Talmud do Liczb 11:36

“And one whose excommunication was lifted by the Sages.” Where are we holding? If they lifted it before the holiday, he should have shaved. If they did not lift it before the holiday, he may not shave. But we hold that they lifted it before the holiday and his thirtieth day fell during the holiday, since no excommunication is less than thirty days¹⁷An excommunication has to be observed for 30 days even if lifted quickly (but not if it was annulled) Babli 16a. and no rebuke is less than seven days¹⁸A student reprimanded by his teacher may not show himself for 7 days.. No excommunication is less than thirty days, up to a month of days, until it will come out of your noses¹⁹Num. 11:20.. And no rebuke is less than seven days, let her be locked away for seven days²⁰Num. 12:14.. Rebbi honored Ben Elasa²¹A very rich but totally ignorant family with whom he had relations by marriage.. Bar Qappara said to him, everybody is asking Rebbi, only you are not asking Rebbi. He asked him, what to ask? He said to him, ask²²A riddle.: “From Heaven she looks down, she is busy in her house; boys see her and hide²³A variation of Job 29:8; the next clause is a direct quote., old men rise and stand. The one who flees says, ho, ho, and the one caught is caught in his sin.” Rebbi turned around²⁴He recognized Bar Qappara’s poetic style. and saw him laughing. Rebbi said, I do not know you, old man. He understood that he would not be ordained during his lifetime²⁵Babli 17a, bottom..

Rebbi Ḥaggai objected to Rebbi Yose¹²This is the correct reading, also given in Yoma, not R. Yasa as in Sanhedrin.. Is there not written: The two men shall stand¹³Deut. 19:17.? Now, is not two the minimum of “men”? Why does the verse say two? That both be equal? But it is written¹⁴Deut. 24:17.: Do not bend the lawsuit of the proselyte, the orphan, … That means that a proselyte can have a lawsuit against one who is not a proselyte, an orphan may have a lawsuit against one who is not an orphan, a widow against a married woman. Then why is there written two? It is free to be combined and to infer from it an equal cut. It is said here two and it is said there two men were left¹⁵Num. 11:26.74. Since there one speaks of men but not women nor underaged, also here men but not women nor underaged. From this we learn that a woman may not be a judge; consequently a woman may not be a witness.

Rebbi Yose ben Rebbi Abun, Rebbi Ḥuna in the name of Rebbi Yose. It is said here two,[by the mouth of two witnesses¹⁷Deut. 17:6.], and it is said there two, two men remained in the camp¹⁸Num. 11:27.. Since there two means men but not women nor underaged, also here two means men but not women nor underaged. Then why is it said (two) [and the two men shall stand]¹⁹If actually the same price was paid for the two he-goats used on the Day of Atonement, but if they were regularly sold in the market one of them clearly would fetch a higher price, they are not disqualified but do not fulfill the biblical requirement of equality.? Lest one of them be standing while the other be sitting; [one is silent while the other talks]¹¹Corrector’s addition from the parallel sources., one says everything he has to say, but to the other one says, make your statement short. With one the judge is friendly, to the other he is unfriendly, lets one sit and the other stand. [They said in the name of Rebbi Ismael, one says to him, either you dress as he is dressed or pay him to be dressed as you are.]¹¹Corrector’s addition from the parallel sources.

⁹⁷The following is a series of homilies on Eccl. 12:11, without direct connection with the theme of the Chapter; cf Note 96. Parallels are found in Pesiqta rabbati 3 (ed. Ish-Shalom 7b–8a); Midrash Qohelet 12:11–12; Lev. rabba 129(6), Num. rabba 13:11–13).Masters of assembly¹¹³The translation chosen follows the explanation given here as second possibility. Rashi (following Dunash), Ibn Janah, and Qimhi: “collectors.” Levy/Torczyner: “set in frames.”. “Assembly” only means the Synhedrion, as you say: Assemble for Me seventy men from the Elders of Israel¹¹⁴Num. 11:16.. Another explanation, masters of assembly, it was said in an assembly. Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish said, if somebody told me that Chronicles¹¹⁵Not the book of Chronicles but a coherent interpretation of its genealogical part, known as ‘book of genealogies” (Babli Pesahim 62b). was to be found in Babylonia, I would go and fetch it from there. But now, if all our rabbis came together, they could not bring it from there.

BARAITHA.¹⁵K 17. R. Aḥai b. Josiah said: He who gazes¹⁶In K ‘he who diverts his mind with’. at women will eventually come within the power of sin, and he who diverts himself from sin and does not commit it, though he be an Israelite, is worthy to offer a burnt-offering on the altar as did the High Priest; as it is stated, And he sent the young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt-offerings. And whoever makes himself indolent so as not to sin and does not commit it will be sustained by the lustre of the Divine Presence, as it is stated, And they beheld God and did eat and drink.
GEMARA. The question was asked: In the Baraitha is the word to be read ‘aẓel (‘indolent’) or ’eẓel (‘next to’)? We have learnt: Come and hear: [It is stated,] And upon the nobles [’aẓilë] of the children of Israel He laid not His hand.¹⁷Ex. 24, 11. Whence can you infer that this word ’aẓilë has a pure connotation? For it is written, And I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them.¹⁸Num. 11, 17. The Heb. for take is the root ’aẓal, so the conclusion arrived at is that the reading in the Baraitha must be ’eẓel, and they who are tempted by sin but desist earn as a reward the outpouring of the Divine Spirit upon them. The Midrash Agadah (ed. Buber, p. 101) defines the verb in Num. by another meaning ‘separate from’, so giving it here the sense of ‘keeping away from’.
It has been taught:¹⁹Ber. 17a (Sonc. ed., p. 102). In the World to Come there is neither eating, drinking nor procreation, but the righteous sit with crowns on their heads and are sustained by the lustre of the Divine Presence, as it is stated, And they beheld God and did eat and drink. An objection was raised: [It is stated,] May he be as a rich cornfield in the land upon the top of the mountains.²⁰Ps. 72, 16, which indicates that the righteous will enjoy prosperity in the World to Come. [The Sages] said:²¹Keth. 111b (Sonc. ed., p. 721). The World to Come is not like this world. In this world there is the trouble to tread and gather [the grapes] but in the World to Come the Holy One, blessed be He, will bring a wind from His treasury and cause it to blow upon [the trees] so that they will let [their fruit] fall to the ground; a man will go into the field and bring back from it an abundance of its fruits for his own sustenance and that of his household. But should you think that [the reality is] as was taught, of what use is sustenance to them?²²This Rabbinic quotation contradicts the preceding, which taught that there is no eating in the World to Come. It is further written, The woman with child and her that travaileth with child together:²³Jer. 31, 7; in A.J. verse 8. woman is destined to bear a child every day. This is a conclusion to be deduced by arguing from the less to the great from the instance of poultry.²⁴Shab. 30b (Sonc. ed., pp. 137f.) referring to the World to Come; one of Rabban Gamaliel’s hyperbolical statements. This contradicts the teaching that there is no procreation in the World to Come. There is no contradiction; one statement refers to the time before the Resurrection and the other to the Messianic era.²⁵On the meaning of ‘the World to Come’, cf. Sanh., Sonc. ed., p. 601, n. 3. Here ‘the world is contrasted with the future change whereas generally it is contrasted with the World to Come. Perhaps here the phrase means, the world under present conditions’ (Shab. p. 138, n. 3, in the Sonc. ed.). [On the subject, cf. G. F. Moore, Judaism, II, pp. 317ff.]

A sheet of a Torah scroll must contain not less than three columns and not more than eight. As regards the lines [in a scroll] a reason was given [for four different numbers]: corresponding to the journeys,²⁷The reading of H and GRA. V and M have ‘in the journeys’. forty-two; corresponding to the myriads of Israel, sixty; corresponding to the elders of Israel, seventy-two; and corresponding to the reproofs in Deuteronomy, [36a] ninety-eight; all depending on [the size of] the script.²⁸The larger the characters the fewer the number of lines in a column.
‘Corresponding to the journeys,’ as it is said, And Moses wrote their goings forth.²⁹Num. 33, 2. As the expression of writing (wrote) occurs in the same context as the journeys (goings forth), the number of lines in a written column may be the same as the number of the journeys. ‘Corresponding to the myriads of Israel,’ as it is said, Write thou these words … and with Israel;³⁰Ex. 34, 27. Write and Israel (numbering sixty myriads) occur in the same context. as Israel numbered sixty myriads so may the lines of the Torah be sixty [in a column]. ‘Corresponding to the elders, seventy-two,’ as it is said, Gather unto Me seventy men³¹Num. 11, 16. … there remained … in the camp … of them that were recorded.³²ibid. 26. The number of the elders is found in the same passage as the expression of writing (recorded, lit. ‘written’). ‘Corresponding to the reproofs, ninety-eight,’ as it is said, If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written.³³Deut. 28, 58, the words of this law refers to the reproofs numbering 98 and occurs with written in the same passage.
In the case of ḳelaf parchments no limit was prescribed, and one may add [as many lines]³⁴N.Y. explains, ‘sheets’. as desired, provided only there are not less than three columns [to the sheet].³⁵i.e. the lines in a column, or according to N.Y. the sheets, should not be so many as to leave less than three columns for the last sheet of the scroll.

Rav Huna bar Ḥiyya²⁹⁵In the Babli, Sanhedrin 16b, he is referred to as Rav Shimi bar Hiyya (in one ms. Shimi bar Ashi; this can be disregarded, replacing a hapax by a frequently quoted name). in the name of Rav quotes it from the words of the Torah. As all that I am showing you, the shape of the building and the shape … of all its vessels, so you shall execute²⁹⁶Ex. 25:9. The final clause in the sentence seems to be redundant; it is explained as referring to future buildings.. So you shall execute in all generations. Moses is king and prophet. Aaron represents Urim and Tummim. Assemble for me seventy men from the Elders of Israel²⁹⁷Num. 11:16., that is the Synhedrion; ask your father and he will tell you, etc. Song, after them went Hoshaia and half the officers of Judea. Thanksgiving sacrifices, I put up two large thanksgiving sacrifices being in procession going to their right on the wall going to the dung gate. Rebbi Samuel bar Yudan said, what is written, walking? No, being in procession, only being taken by others.

MISHNAH: The High Synhedrion³³²As usual in rabbinic sources, the political institution of the Synhedrion is identified with the juridical of the High Court, projecting Jabneh arrangements into Temple times. had 71 members and a lower one 23 members. From where that the High Court has 71 members? For it is said³³³Num. 11:16.: Assemble for me 70 men of the Elders of Israel, and Moses was presiding, that makes 71. Rebbi Jehudah says, 70³³⁴He is known for the correctness of his historical traditions. For the political functions of a Synhedrion, an even number of members is acceptable. The judicial functions were exercised by committees of 23 each.. From where that a lower court has 23 members? For it is said, the congregation shall judge, the congregation shall save³³⁵Num. 35:24,25 speaking of the trial of the homicide; cf. Sifry Num. #160.. One congregation judges, one congregation saves, this makes twenty. And from where that a congregation consists of ten persons? As it is said, how long this evil congregation³³⁶Num. 14:27, interpreted as speaking of the ten bad spies., without Joshua and Caleb.
From where that one adds another three³³⁸Since Mishnah 6 established that a criminal court must have 20 judges/jurors.? From the interpretation of what is said³³⁹Ex. 23:2: Do not follow the majority to do evil; do not testify in a quarrel, to bend, to twist after the majority. This is read to mean that for acquittal one vote is enough but that for conviction one needs a qualified majority even without the one judge who is voting. Cf. Mekhilta dR. Ismael Mišpaṭim20, dR. Simeon ben Ioḥai 23:2 (in the name of Rebbi.), do not follow the majority to be unfavorable, I understand that He said, follow them to be favorable. Then why was it said, to bend after the majority? Your bending to be favorable is not equal to your bending to be unfavorable. Your bending to be favorable shall be by one [vote] (witness), your bending to be unfavorable shall be by two. Since no court may be even-numbered, one adds another one to obtain 23. How many people shall live in a town that it may have a criminal court? 120. Rebbi Nehemiah said 230, that they might be commanders over tens³⁴⁰Since the verse requires that judges be outstanding personalities, Ex. 18:21, Deut.1:15, each judge must be qualified at least to be the leader of ten men..

HALAKHAH: “If the Court ruled but one of them knew that it was in error,” etc. The Mishnah is Rebbi’s, since Rebbi said, no one invalidates but the distinguished member of the Court (at Lydda) [only]⁷¹The ms. text, בלוד, “at Lydda” makes no sense since the High Court must sit in the ashlar hall on the Temple Mount. One has to read with B בלבד “only”. The president of the Court is the only one for whom no substitute can be found.. It is written¹²²Num. 15:24, detailing the rules governing the sacrifice of a goat if the Court unintentionally permitted idolatry. This is taken as biblical proof that the Court cannot rule in the absence of its president.: If from the eyes of the congregation, from him who is appointed as eyes of the congregation. It is written¹²³Num. 11:16, the appointment of the 70 Elders, the paradigm for the High Court. Babli 4b, they shall stand there with you. Just as you are neither proselyte, nor Gibeonite, nor a bastard¹²⁴As son of a man and his aunt, Moses would have been a bastard if his parents had married after the promulgation of Torah laws.. Proselytes are reasonable, but bastards? does the court appoints bastards? Rav Ḥuna said, when they breached the rules and appointed¹²⁵The exclusion of proselytes, Gibeonites, and bastards is strongly recommended but a breach does not invalidate the appointment.. Rebbi Ḥanania, Rebbi Mana. One said, as part of the Seventy; the other said, apart from the Seventy¹²⁶He holds that the exclusion is prescriptive; an appointment would be invalid.. He who said, apart from the Seventy, is understandable. But he who said, as part of the Seventy, therefore not apart from the Seventy? Since he is not suitable for ordination, he is considered like a stone¹²⁷If their vote cannot be counted, then automatically not all who are present are voting; therefore the false ruling will never trigger the obligation of a sacrifice..

BARAITHA. If you desire to learn, do not say of what you do not understand, ‘I understand it’. If you are asked a question about something in which you are not well versed do not be ashamed to say, ‘I do not know’. If you are taught something and you do not understand it, be not ashamed to say, ‘I do not understand it’.
GEMARA. Whence do we learn this? [From David], for it is written, I will also speak of Thy testimonies before kings, and will not be ashamed²⁴Ps. 119, 46.—that is, [to inquire] of Mephibosheth²⁵On Mephibosheth as David’s teacher, cf. Ber. 4a (Sonc. ed., p. 11). how to act, whether to declare it forbidden or permissible.
BARAITHA.²⁶Ned. 62a (Sonc. ed., p. 197). Do good deeds for the sake of their Maker.²⁷i.e. God Who desires them to be done. Or, ‘for the sake of doing them’; cf. Aboth I, 3 (Sonc. ed., pp. 2f.). Do not make them a crown wherewith to adorn yourself, or an axe wherewith to cut. Accustom yourself to take upon yourself the precepts of the Torah [even] at the cost of suffering.
GEMARA. [‘Do not make them a crown’, etc.,] lest you receive your share [of the World to Come] in this world; for he who glorifies himself with the crown of the Torah has no share in the World to Come.²⁸cf. Ned. loc. cit. (Sonc. ed., p. 196): ‘Whoever puts the crown of the Torah to [profane] use is uprooted from the world’. [‘Nor an axe wherewith to cut.’] Do not withhold corn²⁹Figuratively used of the Torah. The comparison is based on Prov. 11, 26. Cf. Sanh. 91b-92a (Sonc. ed., pp. 614f.). from others; for [53b] even the embryos [in their mothers’ wombs] curse him who withholds corn from others. Here³⁰In this Gemara. [only if he is asked to teach] without payment [is he under the curse], but there³¹In the passage quoted from Sanh. even if he is offered payment [and refuses to teach].
[‘Accustom yourself to take upon yourself the precepts’, etc.] It has been taught:³²Sanh. 111a (Sonc. ed., p. 762). Whoever maintains himself by words of Torah, the Torah does not become intimate with him. There³³In the passage from Sanh. it speaks of self-pleasure and here³⁴In this Gemara. Pursue the study of the Torah even at the cost of sleep. of sleep.
BARAITHA. Do not resent an insult to you. A good record and a blameless adolescence [inspire] security and truth.
GEMARA. [‘Do not resent an insult to you.’] How is this meant? [Do not boast,] ‘So-and-so did such-and-such to me and I have not retaliated’. What is meant by ‘a good record’? Do 1 ot [give cause] to be included in the number of the dissolute, lest people say, ‘How many dissolute persons there are here, including you among them!’ ‘And a blameless adolescence.’ But this has already been taught in the preceding chapter!³⁵In III, 12. There it speaks of his actual doing evil and here [of not giving cause for suspicion] against him. ‘[Inspire] security.’ Some say [that this means]: One should have a sense of security so that the Torah becomes rolled³⁶So that he studies Torah with a carefree mind. H reads nikleleth, ‘contained’. up in his heart. Others [explain]: Inspire confidence in those who ask of you. The latter interpretation conforms to the wording of the Baraitha, ‘and truth’, which implies: Do not falsify confidence [which is placed in you].
BARAITHA.³⁷Cf. Aboth III, 16 (Sonc. ed., III, 12, p. 35). Be submissive to a superior, patient under oppression, of cheerful appearance and keep away from sin.
GEMARA. ‘Be submissive to a superior’: that is, to the ruling power. ‘Patient under oppression’: that is, forced labour as happened with R. Eleazar b. Ḥarson.³⁸Cf. Yoma 35b (Sonc. ed., p. 164). When conscripted by the authorities for forced labour, R. Eleazar paid them a large sum of money for his release so that he could continue his study of the Torah. ‘Be of cheerful appearance’: can one [always] keep his appearance cheerful? [Yes]; for when R. Dimi came he said: The man who [by smiling] shows his teeth white [to his fellow] is better than he who gives him milk to drink.³⁹Cf. Keth. 111b (Sonc. ed., p. 723) where the saying is attributed to R. Joḥanan. What is to be derived from this statement? As illustrated by the experience of R. Beroḳa.⁴⁰Cf. Ta‘an. 22a (Sonc. ed., p. 110). Two men passed by R. Beroḳa when Elijah appeared and exclaimed that these men had a share in the World to Come. On inquiring of them what their occupation was, they told the Rabbi, ‘We are jesters, and when we see men depressed we cheer them up’. ‘Keep away from sin’: so that all can speak about you and you have no need to clear yourself of suspicion.
BARAITHA. Refrain from committing a light sin lest it lead you to one that is grievous. Be mindful of a small precept that it may lead you to one that is important.
GEMARA. It has been learnt:⁴¹Aboth IV, 2 (Sonc. ed., p. 44). Ben ‘Azzai said: Run to do a slight precept and flee from transgression. There [it speaks of fleeing from sin] of one’s free will; here [of fleeing] even when under compulsion. [The proof of this is that the Baraitha] teaches, ‘Refrain, etc.’⁴²The Heb. verb means ‘tremble, shake’ and in the niph‘al ‘move backward’; hence, fleeing under compulsion.
BARAITHA. If you desire to gain the love of your friend,⁴³This is the reading of H in agreement with DER I. busy yourself with his welfare. If you desire to keep away from sin consider where it eventually leads. Attach yourself lovingly to the precepts. Be proud and happy to speak diligently and sing of its details.⁴⁴So GRA, who reads פרטיה.
GEMARA. ‘If you desire to gain the love’, etc. As it is written, But thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.⁴⁵Lev. 19, 18. Because you love your neighbour as yourself he is like yourself. ‘If you desire to keep away from sin consider where it eventually leads.’ As it is written, The wise man, his eyes are in his head.⁴⁶Eccl. 2, 14. But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth;⁴⁷Prov. 17, 24. he regards only what is before him and ignores the consequences. ‘Attach yourself lovingly to the precepts’, by respecting those who fulfil the precepts. ‘Be proud’, etc., by inquiring into the reason of a precept.
BARAITHA. If He has bestowed upon you a small bounty, let it be in your eyes as great and you need to give thanks that He cared⁴⁸Reading the root ספן instead of ספר. for you and bestowed bounty upon you.
GEMARA. ‘If He has bestowed’, etc. Whence do we learn this? For it is written, And thou shalt eat and be satisfied, and bless the Lord thy God for the good land which He hath given thee.⁴⁹Deut. 8, 10. And whence do we know that one is obliged [to bless God] although he has not eaten to satisfaction? For it is written, Give the people that they may eat,⁵⁰2 Kings 4, 43. and it is written, And they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the Lord,⁵¹ibid. 44. There were twenty loaves with which to feed 100 men, and therefore insufficient to satisfy them; yet they blessed God. The words according to the word of the Lord, on this interpretation, refer back to the passage in Deut., and bless the Lord thy God. [which means] blessing [God]. An objection was raised against this: [It is stated,] He restored the border of Israel … according to the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, which He spoke by the hand of His servant Jonah, the son of Amittai!⁵²ibid. XIV, 25. Here the phrase according to the word of the Lord occurs without reference to thanking God for food. There, too, it was a case of thanksgiving.⁵³For victory and regaining the former territories of Israel. Come and hear: [It is stated,] According to the word of the Lord, which He spoke to Elijah!⁵⁴ibid. X, 17, where again there is no reference to thanking God. There, too, say that [the word of the Lord] implies: Blessed be He Who has fulfilled His promise [to inflict punishment upon the house of Ahab]. Come and hear: [It is stated,] According unto the saying of the Lord, which He spoke by the hand of His servant Aḥijah the Shilonite!⁵⁵1 Kings 15, 29. And if you think it is as you said [that the phrase means thanking God, how will you explain this verse?] There^55a(55a) In the verses cited in the various objections. it is written by the hand of, here⁵⁶In the verses quoted as proof from 2 Kings 4, 43f. it is without any qualification.⁵⁷i.e. without the addition by the hand of, etc.
BARAITHA. If you have done much good let it be in your eyes as little. Say, ‘Not with what belongs to me have I done good’, but ‘with what has been granted to me’.
GEMARA. [We learn this] from David; for it is written, Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house?⁵⁸2 Sam. 7, 18. and it states, And what can David say more unto Thee?⁵⁹ibid. 20. and it states, And this was yet a small thing in Thine eyes, O Lord God.⁶⁰ibid. 19. What [is the force of] the additional verses which are cited? Should you say: There because He said to him, And I will make thee a great name, like unto the name of the great ones that are in the earth,⁶¹ibid. 9. [David] exclaimed, Who am I?⁶²Although David was a pious man, he felt himself to be unworthy of God’s promise. This would be a support for the statement of the Baraitha. then come and hear: [What is the force of] And what can David say more unto Thee? Should you reply [that it means,] What else can I pray for? then come and hear: He said, And this was yet a small thing in Thine eyes, O Lord God, that is, it is a small thing for Thee but for me it is a very great thing. [It is stated,] But Thou hast spoken also of Thy servant’s house for a great while to come.⁶³ibid. 19. The word also is intended to add something: [David said,] ‘Not only didst Thou praise me, but also of my seed hast Thou declared, And thy house and thy kingdom shall be made sure for ever before thee.⁶⁴ibid. 16.
But Thou hast spoken also of Thy servant’s house for a great while to come: this⁶⁵Reading with H זה (this) for לא (not). means ‘in the days to come’.⁶⁶The Heb. for a great while to come is lit. ‘from afar’, here equated with the hereafter. As the word is interpreted here to refer to the hereafter, it follows that there is another meaning of the word without reference to the hereafter. Whence do we know this? [It is stated,] I will fetch my knowledge from afar⁶⁷Job 36, 3, where the phrase from afar cannot mean the hereafter but the distant past.— to what [does this refer]? To what has happened from the beginning. Raba said: Infer from this that one who knows when the Messiah will come is here speaking of his times:⁶⁸Cf. H’s note ad loc. Hence the verse from Job refers to the hereafter. and this is also how David used [the word]. And what Isaiah⁶⁹The Text reads ‘Jeremiah’ in error for ‘Isaiah’. said must be included in the reckoning of the years,⁷⁰In alluding to the Messianic era Isaiah speaks of it as coming within a year, according to the years of a hireling, and this makes the date of that era more definite. This would be contrary to the indefiniteness conveyed by the days to come. Hence the phrase within a year, etc., must not be taken literally but understood to denote ‘a time in the future’. as it is written, Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, and all the glory of Ḳedar shall fail; and the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the children of Ḳedar, shall be diminished; for the Lord, the God of Israel, hath spoken it.⁷¹Isa. 21, 16f.
BARAITHA. If men have done you much evil let it be little in your eyes. Say, ‘Only a small part of the punishment due to me have I received; I have deserved more’.
GEMARA. Whence do we learn this? From Abraham⁷²Who acknowledged that God dealt with him with more consideration than he deserved. Cf. Gen. 18, 27, who am but dust and ashes. Another possible translation is: ‘The reward from the Maker is greater [than I merit]’. [who exclaimed,] ‘The reward is greater than the labourer [merits]’.
BARAITHA. If you have done a little evil let it be great in your eyes. Say, ‘Woe to me that I have sinned, that a stumbling-block should have chanced to me!’
GEMARA. Whence do we learn this? From the Gibeonites.⁷³Cf. Josh. 9. Raba objected, ‘Must we, then, learn this from the Gibeonites as otherwise we would not know it?’⁷⁴If it were not for the Gibeonites, would such an ethical teaching be unknown from Hebraic sources? R. Aḥa said to him, ‘And why should we not learn it from them? Were they not merged in Israel?’ It is written, And made as if they hath been ambassadors;⁷⁵Josh. 9, 4; the Heb. verb is wayyiẓṭayyaru. and it is also written, This is our bread we took hot for our provision,⁷⁶ibid. 12; the Heb. verb is hiẓṭayyadnu. [which means] they took provisions with them and said, ‘This is the food which we provided for ourselves in our country; behold,⁷⁷Reading הרי for V וקרי. it has become mouldy⁷⁸Heb. niẓṭayyar. because of the length of the journey’. When they had spoken to Israel and the latter knew [the true facts], what is the meaning of [the Gibeonites’ words to Joshua], And now, behold, we are in thy hand?⁷⁹ibid. 25. [Because it is written,] And Joshua made peace with them,⁸⁰ibid. 15. Since Joshua had already made peace with them, why should they have said this to him? and it is written, And the men took of their provision,⁸¹ibid. 14. The men are the Israelites, who believed the story told to them. the Holy One, blessed be He, said, ‘You gluttons, sons of gluttons, who love gluttony, your fathers also acted likewise [when they declared,] We remember the fish.⁸²Num. 11, 5. All food finds its way to the mouth, but My mouth⁸³lit. ‘His mouth’, i.e. God’s command. you do not remember, [as it is stated,] And asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord,⁸⁴Josh. 9, 14. [Who warned you] in the words, Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go astray after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and they call thee and thou eat of their sacrifice.⁸⁵Ex. 34, 15.
Also Joshua was punished on this account. The Holy One, blessed be He, said, ‘Because [the Gibeonites] entreated you [saying], And now, behold, we are in thy hand; as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do,⁸⁶Josh. 9, 25. I will bring forth a son from you who will implore Israel in the same manner,⁸⁷Reading sidra with H. [saying,] As for me, behold I am in your hand; do with me as is good and right in your eyes.⁸⁸Jer. 26, 14. The allusion is to Jeremiah’s plea to the princes and people on being arrested for prophesying the destruction of the Temple. Jeremiah was descended from Rahab.⁸⁹Cf. Meg. 14b (Sonc. ed., p. 86) where it is stated that Joshua married Rahab, and Jeremiah was one of their descendants.

²⁵⁵Here the heading is missing: “On the Ninth of Av was decided that our forefathers would not enter the Land.” The date of the return of the scouts is not directly spelled out in Num. That is what is written²⁵⁶Num. 10:11., it was in the second year in the second month on the twentieth of the month, etc. And it is written²⁵⁷Num. 10:33., they travelled from the Eternal’s mountain a distance of three days. Rebbi Zacharia, the son-in-law of Rebbi Levi: {a parable} like children who are freed from <school> (books)²⁵⁸The text in < > is from A (and also in a clearly wrong text in a Genizah excerpt, Yerushalmi Fragments, p. 184.) and leave to run²⁵⁹The letters [בכ] added by the corrector indicate a text like A: “leave to villages.” The word is missing in the Genizah excerpt. These changes misunderstand the text. R. Zacharia notes that they did not travel for three days, but the distance of three days, implying that the actual travel time was one day.. On that very day they desired a desire²⁶⁰Num. 11:20. No new date is indicated; an unqualified added month is 30 days.; up to a month, until it will come out of your noses. And the seven days of Miriam; Miriam was secluded outside the camp²⁶¹Num. 12:15.. And the 40 days of the scouts, they returned from scouting the Land at the end of 40 days. They walked and came to Moses and Aaron²⁶²Num. 13:25. etc. They came and found them occupied with the rules for ḥallah²⁶³The heave to be taken from bread dough “when you come into the Land” (Num. 15:18). and orlah²⁶⁴The fruits to be stripped from a tree during its first three years “when you come to the Land” (Lev. 19:23).. They said to them, you are not going to enter the Land and you are studying the rules for ḥallah and orlah? Immediately, the entire congregation raised their voices; the people cried in that night²⁶⁵Num. 14:1.. He said to them, you cried before Me a pointless crying. By My life, in the future you shall cry a substantial crying. Crying she will cry in the night²⁶⁶Thr. 1:2, referring to the Ninth of Av. The computation goes as follows. Starting from the 20^th of the second month one counts this day for travel, 7 days for Miryam’s seclusion, 30 days for the quail, and 40 days for the scouts, for a total of 97 days after the first of the 2^nd month. The year is supposed to start with a full 30 day first month. Therefore the 2^nd and 4^th months have 29 days, the 3^rd month 30 days, for a total of 88 days. The count ends on the 9^th of the 5th month, Q. E. D. Differently in the Babli 29a.. Rebbi Simeon ben Yoḥai stated: It is written²⁶⁷Num. 11:10. This is the second unnecessary crying mentioned in the verse., Moses heard the people crying for its families, etc. About the six incest prohibitions which Moses forbade them²⁶⁸They cried about the paternal and maternal half-sisters, the maternal and paternal aunts, the sister-in-law, and the menstruating woman, which are permitted to Gentiles but forbidden to Israelites. Babli Yoma 75a..

²⁵⁵Here the heading is missing: “On the Ninth of Av was decided that our forefathers would not enter the Land.” The date of the return of the scouts is not directly spelled out in Num. That is what is written²⁵⁶Num. 10:11., it was in the second year in the second month on the twentieth of the month, etc. And it is written²⁵⁷Num. 10:33., they travelled from the Eternal’s mountain a distance of three days. Rebbi Zacharia, the son-in-law of Rebbi Levi: {a parable} like children who are freed from <school> (books)²⁵⁸The text in < > is from A (and also in a clearly wrong text in a Genizah excerpt, Yerushalmi Fragments, p. 184.) and leave to run²⁵⁹The letters [בכ] added by the corrector indicate a text like A: “leave to villages.” The word is missing in the Genizah excerpt. These changes misunderstand the text. R. Zacharia notes that they did not travel for three days, but the distance of three days, implying that the actual travel time was one day.. On that very day they desired a desire²⁶⁰Num. 11:20. No new date is indicated; an unqualified added month is 30 days.; up to a month, until it will come out of your noses. And the seven days of Miriam; Miriam was secluded outside the camp²⁶¹Num. 12:15.. And the 40 days of the scouts, they returned from scouting the Land at the end of 40 days. They walked and came to Moses and Aaron²⁶²Num. 13:25. etc. They came and found them occupied with the rules for ḥallah²⁶³The heave to be taken from bread dough “when you come into the Land” (Num. 15:18). and orlah²⁶⁴The fruits to be stripped from a tree during its first three years “when you come to the Land” (Lev. 19:23).. They said to them, you are not going to enter the Land and you are studying the rules for ḥallah and orlah? Immediately, the entire congregation raised their voices; the people cried in that night²⁶⁵Num. 14:1.. He said to them, you cried before Me a pointless crying. By My life, in the future you shall cry a substantial crying. Crying she will cry in the night²⁶⁶Thr. 1:2, referring to the Ninth of Av. The computation goes as follows. Starting from the 20^th of the second month one counts this day for travel, 7 days for Miryam’s seclusion, 30 days for the quail, and 40 days for the scouts, for a total of 97 days after the first of the 2^nd month. The year is supposed to start with a full 30 day first month. Therefore the 2^nd and 4^th months have 29 days, the 3^rd month 30 days, for a total of 88 days. The count ends on the 9^th of the 5th month, Q. E. D. Differently in the Babli 29a.. Rebbi Simeon ben Yoḥai stated: It is written²⁶⁷Num. 11:10. This is the second unnecessary crying mentioned in the verse., Moses heard the people crying for its families, etc. About the six incest prohibitions which Moses forbade them²⁶⁸They cried about the paternal and maternal half-sisters, the maternal and paternal aunts, the sister-in-law, and the menstruating woman, which are permitted to Gentiles but forbidden to Israelites. Babli Yoma 75a..

The following names are to be divided:³⁹Although each represents one name, it is to be written as two words. Beth-el,⁴⁰e.g. Gen. 12, 8. Beth-’awen,⁴¹Hos. 4, 15, X, 15. Beer-sheba,⁴²E.g. Gen. 21, 31. Ẓofenath-pa’neaḥ, [37b] Poṭi-fera,⁴³ibid. XLI, 45. E.V. Zaphenathpaneah and Poti-phera. Ben-’oni,⁴⁴ibid. XXXV, 18. Yedid-yah,⁴⁵2 Sam. 12, 25. E.V. Jedidiah. Halelu-yah.⁴⁶E.g. Ps. 111, 1, ‘praise ye the Lord’. E.V. prints it as one word. V and H add: וחרה אף וחרה אפי, and the anger [of the Lord] was kindled, My wrath shall wax hot (Ex. 22, 23; Num. 11, 10). R. Jose says: These must not be divided.⁴⁷But written as one word. All, however, agree that there must be no breaking up of ‘Ammi’el,⁴⁸A name meaning ‘God is with me’ (e.g. Num. 13, 12). Another reading is עזיאל, ‘God is my strength’ (e.g. Ex. 6, 18). ‘Amminadab,⁴⁹A name meaning ‘my kinsman is noble’ (e.g. ibid. 23). Ẓuri’el,⁵⁰A name meaning ‘my Rock is God’ (Num. 3, 35). Ẓurishaddai.⁵¹A name meaning ‘my Rock is Shaddai’ (cf. Num. 1, 6).

The following names are to be divided:³⁸Although each represents one name it is to be written as two words. Beth-’el,³⁹e.g. Gen. 12, 8. Beth-’awen,⁴⁰Hos. 4, 15; X, 5. Be’er-sheba‘,⁴¹e.g. Gen. 21, 31. Poṭifera‘,⁴²ibid. XXXV, 18. Ẓafenath-pa‘neaḥ,⁴³ibid. XLI, 45. E.V. Poti-phera and Zaphenath-paneah. [and the words] ḥarah ’af,⁴⁴lit. ‘the anger was kindled’ (cf. Num. 11, 10). ḥarah ’appi.⁴⁵lit. ‘My anger was kindled’ (cf. Ex. 22, 23). R. Jose says: These must not be divided. All agree that there must be no breaking up of ‘Ammiel,⁴⁶A name meaning ‘God is with me’ (e.g. Num. 13, 12). ‘Amminadab,⁴⁷Meaning ‘my kinsman is noble’ (e.g. ibid. 23). Ẓuri’el,⁴⁸The name means ‘my rock is God’ (cf. ibid. III, 35). Ẓurishaddai.⁴⁹A name meaning ‘my rock is Shaddai’ (e.g. ibid. I, 6).

Rebbi Aḥa: Rebbi Immi said that Rebbi Yose ben Ḥanina asked: May his bird be eaten when its neck was broken¹⁵⁷If the child who was declared nazir by his father became impure, his father has to bring a couple of birds for him. Both birds (pigeons or turtle doves) are killed by having their necks broken by the Cohen’s thumbnail (Lev. 5:8). The meat of one of them, offered as purification sacrifice, should be eaten by the priests. If the boy’s vow is valid in biblical law, there is no problem. But if it is valid only rabbinically, then the priest who eats this meat commits two sins, since (a) he slaughters in the Temple what is not a legitimate sacrifice and (b) he eats meat forbidden outside the Temple precinct since it was not ritually slaughtered.
In the Babli, 29a, R. Joḥanan holds that the vow is biblically valid; there are no problems. R. Simeon ben Laqish holds that the vow is rabbinic; his position is that articulated by R. Mani in this paragraph.? Instead of asking about a bird whose neck was broken, why do you not ask about a slaughtered bird¹⁵⁸Since it is forbidden to bring profane animals into the Temple precinct, one could ask not about birds, but about the animals required for the nazir who finishes his term in purity, whether his purification offering could be eaten by the priests.? There is one doubt, here are two doubts¹⁵⁹The sacrifices of the pure underage nazir have only the problem of the validity of his vow in biblical law. The sacrifice of the impure in addition has the problem that the consumption of meat from a bird whose neck was broken is forbidden to everybody except priests in the Temple in the line of duty.. Rebbi Mani said, here also it is one doubt, as it was stated: One who perforates or tears out is not guilty because of profane slaughter in the Temple courtyard¹⁶⁰It is forbidden to ritually slaughter profane animals in the Temple precinct. If the animals are killed in other ways than by slaughter, that prohibition was not violated (other prohibitions may have been violated). Cf. Babli Ḥulin 86a. There remains only the problem of eating the meat; the irregular slaughter in the Temple precinct is not an infraction.. The rabbis of Caesarea in the name of Rebbi Yose ben Ḥanina: There is not even one doubt, following him who says that slaughtering birds is not clear from the Torah¹⁶¹Ritual slaughter of four-legged animals is clearly prescribed in the Torah. In the desert, all non-sacrificial slaughter was forbidden, Lev. 17:1–7. When the Israelites entered the Land, profane slaughter was permitted, Deut. 12:21. Profane slaughter has to be executed “as I commanded you”, i. e., by the method of slaughter used in the Tabernacle. In all of Lev., slaughter is described by the verb שׁחט, Arabic سحط “to cut the throat”. According to this argument, birds should be killed by breaking their neck, rather than by cutting their throat.: “They spread them a spread,”¹⁶²Num. 11:32, speaking of the quail. In Sifry Num. 98, the metathesis שחט - שטח is attributed to R. Jehudah. they spread out slaughtered [birds].

We cover the hair of [dead] brides, uncover the face of [dead] bridegrooms,¹⁸As a sign of grief. and place ink and pen at their side,¹⁹As if to say that had the bridegroom lived he would have written a kethubah for his bride. and we do not fear [being suspected of] superstitious practices.
²⁰GRA deletes this paragraph which is printed by V in brackets. It has no relevance to the context and is derived from Sanh. 11a (Sonc. ed., p. 44). The text is in great disorder.(When Rabban Gamaliel the Elder entered [the meeting place of the Rabbis to intercalate the year], he found eight [present]. He asked, ‘Who is it that entered without permission?’ Samuel the Small arose and said, ‘Rabbi, I entered only to inquire about the law [of intercalation]’.²¹And not to take part in the proceedings without invitation. He answered, ‘O Eldad and Medad,²²Cf. Num. 11, 26. They were worthy that the Spirit of God should alight upon them. all Israel know that if I had ordered that only two should enter, you would have been one [of them] to enter’.)²³So highly was Samuel the Small esteemed.
We suspend the key and writing-tablet of a dead man from his coffin from grief of soul. When Samuel the Small died, they suspended his key and writing-tablet from his coffin because he had no son, and when Rabban Gamaliel the Elder and R. Eleazar delivered their funeral orations over him, they exclaimed, ‘For this one it is fitting to weep, for this one it is fitting to mourn. When kings die they leave their crowns to their sons; when wealthy men die they leave their riches to their children; but Samuel the Small has taken away with him all the desirable things in the world and has departed’. And thus he²⁴i.e. Samuel the Small under the influence of the Holy Spirit. spoke at the time of his death, ‘Simeon [b. Gamaliel] and Ishmael [the son of Elisha the High Priest]²⁵They met their death after the capture of Jerusalem. are destined for the sword and the rest of the people for spoliation; great distress will befall [Israel] after them’. He uttered these words in Aramaic.

Our ancestors tested the Holy Blessed One ten different times, but they were punished only for the sin of slander ([which was one of them]). These are the ten: Once at the sea, once when the manna was first given, once when the manna stopped coming down, once at the first appearance of quails, once at the latter appearance of quails, once at Marah, once at Refidim, once at Horev, once [at the Calf, and once] with the spies. And the sin of the spies was the worst of them all, as it says (Numbers 14:22), “They have tested Me these ten times, and have not heeded My voice.” And also (Numbers 14:37), “The men died before God by plague, for spreading bad reports about the Land [of Israel].” And from this we can reason that if the Holy Blessed One punished the spies for insulting the land, which has no mouth to speak, no reaction, and no shame, then all the more so would the Holy Blessed One punish someone who speaks ill of his friend and shames him.
Rabbi Shimon would say: Afflictions come upon those who speak slander. For so we find with Aaron and Miriam, who spoke slanderously about Moses, and punishments came upon them – as it says (Numbers 12:1), “Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses.” And why does the verse place Miriam before Aaron? [This teaches us that Tziporah (the wife of Moses)] went and talked to Miriam, and then Miriam went and told everything to Aaron, and then the two of them began to speak against this righteous man. And because these two spoke against a righteous man, punishments came upon them, as it says (Numbers 12:9), “And the Eternal became angry with them, and departed.” What do we learn from “and departed”? This teaches us that God departed from Aaron and attached to Miriam, because Aaron was not as engaged as Miriam in spreading slanderous words around, so she was (immediately) punished more. Miriam said: Prophecy has come to me even though I have not separated from my husband. And Aaron said: Prophecy has come to me even though I have not separated from my wife. And even our earliest ancestors received prophecy even though they did not separate from their wives. But Moses, because he is so arrogant, separated from his wife. They did not take this up with [Moses] directly, nor did they know for certain that it was true. It was not at all clear that he was being arrogant. We can reason from this that if Miriam, who spoke against her brother only secretly, was still punished, then if one speaks against his friend publicly, and shames him, all the more so will he be punished.
At that time, Aaron said to Moses: Moses, my brother, you think that this skin disease affects only Miriam, but it is also upon the flesh of our father Amram. I will give you a parable to tell you what this is like: Like someone who has a hot coal placed in his hand. Even if he tosses it around from place to place, his flesh is still burned.”¹The idea here is that Amram and Miriam, father and daughter, are of one flesh, and therefore, if one of them is affected, so is the other. This is why it says (Numbers 12:12), “Please, do not let her be like one who is dead [when she emerges from her mother’s womb, with half of her flesh eaten away].” Meanwhile, Aaron attempted to pacify Moses by saying: Moses, my brother, have we ever done harm to anyone in the world? He replied: No. Aaron continued: So if we have done no harm to anyone in the world, would we have wished to harm you, who are our brother? Now what can I do? Will this mistake come between the covenant between us? (For he had established a covenant with Aaron and his sons,) as it says (Amos 1:9), “They did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.” At that moment, Moses drew a small circle on the ground and stood inside it, and asked for mercy for Miriam. He said: I will not leave this spot until my sister Miriam is healed, as it says (Numbers 12:13), “Please, God, heal her.” Then the Holy Blessed One said to Moses: If a king had reprimanded her, or if her father had reprimanded her, it would have been appropriate for her to sit in shame for seven days. And since it is I, the King of all kings, all the more so is it just for her to sit in shame for fourteen days! However, for your sake, I will forgive her, as it says (Numbers 12:14), “The Eternal said to Moses: If her father spat in her face [would she not sit in shame for seven days?]”
“Now Moses was a very humble man” (Numbers 12:3). Could it be that he was meek and not beautiful and praiseworthy? But we learn from the verse (Exodus 40:19), “He spread the tent over the Tabernacle”: That just as the Tabernacle was ten cubits high, so was Moses also ten cubits high. Could it be that he was as humble as the angels, who serve God? But we learn from that [same] verse [that Moses was humble] “more than any other person”; more than other people, that is, but not more than the angels who serve God. Could it be that he was humbler than those in previous generations? But we learn from that [same] verse, “on the face of the earth”; in his own generation, that is, and not previous generations. There are three types of skin-afflicted people in the world: moist, dry, and polypous, and Moses made himself lowlier than them all.

Our ancestors tested the Holy Blessed One ten different times, but they were punished only for the sin of slander ([which was one of them]). These are the ten: Once at the sea, once when the manna was first given, once when the manna stopped coming down, once at the first appearance of quails, once at the latter appearance of quails, once at Marah, once at Refidim, once at Horev, once [at the Calf, and once] with the spies. And the sin of the spies was the worst of them all, as it says (Numbers 14:22), “They have tested Me these ten times, and have not heeded My voice.” And also (Numbers 14:37), “The men died before God by plague, for spreading bad reports about the Land [of Israel].” And from this we can reason that if the Holy Blessed One punished the spies for insulting the land, which has no mouth to speak, no reaction, and no shame, then all the more so would the Holy Blessed One punish someone who speaks ill of his friend and shames him.
Rabbi Shimon would say: Afflictions come upon those who speak slander. For so we find with Aaron and Miriam, who spoke slanderously about Moses, and punishments came upon them – as it says (Numbers 12:1), “Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses.” And why does the verse place Miriam before Aaron? [This teaches us that Tziporah (the wife of Moses)] went and talked to Miriam, and then Miriam went and told everything to Aaron, and then the two of them began to speak against this righteous man. And because these two spoke against a righteous man, punishments came upon them, as it says (Numbers 12:9), “And the Eternal became angry with them, and departed.” What do we learn from “and departed”? This teaches us that God departed from Aaron and attached to Miriam, because Aaron was not as engaged as Miriam in spreading slanderous words around, so she was (immediately) punished more. Miriam said: Prophecy has come to me even though I have not separated from my husband. And Aaron said: Prophecy has come to me even though I have not separated from my wife. And even our earliest ancestors received prophecy even though they did not separate from their wives. But Moses, because he is so arrogant, separated from his wife. They did not take this up with [Moses] directly, nor did they know for certain that it was true. It was not at all clear that he was being arrogant. We can reason from this that if Miriam, who spoke against her brother only secretly, was still punished, then if one speaks against his friend publicly, and shames him, all the more so will he be punished.
At that time, Aaron said to Moses: Moses, my brother, you think that this skin disease affects only Miriam, but it is also upon the flesh of our father Amram. I will give you a parable to tell you what this is like: Like someone who has a hot coal placed in his hand. Even if he tosses it around from place to place, his flesh is still burned.”¹The idea here is that Amram and Miriam, father and daughter, are of one flesh, and therefore, if one of them is affected, so is the other. This is why it says (Numbers 12:12), “Please, do not let her be like one who is dead [when she emerges from her mother’s womb, with half of her flesh eaten away].” Meanwhile, Aaron attempted to pacify Moses by saying: Moses, my brother, have we ever done harm to anyone in the world? He replied: No. Aaron continued: So if we have done no harm to anyone in the world, would we have wished to harm you, who are our brother? Now what can I do? Will this mistake come between the covenant between us? (For he had established a covenant with Aaron and his sons,) as it says (Amos 1:9), “They did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.” At that moment, Moses drew a small circle on the ground and stood inside it, and asked for mercy for Miriam. He said: I will not leave this spot until my sister Miriam is healed, as it says (Numbers 12:13), “Please, God, heal her.” Then the Holy Blessed One said to Moses: If a king had reprimanded her, or if her father had reprimanded her, it would have been appropriate for her to sit in shame for seven days. And since it is I, the King of all kings, all the more so is it just for her to sit in shame for fourteen days! However, for your sake, I will forgive her, as it says (Numbers 12:14), “The Eternal said to Moses: If her father spat in her face [would she not sit in shame for seven days?]”
“Now Moses was a very humble man” (Numbers 12:3). Could it be that he was meek and not beautiful and praiseworthy? But we learn from the verse (Exodus 40:19), “He spread the tent over the Tabernacle”: That just as the Tabernacle was ten cubits high, so was Moses also ten cubits high. Could it be that he was as humble as the angels, who serve God? But we learn from that [same] verse [that Moses was humble] “more than any other person”; more than other people, that is, but not more than the angels who serve God. Could it be that he was humbler than those in previous generations? But we learn from that [same] verse, “on the face of the earth”; in his own generation, that is, and not previous generations. There are three types of skin-afflicted people in the world: moist, dry, and polypous, and Moses made himself lowlier than them all.

Rebbi Ḥaggai objected to Rebbi Yasa. Is there not written: The two men shall stand¹⁵⁶Deut. 19:17. The verse can be read either as referring to the parties in a lawsuit or to the witnesses in a civil or criminal suit. Cf. Babli Ševuˋot 30a.? Now, is not two the minimum of “men”? Why does the verse say two? That both be equal? But it is written¹⁵⁷Deut. 24:17.: Do not bend the lawsuit of the proselyte, the orphan, … That means that a proselyte can have a lawsuit against one who is not a proselyte, an orphan may have a lawsuit against one who is not an orphan. Then why is there written two? It is free to be combined and to infer from it an equal cut¹⁵⁸Cf. Berakhot 1:1 Note 70, Nedarim 1 Notes 18,159, Nazir 4:1 Note 23, Logical problems (Note 150) pp. 185–186. Two identical expressions, written in two different connections, each of which is free, i. e., not used for an inference not otherwise possible, can be used to transfer rules from one connection to the other. This hermeneutical principle is accepted by all rabbinic schools.. It is said here two and it is said there two men were left¹⁵⁹Num. 11:27. Since Eldad and Medad are mentioned by name in the verse, it is obvious that two men are meant.. Since there one speaks of men but not women, also here men but not women nor underaged.¹⁶⁰Only people potentially acceptable for Moses’s council of 70 Elders. From this we learn that a woman may not be a judge¹⁶¹Babli Ševuˋot 30a, Sifry Deut. 190. and may not be a witness.

Rabbi Eliezer ben Shamua would say: Let your student’s honor be dearer to you than your own. Honor your friend with the reverence you have for your teacher. And revere your teacher with the reverence you have for Heaven. This teaches that one’s student’s honor should be as important to him as his friend’s honor. Everyone should learn from Moses our teacher, who said to Joshua (Exodus 17:9), “Choose men for us.” He did not say: Choose for me, but “choose for us.” This teaches that Moses treated Joshua like an equal, even though Moses was the master and Joshua was his student. Where do we learn that your friend’s honor should be as dear to you as your teacher’s? From what it says (Numbers 12:11), “Then Aaron said to Moses: Oh, my lord.” But wasn’t Moses his younger brother? Yet this shows that he treated him like a teacher. And from where do we know that your teacher’s honor [should be] as dear to you as the honor of Heaven? From what it says (Numbers 11:28), “And Joshua, who was Moses’ attendant from the time he was young, answered and said: My Lord, Moses, stop them!” For he regarded Moses as equivalent to the Divine Presence itself.
At first they would say: there is grain in Judah, straw in the Galilee, and chaff on the other side of the Jordan. But then they began to say: There is no grain in Judah. There is no straw in the Galilee, but there is chaff. And on the other side of the Jordan, there is neither.

The Divine Presence descended to the world ten times. Once in the Garden of Eden, as it says (Genesis 3:8), “They heard the sound of the Eternal God moving in the garden,” and it [also] says (Song of Songs 6:2), “My beloved has gone down to his garden.” Once in the generation of the Tower of Babel, as it says (Genesis 11:5), “And the Eternal went down to see the city and the tower.” Once in Sodom, as it says (Genesis 18:21), “I will go down and I will see about the cries that have come up to Me.” Once in Egypt, as it says (Exodus 3:8), “I have come down to save them from the hands of the Egyptians.” Once at the sea, as it says (Psalms 18:10), “And He bent the heavens and came down.” Once at Sinai, as it says (Exodus 19:20), “And the Eternal came down upon Mount Sinai” before all the people. Once in the Temple, as it says (Ezekiel 44:2), “And the Eternal said to me, this gate must be kept closed and is never to be opened…because the Eternal, the God of Israel, has come through it.” And once in a pillar of cloud, as it says (Numbers 11:25), “And the Eternal came down in a cloud.” And once more in the future, in the days of Gog and Magog, as its says (Zechariah 14:4), “He will set his feet down, on that day, upon the Mount of Olives.”