זְנ֛וּת וְיַ֥יִן וְתִיר֖וֹשׁ יִֽקַּֽח־לֵֽב׃
Ang pakikiapid, ang alak, at ang bagong alak ay umaagaw sa puso.
Eikhah Rabbah
There was an incident involving Miriam bat Baitus, whom Yehoshua ben Gamla betrothed [to him], and the king appointed him to be the High Priest.173He was appointed to this position because his wealthy wife paid an exorbitant sum to bribe the king to make the appointment. One time, she entered [the Temple] to observe, saying: ‘I will go and see him when he reads the Torah on Yom Kippur in the Temple.’ [Her servants] laid out carpets for her from the entrance of her house to the entrance of the Temple so that her feet would not become irritated. Nevertheless, her feet became irritated. When Yehoshua, her husband, died, the Sages alloted two se’a of wine each day for her.174This was part of her allotment from her husband’s estate. But did we not learn: One does not apportion wine to a woman? Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: [Because] it leads to licentiousness, just as it says: “Licentiousness, wine, and new wine will have captured the heart” (Hosea 4:11). Rabbi Yeḥizkiya and Rabbi Abahu said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: For her cooked dishes.175It is permitted to allot wine for cooking, it is prohibited for drinking. They allotted this significant amount of wine daily for the cooked dishes of her household, which demonstrates her immense wealth. Moreover, we learned: If she was nursing, one diminishes her handiwork and adds to her sustenance. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: What does one add? Wine, because wine increases the milk.176This is another reason it is permitted to allot wine to a woman, and may have been the reason Miriam bat Baitus was allotted wine. Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Tzadok said: I will see the consolation,177This was an expression of an oath, short for ‘may I not see the consolation of Jerusalem if I did not see such-and-such.’ if I did not see that they tied her hair to the tails of Arabian horses, and they had them pull her from Jerusalem to Lod. I read in her regard: “The tender and delicate woman among you…” (Deuteronomy 28:56).
Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)
Solomon thereupon sent Benayahu, the son of Yehoyadu, providing him with a chain and a ring, upon both of which the name of God was engraved. He also provided him with a fleece of wool and sundry skins of wine. Then Benayahu went and dug a pit below that of Ashmedai from which he drained off the water and plugged the duct between with the fleece. Then he set to work and dug another hole higher up which he provided with a channel leading into the emptied pit of Ashmedai, by which means the pit was filled with the wine he had brought. Having leveled the ground [so as not to arouse suspicion] he ascended a tree close by [to watch the result]. After a while Ashmedai came and examined the seal and seeing that everything was well he raised the stone, but [to his surprise] found wine in the pit. For a time he stood muttering: "It is written (Pr. 20, 1) Wine is a mocker; strong drink is riotous, and whosoever reeleth thereby is not wise. And again, (Hos. 4, 11) Harlotry, wine and new wine take away the heart. I shall therefore not drink it." But when he became thirsty he could no longer resist the temptation. He proceeded to drink therefrom when, becoming intoxicated, he lay down to sleep. Then Benayahu came forth [from his ambush] and fastened the chain around the sleeper's neck. Ashmedai. when he awoke, began to fret and fume, and would have torn off the chain that bound him, had not Benayahu warned him, saying: "The name of thy Lord is upon thee." As they journeyed along [while on their way to Solomon] they came to a palm tree, against which Ashmedai rubbed himself, until he uprooted it and threw it down. When they approached a hut, the poor widow who inhabited it came out and entreated him not to rub himself against it, upon which, as he suddenly bent himself back, he snapped a bone of his body, remarking, "This exemplifies the passage (Pr. 25, 15) And a gentle answer breaks the bone." Observing a blind man straying out of his way, he directed him aright. He did the same to a man who had been overcome with wine, directing him aright. At sight of a wedding party that passed rejoicing along, he wept; but he burst into a laughter when at a shoemaker's he heard a man order a pair of shoes that would last seven years; and when he saw a magician at his work he broke forth into cries of scorn.
Bamidbar Rabbah
“The people began to engage in harlotry with the daughters of Moav” – come and see what is written upon their exodus from Egypt: “Speak to the children of Israel, and they will return and encamp before Pi HaḤirot” (Exodus 14:2).What is Pi HaḤirot? It is a place designated for harlotry. Because they conducted themselves chastely, it was called Pi HaḤirot.79Harlotry is not mentioned explicitly, but rather ḥirot, an allusion to ḥerut, freedom. But these, who abandoned themselves to the men,80The Etz Yosef writes that this should read "women" instead of "men." it is written “the people began to engage in harlotry [with the daughters of Moav].”
“The people began” – every place that it says “the people,” it is an expression of denigration, but everywhere that it says “Israel,” it is an expression of praise. “The people were as complainers” (Numbers 11:1); “the people spoke against God and against Moses” (Numbers 21:5); “the people wept that night” (Numbers 14:1); “until when will this people scorn Me?” (Numbers 14:11); “Moses saw the people, that it was exposed” (Exodus 32:25); “the people assembled around Aaron” (Exodus 32:1), and likewise, all of them.
“The people began to engage in harlotry” – cast a staff into the air, it falls on its place of origin. The one who began with harlotry initially, ultimately completed it. Their mothers began with lewdness.81Lot and his daughter were the ancestors of Moav (Genesis 19:30–37). “The elder said to the younger…let us give our father wine to drink, and we will lie…it was the next day and the elder said to the younger: Behold, I lay last night…” (Genesis 19:31–32, 34). Her sister taught her; that is why the verse spared the younger, and did not state what she had done explicitly, but rather, “she lay with him” (Genesis 19:35). But regarding the elder it is written: “She lay with her father.” She who began with harlotry initially, her daughters completed the task after her; “to engage in harlotry with the daughters of Moav."
“They invited the people to the offerings of their gods, and the people ate, and prostrated themselves to their gods” (Numbers 25:2).
“They invited the people to the offerings of their gods” – they went in accordance with his82Bilam’s. counsel, as it is stated: “Behold, they were for the children of Israel, by the word of Bilam, to commit trespass against the Lord” (Numbers 31:16). They crafted curtains for them and seated harlots in them and in their hands were all types of precious vessels. An elderly woman would sit outside and watch over the young woman, who was inside the shop. When an Israelite would pass to purchase an object in the market, the elderly woman would say to him: 'Young man, do you not want linen garments from Beit She’an?' She would show him and say: 'Go inside and you will see fine objects.’ The elderly woman would say for more,83A more expensive price. and the young woman for less. From that point on, the young woman would say: 'You are like a member of the household, choose for yourself.' There was a bottle of wine with her, and the wine of gentiles had not yet been prohibited. A young woman would come out adorned and perfumed and seduce him. She would say to him: 'Why is it that we love you and you hate us? Take this vessel for yourself at no cost. Is it not that “we are all the children of one man” (Genesis 42:11), the sons of Teraḥ, father of Abraham? You do not wish to eat from our slaughter and from our cooking, we have calves and roosters; slaughter in accordance with your mitzva and eat.' Immediately, she would give him wine to drink and Satan was inflamed within him, and he strayed after her, as it is stated: “Harlotry, wine and new wine capture the heart” (Hosea 4:11).
Some say: Bilam commanded them not to give them to drink, so they would not be judges as those intoxicated with wine, but rather as intentional sinners. When he would proposition her, she would say to him: ‘I will not submit to you until you slaughter this to Peor, and prostrate yourself to it.’ He would say: ‘To idolatry I do not prostrate myself.’ She would say to him: ‘You are doing nothing more than exposing yourself.’84Worship to Peor was undertaken by means of defecating before it. He strayed after her and did so. This is what the Sages said: One who defecates to Baal Peor, that is its worship, as it is stated: “They prostrated themselves to their gods.”85After having worshiped Peor by defacating, they then proceeded also to bow down to Peor.
“Israel adhered to Baal Peor, and the wrath of the Lord was enflamed against Israel” (Numbers 25:3).
“Israel adhered [vayitzamed] to Baal Peor” – initially, they would enter discreetly, but ultimately, they would enter in pairs [tzemidim], as in a yoke [tzemed] of cattle. Alternatively, like a person who is constant [tzamid] in his labor. Vayitzamed – like “bracelets [tzmidim] on her hands” (Genesis 24:22). Rabbi Levi said: This is a harsher decree than the calf, as regarding the calf it is written: “Remove the gold rings” (Exodus 32:2), but here, vayitzamed, like bracelets.86There they donated earrings for idolatry, but here, bracelets, which are larger. At the calf, three thousand fell, but here, twenty-four thousand.
“The Lord said to Moses: Take all the leaders of the people, and hang them for the Lord opposite the sun, and the enflamed wrath of the Lord will be withdrawn from Israel” (Numbers 25:4).
“The Lord said to Moses: Take all the leaders of the people, and hang them” – Rabbi Yudan said they hanged the leaders of the people because they did not reprove the people. Rabbi Neḥemya said: He did not hang the leaders of the people, but rather, the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: 'Empanel for them heads of the Sanhedrin, and they will judge all those who went to Peor.'87“Hang them” means: Have the leaders of the people hang the sinners. He said: 'Who will inform them?' He said to him: ‘I will publicize them. Anyone who erred, the cloud will move from above him and the sun will shine upon him in the midst of the congregation. Everyone will know who erred and will hang him.’ Know that it is so: “So Moses said to Israel's officials: Each of you slay those of his men [who attached themselves to Baal Peor]” (Numbers 25:5).
“The people began” – every place that it says “the people,” it is an expression of denigration, but everywhere that it says “Israel,” it is an expression of praise. “The people were as complainers” (Numbers 11:1); “the people spoke against God and against Moses” (Numbers 21:5); “the people wept that night” (Numbers 14:1); “until when will this people scorn Me?” (Numbers 14:11); “Moses saw the people, that it was exposed” (Exodus 32:25); “the people assembled around Aaron” (Exodus 32:1), and likewise, all of them.
“The people began to engage in harlotry” – cast a staff into the air, it falls on its place of origin. The one who began with harlotry initially, ultimately completed it. Their mothers began with lewdness.81Lot and his daughter were the ancestors of Moav (Genesis 19:30–37). “The elder said to the younger…let us give our father wine to drink, and we will lie…it was the next day and the elder said to the younger: Behold, I lay last night…” (Genesis 19:31–32, 34). Her sister taught her; that is why the verse spared the younger, and did not state what she had done explicitly, but rather, “she lay with him” (Genesis 19:35). But regarding the elder it is written: “She lay with her father.” She who began with harlotry initially, her daughters completed the task after her; “to engage in harlotry with the daughters of Moav."
“They invited the people to the offerings of their gods, and the people ate, and prostrated themselves to their gods” (Numbers 25:2).
“They invited the people to the offerings of their gods” – they went in accordance with his82Bilam’s. counsel, as it is stated: “Behold, they were for the children of Israel, by the word of Bilam, to commit trespass against the Lord” (Numbers 31:16). They crafted curtains for them and seated harlots in them and in their hands were all types of precious vessels. An elderly woman would sit outside and watch over the young woman, who was inside the shop. When an Israelite would pass to purchase an object in the market, the elderly woman would say to him: 'Young man, do you not want linen garments from Beit She’an?' She would show him and say: 'Go inside and you will see fine objects.’ The elderly woman would say for more,83A more expensive price. and the young woman for less. From that point on, the young woman would say: 'You are like a member of the household, choose for yourself.' There was a bottle of wine with her, and the wine of gentiles had not yet been prohibited. A young woman would come out adorned and perfumed and seduce him. She would say to him: 'Why is it that we love you and you hate us? Take this vessel for yourself at no cost. Is it not that “we are all the children of one man” (Genesis 42:11), the sons of Teraḥ, father of Abraham? You do not wish to eat from our slaughter and from our cooking, we have calves and roosters; slaughter in accordance with your mitzva and eat.' Immediately, she would give him wine to drink and Satan was inflamed within him, and he strayed after her, as it is stated: “Harlotry, wine and new wine capture the heart” (Hosea 4:11).
Some say: Bilam commanded them not to give them to drink, so they would not be judges as those intoxicated with wine, but rather as intentional sinners. When he would proposition her, she would say to him: ‘I will not submit to you until you slaughter this to Peor, and prostrate yourself to it.’ He would say: ‘To idolatry I do not prostrate myself.’ She would say to him: ‘You are doing nothing more than exposing yourself.’84Worship to Peor was undertaken by means of defecating before it. He strayed after her and did so. This is what the Sages said: One who defecates to Baal Peor, that is its worship, as it is stated: “They prostrated themselves to their gods.”85After having worshiped Peor by defacating, they then proceeded also to bow down to Peor.
“Israel adhered to Baal Peor, and the wrath of the Lord was enflamed against Israel” (Numbers 25:3).
“Israel adhered [vayitzamed] to Baal Peor” – initially, they would enter discreetly, but ultimately, they would enter in pairs [tzemidim], as in a yoke [tzemed] of cattle. Alternatively, like a person who is constant [tzamid] in his labor. Vayitzamed – like “bracelets [tzmidim] on her hands” (Genesis 24:22). Rabbi Levi said: This is a harsher decree than the calf, as regarding the calf it is written: “Remove the gold rings” (Exodus 32:2), but here, vayitzamed, like bracelets.86There they donated earrings for idolatry, but here, bracelets, which are larger. At the calf, three thousand fell, but here, twenty-four thousand.
“The Lord said to Moses: Take all the leaders of the people, and hang them for the Lord opposite the sun, and the enflamed wrath of the Lord will be withdrawn from Israel” (Numbers 25:4).
“The Lord said to Moses: Take all the leaders of the people, and hang them” – Rabbi Yudan said they hanged the leaders of the people because they did not reprove the people. Rabbi Neḥemya said: He did not hang the leaders of the people, but rather, the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: 'Empanel for them heads of the Sanhedrin, and they will judge all those who went to Peor.'87“Hang them” means: Have the leaders of the people hang the sinners. He said: 'Who will inform them?' He said to him: ‘I will publicize them. Anyone who erred, the cloud will move from above him and the sun will shine upon him in the midst of the congregation. Everyone will know who erred and will hang him.’ Know that it is so: “So Moses said to Israel's officials: Each of you slay those of his men [who attached themselves to Baal Peor]” (Numbers 25:5).