Talmud su Isaia 32:17

BARAITHA.⁹²K 21. It is related of R. Ṭarfon that, although he was very wealthy, he did not give many gifts to the poor. Once R. ‘Aḳiba said to him, ‘Would you like me to purchase one or two cities for you?’ He replied, ‘Yes’. R. Ṭarfon went and brought four thousand golden dinars. R. ‘Aḳiba then went and distributed the money among the poor. Later R. Ṭarfon met R. ‘Aḳiba and asked him, ‘Where are the cities which you purchased for me?’ R. ‘Aḳiba took him by the hand and led him to the House of Study. He brought a child who held in his hand the Book of Psalms who continued reading from it until he came to the verse, He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the needy.
GEMARA. Did not R. Ṭarfon [fulfil the command], Thou shalt surely open thy hand unto thy poor and needy brother in thy land?⁹³Deut. 15, 11. Yes, he [was in the habit of] giving [charity]. Then why did R. ‘Aḳiba compel him? He said to him, ‘In accordance with the camel is the burden’.⁹⁴Cf. Keth. 67a (Sonc. ed., p. 406), a proverbial saying. R. ‘Aḳiba meant that R. Ṭarfon did not dispense charity commensurate with his means. R. ‘Aḳiba then went and distributed a third [of the money] among the poor and two-thirds he divided among teachers, men who occupied themselves with the Torah and scholars. When [R. Ṭarfon] met him and asked, ‘Where is my profit?’⁹⁵It is suggested that the text should read ‘my money’. he replied, ‘I have bought something for you with it’. He asked, ‘What merchandise [did you buy]? Is it something good?’ He answered, ‘It is something of eternal value’. [R. ‘Aḳiba] led him to the House of Study and [R. Ṭarfon] asked him, ‘Where is it?’ He said, ‘It is with David, king of Israel, as it is written, He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the needy’. He then inquired, ‘Why did you do this?’ He replied, ‘Do you not know that when Naḳdimon b. Gurion⁹⁶A man of fabulous wealth, Keth. 66b-67a (Sonc. ed., p. 405). [Cf. ARN, p. 48.] walked from his house to the Temple,⁹⁷Keth. reads: ‘the House of Study’. woollen carpets were spread beneath his feet and the poor of Israel used to come and take them away? And yet, because he did not act as [liberally] as he should he was punished’. [R. Ṭarfon] said to him, ‘I ask you, why did you not carry out my wish?’ He replied, ‘Did I not act [on your behalf] and give away of what belongs to you?’ Whereupon [R. Ṭarfon] exclaimed, ‘I say that he who causes others [to do good] is greater than he who does [good],⁹⁸Cf. B.B. 9a (Sonc. ed., p. 41), a maxim of R. Eleazar. as it is stated, And the work of righteousness shall be peace’.⁹⁹Isa. 32, 17, interpreted as ‘he who causes others to practise charity [the Rabbinic meaning of the Heb. word for righteousness] shall have peace’.