ויקרא רבה ו׳Vayikra Rabbah 6

Section 1א׳

וְנֶפֶשׁ כִּי תֶחֱטָא וְשָׁמְעָה קוֹל אָלָה וְהוּא עֵד אוֹ רָאָה אוֹ יָדָע וגו' (ויקרא ה, א), זֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (משלי כד, כח): אַל תְּהִי עֵד חִנָּם בְּרֵעֶךָ וגו'. אַל תְּהִי עֵד חִנָּם אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה מג, יב): וְאַתֶּם עֵדַי נְאֻם ה' וַאֲנִי אֵל. בְּרֵעֶךָ זֶה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי כז, י): רֵעֲךָ וְרֵעַ אָבִיךָ אַל תַּעֲזֹב וגו'. (משלי כד, כח): וַהֲפִתִּיתָ בִּשְׂפָתֶיךָ, מֵאַחַר שֶׁפִּתִּיתֶם אוֹתוֹ בְּסִינַי וַאֲמַרְתֶּם (שמות כד, ז): כֹּל אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר ה' נַעֲשֶׂה וְנִשְׁמָע, לְסוֹף אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם אֲמַרְתֶּם לָעֵגֶל (שמות לב, ד): אֵלֶּה אֱלֹהֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל, אָמַר רַב אַחָא הֲדָא הוּא רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ סַנֵּיגוֹרְיָא הִיא מְלַמֶּדֶת זְכוּת לְכָאן וּלְכָאן, אוֹמֶרֶת לְיִשְׂרָאֵל: אַל תְּהִי עֵד חִנָּם בְּרֵעֶךָ, וְאַחַר כָּךְ אוֹמֶרֶת לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא (משלי כד, כט): אַל תֹּאמַר כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לִי כֵּן אֶעֱשֶׂה לּוֹ. אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק כְּתִיב (הושע ו, ז): וְהֵמָּה כְּאָדָם עָבְרוּ בְרִית, בְּרַם הָכָא (הושע יא, ט): כִּי אֵל אָנֹכִי וְלֹא אִישׁ. רְאוּבֵן הֲוָה יָדַע לְשִׁמְעוֹן סָהֲדוּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ אָתֵי סָהִיד לִי הֲדָא סָהֲדוּתָא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ אִין, כְּשֶׁנִּכְנַס לַדַּיָּין חָזַר בּוֹ וְאָמַר לוֹ רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ וַהֲפִתִּיתָ בִּשְׂפָתֶיךָ, מֵאַחַר שֶׁפִּתִּיתָ בִּשְׂפָתֶיךָ וְהִכְנַסְתָּ אוֹתוֹ לַדִּין חָזַרְתָּ בְּךָ, לְמָחָר אָתוּ סָהֲדוּ לִרְאוּבֵן גַּבֵּי שִׁמְעוֹן מַה יַּעֲשֶׂה כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לוֹ, אַל תֹּאמַר כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לִי כֵּן אֶעֱשֶׂה לוֹ אָשִׁיב לָאִישׁ כְּפָעֳלוֹ, וַהֲלוֹא כְּבָר נָתְנָה תּוֹרָה אִפּוֹפְסִין, וְהוּא עֵד אוֹ רָאָה אוֹ יָדַע אִם לוֹא יַגִּיד וְנָשָׂא עֲוֹנוֹ.

“And if a person will sin, and hear the voice of adjuration, and he is a witness, who either saw or knew; if he does not tell, he shall bear his iniquity” (Leviticus 5:1). “And if a person will sin, and hear the voice of adjuration, and he is a witness, who either saw or knew…” – that is what the verse said: “Do not be a witness against your friend in vain…” (Proverbs 24:28). “Do not be a witness…in vain” – this is Israel, as it is stated: “You are My witnesses, the utterance of the Lord, and I am God” (Isaiah 43:12). “Against your friend” – this is the Holy One blessed be He, as it is stated: “Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend…” (Proverbs 27:10). Do not deceive with your lips” (Proverbs 24:28) – after you beguiled Me at Sinai and said: “Everything that the Lord has spoken we will perform and we will heed” (Exodus 24:7), ultimately at the end of forty days, you said to the calf: “This is your god, Israel” (Exodus 32:4). Rav Aḥa said: This is the Divine Spirit as an advocate, advocating for this party and that party. It says to Israel: “Do not be a witness…in vain.” Then it says to the Holy One blessed be He: “Do not say: I will do to him as he did to me” (Proverbs 24:29). Rabbi Yitzḥak said: It is written: “But they, like men, have violated the covenant” (Hosea 6:7). However, here: “For I am God and not man” (Hosea 11:9). Reuven knew testimony regarding Shimon. [Shimon] said to him: ‘Come and testify this testimony on my behalf.’ He said yes. When he entered before the judge, he reconsidered. The Divine Spirit said to him: “Do not deceive with your lips” (Proverbs 24:28) – after you beguiled him with your lips and brought him to trial, you recanted. The next day, testimony regarding Reuven came to Shimon. What will he do? Shall he do what he did to him? “Do not say: I will do to him as he did to me; I will repay the man according to his actions” (Proverbs 24:29). But did the Torah not already issue a decree: “And he is a witness, who either saw or knew; if he does not tell, he shall bear his iniquity.”

Section 2ב׳

וְשָׁמְעָה קוֹל אָלָה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (משלי כט, כד): חוֹלֵק עִם גַּנָּב שׂוֹנֵא נַפְשׁוֹ אָלָּה יִשְׁמַע וְלֹא יַגִּיד, מַעֲשֶׂה בְּשִׁלְטוֹן אֶחָד שֶׁהָיָה הוֹרֵג אֶת הַקַּבְּלָנִין וּמַתִּיר אֶת הַגַּנָּבִים, וְהָיוּ הַכֹּל מַלִּיזִין עָלָיו שֶׁאֵינוֹ עוֹשֶׂה כָּרָאוּי, מֶה עָשָׂה הוֹצִיא כָּרוֹז בַּמְּדִינָה וְאָמַר כָּל עַמָּא לַקּוֹמְפּוֹן, מֶה עָשָׂה הֵבִיא חֻלְדּוֹת וְנָתַן לִפְנֵיהֶן מָנוֹת וְהָיוּ הַחֻלְדּוֹת נוֹטְלוֹת אֶת הַמָּנוֹת וּמוֹלִיכוֹת אוֹתָם לַחוֹרִים, לְמָחָר הוֹצִיא כָּרוֹז וְאָמַר כָּל עַמָּא לַקּוֹמְפּוֹן, הֵבִיא חֻלְדּוֹת נָתַן לִפְנֵיהֶם מָנוֹת וְסָתַם אֶת הַחוֹרִים וְהָיוּ הַחֻלְדּוֹת נוֹטְלוֹת אֶת הַמָּנוֹת וּמוֹלִיכוֹת אוֹתָן לַחוֹרִין וּמוֹצְאוֹת אוֹתָן מְסֻתָּמוֹת וּמַחֲזִירוֹת אֶת הַמָּנוֹת לִמְקוֹמָן, לוֹמַר שֶׁאֵין הַכֹּל אֶלָּא מִן הַקַּבְּלָנִין, הֲרֵי מִן הַשִּׁלְטוֹן. מִן הַמַּעֲשֶׂה מִנַיִן, רְאוּבֵן גָּנַב לְשִׁמְעוֹן וְלֵוִי יָדַע בֵּיהּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַל תְּפַרְסְמֵנִי וַאֲנָא יָהֵיב לָךְ פַּלְגָא, לְמָחָר נִכְנְסוּ לְבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת וְשָׁמְעוּ קוֹל הַחַזָּן מַכְרִיז מַאן גָּנַב לְשִׁמְעוֹן, וְלֵוִי קָאֵים תַּמָּן, הֲלוֹא נָתְנָה תּוֹרָה אִפּוֹפְסִין, וְהוּא עֵד אוֹ רָאָה אוֹ יָדָע.

“And hear the voice of adjuration” – that is what is written: “One who shares with a thief hates himself; he will hear an oath but will not tell” (Proverbs 29:24). There was an incident involving a certain governor who would kill those who would receive stolen goods but would free the thieves. Everyone would criticize him that he was not acting properly. What did he do? He issued a proclamation in the province and said: The entire people to the assembly grounds. What did he do? He brought weasels and placed portions of food before them. The weasels would take the portions and bring them to the holes. The next day, he issued a proclamation and said: The entire people to the assembly grounds. He brought weasels, placed portions of food before them, and sealed all the holes. The weasels would take the portions and bring them to the holes, but they found them sealed and would return the portions to their place, indicating that everything stems from the receivers. That is from the governor. From where is it derived regarding the action? Reuven stole from Shimon, and Levi knew about it. [Reuven] said to him: ‘Do not publicize it and I will give you half.’ The next day they entered the synagogue and heard the voice of the sexton announcing: ‘Who stole from Shimon?’ Levi was standing there. Did the Torah not already issue a decree: “And he is a witness, who either saw or knew; [if he does not tell, he shall bear his iniquity]”?

Section 3ג׳

גּוּפָא אַל תְּהִי שְׁבוּעַת שָׁוְא קַלָּה בְּעֵינֶיךָ, שֶׁהֲרֵי זְכַרְיָה חָמֵי לֵיהּ (זכריה ה, א): וָאֶשָּׂא עֵינַי וָאֶרְאֶה וְהִנֵּה מְגִלָּה עָפָה, מֶה עָפָה, שַׁיְיטָא, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (ישעיה ו, ו): וַיָּעָף אֵלַי אֶחָד מִן הַשְּׂרָפִים, (זכריה ה, ב): וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלַי מָה אַתָּה רֹאֶה וָאֹמַר אֲנִי רֹאֶה מְגִלָּה עָפָה, אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ אֲפִלּוּ עוֹרוֹ שֶׁל פִּיל וְעוֹרוֹ שֶׁל גָּמָל אֵינָן בַּמִּדָּה הַזּוֹ, וְאַתְּ אֲמַר כָּאן (זכריה ה, ג): זֹאת הָאָלָּה הַיּוֹצֵאת עַל פְּנֵי כָל הָאָרֶץ, מֵהֵיכָן יָצָאת מִפִּתְחוֹ שֶׁל אוּלָם, דִּתְנַן פִּתְחוֹ שֶׁל אוּלָם גָּבְהוֹ אַרְבָּעִים אַמָּה וְרָחְבּוֹ עֶשְׂרִים אַמָּה, אָמַר רַבִּי אַיְבוּ מִפְנֵי מָה מַשְׁבִּיעִין הָאָדָם בְּסֵפֶר תּוֹרָה וּמְבִיאִין לְפָנָיו נוֹדוֹת נְפוּחִים, לוֹמַר אֶתְמוֹל הָיָה הַנּוֹד הַזֶּה מָלֵא גִּידִים וַעֲצָמוֹת, וְעַכְשָׁיו הוּא רֵק מִכֻּלָּן, כָּךְ הַמַּשְׁבִּיעַ לַחֲבֵרוֹ לַשֶּׁקֶר סוֹף שֶׁיֵּצֵא רֵיקָם מִכָּל מָמוֹנוֹ. רַבִּי אַסָּא אָמַר עַל שָׁקֶר, רַבִּי יוֹנָה אָמַר אֲפִלּוּ עַל אֱמֶת. רַבִּי יַנַּאי הֲוָה יָתֵיב וְדָרִישׁ עַל הֲדָא דְּרַבִּי יוֹנָה אָמַר רַבִּי סִימוֹן אֵין מוֹסְרִין אֶת הַשְּׁבוּעָה לְמִי שֶׁהוּא חָשׁוּד עַל הַשְּׁבוּעָה, וְאֵין נוֹתְנִין אֶת הַשְּׁבוּעָה לְמִי שֶׁהוּא רָץ אַחַר הַשְּׁבוּעָה. הֲוָה עוֹבָדָא בְּבַר תְּמַלְּיוֹן וְסִיַּע לְרַבִּי אַסֵּי. עוֹבָדָא הֲוָה דְּאַפְקִיד חַד גַּבְרָא גַּבֵּי בַּר תְּמַלְּיוֹן מֵאָה דִּינָרִין, אָזַל בָּעָא לְהוֹן מִינֵּיהּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ מַה דְּאַפְקַדַת בְּיָדִי מְסָרִית בִּידָךְ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ אִשְׁתַּבַּע לִי. מֶה עָבֵיד בַּר תְּמַלְּיוֹן נָטַל חַד קָנֶה וַחֲקָקֵיהּ וִיהַב בֵּיהּ הָלֵין דִּינָרִין וְשָׁרֵי מִסְמַךְ עֲלֵיהּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ צוֹר הָדֵין קַנְיָא בִּידָךְ וַאֲנָא מִשְׁתַּבַּע לָךְ, כֵּיוָן דְּמָטֵי לְבֵי כְנִשְׁתָּא אֲמַר מָרֵיהּ דְּהָדֵין בֵּיתָא טָבָא מַה דִּמְסַרְתְּ בְּיָדִי מְסָרִית בִּידָךְ, הַהוּא מִן דְּבִידֵיהּ נָסְתֵיהּ לְקַנְיָא וְאַקְשֵׁיהּ לְאַרְעָא, שָׁרְיָין הָלֵין דִּינָרִין מִתְבַּדְּרִין, וְשָׁרֵי הַהוּא מְלַקֵּט, אֲמַר לֵיהּ לְקַט לְקַט דְּמִן דִּידָךְ אַנְתְּ מְלַקֵּט. (שמות כב, י): שְׁבֻעַת ה' תִּהְיֶה בֵּין שְׁנֵיהֶם, שֶׁאֵינָה זָזָה מִבֵּין שְׁנֵיהֶם, אִם הַמַּשְׁבִּיעַ מַשְׁבִּיעַ עַל שֶׁקֶר סוֹפָהּ לָצֵאת עָלָיו, וְאִם הַנִּשְׁבַּע נִשְׁבַּע עַל שֶׁקֶר סוֹפָהּ לָצֵאת עָלָיו. עוֹבָדָא הֲוָה בְּחָדָא אִתְּתָא דְּעָלַת לְמֵילַשׁ גַּבֵּי מְגֵירָתָא וַהֲווֹ צָיְירִין בְּשׁוֹשִׁיפָהּ תְּלָתָא דִּינָרֵי, נְסָבַתְהוֹן וְיָהֲבַת יַתְהוֹן עַל גַּבֵּי סוּדָרָא, אִגַּבְלוּן בַּלִּישָׁה, אֲפָה פִּיתָּא וְאָזְלָא לָהּ, אֲמַר לָהּ בַּעֲלָהּ הַב לִי תְּלָתָא דִּינָרִין, אָזְלַת בָּעֲיָא לְהוֹן גַּבֵּי מְגֵירָתָא, אֲמָרַת לָהּ דִּלְמָא חָמִית לִי הָלֵין תְּלַת דִּינָרִין, הַוְיָין לְהַהִיא מְגֵירָתָא תְּלָתָא בְּנִין, אָמְרָה לָהּ תִּקְבְּרִנֵּיהּ הַהִיא אִתְּתָא בְּרָא אִי הִיא יָדְעָה בְּהוֹן, גַּרְמוּן חוֹבִין וּקְבַרְתֵּיהּ, אָמְרָה אִלּוּלֵי דְהַהִיא אִתְּתָא חֲשִׁידָה בְּהוֹן לָא הֲוָה קָבְרָה לֵיהּ, אָזְלָה וְאָמְרָה לָהּ דִּלְמָא חָמִית לִי לְהָלֵין דִּינָרִין, אָמְרָה הַהִיא אִתְּתָא תִּקְבּוֹר בְּנָה אַחֲרִינָא אִי הִיא יָדְעָה בְּהוֹן, גָּרְמוּן חוֹבִין וּמִית בְּרָא אַחֲרִינָא, זְמַן אָחֳרָן אָמְרָה לָהּ דִּלְמָא חָמִית לִי הָלֵין דִּינָרִין, אָמְרָה תִּקְבּוֹר הַהִיא אִתְּתָא בְּרָא תְּלִיתָאָה אִי הִיא יָדְעָה בְּהוֹן, גָּרְמוּן חוֹבִין וּקְבַרְתֵּיהּ. אֲמַר לָהּ בַּעֲלָהּ לֵית אַנְתְּ אָזֵיל לִמְנַחֲמָא לַהֲדָא מְגֵירָתֵיךָ, נְסָבַת תְּרֵין עִגוּלִין דְּפִתָּא וַאֲזָלַת מְנַחְמַת יָתָהּ, כֵּיוָן דְּקָצוֹן עִגּוּלָה נָפְקוּן הָלֵין תְּלַת דִּינָרֵי מִינָהּ, הֲדָא דִּבְרִיָּיתָא אָמְרִין בֵּין זַכַּאי בֵּין חַיָּב לִידֵי מוֹמֵי לָא תֵיעוֹל. (זכריה ה, ד): וּבָאָה אֶל בֵּית הַגַּנָּב וְאֶל בֵּית הַנִּשְׁבָּע בִּשְׁמִי לַשָּׁקֶר וְלָנֶה בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ וְכִלַּתּוּ [ואת] עֵצָיו [ואת] אֲבָנָיו, אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן מַלְאֲכֵי חַבָּלָה אֵין לָהֶם קְפִיצִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (איוב א, ז): מִשּׁוּט בָּאָרֶץ וּמֵהִתְהַלֵּךְ בָּהּ, בְּרַם הָכָא וְלָנֶה בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ. אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא דְּבָרִים שֶׁאֵין הָאֵשׁ שׂוֹרְפָן שְׁבוּעַת שָׁוְא מְכַלָּתָן, דַּרְכָּהּ שֶׁל אֵשׁ לֶאֱכֹל עֵצִים, שֶׁמָּא אֲבָנִים, בְּרַם הָכָא וְכִלַּתּוּ אֶת עֵצָיו וְאֶת אֲבָנָיו.

Regarding the matter itself, let an oath in vain not be insignificant in your eyes, as Zechariah saw it: “I lifted my eyes and I saw, and behold, a scroll afa” (Zechariah 5:1). What is afa? It is flying, just as it says: “One of the seraphs flew [vayaaf] to me” (Isaiah 6:6). “He said to me: What do you see? I said: I see a scroll flying; [its length is twenty cubits, and its width ten cubits]” (Zechariah 5:2). Rabbi Abbahu said: Even the hide of an elephant and the hide of a camel lacks those dimensions, and here it says this? “This is the curse that emerges over the face of the entire land, [for anyone who steals shall be swept away…and anyone who takes an oath shall be swept away]” (Zechariah 5:3). From where did it emerge? From the doorway of the Entrance Hall, as it is taught: The doorway…of the Entrance Hall, its height was forty cubits and its width, twenty cubits. Rabbi Aivu said: Why does one administer an oath to a person with a Torah scroll and one brings bloated leather jugs before him? It is to say: Yesterday this jug was filled with sinews and bones, and now it is completely empty. So too, one who administers an oath to another under false pretenses will emerge empty of all his property. Rabbi Asa said: Under false pretenses. Rabbi Yona said: Even if it is truth. Rabbi Yannai was sitting and expounding regarding what Rabbi Yona said that Rabbi Simon said: One does not entrust an oath with one who is suspect regarding an oath. And one does not make an oath available to one who is eager to take an oath. There was an incident involving bar Temalyon in support of Rabbi Asi: There was an incident where a certain man deposited one hundred dinars with bar Temalyon. He went and requested them from [bar Temalyon]. He said to him. ‘What you deposited with me, I [have already] returned to you.’ He said to him: ‘Take an oath to me.’ What did bar Temalyon do? He took a cane and hollowed it. He filled it with those dinars and began leaning on it. He said to him: ‘Hold this cane in your hand and I will take an oath to you.’ When he came to the synagogue, he said: ‘[In the name of the] Master of this fine house, what you gave me I gave you.’ While [the cane] was in [the claimant’s] hand, he cast the cane and smashed it on the ground. Those dinars began scattering, and he began gathering his dinars. [Bar Temalyon] said to him: ‘Gather, gather, as you are gathering what is yours.’ “The oath of the Lord shall be between the two of them” (Exodus 22:10) – it does not move from between the two of them. If the one administering the oath administers it falsely, it will ultimately go against him. If the one taking the oath takes a false oath, it will ultimately go against him. There was an incident involving a woman who went to knead at her neighbor’s. She had three dinars tied into her upper garment. She took them and placed them on her kerchief. They were kneaded into her dough, she baked the bread, and went on her way. Her husband said to her: ‘Give me the three dinars.’ She went and sought them at her neighbor’s. She said to her: ‘Have you, perhaps, seen those three dinars?’ That neighbor had three sons. She said to her: ‘May that woman bury a son if she knows about them.’ Her sins caused it [to happen,] and she buried him. [The first woman] said: If that woman were not suspect in their regard, she would not have buried him. She went and she said to her: ‘Have you, perhaps, seen those dinars?’ She said: ‘May that woman bury another son if she knows about them.’ Her sins caused it, and her other son died. Another time she said to her: ‘Have you, perhaps, seen those dinars?’ She said: ‘May that woman bury her third son if she knows about them.’ Her sins caused it, and she buried him. Her husband said to her: ‘Are you not going to console that neighbor of yours?’ She took two loaves of bread and went to console her. When she sliced the loaf, those three dinars came out of it. That is what people say: Whether innocent or guilty, do not enter into oaths. “And it will arrive at the house of the thief and at the house of he who takes an oath by My name falsely, and it will stay the night inside his house, and it will consume it, with its wood and its stones” (Zechariah 5:4) – Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: Angels of destruction do not have joints, as it is stated: “[The Lord said to Satan: From where are you coming? Then Satan answered the Lord and said:] From wandering the earth and walking in it” (Job 1:7). However, here, “it will stay the night inside his house.” Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Items that fire does not burn up, a false oath consumes. It is the way of fire to consume wood, but does it, perhaps [consume] stones? However, here: “it will consume it, with its wood and its stones.”