Babylonian Talmud

Rodkinson 1918 — source 9, scan section 60

written [ibid. xxii. 13 and 14] {i,e,, if he hates her he will finally lay an accusation against her, etc., and he will hire witnesses to accuse her with a view to take her life)." R. Jose says : " One who sets a definite time for the redemp- tion of Israel through Messiah will have no share in the world to come. And the same applies to one who hates the scholars and their disciples. The same applies to a * Here the Boraitha continues to enumerate things dangerous to life and health which seem to us unimportant in our age, and therefore we omit them. 2 1 8 THE BABYLONIAN TALMUD. false prophet and a slanderer." R. Meir says : *' One who has a house of learning in his town, and is able to go there but does not do so, is not worthy of living, as it is written [Numb. XV. 31] : ' Because the word of the Lord hath he despised;' etc." Haughtiness is equivalent to idolatry, as it is written [Deut. vii. 26] : '* And thou shalt not bring an abomination with thy house ; " and it is also written [Prov. xvi. 5] : *' An abomination of the Lord is every one that is proud of heart." Since the abomination men- tioned in Deuteronomy is idolatry, and the same expres- sion is used in Proverbs, hence we learn that haughtiness is equivalent to idolatry.* * Here follows the benediction before retiring, etc., which will be explained in the proper tract. TRACT DERECH ERETZ-ZUTA, CHAPTER I. The qualities of the sages are : Modesty, meekness, eagerness, courage, bearing wrongs done to them, and being endeared to every one ; submission to the members of their household, fear of sin, and judging every one according to his deeds. Their thought concerning this world is : All that is in this world is of no importance to me, for this world is not mine. They are occupied in teaching others, and no one can see in their teaching anything wrong. Their questions are to the point and their answers are accord- ing to the Law. One shall always be like an air-bag which is open to receive the air, and as a deep excavation which preserves the water therein contained, and as a glazed jug that pre- serves the wine therein ; as a sponge that absorbs every- thing. Be as the lower threshold that all tread upon, and as a nail in the wall that is within the reach of every one to hang his clothes on. If you have sustained a loss of your property, remem- ber that Job lost his property, children, and health. Be careful about all that you see with your eyes, for the prin- cipal deception is by the eye. Be careful with your teeth (with your meals), that you should not eat too much. Do not discuss with the Sadducees, that you shall not fall into the Gehenna. When you hear others insult you, do not answer them. If people are praising you for having done a great thing, you shall nevertheless consider it of no im- 20 THE BABYLONIAN TALMUD. portance. An ordinary man shall be considered to youi eyes great, if you have insulted him, until you shall have asked him to forgive you. This passage may also be so rendered : If others say something bad about thee, though it be of a serious nature, treat it as insignificant. But, on the other hand, if thou say something bad about otiiers^ though it be insignificant, thou shouldst regard it as serious and have no rest until thou beg pardon. Your behavior shall not be bad, for this is no praise for the Torah (which you possess, but let your behavior be good, for this is a praise for the Torah). Love the Law, and respect it ; love all creatures, and respect them. Subject your will to the will of others, as was done by Leah for Rachel and by David for Saul. But ignore your will, and even the will of others, for the will of Heaven, as we find by Jacob that he did not kiss Joseph (because he was engaged in prayer). Love doubt- fulness {i.e., everything shall be doubtful to you until you convince yourself of it), and hate the expression : " And what of it?" (e>., even of the most unimportant things you should not express yourself thus). Keep aloof from everything that may bring to sin, and from the abominable, and from what is equal to it, that you should not be sus- pected by others of transgression. Do not slander your neighbor, because he who does so has no remedy. Keep aloof from grumbling, for by grumbling you may come to growl at others, and it will be added to your transgres- sions. With seven patriarchs covenants were made, and they are : Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Pinchas, and David — Abraham [Gen. xv. i8], Isaac [ibid. xvii. 21], Jacob [Lev. xxvi. 42], Moses [Ex. xxxiv. 27], Aaron [Numb, xviii. 19], Pinchas [ibid. xxv. 12], David [Ps. Ixxxix. 4]. Seven patriarchs are resting in glory, and worm and maggot do not affect their earthly remains, and they are : Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Amram their father, and, according to others, also David, as it is written [ibid. xvi. 9] : " Therefore is rejoiced my heart, TRACT DERECH ERETZ—ZUTA. 21 and my spirit is glad ; also my flesh shall rest in safety." Nine entered the Garden of Eden when they were still alive, and they are : Enoch (Chanoch) the son of Jared, Elijah Messiah, Eliezer the bondsman of Abraham^ Hirom the king of Zor, Ebed-melech the Cushi [Jen xxxviii. 7], and Jabetz the son of R. Jehudah the Prince, Bothiah the daughter of Pharaoh and Serech the daughter of Ascher, and, according to others, also R, Jehoshua b. Levi. CHAPTER II. Let all thy ways be for the sake of Heaven. Love Heaven, and fear it. Tremble at, and at the same time rejoice over, all commandments. Sit before the elders, and let thy ears be attentive to their words. Incline thine ears to the words of thy comrade. Be not hasty in answering, and consider everything from the right point, and answer to the first question first, and to the last, last ; and always confess the truth. Do not discuss in the presence of one who is greater than you in wisdom. If somebody wants to teach you something, do not say that you have heard it already. If you are questioned on the most unimportant matter, and you do not know it, be not ashamed to say, '* I do not know." If somebody taught you something and you did not listen to it, be not ashamed to say, *' Repeat it again"; and say not that you have not listened to it, but that you did not under- stand it. Do everything for the sake of the Creator, and talk of thy deeds in the same sense (according to Elias Wilna). Do not make thy merits as a crown to be glori- fied by it, and not as a hatchet to cleave with it, nor a spade to dig with it. Accept the words of Law, even when you are in affliction. Do not seek to wrong him who wronged you. Let thy accounts always be correct, and thy conduct excellent. Keep thy promise. Love the Law, righteousness, rebukes, straightforwardness.