במדבר רבה י׳Bamidbar Rabbah 10

Section 1א׳

אִישׁ אוֹ אִשָּׁה כִּי יַפְלִא וגו' (במדבר ו, ב), הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שיר השירים ה, טו): שׁוֹקָיו עַמּוּדֵי שֵׁשׁ מְיֻסָּדִים עַל אַדְנֵי פָז מַרְאֵהוּ כַּלְּבָנוֹן בָּחוּר כָּאֲרָזִים, שׁוֹקָיו, זֶה הָעוֹלָם שֶׁנִּשְׁתּוֹקֵק הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִבְרֹאתוֹ, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (שיר השירים ז, יא): וְעָלַי תְּשׁוּקָתוֹ, וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁכֵּן הוּא אוֹמֵר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ב, א): וַיְכֻלּוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ וגו', אֵין וַיְכֻלּוּ, אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן תַּאֲוָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים פד, ג): נִכְסְפָה וְגַם כָּלְתָה נַפְשִׁי וגו'. עַמּוּדֵי שֵׁשׁ, שֶׁהֶעֱמִיד כָּל מַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית לְשִׁשָּׁה יָמִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כ, יא): כִּי שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים עָשָׂה ה' וגו', הֲרֵי שָׁלשׁ אִמָּהוֹת שֶׁמֵּהֶם נִבְרְאוּ הַכֹּל. מְיֻסָּדִים עַל אַדְנֵי פָז, שֶׁיְסוֹדָן הָיָה שְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים מְשֻׁבָּחִים וְאֵין כְּמוֹתָן בָּעוֹלָם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (משלי ג, יט כ): ה' בְּחָכְמָה יָסַד אָרֶץ כּוֹנֵן שָׁמַיִם בִּתְבוּנָה, בְּדַעְתּוֹ תְּהוֹמוֹת נִבְקָעוּ, זֶה הַיָּם. חָכְמָה הִיא יִרְאַת ה', כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (איוב כח, כח): הֵן יִרְאַת ה' הִיא חָכְמָה וְסוּר מֵרָע בִּינָה. דָּעַת, זֶה הַמַּכִּיר אֶת בּוֹרְאוֹ, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (הושע ד, א): וְאֵין דַּעַת אֱלֹהִים בָּאָרֶץ, וְאוֹמֵר (ירמיה ט, כג): הַשְׂכֵּל וְיָדֹעַ אוֹתִי. מַרְאֵהוּ כַּלְּבָנוֹן, זֶה שְׂכַר בַּעַל תְּשׁוּבָה שֶׁהוּא נִקְרָא סוּר מֵרָע, שֶׁעָלָיו אָמַר הַכָּתוּב (הושע יד, ה ז): אֶרְפָּא מְשׁוּבָתָם וגו' וִיהִי כַזַּיִת הוֹדוֹ וְרֵיחַ לוֹ כַּלְּבָנוֹן. בָּחוּר כָּאֲרָזִים, זֶה הַיָּרֵא וְהַמַּכִּיר בּוֹרְאוֹ, שֶׁהוּא נִקְרָא צַדִּיק, וְעָלָיו אָמַר הַכָּתוּב (תהלים צב, יג): צַדִּיק כַּתָּמָר יִפְרָח כְּאֶרֶז בַּלְּבָנוֹן יִשְׂגֶּה, וְאוֹמֵר (שמואל א ב, כח): וּבָחֹר אֹתוֹ מִכָּל שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וגו'. וְאוֹמֵר (תהלים סה, ה): אַשְׁרֵי תִּבְחַר וּתְקָרֵב. (שיר השירים ה, טז): חִכּוֹ מַמְתַקִּים, זֶה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, רְאֵה מַהוּ אוֹמֵר (עמוס ה, ד): כִּי כֹה אָמַר ה' לְבֵית יִשְׂרָאֵל דִּרְשׁוּנִי וִחְיוּ, וְיֵשׁ לְךָ חֵךְ מָתוֹק מִזֶּה, (יחזקאל לג, יא): חַי אָנִי נְאֻם ה' אֱלֹהִים אִם אֶחְפֹּץ בְּמוֹת הָרָשָׁע וגו', וְיֵשׁ לְךָ חֵךְ מָתוֹק מִזֶּה, (יחזקאל לג, יט): וּבְשׁוּב רָשָׁע וגו', אֵין לְךָ חֵךְ מָתוֹק מִזֶּה. אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ וּבִלְבָד בְּתוֹהֶה עַל הָרֶשַׁע, הָא כֵיצַד תָּנֵי רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי הֲרֵי שֶׁהָיָה אָדָם רָשָׁע גָּמוּר כָּל יָמָיו וּבַסּוֹף נַעֲשָׂה צַדִּיק גָּמוּר, עָלָיו הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר (יחזקאל לג, יב): וְרִשְׁעַת הָרָשָׁע לֹא יִכָּשֶׁל בָּהּ. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן לֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא כָּל עֲבֵרוֹת שֶׁעָבַר, הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מוֹנֶה אוֹתָן לוֹ זְכֻיּוֹת, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים מה, ט): מֹר וַאֲהָלוֹת קְצִיעוֹת כָּל בִּגְדֹתֶיךָ, כָּל בְּגִידוֹת שֶׁבָּגַדְתָּ בִּי הֲרֵי הֵן כְּמֹר וַאֲהָלוֹת, בִּזְּמַן שֶׁהֵן קְצִיעוֹת, וְאוֹמֵר (יחזקאל לג, יט): עֲלֵיהֶם הוּא יִחְיֶה. דָּבָר אַחֵר, חִכּוֹ מַמְתַקִּים, אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן בִּשְׁלשָׁה מְקוֹמוֹת שָׁמְעוּ אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מוֹכִיחַ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל וְשָׂמָחוּ וּבַסּוֹף יָצְאוּ בְּבשֶׁת פָּנִים, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן (ישעיה א, יח): לְכוּ נָא וְנִוָּכְחָה יֹאמַר ה', אָמְרוּ עַכְשָׁו הוּא מְכַלֶּה שׂוֹנְאֵיהֶם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל מִן הָעוֹלָם, אֶפְשָׁר לְאֵלּוּ לְהִתְוַכֵּחַ עִם בּוֹרְאָן, כֵּיוָן שֶׁאָמַר לָהֶם (ישעיה א, יח): אִם יִהְיוּ חֲטָאֵיכֶם כַּשָּׁנִים וגו', אָמְרוּ זוֹ הַתּוֹכַחַת, לָא בָעֵי אֶלָּא מִתְפּוֹגְגָה עִמְּהוֹן. וְדִכְוָתֵיהּ (מיכה ו, ב): שִׁמְעוּ הָרִים אֶת רִיב וגו', אָמְרוּ עַכְשָׁו הוּא מְכַלֶה שׂוֹנְאֵיהֶן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל מִן הָעוֹלָם, אֶפְשָׁר לָאֵלּוּ לְהִתְוַכֵּחַ עִם בּוֹרְאָן, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁאָמַר לָהֶם (מיכה ו, ג): עַמִּי מֶה עָשִׂיתִי לְךָ וּמָה הֶלְאֵתִיךָ עֲנֵה בִי, אָמְרוּ זוֹ תּוֹכַחַת לָא בָעֵי אֶלָּא מִתְפּוֹגְגָה עִמְּהוֹן. וְדִכְוָתֵיהּ (הושע יב, ג): וְרִיב לַה' עִם יְהוּדָה וְלִפְקֹד עַל יַעֲקֹב וגו', אָמְרוּ עַכְשָׁו הוּא מְכַלֶה שׂוֹנְאֵיהֶם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל מִן הָעוֹלָם, אֶפְשָׁר לָאֵלּוּ לְהִתְוַכֵּחַ עִם בּוֹרְאָן, כֵּיוָן שֶׁאָמַר לָהֶם (הושע יב, ד): בַּבֶּטֶן עָקַב אֶת אָחִיו וגו', אָמְרוּ זוֹ תּוֹכַחַת לָא בָעֵי אֶלָּא מִתְפּוֹגְגָה עִמְּהוֹן. אָמַר רַבִּי יוּדָן בַּר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן לְאַלְמָנָה שֶׁקָּבְלָה עַל בְּנָהּ, חֲמָתֵיהּ לַדַּיָּן דָּאֵין בְּנוּר וּבְזֶפֶת וּבְמַגְלְבִין, אָמְרָה אִין דָּאֵין הוּא לִבְרִי בְּאִלֵּין דִּינַיָא קָטֵיל הוּא לֵיהּ, דַּחֲלַת, כַּד גְּמַר מִלַּיָא אֲמַר לָהּ מָה הוּא עָבֵיד לִיךְ, אֲמַרָה לֵיהּ כַּד הֲוָה בְּמֵעַי הֲוָה מְבַעֵט לִי. אֲמַר לָהּ, זוֹ סוּרְחָנָא כָּךְ יַעֲקֹב בַּבֶּטֶן עָקַב אֶת אָחִיו. רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי סִימַאי אֱלוֹהוֹ שֶׁל יַעֲקֹב חָלַק לוֹ כָּבוֹד. דָּבָר אַחֵר, חִכּוֹ מַמְתַקִּים, רַבִּי עֲזַרְיָה וְרַב אַחָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁשָּׁמְעוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אָנֹכִי בְּסִינַי, נַפְשָׁם יָצְאָה מֵהֶם, חָזַר הַדִּבּוּר אֵצֶל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אָמַר לְפָנָיו רִבּוֹן הָעוֹלָמִים אַתָּה חַיִּים וְתוֹרָתְךָ חַיִּים שְׁלַחְתַּנִי אֵצֶל מֵתִים, כֻּלָּם מֵתִים. בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה חָזַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְהִמְתִּיק לָהֶם אֶת הַדִּבּוּר (תהלים כט, ד): קוֹל ה' בַּכֹּחַ קוֹל ה' בֶּהָדָר. אָמַר רַבִּי חָמָא בַּר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא לַבַּחוּרִים קוֹל ה' בַּכֹּחַ, לַתַּשִׁים קוֹל ה' בֶּהָדָר. תָּנֵי רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי הַתּוֹרָה הֶחֱזִירָה לָהֶם נַפְשׁוֹתֵיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים יט, ח): תּוֹרַת ה' תְּמִימָה מְשִׁיבַת נָפֶשׁ. כֻּלּוֹ מַחֲמַדִּים, רַבִּי חִיָּא בַּר אַבָּא בַּנֹּהַג שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם פּוֹעֵל עוֹשֶׂה עִם בַּעַל הַבַּיִת, עַל יְדֵי שֶׁהוּא מְנַבֵּל עַצְמוֹ בַּטִּיט הוּא נוֹתֵן לוֹ שְׂכָרוֹ, אֲבָל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַזְהִיר אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאוֹמֵר לָהֶן אַל תְּנַבְּלוּ עַצְמְכֶם בְּדָבָר רָע וַאֲנִי נוֹתֵן לָכֶם שְׂכַרְכֶם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ויקרא יא, מג מד): אַל תְּשַׁקְּצוּ אֶת נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם בְּכָל הַשֶּׁרֶץ הַשֹּׁרֵץ וגו' כִּי אֲנִי ה' וגו', מַהוּ אֲנִי ה', נֶאֱמָן אֲנִי לְשַׁלֵּם מַתַּן שָׂכָר עַל כָּךְ, אֶתְמְהָה, הֱוֵי: כֻּלּוֹ מַחֲמַדִּים. רַבִּי תַּנְחוּם בֶּן רַבִּי חִיָּא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, כְּתִיב (יחזקאל כ, כ): וְאֶת שַׁבְּתוֹתַי קַדֵּשׁוּ, בַּמָּה אַתָּה מְקַדְּשׁוֹ, בְּמַאֲכָל וּבְמַשְׁקֶה וּבִכְסוּת נְקִיָּה, מַה כְּתִיב בּוֹ (יחזקאל כ, כ): וְהָיוּ לְאוֹת בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם לָדַעַת כִּי אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם. אֲנִי ה', נֶאֱמָן אֲנִי לְשַׁלֵּם לָכֶם מַתַּן שָׂכָר, הֱוֵי: כֻּלּוֹ מַחֲמַדִּים. זֶה דוֹדִי, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (ויקרא כ, כו): וָאַבְדִּל אֶתְכֶם מִן הָעַמִּים לִהְיוֹת לִי. אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי כָּל מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל מֻבְדָּלִים מִן אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם בַּחֲרִישָׁתָן וּבִזְרִיעָתָן, בִּקְצִירָתָן, בְּעָמְרָן, בְּדִישָׁתָן, בְּגָרְנֵיהֶם, בְּיִקְבֵיהֶם וּבְתִגְלַחְתָּם וּבְמִנְיָינָם. בַּחֲרִישָׁתָן (דברים כב, י): לֹא תַחֲרשׁ בְּשׁוֹר וּבַחֲמֹר יַחְדָּו, בִּזְרִיעָתָן (ויקרא יט, יט): שָׂדְךָ לֹא תִזְרַע כִּלְאָיִם, בִּקְצִירָתָן (ויקרא יט, ט): לֹא תְכַלֶּה פְּאַת שָׂדְךָ לִקְצֹר, בְּעָמְרָן (דברים כד, יט): וְשָׁכַחְתָּ עֹמֶר בַּשָֹּׂדֶה וגו', בְּדִישָׁתָן (דברים כה, ד): לֹא תַחְסֹם שׁוֹר בְּדִישׁוֹ, בְּגָרְנֵיהֶם, בְּיִקְבֵיהֶם (שמות כב, כח): מְלֵאָתְךָ וְדִמְעֲךָ לֹא תְאַחֵר, בְּתִגְלַחְתָּם (ויקרא כא, ה): וּפְאַת זְקָנָם לֹא יְגַלֵּחוּ, בְּמִנְיָנָם, שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל מוֹנִים לַלְּבָנָה וְאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם מוֹנִין לַחַמָּה. (שמות ל, יב): כִּי תִשָֹּׂא אֶת רֹאשׁ וגו' (במדבר א, ב): שְׂאוּ אֶת רֹאשׁ וגו' (ויקרא כ, כו): לִהְיוֹת לִי, הֲרֵי אַתֶּם שֶׁלִּי, הֱוֵי: זֶה דוֹדִי. (שיר השירים ה, טז): וְזֶה רֵעִי, רַבִּי יוּדָן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חָמָא בֶּן רַבִּי חֲנִינָא וְרַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ אָמַר שֶׁהוּא מַרְבֶּה לִי רֵעִים, כֵּיצַד, כְּתִיב: וָאַבְדִּל אֶתְכֶם מִן הָעַמִּים, כָּזֶה שֶׁהוּא בּוֹרֵר אֶת הַיָּפֶה מִן הָרַע, בּוֹרֵר וְחוֹזֵר וּבוֹרֵר, שֶׁכָּל מִי שֶׁבּוֹרֵר אֶת הָרַע מִן הַיָּפֶה שׁוּב אֵינוֹ חוֹזֵר וּבוֹרֵר, כָּךְ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְצַפֶּה לְאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם שֶׁמָּא יַעֲשׂוּ תְּשׁוּבָה וִיקַרְבָן לְתַחַת כְּנָפָיו. דָּבָר אַחֵר, שׁוֹקָיו עַמּוּדֵי שֵׁשׁ וגו', שׁוֹקָיו, זוֹ תּוֹרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי ג, ח): וְשִׁקּוּי לְעַצְמוֹתֶיךָ. עַמּוּדֵי שֵׁשׁ, לָמָּה נִמְשְׁלוּ דִבְרֵי תוֹרָה לְעַמּוּדִים, לְפִי שֶׁהֵם עַמּוּדֵי הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה לג, כה): אִם לֹא בְרִיתִי יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה חֻקּוֹת שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ לֹא שָׂמְתִּי. רַבִּי הוּנָא בְּשֵׁם בַּר קַפָּרָא אָמַר מַה הָעַמּוּדִים הַלָּלוּ יֵשׁ לָהֶם קוֹפָלִיּוֹת מִלְּמַעְלָן וּבְסִיסִיּוֹת מִלְּמַטָּן, כָּךְ הֵן פָּרָשִׁיּוֹתֶיהָ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה, נִדְרָשׁוֹת לִפְנֵיהֶם וּלְאַחֲרֵיהֶם, נִדְרָשׁוֹת מִלִּפְנֵיהֶם כְּגוֹן הֲדָא (ויקרא יט, כג): וְכִי תָבֹאוּ אֶל הָאָרֶץ וּנְטַעְתֶּם כָּל עֵץ וגו', מַה כְּתִיב לִפְנֵיהֶם (ויקרא יט, כ): וְאִישׁ כִּי יִשְׁכַּב אֶת אִשָּׁה שִׁכְבַת זֶרַע, וְכִי מַה עִנְיַן זֶה לָזֶה, אֶלָּא אֵינָשׁ דְּהוּא אָזֵיל וּמִתְחַבֵּר בְּחַבְרֵיהּ בִּנְטִיעוֹתָיו, וּמִתּוֹךְ שֶׁהוּא נִכְנַס וְיוֹצֵא בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ נֶחְשַׁד עַל שִׁפְחָתוֹ, וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁאָדָם פּוֹרֵשׁ אֶת עַצְמוֹ מִן פֵּרוֹת עָרְלָה כָּךְ הַמְקֻלְקָלִין בַּשְּׁפָחוֹת פְּרוּשִׁין מִן הַכְּשֵׁרִים לְיוֹם הַדִּין, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יוּדָן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי, אֵלּוּ שֶׁהָיוּ נוֹהֲגִין הֶתֵּר בִּשְׁפָחוֹת בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה עֲתִידִין לְהִתָּלוֹת בְּקָדְקָדֵי רָאשֵׁיהֶם לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים סח, כב): אַךְ אֱלֹהִים יִמְחַץ רֹאשׁ אֹיְבָיו קָדְקֹד שֵׂעָר, וְהוּא אוֹמֵר לֹא אָשָׁם אֲנִי חַיָּב, (תהלים סח, כב): יִתְהַלֵּךְ בַּאֲשָׁמָיו, יֵזֵיל הַאי גַבְרָא בְּחוֹבָיו. כֵּיצַד נִדְרָשׁוֹת מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶם (ויקרא יט, כג): שָׁלשׁ שָׁנִים יִהְיֶה לָכֶם עֲרֵלִים לֹא יֵאָכֵל, מַה כְּתִיב בַּתְרֵיהּ (ויקרא יט, כו): לֹא תֹאכְלוּ עַל הַדָּם, וְכִי מָה עִנְיָן זֶה לָזֶה, אֶלָּא אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לָעָרְלָה אַתְּ מַמְתִּין שָׁלשׁ שָׁנִים וּלְאִשְׁתְּךָ אֵין אַתְּ מַמְתִּין עַד שֶׁהִיא מִטַּהֶרֶת מִנִּדָּתָהּ. לָעָרְלָה אַתְּ מַמְתִּין שָׁלשׁ שָׁנִים, וְלִבְהֶמְתְּךָ אֵין אַתְּ מַמְתִּין עַד שֶׁתְּמַצֶּה דָּמֶיהָ. מִי קִיֵּם מִצְוַת הַדָּם, שָׁאוּל קִיֵּם מִצְוַת הַדָּם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל א יד, לג לד): וַיַּגִּידוּ לְשָׁאוּל לֵאמֹר הִנֵּה הָעָם חֹטִאים לַה' לֶאֱכֹל עַל הַדָּם וגו' וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל פֻּצוּ בָעָם וַאֲמַרְתֶּם לָהֶם הַגִּישׁוּ אֵלַי אִישׁ וגו'. מַהוּ (שמואל א יד, לד): וּשְׁחַטְתֶּם בָּזֶה, רַבָּנִין אָמְרִין סַכִּין הֶרְאָה לָהֶם כַּמָּה הָיָה צָרִיךְ לִהְיוֹת שִׁעוּר אָרְכּוֹ מִנְיַן בָּזֶה, ב' תְּרֵין, ז' שִׁבְעָה, ה' חֲמִשָּׁה, הֲרֵי אַרְבֵּיסַר אֶצְבָּעוֹת, אָמַר לָהֶם כַּסֵּדֶר הַזֶּה תִּהְיוּ שׁוֹחֲטִים וְאוֹכְלִים. וְהֵיכָן פָּרַע לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, בְּיוֹם מִלְחֶמֶת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל א יג, כב): וְהָיָה בְּיוֹם מִלְחֶמֶת וְלֹא נִמְצָא חֶרֶב וַחֲנִית בְּיַד כָּל הָעָם אֲשֶׁר אֶת שָׁאוּל וְאֶת יוֹנָתָן וַתִּמָּצֵא לְשָׁאוּל וּלְיוֹנָתָן בְּנוֹ, מִי הִמְצִיאָהּ לוֹ, רַבִּי הוּנָא בְּשֵׁם רַב יִצְחָק אָמַר הַמַּלְאָךְ הִמְצִיאָהּ לוֹ, וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הִמְצִיאָהּ לוֹ. חֶרֶב, מִדָּה כְּנֶגֶד מִדָּה, מַה כָּתוּב (שמואל א יד, לה): וַיִּבֶן שָׁאוּל מִזְבֵּחַ לַה' וגו', וַהֲלוֹא כַּמָּה מִזְבְּחוֹת בָּנוּ רִאשׁוֹנִים, נֹחַ בָּנָה מִזְבֵּחַ, אַבְרָהָם בָּנָה מִזְבֵּחַ, יִצְחָק בָּנָה מִזְבֵּחַ, יַעֲקֹב בָּנָה מִזְבֵּחַ, משֶׁה בָּנָה מִזְבֵּחַ, יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בָּנָה מִזְבֵּחַ, וְאַתְּ אוֹמֵר (שמואל א יד, לה): אֹתוֹ הֵחֵל לִבְנוֹת מִזְבֵּחַ לַה'. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר הֵחֵל בַּמְּלָכִים. רַבִּי יוּדָן אָמַר לְפִי שֶׁנָּתַן נַפְשׁוֹ עַל הַדָּבָר שֶׁל שְׁחִיטָה שֶׁהִיא צֹרֶךְ מִזְבֵּחַ, לְפִיכָךְ הֶעֱלָה עָלָיו הַכָּתוּב כְּאִלּוּ אֹתוֹ הֵחֵל לִבְנוֹת מִזְבֵּחַ. וְדִכְוָתֵיהּ פָּרָשַׁת נָזִיר נִדְרֶשֶׁת לְפָנֶיהָ וּלְאַחֲרֶיהָ, כֵּיצַד לְאַחֲרֶיהָ, (במדבר ו, כא): זֹאת תּוֹרַת הַנָּזִיר וגו', מַה כְּתִיב אַחֲרָיו (במדבר ו, כג): כֹּה תְבָרֲכוּ אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וגו', וְכִי מָה עִנְיָן זֶה לָזֶה, אֶלָּא כָּךְ צִוָּה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאֵין הַנָּזִיר טוֹעֵם יַיִן אַף אַתֶּם לֹא תִטְעֲמוּ יַיִן כְּשֶׁתִּהְיוּ מְבָרְכִים אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, לְכָךְ כְּתִיב כֹּה תְבָרְכוּ, בְּעִנְיָן נָזִיר, וּלְכָךְ אֵין הַכֹּהֲנִים נוֹשְׂאִים כַּפֵּיהֶם בַּמִּנְחָה מִשּׁוּם שִׁכְרוּת. כֵּיצַד נִדְרֶשֶׁת לְפָנֶיהָ, אִישׁ אוֹ אִשָּׁה כִּי יַפְלִא וגו', מַה כְּתִיב לְמַעְלָה (במדבר ה, כט): זֹאת תּוֹרַת הַקְּנָאֹת, וְכִי מָה עִנְיָן זֶה לָזֶה, אֶלָּא כְּשֶׁהֵם מַשְׁקִים אֶת הַסּוֹטָה הָיוּ אוֹמְרִים לָהּ, הַרְבֵּה יַיִן עוֹשֶׂה, וְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹמְדִים שָׁם אֲנָשִׁים וְנָשִׁים, וְאִם הָיְתָה טְמֵאָה (במדבר ה, כז): וְצָבְתָה בִטְנָהּ וגו', וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁבּוֹדְקִים אוֹתָהּ כָּךְ בּוֹדְקִים אוֹתוֹ, וְהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל הָאֲנָשִׁים וְהַנָּשִׁים שֶׁהָיוּ רוֹאִין, בָּאִים לְתוֹךְ בָּתֵּיהֶם וְאוֹמְרִים אוֹי לוֹ לִפְלוֹנִי וְלִפְלוֹנִית שֶׁשָּׁתוּ יַיִן וְנִשְׁתַּכְּרוּ וְעָבְרוּ עֲבֵרָה וּמֵתוּ, נִשְׁבַּע אֲנִי שֶׁאֵינִי שׁוֹתֶה יַיִן לְעוֹלָם שֶׁלֹא יְהֵא לִי כְּמוֹתוֹ, וְכֵן הַנָּשִׁים אוֹמְרוֹת, לְכָךְ נִסְמְכוּ זוֹ לָזוֹ. אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אִם נָזִיר אָדָם מִן הַיַּיִן, כָּךְ תּוֹרָתוֹ: אִישׁ אוֹ אִשָּׁה כִּי יַפְלִא וגו'. דָּבָר אַחֵר, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהַנָּזִיר מֻבְדָּל מִיַּיִן כָּךְ אֲנִי מַבְדִּיל אֶת הַסּוֹטָה מִשְּׁאָר נָשִׁים לְרָעָה.

“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: When a man or a woman will articulate to take the vow of a nazirite, to abstain for the Lord” (Numbers 6:2). “When a man or a woman will articulate…” – that is what is written: “His calves are pillars of marble, set on sockets of fine gold; his appearance is like Lebanon, choice like cedars” (Song of Songs 5:15). “His calves [shokav],” this is the world that the Holy One blessed be He desired to create, just as it says: “And his desire [tshukato] is for me” (Song of Songs 7:11). From where is it derived that He says so? It is as it is stated: “The heavens and the earth…were completed [vaykhulu]” (Genesis 2:1). Vaykhulu is nothing other than an expression of desire, as it is stated: “My soul longs, indeed it yearns [kaleta]…” (Psalms 84:3). “Pillars [amudei] of marble [shesh],” as He established [shehe’emid] the entire act of Creation in six [shisha] days, as it is stated: “For in six days the Lord made [the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them]” (Exodus 20:11); these are the three matriarchs from which everything was created. “Set on sockets of fine gold,” as their foundation was three excellent matters, unparalleled in the world. That is what is written: “The Lord founded the earth with wisdom, established the heavens with understanding. With His knowledge, the depths were breached” (Proverbs 3:19–20); this is the sea. “Wisdom,” is the fear of the Lord, just as it says: “Behold, the fear of the Lord, it is wisdom, and turning away from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28). “Knowledge,” this is one who knows his Creator, just as it says: “There is no knowledge of God in the land” (Hosea 4:1), and it says: “Contemplating and knowing Me” (Jeremiah 9:23). “His appearance is like Lebanon,” this is the reward of a penitent [baal teshuva], who is characterized as turning away from evil. In his regard the verse said: “I will heal their waywardness [meshuvatam]…his glory will be like the olive tree and his fragrance like Lebanon” (Hosea 14:5,7). “Choice [bachur] like cedars,” this is one who fears and knows his Creator, who is called righteous. In his regard, the verse said: “The righteous man flourishes like a palm tree; like a cedar in Lebanon he grows tall” (Psalms 92:13). And it says: “And chose [uvachor] him from all the tribes of Israel [to be a priest for Me]” (I Samuel 2:28). And it says: “Happy is the one You choose [tivchar] to bring near” (Psalms 65:5). “His palate is sweet” (Song of Songs 5:16), this is the Holy One blessed be He. See what it says: “For so said the Lord to the house of Israel: Seek Me and live” (Amos 5:4). Do you have a palate sweeter than that? “As I live, the utterance of the Lord God, I surely do not desire the death of the wicked person…” (Ezekiel 33:11). Do you have a palate sweeter than that? “And when the wicked person repents…[he will live]” (Ezekiel 33:19). Do you have a palate sweeter than that? Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: Provided that he regrets the wickedness. How so? Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai taught: If there was a man who was absolutely wicked all his days, and ultimately he became absolutely righteous, in his regard, the verse says: “The wickedness of the wicked person, he will not stumble on it [on the day that he repents for his wickedness]” (Ezekiel 33:12). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Moreover, all the transgressions that he violated, the Holy One blessed be He enumerates them as merits. That is what is written: “Myrrh, aloes, and cassia [ketziot] were on all your garments [bigdotayikh]” (Psalms 45:9). All the betrayals [begidot] that you betrayed Me, they are like myrrh and aloes when they are truncated [ketziot]. And it says: “Because of them he will live” (Ezekiel 33:19). Another matter, “his palate is sweet” – Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: In three places, the nations of the world heard that the Holy One blessed be He was rebuking Israel, and they rejoiced, but ultimately they departed shamefacedly. These are they: “Go now let us reason together [venivakheḥa] says the Lord” (Isaiah 1:18). They said: ‘Now he will eradicate the enemies of Israel from the world. Is it possible for these to contend [lehitvake’aḥ] with their Creator?’ When He said to them: “If your sins will be like scarlet, [they will be whitened as snow]” (Isaiah 1:18), they said: ‘Is this the rebuke? He is seeking merely to ease the tension with them.’ Similarly, “Hear, mountains, the Lord’s quarrel…[as the Lord has a quarrel with His people, and with Israel He will contend]” (Micah 6:2). They said: ‘Now he will eradicate the enemies of Israel from the world. Is it possible for these to contend with their Creator?’ When He said to them: “My people, what did I do to you, and how did I exhaust you? Testify against Me” (Micah 6:3), they said: ‘Is this the rebuke? He is seeking merely to ease the tension with them.’ Similarly, “The Lord has a quarrel with Judah, and will reckon with Jacob [according to his ways; according to his exploits, He will recompense him]” (Hosea 12:3). They said: ‘Now he will eradicate the enemies of Israel from the world. Is it possible for these to contend with their Creator?’ When He said to them: “In the womb, he was at his brother’s heels, [and with his strength he strove with God]” (Hosea 12:4), they said: ‘Is this the rebuke? He is seeking merely to ease the tension with them.’ Rabbi Yudan bar Rabbi Shimon said: This is analogous to a widow who complained about her son. She saw the judge sentencing with fire, with tar, and with lashes. She said: ‘If he judges my son with these sentences, he will kill him.’ She was afraid. When he finished his matters, he said to her: ‘What did he do to you?’ She said to him: ‘When he was in my womb, he would kick me.’ He said to her: ‘Is this a transgression?’ So, Jacob in the womb was at his brother’s heels. Rabbi Elazar in the name of Rabbi Simai: The God of Jacob accorded him honor. Another matter, “his palate is sweet,” Rabbi Azarya and Rav Aḥa in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: When Israel heard: “I am [the Lord your God]” (Exodus 20:2) at Sinai, their souls departed from them. The speech returned to the Holy One blessed be He. It said before Him: ‘You are living, Your Torah is living. You sent me to the dead, they are all dead.’ At that moment, the Holy One blessed be He then made the speech more palatable for them. “The voice of the Lord is mighty; the voice of the Lord is majestic” (Psalms 29:4). Rabbi Ḥama bar Rabbi Ḥanina said: For the lads, "the voice of the Lord is mighty," for the feeble, “the voice of the Lord is majestic.” Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai taught: The Torah restored their souls to them, as it is stated: “The Torah of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul” (Psalms 19:8). “All of Him is delightful” (Song of Songs 5:16) – Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba: The way of the world is that a laborer works with the homeowner and he pays him his salary for having sullied himself in mortar. But the Holy One blessed be He cautions Israel and says to them: ‘Do not sully yourselves with evil matters and I will give you your reward.’ That is what is written: “Do not render yourselves abominable by means of any swarming creature that swarms...For I am the Lord…” (Leviticus 11:43–44). What is “I am the Lord”? I am trustworthy to pay a reward. Is that not remarkable? That is, “all of Him is delightful.” Rabbi Tanḥum ben Rabbi Ḥiyya in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: It is written: “Sanctify My Sabbaths” (Ezekiel 20:20). How do you sanctify it? It is with food, with drink, and with a clean garment. What is written in its regard? “And they will be a sign between Me and you, to know that I am the Lord your God” (Ezekiel 20:20). “I am the Lord,” I am trustworthy pay you a reward. That is, “all of Him is delightful.” “This is my beloved” (Song of Songs 5:16), just as it says: “I have distinguished you from the peoples to be Mine” (Leviticus 20:26). Rabbi Levi said: All of the actions of Israel are distinct from the nations of the world; in their plowing, in their sowing, in their reaping, in their gathering, in their threshing, in their granaries, in their wine presses, in their shaving, and in their counting. In their plowing, “do not plow with an ox and a donkey together” (Deuteronomy 22:10). In their sowing, “your field, you shall not sow with diverse kinds” (Leviticus 19:19). In their reaping, “you shall not complete reaping the corner of your field” (Leviticus 19:9). In their gathering, “And you forget a sheaf in the field, [you shall not return to take it]” (Deuteronomy 24:19). In their threshing, “you shall not muzzle an ox in its threshing” (Deuteronomy 25:4). In their granaries, in their wine presses, “the fullness of your crop and the outpouring of your liquids, you shall not delay” (Exodus 22:28). In their shaving, “the corner of their beard they shall not shave” (Leviticus 21:5). In their counting, Israel counts by the moon and the nations of the world count by the sun. “When you take a census [of the children of Israel]…” (Exodus 30:12). “Take a census of…” (Numbers 1:2). “To be Mine,” (Leviticus 20:26), you are Mine. That is, “this is my beloved.” “And this is my companion” (Song of Songs 5:16), Rabbi Yudan in the name of Rabbi Ḥama ben Rabbi Ḥanina and Rabbi Berekhya in the name of Rabbi Abahu said: That He adds companions for me. How so? It is written: “I have distinguished you from the peoples” (Leviticus 20:26); like one who selects the good from the bad: he selects and then selects again as, typically, one who selects the bad from the good does not then select again. So, the Holy One blessed be He waits for the nations of the world; perhaps they will repent, and He will draw them near under His wings. Another matter, “his calves [shokav] are pillars of marble…” – “his calves,” this is the Torah, as it is stated: “And an elixir [veshikui] for your bones” (Proverbs 3:8). “Pillars of marble” – why are matters of Torah likened to pillars? It is because they are the pillars of the world, as it is stated: “If not My covenant of day and night, I would not have set the statutes of heaven and earth” (Jeremiah 33:25). Rabbi Huna said in the name of bar Kappara: Just as these pillars have capitals above them and bases beneath them, so the portions of the Torah, they are expounded [with respect to the verses] before them and after them. Expounded before them, like this: “When you will come into the land and plant any [fruit] tree, [you shall regard its fruit as forbidden…]” (Leviticus 19:23). What is written before that? “If a man lies carnally with a woman [who is a slave…]” (Leviticus 19:20). What does one have to do with the other? It is, rather, that a person who goes and joins his friend in his plantings, since he is entering and exiting inside his friend’s house, he is suspect regarding his friend’s maidservant. Just as a person separates himself from orla fruits, so, those who corrupt themselves with maidservants are separated from the upright on the Day of Judgment. As Rabbi Yudan said in the name of Rabbi Levi: Those who were accustomed to allow themselves maidservants in this world, are destined to be hanged by the crowns of their heads in the future, as it is stated: “Indeed, God will shatter the heads of His enemies, hairy skulls” (Psalms 68:22). He says: Am I not liable to bring a guilt offering? “He walks in his guilt” (Psalms 68:22), this man will continue to walk in his guilt. How are they expounded after them? “Three years it shall be forbidden for you; it shall not be eaten” (Leviticus 19:23). What is written thereafter? “You shall not eat with the blood” (Leviticus 19:26). What does one have to do with the other? Rather, the Holy One blessed be He said: For orla you wait three years but for your wife you do not wait for her to be purified from her menstruation? For orla you wait three years but for your animal you do not wait until its blood is squeezed out? Who fulfilled the mitzva of the blood? Saul fulfilled the mitzva of the blood, as it is stated: “They told Saul, saying: Behold, the people are sinning against the Lord by eating with the blood…Saul said: Disperse among the people and say to them: Let each man bring [his bull to me, and each man his sheep, and you shall slaughter with this and eat, and you shall not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood]” (I Samuel 14:33–34). What is “you shall slaughter with this [bazeh]”? The Rabbis said: He showed them a knife, how much the measure of its length should be. It is the numerical value of bazeh: beit – two, zayin – seven, heh – five, that is fourteen fingerbreadths. He said: In accordance with this protocol, you shall slaughter and eat. When did the Holy One blessed be He repay him? It was on the day of war, as it is stated: “It was on the day of battle that neither sword nor spear was found in the hand of all the people who were with Saul and Yonatan, but was found with Saul and with Yonatan his son” (I Samuel 13:22). Who provided it for him? Rabbi Huna said in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak: The angel provided it for him. The Rabbis say: The Holy One blessed be He provided it for him. It was a sword, measure for measure. What is written? “Saul built an altar to the Lord; [with this one he commenced to build an altar to the Lord]” [I Samuel 14:35). Did his predecessors not build several altars? Noah built an altar, Abraham built an altar, Isaac built an altar, Jacob built an altar, Moses built an altar, Joshua built an altar, and you say: “With this one he commenced to build an altar to the Lord”? Rabbi Yosei said: He began among kings. Rabbi Yudan said: Because he devoted himself with all his soul regarding the matter of slaughter, which is a prerequisite for the altar; therefore the verse ascribed to him as though he commenced to build an altar. Similarly, the portion of the nazirite is expounded before it and after it. How so after it? “This is the law of the nazirite…” (Numbers 6:21). What is written thereafter? “So, shall you bless the children of Israel… (Numbers 6:23). What does one have to do with the other? Rather, this is what the Holy One blessed be He commanded: Just as the nazirite does not taste wine, you, too, shall not taste wine when you are blessing Israel. Therefore, “so shall you bless” is written in the context of the nazirite. That is why the priests do not lift their hands during the afternoon prayer, due to drunkenness. How is it expounded before it? “When a man or a woman will articulate [to take the vow of a nazirite]” (Numbers 6:2). What is written before? “This is the law of jealousies” (Numbers 5:29). What does one have to do with the other? Rather, when they would give the sota to drink, they would say to her: ‘Wine causes a lot.’ All Israel is standing there, men and women. If she was impure, “her belly will distend [and her thigh will fall]” (Numbers 5:27). Just as it checks her, so it checks him. Israel, the men and the women, who would see, would come to their houses and say: ‘Woe unto so-and-so man and so-and-so woman who drank wine, became drunk, violated a transgression, and died. I take an oath that I will never drink wine so it will not befall me like him.’ The women say likewise. That is why they were juxtaposed one to another. The Holy One blessed be He said: If a person abstains from wine, this is his law: “When a man or a woman will articulate…” Alternatively, just as the nazirite is separated from wine, so the sota is separated from other women, to her detriment.

Section 2ב׳

אִישׁ אוֹ אִשָּׁה כִּי יַפְלִא וגו', הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (משלי כג, כו): תְּנָה בְנִי לִבְּךָ לִי וְעֵינֶיךָ דְּרָכַי תִּצֹּרְנָה. תְּנָה בְנִי, אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁנִּקְרְאוּ בָּנִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יד, א): בָּנִים אַתֶּם לַה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם. לִבְּךָ לִי, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (דברים י, טז): וּמַלְתֶּם אֵת עָרְלַת לְבַבְכֶם וגו', (דברים יא, יח): וְשַׂמְתֶּם אֶת דְּבָרַי אֵלֶּה עַל לְבַבְכֶם. וְעֵינֶיךָ דְּרָכַי תִּצֹּרְנָה, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (במדבר טו, לט): וּרְאִיתֶם אֹתוֹ וּזְכַרְתֶּם אֶת כָּל מִצְוֹת ה', (משלי כג, כז): כִּי שׁוּחָה עֲמֻקָּה זוֹנָה, בַּעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר שֶׁהִיא נִקְרֵאת זוֹנָה, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (דברים לא, טז): וְזָנָה אַחֲרֵי אֱלֹהֵי נֵכַר הָאָרֶץ. נִקְרֵאת שׁוּחָה, עַל שֵׁם (ישעיה ב, ט): וַיִּשַּׁח אָדָם. עֲמֻקָּה, עַל שֵׁם (ישעיה ב, ט): וַיִּשְּׁפַּל אִישׁ, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (ישעיה ב, יז): וְשַׁח גַּבְהוּת הָאָדָם וגו'. וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁבַּעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, שֶׁכָּךְ כְּתִיב אַחֲרָיו (ישעיה ב, יח): וְהָאֱלִילִים כָּלִיל יַחֲלֹף. (משלי כג, כז): וּבְאֵר, שֶׁעַל יְדֵי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים יָרְדוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לַבּוֹר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (איכה ג, נג): צָמְתוּ בַבּוֹר חַיָּי. (משלי כג, כז): צָרָה, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (דברים כח, נב): וְהֵצַר לְךָ בְּכָל שְׁעָרֶיךָ. (משלי כג, כז): נָכְרִיָה, זוֹ עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא: אֱלֹהֵי נֵכָר. (משלי כג, כח): אַף הִיא, מְנָא לָן שֶׁעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים מְבִיאָה אַף עַל הָאָדָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יא, טז יז): פֶּן יִפְתֶּה לְבַבְכֶם וגו' וְחָרָה אַף ה' בָּכֶם. (משלי כג, כח): כְּחֶתֶף תֶּאֱרֹב, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (דברים יא, יז): וַאֲבַדְתֶּם מְהֵרָה. (משלי כג, כח): וּבוֹגְדִים בְּאָדָם תּוֹסִף, אָדָם, אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁנִּקְרְאוּ (יחזקאל לד, לא): אָדָם אַתֶּם. וּבוֹגְדִים, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (ישעיה כד, טז): רָזִי לִי רָזִי לִי וגו'. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וּבוֹגְדִים בְּאָדָם, אֵלּוּ קְלָלוֹת שֶׁל תּוֹרַת כֹּהֲנִים שֶׁהֵם פֻּרְעָנֻיּוֹת אַחַר פֻּרְעָנֻיּוֹת, וּכְתִיב בָּהֶן וְיָסַפְתִּי, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (ויקרא כו, יח כא): וְאִם עַד אֵלֶּה לֹא תִשְׁמְעוּ וגו' וְיָסַפְתִּי עֲלֵיכֶם מַכָּה. וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁעַל עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, שֶׁכֵּן כְּתִיב (ויקרא כו, ל): וְהִשְׁמַדְתִּי אֶת בָּמֹתֵיכֶם וגו'. (משלי כג, כט): לְמִי אוֹי לְמִי אֲבוֹי וגו', אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁחָטְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמְסָרָן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּיַד אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם בַּעֲוֹנוֹתֵיהֶם, אַף הֵם לֹא יֵצְאוּ נְקִיִּים, שֶׁלַּסּוֹף הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא דָּן אֶת אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם שֶׁמְּסָרָן בְּיָדָם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁעָשָׂה בְּמִצְרַיִם וּבָבֶל, לְכָךְ כְּתִיב שֵׁשׁ פְּעָמִים לְמִי, כְּנֶגֶד שֵׁשׁ גָּלֻיּוֹת שֶׁגָּלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְבֵין הָאֻמּוֹת, וְכֻלָּן לָקוּ עַל יְדֵיהֶם, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: מִצְרַיִם תְּחִלָּה, וְאַחַר אַשּׁוּר, בָּבֶל, מָדַי, וְיָוָן, וֶאֱדוֹם, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (זכריה א, טו): וְקֶצֶף גָּדוֹל אֲנִי קֹצֵף עַל הַגּוֹיִם הַשַּׁאֲנַנִּים אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי קָצַפְתִּי מְעָט וְהֵמָּה עָזְרוּ לְרָעָה, (ירמיה מו, כח): כִּי אֶעֱשֶׂה כָלָה בְּכָל הַגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר הִדַּחְתִּיךָ שָׁמָּה, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: לְמִי אוֹי לְמִי אֲבוֹי וגו'. (משלי כג, ל): לַמְּאַחֲרִים עַל הַיָּיִן, אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁנִּקְרְאוּ יַיִן, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (ישעיה כז, ב): בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא כֶּרֶם חֶמֶר עַנּוּ לָהּ. לַמְּאַחֲרִים, אֵלּוּ אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם, הַמְּאַחֲרִים עַל הַיַּיִן לִשְׁתּוֹת וְלִקַּח כָּל יְגִיעָם. (משלי כג, ל): לַבָּאִים לַחְקֹר מִמְּסָךְ, שֶׁהֵם חוֹקְרִים עֲלִילוֹת אַחֲרֵיהֶם בְּאֵי זֶה עִנְיָן יִטְלוּ כָּל אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם וְיַהַרְגוּ אוֹתָם וְיַעֲשׂוּ עִמָּהֶם רָעָה. (משלי כג, לא): אַל תֵּרֶא יַיִן כִּי יִתְאַדָּם, הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַזְהִיר אֶת הָעוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁלֹא יַכְבִּידוּ עֹל קָשֶׁה עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: אַל תֵּרֶא יַיִן כִּי יִתְאַדָּם, מַהוּ (משלי כג, לא): כִּי יִתֵּן בַּכּוֹס עֵינוֹ, בַּכִּיס כְּתִיב, שֶׁהֵם נוֹתְנִים עֵינֵיהֶם בְּכִיסָם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל. (משלי כג, לא): יִתְהַלֵּךְ בְּמֵישָׁרִים, שֶׁנּוֹטְלִין כָּל אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם וְנִשְׁאָרִים בָּתֵּיהֶם כְּמִישׁוֹר. דָּבָר אַחֵר, יִתְהַלֵּךְ בְּמֵישָׁרִים, שֶׁעוֹשִׂים בָּהֶם אִישׁ כָּל הַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינָיו. דָּבָר אַחֵר, יִתְהַלֵּךְ בְּמֵישָׁרִים, שֶׁכָּל גְּזֵלוֹת שֶׁגּוֹזְלִין לְיִשְׂרָאֵל אֵין חוֹשְׁבִין עַצְמָם עָוֹן, אֶלָּא חוֹשְׁבִין שֶׁכָּל מַה שֶּׁעוֹשִׂין לָהֶם מִן הַיּשֶׁר. (משלי כג, לב): אַחֲרִיתוֹ כְּנָחָשׁ יִשָּׁךְ, אוֹמֵר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, חַוָּה לְפִי שֶׁהָלְכָה אַחַר עֵינֶיהָ בַּעֲצַת הַנָּחָשׁ, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (בראשית ג, ו): וַתֵּרֶא הָאִשָּׁה כִּי טוֹב וגו', מָה הָיָה סוֹפָהּ נִתְקַלְּלָה עַל יְדֵי הַנָּחָשׁ שֶׁבַע קְלָלוֹת מִן הַכָּתוּב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ג, טז): אֶל הָאִשָּׁה אָמַר הַרְבָּה אַרְבֶּה וגו', וְאוֹתוֹ אִילָן יַיִן הָיָה, אַף אַתֶּם תִּלְקוּ עַל יְדֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁנִּקְרְאוּ יַיִן בְּעֵת שֶׁתִּסְתַּכְּלוּ בָּהֶם וְתִשְׁתּוּ מָמוֹנָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה ב, ג): קֹדֶשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל לַה' רֵאשִׁית תְּבוּאָתֹה וגו'. (משלי כג, לב): וּכְצִפְעֹנִי יַפְרִשׁ, מָה הַצִּפְעוֹנִי מַפְרִישׁ אֶת הָאָדָם מִן חַיִּים לַמָּוֶת, כָּךְ בְּעָוֹן שֶׁעוֹשִׂין רָעָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל יְאַבְּדֵם מִן הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יואל ד, יט): מִצְרַיִם לִשְׁמָמָה תִהְיֶה וגו', זֶה הַגָּזֵל, שֶׁהוּא חָשׁוּב עֲלֵיהֶם כַּמָּוֶת, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (יואל ד, יט): אֲשֶׁר שָׁפְכוּ דָּם נָקִיא בְּאַרְצָם. (משלי כג, לג): עֵינֶיךָ יִרְאוּ זָרוֹת, תַּחַת הָרְאִיָּה שֶׁהָיוּ עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים מִסְתַּכְּלִים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, כְּנֶגֶד זֶה יָבִיא עֲלֵיהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא פֻּרְעָנֻיּוֹת מְשֻׁנּוֹת שֶׁיִּהְיוּ זָרוֹת זוֹ לָזוֹ כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁבָּאוּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (דברים לא, יז): וּמְצָאֻהוּ רָעוֹת רַבּוֹת וְצָרוֹת, רָעוֹת שֶׁהֵן צָרוֹת זוֹ לָזוֹ, כְּגוֹן זִבּוּרָא וְעַקְרַבָּא. (משלי כג, לג): וְלִבְּךָ יְדַבֵּר תַּהְפֻּכוֹת, אַתֶּם מִתְהַפְּכִים עֲלֵיהֶם בְּכָל יוֹם, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (איכה ג, ג): אַךְ בִּי יָשֻׁב יַהֲפֹךְ יָדוֹ כָּל הַיּוֹם. וְלִבָּם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל יוֹצֵא מִדַּעְתּוֹ מֵרֹב הַתְּלָאוֹת שֶׁעוֹשִׂים לָהֶם, כָּךְ יְשַׁלֵּם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא גְּמוּל לָהֶם מִדָּה כְּנֶגֶד מִדָּה, שֶׁיָּבִיא עֲלֵיהֶם פֻּרְעָנֻיּוֹת קָשׁוֹת שֶׁיֵּצֵא לִבָּם מִדַּעְתּוֹ וִידַבֵּר לָהֶם תַּהְפֻּכוֹת וְיָבִיא עֲלֵיהֶם בַּלָּהוֹת. תַּהְפֻּכוֹת, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (איוב ל, טו): הָהְפַּךְ עָלַי בַּלָּהוֹת. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (ישעיה סו, ו): קוֹל ה' מְשַׁלֵּם גְּמוּל לְאֹיְבָיו, מִדָּה כְּנֶגֶד מִדָּה. (משלי כג, לד): וְהָיִיתָ כְּשֹׁכֵב בְּלֶב יָם, זֶה פַּרְעֹה שֶׁטָּבַע בְּלֶב יָם, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (שמות טו, ח): קָפְאוּ תְהֹמֹת בְּלֶב יָם. וְאוֹמֵר (תהלים קלו, טו): וְנִעֵר פַּרְעֹה וְחֵילוֹ בְיַם סוּף, מַה פַּרְעֹה הִכָּהוּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עֶשֶׂר מַכּוֹת כְּנֶגֶד עֲשָׂרָה דְבָרִים שֶׁגָּזַר עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וּלְבַסּוֹף טִבְּעוֹ כְּנֶגֶד (שמות א, כב): כָּל הַבֵּן הַיִּלּוֹד וגו', כָּךְ יַעֲשֶׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְכָל הָאֻמּוֹת עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁעוֹשִׂים רָעָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל מִדָּה כְּנֶגֶד מִדָּה. (משלי כג,לד): וּכְשֹׁכֵב בְּרֹאשׁ חִבֵּל, זֶה הָיָה סִיסְרָא, מַה כְּתִיב (שופטים ד, ג): וְהוּא לָחַץ אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְרָאֵל בְּחָזְקָה עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה, מָה הָיָה סוֹפוֹ, לְפִי שֶׁהָיָה מְחַרְפָם וּמְגַדְּפָם בִּנְחִיצָה, לְכָךְ מֵת מִיתָה גְדוּפָה, שֶׁמְּסָרוֹ בְּיַד אִשָּׁה, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (שופטים ד, ט): כִּי בְּיַד אִשָּׁה יִמְכֹּר ה' אֶת סִיסְרָא, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: וּכְשֹׁכֵב, זֶה הָיָה סִיסְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב בּוֹ (שופטים ה, כז): בֵּין רַגְלֶיהָ כָּרַע נָפַל שָׁכַב. בְּרֹאשׁ חִבֵּל, שֶׁחִבַּלְתּוֹ יָעֵל בְּרֹאשׁוֹ עִם הַיָּתֵד שֶׁבָּאֹהֶל, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שופטים ה, כו): יָדָהּ לַיָּתֵד תִּשְׁלַחְנָה וִימִינָהּ וגו', מִדָּה כְּנֶגֶד מִדָּה. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וּכְשֹׁכֵב בְּרֹאשׁ חִבֵּל, זֶה הָיָה הָמָן שֶׁבִּקֵּשׁ לַהֲרֹג אֶת כָּל הַיְּהוּדִים הֵם וּבְנֵיהֶם וְלָבוֹז אֶת מָמוֹנָם וּבִקֵּשׁ לִתְלוֹת אֶת מָרְדְּכַי לְכָךְ הִגִּיעַ לוֹ מִדָּה כְּנֶגֶד מִדָּה, שֶׁמֵּת הוּא וּבָנָיו וְלָקַח מָרְדְּכַי מָמוֹנוֹ, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: וּכְשֹׁכֵב, זֶה הָיָה הָמָן שֶׁמֵּת מִיתָה מְשֻׁנָּה, כְּמָא דְאַתְּ אָמֵר (יחזקאל לב, כט): שָׁמָּה אֱדוֹם מְלָכֶיהָ וְכָל נְשִׂיאֶיהָ אֲשֶׁר נִתְּנוּ בִגְבוּרָתָם אֶת חַלְּלֵי חָרֶב הֵמָּה אֶת עֲרֵלִים יִשְׁכָּבוּ וְאֶת יֹרְדֵי בוֹר. בְּרֹאשׁ, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (אסתר ט, כה): יָשׁוּב מַחֲשַׁבְתּוֹ הָרָעָה אֲשֶׁר חָשַׁב עַל הַיְּהוּדִים עַל רֹאשׁוֹ וְתָלוּ אֹתוֹ. חִבֵּל, אֵלּוּ בָנָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (אסתר ט, כה): וְתָלוּ אֹתוֹ וְאֶת בָּנָיו עַל הָעֵץ, וְאֵין חִבֵּל אֶלָּא בָנָיו, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (קהלת ה, ה): לָמָּה יִקְצֹף הָאֱלֹהִים עַל קוֹלֶךְ וְחִבֵּל אֶת מַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶיךָ, מַעֲשֵׂה יָדָיו שֶׁל אָדָם אֵלּוּ בָנָיו. חִבֵּל, חֶבֶל כְּתִיב, זֶה הָיָה הָמָן שֶׁנֶּחְנַק בְּחֶבֶל, וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁהָיָה מָמוֹנוֹ לְמָרְדְּכַי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (אסתר ח, ב): וַתָּשֶׂם אֶסְתֵּר אֶת מָרְדְּכַי עַל בֵּית הָמָן, מִדָּה כְּנֶגֶד מִדָּה. (משלי כג, לה): הִכּוּנִי בַל חָלִיתִי, אוֹי לָהֶם לְעוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁאֵין לוֹמְדִים מוּסָר, בַּמֶּה שֶׁעָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לָרִאשׁוֹנִים לֹא לָמְדוּ אַחֲרוֹנִים, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: הִכּוּנִי בַל חָלִיתִי, אוֹמְרִים הָעוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהִכָּה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא פַּרְעֹה וּמִצְרַיִם עַל אוֹדוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל, עַל פִּי כֵן לֹא לָקַחְתִּי מוּסָר, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: בַל חָלִיתִי, (משלי כג, לה): הֲלָמוּנִי בַּל יָדָעְתִּי, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁפָּרַע מִסִּיסְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב בּוֹ (שופטים ה, כו): וְהָלְמָה סִיסְרָא, לֹא נָתַתִּי לְדַעְתִּי בּוֹ לָקַחַת מוּסָר מִמֶּנּוּ. (משלי כג, לה): מָתַי אָקִיץ, וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא שֶׁהָיִיתִי מַמְתִּין מָתַי תַּעֲבֹר הַמַּכָּה וְאוֹסִיף לְבַקֵּשׁ רָעָתָם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (משלי כג, לה): אוֹסִיף אֲבַקְּשֶׁנּוּ עוֹד, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (משלי כז, כב): אִם תִּכְתּוֹשׁ אֶת הָאֱוִיל בַּמַּכְתֵּשׁ וגו'. דָּבָר אַחֵר, (משלי כג, כו): תְּנָה בְנִי לִבְּךָ לִי וגו', מָה רָאָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִשְׁאֹל מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל הַלֵּב וְהָעֵינַיִם שֶׁיִּהְיוּ אַחֲרָיו, לְפִי שֶׁהָעֲבֵרָה תְּלוּיָה בָּהֶם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (במדבר טו, לט): וְלֹא תָתוּרוּ אַחֲרֵי לְבַבְכֶם וגו', עֵינָא וְלִבָּא תְּרֵי סַרְסוּרֵי דַּחֲטָאָה אִינוּן. (משלי כג, כז): כִּי שׁוּחָה עֲמֻקָּה זוֹנָה, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאָמַר משֶׁה (במדבר טו, לט): אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם זֹנִים אַחֲרֵיהֶם, לוֹמַר שֶׁהַזְּנוּת תְּלוּיָה בָּהֶם, הָעֵינַיִם רוֹאוֹת אֶת הַזּוֹנָה, וְהַלֵּב מְהַרְהֵר אַחֲרֶיהָ. כָּךְ אָמַר רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ עַל יְדֵי שְׁלֹמֹה: כִּי שׁוּחָה עֲמֻקָּה, לָמָּה קְרָאָהּ שׁוּחָה, עַל שֵׁם (משלי ב, יח): כִּי שָׁחָה אֶל מָוֶת בֵּיתָהּ, עֲמֻקָּה, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (משלי ט, יח): בְּעִמְקֵי שְׁאוֹל קְרֻאֶיהָ. זוֹנָה, זוֹ אֵשֶׁת אִישׁ. וּבְאֵר צָרָה, שֶׁהִיא מוֹרִידָה לַנּוֹאֵף לַגֵּיהִנֹּם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (משלי ה, ה): שְׁאוֹל צְעָדֶיהָ יִתְמֹכוּ. וּשְׁאוֹל נִקְרָא בּוֹר, דִּכְתִיב (תהלים ל, ד): ה' הֶעֱלִיתָ מִן שְׁאוֹל נַפְשִׁי חִיִּיתַנִי מִיָּרְדִי בוֹר, מַהוּ שֶׁאָמַר צָרָה זֶה גֵּיהִנֹּם, שֶׁהִיא רְחָבָה מִלְּמַטָּה וּפִיהָ צַר מִלְמַעְלָה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (איוב לו, טז): וְאַף הֲסִיתְךָ מִפִּי צָר רַחַב לֹא מוּצָק תַּחְתֶּיהָ. נָכְרִיָה, שֶׁהִיא נָכְרִיָה לְךָ, שֶׁהִיא אֵשֶׁת אִישׁ. אַף הִיא, שֶׁמְּבִיאָה אֶת הָאַף עַל הָאָדָם, שֶׁכֵּן כְּתִיב (שמות כ, יג): לֹא תִנְאָף, לֹא תֶהֱנֶה הָאַף מִמֶּךָּ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, לֹא תִנְאָף, אַל תִּתֵּן אַף בֵּין אִישׁ לְאִשְׁתּוֹ. כְּחֶתֶף תֶּאֱרֹב, שֶׁאֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַאֲרִיךְ לַמְּנָאֲפִים לְהִפָּרַע מֵהֶם, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (מלאכי ג, ה): וְהָיִיתִי עֵד מְמַהֵר בַּמְכַשְּׁפִים וּבַמְנָאֲפִים. וּבוֹגְדִים בְּאָדָם תּוֹסִף, שֶׁהִיא מְפַתָּה אֲנָשִׁים כְּשֵׁרִים וְעוֹשָׂה אוֹתָן בּוֹגְדִים וּמוֹסֶפֶת רְשָׁעִים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (משלי ט, יג יח): אֵשֶׁת כְּסִילוּת הֹמִיָּה, וְיָשְׁבָה לְפֶתַח בֵּיתָהּ וגו' לִקְרֹא לְעֹבְרֵי דָרֶךְ הַמְיַשְּׁרִים אֹרְחוֹתָם, מִי פֶּתִי יָסֻר הֵנָּה וַחֲסַר לֵב וְאָמְרָה לוֹ, מַיִם גְּנוּבִים יִמְתָּקוּ וגו' וְלֹא יָדַע כִּי רְפָאִים שָׁם וגו', הֱוֵי: וּבוֹגְדִים בְּאָדָם תּוֹסִף. לְמִי אוֹי לְמִי אֲבוֹי, כְּנֶגֶד הַנּוֹאֵף אוֹמֵר: לְמִי אוֹי, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (במדבר ה, כב): לַצְבּוֹת בֶּטֶן. לְמִי אֲבוֹי, זֶה אָב אוֹי, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (במדבר ה, כב): וְלַנְפִּל יָרֵךְ, לְפִי שֶׁהַיָּרֵךְ הוּא עוֹשֶׂה הָעֲבֵרָה, לְכָךְ נִקְרָא אֲבוֹי, אָב אוֹי. לְמִי מִדְיָנִים, כָּל אֵלּוּ לְמִי, הָאוֹי וְהָאֲבוֹי לַנּוֹאֵף, הַמְשַׁלֵּחַ מְדָנִים בֵּין אִישׁ לְאִשְׁתּוֹ, הֱוֵי: לְמִי מִדְיָנִים, לְפִי שֶׁהַמְּדָנִים שֶׁלּוֹ, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (משלי ו, יט): וּמְשַׁלֵּחַ מְדָנִים בֵּין אַחִים, זֶה אִישׁ וְאִשְׁתּוֹ שֶׁהֵם אַחִים זֶה לָזֶה. (משלי כג, כט): לְמִי שִׂיחַ, וְעוֹד לְמִי הֵם בָּאוֹת הַקְּלָלוֹת שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ, הָאוֹי וְהָאֲבוֹי, הֱוֵי: לְמִי שִׂיחַ לְמִי פְּצָעִים חִנָּם, זוֹ הַזּוֹנָה, שֶׁהָיְתָה נִפְצַעַת פִּצְעֵי אַהֲבָה חִנָּם בְּלִי שׁוּם פֶּצַע מִבַּעֲלָהּ שׂוֹחֶקֶת עִם אַחֵר. (משלי כג, כט): לְמִי חַכְלִלוּת עֵינָיִם, זוֹ הַזּוֹנָה שֶׁמַּשְׁקָת אֶת הַנּוֹאֵף יַיִן, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (בראשית מט, יב): חַכְלִילִי עֵינַיִם מִיָּיִן. דָּבָר אַחֵר, לְמִי שִׂיחַ, זוֹ שְׁבוּעַת הָאָלָה, כְּמָה דִכְתִיב (במדבר ה, כא): וְאָמַר הַכֹּהֵן לָאִשָּׁה יִתֵּן ה' וגו'. לְמִי פְּצָעִים חִנָּם, עַל עֲסָקֶיהָ נִפְצַעַת חִנָּם, שֶׁהַכֹּהֵן פּוֹרֵעַ אֶת רֹאשָׁהּ וְאוֹחֵז בִּבְגָדֶיהָ, אִם נִקְרָעוּ, נִקְרָעוּ. אִם נִפְרָמוּ, נִפְרָמוּ. לְמִי חַכְלִלוּת עֵינָיִם, זוֹ שְׁתִיַּת הַמַּיִם, שֶׁמִּיָּד כְּשֶׁהָיְתָה שׁוֹתָה, עֵינֶיהָ בּוֹלְטוֹת. כָּל אֵלּוּ לְמִי, לַמְּאַחֲרִים עַל הַיָּיִן. מִכָּאן שֶׁהַיַּיִן גּוֹרֵם לַבָּאִים לַחְקוֹר מִמְסָךְ. מִן דְּשָׁמַע הָן אִית לֵיהּ חֲמַר טָבָא רָדֵיף בַּתְרֵיהּ. אַל תֵּרֶא יַיִן כִּי יִתְאַדָּם, הִזְהִירָה רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ עַל הַיַּיִן שֶׁלֹא יִשְׁתַּכֵּר אָדָם, לָמָּה כִּי יִתְאַדָּם, שֶׁאַחֲרִיתוֹ דַּם, שֶׁעוֹבֵר עֲבֵרָה שֶׁיִּתְחַיֵּב עָלֶיהָ מִיתָה. דָּבָר אַחֵר, כִּי יִתְאַדָּם, כִּי יִתְאַוֶּה לְדַם נִדָּה וּלְדַם זָבָה. כִּי יִתֵּן בַּכּוֹס עֵינוֹ, בַּכִּיס כְּתִיב, עַל יְדֵי הַכּוֹס יִתֵּן עֵינוֹ בַּכִּיס, לָשׁוֹן נָקִי דִּבְרָה תּוֹרָה, לוֹמַר שֶׁיָּבוֹא עַל הָעֶרְוָה. יִתְהַלֵּךְ בְּמֵישָׁרִים, סוֹף אִשְׁתּוֹ אוֹמֶרֶת לוֹ כְּשׁוֹשַׁנָּה אֲדֻמָּה רָאִיתִי וְאֵינוֹ פּוֹרֵשׁ. אָמַר רַבִּי אַסֵּי אִם תַּלְמִיד חָכָם הוּא סוֹף שֶׁמְּטַמֵּא אֶת הַטָּהוֹר וּמְטַהֵר אֶת הַטָּמֵא. דָּבָר אַחֵר, יִתְהַלֵּךְ בְּמֵישָׁרִים, סוֹף שֶׁהוּא מַתִּיר אֶת הָעֲבֵרוֹת וְעוֹשֶׂה אוֹתָן הֶפְקֵר כְּמִישׁוֹר, מֵסִיחַ עִם אִשָּׁה בַּשּׁוּק, מְנַבֵּל פִּיו דְּבָרִים רָעִים בְּשִׁכְרוּת וְאֵינוֹ מִתְבַּיֵּשׁ. אַחֲרִיתוֹ כְּנָחָשׁ יִשָּׁךְ, מָה הַנָּחָשׁ עַל יְדֵי שֶׁהֵסִית לְחַוָּה לִשְׁתּוֹת יַיִן נִתְקַלְּלָה הָאֲדָמָה בַּעֲבוּרוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ג, יז): אֲרוּרָה הָאֲדָמָה בַּעֲבוּרֶךָ, כָּךְ נֹחַ עַל יְדֵי יַיִן נִתְקַלֵּל בְּנוֹ, שְׁלִישׁוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ט, כד כה): וַיִּקֶּץ נֹחַ מִיֵּינוֹ וגו' אָרוּר כְּנַעַן, זֶה הָיָה חָם שֶׁהָיָה בְּנוֹ שְׁלִישִׁי, וְהוּא נִקְרָא (בראשית ט, יח): אֲבִי כְנָעַן. וְכֵן הָיוּ מְאָרְרִים, וּכְצִפְעֹנִי יַפְרִשׁ, מַה צִּפְעוֹן זֶה מַפְרִישׁ בֵּין מֵתִים לַחַיִּים, כָּךְ מַפְרִישׁ הַיַּיִן אֶת הָאָדָם מִדַּרְכֵי חַיִּים לְדַרְכֵי הַמָּוֶת, לְפִי שֶׁהַיַּיִן גּוֹרֵם לוֹ לַעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: עֵינֶיךָ יִרְאוּ זָרוֹת, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (תהלים פא, י): לֹא יִהְיֶה בְךָ אֵל זָר. דָּבָר אַחֵר, שֶׁהוּא בָּא עַל אֵשֶׁת אִישׁ, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (משלי ה, כ): לָמָּה תִּשְׁגֶּה בְנִי בְזָרָה. דָּבָר אַחֵר, שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה אֶת הַמִּצְוֹת זָרוֹת, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (תהלים קיט, כא): גָּעַרְתָּ זֵדִים אֲרוּרִים הַשֹּׁגִים וגו', וְאֵין זֵדִים אֶלָּא הַטּוֹעִים בַּעֲבוּר הַיַּיִן, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (משלי כא, כד): זֵד יָהִיר לֵץ שְׁמוֹ עוֹשֶׂה בְּעֶבְרַת זָדוֹן, זֶה שִׁכּוֹר שֶׁנִּקְרָא יָהִיר וְלֵץ, יָהִיר מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (חבקוק כ, ה): וְאַף כִּי הַיַּיִן בֹּגֵד גֶּבֶר יָהִיר וְלֹא יִנְוֶה, לֵץ מִנַּיִן, דִּכְתִיב (משלי כ, א): לֵץ הַיַּיִן הֹמֶה שֵׁכָר וְכָל שֹׁגֶה בּוֹ לֹא יֶחְכָּם. וְלִבְּךָ יְדַבֵּר תַּהְפֻּכוֹת, שֶׁהוּא הוֹפֵךְ פָּנָיו מִן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וּמִן הַמִּצְוֹת, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (דברים לב, כ): כִּי דוֹר תַּהְפֻּכוֹת וגו'. וְהָיִיתָ כְּשֹׁכֵב בְּלֶב יָם, זֶה נֹחַ שֶׁשָּׁכַב בַּתֵּבָה שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ בְּתוֹךְ מֵי הַמַּבּוּל, וְעַל שֶׁשָּׁתָה וְנִשְׁתַּכֵּר אֵרַע בּוֹ פְּסוּל שֶׁנִּסְתָּרֵס. וּכְשֹׁכֵב בְּרֹאשׁ חִבֵּל, זֶהוּ אָדָם הַקַּדְמוֹנִי שֶׁהוּא הָיָה רֹאשׁ לְכָל בְּנֵי אָדָם, שֶׁעַל יְדֵי הַיַּיִן נִקְנְסָה עָלָיו מִיתָה וְגָרַם לְהָבִיא חֶבְלֵי מָוֶת לָעוֹלָם. הִכּוּנִי בַל חָלִיתִי, אוֹי לוֹ לַנּוֹאֵף שֶׁאֵינוֹ לוֹמֵד דַּעַת מִמַּה שֶּׁעָבְרוּ עָלָיו, הוּא רָאָה מָה אֵרַע לַסּוֹטָה עַל יְדֵי הַיַּיִן וְלֹא לָמַד דָּעַת, הֲלָמוּנִי בַּל יָדָעְתִּי, רָאָה בַּתּוֹרָה מָה אֵרַע לַנּוֹאֵף עַל יְדֵי הַיַּיִן וְלֹא יָדַע לְהָבִין, אֶלָּא אָמַר: מָתַי אָקִיץ אוֹסִיף אֲבַקְּשֶׁנוּ עוֹד, שֶׁכָּל זְמַן שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לוֹ פְּנַאי לְהִתְעַסֵּק בִּזְנוּת יִרְדֹּף אַחֲרֶיהָ, הָא לָמַדְנוּ שֶׁהַיַּיִן גּוֹרֵם לִזְנוּת, וּלְכָךְ כָּתַב הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בַּתּוֹרָה פָּרָשַׁת נָזִיר אַחַר פָּרָשַׁת סוֹטָה, שֶׁלֹא יַעֲשֶׂה אָדָם כְּמַעֲשֵׂה נוֹאֵף וְנוֹאָפֶת שֶׁשָּׁתוּ יַיִן וְנִתְקַלְקְלוּ, אֶלָּא הַיָּרֵא מִן הַחֵטְא יַזִּיר אֶת עַצְמוֹ מִן הַיַּיִן, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: אִישׁ אוֹ אִשָּׁה כִּי יַפְלִא וגו'.

“When a man or a woman will articulate…” – that is what is written: “My son, give me your heart, and your eyes will observe my ways” (Proverbs 23:26). “My son, give,” this is Israel, who are called children, as it is stated: “You are children to the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 14:1). “Me your heart,” just as it says: “Circumsize the foreskin of your heart…” (Deuteronomy 10:16); “you shall place these words of Mine upon your heart…” (Deuteronomy 11:18). “And your eyes will observe my ways,” just as it says: “You shall see it, and remember all the mitzvot of the Lord” (Numbers 15:39). “For a harlot is a deep pit [and a foreign woman is a narrow well]” (Proverbs 23:27); the verse is speaking regarding idol worship, which is called a harlot [zona], just as it says: “[This people] will stray [vezana] after the foreign gods of the land” (Deuteronomy 31:16). It is called a pit [shuḥa] on the basis of “a person will be made lowly [vayishaḥ]” (Isaiah 2:9). “Deep,” on the basis of “and a man was made low” (Isaiah 2:9). Likewise it says: “The haughtiness of man will be made low [veshaḥ]…” (Isaiah 2:17). From where is it derived that the verse is speaking of idol worship? It is because it is written thereafter: “And the false gods will entirely perish” (Isaiah 2:18). “Well [be’er],” because it was by means of idol worship that Israel descended into a pit, as it is stated: “They bound my life in the pit” (Lamentations 3:53). “Narrow [tzara],” just as it says: “He will besiege [vehetzar] you at all your gates” (Deuteronomy 28:52). “Foreign,” this is idol worship, just as it says: “Foreign gods” (Deuteronomy 31:16). “She, too [af]” (Proverbs 23:28); from where do we derive that idol worship brings wrath [af] upon a person? It is as it is stated: “Lest your heart be seduced, [and you stray and worship other gods]…. The wrath [af] of the Lord will be enflamed against you…” (Deuteronomy 11:16–17). “Will lie in ambush like a kidnapper [keḥetef]” (Proverbs 23:28), just as it says: “You will be quickly eradicated” (Deuteronomy 11:17). “And increase the treacherous among men” (Proverbs 23:28) – “Men [adam],” this is Israel, who are called adam: “You…are men [adam]” (Ezekiel 34:31). “Treacherous [uvogedim],” just as it says: “A secret for me, a secret for me. [Woe is me; the betrayers [bogedim] betrayed and the betrayer of the betrayers [bogedim] is betrayed]” (Isaiah 24:16). Another matter, “[and increase [vetosif]] the treacherous among men,” these are the curses in Torat Kohanim, which are calamities after calamities, and it is written in their regard: “I will increase,” just as it says: “And if after these you will not heed…I will increase my blows upon you” (Leviticus 26:18, 21). From where is it derived that the verse is speaking of idol worship? It is because it is written: “I will destroy your high places [and destroy your sun stones]” (Leviticus 26:30). “To whom woe? To whom alas? [To whom strife? To whom talk? To whom wounds without cause? To whom redness of the eyes?]” (Proverbs 23:29). Although Israel sinned and the Holy One blessed be He delivered them into the hand of the nations of the world due to their iniquities, they [the nations] did not emerge unscathed as, ultimately, the Holy One blessed be He will judge the nations of the world into whose hand He delivered them, just as He did with Egypt and Babylon. This is why “to whom” is written six times – corresponding to the six exiles that Israel was exiled among the nations, and they were all punished on their account. They are: Egypt first, and then Assyria, Babylon, Media, Greece, and Edom. Likewise it says: “I am enraged with great rage at the nations that are at ease, for I was mildly enraged, and they augmented the affliction” (Zechariah 1:15). “For I will facilitate the annihilation of all the nations where I banished you” (Jeremiah 46:28). That is why it is stated: “To whom woe? To whom alas…?” “To those who linger over wine” (Proverbs 23:30), these are Israel, who are called wine, just as it says: “On that day, sing about it, a vineyard of wine” (Isaiah 27:2). “To those who linger,” these are the nations of the world, who linger over wine to imbibe and take all the fruit of their labor. “To those who come to assess the mixture” (Proverbs 23:30), as they investigate strategies in their regard; how they will be able to take everything that they have, kill them, and cause them harm. “Do not look at wine in its redness” (Proverbs 23:31), the Holy One blessed be He cautions the idolaters that they should not place too onerous a yoke upon Israel. That is what is written: “Do not look at wine in its redness.” What is “for he who directs his eye to the cup [bakos]”? (Proverbs 23:31). Bakis is written, as they direct their sight to the purse [bekhisam] of Israel. “Will walk smoothly [bemeisharim]” (Proverbs 23:31); that they [the nations] will take everything that they [Israel] have and leave their houses like a plain [mishor]. Alternatively, “will walk smoothly [bemeisharim],” as each of them [the nations] does to them [Israel] as he sees fit [hayashar be’einav]. Alternatively, “will walk smoothly [bemeisharim],” as they do not deem all the robberies that they rob from Israel as an iniquity, but rather, they think that everything that they do to them is in the category of uprightness [yosher]. “At its end, it bites like a serpent” (Proverbs 23:32). The Holy One blessed be He says to them: Eve, because she followed her eyes upon the advice of the serpent, just as it says: “The woman saw that the tree was good…” (Genesis 3:6). What was her ultimate fate? She was cursed, due to the serpent, seven curses mentioned in the verse, as it is stated: “To the woman He said: I will increase [your suffering and your pregnancy; in pain you shall give birth to children and your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you]” (Genesis 3:16). That tree was wine. You, too, will be punished through Israel, who were called wine, when you look at them and imbibe their assets, as it is stated: “Israel is sacred to the Lord, the first of His crop, [all those who devour it will be guilty, evil will come upon them]” (Jeremiah 2:3). “And secretes [yafrish] like an adder” (Proverbs 23:32); just as the adder sets a person aside [mafrish] from their life, to death, so, due to their iniquity, that they perform evil vis-à-vis Israel, He will eradicate them from the world, as it is stated: “Egypt will become desolation [and Edom will become a desolate wilderness, due to the villainy against the children of Judah]” (Joel 4:19) – this is robbery, which is tantamount to murder. That is what is written: “That they shed innocent blood in their land” (Joel 4:19). “Your eyes will see strange things” (Proverbs 23:33) – instead of the perspective with which the idolaters would look upon Israel, the Holy One blessed be He will bring upon them uncommon calamities that will be incompatible with one another, in the manner that they befell Israel, just as it says: “Many evils and troubles will find it” (Deuteronomy 31:17); evils that are rivals with one another, like a wasp and a scorpion. “And your heart will speak contradictions [tahpukhot]” (Proverbs 23:33); you [the nations] turn [mithapekh] against them every day, just as it says: “Indeed, against me he will again turn [yahafokh] his hand all day” (Lamentations 3:3). The heart of Israel loses its sanity due to all the troubles that they perpetrate against them. So the Holy One blessed be He will exact retribution against them measure for measure, as He will bring harsh calamities which will cause them to lose their sanity and He will speak to bring upon them confusion and He will bring terror upon them. Tahpukhot, just as it says: “Terror overwhelms [hafakh] me” (Job 30:15). Likewise it says: “The sound of the Lord as He exacts retribution against His enemies” (Isaiah 66:6) – measure for measure. “You will be like one lying in the heart of the sea” (Proverbs 23:34), this is Pharaoh, who drowned in the heart of the sea, just as it says: “The depths congealed in the heart of the sea.” (Exodus 15:8), and it says: “He hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea” (Psalms 136:15). Just as Pharaoh, the Holy One blessed be He smote him with ten plagues corresponding to the ten matters that he decreed upon Israel, and ultimately drowned him, corresponding to: “Every son who is born, [you shall cast him into the Nile]” (Exodus 1:22), so, the Holy One blessed be He will do to all the idolatrous nations who perform evil to Israel, measure for measure. “Or like one lying atop a mast” (Proverbs 23:34), this was Sisera. What is written? “He harshly oppressed the children of Israel for twenty years” (Judges 4:3). What was his end? Because he would harshly curse them and blaspheme them, that is why he died a contemptible death, that He delivered him into the hands of a woman, just as it says: “For the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hand of a woman” (Judges 4:9). That is why it is stated: “Like one lying” – this was Sisera, in whose regard it is written: “At her feet he knelt, he fell, he lay” (Judges 5:27). “Atop a mast [ḥibel],” as Yael smashed him [hibalto] on his head with the tent peg. That is what is written: “Her hand to the peg she extended, and her right [to the laborer’s hammer]” (Judges 5:26), measure for measure. Another matter, “or like one lying atop a mast,” this was Haman, who sought to kill all the Jews, them and their children, to plunder all their belongings, and he sought to hang Mordekhai. That is why he received measure for measure; he and his sons died and Mordekhai took all his possessions. That is why it is written: “Or like one lying [ukeshokhev]” – this is Haman, who died an unusual death, just as it says: “There is Edom, its kings and all its princes, who, despite their might, were placed with those slain by the sword; they will lie [yishkavu] with the uncircumcised and with those who descend into the pit” (Ezekiel 32:29). “Atop [berosh],” just as it says: “Let his evil plot that he had devised against the Jews return upon his head [al rosho]” (Esther 9:25). “A mast [ḥibel],” these are his sons, as it is stated: “They hanged him and his sons on the gallows” (Esther 9:25). Ḥibel is nothing other than his sons, just as it says: “Why should God become angry at your voice and destroy [veḥibel] your handiwork?” (Ecclesiastes 5:5). The handiwork of a person, these are his children. Ḥibel; ḥevel is written, this is Haman, who was strangled with a rope [ḥevel]. From where is it derived that his belongings went to Mordekhai? It is as it is stated: “Esther appointed Mordekhai over the house of Haman” (Esther 8:2), measure for measure. “They struck me, but I did not feel pain” (Proverbs 23:35), woe unto them, to idolaters who do not learn a lesson; what the Holy One blessed be He did to the earlier generations, the later generations did not learn. That is what is written: “They struck me, but I did not feel pain.” The idolaters say: ‘Even though the Holy One blessed be He smote Pharaoh and Egypt on account of Israel; nevertheless, I did not learn my lesson.’ That is what is written: “But I did not feel pain.” “They beat me, but I did not know” (Proverbs 23:35). [The idolaters say:] ‘Even though He exacted retribution from Sisera, in whose regard it is written: “She struck Sisera” (Judges 5:26), I did not pay attention to it, to learn a lesson from him. “When will I awaken?” (Proverbs 23:35). Moreover, I was waiting for the strike to pass so I can continue to seek Israel’s harm.’ That is what is written: “I will continue to seek it” (Proverbs 23:35). Likewise, it says: “If you crush a fool…in a mortar [with a pestle, his folly will not be removed from him]” (Proverbs 27:22). Another matter, “My son, give me your heart, [and your eyes will observe my ways]” (Proverbs 23:26). What did the Holy One blessed be He see that led him to ask of Israel that the heart and the eyes shall follow Him? It is because transgression is dependent on them. That is what is written: “You shall not rove after your heart [and after your eyes]” (Numbers 15:39). The eyes and the heart are the two agents of sin. “For a harlot [zonah] is a deep pit, [and a foreign woman is a narrow well]” (Proverbs 23:27), just as Moses said: “After which you stray [zonim]” (Numbers 15:39), saying that harlotry is dependent upon them. The eyes see the harlot, and the heart contemplates her. So, the Divine Spirit said by means of Solomon: “For…a deep pit.” Why did he call her a pit [shuḥa]? It is based on: “For her house sags [shaḥa] toward death” (Proverbs 2:18). “Deep [amuka],” just as it says: “Her guests are in the depths [be’imkei] of the grave” (Proverbs 9:18). “Harlot,” this is a married woman. “A narrow well [be’er],” it is because she causes the adulterer to descend to Gehenna. That is what is written: “To the netherworld her steps are supported” (Proverbs 5:5). The netherworld is called a pit [bor], as it is written: “Lord, You elevated my soul from the netherworld; You kept me alive from descending into the pit” (Psalms 30:4). That which it says: “Narrow,” this is Gehenna, which is wide at the bottom and narrow at its mouth. That is what is written: “He has even moved you from a narrow opening, its bottom broad without straitness" (Job 36:16). “Foreign,” as she is foreign to you because she is a married woman. “She, too [af]” (Proverbs 23:28), as she brings wrath [af] upon a person, as it is written: “Do not commit adultery [lo tinaf]” (Exodus 20:13); do not let the wrath [af] benefit [tehene] from you. Alternatively, lo tinaf, do not introduce [titen] wrath [af] between a husband and his wife. “Will lie in ambush keḥetef” (Proverbs 23:28), as the Holy One blessed be He does not wait for a prolonged time for the adulterers, in order to exact retribution against them. Likewise it says: “I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers” (Malachi 3:5). “And increase the treacherous among men” (Proverbs 23:28), as she seduces upright people and renders them treacherous and increases the wicked in Israel. That is what is written: “The woman of folly is clamorous…. She sits at the entrance of her house…to call to the passersby who straighten their paths. Whoever is a fool, let him turn here; to one who lacks heart, she says to him: Stolen waters are sweet…but he does not know that the ghosts are there” (Proverbs 9:13–18). That is, “and increase the treacherous among men.” “To whom woe? To whom alas? [To whom strife? To whom talk? To whom wounds without cause? To whom redness of the eyes?]” (Proverbs 23:29). Regarding the adulterer he says: “To whom woe,” just as it says: “To cause a belly to distend” (Numbers 5:22). “To whom alas [avoi],” this is the father of woe [av oi], just as it says: “And a thigh to fall” (Numbers 5:22). It is because it is the thigh that performs the transgression, that it is called avoi, the father of woe. “To whom strife?” All of these befall whom? The woe and the alas befall the adulterer, who introduces strife between a husband and his wife. That is, “to whom strife?” because the strife is his. Likewise he says: “Who introduces strife between brothers” (Proverbs 6:19); this is a husband and wife who are brethren to each other. “To whom talk?” – moreover, upon whom do these curses, the woe and the alas, come? That is “to whom talk? To whom wounds without cause?” – this is the harlot, who suffered the wounds of love without cause, and with no wound from her husband amuses herself with another. “To whom redness of the eyes,” this is the harlot who gives the adulterer wine to drink, just as it says: “Red eyed from wine” (Genesis 49:12). Another matter, “to whom talk?" – this is the oath of the curse, just as it is written: “The priest shall say to the woman: May the Lord render you [as a curse and an oath]” (Numbers 5:21). “To whom wounds without cause?” – due to her affairs, she was wounded unnecessarily, as the priest exposes her hair, seizes her garments; if they are torn, they are torn, if they unravel, they unravel. “To whom redness of the eyes?” – this is the drinking of the water, as immediately when she would drink, her eyes bulged. All of these befall whom? It is “to those who linger over wine” (Proverbs 23:30). From here [we learn] that wine is a cause. “To those who come to assess the mixture” (Proverbs 23:30), when he hears where there is good wine, he pursues it. “Do not look at wine in its redness [ki yitadam]” (Proverbs 23:31); the Divine Spirit cautioned regarding wine, that a person should not get drunk. Why? Ki yitadam, it is because his destiny is blood [aḥarito dam], as he violates a transgression for which he incurs liability to be put to death. Another matter, Ki yitadam, it is because he desires the blood of [yitaveh ledam] a menstruant and the blood of a zava. “For one who directs his eye to the cup [bakos]” (Proverbs 23:31), bakis is written; due to the kos, he will direct his eye to the pocket [kis] – the Torah employed a euphemism, saying that he would consort with a forbidden relation. “Will walk smoothly [bemeisharim]” (Proverbs 23:31), ultimately, his wife says to him, I have seen like a red rose, and he does not withdraw. Rabbi Asi said: If he is a Torah scholar, ultimately, he will rule the pure impure, and rule the impure pure. Another matter, “will walk smoothly [bemeisharim],” ultimately he will permit all the transgressions and render them forsaken like a plain [mishor]. He speaks with a woman in the marketplace; he speaks profanity, foul language, in his drunkenness, and is not ashamed. “At its end, it bites like a serpent” (Proverbs 23:32); just as the serpent, because it incited Eve to drink wine, the earth was cursed because of it, as it is stated: “Cursed is the earth because of you” (Genesis 3:17). Likewise, Noah, his son, one-third of the world, was cursed due to wine, as it is stated: “Noah awoke from his wine…cursed be Canaan” (Genesis 9:24–25). This is Ḥam, who was his third son, and he is called “the father of Canaan” (Genesis 9:18). That is the way he cursed him. “And secretes [yafrish] like an adder” (Proverbs 23:32); just as this adder sets the person aside from life, to death, so, wine, sets man aside from the paths of life to the paths of death, as wine causes one to engage in idol worship. That is what is written: “Your eyes will see strange things [zarot]” (Proverbs 23:33), just as it says: “There shall be no strange [zar] god among you” (Psalms 81:10). Alternatively, it causes him to consort with a married woman, just as it says: “Why would you err, my son, with a strange woman [zara]” (Proverbs 5:20). Alternately, he will render the mitzvot foreign to him, just as it says: “You rebuke the accursed, insolent ones [zedim] who stray [from Your commandments]” (Psalms 119:21). Zedim are nothing other than those who err due to wine, just as it says: “An insolent [zed] arrogant man, cynic is his name; he acts with malicious ire” (Proverbs 21:24), this is a drunkard who is called arrogant and a cynic. Arrogant, from where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “Indeed wine is treacherous, so an arrogant man will not find repose” (Habakkuk 2:5). A cynic, from where is it derived: “Wine is a cynic, strong drink is tumultuous, and any who err in it will not become wise” (Proverbs 20:1). “And your heart will speak contradictions [tahpukhot]” (Proverbs 23:33) – as he turns [hofekh] his face from the Holy One blessed be He and from the mitzvot, just as it says: “For they are a fickle [tahpukhot] generation” (Deuteronomy 32:20). “You will be like one lying in the heart of the sea” (Proverbs 23:34), this is Noah, who lay in the ark for twelve months in the midst of the Flood waters, and because he drank and became inebriated, he became disqualified as he was castrated. “Or like one lying atop a mast” (Proverbs 23:34), this is Adam, the first man, who was the first of all people. Due to wine, he was punished with death and brought the pangs of death into the world. “They struck me, but I did not feel pain” (Proverbs 23:35); woe unto the adulterer, who does not gain knowledge from what he experienced. He saw what befell the sota due to wine, but did not gain knowledge. “They beat me, but I did not know” (Proverbs 23:35); he saw in the Torah what befell the adulterer due to wine, but did not know how to understand. Rather, he said: “When will I awaken? I will continue to seek it” (Proverbs 23:35), as whenever he will have leisure to engage in harlotry, he will pursue it. We have learned that wine causes harlotry. That is why the Holy One blessed be He wrote the portion of the nazirite after the portion of the sota, so that a person will not perform the act of an adulterer and adulteress, who drank wine and were corrupted; rather, one who fears sin will abstain from wine. That is why it is stated: “When a man or a woman will articulate [to take the vow of a nazirite, to abstain for the Lord]” (Numbers 6:2).

Section 3ג׳

הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (עמוס ו, א): הוֹי הַשַּׁאֲנַנִּים בְּצִיּוֹן וגו', זֶה שֵׁבֶט יְהוּדָה וּבִנְיָמִין שֶׁהָיוּ מְסֻבִּין בְּהֵיכְלֵי עֹנֶג. (עמוס ו, א): וְהַבֹּטְחִים בְּהַר שֹׁמְרוֹן, אֵלּוּ עֲשֶׂרֶת הַשְּׁבָטִים שֶׁיּוֹשְׁבִים לָבֶטַח בְּסֶבַּסְטֵי. (עמוס ו, א): נְקֻבֵי רֵאשִׁית הַגּוֹיִם, הַבָּאִים מִשְּׁנֵי שֵׁמוֹת שֵׁם וְעֵבֶר, שֶׁמִּשָּׁם נִקְרְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עִבְרִים. (עמוס ו, א): וּבָאוּ לָהֶם בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהֵם אוֹכְלִים וְשׁוֹתִים הֵם מִתְעַסְּקִין בְּדִבְרֵי תִּפְלוּת, מִי חָכָם כְּבִלְעָם, מִי גִּבּוֹר כְּגָלְיַת, מִי עָשִׁיר כְּהָמָן, וְאַחַר כָּךְ בָּאִין יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאוֹמְרִים לָהֶם: אֲחִיתֹפֶל לֹא הָיָה חָכָם, שְׁלֹמֹה לֹא הָיָה חָכָם, שִׁמְשׁוֹן לֹא הָיָה גִּבּוֹר, דָּוִד לֹא הָיָה גִּבּוֹר, קֹרַח לֹא הָיָה עָשִׁיר, שְׁלֹמֹה לֹא הָיָה עָשִׁיר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בּוֹ (מלכים א י, כז): וַיִּתֵּן הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת הַכֶּסֶף בִּיְרוּשָׁלָיִם וגו', וּמַסְכִּימִין כֻּלָּם כְּדִבְרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. (עמוס ו, ב): עִבְרוּ כַלְנֵה וּרְאוּ, זֶה קְטֵיסִיפוֹן. (עמוס ו, ב): וּלְכוּ מִשָּׁם חֲמַת רַבָּה, זוֹ חֲמַת אַנְטוֹכְיָא. (עמוס ו, ב): וּרְדוּ גַּת פְּלִשְׁתִּים, אֵלּוּ תְּלוּלַיָא דְּפַלַסְטִינֵי. (עמוס ו, ב): הֲטוֹבִים מִן הַמַּמְלָכוֹת הָאֵלֶּה, זֶה צִיּוֹן וְשׁוֹמְרוֹן. (עמוס ו, ב): אִם רַב גְּבוּלָם מִגְּבֻלְכֶם, אָמַר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא חֵלֶק גָּדוֹל וְטוֹב נָתַתִּי לָכֶם שֶׁאֵין לְאַחַת מִכָּל הָאֻמּוֹת טוֹב וְגָדוֹל מֵחֵלֶק שֶׁלָּכֶם, וְלָמָּה אֵין אַתֶּם עוֹשִׂים רְצוֹנִי וְאֵין אַתֶּם מִתְיָרְאִים מִמֶּנִּי שֶׁאָבִיא עֲלֵיכֶם פֻּרְעָנוּת עַל שֶׁאֵין אַתֶּם מְשִׂימִין דְּבָרַי עַל לְבַבְכֶם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (עמוס ו, ג): הַמְנַדִּים לְיוֹם רָע, זֶה יוֹם שֶׁל גָּלוּת, שֶׁמַּרְחִיקִים אוֹתוֹ מִלִּבָּם, שֶׁאֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין עָלָיו, שֶׁאוֹמְרִים: לֹא תָבוֹא עָלֵינוּ רָעָה. (עמוס ו, ג): וַתַּגִּשׁוּן שֶׁבֶת חָמָס, הִגַּשְׁתֶּם עַצְמְכֶם לֵישֵׁב אֵצֶל הֶחָמָס, זֶה עֵשָׂו, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (עובדיה א, י): מֵחֲמַס אָחִיךָ יַעֲקֹב וגו'. (עמוס ו, ד): הַשֹּׁכְבִים עַל מִטּוֹת שֵׁן, עַל עַרְסִין דְּפִיל. (עמוס ו, ד): וּסְרֻחִים עַל עַרְשׂוֹתָם, שֶׁהָיוּ מַסְרִיחִין בַּעֲבֵרוֹת אֶת מִטּוֹתֵיהֶן, שֶׁהָיוּ מַחְלִיפִין נְשׁוֹתֵיהֶם זֶה לָזֶה וּמַסְרִיחִין מִטּוֹתֵיהֶם בְּשִׁכְבַת זֶרַע שֶׁאֵינָהּ שֶׁלָּהֶם. (עמוס ו, ד): וְאֹכְלִים כָּרִים מִצֹּאן וַעֲגָלִים מִתּוֹךְ מַרְבֵּק, בּוֹאוּ וּרְאוּ, כָּל שֵׁבֶט וְשֵׁבֶט הָיָה לוֹ מָיוֹמָס בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁהָיָה מְבַקֵּשׁ לֵילֵךְ לַמָּיוֹמָס שֶׁלּוֹ הָיָה מַעֲבִיר כָּל הַמִּרְעֶה לְפָנָיו וְהָיָה נוֹטֵל הַשָּׁמֵן שֶׁבָּהֶם וְעוֹמֵד עָלָיו וְשׁוֹחֲטוֹ. (עמוס ו, ה): הַפֹּרְטִים עַל פִּי הַנָּבֶל כְּדָוִיד חָשְׁבוּ לָהֶם כְּלֵי שִׁיר, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהָיָה דָּוִד מְשׁוֹרֵר עַל יְדֵי נְבָלִים לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, כָּךְ הִתְקִינוּ לָהֶם נְבָלִים לְשׁוֹרֵר עַל הַיַּיִן, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (עמוס ו, ו): הַשֹּׁתִים בְּמִזְרְקֵי יַיִן. רַב וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְרַבָּנָן, רַב אָמַר קְלוּרַיָּא. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר בְּכוֹסוֹת קְטַנִּים. רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי בְּכוֹסוֹת קְטַנִּים שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהֶם זַרְבּוּבִיּוֹת. מֵהֵיכָן שׁוֹתִים, רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חֲנִינָא אָמַר מִפַּתְגִּיתָא, שֶׁהָיָה יֵינוֹ מְפַתֶּה אֶת הַגּוּף. רַבָּנָן אָמְרִין בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חֲנִינָא מִפְּלוּגָתָא. (עמוס ו, ו): וְרֵאשִׁית שְׁמָנִים יִמְשָׁחוּ, רַב יְהוּדָה בַּר יְחֶזְקֵאל אָמַר זֶה שֶׁמֶן אוֹנְפָקִינוֹן, שֶׁמֵּשִׁיר אֶת הַשֵֹּׂעָר וּמַחֲלִיק אֶת הַבָּשָׂר. רַבִּי יַנַּאי אָמַר שֶׁמֶן אַנְטַכְּנוֹן, וְאַחַר כָּל הַשֶּׁבַח הַזֶּה, (עמוס ו, ו): וְלֹא נֶחְלוּ עַל שֵׁבֶר יוֹסֵף, מַה סּוֹפָן עַל יְדֵי יַיִן נִתְפַּתּוּ וְזָנוּ, וּלְכָךְ יִגְּלוּ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (עמוס ו, ז): לָכֵן עַתָּה יִגְלוּ בְּרֹאשׁ גֹּלִים וגו', הָא לָמַדְנוּ כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁיֵּשׁ יַיִן יֵשׁ עֶרְוָה, וּלְכָךְ כָּתַב הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא פָּרָשַׁת נָזִיר אַחַר פָּרָשַׁת סוֹטָה לְפִי שֶׁהַיַּיִן גּוֹרֵם עֶרְוָה, וּלְפִיכָךְ יַזִּיר אָדָם עַצְמוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ שֶׁלֹא יַטְעֶה אוֹתוֹ, וּלְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: אִישׁ אוֹ אִשָּׁה כִּי יַפְלִא וגו'.

That is what is written: “Woe! The tranquil in Zion…” (Amos 6:1), this is the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, who would recline in the palaces of pleasure. “And the secure on Mount Samaria” (Amos 6:1), these are the Ten Tribes who resided securely in Sebastia. “Those who name themselves the foremost of the nations” (Amos 6:1), who descend from two eponyms, Shem and Ever, as from there, Israel are called Hebrews [ivrim]. “And come to them the house of Israel” (Amos 6:1). Idolaters, when they eat and drink, they engage in trivial matters: ‘Who is as wise as Bilam; who is as mighty as Goliath; who is as wealthy as Haman?’ Then Israel comes and they say to them: ‘Was Aḥitofel not wise, was Solomon not wise; was Samson not mighty, was David not mighty; was Koraḥ not wealthy, was Solomon not wealthy, as it is stated in his regard: “The king caused silver to be in Jerusalem like stones…”’ (I Kings 10:27). Everyone agrees with the statement of Israel. “Come to Kalne and see” (Amos 6:2), this is Ketisifon. “And go from there to greater Ḥamat” (Amos 6:2), this is Ḥamat of Antioch. “And descend to Gat of the Philistines” (Amos 6:2), these are the steep fortresses of the Philistines. “Are they better than these kingdoms?” (Amos 6:2). This is Zion and Samaria. “Is their border greater than your border?” (Amos 6:2). The Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘It is a great and excellent portion that I have given you, that none of all the nations has one greater and more excellent than your portion. Why, then, do you not perform My will and you do not fear Me, that I will bring upon you a punishment because you do not place My words upon your heart?’ That is what is written: “Who spurn the day of evil” (Amos 6:3) – this is the day of exile that they distance from their heart, and are not concerned about it. Rather, they say: “No harm will befall us” (Micah 3:11). “While you convene a session of villainy” (Amos 6:3) – you presented yourselves to reside alongside villainy, this is Esau, just as it says: “For the villainy to your brother Jacob…” (Obadiah 1:10). “Who lie on beds of ivory” (Amos 6:4); on beds from an elephant. “And sprawl [usruḥim] on their couches” (Amos 6:4); that they sully [masrihin] their beds with transgressions, as they would swap their wives with one another and sully their beds with semen that is not theirs. “Eating the fattened sheep from the flock, and the calves from inside the stall” (Amos 6:4). Come and see, each tribe had a day of debauchery of its own. When he would seek to go to his debauchery, he would pass his entire flock before him, would take the fattest of them, stand over it, and slaughter it. “Who strum on the face of the lyre; they considered themselves like David with musical instruments” (Amos 6:5). Just as David would sing to the Holy One blessed be He by means of lyres, so, they prepared lyres for themselves, to sing over wine. That is what is written: “Who drink with wine bowls [mizrekei yayin]” (Amos 6:6). Rav, Rabbi Yoḥanan, and the Rabbis, Rav said: Congealed wine. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Small cups. The Rabbis say: Cups that have pipes attached to them. From where would they drink? Rabbi Abbahu said in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina: From Patgita, whose wine would seduce the body. The Rabbis said in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina: From Pelugeta. “And anoint themselves with virgin oils” (Amos 6:6); Rabbi Yehuda bar Yeḥezkel said: Oil from olives that were one-third ripened, that removes hair and smooths the skin. Rabbi Yanai said: Oil from Antioch. Even after all this goodness, “but they are not distressed over the destruction of Joseph” (Amos 6:6). What will their end be? Because of wine they were seduced and strayed. That is what is written: “Therefore, they will now be exiled at the head of the exiles…” (Amos 6:7). We have learned that wherever there is wine, there is licentiousness. That is why the Holy One blessed be He wrote the portion of the nazirite after the portion of the sota, because wine causes licentiousness. Therefore, a person should abstain from wine because it will lead him astray. That is why it is stated: “When a man or a woman will articulate [to take the vow of a nazirite, to abstain for the Lord].”