Komentarz do Koheleta 9:13

“This, too, I have seen as wisdom under the sun; and it is great to me” (Ecclesiastes 9:13).
“This, too, I have seen as wisdom under the sun…” Rabbi Shmuel bar Imi said: This is the thinking of the deceitful in their deceit, such as one who mixes water into wine, glaucium oil into [olive] oil, spring water into honey, donkey milk into balsam oil, sap into myrrh, vine leaves into pepper. One may not make a scale rod long on this side and short on that side; an instrument for leveling grain that is thick on this side and thin on that side; a scale rod or instrument for leveling that has a receptacle for metal;⁸⁰A hidden receptacle within the instrument into which would be inserted metal, in order to change measurements and cheat customers. a rod that has a receptacle for money;⁸¹A rod used by porters or peddlers on which they would balance their loads. It could be partially hollowed out to allow the insertion of money, and then the worker could claim he had not yet been paid. the cane of a poor person with a receptacle for water;⁸²He could then claim to passersby that he does not even have any food or water with him, and they would thereby be more likely to take pity on him. or a rod with a receptacle for a mezuza and a pearl⁸³Concealing these items in order to avoid paying tax. – all these are ritually impure.⁸⁴Beyond the fact that they involve deceit, because they have a hidden receptacle, they are susceptible to ritual impurity. Wooden vessels that do not have a receptacle are not susceptible to ritual impurity.
Regarding all of them, Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Woe is me if I discuss [them], and woe is me if I do not discuss [them]. If I discuss them, I am teaching the swindlers [new techniques for swindling]. If I do not discuss [them], I am withholding knowledge and causing that which is ritually pure to become impure.⁸⁵If people do not know that these objects are susceptible to impurity, they will not know when they become impure, and will continue using them in that state, and could render impure other items which are ritually pure. Alternatively, [I should discuss them] so the swindlers will not think that the Sages are not well-versed in their actions. Rabbi Shmuel said: Nevertheless,⁸⁶Despite the potential dangers. “For the ways of the Lord are upright; the righteous will follow them and sinners will falter in them” (Hosea 14:10).⁸⁷This teaches that the truth must be stated, even if it will cause sinners to commit more transgressions.