ויקרא רבה ל״זVayikra Rabbah 37

Section 1א׳

אִישׁ כִּי יַפְלִא נֶדֶר בְּעֶרְכְּךָ נְפָשֹׁת לַה' (ויקרא כז, ב), הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (קהלת ה, ד): טוֹב אֲשֶׁר לֹא תִדֹּר מִשֶּׁתִּדֹּר וְלֹא תְשַׁלֵּם, רַבִּי מֵאִיר וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה, רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר: טוֹב אֲשֶׁר לֹא תִדֹּר וְטוֹב הַנּוֹדֵר וּמְשַׁלֵּם. רְאָיָה לְרַבִּי מֵאִיר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים עו, יב): נִדְרוּ וְשַׁלְּמוּ לַה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: טוֹב אֲשֶׁר לֹא תִדֹּר, וְטוֹב מִשְּׁנֵיהֶם מִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ נוֹדֵר כָּל עִקָּר אֶלָּא מֵבִיא כִּבְשָׂתוֹ לָעֲזָרָה וּמַקְדִּישָׁהּ וְשׁוֹחֲטָהּ. (דברים כג, כג): וְכִי תֶחְדַּל לִנְדֹּר לֹא יִהְיֶה בְךָ חֵטְא, אָמַר רַב הוּנָא מַעֲשֶׂה בְּאֶחָד שֶׁנָּדַר וְלֹא שִׁלֵּם אֶת נִדְרוֹ וְהָלַךְ לִפְרשׁ בַּיָּם הַגָּדוֹל וְשָׁקְעָה סְפִינָתוֹ וּמֵת בַּיָּם. אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן, כָּל מִי שֶׁנּוֹדֵר וּמַשְׁהֶה אֶת נִדְרוֹ סוֹף שֶׁבָּא לִידֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וְגִלּוּי עֲרָיוֹת וּשְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים וְלָשׁוֹן הָרָע, מִמִּי אַתָּה לָמֵד כֻּלְּהוֹן מִיַּעֲקֹב, עַל יְדֵי שֶׁנָּדַר וְשִׁהָה אֶת נִדְרוֹ, בָּא לִידֵי כֻלָּן, עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מִנַּיִן (בראשית לה, ב): וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב אֶל בֵּיתוֹ הָסִרוּ אֶת אֱלֹהֵי הַנֵּכָר. גִּלּוּי עֲרָיוֹת מִנַּיִן, מִדִּינָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית לד, א): וַתֵּצֵא דִּינָה. שְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים מִנַּיִּן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית לד, כה): וַיְהִי בַיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי בִּהְיוֹתָם כֹּאֲבִים. לָשׁוֹן הָרָע מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית לא, א): וַיִּשְׁמַע אֶת דִּבְרֵי בְנֵי לָבָן. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי כָּל מִי שֶׁנּוֹדֵר וּמַשְּׁהֶה נִדְרוֹ קוֹבֵר אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (בראשית מח, ז): וַאֲנִי בְּבֹאִי מִפַּדָּן מֵתָה עָלַי רָחֵל. אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר רַב יִצְחָק כָּל מִי שֶׁנּוֹדֵר וּמְשַׁלֵּם, יֵשׁ לוֹ שָׂכָר עַל הַנֶּדֶר וְעַל הַשִּׁלּוּם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים עו, יב): נִדְרוּ וְשַׁלְּמוּ לַה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם. וּמִי שֶׁנּוֹדֵר וּמַשְׁהֶה נִדְרוֹ, גּוֹרֵם מִיתָה לְעַצְמוֹ, דִּכְתִיב (דברים כג, כב): כִּי דָּרשׁ יִדְרְשֶׁנּוּ ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ מֵעִמָּךְ, מִמְךָ נִפְרָעִין וְלֹא מִמָּמוֹנְךָ. אָמַר רַבִּי אַמֵּי אֵין מִיתָה בְּלֹא חֵטְא וְאֵין יִסּוּרִין בְּלֹא עָוֹן, אֵין מִיתָה בְּלֹא חֵטְא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל יח, ד): הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַחֹטֵאת הִיא תָמוּת. וְאֵין יִסּוּרִין בְּלֹא עָוֹן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים פט, לג): וּפָקַדְתִּי בְשֵׁבֶט פִּשְׁעָם וּבִנְגָעִים עֲוֹנָם. אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי כְּשֵׁם שֶׁבִּנְדָרִים בַּל יַחֵל וּבַל תְּאַחֵר, כָּךְ בַּעֲרָכִין בַּל יַחֵל וּבַל תְּאַחֵר, לְפִיכָךְ משֶׁה מַזְהִיר אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאוֹמֵר: אִישׁ כִּי יַפְלִא נֶדֶר בְּעֶרְכְּךָ נְפָשֹׁת לַה'.

“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: If a man articulates a vow in accordance with the valuation of persons to the Lord” (Leviticus 27:2). “If a man articulates a vow in accordance with the valuation of persons to the Lord” – that is what is written: “It is preferable that you do not vow than if you vow and do not pay” (Ecclesiastes 5:4). Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Yehuda: Rabbi Meir says: “It is preferable that you do not vow” – but one who vows and pays is better. There is proof for Rabbi Meir from what is stated: “Vow and pay to the Lord your God” (Psalms 76:12). Rabbi Yehuda says: “It is preferable that you do not vow” – and better than both of them is one who does not vow at all, but rather, brings his lamb to the Temple courtyard, consecrates it, and slaughters it. “If you refrain from vowing, there will be no sin in you” (Deuteronomy 23:23) – Rav Huna said: There was an incident involving one who took a vow but did not pay his vow, and he embarked to sail in the Mediterranean Sea. His ship sunk and he died at sea. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: Anyone who vows but delays fulfilling his vow, ultimately he will come to idol worship, forbidden sexual relations, bloodshed, and slander. From whom do you derive all this? It is from Jacob; because he vowed and delayed fulfilling his vow, he came to all of them. Idol worship, from where is it derived? “Jacob said to his household…remove the foreign gods [that are in your midst]” (Genesis 35:2). Forbidden sexual relations, from where is it derived? From Dina, as it is stated: “Dina went out.… [and Shekhem…lay with her and violated her]” (Genesis 34:1). Bloodshed, from where is it derived? From that which is stated: “It was on the third day, when they were in pain…[Simeon and Levi…killed all the males]” (Genesis 34:25). Slander, from where is it derived? From that which is stated: “He heard the words of Laban’s sons” (Genesis 31:1). The Rabbis say: Anyone who vows but delays fulfilling his vow buries his wife. That is what is written: “And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died on me” (Genesis 48:7). Rabbi Shmuel bar Rav Yitzḥak said: Anyone who vows and pays, he has reward for the vow and for the payment, as it is stated: “Vow and pay to the Lord your God” (Psalms 76:12). Anyone who vows and delays fulfillment of his vow causes death to himself, as it is written: “As the Lord your God will demand it from you” (Deuteronomy 23:22) – payment is exacted from you, and not from your property. Rabbi Ami said: There is no death without sin, and there is no suffering without iniquity. There is no death without sin, as it is stated: “The soul that sins, it will die” (Ezekiel 18:4). There is no suffering without iniquity, as it is stated: “I will punish their transgression with a rod, and their iniquity with plague” (Psalms 89:33). Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai said: Just as regarding vows, there are [the prohibitions:] You shall not profane, and: You shall not delay, so, regarding valuations, there are [the prohibitions:] You shall not profane, and: You shall not delay. That is why Moses cautions Israel and says: “If a man articulates a vow in accordance with the valuation of persons to the Lord.”

Section 2ב׳

דָּבָר אַחֵר, אִישׁ כִּי יַפְלִא, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (איוב לד, יא): כִּי פֹעַל אָדָם יְשַׁלֶּם לוֹ וּכְאֹרַח אִישׁ יַמְצִאֶנּוּ, עוֹבָדָא הֲוָה בְּחַד גְּבַר דַּהֲווֹ לֵיהּ תְּרֵין בְּנִין, חַד מִנְּהוֹן עֲבַד מִצְוָה וְחַד מִנְּהוֹן לָא עֲבַד כָּל עִקָּר, הַהוּא דַּעֲבַד מִצְוָה זַבַּן לְבֵיתֵיהּ וְזַבַּן כָּל מַה דַּהֲוָה לֵיהּ וְאַפְּקַנְתְּהוֹן לְמִצְוָתָא, חַד זְמַן בְּיוֹמָא דְהוֹשַׁעְנָא יַהֲבָה לֵיהּ אִינְתְּתֵיהּ עַשְׂרָה פּוּלְסִין אָמְרָה לֵיהּ פּוּק זְבֵין לְבָנֶיךָ כְּלוּם מִן שׁוּקָא, כֵּיוָן שֶׁיָּצָא לַשּׁוּק פָּגְעוּ בֵּיהּ גַּבָּאֵי צְדָקָה, אָמְרֵי הָא אֲתָא מָרֵי מִצְוָתָא, אָמְרוּ לוֹ הַב חוּלָקָךְ בַּהֲדָא מִצְוָתָא דַּאֲנַן זָבְנִין חַד קוֹלָא לְחָדָא יְתוֹמְתָא, נְסַב אִלֵּין עַשְׂרָה פּוּלְסִין וִיהַב יַתְהוֹן לְהוֹן, וְנִתְבַּיֵּישׁ לֵילֵךְ לְבֵיתוֹ הָלַךְ לוֹ לְבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת, חָמָא תַּמָּן מִן אִלֵּין אֶתְרוֹגַיָא דְּמֵינוּקַיָא מְקַלְקְלֵי בְּיוֹם הוֹשַׁעְנָא, וּתְנִינַן תַּמָּן מִיָּד הַתִּינוֹקוֹת שׁוֹמְטִין לוּלָבֵיהֶן וְאוֹכְלִים אֶתְרוֹגֵיהֶם, נְסַב מִנְּהוֹן וּמְלָא יָת סַקָּא וְהָלַךְ לִפְרשׁ בַּיָּם הַגָּדוֹל, עַד שֶׁהִגִּיעַ לִמְדִינַת הַמֶּלֶךְ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁהִגִּיעַ שָׁם אַרָעַת שַׁעְתָּא וְאִשְׁתְּכַח מַלְכָּא חָשֵׁשׁ מֵעוֹי, אָמְרִין לֵיהּ בְּחֶלְמָא אַסְוָתָךְ אֱכֹל מִן אִלֵּין אֶתְרוֹגִין דִּיהוּדָאי מַצְלִין עִמְּהוֹן בְּיוֹם הוֹשַׁעְנָא וְאַתְּ מִתְּסֵי, פִּשְׁפְּשִׁין בְּהַהוּא שַׁעְתָּא לְכָל אִלְפַיָא וּלְכָל מְדִינְתָּא וְלָא אַשְׁכְּחוּן, אָזְלִין וְאַשְׁכְּחוּן לְהַהוּא גַבְרָא יָתֵיב עַל סַקָּא, אָמְרִין לֵיהּ אִית גַּבָּךְ כְּלוּם, אֲמַר לָהֶם גְּבַר מִסְכֵּן אֲנָא וְלֵית גַּבִּי כְּלוּם לִמְזַבְּנָא, פִּשְׁפְּשׁוּ בְּסַקָּא וְאַשְׁכְּחוּן מִן אִלֵּין אֶתְרוֹגִין, וַאֲמָרִין לֵיהּ אִלֵּין מָה הֵן, אֲמַר לוֹן מִן אִלֵּין דִּיהוּדָאי מַצְלֵי בְּיוֹם הוֹשַׁעְנָא, אַטְעָנוּן סַקָּא וְאַעֲלוּהָ קֳדָם מַלְכָּא, אָכַל מַלְכָּא אִלֵּין אֶתְרוֹגַיָיא וְאִתְּסֵי. פַּנּוּן שַׂקָּא וּמְלָאוּהָ דִינָרִין. אֲמַר לֵיהּ מַלְכָּא שְׁאֵיל לָךְ עוֹד שְׁאֵלָּה וַאֲנָא עָבֵיד, אֲמַר לֵיהּ שְׁאֵילְנָא דְיַחֲזֹר לִי מוֹדְלִי וְיִפְקוּן כָּל עַמָּא לָקֳדָמוּתִי, עָבְדִין לֵיהּ כֵן, כֵּיוָן דְּמָטָא לְהַהִיא מְדִינְתָּא נָפַק כָּרוֹזָא קֳדָמוֹי וְנָפְקוּ כָּל עַמָּא לָקֳדָמוּתֵיהּ, נָפְקוּ אֲחוֹי וּבָנָיו לָקֳדָמוּתֵיהּ, מִינֵי גוֹזִין בְּחַד נָהָר יְהַב לְהוֹן שִׁבֹּלְתָּא דְנַהֲרָא וְשָׁטְפַת יָתְהוֹן, וְאִשְׂתַּכַּר עָלֵל לְבֵיתֵיהּ וְיָרַת מוֹדְלֵי דַּאֲחוֹי, לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר: כִּי פֹעַל אָדָם יְשַׁלֶּם לוֹ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, כִּי פֹּעַל אָדָם יְשַׁלֶּם לוֹ, זֶה משֶׁה, דִּכְתִיב (שמות ב, יא): וַיְהִי בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם וַיִּגְדַּל משֶׁה וַיֵּצֵא אֶל אֶחָיו וַיַּרְא בְּסִבְלֹתָם, מַה רָאָה, רָאָה מַשּׂוֹי אִישׁ עַל אִשָּׁה, וּמַשׂוֹי גָּדוֹל עַל קָטָן, וּמַשׂוֹי בָּחוּר עַל זָקֵן, וְשָׁב וְיִשֵּׁב לָהֶם סִבְלוֹתָם בֵּין אִישׁ לְאִשָּׁה בֵּין גָּדוֹל לְקָטָן, בֵּין בָּחוּר לְזָקֵן, אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אַתָּה יִשַּׁבְתָּ לְבָנַי סִבְלוֹתָם חַיֶּיךָ שֶׁאַתָּה עָתִיד לְיַשֵּׁב וּלְפָרֵשׁ לְבָנַי נִדְרֵיהֶם בֵּין אִישׁ לְאִשָּׁה בֵּין גָּדוֹל לְקָטָן, בֵּין בָּחוּר לְזָקֵן, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: וַיְדַבֵּר ה' אֶל משֶׁה לֵאמֹר דַּבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אִישׁ כִּי יַפְלִא לִנְדֹּר נֶדֶר בְּעֶרְכְּךָ נְפָשֹׁת לַה'.

Another matter: “If a man articulates” – that is what is written: “For He repays a person for his actions, and according to the conduct of a man He will provide for him” (Job 34:11). There was an incident involving a certain man who had two sons, one of whom performed the mitzva [of giving charity] and one who did nothing at all. The one who performed a mitzva sold his house and sold everything that was his, and he spent [the money] on the mitzva. One time, on the day of the hoshana, his wife gave him ten shekels. She said to him: ‘Go out and purchase something from the market for your children.’ When he went out to the market, the charity collectors encountered him. They said: ‘Here comes the master of mitzvot.’ They said to him: ‘Give your portion for this mitzva, as we are buying a coat for a certain orphan girl.’ He took those ten shekels and gave them to them, and he was ashamed to go to his home. He went to the synagogue and saw there some of the citrons that the children [throw and] ruin on the day of the hoshana, as we learn there: Immediately, children drop their palm branches and eat their citrons. He took some of them and filled a sack, and embarked on a voyage in the Mediterranean Sea until he reached the province of the king. When he arrived there, it happened to be that the king had an intestinal illness. They said to him in a dream: ‘Your cure is to eat from those citrons with which the Jews pray on the day of the hoshana, and you will be cured.’ At that time, they searched all the ships and all the provinces, but could not find any. They went and found that man sitting on the sack. They said to him: ‘Do you have anything?’ He said to them: ‘I am a poor man and I have nothing to sell.’ They searched the sack and found those citrons. They said to him: ‘What are they?’ He said to them: ‘From those with which the Jews pray on the day of the hoshana.’ They loaded the sack and took it in before the king. The king ate those citrons and he was cured. They emptied the sack and filled it with dinars. The king said to him: ‘Make another request, and I will fulfill it.’ He said to him: ‘I request that my properties be restored to me and that all the people come out to greet me.’ He did so for him. When he arrived at [his home] province, a herald went out before him and all the people came out to greet him. His brother and his brother’s son went out to greet him, but as they were passing through a certain river, a current came and washed them away. It turned out that when he entered his home, he inherited his brother’s properties, to realize what is stated: “For He repays a person for his actions.” Another matter: “For He repays a person for his actions” – this is Moses, as it is written: “It was in those days, when Moses was grown up, that he went out to his brethren and he saw their burdens” (Exodus 2:11). What did he see? He saw the burden of a man on a woman, the burden of an adult on a child, and the burden of a lad on an old man. He then rearranged their burdens between man and woman, between adult and child, between lad and old man. The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘You resolved the burdens of My children; as you live, you are destined to explain and clarify for My children their vows, [differentiating] between man and woman, between adult and child, between lad and old man. That is what is written: “The Lord spoke to Moses…saying: Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: If a man articulates a vow in accordance with the valuation of persons to the Lord” (Leviticus 27:1–2).

Section 3ג׳

רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל הֲוָה מְטַיֵּל מִן עַכּוֹ לִכְזִיב וְהָיָה טָבִי עַבְדּוֹ מְהַלֵּךְ לְפָנָיו וְרַבִּי אִלְעָאי מֵאֲחוֹרָיו, רָאָה כִּכָּר אֶחָד מֻשְׁלָךְ בַּדֶּרֶךְ וְרָאָה גוֹי אֶחָד אָמַר לוֹ מַבְּגַי טֹל אֶת הַכִּכָּר הַזֶּה וּנְטָלוֹ, וְנִטְפַּל בּוֹ רַבִּי אִלְעָאי אָמַר לוֹ מַה שְּׁמֶךָ, אָמַר לוֹ מַבְּגַי, אָמַר לוֹ בֵּרַכְתָּ גַּמְלִיאֵל מִיָּמֶיךָ, אָמַר לוֹ לָאו, אָמַר לוֹ מֵאֵיזֶה מָקוֹם אַתָּה, אָמַר לוֹ מֵעֲיָרוֹת הַלָּלוּ שֶׁל בּוּרְגָנִין. וְלָמַדְנוּ שְׁלשָׁה דְּבָרִים, שֶׁחֲמֵצוֹ שֶׁל גּוֹי מֻתָּר לְאַחַר הַפֶּסַח, שֶׁצָּפָה בְּרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ שֶׁשְּׁמוֹ מַבְּגַי, שֶׁאֵין מַעֲבִירִין עַל הָאֳכָלִין. רַבִּי יַעֲקֹב בַּר זַבְדִּי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ הֲדָא דְתֵימַר בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה, אֲבָל עַכְשָׁיו מַעֲבִירִין עַל הָאֳכָלִין מִפְנֵי כְשָׁפִים. נִכְנְסוּ לִכְזִיב, כֵּיוָן שֶׁאָכְלוּ וְשָׁתוּ בָּא אֶחָד לִשְׁאֹל לוֹ אֶת נִדְרוֹ, אָמַר לוֹ רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל לְרַבִּי אִלְעָאי מְשַׁעֵר אַתְּ רְבִיעִית יַיִן בָּאִיטַלְקִית, אָמַר לוֹ הֵן, אָמַר לוֹ לַשּׁוֹאֵל טַיֵּל אַחֲרֵינוּ עַד שֶׁנָּפֵיג אֶת יֵינִי, הִתְחִיל מְטַיֵּל אַחֲרֵיהֶם עַד שֶׁהִגִּיעַ לְסֻלָּמֵי צוֹר, כֵּיוָן שֶׁהִגִּיעַ לְשָׁם יָרַד לוֹ רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל מֵעַל הַחֲמוֹר וְנִתְעַטֵּף בְּטַלִּיתוֹ וְיָשַׁב לוֹ. וְלָמַדְנוּ דְּבָרִים הַרְבֵּה בְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם, כִּי רְבִיעִית יַיִן מְשַׁכֶּרֶת, וְהַדֶּרֶךְ מְפִיגָה אֶת הַיַּיִן, וְאֵין מוֹרִין שְׁתוּיֵי יַיִן. וּמִמֶּנּוּ לָמַדְנוּ שְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים, שֶׁאֵין מְפִירִין נְדָרִים לֹא שְׁתוּיֵי יַיִן וְלֹא רוֹכְבִין וְלֹא עוֹמְדִין אֶלָּא יוֹשְׁבִין עֲטוּפִין. בַּמֶּה פָּתַח לוֹ, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בַּלָּשׁוֹן הַזֶּה פָּתַח לוֹ (משלי יב, יח): יֵשׁ בּוֹטֶה כְּמַדְקְרוֹת חֶרֶב וּלְשׁוֹן חֲכָמִים מַרְפֵּא, בְּדִין הוּא כָּל מִי שֶׁמְבַטֵּל לִנְדָרִים שֶׁיִּדָּקֵר בְּחֶרֶב, וּמַהוּ רְפוּאָתוֹ, וּלְשׁוֹן חֲכָמִים מַרְפֵּא, הוֹלֵךְ אֵצֶל חֲכָמִים וְהֵם מְפִירִים אֶת נִדְרוֹ, לְפִיכָךְ משֶׁה מַזְהִיר אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאוֹמֵר לָהֶם: אִישׁ כִּי יַפְלִא נֶדֶר.

Rabban Gamliel was strolling from Akko to Keziv. Tavi, his servant, was walking before him and Rabbi Ilai behind him. He saw a certain loaf cast on the road, and he saw a certain gentile. He said to him: ‘Mabegai, take the loaf.’ He took it and he joined him. Rabbi Ilai said to him: ‘What is your name?’ He said to him: ‘Mabegai.’ He said to him: ‘Have you ever in your days greeted Rabban Gamliel?’ He said to him: ‘No.’ He said to him: ‘Where are you from?’ He said to him: ‘From these towns of huts.’ We learned three matters: That the leavened bread of a gentile is permitted after Passover; that [Rabban Gamliel] saw by means of the Divine Spirit that his name was Mabegai; and that one may not pass by food. Rabbi Yaakov bar Zavdi in the name of Rabbi Abbahu: That which you said was [true] initially, but now, one passes by food due to sorcery. They entered Keziv. Once they had eaten and drank, one came to him to request that [Rabban Gamliel] dissolve his vow. Rabban Gamliel said to Rabbi Ilai: ‘Do you estimate a quarter-log of Italian wine?’ He said to him: ‘Yes.’ He said to the requester: ‘Stroll with us until we cause the effects of my wine to wear off.’ He began strolling after them until they reached the Promontory of Tyre. When he reached there, Rabban Gamliel dismounted from the donkey, wrapped himself in his prayer shawl, and seated himself. We learned numerous matters on that day: A quarter-log of wine causes drunkenness, a journey causes the effects of wine to wear off, and one may not issue a halakhic ruling while intoxicated with wine. And we learned from him three matters: That one may not dissolve a vow while intoxicated with wine, while riding, or standing; only seated and wrapped in a prayer shawl. What opening did he suggest for him? Rabbi Yoḥanan said: With this language he suggested an opening for him: “There is one who expresses like stabbings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise is a cure” (Proverbs 12:18) – by right, anyone who voids vows should be stabbed with a sword. What is his remedy? “But the tongue of the wise is a cure” – he goes to Sages and they dissolve his vow. That is why Moses cautions Israel and says to them: “If a man articulates a vow.”