Bava Batra 16
מֵעֵין הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא.
of the World-to-Come, when plowing and harvesting will take place at the same time. Here too, the oxen plowed and the donkeys grazed on the crops that grew from that effort.
״עוֹד זֶה מְדַבֵּר – וְזֶה בָּא, וַיֹּאמַר: אֵשׁ אֱלֹהִים וְגוֹ׳. עוֹד זֶה מְדַבֵּר – וְזֶה בָּא, וַיֹּאמַר: כַּשְׂדִּים שָׂמוּ שְׁלֹשָׁה רָאשִׁים, וַיִּפְשְׁטוּ עַל הַגְּמַלִּים וַיִּקָּחוּם וְגוֹ׳. עוֹד זֶה מְדַבֵּר – וְזֶה בָּא, וַיֹּאמַר: בָּנֶיךָ וּבְנוֹתֶיךָ אוֹכְלִים וְשׁוֹתִים יַיִן בְּבֵית אֲחִיהֶם הַבְּכוֹר, וְהִנֵּה רוּחַ גְּדוֹלָה בָּאָה מֵעֵבֶר הַמִּדְבָּר, וַיִּגַּע בְּאַרְבַּע פִּנּוֹת הַבַּיִת וַיִּפֹּל עַל הַנְּעָרִים וְגוֹ׳. וַיָּקׇם אִיּוֹב וַיִּקְרַע אֶת מְעִלוֹ וַיָּגׇז אֶת רֹאשׁוֹ וְגוֹ׳, וַיֹּאמֶר: עָרוֹם יָצָאתִי מִבֶּטֶן אִמִּי, וְעָרוֹם אָשׁוּב שָׁמָּה; ה׳ נָתַן וַה׳ לָקָח, יְהִי שֵׁם ה׳ מְבוֹרָךְ. בְּכׇל זֹאת לֹא חָטָא אִיּוֹב וְלֹא נָתַן תִּפְלָה לֵאלֹהִים.
The Gemara continues to interpret verses from the book of Job. “While he was yet speaking, there came also another and said: The fire of God has fallen from heaven, and has burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them…While he was yet speaking, there came also another and said: The Chaldeans formed three bands, and fell among the camels, and have carried them away, and have slain the servants with the edge of the sword…While he was yet speaking, there came also another and said: Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house; and, behold, there came a great wind from across the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead…Then Job arose, and rent his coat, and shaved his head, and fell down on the ground and prostrated himself. And he said: I came naked out of my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor did he lay reproach on God” (Job 1:16–22).
וַיְהִי הַיּוֹם, וַיָּבֹאוּ בְּנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים לְהִתְיַצֵּב וְגוֹ׳. וַיֹּאמֶר ה׳ אֶל הַשָּׂטָן: אֵי מִזֶּה תָּבֹא? וַיַּעַן הַשָּׂטָן אֶת ה׳, וַיֹּאמַר: מִשֻּׁט בָּאָרֶץ [וְגוֹ׳]״ – אָמַר לְפָנָיו: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, שַׁטְתִּי בְּכׇל הָעוֹלָם, וְלֹא מָצָאתִי כְּעַבְדְּךָ אַבְרָהָם – שֶׁאָמַרְתָּ לוֹ: ״קוּם הִתְהַלֵּךְ בָּאָרֶץ לְאׇרְכָּהּ וּלְרׇחְבָּהּ, כִּי לְךָ אֶתְּנֶנָּה״, וּבְשָׁעָה שֶׁבִּקֵּשׁ לִקְבּוֹר שָׂרָה, לֹא מָצָא מָקוֹם לְקוֹבְרָהּ – וְלֹא הִרְהֵר אַחַר מִדּוֹתֶיךָ.
“Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Satan came also among them to present himself before God. And the Lord said to the Satan: From where do you come? And the Satan answered the Lord, and said: From going to and fro in the earth and from walking up and down in it” (Job 2:1–2). The Satan said before God: Master of the Universe, I have gone to and fro across the entire world and have not found anyone as faithful as your servant Abraham, to whom you said: “Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it to you” (Genesis 13:17). And when he wanted to bury Sarah, he could not find a place to bury her, and yet he did not criticize Your ways, or accuse You of having failed to keep Your promise.
״וַיֹּאמֶר ה׳ אֶל הַשָּׂטָן: הֲשַׂמְתָּ לִבְּךָ אֶל עַבְדִּי אִיּוֹב, כִּי אֵין כָּמֹהוּ בָּאָרֶץ וְגוֹ׳, וְעֹדֶנּוּ מַחֲזִיק בְּתֻמָּתוֹ, וַתְּסִיתֵנִי בוֹ לְבַלְּעוֹ חִנָּם״ –
About this it says: “And the Lord said to the Satan: Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God and turns away from evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you moved Me against him, to destroy him without cause” (Job 2:3).
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: אִלְמָלֵא מִקְרָא כָּתוּב, אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְאוֹמְרוֹ – כְּאָדָם שֶׁמְּסִיתִין אוֹתוֹ וְנִיסָת.
Rabbi Yoḥanan says: Were it not explicitly written in the verse, it would be impossible to say this, as it would be insulting to God’s honor. The verse states: “You moved Me against him,” like a person whom others persuade and allows himself to be persuaded, as if God had not wanted to do anything, but allowed Himself to be persuaded to bring harm to Job.
בְּמַתְנִיתָא תָּנָא: יוֹרֵד וּמַתְעֶה, וְעוֹלֶה וּמַרְגִּיז, נוֹטֵל רְשׁוּת, וְנוֹטֵל נְשָׁמָה.
It was taught in a baraita with regard to the methods of the Satan: He descends to this world and misleads a person into sinning. He then ascends to Heaven, levels accusations against that very sinner, and inflames God’s anger against him. He then receives permission to act and takes away the sinner’s soul as punishment.
״וַיַּעַן הַשָּׂטָן אֶת ה׳ וַיֹּאמַר: עוֹר בְּעַד עוֹר, וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר לָאִישׁ יִתֵּן בְּעַד נַפְשׁוֹ. אוּלָם שְׁלַח נָא יָדְךָ וְגַע אֶל עַצְמוֹ וְאֶל בְּשָׂרוֹ, אִם לֹא עַל פָּנֶיךָ יְבָרְכֶךָּ. וַיֹּאמֶר ה׳ אֶל הַשָּׂטָן: הִנּוֹ בְיָדֶךָ, אַךְ אֶת נַפְשׁוֹ שְׁמֹר. וַיֵּצֵא הַשָּׂטָן מֵאֵת פְּנֵי ה׳, וַיַּךְ אֶת אִיּוֹב וְגוֹ׳״. אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: קָשֶׁה צַעֲרוֹ שֶׁל שָׂטָן, יוֹתֵר מִשֶּׁל אִיּוֹב – מָשָׁל לְעֶבֶד שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ רַבּוֹ: שְׁבוֹר חָבִית, וּשְׁמוֹר אֶת יֵינָהּ.
The Gemara returns to discuss the text of the book of Job: “And the Satan answered the Lord, and said: Skin for skin, for all that a man has he will give for his life. But put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse You to Your face. And the Lord said to the Satan: Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life. So the Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with vile sores from the sole of his foot to his crown” (Job 2:4–7). Rabbi Yitzḥak says: Satan’s suffering was more difficult than that of Job. This can be explained by means of a parable involving a servant whose master said to him: Break the barrel but save its wine. Here too, God told the Satan that he could do whatever he liked short of taking Job’s life, and that limitation caused Satan to suffer.
אָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ: הוּא שָׂטָן, הוּא יֵצֶר הָרָע, הוּא מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת. הוּא שָׂטָן – דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיֵּצֵא הַשָּׂטָן מֵאֵת פְּנֵי ה׳״. הוּא יֵצֶר הָרָע – כְּתִיב הָתָם: ״רַק רַע כׇּל הַיּוֹם״, וּכְתִיב הָכָא: (״רַק אֶת נַפְשׁוֹ שְׁמֹר״) [״רַק אֵלָיו אַל תִּשְׁלַח יָדֶךָ״]. הוּא מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת – דִּכְתִיב: ״(רַק) [אַךְ] אֶת נַפְשׁוֹ שְׁמֹר״ – אַלְמָא בְּדִידֵיהּ קָיְימָא.
Reish Lakish says: Satan, the evil inclination, and the Angel of Death are one, that is, they are three aspects of the same essence. He is the Satan who seduces people and then accuses them, as it is written: “So the Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with vile sores” (Job 2:7). He is also the evil inclination, as it is written there: “The impulse of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continuously” (Genesis 6:5); and it is written here: “Only upon himself do not put forth your hand” (Job 1:12). The verbal analogy between the various uses of the word “only” teaches that the evil inclination is to be identified with the Satan. He is also the Angel of Death, as it is written: “Only spare his life” (Job 2:6); apparently Job’s life depends upon him, the Satan, and accordingly the Satan must also be the Angel of Death.
אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי: שָׂטָן וּפְנִינָה לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם נִתְכַּוְּונוּ. שָׂטָן – כֵּיוָן דְּחַזְיֵא לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא דְּנָטְיָה דַּעְתֵּיהּ בָּתַר אִיּוֹב, אָמַר: חַס וְשָׁלוֹם מִינְּשֵׁי לֵיהּ לְרַחְמָנוּתֵיהּ דְּאַבְרָהָם. פְּנִינָה – דִּכְתִיב: ״וְכִעֲסַתָּה צָרָתָהּ גַּם כַּעַס, בַּעֲבוּר הַרְּעִימָהּ״. דַּרְשַׁהּ רַב אַחָא בַּר יַעֲקֹב בְּפַפּוֹנְיָא. אֲתָא שָׂטָן, נַשְּׁקֵיהּ לְכַרְעֵיהּ.
Rabbi Levi says: Both Satan, who brought accusations against Job, and Peninnah, who tormented Hannah, mother of Samuel the prophet, acted with intent that was for the sake of Heaven. As for Satan, when he saw that the Holy One, Blessed be He, inclined to favor Job and praised him, he said: Heaven forbid that He should forget the love of Abraham. With regard to Peninnah, as it is written: “And her rival wife also provoked her sore, to make her fret” (I Samuel 1:6), i.e., Peninnah upset Hannah in order to motivate her to pray. Rav Aḥa bar Ya’akov taught this in Paphunya, and Satan came and kissed his feet in gratitude for speaking positively about him.
״בְּכׇל זֹאת לֹא חָטָא אִיּוֹב בִּשְׂפָתָיו״. אָמַר רָבָא: בִּשְׂפָתָיו לֹא חָטָא, בְּלִבּוֹ חָטָא. מַאי קָאָמַר? ״אֶרֶץ נִתְּנָה בְיַד רָשָׁע, פְּנֵי שֹׁפְטֶיהָ יְכַסֶּה, אִם לֹא אֵיפוֹ מִי הוּא״ – אָמַר רָבָא: בִּקֵּשׁ אִיּוֹב לַהֲפוֹךְ קְעָרָה עַל פִּיהָ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי: לֹא דִּבֵּר אִיּוֹב אֶלָּא כְּנֶגֶד הַשָּׂטָן.
The Gemara considers the character of Job. The verse states: “In all this Job did not sin with his lips” (Job 2:10). Rava says: A close reading of the verse indicates that he did not sin with his lips, but he sinned in his heart. What did he say that suggests that he had wicked thoughts? “The earth is given into the hand of the wicked, he covers the faces of its judges; if not he, then who is it?” (Job 9:24). Rava says: Job sought to turn the bowl upside down, that is to say, he alluded here to a heretical thought, as he said that the earth is given into the hand of the wicked, indicating that he had God in mind. Abaye said to him: Job was referring here only to the Satan, he being the wicked one into whose hands the land was given.
כְּתַנָּאֵי: ״אֶרֶץ נִתְּנָה בְיַד רָשָׁע״ – רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: בִּקֵּשׁ אִיּוֹב לַהֲפוֹךְ קְעָרָה עַל פִּיהָ. אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ: לֹא דִּבֵּר אִיּוֹב אֶלָּא כְּלַפֵּי שָׂטָן.
The Gemara comments: This is parallel to a dispute between tanna’im, as it was taught in a baraita: “The earth is given into the hand of the wicked.” Rabbi Eliezer says: Job sought to turn the bowl upside down; Rabbi Yehoshua said to him: Job was referring here only to the Satan.
״עַל דַּעְתְּךָ כִּי לֹא אֶרְשָׁע וְאֵין מִיָּדְךָ מַצִּיל״ – אָמַר רָבָא: בִּקֵּשׁ אִיּוֹב לִפְטוֹר אֶת כׇּל הָעוֹלָם כּוּלּוֹ מִן הַדִּין. אָמַר לְפָנָיו: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, בָּרָאתָ שׁוֹר – פַּרְסוֹתָיו סְדוּקוֹת, בָּרָאתָ חֲמוֹר – פַּרְסוֹתָיו קְלוּטוֹת; בָּרָאתָ גַּן עֵדֶן, בָּרָאתָ גֵּיהִנָּם; בָּרָאתָ צַדִּיקִים, בָּרָאתָ רְשָׁעִים. מִי מְעַכֵּב עַל יָדְךָ?
The Gemara continues to discuss Job’s statements: “Although You know that I am not wicked, and there is none that can deliver out of Your hand” (Job 10:7). Rava says: Job sought to exempt the whole world from judgment, claiming that all of a person’s actions are directed by God, and therefore one cannot be held culpable for his misdeeds. Job said before God: Master of the Universe, You created the ox with split hooves, making it kosher, and You created the donkey with closed hooves, making it forbidden; You created the Garden of Eden, and You created Gehenna; and similarly, You created righteous people and You created wicked people; who can restrain You? Seeing that You created people as either righteous or wicked, You cannot later complain about their actions.
וּמַאי אַהְדַּרוּ לֵיהּ חַבְרֵיהּ [דְּאִיּוֹב] – ״אַף אַתָּה תָּפֵר יִרְאָה, וְתִגְרַע שִׂיחָה לִפְנֵי אֵל״; בָּרָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יֵצֶר הָרָע – בָּרָא לוֹ תּוֹרָה תַּבְלִין.
And how did Job’s friends answer him? “You do away with fear, and impair devotion before God” (Job 15:4) with such statements. True, the Holy One, Blessed be He, created the evil inclination, but He also created the Torah as an antidote to counter its effects and prevent it from gaining control of a person.
דָּרֵשׁ רָבָא, מַאי דִּכְתִיב: ״בִּרְכַּת אֹבֵד עָלַי תָּבֹא, וְלֵב אַלְמָנָה אַרְנִן״? ״בִּרְכַּת אֹבֵד עָלַי תָּבֹא״ – מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהָיָה גּוֹזֵל שָׂדֶה מִיְּתוֹמִים, וּמַשְׁבִּיחָהּ וּמַחְזִירָהּ לָהֶן״. ״וְלֵב אַלְמָנָה אַרְנִן״ – דְּכׇל הֵיכָא דַּהֲוָה אִיכָּא אַלְמָנָה דְּלָא הֲווֹ נָסְבִי לַהּ, הֲוָה אָזֵיל שָׁדֵי שְׁמֵיהּ עִילָּוַוהּ, וַהֲווֹ אָתוּ נָסְבִי לַהּ.
Rava interpreted a verse homiletically: What is the meaning of that which is written, Job saying about himself: “The blessing of him that was lost came upon me, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy” (Job 29:13). “The blessing of him that was lost came upon me” teaches that Job used to steal a field from orphans, cultivate it, improve it, and then return it to them; consequently, they would bless him for the field they had lost. “I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy” teaches that anywhere that there was a widow whom no one would marry, he would go and cast his name upon her, i.e., he would start a rumor that she was related to him, and then somebody would come forward and marry her.
״לוּ שָׁקוֹל יִשָּׁקֵל כַּעְשִׂי וְהַוָּתִי, בְּמֹאזְנַיִם יִשְׂאוּ יָחַד״ – אָמַר רַב: עַפְרָא לְפוּמֵּיהּ דְּאִיּוֹב, חַבְרוּתָא כְּלַפֵּי שְׁמַיָּא! ״לוּ יֵשׁ בֵּינֵינוּ מוֹכִיחַ, יָשֵׁת יָדוֹ עַל שְׁנֵינוּ״ – אָמַר רַב: עַפְרָא לְפוּמֵּיהּ דְּאִיּוֹב, כְּלוּם יֵשׁ עֶבֶד שֶׁמּוֹכִיחַ אֶת רַבּוֹ?! ״בְּרִית כָּרַתִּי לְעֵינָי, וּמָה אֶתְבּוֹנֵן עַל בְּתוּלָה״ – אָמַר רָבָא: עַפְרָא לְפוּמֵּיהּ דְּאִיּוֹב, אִיהוּ – בְּאַחְרָנְיָתָא, אַבְרָהָם – אֲפִילּוּ בְּדִידֵיהּ לָא אִיסְתַּכַּל – דִּכְתִיב: ״הִנֵּה נָא יָדַעְתִּי כִּי אִשָּׁה יְפַת מַרְאֶה אָתְּ״ – מִכְּלָל דְּמֵעִיקָּרָא לָא הֲוָה יָדַע לַהּ.
Job further said: “O that my vexation were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances” (Job 6:2). Rav says: Dust should be put in the mouth of Job, meaning, he should not have spoken in such a manner, as if he were weighing his deeds against those of God; may one act as if he is in a friendship with Heaven? And similarly, Job said: “There is no arbiter between us, who may lay his hand upon us both” (Job 9:33). Rav says: Dust should be put in the mouth of Job for saying this; is there a servant who rebukes his master? Job also said: “I have made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I look upon a virgin?” (Job 31:1). Rava says: Dust should be put in the mouth of Job for saying this; he did not look at other women, but Abraham did not even look at his own wife, as it is written: “Now I know that you are a beautiful woman” (Genesis 12:11). One may learn by inference that initially he did not know how beautiful she was because he had not gazed at her.
״כָּלָה עָנָן וַיֵּלַךְ, כֵּן יוֹרֵד שְׁאוֹל לֹא יַעֲלֶה״ – אָמַר רָבָא: מִכָּאן שֶׁכָּפַר אִיּוֹב בִּתְחִיַּית הַמֵּתִים. ״אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׂעָרָה יְשׁוּפֵנִי, וְהִרְבָּה פְצָעַי חִנָּם״ – אָמַר רַבָּה: אִיּוֹב בִּסְעָרָה חֵרַף, וּבִסְעָרָה הֱשִׁיבוּהוּ.
Job further said: “As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to the grave shall come up no more” (Job 7:9). Rava says: From here it may be inferred that Job denied the resurrection of the dead, as he said that one who goes down to the grave will not come up and live again, just as a cloud that dissipates will not return. He also stated: “He crushes me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause” (Job 9:17). Rabba says: Job blasphemed with mention of a tempest and he was answered with mention of a tempest.
בִּסְעָרָה חֵרַף – דִּכְתִיב: ״אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׂעָרָה יְשׁוּפֵנִי״; אָמַר לְפָנָיו: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, שֶׁמָּא רוּחַ סְעָרָה עָבְרָה לְפָנֶיךָ, וְנִתְחַלֵּף לְךָ בֵּין אִיּוֹב לְאוֹיֵב? בִּסְעָרָה הֱשִׁיבוּהוּ – דִּכְתִיב: וַיַּעַן ה׳ אֶת אִיּוֹב מִן הַסְּעָרָה, וַיֹּאמַר: [וְגוֹ׳] אֱזׇר נָא כְגֶבֶר חֲלָצֶיךָ, אֶשְׁאָלְךָ וְהוֹדִיעֵנִי.
Rabba explains: He blasphemed with mention of a tempest [bise’ara], as it is written: “He crushes me with a tempest.” Job said before God: Master of the Universe, perhaps a tempest passed before You and You confused Iyov, Job, with oyev, enemy. He was answered with mention of a tempest, as it is written: “Then the Lord answered Job out of the tempest, and said: Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now your loins like a man, for I will demand of you and let me know your answer” (Job 38:1–3).
אָמַר לוֹ: הַרְבֵּה נִימִין בָּרָאתִי בְּאָדָם; וְכׇל נִימָא וְנִימָא בָּרָאתִי לָהּ גּוּמָּא בִּפְנֵי עַצְמָהּ, שֶׁלֹּא יְהוּ שְׁתַּיִם יוֹנְקוֹת מִגּוּמָּא אַחַת; שֶׁאִלְמָלֵי שְׁתַּיִם יוֹנְקוֹת מִגּוּמָּא אַחַת – מַחְשִׁיכוֹת מְאוֹר עֵינָיו שֶׁל אָדָם. בֵּין גּוּמָּא לְגוּמָּא לֹא נִתְחַלֵּף לִי; בֵּין אִיּוֹב לְאוֹיֵב נִתְחַלֵּף לִי?!
What is the meaning of “out of the tempest”? God said to him: I have created many hairs [nimin] on a person, and for each hair I created its own follicle through which the hair is sustained, so that two hairs should not draw from one follicle. As were two hairs to draw from one follicle, they would impair a man’s vision. Now, if I do not confuse one follicle with another, would I confuse Iyov with oyev? The Hebrew word for tempest, se’ara, is phonetically identical to the Hebrew word for hair.
״מִי פִלַּג לַשֶּׁטֶף תְּעָלָה [וְגוֹ׳]״ – הַרְבֵּה טִיפִּין בָּרָאתִי בֶּעָבִים, וְכׇל טִיפָּה וְטִיפָּה בָּרָאתִי לָהּ דְּפוּס בִּפְנֵי עַצְמָהּ, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יְהוּ שְׁתֵּי טִיפִּין יוֹצְאוֹת מִדְּפוּס אֶחָד; שֶׁאִלְמָלֵי שְׁתֵּי טִיפִּין יוֹצְאוֹת מִדְּפוּס אֶחָד – מְטַשְׁטְשׁוֹת אֶת הָאָרֶץ וְאֵינָהּ מוֹצִיאָהּ פֵּירוֹת. בֵּין טִיפָּה לְטִיפָּה לֹא נִתְחַלֵּף לִי; בֵּין אִיּוֹב לְאוֹיֵב נִתְחַלֵּף לִי?! מַאי מַשְׁמַע דְּהַאי תְּעָלָה לִישָּׁנָא דִּדְפוּס הִיא? אָמַר רַבָּה בַּר שֵׁילָא, דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיַּעַשׂ תְּעָלָה כְּבֵית סָאתַיִם זֶרַע״.
God further said to Job: “Who has divided a channel [te’ala] for the torrent of rain, or a path for the lightning of thunder”? (Job 38:25). I have created many drops of water in the clouds, and for each drop I created its own channel, so that two drops should not emerge from the same channel. As were two drops to emerge from the same channel they would destroy the earth and it would not yield produce. Now, if I do not confuse one drop with another, would I confuse Iyov with oyev? Incidentally, the Gemara asks: From where may it be inferred that this term te’ala means a channel? Rabba bar Sheila said: As it is written with regard to Elijah the prophet: “And he fashioned a channel [te’ala] about the altar, as great as would contain two se’a of seed” (I Kings 18:32).
״וְדֶרֶךְ לַחֲזִיז קֹלוֹת״ – הַרְבֵּה קוֹלוֹת בָּרָאתִי בֶּעָבִים, וְכׇל קוֹל וְקוֹל בָּרָאתִי לוֹ שְׁבִיל בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ, כְּדַי שֶׁלֹּא יְהוּ שְׁתֵּי קוֹלוֹת יוֹצְאוֹת מִשְּׁבִיל אֶחָד; שֶׁאִלְמָלֵי שְׁתֵּי קוֹלוֹת יוֹצְאוֹת מִשְּׁבִיל אֶחָד – מַחֲרִיבִין אֶת כׇּל הָעוֹלָם. בֵּין קוֹל לְקוֹל לֹא נִתְחַלֵּף לִי, בֵּין אִיּוֹב לְאוֹיֵב נִתְחַלֵּף לִי?!
The second half of the aforementioned verse in Job states: “Or a path for the lightning of thunder,” which is interpreted as follows: God said: I have created many thunderclaps in the clouds, and for each and every thunderclap I created its own path, so that two thunderclaps should not issue forth from the same path. As were two thunderclaps to issue from the same path, they would destroy the world. Now, if I do not confuse one thunderclap with another, would I confuse Iyov with oyev?
״הֲיָדַעְתָּ עֵת לֶדֶת יַעֲלֵי סָלַע, חֹלֵל אַיָּלוֹת תִּשְׁמֹר״ – יְעֵלָה זוֹ אַכְזָרִית עַל בָּנֶיהָ, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁכּוֹרַעַת
It is further stated there: “Do you know when the wild goats of the rock give birth? Can you mark when the hinds do calve?” (Job 39:1). This goat is cruel to her young and shows them no pity; when she squats
לָלֶדֶת, עוֹלָה לְרֹאשׁ הָהָר כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּפּוֹל מִמֶּנָּה וְיָמוּת; וַאֲנִי מַזְמִין לָהּ נֶשֶׁר שֶׁמְּקַבְּלוֹ בִּכְנָפָיו וּמַנִּיחוֹ לְפָנֶיהָ, וְאִלְמָלֵי מַקְדִּים רֶגַע אֶחָד אוֹ מִתְאַחֵר רֶגַע אֶחָד – מִיָּד מֵת. בֵּין רֶגַע לְרֶגַע לֹא נִתְחַלֵּף לִי, בֵּין אִיּוֹב לְאוֹיֵב נִתְחַלֵּף לִי?!
to give birth she ascends to the top of a mountain so that the kid should fall down from her and die. And I summon her an eagle that receives it with his wings and places it before her; and if the eagle reached her one moment early or was one moment late, the kid would immediately die. Now, if I do not confuse one moment with another moment, would I confuse Iyov with oyev?
״חֹלֵל אַיָּלוֹת תִּשְׁמֹר״ – אַיָּלָה זוֹ רַחְמָהּ צַר; בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁכּוֹרַעַת לָלֶדֶת, אֲנִי מַזְמִין לָהּ דְּרָקוֹן שֶׁמַּכִּישָׁהּ בְּבֵית הָרֶחֶם, וּמִתְרַפָּה מִמּוֹלָדָהּ; וְאִלְמָלֵי מַקְדִּים רֶגַע אֶחָד אוֹ מְאַחֵר רֶגַע אֶחָד מִיָּד מֵתָה. בֵּין רֶגַע לְרֶגַע לֹא נִתְחַלֵּף לִי, בֵּין אִיּוֹב לְאוֹיֵב נִתְחַלֵּף לִי?!
Similarly: “Can you mark when the hinds do calve?” (Job 39:1). The womb of this hind is narrow, which makes for a difficult delivery. When she squats to give birth, I summon her a snake [derakon] that bites her at the opening of the womb, which then becomes loose, and she gives birth, and if the snake reached her one moment early or was one moment late, she would immediately die. Now, if I do not confuse one moment with another moment, would I confuse Iyov with oyev?
״[אִיּוֹב] לֹא בְדַעַת יְדַבֵּר, וּדְבָרָיו לֹא בְהַשְׂכֵּל״; וּכְתִיב: ״כִּי לֹא דִבַּרְתֶּם אֵלַי נְכוֹנָה כְּעַבְדִּי אִיּוֹב״! אָמַר רָבָא: מִכָּאן שֶׁאֵין אָדָם נִתְפָּס בִּשְׁעַת צַעֲרוֹ.
The Gemara comments: On the one hand, the text states: “Job has spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom” (Job 34:35). But on the other hand, it is written with regard to Job’s friends: “You have not spoken of Me the thing that is right, like my servant Job” (Job 42:8). Rava said: From here it may be inferred that a person is not held responsible for what he says when he is in distress. Although Job uttered certain words that were wrong and inappropriate, he was not punished for them because he said them at a time of pain and hardship.
״וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ שְׁלֹשֶׁת רֵעֵי אִיּוֹב אֵת כׇּל הָרָעָה הַזֹּאת הַבָּאָה עָלָיו, וַיָּבֹאוּ אִישׁ מִמְּקוֹמוֹ – אֱלִיפַז הַתֵּימָנִי וּבִלְדַּד הַשּׁוּחִי וְצוֹפַר הַנַּעֲמָתִי, וַיִּוָּעֲדוּ יַחְדָּו לָבוֹא לָנוּד לוֹ וּלְנַחֲמוֹ״ – מַאי ״וַיִּוָּעֲדוּ יַחְדָּו״? אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: מְלַמֵּד שֶׁנִּכְנְסוּ כּוּלָּן בְּשַׁעַר אֶחָד. וְתָנָא: בֵּין כׇּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת פַּרְסֵי.
The verse states: “And Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite; for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him” (Job 2:11). What does “they had made an appointment together” mean? Rav Yehuda says that Rav says: This phrase teaches that they all entered through one gate at the same time. And a Sage taught in a baraita: There were three hundred parasangs between each and every one of them, i.e., each one lived three hundred parasangs away from the other.
מְנָא הֲווֹ יָדְעִי? אִיכָּא דְּאָמְרִי: כְּלִילָא הֲוָה לְהוּ. וְאִיכָּא דְּאָמְרִי: אִילָנֵי הֲוָה לְהוּ, וְכֵיוָן דְּכָמְשִׁי הֲווֹ יָדְעִי. אָמַר רָבָא: הַיְינוּ דְּאָמְרִי אִינָשֵׁי: אוֹ חַבְרָא כְּחַבְרֵי דְּאִיּוֹב, אוֹ מִיתוּתָא.
The Gemara asks: How did they all know at the same time what had happened to Job so that the three of them came together? There are those who say that they each had a crown which displayed certain signs when something happened to one of the others. And there are those who say they each had trees and when the trees withered they knew that sorrow had visited one of them. Rava said that this closeness between Job and his friends explains the adage that people say: Either a friend like the friends of Job or death. If a person lacks close friends, he is better off dead.
״וַיְהִי כִּי הֵחֵל הָאָדָם לָרֹב עַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה, וּבָנוֹת יֻלְּדוּ לָהֶם״ – רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר: רְבִיָּיה בָּאָה לְעוֹלָם. רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ אָמַר: מְרִיבָה בָּאָה לָעוֹלָם. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ לְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: לְדִידָךְ דְּאָמְרַתְּ רְבִיָּיה בָּאָה לְעוֹלָם, מִפְּנֵי מָה לֹא נִכְפְּלוּ בְּנוֹתָיו שֶׁל אִיּוֹב?
The Gemara cites another place where Job is mentioned. “And it came to pass, when men began to multiply [larov] on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them” (Genesis 6:1). Rabbi Yoḥanan says: Larov means that propagation [reviyya] came to the world through these daughters. Reish Lakish says: Strife [meriva] came to the world. Once daughters were born, the men began to fight among themselves over them. Reish Lakish said to Rabbi Yoḥanan: According to you who say that due to the daughters propagation came to the world, for what reason were the number of Job’s daughters not doubled, when at the end of the story God doubled everything that Job had lost (see Job 1:3, 42:12)?
אָמַר לוֹ: נְהִי דְּלֹא נִכְפְּלוּ בְּשֵׁמוֹת, אֲבָל נִכְפְּלוּ בְּיוֹפִי – דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיְהִי לוֹ שִׁבְעָנָה בָנִים וְשָׁלוֹשׁ בָּנוֹת, וַיִּקְרָא שֵׁם הָאַחַת יְמִימָה, וְשֵׁם הַשֵּׁנִית קְצִיעָה, וְשֵׁם הַשְּׁלִישִׁית קֶרֶן הַפּוּךְ״.
Rabbi Yoḥanan said to him: Granted, the numbers of Job’s daughters were not doubled in name, meaning they did not become twice as many, but they were doubled in beauty, as it is written: “He had also seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first Jemimah, and the name of the second was Keziah, and the name of the third one was Keren-happuch” (Job 42:13–14). All three names relate to the daughters’ beauty.
יָמִימָה – שֶׁהָיְתָה דּוֹמָה לַיּוֹם. קְצִיעָה – שֶׁהָיָה רֵיחָהּ נוֹדֵף כִּקְצִיעָה. קֶרֶן הַפּוּךְ – אָמְרִי דְּבֵי רַבִּי שֵׁילָא: שֶׁדּוֹמָה לְקַרְנָא דְקֶרֶשׁ. מְחַיְּיכוּ עֲלַהּ בְּמַעְרְבָא, קַרְנָא דְקֶרֶשׁ לָקוּתָא הִיא! אֶלָּא אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: כְּכוּרְכְּמָא דְרִישְׁקָא בְּמִינֵיהּ – שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי תִקְרְעִי בַּפּוּךְ״.
Jemimah [Yemima]; in her beauty she was similar to the day [yom]. Keziah; her scent wafted like the cassia [ketzia] tree. Keren-happuch; in the school of Rav Sheila they say: She was similar to the horn [keren] of a keresh, an animal whose horns are particularly beautiful. They laughed at this in the West, Eretz Yisrael, since it is considered a blemish when a person resembles the horn of a keresh. Rather, Rav Ḥisda said: She was like garden saffron [kekurkema derishka], which is the best of its kind. Keren refers to a garden, and pukh means ornament, as it is stated: “Though you enlarge your eyes with paint [pukh], you beautify yourself in vain” (Jeremiah 4:30).
רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בְּרַבִּי אִיתְיְלִידָא לֵיהּ בְּרַתָּא, הֲוָה קָא חָלַשׁ דַּעְתֵּיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ אֲבוּהּ: רְבִיָּה בָּאָה לָעוֹלָם. אֲמַר לֵיהּ בַּר קַפָּרָא: תַּנְחוּמִין שֶׁל הֶבֶל נִיחֶמְךָ אֲבוּךְ – [דְּתַנְיָא:] אִי אֶפְשָׁר לָעוֹלָם בְּלֹא זְכָרִים וּבְלֹא נְקֵבוֹת; אֶלָּא אַשְׁרֵי לְמִי שֶׁבָּנָיו זְכָרִים, אוֹי לוֹ לְמִי שֶׁבָּנָיו נְקֵבוֹת. אִי אֶפְשָׁר לָעוֹלָם בְּלֹא בַּסָּם וּבְלֹא בּוּרְסִי; אַשְׁרֵי מִי שֶׁאוּמָּנוּתוֹ בּוּסְמִי, אוֹי לְמִי שֶׁאוּמָּנוּתוֹ בּוּרְסִי.
It is reported that a daughter was born to Rabbi Shimon, son of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, and he was upset that he did not have a son. His father said to him: Propagation has come to the world through the birth of a daughter. Bar Kappara said to Rabbi Shimon: Your father has consoled you with meaningless consolation, as it is taught in a baraita: The world cannot endure without males and females, as both are needed for the perpetuation of humanity. But fortunate is he whose children are males and woe to him whose children are females. Similarly, the world cannot endure without either a spice dealer whose wares are sweet-smelling, or a tanner [bursi], who is engaged in a foul-smelling occupation. Fortunate is he whose occupation is a spice seller, and woe to him whose occupation is a tanner.
כְּתַנָּאֵי: ״וַה׳ בֵּרַךְ אֶת אַבְרָהָם בַּכֹּל״ – מַאי ״בַּכֹּל״? רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר: שֶׁלֹּא הָיְתָה לוֹ בַּת. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: שֶׁהָיְתָה לוֹ בַּת. אֲחֵרִים אוֹמְרִים: בַּת הָיְתָה לוֹ לְאַבְרָהָם, וּ״בַכֹּל״ שְׁמָהּ. רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר הַמּוֹדָעִי אוֹמֵר: אִיצְטַגְנִינוּת הָיְתָה בְּלִבּוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ, שֶׁכׇּל מַלְכֵי מִזְרָח וּמַעֲרָב מַשְׁכִּימִין לְפִתְחוֹ. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַי אוֹמֵר: אֶבֶן טוֹבָה הָיְתָה תְּלוּיָה בְּצַוָּארוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ, שֶׁכׇּל חוֹלֶה הָרוֹאֶה אוֹתוֹ מִיָּד מִתְרַפֵּא; וּבְשָׁעָה שֶׁנִּפְטַר אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ מִן הָעוֹלָם – תְּלָאָהּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּגַלְגַּל חַמָּה. אָמַר אַבָּיֵי, הַיְינוּ דְּאָמְרִי אִינָשֵׁי: אִידַּלִּי יוֹמָא אִידַּלִּי קְצִירָא.
The Gemara comments that this disagreement is parallel to a dispute between tanna’im: The Torah states: “And the Lord blessed Abraham with everything [bakkol]” (Genesis 24:1), and the Sages disagree about what bakkol means. Rabbi Meir says: The blessing is that he did not have a daughter. Rabbi Yehuda says: On the contrary, the blessing was that he had a daughter. Others say: Abraham had a daughter and her name was Bakkol. Rabbi Elazar HaModa’i says: Abraham our forefather was so knowledgeable in astrology [itztagninut] that all the kings of the East and the West would come early to his door due to his wisdom. This is the blessing of bakkol, that he possessed knowledge that everybody needed. Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai says: A precious stone hung around the neck of Abraham our forefather; any sick person who looked at it would immediately be healed. When Abraham our forefather died, the Holy One, Blessed be He, hung this stone from the sphere of the sun, which from that point on brought healing to the sick. Abaye said: This explains the adage that people say: As the day progresses, sickness is lifted.
דָּבָר אַחֵר: שֶׁלֹּא מָרַד עֵשָׂו בְּיָמָיו. דָּבָר אַחֵר: שֶׁעָשָׂה יִשְׁמָעֵאל תְּשׁוּבָה בְּיָמָיו. שֶׁלֹּא מָרַד עֵשָׂו בְּיָמָיו – מְנָלַן? דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיָּבֹא עֵשָׂו מִן הַשָּׂדֶה, וְהוּא עָיֵף״, וְתָנָא: אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם נִפְטַר אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ, וְעָשָׂה יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ תַּבְשִׁיל שֶׁל עֲדָשִׁים לְנַחֵם אֶת יִצְחָק אָבִיו.
Alternatively, what is the blessing of bakkol? That Esau did not rebel in Abraham’s lifetime, that is to say, as long as Abraham lived Esau did not sin. Alternatively, the blessing of bakkol is that Ishmael repented in Abraham’s lifetime. The Gemara explains: From where do we derive that Esau did not rebel in Abraham’s lifetime? As it is written: “And Jacob was cooking a stew and Esau came in from the field and he was faint” (Genesis 25:29), and a baraita taught: On that day Abraham our forefather passed away, and Jacob our forefather prepared a lentil stew to comfort Isaac, his father, as it was customary to serve mourners lentil stew.
[וּמַאי שְׁנָא שֶׁל עֲדָשִׁים?] אָמְרִי בְּמַעְרְבָא מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַבָּה בַּר מָרִי: מָה עֲדָשָׁה זוֹ אֵין לָהּ פֶּה, אַף אָבֵל אֵין לוֹ פֶּה. דָּבָר אַחֵר: מָה עֲדָשָׁה זוֹ מְגוּלְגֶּלֶת, אַף אֲבֵילוּת מְגַלְגֶּלֶת וּמְחַזֶּרֶת עַל בָּאֵי הָעוֹלָם. מַאי בֵּינַיְיהוּ? אִיכָּא בֵּינַיְיהוּ לְנַחוֹמֵי בְּבֵיעֵי.
The Gemara explains: And what is different about lentils that they in particular are the fare customarily offered to mourners? They say in the West, Eretz Yisrael, in the name of Rabba bar Mari: Just as this lentil has no mouth, i.e., it does not have a crack like other legumes, so too a mourner has no mouth, that is, his anguish prevents him from speaking. Alternatively, just as this lentil is completely round, so too mourning comes around to the inhabitants of the world. The Gemara asks: What is the practical difference between the two explanations? The Gemara answers: There is a practical difference between them with regard to whether it is appropriate to console a mourner with eggs, which have no opening but are not completely round.
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: חָמֵשׁ עֲבֵירוֹת עָבַר אוֹתוֹ רָשָׁע בְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם – בָּא עַל נַעֲרָה מְאוֹרָסָה, וְהָרַג אֶת הַנֶּפֶשׁ, וְכָפַר בָּעִיקָּר, וְכָפַר בִּתְחִיַּית הַמֵּתִים, וְשָׁט אֶת הַבְּכוֹרָה.
Rabbi Yoḥanan says: That wicked Esau committed five transgressions on that day that Abraham died: He engaged in sexual intercourse with a betrothed maiden, he killed a person, he denied the principle of God’s existence, he denied resurrection of the dead, and he despised the birthright.
בָּא עַל נַעֲרָה מְאוֹרָסָה – כְּתִיב הָכָא: ״וַיָּבֹא עֵשָׂו מִן הַשָּׂדֶה״, וּכְתִיב הָתָם: ״כִּי בַשָּׂדֶה מְצָאָהּ״. הָרַג אֶת הַנֶּפֶשׁ – כְּתִיב הָכָא: ״עָיֵף״, וּכְתִיב הָתָם: ״אוֹי נָא לִי כִּי עָיְפָה נַפְשִׁי לְהֹרְגִים״. וְכָפַר בָּעִיקָּר – כְּתִיב הָכָא: ״לָמָּה זֶה לִי״, וּכְתִיב הָתָם: ״זֶה אֵלִי וְאַנְוֵהוּ״. וְכָפַר בִּתְחִיַּית הַמֵּתִים – דִּכְתִיב: ״הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי הוֹלֵךְ לָמוּת״. וְשָׁט אֶת הַבְּכוֹרָה – דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיִּבֶז עֵשָׂו אֶת הַבְּכוֹרָה״.
The Gemara cites proofs to support these charges. He engaged in sexual intercourse with a betrothed maiden, as it is written here: “And Esau came in from the field”; and it is written there with regard to rape of a betrothed maiden: “For he found her in a field” (Deuteronomy 22:27). He killed a person, as it is written here: “And he was faint”; and it is written there: “Woe is me, for my soul faints before the slayers” (Jeremiah 4:31). And he denied the principle of God’s existence, as it is written here: “What profit is this to me” (Genesis 25:32); and it is written there: “This is my God and I will glorify Him” (Exodus 15:2). When he questioned the profit of “this,” he was challenging the assertion that “this is my God.” And he denied resurrection of the dead, as it is written: “Behold, I am at the point of death” (Genesis 25:32), indicating that he did not believe in resurrection after death. And he despised the birthright, as it is written: “And Esau despised the birthright” (Genesis 25:34).
וְשֶׁעָשָׂה יִשְׁמָעֵאל תְּשׁוּבָה בְּיָמָיו – מְנָלַן? כִּי הָא דְּרָבִינָא וְרַב חָמָא בַּר בּוּזִי הֲווֹ יָתְבִי קַמֵּיהּ דְּרָבָא, וְקָא מְנַמְנֵם רָבָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רָבִינָא לְרַב חָמָא בַּר בּוּזִי, וַדַּאי דְּאָמְרִיתוּ: כׇּל מִיתָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ ״גְּוִיעָה״ – זוֹ הִיא מִיתָתָן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אִין. וְהָא דּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אֲנַן ״גְּוִיעָה״ וַ״אֲסִיפָה״ קָאָמְרִינַן.
And from where do we derive that Ishmael repented in Abraham’s lifetime? From the incident involving Ravina and Rav Ḥama bar Buzi, who were sitting before Rava, and Rava was dozing while they were talking. Ravina said to Rav Ḥama bar Buzi: Is it true that you say that any death with regard to which the word gevia, expire, is mentioned is the death of the righteous? Rav Ḥama bar Buzi said to him: Yes. For example: “And Isaac expired [vayyigva], and died” (Genesis 35:29). Ravina objected: But with regard to the generation of the flood it states: “And all flesh expired [vayyigva]” (Genesis 7:21), and there they died for their wickedness. Rav Ḥama bar Buzi said to him: We say this only when both gevia and asifa, gathering, are used; when these two terms are mentioned together they indicate the death of a righteous person.
וְהָא יִשְׁמָעֵאל, דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ ״גְּוִיעָה״ וַ״אֲסִיפָה״! אַדְּהָכִי אִיתְּעַר בְּהוּ רָבָא, אֲמַר לְהוּ: דַּרְדְּקֵי, הָכִי אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: יִשְׁמָעֵאל עָשָׂה תְּשׁוּבָה בְּחַיֵּי אָבִיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּקְבְּרוּ אֹתוֹ יִצְחָק וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל בָּנָיו״.
Ravina asked: But isn’t there Ishmael, about whom gevia and asifa are written, as it is stated: “And these are the years of the life of Yishmael…and he expired and died [vayyigva vayyamot]; and was gathered to his people” (Genesis 25:17)? Meanwhile Rava, who had heard the discussion in his dozed state, fully awoke and said to them: Children [dardekei], this is what Rabbi Yoḥanan says: Ishmael repented in the lifetime of his father, as it is stated: “And Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, buried him” (Genesis 25:9). The fact that Ishmael allowed Isaac to precede him demonstrates that he had repented and accepted his authority.
וְדִילְמָא דֶּרֶךְ חׇכְמָתָן קָא חָשֵׁיב לְהוּ! אֶלָּא מֵעַתָּה, ״וַיִּקְבְּרוּ אוֹתוֹ עֵשָׂו וְיַעֲקֹב בָּנָיו״, מַאי טַעְמָא לָא חָשֵׁיב לְהוּ דֶּרֶךְ חׇכְמָתָן? אֶלָּא מִדְּאַקְדְּמֵיהּ – אַדְבּוֹרֵי אַדְבְּרֵיהּ, וּמִדְּאַדְבְּרֵיהּ – שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ תְּשׁוּבָה עֲבַד בְּיָמָיו.
The Gemara asks: But perhaps the verse listed them in the order of their wisdom; that is to say, perhaps in fact Ishmael preceded Isaac but the Torah did not list them in that order. The Gemara answers: But if that is so, consider that the verse states: “And Esau and Jacob, his sons, buried him” (Genesis 35:29). What is the reason that the verse there did not list them in the order of their wisdom? Rather, since Ishmael allowed Isaac to precede him, it is clear that he made Isaac his leader, and since he made him his leader, learn from it that he repented in Abraham’s lifetime.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: שְׁלֹשָׁה הִטְעִימָן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה
Incidental to the discussion of the verse “And God blessed Abraham with everything” (Genesis 24:1), the Gemara states that the Sages taught: There were three people to whom the Holy One, Blessed be He, gave already in this world
