Sanhedrin 101
שֶׁדַּעְתּוֹ קְצָרָה. ״וְטוֹב לֵב מִשְׁתֶּה תָמִיד״ – זֶה שֶׁדַּעְתּוֹ רְחָבָה. וְאָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: ״כׇּל יְמֵי עָנִי רָעִים״. וְהָאִיכָּא שַׁבָּתוֹת וְיָמִים טוֹבִים? כְּדִשְׁמוּאֵל, דְּאָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: שִׁינּוּי וֶסֶת תְּחִלַּת חוֹלִי מֵעַיִים.
one who is intolerant [da’ato ketzara] of others acting against his will. “And for the good-hearted it is always a feast”; this is referring to one who is tolerant and accepts the actions of others. And Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says with regard to the verse “All the days of the poor are terrible”: But aren’t there Shabbatot and Festivals, when he rests and eats festive meals? This can be explained in accordance with that statement of Shmuel, as Shmuel says: A change in routine in terms of eating and rest causes the onset of an intestinal ailment. Due to the dramatic deviation on Shabbat from the poor person’s routine he suffers.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: הַקּוֹרֵא פָּסוּק שֶׁל שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים וְעוֹשֶׂה אוֹתוֹ כְּמִין זֶמֶר, וְהַקּוֹרֵא פָּסוּק בְּבֵית מִשְׁתָּאוֹת בְּלֹא זְמַנּוֹ – מֵבִיא רָעָה לָעוֹלָם, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהַתּוֹרָה חוֹגֶרֶת שַׂק וְעוֹמֶדֶת לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְאוֹמֶרֶת לְפָנָיו: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, עֲשָׂאוּנִי בָּנֶיךָ כְּכִנּוֹר שֶׁמְּנַגְּנִין בּוֹ לֵצִים.
§ The Sages taught: One who reads a verse from Song of Songs and renders it a form of secular song, and not a sacred text, and one who reads any biblical verse at a banquet house, not at its appropriate time, but merely as a song, introduces evil to the world, as the Torah girds itself with sackcloth and stands before the Holy One, Blessed be He, and says before Him: Master of the Universe, Your children have rendered me like a harp on which clowns play.
אָמַר לָהּ: בִּתִּי, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאוֹכְלִין וְשׁוֹתִין בַּמֶּה יִתְעַסְּקוּ? אָמְרָה לְפָנָיו: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, אִם בַּעֲלֵי מִקְרָא הֵן – יַעַסְקוּ בַּתּוֹרָה וּבַנְּבִיאִים וּבַכְּתוּבִים. אִם בַּעֲלֵי מִשְׁנָה הֵן – יַעַסְקוּ בַּמִּשְׁנָה, בַּהֲלָכוֹת וּבְהַגָּדוֹת. וְאִם בַּעֲלֵי תַלְמוּד הֵן – יַעַסְקוּ בְּהִלְכוֹת פֶּסַח בַּפֶּסַח, בְּהִלְכוֹת עֲצֶרֶת בָּעֲצֶרֶת, בְּהִלְכוֹת חַג בֶּחָג. הֵעִיד רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן חֲנַנְיָא: כׇּל הַקּוֹרֵא פָּסוּק בִּזְמַנּוֹ מֵבִיא טוֹבָה לָעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְדָבָר בְּעִתּוֹ מַה טּוֹב״.
The Holy One, Blessed be He, says to the Torah: My daughter, during the time that they are eating and drinking, in what should they be engaged? The Torah says before Him: Master of the Universe, if they are masters of the Bible, let them engage in the study of the Torah, Prophets, and Writings. If they are masters of the Mishna, let them engage in the study of the Mishna, in the study of halakha, and in the study of aggada. And if they are masters of the Talmud, let them engage in the study of the halakhot of Passover on Passover, in the study of the halakhot of Shavuot on Shavuot, and in the study of the halakhot of Sukkot on Sukkot. They should not treat the Torah with contempt by using it for their own entertainment. Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar testified in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥananya: Anyone who reads a verse at its appropriate time and in the appropriate manner introduces good into the world, as it is stated: “And a word in its season, how good is it” (Proverbs 15:23).
וְהַלּוֹחֵשׁ עַל הַמַּכָּה וְכוּ׳. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: וּבְרוֹקֵק בָּהּ, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין מַזְכִּירִין שֵׁם שָׁמַיִם עַל הָרְקִיקָה. אִיתְּמַר: רַב אָמַר, אֲפִילּוּ ״נֶגַע צָרַעַת״. רַבִּי חֲנִינָא אָמַר: אֲפִילּוּ ״וַיִּקְרָא אֶל מֹשֶׁה״.
§ The mishna teaches: And among those who have no share in the World-to-Come is one who whispers invocations over a wound. Rabbi Yoḥanan says: And that is the case only where he spits into the wound while he whispers, as one does not mention the name of Heaven over spittle, and doing so is an act of contempt for God. It was stated that Rav says: Even the verse: “When a leprous mark is in a man, then he shall be brought to the priest” (Leviticus 13:9), in which there is no mention of the name of God, may not be whispered as an invocation. Rabbi Ḥanina says: Even a verse that is unrelated to the specific illness in question, for example: “And He called to Moses” (Leviticus 1:1), may not be whispered as an invocation.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: סָכִין וּמְמַשְׁמְשִׁין בִּבְנֵי מֵעַיִים בְּשַׁבָּת, וְלוֹחֲשִׁין לְחִישַׁת נְחָשִׁים וְעַקְרַבִּים בְּשַׁבָּת, וּמַעֲבִירִין כְּלִי עַל גַּב הָעַיִן בְּשַׁבָּת. אָמַר רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל: בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים? בִּכְלִי הַנִּיטָּל, אֲבָל בִּכְלִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ נִיטָּל – אָסוּר. וְאֵין שׁוֹאֲלִין בִּדְבַר שֵׁדִים בְּשַׁבָּת. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: אַף בַּחוֹל אָסוּר.
The Sages taught in a baraita: One may smear oil on and rub the intestinal area on Shabbat to ease pain, and it is not prohibited as a form of healing. One may whisper incantations of snakes and scorpions on Shabbat to ease the pain of their bite. And one may pass a cool vessel upon an infected eye on Shabbat, to soothe the inflammation. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: In what case are these matters stated? They are stated in the case of a vessel that may be moved on Shabbat. But with regard to a vessel that may not be moved, it is prohibited to pass it upon the infected eye on Shabbat. And one may not consult the words of demons on Shabbat. Rabbi Yosei says: Even during the week it is prohibited to consult demons.
אָמַר רַב הוּנָא: (אֵין) הֲלָכָה כְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי. וְאַף רַבִּי יוֹסֵי לֹא אֲמָרָהּ אֶלָּא מִשּׁוּם סַכָּנָה, כִּי הָא דְּרַב יִצְחָק בַּר יוֹסֵף דְּאִיבְּלַע בְּאַרְזָא, וְאִתְעֲבִיד לֵיהּ נִיסָּא – פְּקַע אַרְזָא וּפַלְטֵיהּ.
Rav Huna said: The halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yosei. The Gemara notes: And even Rabbi Yosei did not say that it is due to the Torah prohibition of witchcraft that it is prohibited during the week; rather, it is prohibited due to danger, lest the demons harm him. This could happen, as in that incident concerning Rav Yitzḥak bar Yosef, who consulted a demon and as a result was swallowed into a cedar tree, and a miracle was performed for him and the cedar split and expelled him.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: סָכִין וּמְמַשְׁמְשִׁין בִּבְנֵי מֵעַיִים בְּשַׁבָּת, וּבִלְבַד שֶׁלֹּא יַעֲשֶׂה כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁהוּא עוֹשֶׂה בַּחוֹל. הֵיכִי עָבֵיד? רַבִּי חָמָא בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא אָמַר: סָךְ וְאַחַר כָּךְ מְמַשְׁמֵשׁ. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר: סָךְ וּמְמַשְׁמֵשׁ בְּבַת אַחַת.
The Sages taught in a baraita: One may smear oil on and rub the intestinal area on Shabbat, and it is not a forbidden form of healing, provided that he does not do so in the manner in which he does during the week. The Gemara asks: How then does one do so on Shabbat? Rabbi Ḥama, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, says: One first smears oil and afterward rubs the body. And Rabbi Yoḥanan says: One smears oil and rubs the body simultaneously.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: שָׂרֵי שֶׁמֶן וְשָׂרֵי בֵיצִים מוּתָּרִין לִשְׁאוֹל בָּהֶן, אֶלָּא מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמְּכַזְּבִין. לוֹחֲשִׁין עַל שֶׁמֶן שֶׁבִּכְלִי, וְאֵין לוֹחֲשִׁין עַל שֶׁמֶן שֶׁבַּיָּד. לְפִיכָךְ סָכִין מִשֶּׁמֶן שֶׁבַּיָּד, וְאֵין סָכִין מִשֶּׁמֶן שֶׁבִּכְלִי.
The Sages taught in a baraita: With regard to demons of oil and demons of eggs, i.e., demons consulted by means of oil and eggs, respectively, it is permitted to consult them; but it is futile to do so, due to the fact that they deceive. One may whisper an incantation for healing over oil that is in a vessel and one may not whisper an incantation over oil that is in one’s hand. Therefore, one may smear oil on his body from oil that is brought to him in another’s hand, and there is no concern that perhaps someone whispered over it; and one may not smear oil that is brought to him in a vessel, as perhaps someone whispered over it and it will cause him harm.
רַב יִצְחָק בַּר שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר מָרְתָא אִיקְּלַע לְהָהוּא אוּשְׁפִּיזָא. אַיְיתִי לֵיהּ מִישְׁחָא בְּמָנָא. שָׁף, נְפַקוּ לֵיהּ צִימְחֵי בְּאַפֵּיהּ. נְפַק לְשׁוּקָא. חֲזֵיתֵיהּ הָהִיא אִיתְּתָא, אֲמַרָה: זִיקָא דְּחֵמֶת קָא חָזֵינָא הָכָא. עֲבַדָא לֵיהּ מִלְּתָא וְאִיתַּסִּי.
The Gemara relates: Rav Yitzḥak bar Shmuel bar Marta happened to come to a certain inn, and they brought him oil in a vessel. He rubbed it on his face, and boils developed on his face. He went out to the marketplace, and a certain woman saw him and said: I see here the evil spirit of Ḥamat on your face. She performed an action, i.e., whispered an incantation, for him, and he was healed.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי אַבָּא לְרַבָּה בַּר מָרִי: כְּתִיב ״כׇּל הַמַּחֲלָה אֲשֶׁר שַׂמְתִּי בְמִצְרַיִם לֹא אָשִׂים עָלֶיךָ כִּי אֲנִי ה׳ רֹפְאֶךָ״, וְכִי מֵאַחַר שֶׁלֹּא שָׂם, רְפוּאָה לָמָּה? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הָכִי אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: מִקְרָא זֶה מֵעַצְמוֹ נִדְרָשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיֹּאמֶר אִם שָׁמוֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע לְקוֹל ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ״ – אִם תִּשְׁמַע לֹא אָשִׂים, וְאִם לֹא תִּשְׁמַע אָשִׂים. אַף עַל פִּי כֵן, ״כִּי אֲנִי ה׳ רֹפְאֶךָ״.
Rabbi Abba said to Rabba bar Mari that there is an apparent contradiction in a verse. It is written: “All the disease that I placed in Egypt I shall not place upon you, for I am the Lord, your Healer” (Exodus 15:26). And since God does not place the disease upon the Jewish people, why is healing necessary? Rabba bar Mari said to him that this is what Rabbi Yoḥanan says: This verse can be interpreted and the contradiction resolved from the contents of the verse itself, as it is stated: “And He said: If you will diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord, your God” (Exodus 15:26). If you hearken to God’s voice, I will not place the disease upon you, and if you do not hearken to God’s voice, I will place the disease upon you. Nevertheless, even if you do not hearken to the voice of God, and I place the disease upon you, know that I will heal you, “for I am the Lord, your Healer.”
אָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה: כְּשֶׁחָלָה רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר, נִכְנְסוּ תַּלְמִידָיו לְבַקְּרוֹ. אָמַר לָהֶן: חֵמָה עַזָּה יֵשׁ בָּעוֹלָם. הִתְחִילוּ הֵן בּוֹכִין, וְרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא מְשַׂחֵק. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: לָמָּה אַתָּה מְשַׂחֵק? אָמַר לָהֶן: וְכִי מִפְּנֵי מָה אַתֶּם בּוֹכִים? אָמְרוּ לוֹ: אֶפְשָׁר סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה שָׁרוּי בְּצַעַר וְלֹא נִבְכֶּה?
§ Rabba bar bar Ḥana says: When Rabbi Eliezer fell ill, his students entered to visit him. Rabbi Eliezer said to them: There is intense wrath in the world, and it is due to that wrath of the Holy One, Blessed be He, Who is angry at His world, that I am suffering from these afflictions. His students began to cry due to their teacher’s suffering, and Rabbi Akiva was laughing. They said to him: Why are you laughing? Rabbi Akiva said to them: And for what reason are you crying? They said to him: Is it possible that Rabbi Eliezer, who is as much an exemplar of Torah as a Torah scroll, is afflicted with pain and we will not cry?
אָמַר לָהֶן: לְכָךְ אֲנִי מְשַׂחֵק, כׇּל זְמַן שֶׁאֲנִי רוֹאֶה רַבִּי שֶׁאֵין יֵינוֹ מַחְמִיץ וְאֵין פִּשְׁתָּנוֹ לוֹקֶה וְאֵין שַׁמְנוֹ מַבְאִישׁ וְאֵין דּוּבְשָׁנוֹ מַדְבִּישׁ, אָמַרְתִּי שֶׁמָּא חַס וְשָׁלוֹם קִיבֵּל רַבִּי עוֹלָמוֹ. וְעַכְשָׁיו שֶׁאֲנִי רוֹאֶה רַבִּי בְּצַעַר, אֲנִי שָׂמֵחַ. אָמַר לוֹ: עֲקִיבָא, כְּלוּם חִיסַּרְתִּי מִן הַתּוֹרָה כּוּלָּהּ? אָמַר לוֹ: לִימַּדְתָּנוּ רַבֵּינוּ, ״כִּי אָדָם אֵין צַדִּיק בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה טּוֹב וְלֹא יֶחֱטָא״.
Rabbi Akiva said to them: It is for that reason that I am laughing. As long as I would see for my teacher that neither does his wine ferment and spoil, nor is his flax stricken, nor does his oil spoil, nor does his honey turn rancid, I would say to myself: Perhaps, Heaven forfend, my teacher has already received his world in reward for the mitzvot that he fulfilled, and will not receive a reward in the World-to-Come. But now that I see my teacher overcome with suffering, I am happy. He is receiving punishment in this world for the few transgressions that he might have committed, ensuring that he will receive a complete reward in the World-to-Come. Rabbi Eliezer said to him: Akiva, have I failed to fulfill any portion of the entire Torah? Rabbi Akiva said to him, you taught us, our teacher: “For there is not a righteous man upon earth who does good and sins not” (Ecclesiastes 7:20).
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: כְּשֶׁחָלָה רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר, נִכְנְסוּ אַרְבָּעָה זְקֵנִים לְבַקְּרוֹ: רַבִּי טַרְפוֹן, וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, וְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲזַרְיָה, וְרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא.
The Sages taught in a baraita: When Rabbi Eliezer fell ill, four Sages entered to visit him: Rabbi Tarfon, and Rabbi Yehoshua, and Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya, and Rabbi Akiva.
נַעֲנָה רַבִּי טַרְפוֹן וְאָמַר: טוֹב אַתָּה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל מִטִּיפָּה שֶׁל גְּשָׁמִים, שֶׁטִּיפָּה שֶׁל גְּשָׁמִים בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, וְרַבִּי בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וּבָעוֹלָם הַבָּא.
Rabbi Tarfon responded to the situation with words of encouragement and said: You are better for the Jewish people than a drop of rain, as a drop of rain provides benefit in this world, and my teacher provides them benefit in this world and in the World-to-Come.
נַעֲנָה רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְאָמַר: טוֹב אַתָּה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל יוֹתֵר מִגַּלְגַּל חַמָּה, שֶׁגַּלְגַּל חַמָּה בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, וְרַבִּי בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וּבָעוֹלָם הַבָּא.
Rabbi Yehoshua responded and said: You are better for the Jewish people than the sphere of the sun, as the sphere of the sun provides benefit in this world, and my teacher provides benefit in this world and in the World-to-Come.
נַעֲנָה רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲזַרְיָה וְאָמַר: טוֹב אַתָּה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל יוֹתֵר מֵאָב וָאֵם, שֶׁאָב וָאֵם בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, וְרַבִּי בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וּבָעוֹלָם הַבָּא.
Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya responded and said: You are better for the Jewish people than a father and mother, as a father and mother provide benefit in this world, and my teacher provides benefit in this world and in the World-to-Come.
נַעֲנָה רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא וְאָמַר: חֲבִיבִין יִסּוּרִין. אָמַר לָהֶם: סַמְּכוּנִי וְאֶשְׁמְעָה דִּבְרֵי עֲקִיבָא תַּלְמִידִי שֶׁאָמַר חֲבִיבִין יִסּוּרִין. אָמַר לוֹ: עֲקִיבָא, זוֹ מִנַּיִן לָךְ? אָמַר: מִקְרָא אֲנִי דּוֹרֵשׁ: ״בֶּן שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה מְנַשֶּׁה בְמׇלְכוֹ וַחֲמִשִּׁים וְחָמֵשׁ שָׁנָה מָלַךְ בִּירוּשָׁלִָים [וְגוֹ׳] וַיַּעַשׂ הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי ה׳״, וּכְתִיב:
Rabbi Akiva responded and said: Afflictions are cherished. When Rabbi Eliezer heard this he said to his attendants: Support me so I can sit and hear the statement of Akiva my student, who said: Afflictions are cherished. Rabbi Eliezer said to him: Akiva, from where do you derive this? Rabbi Akiva said: I interpret a verse in order to derive it. It is written: “Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem…And he performed that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord” (II Kings 21:1–2). And it is written:
״גַּם אֵלֶּה מִשְׁלֵי שְׁלֹמֹה אֲשֶׁר הֶעְתִּיקוּ אַנְשֵׁי חִזְקִיָּה מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה״. וְכִי חִזְקִיָּה מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה לְכׇל הָעוֹלָם כּוּלּוֹ לִימֵּד תּוֹרָה, וְלִמְנַשֶּׁה בְּנוֹ לֹא לִימֵּד תּוֹרָה? אֶלָּא, מִכׇּל טוֹרַח שֶׁטָּרַח בּוֹ וּמִכׇּל עָמָל שֶׁעָמֵל בּוֹ, לֹא הֶעֱלָהוּ לְמוּטָב אֶלָּא יִסּוּרִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְדַבֵּר ה׳ אֶל מְנַשֶּׁה וְאֶל עַמּוֹ וְלֹא הִקְשִׁיבוּ. וַיָּבֵא ה׳ עֲלֵיהֶם אֶת שָׂרֵי הַצָּבָא אֲשֶׁר לְמֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר וַיִּלְכְּדוּ אֶת מְנַשֶּׁה בַּחֹחִים וַיַּאַסְרֻהוּ בַּנְחֻשְׁתַּיִם וַיּוֹלִיכֻהוּ בָּבֶלָה״.
“These too are the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judea, copied” (Proverbs 25:1), indicating that Hezekiah taught Torah and disseminated it to the multitudes. And is it conceivable that Hezekiah, king of Judea, taught Torah to the entire world and to Manasseh his son he did not teach Torah? Rather, Hezekiah certainly taught Manasseh much Torah; nevertheless, from all his exertion to teach him and from all his toil to teach him, it was only afflictions that elevated him to the path of good, as it is stated: “And the Lord spoke to Manasseh and to his people but they would not heed. And the Lord brought upon them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh with hooks, and bound him with chains, and carried him to Babylonia” (II Chronicles 33:10–11).
וּכְתִיב: ״וּכְהָצֵר לוֹ חִלָּה אֶת פְּנֵי ה׳ אֱלֹהָיו וַיִּכָּנַע מְאֹד מִלִּפְנֵי אֱלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתָיו. וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל אֵלָיו וַיֵּעָתֶר לוֹ וַיִּשְׁמַע תְּחִנָּתוֹ וַיְשִׁיבֵהוּ יְרוּשָׁלִַים לְמַלְכוּתוֹ וַיֵּדַע מְנַשֶּׁה כִּי ה׳ הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים״. הָא לָמַדְתָּ שֶׁחֲבִיבִין יִסּוּרִין.
And it is written thereafter: “And when he was in distress, he sought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and he prayed to Him and He was entreated of him, and He heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom; then Manasseh knew that the Lord He was God” (II Chronicles 33:12–13). You learned from this that afflictions are cherished.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: שְׁלֹשָׁה בָּאוּ בַּעֲלִילָה, אֵלּוּ הֵן: קַיִן, עֵשָׂו וּמְנַשֶּׁה. קַיִן, דִּכְתִיב: ״גָּדוֹל עֲוֹנִי מִנְּשׂוֹא״. אָמַר לְפָנָיו: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, כְּלוּם גָּדוֹל עֲוֹנִי מִשִּׁשִּׁים רִיבּוֹא שֶׁעֲתִידִין לַחְטוֹא לְפָנֶיךָ וְאַתָּה סוֹלֵחַ לָהֶם? עֵשָׂו, דִּכְתִיב: ״הַבְרָכָה אַחַת הִיא לָךְ אָבִי״. מְנַשֶּׁה – בַּתְּחִילָּה קָרָא לֶאֱלוֹהוֹת הַרְבֵּה, וּלְבַסּוֹף קָרָא לֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתָיו.
Apropos Manasseh’s repentance, the Gemara cites that the Sages taught in a baraita: Three came with a demand, and these are they: Cain, Esau, and Manasseh. Cain came with a demand, as it is written: “My sin is too great to bear” (Genesis 4:13). Cain said before God: Master of the Universe, is my transgression greater than the transgression of the 600,000 who are destined to sin before You with the Golden Calf, and You will nevertheless forgive them? There should be atonement for my transgression as well. Esau came with a demand, as it is stated: “Have you but one blessing, my father?” (Genesis 27:38). With regard to Manasseh, initially he called to multiple gods, and his prayers were not answered, and ultimately he called to the God of his forefathers with the demand: If God does not answer my prayer, then apparently all the gods are equal to the God of my forefathers.
אַבָּא שָׁאוּל אוֹמֵר: אַף הַהוֹגֶה אֶת הַשֵּׁם בְּאוֹתִיּוֹתָיו וְכוּ׳. תָּנָא: וּבַגְּבוּלִין, וּבִלְשׁוֹן עָגָה.
§ The mishna teaches: Abba Shaul says: Also among those who have no share in the World-to-Come is one who pronounces the ineffable name of God as it is written, with its letters. It is taught in a baraita: This is referring to one who pronounces the name in the outlying areas outside the Temple, and in colloquial [aga] language, for no particular purpose.
שְׁלֹשָׁה מְלָכִים וְאַרְבָּעָה הֶדְיוֹטוֹת וְכוּ׳. תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: יָרׇבְעָם – שֶׁרִיבֵּעַ עָם. דָּבָר אַחֵר: יָרׇבְעָם – שֶׁעָשָׂה מְרִיבָה בָּעָם. דָּבָר אַחֵר: יָרׇבְעָם – שֶׁעָשָׂה מְרִיבָה בֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל לַאֲבִיהֶם שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם. בֶּן נְבָט – בֵּן שֶׁנִּיבַּט וְלֹא רָאָה.
In the mishna, the tanna enumerated three kings and four commoners who have no share in the World-to-Come. The Sages taught in a baraita: Jeroboam [Yorovam] is an abbreviation for one who debased the Jewish people [riba am]. Alternatively, Yorovam is an abbreviation for one who engendered strife among the people [meriva ba’am], causing the schism between the kingdoms of Judea and Israel. Alternatively, Yorovam is an abbreviation for one who engendered strife between the Jewish people [meriva bein ha’am] and their Heavenly Father, as he instituted the worship of the golden calves (I Kings 12:28–31). He is called son of Nebat because he is the son who looked [nibat] in an effort to assess the situation but did not see the situation accurately.
תַּנָּא: הוּא נְבָט, הוּא מִיכָה, הוּא שֶׁבַע בֶּן בִּכְרִי. נְבָט – שֶׁנִּיבַּט וְלֹא רָאָה. מִיכָה – שֶׁנִּתְמַכְמֵךְ בְּבִנְיָן. וּמָה שְׁמוֹ? שֶׁבַע בֶּן בִּכְרִי שְׁמוֹ.
It is taught in a baraita: Based on a homiletic interpretation of their names, these three biblical figures are deemed to be the same person. He is called Nebat, he is called Micah, and he is called Sheba, son of Bichri. Nebat, who looked [nibat] but did not see, believed that he was destined for greatness, and that was achieved only by his son. Micah, who was crushed [nitmakhmekh] in the building of the storage cities of Pithom and Raamses, was miraculously saved. And what is his actual name? His name is Sheba, son of Bichri.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: שְׁלֹשָׁה נִיבְּטוּ וְלֹא רָאוּ, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן – נְבָט, וַאֲחִיתוֹפֶל, וְאִיצְטַגְנִינֵי פַּרְעֹה.
The Sages taught in a baraita: Three looked but did not see and as a result were mistaken in their prognostications. And these are they: Nebat, and Ahithophel, and the astrologers of Pharaoh.
נְבָט רָאָה אֵשׁ שֶׁיּוֹצֵאת מֵאַמָּתוֹ. הוּא סָבַר אִיהוּ מָלֵיךְ, וְלָא הִיא. יָרׇבְעָם הוּא דִּנְפַק מִינֵּיהּ.
The Gemara elaborates: Nebat saw fire that emerges from his penis. He thought that it meant that he would rule. But that is not so. It meant that it would be Jeroboam who would emerge from him and rule.
אֲחִיתוֹפֶל רָאָה צָרַעַת שֶׁזָּרְחָה לוֹ עַל אַמָּתוֹ. הוּא סָבַר אִיהוּ מָלֵךְ, וְלָא הִיא. בַּת שֶׁבַע בִּתּוֹ הוּא דִּנְפַק מִינַּהּ שְׁלֹמֹה.
Ahithophel saw leprosy that glowed on his penis and he thought that he would rule. But it is not so. Instead from Bathsheba his daughter, i.e., his son’s daughter, came Solomon the king.
אִיצְטַגְנִינֵי פַּרְעֹה, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי חָמָא בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא: מַאי דִּכְתִיב ״הֵמָּה מֵי מְרִיבָה״? הֵמָּה שֶׁרָאוּ אִיצְטַגְנִינֵי פַּרְעֹה וְטָעוּ. רָאוּ שֶׁמּוֹשִׁיעָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּמַיִם הוּא לוֹקֶה, אָמַר: ״כׇּל הַבֵּן הַיִּלּוֹד הַיְאֹרָה תַּשְׁלִיכֻהוּ״. וְהֵן לֹא יָדְעוּ שֶׁעַל עִסְקֵי מֵי מְרִיבָה לוֹקֶה.
The astrologers of Pharaoh saw and were mistaken, as Rabbi Ḥama, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, says: What is the meaning of that which is written: “These are the waters of contention” (Numbers 20:13)? These are the waters that the astrologers of Pharaoh saw, and they erred concerning them. As they saw in the stars that the savior of Israel would be stricken by water, Pharaoh said: “Every son that is born you shall cast into the river” (Exodus 1:22), assuming that any potential savior would be drowned. And they did not know that it was over matters involving the waters of Meribah that Moses would be stricken and would not be allowed to enter Eretz Yisrael.
וּמְנָא לַן דְּלָא אָתֵי לְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי? דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיְהִי בַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה לְחַטַּאת בֵּית יָרׇבְעָם וּלְהַכְחִיד וּלְהַשְׁמִיד מֵעַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה״. ״לְהַכְחִיד״ – בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, ״וּלְהַשְׁמִיד״ – לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא.
The Gemara resumes its discussion of Jeroboam. And from where do we derive that Jeroboam does not enter into the World-to-Come? It is derived from a verse, as it is written: “And by this matter there was a sin to the house of Jeroboam, and to eradicate it and to destroy it from off the face of the earth” (I Kings 13:34). It can be interpreted to mean: To eradicate it in this world, and to destroy it for the World-to-Come.
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: מִפְּנֵי מָה זָכָה יָרׇבְעָם לַמַּלְכוּת? מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוֹכִיחַ אֶת שְׁלֹמֹה. וּמִפְּנֵי מָה נֶעֱנַשׁ? מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוֹכִיחוֹ בָּרַבִּים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְזֶה הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר הֵרִים יָד בַּמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה בָּנָה אֶת הַמִּלּוֹא סָגַר אֶת פֶּרֶץ עִיר דָּוִד אָבִיו״. אָמַר לוֹ: דָּוִד אָבִיךָ פָּרַץ פְּרָצוֹת בַּחוֹמָה כְּדֵי שֶׁיַּעֲלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לָרֶגֶל, וְאַתָּה גָּדַרְתָּ אוֹתָם כְּדֵי לַעֲשׂוֹת אַנְגַּרְיָא לְבַת פַּרְעֹה.
Rabbi Yoḥanan says: For what virtue was Jeroboam privileged to ascend to monarchy? It is due to the fact that he rebuked Solomon for his sins. And for what misdeed was he punished and lost everything? It is due to the fact that he rebuked Solomon and humiliated him in public, as it is stated: “And this was the cause that he lifted his hand against the king: Solomon built the Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father” (I Kings 11:27). Jeroboam said to Solomon: David, your father, created breaches in the wall so that the Jewish people could ascend for the pilgrimage Festival, and you sealed them in order to marshal forced labor [angarya] for the daughter of Pharaoh, your wife.
וּמַאי ״וְזֶה אֲשֶׁר הֵרִים יָד בַּמֶּלֶךְ״? אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן: שֶׁחָלַץ תְּפִילָּיו בְּפָנָיו. אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן: גַּסּוּת הָרוּחַ שֶׁהָיָה בּוֹ בְּיָרׇבְעָם טְרָדַתּוּ מִן הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֹּאמֶר יָרׇבְעָם בְּלִבּוֹ עַתָּה תָּשׁוּב הַמַּמְלָכָה לְבֵית דָּוִד. אִם יַעֲלֶה הָעָם הַזֶּה לַעֲשׂוֹת זְבָחִים בְּבֵית ה׳ בִּירוּשָׁלִַים וְשָׁב לֵב הָעָם הַזֶּה אֶל אֲדֹנֵיהֶם אֶל רְחַבְעָם מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה וַהֲרָגֻנִי וְשָׁבוּ אֶל רְחַבְעָם מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה״.
And what is the meaning of the phrase “and this was the cause that he lifted his hand against the king”? Rav Naḥman says: He removed his phylacteries before Solomon, thereby demonstrating that he does not consider Solomon his superior. Rav Naḥman says: The arrogance that existed in Jeroboam drove him from the World-to-Come, as it is stated: “And Jeroboam said in his heart: Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David. If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the House of the Lord in Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again to their lord, even to Rehoboam, king of Judea, and they shall kill me and return to Rehoboam, king of Judea” (I Kings 12:26–27).
אֲמַר: גְּמִירִי דְּאֵין יְשִׁיבָה בַּעֲזָרָה אֶלָּא לְמַלְכֵי בֵּית יְהוּדָה בִּלְבָד. כֵּיוָן דְּחָזוּ לֵיהּ לִרְחַבְעָם דְּיָתֵיב וַאֲנָא קָאֵימְנָא, סָבְרִי: הָא מַלְכָּא וְהָא עַבְדָּא. וְאִי יָתֵיבְנָא, מוֹרֵד בַּמַּלְכוּת הוּא, וְקָטְלִין לִי וְאָזְלוּ בָּתְרֵיהּ. מִיָּד ״וַיִּוָּעַץ הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיַּעַשׂ שְׁנֵי עֶגְלֵי זָהָב וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם רַב לָכֶם מֵעֲלוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַים הִנֵּה אֱלֹהֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלוּךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת הָאֶחָד בְּבֵית אֵל וְאֶת הָאֶחָד נָתַן בְּדָן״.
Jeroboam calculated and said: It is learned as a tradition that sitting in the Temple courtyard is permitted only for kings of the house of Judah alone. Once they see Rehoboam, who is sitting, and they see me standing, they will think: This, Rehoboam, is king, and that, Jeroboam, is the servant. And if I sit there, I will be considered a traitor against the throne, and they will kill me and follow him. Immediately, the following took place: “And the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said to them: It is too much for you to ascend to Jerusalem; behold your gods, Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. And he placed the one in Bethel and the other he placed in Dan” (I Kings 12:28–29).
מַאי ״וַיִּוָּעַץ״? אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה: שֶׁהוֹשִׁיב רָשָׁע אֵצֶל צַדִּיק. אֲמַר לְהוּ: חָתְמִיתוּ עַל כֹּל דְּעָבֵידְנָא? אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: הִין. אֲמַר לְהוּ: מַלְכָּא בָּעֵינָא לְמִיהְוֵי. אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: הִין. כֹּל דְּאָמֵינָא לְכוּ עָבֵידְתּוּ? אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: הִין. אֲפִילּוּ לְמִפְלַח לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה? אֲמַר לֵיהּ צַדִּיק: חַס וְחָלִילָה! אֲמַר לֵיהּ רָשָׁע לְצַדִּיק: סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ דְּגַבְרָא כְּיָרׇבְעָם פָּלַח לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה? אֶלָּא לְמֵינְסִינְהוּ הוּא דְּקָא בָּעֵי, אִי קַבְּלִיתוּ לְמֵימְרֵיהּ.
What is the meaning of the phrase “and the king took counsel”? Rabbi Yehuda says: It means that he assembled the elders of the kingdom of Israel and seated a wicked person alongside a righteous person and consulted them. He said to the elders: Do you sign a writ of authorization for all that I am doing? They said to him: Yes. He said to them: I want to be the king. They said to him: Yes. Jeroboam said to them: Will you do everything I tell you to do? They said to him: Yes. He said to them: Even to worship idols? A righteous man said: Heaven forfend; idol worship is unacceptable. The wicked man seated alongside him said to the righteous man: Does it enter your mind that a man like Jeroboam would worship idols? Rather, he merely seeks to test those sitting here, to determine if they accept and will obey his pronouncements.
