Rebbi Yose said, forbidden. But the rabbis say, permitted. Rebbi Eleazar ben Hoshaia, the reason of the rabbis, you would be banned like itself²³Deut. 7:26.. Anything which you can keep from it is like itself²⁴Any proceeds are like the idol itself. But nothing is said about proceeds for barter of the proceeds.. What about it? Rebbi Yose ben Rebbi Bun said, like itself, like itself two times²⁵The expression חֶרֶם כָּמוֹהוּ appears only once in the biblical text. The argument gives the reason for R. Ismael ben R. Yose’s position. If the proceeds obtained by barter for an idol are an idol, then the proceeds in barter for the proceeds are also an idol; in effect, the prohibition never stops., because of nothing should cling to your hand from the ban²⁶Deut. 13:18..

He who sees beautiful trees or beautiful people says: Praise to Him Who created beautiful creatures in His world⁸⁰In the Babli (58b) and the Tosephta (6:4), the formula is “Who has beautiful creatures in His world,” without reference to Creation.. It happened that Rabban Gamliel saw a beautiful Gentile woman and recited a benediction over her. Did not say Rebbi Zeïra in the name of Rebbi Yose bar Ḥanina in the name of Rebbi Yoḥanan (Deut. 7:2): “Do not favour them,” do not ascribe charm to them? He did not say “may there be no harm” but “Who created beautiful creatures in His world,” since even if one sees a beautiful horse or a beautiful donkey, one says: Praise to Him Who created beautiful creatures in His world. Does Rabban Gamliel usually look at women? It was a curved road, like a pwpsdws⁸¹This word is unexplained. In the parallel in Avodah zarah and in Arukh, the spelling is פסווריס, R. Salomon Cirillo has פיוסרס. R. J. Levy conjectures Greek σπεῖρα “a spiral (road)”. R. M. Margalit (פני משה) thinks the word is Latinate, similar to Italian passavia “passageway; bridge.” It could be Greek περίοδος, ἡ “way around, circuit, circular path” (E. G.).; he looked at her because he could not avoid her.

HALAKHAH: “If the iron slipped off the handle,” etc. What is Rebbi’s reason? It is said here¹¹In Deut. 19:5: וְנָשַׁ֤ל הַבַּרְזֶל֙ מִן־הָעֵ֔ץ the iron was lost from the wood. The wood might either be the handle or the tree to be felled. Cf. Arabic نسل “to beget, procreate; to pluck; to unravel, untwist, fray; to molt; to fall out” (1^st conjugation). getting lost and it says there¹²Deut. 17:40. נשר is Mishnaic Hebrew for all material shed by a plant., for your olives will fall off. Since getting lost there means falling off, here also it means falling off. What is the rabbis’ reason? It is said here getting lost and it says there¹³Deut. 7:22., the Eternal, your God, will eliminate these peoples before you. Since getting lost there means taking a hit, here also taking a hit.

If you did [someone] a great favour regard it as small, and do not say, ‘I did this good act with my own [money]’. Rather was it [from what God] had graciously given you and you should offer thanks to Heaven.²⁷For the means with which to do good. If others have done you a slight favour regard it as if it were great, and do not say, ‘The favour was done to me because of my worthy acts’, but [say, ‘In spite of] my unworthy acts a favour was done to me’, as it is stated, And repayeth them that hate Him to their face, to destroy them.²⁸Deut. 7, 10. It is better not to receive the reward in this world but to store it up for the hereafter
If you wronged someone slightly regard it as a great wrong and exclaim, ‘Woe is me, for I have sinned! Woe is me, because harm was done through me!’ If others did you a great wrong regard it as small and exclaim, ‘I suffered slightly; I deserved more’.

HALAKHAH: “Your heart should not soften,” etc. It is written³¹Ps. 18:13–15.: “From the radiation that surrounds Him, His clouds,” against their cavalry squads³²Latin turma “squadron”. In similar stories in Yalqut Šim‘oni 230, 232: טורמיות., “passed,” against their cohorts. “Hailstorm,” against their missile throwers³³Latin ballista, ballistra “military machine, stone-throwing machine”. In a Genizah fragment, the word is spelled בליצרה.. “And embers,” against their throwing machines³⁴Latin tormentum, “missile throwing machine”.. “Of fire,” against their naphta. “He thundered from Heaven³⁵In the verse, “He thundered in Heaven”.,” against their torches³⁶In a Genizah fragment, כנגד סלפידס שלהן. One might read סַלְפִּידְס for Greek σάλπιγξ “heavenly trumpet, thunder”. This fits much better to “thunder” than the “torches” of both mss.. “The Most High made His voice heard,” against the sound of their horns. “He sent His arrows,” against their arrows. “And dispersed them,”, this teaches that they were dispersing them. Rebbi Abba bar Cahana said, this teaches that they were in rectangular formations, that the arrows dispersed them but the lightnings were bringing them together. “Lightnings,” against their swords. “And confused them,” He confused them, made them disoriented, and felled their standard³⁷Latin signum, “standard”. In a similar version, Tanḥuma Bešallaḥ 23, “He felled their standard and so made them disoriented.” In a Genizah fragment, the word is vocalized הֲסִיגְנַס.. Rebbi said,³⁸In a Genizah fragment: דָּבָר אַחֵר “another explanation”. the expression “and confounded them” means only pestilence, as it is written³⁹Deut. 7:23.: “He will confuse them in a great confusion until He destroyed them.”

⁷⁷A parallel to the entire paragraph is in the Babli, Keritut 5b. One anoints kings only at a spring, as it was said⁷⁸1K. 1:33–34.: “Let Solomon, my son, ride on my mule and take him down to the Giḥon; there Ṣadoq the priest and Nathan the prophet shall anoint him, etc.” One anoints kings only because of disputes. Why was Solomon anointed? Because of the dispute of Adoniahu; Joash because of Athaliah, Jehu because of Joram. Is it not written⁷¹1Sam. 16:12.: “Do anoint him, for this one is it,” this one needs anointing, but the kings of Israel do not need anointing⁷⁹There is no indication that Yehu was anointed with the oil deposited in Jerusalem.! But Joaḥaz because of his brother Joakim who was two years his elder⁸⁰In 2K. 23:31,36 and 2Chr. 36:2,5 it is noted that Joaḥaz was 23 years old in the same year in which Joakim was 25. Cf. Seder ‘Olam, Chapter 24 (in the author’s edition, pp. 213–215); Babli Arakhin 12a.. But did not Josiahu hide it⁸¹As indicated in the previous paragraph. Then Josiah’s son could not have been anointed with the oil made by Moses. The explanation given here is in the Babli, Horaiot 11b, in the name of the later Amora Rav Papa.? That means, they anointed with balsamum. One anoints kings only from a horn. Saul and Jehu were anointed from a can because their kingdom was temporary; David and Solomon were anointed from a horn because their kingdom was permanent⁸²Quoted in Babli, Megillah 14a, Keritut 6a.. One does not anoint priests as kings⁸³The Maccabean kings were anointed as High Priests, not as kings.. Rebbi Yudan Antordiyya said, because of “the scepter shall not be removed from Jehudah⁸⁴Gen. 49:10.”. Rebbi Ḥiyya bar Ada said, because “he shall have many days of his kingdom, he and his sons in the midst of Israel⁸⁵Deut. 7:20, last verse in the chapter..” What is written after that? “The levitic Cohanim should not.⁸⁶Deut. 8:1.”

Rebbi Onias, Jacob from Afartaim⁶⁶This probably is biblical חֲפָרַ֥יִם (Jos. 19:19). in the name of Rebbi: The Eternal will remove from you all sickness⁶⁷Deut. 28:48., that is fever. Rebbi Ḥuna who stated it in the name of Rebbi Eliezer ben Jacob, the Eternal will remove from you all sickness, that is worry, as Rebbi Eleazar said, he will put an iron yoke on your neck⁶⁸Deut. 7:15., this is worry. Rebbi Abun said, the Eternal will remove from you all sickness, that is the evil impulse whose start is sweet but whose end is bitter. Rebbi Tanḥuma in the name of Rebbi Eleazar⁶⁹Babli Bava mesiaˋ 107b., Rebbi Menaḥema in the name of Rav: The Eternal will remove from you all sickness, that is the gall bladder⁷⁰Babli Bava qamma 92b., as Rebbi Eleazar said, ninety-nine die because of gall and one by the hand of Heaven.

MISHNAH: If Gentiles worship mountains and hills; these are permitted¹²⁵For agricultural use; the ground and what grows on it is not forbidden as long as it is connected to the ground. but what is on them is forbidden, as it is said¹²⁶Deut. 7:25. If a mountain top is covered in gold or silver, the cover has to be removed and destroyed; only the ground itself is permitted., do not covet silver or gold on them and take for yourself. Rebbi Yose the Galilean said, their gods [are] on the mountains¹²⁷Deut. 12:2., the mountains are not their gods. Their gods [are] on the hills, the hills are not their gods. Then why is an Ashera¹²⁸A holy tree (Mishnah 11), which is connected to the ground and by the argument of Note 125 should be permitted as building material or fire wood. forbidden? Because it was held by human hand¹²⁹It was planted., and anything held by human hand is forbidden.
Rebbi Aqiba said, I shall explain it to you. Any place where you find a high mountain, or an elevated hill, or a sprightly tree, know that there is idolatry¹⁶²Deut. 12:2 reads: You shall certainly destroy all the places where the peoples from whom you will inherit worshipped their gods, on high mountains, and hills, and under each sprightly tree. This explains clearly that not the place is forbidden but the idol and its temple to be found there..

HALAKHAH: “If Gentiles worship mountains,” etc. Rebbi Zeˋira, Rebbi Yasa, Rebbi Yose bar Ḥanina in the name of Rebbi Hoshaia: One verse says¹²⁶Deut. 7:25. If a mountain top is covered in gold or silver, the cover has to be removed and destroyed; only the ground itself is permitted., do not covet silver or gold on them and take for yourself. And one verse says¹³⁰Deut. 29:16., silver and gold which is with them. If on them why with them, and if with them why on them? Since on them refers to something which is particular for them and an adornment for them¹³¹Since the mountains themselves cannot become forbidden, only adornments made explicitly for pagan worship can be forbidden. Therefore also of the contents of a dwelling only idolatrous objects can be forbidden for all usufruct. Babli 51b., also with them refers to something which is particular for them and an adornment for them.

MISHNAH: If one’s house was connected¹⁶⁸His house and the pagan temple share a wall. to a house of pagan worship and collapsed, it is forbidden to rebuild it. What should he do? He restricts himself to his property¹⁶⁹In the Babli: 4 cubits. His wall should be separated from the temple by 4 cubits. The text of Maimonides is that of the Yerushalmi. and builds. If it was his and the idolatry’s, it is judged half by half¹⁷⁰He may take half of the building material of the common wall for his own use; the remainder is forbidden for all usufruct for any Jew. Its stones, its wood, and its dust make impure like a crawling animal¹⁷¹As described in Lev. 11: 29–38, it makes impure by touch. This applies also to the stones which remain his property., as it is said¹⁷²Deut. 7:26. In Lev. 11:40–41, all crawling things which are forbidden as food are called abomination, including those which make impure by touch., you shall treat it as an abomination. Rebbi Aqiba says like a menstruating woman as it is said¹⁷³Is. 30:22. In Lev. 12:2 menstruation is called “the separation of her feeling miserable”., you shall throw it away like feeling miserable; you will call it excrement. Since the menstruating makes impure by load¹⁷⁴In Lev. 15:20–21 it is stated that anything she lies on becomes an original source of impurity. This means that if a woman in her period lies on top of ten mattresses and somebody touches the lowest one, which the woman never touched, he becomes impure as if he touched the woman herself. For R. Aqiba anybody who carries an idol becomes impure even if he never touched the idol., also idolatry makes impure by load.

HALAKHAH: “If one’s house was connected to a house of pagan worship,” etc. ¹⁷⁵This Halakhah also is Halakhah 9:1 in Šabbat(ש). Evidence points to Šabbat as the primary source. Much of the argument is found in Babli Šabbat 82b–83b. There is written abomination about the menstruating women, abomination about vermin, abomination about idolatry. About the menstruating woman, for anybody who would commit any of these abominations¹⁷⁶Lev. 18:29. The verse refers to all prohibitions of a sexual nature.. About vermin, do not eat any abomination¹⁷⁷Deut. 14: 2. The verse refers to all food prohibitions.. About idolatry, and do not bring any abomination into your house¹⁷⁸Deut. 7:26. This verse refers uniquely to idols and idolatry.. But I do not know for which purpose it was compared. Rebbi Aqiba says, it was compared to abomination regarding the menstruating woman. As the menstruating woman imparts impurity by load¹⁷⁴In Lev. 15:20–21 it is stated that anything she lies on becomes an original source of impurity. This means that if a woman in her period lies on top of ten mattresses and somebody touches the lowest one, which the woman never touched, he becomes impure as if he touched the woman herself. For R. Aqiba anybody who carries an idol becomes impure even if he never touched the idol., also idolatry imparts impurity by load. Or since the menstruating woman imparts impurity through a cover stone¹⁷⁹Stone is impervious to impurity. In general, anything not susceptible to impurity cannot transmit impurity. The one and only exception is impurity caused by genital discharges where impurity by load (Note 174) applies to anything under the affected person and even a stone plate covering a mattress will not shield the mattress from impurity if a person afflicted by a genital discharge sits on the stone. Babli Niddah 69b., does idolatry impart impurity through a cover stone? Rebbi Zeriqa in the name of Rebbi Ḥanina¹⁸⁰In, Šabbat: Rav Jehudah. On one hand, the tradent in Šabbat is mentioned as R. Zeriqan, the Yerushalmi form, not the Babli form Zeriqa as here; but this is to be explained by the babylonized spelling of the text of the present Tractate. On the other hand, the tradent in the Babli (Šabbat 82b) is R. Eleazar, a known student of R. Ḥanina., but some say in the name of Rav Ḥisda: Rebbi Aqiba agrees with the Sages that idolatry does not impart impurity through a cover stone. But the rabbis say it was compared to abominations of vermin. As vermin imparts impurity by motion¹⁸¹Here one has a serious discrepancy between the technical terminology of the Babli and the Yerushalmi. In the Babli impurity by motion is a form of impurity by load: If a person suffering from a genital discharge moves something indirectly or is moved with it, he imparts impurity. In the Yerushalmi this is consistently designated by its Mishnaic name, מִדְרָס, “stepping on.” This kind of impurity emphatically does not exist for vermin, or anything other than genital discharges. Therefore היסט the “motion” mentioned here must be that of a person’s hand touching an impure object. Transfer of impurity by touch is the only one mentioned for the eight kinds of impure vermin., so also idolatry imparts impurity by motion. Or as vermin in the size of a lentil imparts impurity¹⁸²Mishnah Ahilut 1:8. This minimum size for generation of impurity does not apply to complete limbs. does also idolatry in the size of a lentil impart impurity? Rebbi Zeˋira, Rebbi Isaac bar Naḥman, Rebbi Eleazar, Rebbi Abbahu in the name of Rebbi Joḥanan: They were yoked to Baal Peor and ate sacrifices to the dead¹⁸³Ps. 106:28.. As the dead in the size of an olive impart impurity¹⁸²Mishnah Ahilut 1:8. This minimum size for generation of impurity does not apply to complete limbs. so idolatry in the size of an olive imparts impurity. Or since a corpse imparts impurity once a person puts his finger tips in¹⁸⁴This refers to “tent” impurity (Ševuot 2:1 Note 34) which is created by any part of a person’s body being under the same roof as a corpse, even if it is only a finger tip., could I think that idolatry imparts once a person puts his finger tips in? Tearing down, tearing down one infers from the leprous house¹⁸⁵A house afflicted with recurrent “leprosy” must be torn down (Lev. 14:45). Pagan altars must be torn down (Deut. 12:3). By the nature of the topics, the verb נתץ is used in the singular in the first case, in the plural in the second. Therefore this is a comparison (הקש), not an “equal cut” (גזירה שוה); the laws will be similiar, not exactly identical.. Since in a leprous house when he entered with his head and most of his body¹⁸⁶Based on Lev. 14:46, which decrees impurity for anybody coming into the house, Sifra Meṣoraˋ Pereq 5(4), Mishnah Negaˋim 13:8., so idolatry when he entered with his head and most of his body. Rebbi Ḥanina¹⁸⁷In Šabbat: Ḥanania. The latter attribution is correct since he must have been a contemporary of R. Mana (II). said, this means that the impurity of idolatry is not consistent¹⁸⁸Neither R. Aqiba nor the rabbis are consistent in their comparisons.. For otherwise, why does one compare if for the facile [impurity] and does not compare for the strict? Rebbi Mana said, it is consistent. Why was it compared to a corpse and to vermin? To inform in both cases about the facile [impurity] attached to it¹⁸⁹The impurity of idols and idolatry should follow the rules common to impurities generated either by dead vermin or by bodily discharges. This argument is known in the Babli tradition as הַצַּד הַשָּׁוֶה “the equal part;” cf. H. Guggenheimer, Logical Problems in Jewish Tradition, in: “Confrontations with Judaism”, ed. Ph. Longworth, London 1966, p. 185.. This is for a broken idol. But an entire one even in the most minute size¹⁹⁰This is consistent with the impurity of animals as food, where a complete creature always is biblically forbidden irrespective of size (cf. Nazir 6:1 Note 64)., as Rebbi Yose hen Rebbi Abun¹⁹¹In ש: R. Ḥuna. said, Rav Ḥama bar Gorion in the name of Rav: Baal was the penis gland in the form of a bean. What is the reason? They selected the Baal of circumcision as god¹⁹²Jud. 8:33. Instead of “Baal of Covenant” one reads “Baal of circumcision” referring to the place of circumcision. This identifies the Semitic Baal with the Greek and Roman Priapus..

What is Rebbi Aqiba’s reason? You should treat it as an abomination¹⁹³Deut. 7:26., like a menstruating woman. What is the rabbis’ reason? You should detest it, like vermin. How do the rabbis uphold Rebbi Aqiba’s reason, you should treat it as abomination? Treat it as excrement, make it vile¹⁹⁴ש has an addition: How does R. Aqiba interpret the rabbi’s reason, you should detest it? Detest it, make it vile. Babli 46a, Mekhilta dR. Ismael Mišpatim 20 (p. 332 ed. Horovitz-Rabin).. What means “make it vile” for the rabbis? Rebbi Samuel, Rebbi Abbahu in the name of Rebbi Eleazar: you shall call it excrement. What is called God’s¹⁹⁵In ש: King’s face.. Face is called Dog’s Face. Spring of the Cup is called Spring of the Thorn. The Place of Fortune is called the Place of Undress¹⁹⁶All these places and most of their idolatrous meanings are unknown. A similar list is as Tannaitic text in the Babli 46a, Tosephta 6:4. Rebbi Tanḥuma (asked) [in the name of]¹⁹⁷The reading of Avodah zarah is in (parentheses), that of Šabbat in [brackets]. Rebbi Huna: It is written¹⁹⁸Jos. 7:2., The Ai which is near Bet-Awen East of Bethel. Earlier it was called Bethel but now one calls it Bet-Awen¹⁹⁹It seems that the translator of the LXX read the verse in the way of the Talmud and eliminated the mention of Bet-Awen, “the House of Iniquity”, as a gloss, as accepted by the moderns. (However, E. Täubler in a marginal Note to his copy of M. Noth’s Das Buch Josua, Tübingen 1938, identifies Bet-Awen as the old name of “The Ai (ruin)”; cf. Arabic اون “calm, tranquillity”.). It was stated in the name of Rebbi Eleazar: If one does not want to call it ‘Omda one calls it ‘Amida since the flow of urine is called ‘amida²⁰⁰This piece is truncated here but it is in bad shape both here and in Šabbat (and Yalqut Jos. ad 7:2). It is intelligible in Gen. rabba 39(24), on Gen. 12:8, the first mention of The Ai in the Bible, following the interpretation of J. Levy:
ויעתק משם ההרה מקדם לבית אל. לשעבר היתה נקראת בית אל ועכשיו היא נקראת בית און. א״ר אלעזר לא זכתה להקראת בית העמל הרי היא הקראת בית העמד. תמן קרײן לפועלא טבא עמילה ולהרהון של מימי רגלים עמידה.
He transferred from there to the mountain, East of Bethel. In the past it was called Bethel but now it is called Bet Awen. Rebbi Eleazar said, it did not merit to be called the House of Work but it is called the House of Baptism. There, they are calling a good worker عَمِل but the chamber pot ἀμίδα.. How (do the rabbis) [does Rebbi Aqiba]¹⁹⁷The reading of Avodah zarah is in (parentheses), that of Šabbat in [brackets]. interpret you shall call it excrement? Rebbi Yose ben Rebbi Abin, Rebbi Huna in the name of Rav Josef: from (where) [here]¹⁹⁷The reading of Avodah zarah is in (parentheses), that of Šabbat in [brackets]. that one does not tell anybody to leave unless he entered with his head and most of his body.

Rebbi Aḥa said: Solomon said, three things I desecrated where I got the better of the law¹⁸¹Eccl. r. 2(3), Tanhuma Aḥare Mot 1, Tanhuma Buber Ahare Mot 2, Pesiqṭa dR. Cahana(Buber) Ahare Mot 168b–168a.
Most of the verses quoted in these paragraphs are also quoted in the Babli, 21b. Cf. also Cant. rabba 1(10).. He shall not add wives, and it is written: King Solomonloved foreign women¹⁸²1K. 11:1.. Rebbi Simeon ben Ioḥai said, he really made love to them immorally¹⁸³He did not marry them but slept with them unmarried to increase his sexual enjoyment.. Ḥananiah, Rebbi Joshua’s nephew, says, because you shall not intermarry with them¹⁸⁴Deut. 7:3. He agrees with R. Simeon ben Iohai and notes that by behaving immorally he avoided violating the law. In Num. r. 10(8) only Hanania and R. Yose are mentioned.. Rebbi Yose said, to draw them to the words of the Torah and bring them under the Wings of the Divine Presence¹⁸⁵He married all those women with good intentions but violated Deut. 17:17. The expression “to take shelter under the Wings of the Divine Presence” for “to convert to Judaism” is from Ru. 2:12.. Rebbi Eliezer said, because also the foreign wives made him sin¹⁸⁶Neh. 13:26. He violated Mishnah 7 according to all authorities quoted there.. It turns out that one may say that Rebbi Simeon ben Ioḥai, Ḥananiah, and Rebbi Eliezer mean the same. Rebbi Yose disagrees with all three of them.

A slave woman: “The woman and her children shall belong to her owner.¹⁴⁰Ex. 18:4, speaking of the Jewish indentured servant who has to serve for six years. If the children he had during that time with a slave woman were his, they would have to be freed with him at the end of his servitude.” A Gentile woman. Rebbi Joḥanan said in the name of Rebbi Sineon ben Ioḥai, it is written¹⁴¹Deut. 7:3–4. Since only the masculine is used, “he will divert”, but not the feminine, it is concluded that the verse speaks only about the Gentile husband. Therefore, the child of the Jewish husband and the Gentile wife is not the husband’s child.
The parallel to this paragraph is in the Babli 23a.: “You shall not conclude marriage with them”. And it is written: “For he will divert your son from after Me.” Your son from a Jewish woman is called your son; but your son from a Gentile woman is not called your son but her son.

HALAKHAH: “There are three houses,” etc. Rav and Rebbi Joḥanan both are saying, the Mishnah treats their entry into the Land²²⁴Deut. 7:5 is an unconditional commandment to destroy all pagan altars and Temples in existence at the time of the conquest. This agrees with the statement that the house in the first case is absolutely and irrevocably forbidden, since in all other cases a partial destruction of the house will remove the prohibition.. The opinion of Rav, who said that one who worships a house makes it forbidden, is the reason that he explains it by their entry into the Land²²⁵Since he considers a house as a kind of movable (Note 209), his problem is that the first rule of the Mishnah should apply not only to a house built as a pagan temple but also to one which was worshipped. But the effect of worship can be undone (Halakhot 14–16); only the commandment Deut. 7:5 is absolute.. Following the opinion of Rebbi Joḥanan, who said that if somebody dedicates a house one does not commit larceny with it, could he not have explained it by somebody who was worshipping the house²²⁶Since a house is real estate, it cannot become forbidden by simply being worshipped. But if a Jew built it for purposes of idolatry, it becomes forbidden by an act of idolatry (Mishnah 4:4). Therefore the first case of the Mishnah could also be referred to a case possible today. One does not expect a rule in the Mishnah which became obsolete some 1500 years before its formulation. The answer to be given is the same as in the case of Rav.? {The effect of] one who worships a house can be voided. At their entry into the Land it could not be voided²²⁵Since he considers a house as a kind of movable (Note 209), his problem is that the first rule of the Mishnah should apply not only to a house built as a pagan temple but also to one which was worshipped. But the effect of worship can be undone (Halakhot 14–16); only the commandment Deut. 7:5 is absolute.. What could he do²²⁷To desecrate the house and therefore nullify its pagan status.? He removes its clapboards and it is permitted.

It is written¹⁰²Jos. 9:27.: At that moment Joshua dedicated them as hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation. One understands “for the congregation.” But “for the Eternal’s altar”? But Joshua kept them in limbo. He said, I shall [neither]¹⁰³Added from the Qiddušin text. exclude nor include them. But he who sometime in the future will build the Temple, if he wants to include he may include, if he wants to exclude he may exclude. David came and excluded them as it is said¹⁰⁴2S. 21:1–2.: But the Gibeonites are not part of the Children of Israel. Why did he exclude them? Because there was a famine in David’s time, three years year after year. David said, for three sins the rains are locked away: Foreign worship, incest and adultery, and murder. Foreign worship, as it is written¹⁰⁵Deut. 11:16–17.: Beware, lest you be seduced and next to it, He locks the sky up. Incest and adultery, as it is written¹⁰⁶Jer. 3:2–3. Rain-showers were withheld, there was no late rain, for you had the forehead of a whoring woman. Murder, as it is written¹⁰⁷Num. 35:33.: Because blood will distort the Land. Some say, also those who publicly promise money for welfare but do not pay, as it is written¹⁰⁸Prov. 25:14.: Clouds and wind but no rain means the man who boasts with lying gifts. David checked on all his ways and did not find any of them. He turned to ask the Urim and Tummim. That is what is written¹⁰⁴2S. 21:1–2.: David asked before the Eternal. Rebbi Eleazar said, it is written¹⁰⁹Zeph. 2:3.: Ask the Eternal, all the meek of the Land, who execute His Law, etc. ¹⁰⁴2S. 21:1–2.The Eternal said, because of Saul and the House of blood-guilt, for he had killed the Gibeonites. Because of Saul, whom you did not grant the last favor, and because of the House of blood-guilt, for he had killed the Gibeonites. David sent and called them. He asked them, what is between you and the House of Saul? They told him, because he killed seven of our men, two hewers of wood, two drawers of water, a scribe, a religious leader, and a beadle. He asked them, what do you want now? They said to him, May there be given to us seven men … and we shall hang them before the Eternal in Gibeon¹¹⁰2S. 21:6.. He said to them, what use is it to you that they be killed? Take silver and gold for yourselves! But they answered, there is no silver or gold for us from Saul and his house¹¹¹2S. 21:6.. He said, maybe they are afraid one of the other; he dealt which each of them separately, trying to mollify him by himself, but nobody accepted it. That is what is written, there is no silver or gold for us, it is written for me. At this moment, David said that the Holy One gave three good gifts to Israel: They are decent, merciful, and charitable. Decent, for it is written¹¹²Ex. 20:20.: that His fear be on your faces. Merciful, for it is written¹¹³Deut. 13:18,: He gave you mercy, had mercy on you and increased you. Charitable, for it is written¹¹⁴Deut. 7:12.: The Eternal, your God, kept for you covenant and charity. But these, nothing of this is found in them; he excluded them: But the Gibeonites are not of the Children of Israel¹⁰⁴2S. 21:1–2.. And Ezra also excluded them, as it is said:¹¹⁵Neh. 3:26, 11:21. And the dedicated ones dwelt in the Ophel; Ziha and Gishpa were of the dedicated ones. Also in the future, the Holy One, praise to Him, will exclude them as it is written¹¹⁶Ez. 48:19.: The city worker will cultivate it, from all tribes of Israel. He will eliminate them from all tribes of Israel.

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 answer¹⁸²The text in parenthesis is from the Rome manuscript; it seems that it is missing from the Leyden manuscript and the Venice print because here also, the final clause “one answers only if one heard the entire benediction” is missing since it is implied by the Mishnah. The complete text is that of most sources of the Tosephta (Berakhot 5:21). The correct interpretation seems to be that given by R. Saul Lieberman in Tosephta kifshutah: Since the Gentile is not subject to our rules, if he praises the Eternal, one answers after him Amen. But if he uses a Jewish formula, one may not answer after him Amen unless one has ascertained that he conformed with our rules..] 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.”

Rebbi Hoshaya stated: One answers Amen even if he did not eat, but he may not say: “Let us praise Him, of Whose bounty we ate,” except if he did eat. It is stated: “One answers neither an orphan Amen, nor a plucked Amen. Ben Azai said, if one answered an orphan Amen, may his children be orphans; hurried, may the end of his days be hurried; plucked, may his soul be plucked off. For a long Amen, they lengthen his days and years in a good way. What is an orphan Amen? Rebbi Huna said, that is one who is obligated to recite a blessing, he answers Amen, and is not conscious for what he answered Amen. It is stated: One answers Amen after a Gentile who recited a benediction for the Eternal. By the Name, one does not answer Amen after him. Rebbi Tanḥuma said, if a Gentile blesses you, answer after him Amen since it is written⁴⁰⁷Deut. 7:14. You shall be blessed by all peoples. A Gentile met Rebbi Ismael 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 written⁴⁰⁸Gen. 27:29. Those who curse you are cursed, but those who bless you are blessed.

MISHNAH: Also in a case where they said to lease they did not mean a dwelling because he will introduce idols as it is said, do not bring an abomination into your house for you would be anathema like it²⁵⁵Deut. 7:26., etc. In any case he should not lease to him a bath house because it is called by his name²⁵⁶If the bath house (or any other public convenience) is known as the Jew’s property it cannot be operated on the Sabbath since people would think that the Jew operates it..

HALAKHAH: “Also in a case where they said to lease,” etc. Therefore, at a place where one is used to sell²⁵⁷Outside the Land for R. Meïr and in Syria for R. Yose., he may sell even a dwelling and lease a dwelling²⁵⁸Deut. 7:26 applies only to the Land. In the theory of the Babli, Gentiles outside the Land are no real idolators but only followers of inherited superstitions. Cf. Tosephta 2:8.. Rebbi Aḥa, Rebbi Tanḥum bar Ḥiyya in the name of Rebbi Eleazar ben Rebbi Yose: Even a small room as in the tannery of Sidon²⁵⁹If a small room in an industrial complex cannot be leased to Gentiles as living space. A similar text in Babli 21b.. Not only all of it, but even one room. “If there were two, one inside the other, the inner one is liable, the outer one is not liable.²⁶⁰This is Mishnah Ma`serot3:5 (Note 92). Harvested grain becomes liable for tithes only when it is being prepared for storage. An example of this is grain transported from the field to the courtyard attached to the farmer’s dwelling. R. Jehudah holds that if there is a courtyard inside another, the inner one only counts in this respect.” If there was one and it was subdivided into two, two and combined into one²⁶¹How do the rules of tithing apply? The question is inappropriate here and not answered.? Rebbi Abin in the name of the rabbis there:²⁶²Of Babylonia. This²⁶³The argument of the Mishnah about leasing a bathhouse. In Tosephta 2:9, R. Simeon forbids leasing a field anywhere for the same reason. implies that if there was a field adjacent to a road it is forbidden to lease it to Gentiles because it is known by the name of the Jew and they plough there on Sabbaths and holidays.

¹³¹It seems that the original of this paragraph is in Berakhot8:9. Rebbi Hoshaya stated: One answers Amen even if he did not eat¹³²A person hearing other people reciting Grace has to say Amen; obviously he cannot participate in reciting part of the text; cf. Berakhot7:2., but he may not say: “Let us praise Him, of Whose bounty we ate,” except if he did eat. It is stated¹³³Tosephta Megillah3:27, Babli Berakhot 47a.: “One answers neither an orphan Amen, nor a plucked¹³⁴Amen not completely pronounced.
The other sources have here an addition: “Ben Azai said, if one answered an orphan Amen, may his children be orphans; hurried, may the end of his days be hurried; plucked, may his soul be plucked off. For a long Amen, they lengthen his days and years in a good way.” Amen. What is an orphan Amen? Rebbi Huna said, that is one who is obligated to recite a blessing, he answers Amen, and is not conscious for what he answered Amen. 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 answer¹³⁵Since the Gentile is not subject to our rules, if he praises the Eternal, one answers after him Amen. But if he uses a Jewish formula one may not answer after him Amen unless one has ascertained that he conformed with our rules (S. Liebermann.). Rebbi Tanḥuma said, if a Gentile blesses you, answer after him Amen since it is written¹³⁶Deut. 7:14. You shall be blessed by all peoples. A Gentile met Rebbi Ismael 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 written¹³⁷Gen. 27:29. Those who curse you are cursed, but those who bless you are blessed.

Anyone who goes into the street with his shoes unlaced is haughty of spirit. [He who walks] with his sanṭer³¹A kind of cloak. hanging side-ways,³²Over his shoulder. or his cap turned backwards, or [sits] crosslegged, or holds in his hand the straps of the tefillin and puts them back while walking in the street belongs to the haughty of spirit. Every man in whom there is haughtiness of spirit is as though he worships idols,³³So GRA. as it states, Thou shalt not bring an abomination into thine house,³⁴Deut. 7, 26, the reference being to an idolatrous image. and it states elsewhere, Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord:³⁵Prov. 16, 5. the word abomination is written in the one connection and also in the other—as the abomination mentioned in the one refers to idolatry so the abomination mentioned in the other refers to idolatry.