“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 matriarchs1The heavens, the earth, and the sea. 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). They2The nations of the world. said: ‘Now he will eradicate the enemies of Israel3This is a euphemism for Israel. from the world. Is it possible for these to contend [lehitvake’aḥ] with their Creator?’ When He said to them:4To Israel.“If your sins will be like scarlet, [they will be whitened as snow]” (Isaiah 1:18), they5The nations of the world. 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.6She complained to the judge. 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 speech7The metaphor is that God created "speech,” which is what Israel heard. That "speech" spoke to God. 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).8See Shemot Rabba 31:8. 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 again9He checks whether he overlooked something good and did not remove it. as, typically, one who selects the bad from the good does not then select again.10He no longer checks the bad that he removed from the good. 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).11See Rashi on Shabbat 33a. 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,12These are the fruits that grow during the first three years after the tree is planted, and are forbidden. 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?13Namely, until it dies. See Sanhedrin 63a. Who fulfilled the mitzvaof the blood? Saul fulfilled the mitzvaof 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 commenced14This can be read to mean that Saul was the first to build an altar. 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 hands15They do not recite the Priestly Benediction. during the afternoon prayer, due to drunkenness.16Wine was drunk regularly at meals, and a priest who drank wine may not recite the Priestly Benediction. 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.17The man with whom she committed adultery. 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.
“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]”18This is expounded as though it was written baḥataf, meaning hurriedly. (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,19The book of Leviticus. 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 places20The altars used for idol worship were built on 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).21The nations caused Israel to suffer more than God wanted them to suffer. “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 wine22Israel. 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,23The word is written with a yod, kis, but is read with the letter vav, kos. 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).24The verse is expounded to include menstrual blood, the blood of the hymen, the difficulties of child rearing, the discomfort of pregnancy, the pain of childbirth, the longing for her husband in his absence, and the fact that while he can directly initiate relations, she must do so discreetly (Eiruvin 100b). 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.25The treatment for a wasp sting, cold food, exacerbates a scorpion bite, and the treatment for a scorpion bite, hot food, exacerbates a wasp sting. “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.26Who commits adultery. “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 prolonged27Keḥetef with a tav can be interpreted as though it were with a tet, meaning in an instant.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).28See Bemidbar Rabba 9:35, which describes the punishment of the adulterer. “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,29Namely, is suffering needlessly because of the adultery which she committed. 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,30On the adulterous woman. 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,31I have seen menstrual blood. and he does not withdraw.32All the halakhic obstacles become like a flat plain for him, and therefore he has relations with his wife even though she is a nidda. 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,33Noah had three children, so if one was cursed, a third of the world was cursed. 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 mitzvotforeign 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 disqualified34See Deuteronomy 23:2. 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,35In accordance wth the view that the fruit eaten by Adam was fruit from a vine. See Berachot 40a. 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).
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.36This is another name for Samaria. “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.37A great city in Babylon. “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 they38The cities mentioned. 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.39The Aramaic phrase means beds of ivory.“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.40It is possible to toss [lizrok] cups of congealed wine from one to another, to whet their appetites for drink. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Small cups.41One tosses the small amount of wine from the cup directly into one’s throat. The Rabbis say: Cups that have pipes attached to them.42When placed on their sides, a flow of liquid emerged from the pipe directly into the mouth of the drinker. 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).43They did not take to heart the destruction that their sinful ways would bring to them. Joseph represents the kingdom of Israel, as opposed to the kingdom of Judah. 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].”
That is what is written: “The words of Lemuel the king” (Proverbs 31:1). Why is Solomon called Lemuel? Rabbi Yishmael said: On the very night that Solomon completed the labor of the Temple, he married Bitya daughter of Pharaoh. There was rejoicing there, in the celebration of the Temple and the rejoicing over Pharaoh’s daughter. The rejoicing over Pharaoh’s daughter overshadowed the rejoicing over the Temple. That is what the parable says: Everyone flatters the king. That is why he is called Lemuel, because he cast the yoke of God’s kingdom from upon him, as though saying: ‘Why does he need God [lama lo el]?’ At that moment, the Holy One blessed be He considered destroying Jerusalem. That is what is written: “For [this city has been] a cause of My wrath and of My anger [from the day that they built it until this day; remove it from My presence]” (Jeremiah 32:31). The Rabbis said: Pharaoh’s daughter introduced to him one thousand types of song, and he commanded them to be sung before him that night. She would say to him: ‘This is the way they sing before such-and-such idol, and that is the way they sing before such-and-such idol.’ What did Pharaoh’s daughter do? She spread a hanging over him and affixed on it all sorts of gems and jewels that shone like stars and constellations, and any time Solomon would seek to rise, he would see the stars and constellations and he slept until the fourth hour of the day. Rabbi Levi said: On that day, the daily offering was sacrificed at the fourth hour. Regarding that hour, we learned: There was an incident and the daily morning offering was sacrificed at the fourth hour. Israel were saddened, as it was the day of the dedication of the Temple, but they were unable to do anything because Solomon was sleeping and they were afraid to wake him due to fear of the monarchy. They went and informed Bathsheba his mother and she went and woke him and rebuked him. That is what is written: “The oration with which his mother admonished him” (Proverbs 31:1). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: It teaches that his mother bent him over a post and said to him: “What, my son?” (Proverbs 31:2) – everyone knows that your father was God-fearing. Now, this is what they will say: Bathsheba his mother caused him to do thus. “What, son of my womb?” (Proverbs 31:2) – all the women of your father’s household, once they became pregnant, they would never see the face of the king, but I forced my way and entered so that my son would be fair and agile.44The Rabbis say that relations during the last trimester are beneficial to the fetus. “And what, son of my vows?” (Proverbs 31:2) – all the women of your father’s household, when they would become pregnant they would vow and say: ‘Let me have a son who is worthy of kingship,’ but I vowed and said: ‘Let me have a son who will be quick and scholarly in Torah and worthy of prophecy.’ “Do not give your strength to women” (Proverbs 31:3) – you would be pursuing lewdness, as they agitate a man’s mind: “A companion of harlots will lose a fortune” (Proverbs 29:3). “Or let your ways destroy kings” (Proverbs 31:3); the Torah cautioned and said: “He shall not amass for himself many wives” (Deuteronomy 17:17). Be careful regarding these matters, as they destroy kings. “It is not for kings, Lemuel” (Proverbs 31:4); what [business] do you have with kings who say: ‘Why do we need God [lama lanu el],’ and [you] emulate their actions? “It is not for kings to drink wine” (Proverbs 31:4) – why do you liken yourself to kings who drink wine, become inebriated, and perform all kinds of acts of lewdness? Do not emulate their actions. “Or for princes: Where is strong drink?” (Proverbs 31:4). Shall one for whom all the secrets of the world are revealed drink wine and become inebriated? “Lest he drink, and forget what was legislated [meḥukak]” (Proverbs 31:5) – Rabbi Shimon said: These are the words of the Torah that are inscribed [haḥakukim], and it is written among them: “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:13). “And subvert justice for all the children of the poor” (Proverbs 31:5), she [his mother] said to him: Justice was entrusted to the kingdom of the House of David, just as it is written: “House of David, so said the Lord: Adjudicate justice in the morning” (Jeremiah 21:12). If you drink wine and subvert justice for all the children of the poor, you will exonerate the guilty and convict the innocent. From here they said: A judge who drank a quarter log of wine shall not judge, likewise, a Sage who drank a quarter log of wine shall not issue a ruling. “Give strong drink to the hopeless, and wine to embittered souls” (Proverbs 31:6). Rabbi Ḥanan said: Wine was created in this world only to pay a reward to the wicked in this world, as they are hopeless in the World to Come, and to comfort mourners. That is what is written: “And wine to embittered souls.” From here they said: All those executed by the court would be given undiluted wine to drink to addle their minds. That is what is written: “Give strong drink to the hopeless.” “Let him drink and forget his poverty, [and remember his misery no longer]” (Proverbs 31:7). Regarding the hopeless, it says that he will forget death, which is his poverty.45He has no reward after death. “And…his misery,” is said regarding the embittered soul; one whose sons and daughters die before him and his soul is embittered. The wine will cause his heart to rejoice and he will no longer remember his sorrow. “And remember his misery no longer,” these are his children, who are his misery, like that which we learned: “And our misery” (Deuteronomy 26:7), these are the children, just as it is stated: “Every son that is born [you shall cast into the Nile]” (Exodus 1:22). “Open your mouth for the mute” (Proverbs 31:8), from here [we learn] that if there are none proffering a claim for an heir or for a purchaser, the court proffers a claim on their behalf. Alternatively, “open your mouth for the mute,” this relates to the orphans who do not know how to proffer a claim; moreover, they do not know their father’s business, that the court proffers a claim on their behalf. That is, “for the judgment for all whose lives are transitory [benei ḥalof]” (Proverbs 31:8), these are the children of [someone] dead who passed [sheḥalaf] and went to his eternal home. Another matter, they46The orphans themselves. are their father’s replacement [ḥilufei], just as it says: “For whom there is no replacement [ḥalifot]” (Psalms 55:20) – Rabbi Ḥanina said: This is one who does not leave a son after him. “Open your mouth, rule justly” (Proverbs 31:9), that you will not act in a matter that will teach [false] claims. “And the case of the poor and indigent” (Proverbs 31:9), just as it says: “You shall not distort the judgment of your indigent in his dispute” (Exodus 23:6). Another matter, these are the charities and the gifts to the poor, which is theirs by law, as you must take from the robber and give to them, to realize what is stated: “Do not rob the impoverished, as he is impoverished…” (Proverbs 22:22). Another matter, “the words of Lemuel the king, the oration [masa] [with which his mother admonished him]” (Proverbs 31:1); this is the Torah that admonished Solomon, as it is called the mother [em] of those who study it, just as it says: “For if [im] you call for understanding” (Proverbs 2:3) – em is written.47The word im and the word em have the same Hebrew letters. Why are the words called masa?48Literally, a burden. It is because harsh matters will befall anyone who emulates the actions of Solomon. “What, my son [beri]?” (Proverbs 31:2). It does not say “what, beni,” but rather, “what beri.” These are the commands and the prohibitions in the Torah, which is called bar, just as it says: “Kiss bar, lest he become angry…” (Psalms 2:12), as all its matters are clear [barim]. It is regarding a prohibition in the Torah: “You shall not marry them; your daughter you shall not give to his son, [and his daughter you shall not take for your son]” (Deuteronomy 7:3), that it says this matter. It is because Solomon took from the daughters of the nations and married them, as it is stated: “King Solomon loved many…women… from the nations, regarding whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel: Do not consort with them, and they shall not consort with you, as they will sway [your heart after their gods; Solomon clung to them for love]” (I Kings 11:1–2). Ḥananya ben Rabbi Yehoshua said: It is for that reason that it said: “You shall not marry them.” Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai says: Actually “for love” [means] for harlotry.49Namely, he did not marry them. Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥalafta says: He did not require them to convert and to draw them near beneath the wings of Heaven. “What, son of my womb [bitni]?” The Torah cautioned regarding a married woman. This is why beten is written here, as regarding an adulterer and an adulteress it is written: “Her belly [bitna] will distend…” (Numbers 5:27); “to cause a belly [beten] to distend…” (Numbers 5:22). “What, son of my vows?” The Torah cautioned him not to drink wine so that he would not come to engage in harlotry. This why “my vows” is written here, corresponding to the portion of the nazirite that is written after the portion of the sota. In it, it is written:“When a man or a woman will articulate to take [a vow of a nazirite].” “Do not give your strength to women” (Proverbs 31:3) – after the Divine Spirit alluded to these three prohibitions,50Not to intermarry, not to commit adultery, and not to drink wine. it then detailed them specifically. That is what is written: “Do not give your strength to women,” corresponding to the foreign women whom he took and they diverted his heart from the Holy One blessed be He. “Your strength,” that is the strength of the Torah that said: “He shall not amass for himself many wives” (Deuteronomy 17:17), and he violated it. “Or let your ways eradicate counsel [melakhin]” (Proverbs 31:3), the verse is speaking regarding harlotry with a married woman. That is what is written: “Or let your ways [udrakhekha] eradicate,” just as it says: “As all flesh has corrupted [its way [darko]]” (Genesis 6:12). “Eradicate” – matters of Torah that counsel you to good, just as it says: “Counsel and resourcefulness are mine” (Proverbs 8:14). Melakhin is nothing other than counsel, just as it says: “Therefore, king, let my counsel [milki] be acceptable to you” (Daniel 4:24). That is, “eradicate [lamḥot] counsel,” just as it says: “The [priest] shall write these curses [in the scroll, and he shall dissolve [umaḥa] them]” (Numbers 5:23). “It is not for kings, Lemuel…” He was called by three names: Yedidya, Kohelet, and Solomon. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Seven – [those three, and] Agur, ben Yakeh, Lemuel, Itiel. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: His primary essence was three: Yedidya, Kohelet, and Solomon. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman concedes regarding these four; that he was called by them as a nickname and [therefore] they require expounding. Agur, because he accumulated [agar] matters of Torah. Yakeh, because he expelled [heki] matters of Torah, like this bowl that is filled for a while and emptied after a while. Lemuel, as he whispered [nam] to God [lael]: ‘I can amass many wives and not sin.’ Itiel, as he said: ‘God [el] is with me [iti] and I will prevail.’ And it says: “It is not for kings, Lemuel.” The Torah said three matters regarding which kings were commanded: Not to amass many wives, not to amass many horses, and not to amass much gold and silver. They must not say [lomar] to God [lael] that they will amass and will not sin. “It is not for kings to drink wine” (Proverbs 31:4). This is stated regarding the vow of the nazirite that is written after the portion of the sota, that kings must guard themselves from wine, and likewise princes, so they will not come to lewdness and render the world guilty. Why did it caution kings and princes alone? After all, everybody must be cautious regarding wine so they will not drink and be corrupted. It is, rather, because kings have the wherewithal to drink and do anything in transgression that they wish, and there is no one to reprimand them. “Lest he drink, and forget what was legislated [mekhukak]” (Proverbs 31:5); due to the wine that he drank, he will forget what the Torah commanded to the legislator [mekhokek]51This is a reference to Moses. See Deuteronomy 33:21. – the statutes of the Torah; that is the portion of the sota. “And subvert justice for all the children of the poor” (Proverbs 31:5). This adulterer who goes to the married woman and she becomes pregnant from him, that mamzer52Any child born from a forbidden union that is punishable by karet. has no portion in the belongings of her husband, but he will receive a portion of his belongings with his [other, actual] sons because they think he is his son. Another matter, at times, the husband will not leave a son, and by Torah law, the inheritance then goes to his brothers. But this mamzer will inherit his belongings, as they think he is his son, and [this] will subvert justice for all the children of the poor. That is why after the sota, the Torah cautioned regarding the law of the nazirite, as wine causes the adulterer and the adulteress to sin. That is what is written: “When a man or a woman will articulate [to take the vow of a nazirite, to abstain for the Lord].” From where is it derived that Solomon later conceded?53That he should not have drunk. It is as it is stated: “I am a greater fool than a man [ish]” (Proverbs 30:2) – this is Noah, as it is written: “Noah, the man [ish] [of the soil], began [and he planted a vineyard]” (Genesis 9:20) – by means of wine he was cursed,54Since his descendants were cursed as a result of his drunkenness , it is as though he was cursed (Etz Yosef). but I [Solomon] did not learn from him. “And the understanding of man [adam] is not mine” (Proverbs 30:2) – this is Adam the first man, who, by means of the wine that he drank, the entire world was cursed because of him, as Rabbi Avin said: Eve poured wine for Adam and he drank, as it is stated: “The woman saw [vatereh] that the tree was good for eating…” (Genesis 3:6), and it is written: “Do not look at [tereh] wine in its redness” (Proverbs 23:31). “I have not learned wisdom” (Proverbs 30:3) – from the wisdom of the Torah, as everywhere that wine is written, it makes an impression. “Nor do I know sacred knowledge” (Proverbs 30:3). One who seeks to sanctify himself so he will not sin with harlotry, shall abstain from wine. I was corrupted with harlotry, but now “I know sacred knowledge.” That is why the portion of the nazirite is stated after sota.
“Speak to the children of Israel” (Numbers 6:2), those who take the vow of the nazirite. “And say to them,” to caution the court regarding this, that they should not allow the nazirite to violate his naziriteship. If they see that he seeks to violate his naziriteship, they shall compel him to fulfill his statement. This is to teach you that the great are cautioned regarding the lesser, and they will be punished due to them if they do not rebuke them. Likewise it says: “They will stumble over one another” (Leviticus 26:37); one due to the iniquity of another. This is to teach you that the entire Jewish people are guarantors for one another. “When a man or a woman will articulate [to take the vow of a nazirite]” – that is what is written: “There was [vayhi] a certain man from Tzora…” (Judges 13:2).55This is the beginning of the chapter dealing with the birth and naziriteship of Samson. Rabbi Levi said: Every place that vayhi is stated, it is nothing other than an expression of suffering: “Vayhi in the days of Aḥashverosh” (Esther 1:1) – there was Haman. “Vayhi in the days when the judges [judged]” (Ruth 1:1) – there was a famine. “Vayhi when man began [to increase]” (Genesis 6:1) – “the sons of the great [saw the daughters of man]” (Genesis 6:2).56This eventually led to the Flood. See Genesis 6:1–3. “Vayhi in the days of Amrafel” (Genesis 14:1) – “they waged a war” (Genesis 14:2). “Vayhi when Joshua was in Jericho…” (Joshua 5:13) – “[a man was standing before him] and his drawn sword was in his hand” (Joshua 5:13).57Joshua was confronted by the commander of the host of the Lord. “Vayhi the Lord was with Joshua” (Joshua 6:27) – “the children of Israel committed trespass regarding the proscribed thing” (Joshua 7:1). “Vayhi when Samuel aged” (I Samuel 8:1) – “his sons did not follow his path” (I Samuel 8:3). “Vayhi David was successful in all his endeavors” (I Samuel 18:14) – “Saul was hostile to David” (I Samuel 18:9). “Vayhi a certain man from Tzora…” (Judges 13:2) – “Manoaḥ said to his wife, we will die” (Judges 13:22). Vayhi, Rabbi Yudan said: Every place that this expression is stated regarding the righteous, he is the equivalent of thirty-one righteous men, the numerical value of vayhi.58Vav – 6, yod – 10, heh – 5, yod – 10 = 31. “A certain [eḥad] man,” a great man. Wherever ehad is used it indicates greatness. With regards to the Holy One Blessed be He, one is said as it it written "God is One" (Deuteronomy 6:4); there is no one in the world who is His equal. Likewise, regarding Abraham: “Abraham was one [eḥad]” (Ezekiel 33:24); there was no one in those days who was his equal. Regarding Israel, it is written: “Who is like Your people, Israel, one [eḥad] nation on the earth” (I Chronicles 17:21); there is none among the nations that are its equal. Likewise, regarding Avimelekh it says: “One of [aḥad] the people almost lay with your wife” (Genesis 26:10); because he was king. Likewise regarding Elkana it says: “Eḥad” (I Samuel 1:1), as there was no one in his generation who was his equal. “[There was a certain man] from Tzora [from the family of the Danite]” (Judges 13:2), anyone whose name and the name of his city are stated, it is known that he is from that city. His name, but not the name of his city, it is known that he is from Jerusalem. “From the family of the Danite,” because Tzora belonged to Judah, as it is written: “Eshtaol, Tzora, and Ashna” (Joshua 15:33), and Tzora belonged to Dan, “the border of their inheritance was Tzora, Eshtaol…” (Joshua 19:41), it was necessary to state that he was “from the family of the Danite.” It does not say “from the tribe,” but rather, “from the family of the Danite.” It teaches that his [Manoaḥ’s] father was from Dan and Manoaḥ’s mother was from Judah. In this regard, Jacob said: “Dan will judge his people, [as one of [ke’aḥad] the tribes of Israel]” (Genesis 49:16), like the most elite of the tribes; this is Judah. That is why Jacob juxtaposed him to Judah, as he was from the land of Judah and his mother was from Judah. Likewise Manoaḥ was from Dan and his wife was from Judah; consequently Samson emerged from the tribe of Dan and the tribe of Judah, as they said: The name of Samson’s mother was Hatzlelponi, and her lineage is ascribed to the tribe of Judah, as it is stated: “And the name of their sister was Hatzlelponi” (I Chronicles 4:3). “And his name was Manoaḥ” (Judges 13:2). The wicked precede their name: “Naval was his name” (I Samuel 25:25); “Goliath was his name” (I Samuel 17:4); “Sheva ben Bikhri was his name” (II Samuel 20:21). But the righteous, their name precedes them: “And his name was Elkana” (I Samuel 1:1); “And his name was Yishai” (I Samuel 17:12); “And his name was Boaz” (Ruth 2:1); “And his name was Mordekhai” (Esther 2:5); “And his name was Manoaḥ.” They are similar to their Creator: “But My name, the Lord…” (Exodus 6:3). They raised an objection to it: But is it not written: “Rebecca had a brother and his name was Lavan”? (Genesis 24:29). Rabbi Yitzḥak said: He was conspicuous.59Lavan was not his name, but rather, his whiteness was a conspicuous attribute of his. Rabbi Berekhya said: He was obvious [meluban] in his wickedness. They raised an objection: “And his name was Mikhaihu” (Judges 17:1) – because he received guests, his name was written like the names of the righteous. They raised an objection from the [verse regarding the] sons of Samuel: “The name of his firstborn son was Joel and the name of his second was Aviya” (I Samuel 8:2). The Rabbis said: Just as this one was wicked, so, too, that one was wicked. Rabbi Yudan said in the name of Rabbi Simon: Ultimately, they repented. That is why he [Samuel’s firstborn, Joel] is called: “Vashni” (I Chronicles 6:13), as they changed [shenishtanu] to good deeds.60The full verse reads: “The sons of Samuel: his first-born, Vashni, and Aviya.” That is why they merited the Divine Spirit. That is what is written: “The word of the Lord that was to Joel son of Petuel” (Joel 1:1). This is Samuel. Why is he called Petuel? It is because he enticed [pita] the Holy One blessed be He with his prayer.61See Psalms 99:6. Manoaḥ, why is he called Manoaḥ? It is because he was privileged to speak with an angel, and prophecy is called rest [menuḥa], as it is stated: “Seraya was the minister of Menuḥa” (Jeremiah 51:59). It teaches that Barukh ben Neriya62He was Seraya’s brother and a disciple of the prophet Jeremiah. According to another opinion, Seraya was another name of Barukh. merited the Divine Spirit, just as it says: “The spirit of the Lord will rest [venaḥa] upon him (Isaiah 11:2). “His wife was barren, she had not given birth” (Judges 13:2). This teaches that there was a dispute between Manoaḥ and his wife. He said to her: ‘You are barren; that is why you have not given birth.’ She said to him: ‘You are sterile and that is why I have not given birth.’ Manoaḥ was not sterile. “An angel of the Lord appeared to the woman” (Judges 13:3). From here you learn that Manoaḥ’s wife was a righteous woman who merited having an angel speak with her, to introduce harmony between her and her husband and to inform her that she was barren and it was she who was preventing the pregnancy, not her husband; that is why he spoke with her. Because she saw the angel, she is called Hatzlelponi, because she addressed [pona] the angel. Tzelal is nothing other than an angel, just as it says: “As it is for this that they entered beneath the shelter [betzel] of my roof” (Genesis 19:8).63Lot is referring to the angels who came to rescue him from the destruction of Sodom. There, because Lot was more righteous than his wife, the angels came to the shelter of his house and not the shelter of her house. However, here, where the angel came to her because she was righteous, that is why she is called Hatzlel. Why is it stated: Hatzlel, and it did not say Hatzel? It is because he appeared to the woman twice, once in the city and once in the field. “Behold now, you are barren and have not given birth” (Judges 13:3); he informed her that she was barren and that is why she had not given birth in order to introduce harmony between her and her husband, as she had been angry at her husband Manoaḥ because she was not giving birth. “But you will conceive, and you will bear a son,” (Judges 13:3), from here on you will conceive and you will bear a son. “Now, please beware” (Judges 13:4); he cautioned her not to drink vinegar of wine and vinegar of intoxicating drink and the water in which grapes were soaked64See Numbers 6:3.. These are nothing other than precautions for wine, so that the nazirite will not come to drink wine, that is why the verse prohibited them for him. “And do not drink wine or intoxicating drink" (Judges 13:4), just as it says: “From wine and intoxicating drink he shall abstain” (Numbers 6:3), “…and do not eat any impurity” (Judges 13:4). Impure is nothing other than prohibited, as the Torah cautioned the nazirite not to eat anything “that may be derives from the grapevine,” (Numbers 6:4), just as it says: “…and grapes, fresh or dried, he shall not eat. [Throughout his days as a nazirite] he may not eat from anything that may be derived from the grapevine” (Numbers 6:3–4). “For behold, you will conceive and bear a son” (Judges 13:5). From here, the semen from the night was kept in her womb and she had not expelled it. When the angel said to her: “For behold, you will conceive and bear a son,” the womb absorbed that drop. “A razor [umorah] shall not come upon his head” (Judges 13:5), just as it says: “A razor shall not pass on his head” (Numbers 6:5). Why is a razor called morah? It is because the hair fears [mityareh] nothing other than the razor as it shaves a shave of destruction, just as it says: “Do not destroy the corner of your beard” (Leviticus 19:27). “For the lad will be a nazirite to God from the womb” (Judges 13:5). It was revealed before the Holy One blessed be He that Samson was one who would follow his eyes. That is why He cautioned him as a nazirite that he should not drink wine, because wine leads to licentiousness. If, when he was a nazirite, he followed his eyes, had he drunk wine there would have been no rehabilitation for him as he would have constantly been pursuing licentiousness. What is it that is said: “From the womb”? It is to realize what is stated: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:5). However, regarding the wicked what does it say? “The wicked are corrupt from the womb; liars go astray from birth” (Psalms 58:4). Likewise it says: “I was formed in iniquity; [in sin my mother conceived me]” (Psalms 51:7). “He will begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines” (Judges 13:5). In him will be fulfilled the prophecy of Jacob , who said: “Dan will judge his people…Dan will be [a serpent]…[I await your deliverance, Lord]” (Genesis 49:16–18). “The woman came and she told her husband, saying: A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like the appearance of an angel of God, very awesome…” (Judges 13:6). From here [we derive that] the Divine Presence would rest only upon those with a striking appearance. “He said to me: Behold, you will conceive [and give birth to a son]” (Judges 13:7), but what he said to her: “Behold now, you are barren” (Judges 13:3), she did not reveal to him, as she did not wish to reveal her inadequacy. “As the lad will be a nazirite to God from the womb until the day of his death” (Judges 13:7). She added [the phrase]: “Until the day of his death,” as she did not know what was in the future. But the angel, who knew that he was going to lose his naziriteship by means of Delilah, that was why he did not say: “Until the day of his death.” “Manoaḥ entreated [vayetar] the Lord, and said: Please, my Lord, the man [of God whom You sent, let him come again to us]” (Judges 13:8). Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: Why is the prayer of the righteous analogized to a pitchfork [eter]? It is to say to you: Just as the pitchfork overturns the grain in the field from place to place, so the prayer of the righteous overturns the attribute of cruelty to the attribute of mercy. “God heeded the voice of Manoaḥ, [and the angel of God came again to the woman]” (Judges 13:9). Why did the angel of God return to the woman and did not come to Manoaḥ? It was in order to avoid invalidating his initial statements that he said to the woman. Alternatively, it was to endear her in his eyes. “The woman hurried, ran, [and told her husband]” (Judges 13:10). It teaches that all actions of the righteous are with alacrity. “[Behold, the man] who on that day [bayom] came to me, [appeared to me]” (Judges 13:10). It does not say “today [hayom],” but rather, bayom. It teaches that the angel did not appear to her until the following day, because Manoaḥ did not pray until the morning prayer of the following day, just as it says: “Lord, in the morning hear my voice…” (Psalms 5:4). It teaches that the righteous seek clarity regarding their actions. “[Are you the man who spoke to the woman?] He said: I am” (Judges 13:11); I am initially and I am ultimately, as I am not changing my words. “Manoaḥ said: Now, let your words come” (Judges 13:12). Manoaḥ said to him: ‘Until now, I have heard from the woman, and women are not qualified to instruct, and one may not rely on their statements. But, “now, let your words come,” I would like to hear from your mouth, as I do not believe her statements; perhaps she made changes in her statement, or subtracted or added.’ “What will be the guidelines for the lad?” (Judges 13:12); what naziriteship must he observe after he is born? “…and his actions?” (Judges 13:12); what shall his mother do all the days that she is pregnant with him? “The angel of the Lord said to Manoaḥ: “From everything that I said to the woman [let her beware]” (Judges 13:13), in order to accord honor to the woman and endear her to him. “Let her beware” (Judges 13:13), he said to him regarding vinegar of wine, vinegar of intoxicating drink, and the water in which grapes were soaked: “She shall not partake of anything that may be derived from the grapevine and she shall not drink wine or intoxicating drink” (Judges 13:14), in its plain sense. “And she shall not eat any impurity” (Judges 13:14), just as it says: “And grapes, fresh or dried, he shall not eat” (Numbers 6:3). “Everything that I commanded her, she shall observe” (Judges 13:14); what he said to her: “A razor shall not come upon his head” (Judges 13:5). “Manoaḥ said to the angel of the Lord: Please let us detain [naatzera] you” (Judges 13:15). Manoaḥ said to him: ‘We had been obstructed, just as it says: “For the Lord had obstructed all wombs of the house of Avimelekh” (Genesis 20:18), and you brought us tidings of relief. Let us make a festival with you, just as it says: “On the eighth day it shall be an assembly [atzeret] for you” (Numbers 29:35). “And we will prepare a young goat before you” (Judges 13:15); you caused us to rejoice and we will rejoice with you with a goat, as rejoicing is only with meat.’ “The angel of the Lord said to Manoaḥ: If you detain me, I will not eat of your food” (Judges 13:16). The angel said to him: ‘It is not the way of the prophets of the Lord to receive payment for their prophecy.’ Regarding false prophets, what does it say? “You profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and for crumbs of bread, to kill…” (Ezekiel 13:19). But regarding true prophets, what does it say? “He65Elisha. said: As the Lord before whom I have stood lives, I will not accept” (II Kings 5:16). “If you would prepare a burnt offering, offer it up to the Lord” (Judges 13:16). The angel intimated to him that he needed to offer up a burnt offering to the Lord in response to the good tidings, just as Abraham did when the Holy One blessed be He said to him: “To your offspring, I will give this land” (Genesis 12:7). Immediately, Abraham built an altar in response to the good tidings, as it is written: “He built an altar to the Lord, who appeared to him” (Genesis 12:7), and an altar is for nothing other than an offering. “For Manoaḥ did not know that he was an angel of the Lord” (Judges 13:16). Why is it stated? It is because his wife said to him: “His appearance was like the appearance of an angel of God, very awesome” (Judges 13:6); she was under the impression that Manoaḥ identified that he was an angel, but, nevertheless, he invited him to eat, as he was mistaken, believing that there is eating on High. That is why it is stated: “For Manoaḥ did not know that he was an angel of the Lord.” That is why he invited him to eat. But had he known that he was an angel, he would not have said to him to eat, as he was well-versed in the fact that there is no eating on High. Why did he not identify him? From here you learn that when prophets would go on a mission of the Holy One blessed be He, the Divine Spirit that would rest upon them would confer awesomeness upon them in the eyes of their beholders, as everyone feared them, as they resembled angels. Why, then, did the angels who came to inform Sarah regarding pregnancy eat, but this one did not want to eat? It is because those angels, when they first appeared to Abraham, they appeared to him in the image of wayfarers, and he brought them into his house as he was accustomed to, and invited them to eat. They did not want to deprive him of the exercise of hospitality and they ate with him. After they ate, they stated their mission. It did not appear as though they received payment for their mission. But this angel, initially he stated his mission. Had he eaten with him, it would have appeared as though he received payment for his mission. That is why he refrained from eating. “Mano’aḥ said to the angel of the Lord: What is your name?” (Judges 13:17). It is because he did not identify him as an angel, that is why he asked him regarding his name. “So that when your words come to pass we will honor you [vekhibadnukha]” (Judges 13:17); Manoaḥ said to him: ‘Tell me your name so that I will ask where I might find you when your prophecy comes to pass, and we will give you a gift.’ Vekhibadnukha is nothing other than a gift, just as it says: “For I will honor you [ki khabed akhabedkha]” (Numbers 22:17).66Balak sought to convince Bilam to curse Israel on his behalf, and said he would honor him, meaning he would shower him with gifts of silver and gold. “The angel of the Lord said to him: Why do you ask my name?” (Judges 13:18). The angel said to him: ‘You need not ask my name, as ultimately, you will never see me again.’ That is what is written: “It is inscrutable [vehu feli]” (Judges 13:18). Regarding himself, he said to him that he will be obscured from him, that he will never see him again, just as it says: “This knowledge is inscrutable to me. [It is sublime; I cannot reach it]” (Psalms 139:6). Alternatively, “It is inscrutable [vehu feli]” – the angel said to him: ‘I do not know to tell you my name as, in accordance with the mission upon which the Holy One blessed be He sends us, He calls us a name.’ That is: Vehu feli; in accordance with each and every wonder [pelia uflia] that He performs through us, He calls us a name. Alternatively, vehu feli, it is a name. The name of the angel is feli, based on his mission to render Samson a nazirite, just as it says: “For the lad will be a nazirite to God” (Judges 13:5). This is why He called him feli, like the matter that the verse said: “When a man or a woman will articulate [yafli] [to take the vow of a nazirite]…” (Numbers 6:2).
You find that Moses alluded to the naziriteship of Samson in this portion, to teach you that there is no matter that is written in the Prophets and the Writings to which Moses did not allude in the Torah. “A man” (Numbers 6:2), this is the angel, who came to render Samson a nazirite, who was called a man, just as it says: “Are you the man who spoke to the woman?” (Judges 13:11). “He said: I am” (Judges 13:11). The angel said to him: ‘You think of me that I am a man, but I am not a man; rather, I am an angel.’ Similarly, “He said: Are you my son Esau? He said: I am” (Genesis 27:24). I am not Esau, but rather, Jacob.67Meaning the word "I" can sometimes mean I am not who you think I am. “Or a woman” (Numbers 6:2), it is because he first appeared only to the woman. “When…will articulate [yafli]” (Numbers 6:2), as his name is peli. “To take the vow of a nazirite to abstain for the Lord” (Numbers 6:2), “for the lad will be a nazirite of God” (Judges 13:5).
“Speak to the children of Israel…” (Numbers 6:2), it is taught: “Speak to the children of Israel” – Israel take a vow of naziriteship but the idolaters do not take a vow of naziriteship. “And say to them” (Numbers 6:2), to include the slaves. “A man,” but not a minor, “or a woman,” to render the women like the men.68The laws of naziriteship apply to women just as they apply to men. That is what we learned: The Samaritans69There are versions where this reads, the gentiles. Some say that it comes to teach that the legal status of the Samaritans is equal to that of gentiles. do not have naziriteship, women and slaves have naziriteship. There is a stringency regarding women more than slaves, as one compels his slave70He can compel him not to observe his naziriteship as long as he is in servitude. and does not compel his wife.71If he did not nullify his wife's vow on the day that he heard of the vow, he cannot compel her not to observe her naziriteship. There is a stringency regarding slaves more than women, as he nullifies the vows of his wife but he does not nullify the vow of his slave. If he nullified for his wife, he has nullified for perpetuity. If he nullified72If he did not allow his slave to observe his naziriteship. for his slave, when he is liberated, he completes his naziriteship. If he passed from his presence,73If the slave fled. Rabbi Meir says: He may not drink74This is to encourage him to return to his master so he can resume drinking wine. and Rabbi Yosei says: He may drink.75This is so he will not suffer from deprivation which could affect his fitness to serve his master when he returns. “When…will articulate [ki yafli],” one who is able to distinguish [lehaflot]. From here they said: One who is able to distinguish [mufla] and will soon reach majority, his vows take effect. Alternatively, “when…will articulate” – when one articulates his vow, [this means] to the exclusion of one who ruminates [on becoming a nazir] in their heart. “To take the vow of a nazirite” – why was this portion stated?76A person can take any vow. Why is there a special portion relating to the vow of the nazirite. It is because it says: “If a man takes a vow to the Lord, or takes [an oath]…” (Numbers 30:3); if one took a vow for one day, it is prohibited for one day,77If one takes a vow to abstain from something for one day, the vow obligates him for one day. for two, it is prohibited for two; from the species regarding which he took a vow, from that species he is prohibited. Do I hear that the same is true regarding naziriteship as well? This is why this portion is stated; whether he took a vow for one day or for one hour, it is prohibited for thirty days to drink wine, to become impure by means of a dead person, and it is prohibited to shave. “To take the vow of a nazirite,” why is “vow” written here?78It could have just said: “To abstain for the Lord.” It is to render naziriteship like vows. Just as regarding vows one violates: “One shall not profane” (Numbers 30:3) and “you shall not delay” (Deuteronomy 23:22), the same is true regarding naziriteship. And just as regarding vows, the father nullifies the vows of his daughter and the husband violates the vows of his wife, the same is true regarding naziriteship. “A nazirite, to abstain [nazir lehazir],” it is to render substitutes for naziriteship like naziriteship.79Even if someone does not say explicitly that they will be a nazir, but says instead a substitute phrase, it obligates them. One who says: Behold I am a nazik, naziaḥ, paziaḥ, he is a nazirite. Lehazir, it is, perhaps that he can render others nazirites [sheyazir]? The verse states: “Nazirite” – he can render himself a nazirite but he cannot render others a nazirite. However, there is a halakha transmitted to Moses at Sinai that a man renders his son a nazirite, but a woman does not render her son a nazirite. Rabbi Yishmael says: Nazir lehazir; [we learn] from here that a person can establish naziriteship during his naziriteship.80See Jerusalem Talmud, Nedarim 1:1. “To abstain for the Lord.” Shimon HaTzadik said: In all my days, I had never eaten the guilt offering of a nazirite. One time, one from the south came and I saw him, that he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes, and a fine appearance, and his locks were curls, arranged in piles. I said to him: ‘What did you see that led you to destroy this fine hair?’81A nazirite shaves all of his hair when he completes his naziriteship. See Numbers 6:18. He whispered to me: ‘Rabbi, I was a shepherd in my city and I went to fill the vessel with water from the spring. I saw my reflection in the water and my evil inclination quickly overcame me and sought to eliminate me from the world. I said to it: Wicked one, why are you proud of something that is not yours? It is of dust, worms, and maggots. I will consecrate you to Heaven and shave you for the sake of Heaven.’ I lowered my head and kissed him and I said to him: ‘May there be many like you in Israel, who perform the will of the Omnipresent.’ In your regard, the verse said: “To abstain for the Lord.” Rabbi Mona asked: Why would Shimon HaTzadik not eat the guilt offering of a nazirite? If you say it is because the nazirite is a sinner because he afflicted himself by abstaining from wine, did Shimon HaTzadik not partake of a sin offering of fats, or a sin offering of blood?82A sin offering brought by somebody who ate forbidden fats, or blood. Shimon Hatzadik believed that people take a vow of naziriteship in anger. Since they vow in anger, they will ultimately come to regret.83When they become impure by means of a corpse and are required to begin the naziriteship anew, they regret having taken the vow at all. Since he regrets, his offerings become tantamount to slaughtering non-consecrated animals in the Temple courtyard. However, since this one took a vow after consideration, his mouth and his heart were in concert.
“From wine and intoxicating drink he shall abstain: vinegar of wine and vinegar of intoxicating drink he shall not drink; he shall not drink anything in which grapes were soaked, and grapes, fresh or dried, he shall not eat” (Numbers 6:3). “From wine and intoxicating drink…” – that is what is written: “Woe, the valiant to drink wine…who vindicate the wicked following a bribe…” (Isaiah 5:22–23). There it is written: “Happy are you, land, that your king is a free man” (Ecclesiastes 10:17). When is the land characterized as happy? It is when its king engages in Torah, as it is stated: “The tablets were the work of God [and the writing was the writing of God, engraved [ḥarut] on the tablets]” (Exodus 32:16) – do not read it as ḥarut, but rather, as ḥerut, freedom, as one is a free man [ben ḥorin] only when one engages in Torah study. “And your princes dine at the proper time” (Ecclesiastes 10:17), as they set fixed times for Torah and they eat thereafter, to realize what is stated: “Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a good heart, as God has already accepted your actions” (Ecclesiastes 9:7). That is what is written thereafter: “In valor and not in drunkenness” (Ecclesiastes 10:17), with the valor of Torah, not with the drunkenness of wine. That is why Isaiah said: The valor of Torah is characterized with “happy” (Ecclesiastes 10:17), but the valor of wine is with “woe,” – “woe, the valiant to drink wine” (Isaiah 5:22). Likewise it says: “To whom, woe? To whom, alas…. To those who linger over wine” (Proverbs 23:29–30). “And capable men [anshei ḥayil] to mix intoxicating drink” (Isaiah 5:22). There it is written: “You shall identify from among the people [capable men [anshei ḥayil]]…They shall judge the people…” (Exodus 18:21–22). But these are capable men only to mix intoxicating drink, just as it says: “To those who come to assess the mixture” (Proverbs 23:30). What is “to mix intoxicating drink”? They would mix strong wine with weak wine in order to become inebriated with it. There was an incident involving a group of dissolute men, who would eat and drink until midnight but would not become inebriated. Wine was brought to them; they said mix wine with wine. They did so until the wine entered them. They arose and struck one another in a drunken state. Their cry circulated throughout the city. The constable came, apprehended them, transferred them to the custody of the kingdom, and they were all eliminated. What caused this to befall them? It was the wine that they were drinking. In their regard it is stated: “To those who come to assess the mixture” – the mixture is nothing other than wine mixed with wine. That is, “and capable men to mix intoxicating drink.” On account of this they forget the Torah and corrupt the law, as it is written thereafter: “Who vindicate the wicked following a bribe” (Isaiah 5:23), and it says: “Lest he drink, and forget what was legislated” (Proverbs 31:5) – he will forget the Torah that was given by means of the lawgiver, this is Moses, as it is stated: “As there the lawgiver’s plot is hidden” (Deuteronomy 33:21). What is written? “And subvert justice for all the children of the poor” (Proverbs 31:5). Wine and knowledge are likened to the Pleiades and Scorpio. Whenever the Pleiades are visible in the sky, Scorpio is not visible in the sky, and when Scorpio is visible, the Pleiades are not visible. So, wine is likened to Scorpio, and knowledge is likened to the Pleiades. Just as the scorpion strikes with its tail, so, wine, strikes in its aftermath, as it is stated: “At its end, it bites like a serpent” (Proverbs 23:32). Just as the Pleiades ripens fruits and provides them with flavor, so, knowledge provides flavor and fragrance to a person’s words. Wine enters, knowledge exits. Any place there is wine, there is no knowledge. Wine enters, a secret emerges; the numerical value of wine [yayin] is seventy84Yod – 10, yod – 10, nun – 50 = 70. and the numerical value of secret [sod] is seventy.85Samekh – 60, vav – 6, dalet – 4 = 70. Knowledge is divided into four portions; two in the two kidneys, one portion in the mouth, and one portion in the heart. From where is it derived that two portions of wisdom are in the two kidneys? It is as it is stated: “Who set wisdom in obscurity [batuḥot]?” (Job 38:36). These are the kidneys, that are obscured [tuḥot] in the body. And one portion in the heart, as it is stated: “Inform me of wisdom in the closed place” (Psalms 51:8). And one portion in the mouth, as it is stated: “My mouth will speak wisdom” (Psalms 49:4). Wisdom was placed in these four receptacles and, corresponding to them, the Sages established the measure of inebriation in four receptacles, each containing a quarter log of undiluted wine, which constitute four cups.86Of wine diluted in the customary manner. If a person drank one cup, which is a quarter log, one-quarter of his knowledge has departed. If he drank two cups, two portions of his knowledge have departed. If he drank three cups, three portions of his knowledge have departed, and his heart is confused. Immediately, he begins speaking inappropriately. If he drank the fourth cup, all of his knowledge has departed. Both his kidneys have gone mad, his heart is confused, and the tongue ceases. He seeks to speak but cannot. Instead, his tongue is despondent. This is why they said that a priest who drank a quarter log of wine was disqualified from Temple service, and an Israelite who drank a quarter log of wine was disqualified from serving as a judge. This is to teach you that no good emerges from wine. That is what is written: “From wine and intoxicating drink he shall abstain: vinegar…” – due to inebriation. Why did the Torah prohibit “anything in which grapes were soaked,” that he would not become inebriated from them? Eating anything that emerges from the grapevine is also prohibited; things from which he would not become inebriated. Why? From here one learns that a person is obligated to distance himself from impropriety, and from anything resembling impropriety, and from anything that resembles anything that resembles it. From here one learns that the Torah established a fence surrounding its matters. There we learned: Be measured in judgment, establish many students, and establish a fence around the Torah (Mishna Avot 1:1). How does a person establish a fence around his matters, like the Torah did around its matters? It says: “To a woman in her menstrual impurity you shall not approach” (Leviticus 18:19). May one, perhaps, hug her, kiss her, or speak idle matters with her? The verse states: “You shall not approach.” May she, perhaps, sleep with him on the bed clothed? The verse states: “You shall not approach.” May she, perhaps, wash her face and line her eyes, and may he take a cup from her? The verse states: “And one who is afflicted with her menstruation [benidata]…” (Leviticus 15:33), as long as she is afflicted, she shall be ostracized [benidui].87From her husband. From here they said: Any woman who makes herself repulsive during the days of her menstruation, the Sages are pleased with her. But any woman who adorns herself during the days of her menstruation, the Sages are not pleased with her. It says: “Any man shall not approach his kin [to uncover nakedness]” (Leviticus 18:6). From here they said: A man may not enter into seclusion with any women at an inn, even with his sister, even with his daughter, and even with his mother-in-law, due to the [potential] allegations of the people [there]. One may not converse with a woman in the marketplace, even with one’s wife, and it goes without saying with another woman, due to the allegations of the people. Here, it is stated regarding his kin: “You shall not approach [tikrevu], and elsewhere it says: “You shall not approach [tikrav]” (Leviticus 18:19) – to a matter that brings one to a matter of transgression, you shall not approach; distance yourself from impropriety and from anything that resembles impropriety. For, so said the Sages: Distance yourself from a minor sin, lest it bring you to a major one; run to fulfill a minor mitzva, as it will bring you to a major one. “At its end, it bites like a serpent” – 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, due to wine, one-third of the world was cursed, as it is stated: “Noah awoke from his wine…. He said: Cursed is Canaan” (Genesis 9:24–25). This is Ḥam, who was his third son, and he is called “the father of Canaan” (Genesis 9:18). Just as this adder sets aside between life and 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). Likewise, it says: “He shall not drink anything in which grapes were soaked…from anything that may be derived from the grapevine…” (Number 6:3–4). The Torah established a fence surrounding its matters, that one may not eat and may not drink from anything that is made from the grapevine, so that he will not come to drink. The parable says: ‘Go, go,’ one says to the nazirite, ‘around, around; do not approach the vineyard.’ “From wine and intoxicating drink he shall abstain,” even if he said only: ‘Behold, I am a nazirite from wine,’ he is a full-fledged nazirite, as we found three matters are prohibited for a nazirite: Drinking wine, shaving hair, and becoming impure due to a dead person. Is one, perhaps, not a nazirite until he abstains from all of them? The verse states: “From wine and intoxicating drink he shall abstain” – even from one of the three, he is a nazirite. They said: One who says: ‘Behold I am a nazirite from the [grape] seeds, from the [grape] skins, from shaving, from impurity’ is a nazirite, and all the minutiae of the nazirite are incumbent upon him. Rabbi Yosei HaGelili says: “From wine and intoxicating drink he shall abstain” – why did the verse repeat “wine and intoxicating drink”? Is wine not intoxicating drink, and is intoxicating drink not wine? Why did it do so? It is because it says: “You shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place that He will choose…the tithe of your grain, [your wine…]” (Deuteronomy 14:23), is it perhaps that even the nazirite is included? How then do I realize: “From wine and intoxicating drink he shall abstain”? It is with all other types of wine, with the exception of the wine of mitzva. Or, is it even with the wine of mitzva? How, then, do I realize the verse: “You shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place that He will choose…the tithe [of your grain, your wine…]”? It is regarding all other people, with the exception of the nazirite. The verse states: “From wine and intoxicating drink he shall abstain,” to render the wine of mitzva as wine that is optional. Rabbi Elazar HaKapar says: “Wine,” this is diluted, “and intoxicating drink,” this is undiluted. Or, perhaps, it is that “wine,” this is undiluted; “and intoxicating drink,” this is diluted? The verse states: “Its libation is wine, one fourth of a hin…” (Leviticus 23:13), “Pour a libation of intoxicating drink […to the Lord]” (Numbers 28:7). You pour libations of undiluted wine, but you do not pour libations with diluted wine. Consequently, you must not say like the second formulation, but rather like the first formulation: “Wine,” this is diluted; “and intoxicating drink,” this is undiluted. “He shall abstain [yazir]” – nezirut everywhere is nothing other than separation. Likewise, it says: “They shall abstain [veyinazeru] from the sacred items of the children of Israel” (Leviticus 22:2). And it says: “[You shall not…gather] the grapes that you left untended [nezirekha]” (Leviticus 25:5). And it says: “They separated themselves [vayinazeru] from me and turned to the shameful” (Hosea 9:10). And it says: “Shall I weep during the fifth month, abstaining [hinazer]?” (Zechariah 7:3). Consequently, nezirut everywhere is nothing other than separation. “He shall abstain” – do I hear, from his commerce and from his healing? The verse states: “He shall not drink” – drinking is forbidden to him, but his medical needs and his commerce are permitted.88He is allowed to sell wine, and place wine on a wound if necessary. “Vinegar of wine and vinegar of intoxicating drink he shall not drink,” this tells that it rendered vinegar like wine in this regard, and the vinegar of a mitzva like the wine of a mitzva.89If he took a vow to drink vinegar and then vowed to become a nazirite, he cannot drink the vinegar. “Anything in which…were soaked” – it tells that if one soaked grapes in water, its status is determined by the flavor.90If the water tastes like wine, it is prohibited for him. From here you expound to all Torah prohibitions: If what is derived from the vine, the prohibition of which is not an eternal prohibition,91The prohibitions of the nazirite are limited in time. At the time of the vow the person determines the amount of time that he will be a nazirite (with a thirty day minimum). and the prohibition of which is not a prohibition against benefit,92A nazirite may not drink wine, but he may benefit from wine. For example, he can sell wine. and there is dissolution of the prohibition,93A nazirite can have his vow abrogated if he has a sufficient reason. it rendered flavor the same as substance; the rest of the Torah prohibitions, prohibitions that are eternal, prohibitions that are prohibitive of benefit, and there is no dissolution of the prohibitions, is it not logical that we would render flavor the same as substance? “And grapes,” in their plain sense; “fresh” to include the unripe; “or dried, he shall not eat,” to incur liability for this by itself, and for that by itself. From here you expound to all nazirite prohibitions. If, here, where it is one species with two names, one incurs liability for this by itself and for that by itself, so, too, in all cases where there is one species with two names, one incurs liability for this by itself and for that by itself.94If he was warned not to eat grapes and nevertheless ate fresh grapes and dried grapes, he gets punished twice, once for eating fresh grapes and once for eating dried grapes. This comes to include new wine and grapes, that he incurs liability for two.
“All the days of his naziriteship, from anything that may be derived from the grapevine, from seeds to skin, he shall not eat” (Numbers 6:4). “All the days of his naziriteship, from anything…” – the verse comes to teach you that if someone ate an olive-bulk from all of them, he is flogged forty lashes. From here you expound to all Torah prohibitions: If what is derived from the vine, whose prohibition is not an eternal prohibition, and the prohibition is not a prohibition of benefit, and there is dissolution of the prohibition, they join each other to constitute an olive-bulk, the rest of the Torah prohibitions, which are eternal prohibitions, and the prohibitions are prohibitions of benefit, and there is no dissolution of the prohibitions, it is logical that they would join each other to constitute an olive-bulk. “From anything that may be derived from the grapevine” – I hear even the leaves and the tendrils are included? The verse states: “From seeds to skin” – just as the detail is explicit, the fruit and the waste of the fruit, so I include only the fruit and the waste of the fruit, to the exclusion of leaves and tendrils, that are not fruit or waste of the fruit. “Meḥartzanim” – the minimum of “ḥartzanim” is two; “ad zag,” one, this is the statement of Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya. Which are ḥartzanim and which are zagim? The ḥartzanim are the external and the zagim are the internal, just as it says: “Golden bell and pomegranate” (Exodus 28:34), and we translate it: The clapper [zaga]95The zag is on the inside of the bell. of gold and a pomegranate; this is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda. Rabbi Yosei says: So you shall not be mistaken, it is like the bell [zug] of an animal; the external is zug while the internal is inbal. “He shall not eat” – eating is no less than an olive-bulk. From here one learns that the prohibitions of a nazirite are an olive-bulk.96A nazirite is liable for punishment if he eats an olive-bulk or more.
“All the days of the vow of his naziriteship, a razor shall not pass on his head; until completion of the days that he will abstain for the Lord, he shall be holy; the hair of his head shall grow long” (Numbers 6:5). “All the days of the vow of his naziriteship, a razor…” – why did the Holy One blessed be He command the nazirite that he shall not shave the hair of his head? It is because shaving accentuates his features and beautifies him, just as they said regarding Joseph: “He shaved and changed his garments” (Genesis 41:14). Growing hair is for the purpose of suffering and mourning. That is why the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Since this nazirite prohibited wine for himself in order to distance himself from lewdness, let him grow his hair so he will be repulsive and suffer, so that the evil inclination will not accost him.’ “Until completion of the days that he will abstain for the Lord, he97This interpretation understands קדוש יהיה as “it (his hair) shall be holy.” shall be holy” – it shall be prohibited for him like consecrated items, that he may not touch it, because he consecrated it for the sake of Heaven. “All the days of the vow of his naziriteship” – his vow is contingent upon his naziriteship, but his naziriteship is not contingent upon his vow.98As stated above, regardless of the formulation of his vow, e.g., if he vowed to observe naziriteship for fewer than thirty days or for only some of the prohibitions, he is a full-fledged nazirite. “A razor shall not pass” – I have only a razor; from where is it derived regarding one who severs near the root, plucks, or trims, regardless of the amount? The verse states: “Shall not pass [yaavor] on his head,” to include all removers [hamaavirim]. Considering that ultimately we will include everything, why does the verse state: “Razor”? It is because we did not learn that the final shave is with a razor. To derive it from the leper is impossible, as one does not derive a lenient case from a stringent case,99A leper has to shave all of his hair when he becomes pure, a nazirite only shaves the hair on his head when he has completed his naziriteship. to be stringent in its regard.100If “razor” does not apply to the matter of the prohibition where it is written, apply it to the final shave. Rabbi Yosei says: It is not necessary, as it says: “A razor shall not pass on his head; until completion” – but after completion, the shave shall be with nothing other than a razor. Alternatively, if so, why is "razor" stated? It is to teach you that neither scissors nor shears voids his naziriteship; only a razor alone.101See Nazir 40a. “Until completion of the days that he will abstain for the Lord,” from where is it derived that if one said: ‘I am a nazirite,’ without specifying, he shaves on day thirty-one, but if he shaved on day thirty he did not fulfill his obligation? The verse states: “Until completion of the days that he will abstain for the Lord,” and the days of his naziriteship have not yet been completed. “He shall be holy,” this is the sanctity of the hair. “He shall be holy” – I can only conclude that if someone shaves in accordance with his mitzva, that his hair is prohibited.102It is forbidden to derive any benefit from the hair of a nazirite, see Mishna Kiddushin 2:9. If others shaved him, if he shaved before his time, or not in accordance with his mitzva, from where is it derived [that the hair is prohibited]? “It shall be holy,” in any case. Bar Pada said: Unspecified naziriteship is for thirty days, as it is stated: “He shall be holy [kadosh yihye].” The numerical value of yihye is thirty.103Yod – 10, heh – 5, yod – 10, heh – 5 = 30. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman in the name of Rabbi Yonatan: Corresponding to the twenty-nine times that “vow [neder],” “nazirite [nazir],” “his naziriteship [nizro],” “he shall abstain [yazir],” and “to abstain [lehazir]” are written in the portion. But are they not thirty? Rabbi Yosei bar Bon said: One is for its novelty,104It is needed to teach the basic halakha. and is not included in the tally. According to the opinion of bar Pada, if he shaved on day thirty, he did not fulfill his obligation. According to the opinion of Rabbi Shmuel, if he shaved on day thirty, he fulfilled his obligation. Some seek to have us derive it from this: “The hair of his head shall grow long.” How much is considered hair growth? It is thirty days. And some seek to have us derive it from this: “Until completion [melot] of the days [hayamim].” How many are full [mele’im] days?105These are the number of days in a full month. Thirty days. Consequently, if he shaved on day thirty, he did not fulfill his obligation. Rabbi Yitzḥak bar Elazar said: Hayamim is written without a yod.106This indicates that it is the number of days in a month that is not full, i.e. twenty-nine. “Shall grow long,” to tell you that he is capable of growing hair long.107In thirty days. I have only one who has long hair; one who does not have long hair, from where do I derive it? “The hair of his head” – any amount. I can only conclude that he is prohibited from shaving until “completion of the days that he will abstain.” From where is it derived that he is prohibited from shaving until the bringing of the offering? The verse states: “Then the nazirite may drink wine” (Numbers 6:20). Does the nazirite drink wine? Rather, it is here108The word is mentioned in the verse. in order to derive and learn a verbal analogy from it. Here it is stated nazirite: “All the days of the vow of his naziriteship” (Numbers 6:5), and there109Numbers 6:20. nazirite is stated. Just as there it is prohibited to drink until the bringing of the offering, here, too, it is prohibited to shave until the bringing of the offering.
“All the days of his abstinence to the Lord, he shall not approach a dead person” (Numbers 6:6). “All the days of his abstinence to the Lord….” Come and see that anyone who sanctifies himself below, they sanctify him above. This one, because he abstains from wine and conducts himself with suffering in that he does not shave the hair of his head in order to protect himself from transgression, the Holy One blessed be He says: ‘He is considered before Me like a High Priest.’ Just as it is prohibited for a priest to become impure for all corpses, so it is prohibited for a nazirite to become impure for all corpses. Just as regarding the High Priest, it is written: “For the crown of the anointing oil of his God is on him” (Leviticus 21:12), so, by the nazirite it says: “For the crown of his God is on his head” (Numbers 6:7). Just as regarding the priest, it is written: “Aaron was set apart, to sanctify him as most holy” (I Chronicles 23:13), so, the nazirite is called holy, as it is stated:“All the days of his naziriteship he is holy to the Lord” (Numbers 6:8). Come and see how much the mitzvotadorn Israel. Does growing hair long not render a person repulsive, as he is unable to shampoo his hair? But because he grows it for the sake of Heaven, the verse characterizes it as a crown for his head. That is what is written: “For the crown of his God is on his head.” “All the days of his abstinence...” – a nazirite whose days are completed110But who did not yet bring the sacrifice which terminates the naziriteship. is forbidden to drink, to shave, and to become impure due to dead people. If he shaved, drank wine, or became impure due to dead people, he incurs forty lashes. Regarding wine, from where is it derived that he is flogged? It is written: “All the days of his naziriteship [from anything that may be derived from the grapevine…he shall not eat]” (Numbers 6:4), rendering the days after completion like the days before completion. Regarding shaving, from where is it derived? It is as it is written: “All the days of the vow of his naziriteship, [a razor shall not pass on his head]” (Numbers 6:5), to include the days after completion like the days before completion. Regarding impurity, from where is it derived? It is as it is written: “All the days of his abstinence to the Lord, [he shall not approach a dead person],” rendering the days after completion like the days before completion. Three categories are prohibited for the nazirite; impurity, shaving, and what is derived from the grapevine. Impurity, from where is it derived? It is as it is written: “All the days of his abstinence to the Lord, [he shall not approach] a dead person.” Shaving, from where is it derived? It is as it is written: “All the days of the vow of his naziriteship, a razor shall not pass on his head.” (Numbers 6:5) What is derived from the grapevine, from where is it derived? It is as it is written: “All the days of his naziriteship, from anything that may be derived from the grapevine [he shall not eat]” (Numbers 6:4). There is a stringency in impurity and shaving, more than in what may be derived from the grapevine, as impurity and shaving voids the naziriteship and what emerges from the grapevine does not void. There is a stringency in what may be derived from the grapevine, more than in impurity and shaving, as what may be derived from the grapevine has no allowance at all, but shaving for a mitzva, e.g., a leper, as it is derived from the extraneous “his head”111Leviticus 14:9. that is stated regarding the leper to include a nazirite leper, that he shaves. And there is an allowance to become impure for a met mitzva.112This is a corpse with no one to bury it. There is a stringency in impurity more than in shaving, as impurity voids everything and one is obligated to bring an offering for it, but shaving voids only thirty days and one is not obligated to bring an offering for it. “He shall not approach [lo yavo] a dead person [nefesh met].” I hear that even dead animals [nafshot behema] are included, like the matter that is stated: “One who kills an animal [nefesh behema]” (Leviticus 24:18). The verse states: “For his father and for his mother […he shall not become impure]” (Numbers 6:7); regarding what matter is the verse speaking? It is regarding dead people. Rabbi Yishmael says: This is not necessary. It says lo yavo; it is regarding the dead who impurify through bia,113Entry under the same roof as the corpse. and these are dead people. “For his father,” why is it stated? It is because it [the law] is broad regarding a common priest: “He shall not become impure from a dead person among his people” (Leviticus 21:1) and then it permits him regarding relatives: “Except for his relative [who is close to him: For his mother, for his father, for his son, for his daughter, for his brother]” (Leviticus 21:2); perhaps the same is true regarding the nazirite? The verse states: “For his father,” saying that he may not become impure for relatives. “And for his mother,” why is it stated? It is because it says regarding the nazirite: “He shall not become impure for them upon their death” (Numbers 6:7). Rabbi says: Upon their deaths he may not become impure, but for their leprosy or for their ziva,114See Leviticus 15:1–15, 25–30. he may become impure. Regarding the High Priest, from where is it derived? The verse states: “And for his mother” (Leviticus 21:11), regarding the High Priest, which was unnnecesary for me, as it is already an a fortiori inference: If in an instance where a common priest may become impure for his paternal brother, the High Priest may not become impure for his father, in an instance where a common priest may not become impure for his maternal brother, it follows that the High Priest may not become impure from his mother. If you obtained this logically, why does the verse state: “And for his mother,” regarding the High Priest? It is here in order to derive and learn a verbal analogy from it. “His mother” is stated regarding the High Priest and “his mother” is stated regarding the nazirite. Just as “his mother” that is written regarding the nazirite [is regarding her death], but he may become impure for her leprosy or for her ziva, so, too, regarding “his mother” that is written regarding the High Priest, he may become impure for her leprosy of for her ziva. “For his brother” (Numbers 6:7), why is it stated? For his brother he may not become impure, but he may become impure for a met mitzva. “And for his sister” (Numbers 6:7), why is it stated? One who was going to slaughter his Paschal lamb and to circumcise his son and he heard that a relative of his died, shall he, perhaps, become impure? You said: “He shall not become impure for them upon their death.” Shall he, perhaps, not become impure for a met mitzva? The verse states: “For his sister,” for his sister he does not become impure, but he becomes impure for a met mitzva. “For his brother” is stated to permit him to become impure for a met mitzva, which is only a prohibition: “He shall not become impure for them.” “And for his sister” is to permit him to become impure even in the place of the Paschal lamb and circumcision, for which one incurs liability for karet. But for his son and for his daughter are not stated, as minors cannot become nazirites. Rabbi Akiva says: Nefesh, these are those who are unrelated. Met, these are those who are relatives. “For his father” he may not become impure, but he may become impure for a met mitzva. If “for his father” is stated, why is “and for his mother” stated? Had his father been stated and his mother had not been stated, I would have said: This is why he may not become impure for him, because he [his status as his father] is based on presumed status, but his mother, who certainly bore him, let him become impure for her. And had the All Merciful written "his mother," I would have said: It is for his mother that he may not, as her offspring are not attributed to her, but his father, because the verse said: “By their families, by their patrilineal houses” (Numbers 1:2); let us say that he may become impure for him. That is why “for his father” is stated. “For his brother” – that were he a High Priest and a nazirite, he may not become impure for his brother, but he may become impure for a met mitzva. “And for his sister” – that were he going to slaughter his Paschal lamb or to circumcise his son, he may not become impure for his sister, but he may become impure for a met mitzva. “He shall not become impure for them upon their death,” but he stands there at the eulogy and at the line.115This is the line of those comforting the mourners. This is in contradistinction to the High Priest, who is not present at those occasions. Rabbi says: Upon their death” he does not become impure, but he becomes impure for their leprosy and for their ziva. “For the crown of his God is on his head,” to relate what is the cause.
“All the days of his naziriteship he is holy to the Lord” (Numbers 6:8). “All the days of his naziriteship he is holy to the Lord.” Why is it stated? Because it says: “until completion of the days” (Numbers 6:5) – I only have those for whom there is an end to their naziriteship, from where do I derive [the concept that there may be] an eternal nazirite? The verse states: “All the days of his naziriteship,” to include an eternal nazirite. “He is holy to the Lord,” this is the sanctity of the body.116That he may not make it impure through coming in contact with a corpse.
If a corpse shall die near him with unexpected suddenness, and make impure his consecrated head, he shall shave his head on the day of his purification, on the seventh day he shall shave it” (Numbers 6:9). “If a corpse shall die near him” – this is in a case where the impurity is clear; to the exclusion of a case of uncertainty, this is the impurity of the depths.117When the nazir became impure from a concealed or buried corpse which nobody was aware of at the time the nazir came in contact with it. Which is the impurity of the depths? It is any case where there is no one, even at the ends of the earth, who can identify it [the corpse]. If there were one at the ends of the earth who could identify it, this is not the impurity of the depths. If it was concealed in hay or pebbles, this is the impurity of the depths. If it was in water, darkness, or boulder crevices, this is not the impurity of the depths. They said impurity of the depths only regarding a corpse alone. “With unexpected suddenness [befeta pitom],” Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Befeta, this is unwitting, as it says: “With suddenness [befeta], without enmity, he pushed him” (Numbers 35:22).118This is one of the examples of an unwitting murderer. Pitom, this is by force of circumstance, as it says: “The Lord said pitom to Moses, [Aaron and Miriam]” (Numbers 12:4). The Rabbis say: Pitom is intentional, as it says: “But simpletons [uftayim] continued and were punished” (Proverbs 22:3). Alternatively, pitom, this is unwitting, as it is written: “A peti will believe anything” (Proverbs 14:15). If pitom can mean intentional, by force of circumstance and unwitting, why did the verse need to write befeta to include the unwitting?119The word pitom can mean intentional, by force of circumstance, or unwitting, so why did the verse also use the word befeta? Had befeta not been written, I would have said that one brings an offering for his impurity where he was impure unwittingly, just as it is throughout the entire Torah, but if it was by force of circumstance or intentional, I would say that he is not. The All Merciful wrote peta, which is unwitting, to reveal regarding pitom, that it is by force of circumstance or intentional, and nevertheless, he is obligated to bring an offering for his impurity. “And make impure his consecrated head, [he shall shave his head]” – regarding one who was ritually pure and became impure, he is obligated in the removal of hair and the bringing of an offering, and to exempt a nazirite located at a grave.120Who at the time of the vow was impure because he was in a graveyard. “He shall shave his head” – he shaves his head but he does not shave all his hair. “On the day of his purification,” it is on the day of his sprinkling, on the seventh. Do you say: On the day of his sprinkling, on the seventh, or on the eighth? The verse states: “On the seventh day he shall shave it.” If on the seventh, even though he did not sprinkle? The verse states: “On the day of his purification” – on the day of his sprinkling. “On the seventh day” – I have only the seventh, from where do I derive the eighth, ninth, and tenth?121That if he did not shave on the seventh day, he can shave at a later date. The verse states: “He shall shave it.” I have only during the day, from where do I derive at night? The verse states: “He shall shave it.” I have only shaving in impurity, from where do I derive shaving in purity?122That he can shave at night also when he shaves in purity. The verse states: "He shall shave it." How so? He would sprinkle on the third and the seventh, shave on the seventh, and bring his offerings on the eighth. If he shaved on the eighth, he brings his offering on that same day; this is the statement of Rabbi Akiva.
“And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting” (Numbers 6:10). “And on the eighth day” – to exclude the seventh, or is it to exclude the ninth? “Eighth” is stated here and “eighth” is stated elsewhere: “And from the eighth day on” (Leviticus 22:27). Just as “eighth” stated elsewhere, it allowed in that regard the eighth and from the eighth on, so, too, “eighth” stated here allows in its regard the eighth and from the eighth on. Had it said “turtledoves,” would it be, perhaps, many? The verse states: "He shall bring two turtledoves” – I said only two. May one, perhaps, bring turtledoves and young pigeons? The verse states: “Or two young pigeons.” May one, perhaps, bring one young bird from this and one young bird from that? The verse states: “He shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons.” From here they said: One does not bring a turtledove opposite a young pigeon, nor a young pigeon opposite a turtle dove.123One may not bring one as a burnt offering and one as a sin offering. “To the priest, to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting,” it teaches that one must tend to those he is bringing until he brings them to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.
“The priest shall offer one as a sin offering, and one as a burnt offering, and atone for him, for what he sinned regarding the corpse, and he shall sanctify his head on that day” (Numbers 6:11). “The priest shall offer one as a sin offering, and one as a burnt offering," that the priest will designate them, one as a sin offering and one as a burnt offering in the course of their preparation. I have only designation by the priest, from where do I derive by the owner? It is stated regarding a birth mother: “She shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one as a burnt offering and one as a sin offering" (Leviticus 12:8); the owners designate [them] at the time they buy them. Consequently, we have learned here: Designation by the priest and designation by the owner. And consequently, we have learned here: An undesignated pair, when is the priest required to designate them? When the owners set them aside for an offering but left them undesignated. And consequently, we have learned here: A designated pair is when the owners designated which is for a burnt offering, and which is for a sin offering. “And atone for him, for what he sinned regarding the corpse,” due to impurity from corpses, this is the statement of Rabbi Yishmael. Rabbi Elazar says: Since he sinned against his soul, as he afflicted himself by abstaining from wine. Are these matters not inferred a fortiori? If one who afflicted himself by abstaining from wine requires atonement, all the more so one who afflicted himself by abstaining from all matters.124This is the basis for the opinion of the Sage that anyone who fasts is called a sinner (Ta’anit 11a). “He shall dedicate to the Lord the days of his naziriteship, and he shall bring a lamb in its first year as a guilt offering and the first days shall be void, as his naziriteship was impure” (Numbers 6:12). “And shall sanctify his head on that day…He shall dedicate to the Lord the days of his naziriteship” (Numbers 6:11–12); consequently, we have learned that someone begins counting from the day that he shaved, this is the statement of Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Yehuda. Rabbi says: “And atone for him, for what he sinned regarding the corpse, and shall sanctify his head on that day” (Numbers 6:11) – on the day of the bringing of his offerings.
“He shall dedicate to the Lord the days of his naziriteship.” All the guilt offerings in the Torah prevent atonement [if they are not brought] except for this one. Could it be, perhaps, that this one prevents it? The verse states: He shall dedicate…and shall bring” – even though he has not brought [the guilt offering], he has dedicated. In the name of Rabbi Yishmael they said: This one, too, prevents it, as it is stated: “He shall dedicate to the Lord.” When? “And he shall bring a lamb in its first year as a guilt offering.” “He shall dedicate to the Lord the days of his naziriteship.” From where is it derived that he is prohibited from becoming impure due to a corpse on the days following his naziriteship like [during] the days of his naziriteship, until the bringing of the offering? The verse states: “Then the nazirite may drink wine” (Numbers 6:20). Does the nazirite drink wine? Rather, it is here in order to derive and learn a verbal analogy from it. Here, nazirite is stated, and there nazirite is stated. Just as regarding the nazirite stated elsewhere,125With regard to drinking wine. it rendered the days after naziriteship like the days during naziriteship until the bringing of the offering, so, too, regarding the nazirite stated here, it renders the days after naziriteship like the days during naziriteship until the bringing of the offering, “He shall bring a sheep,” and not a ram. “In its first year,” of its own, and not one year according to the years of the world.126The age of the animal is determined by its birthday, and is not considered a year older as soon as Rosh HaShana arrives. “As a guilt offering,” this is a penalty. Rabbi Shimon said: We have not found a guilt offering that comes to void, other than this one alone, as it is written after it: “And the first days shall be void.” “And the first days shall be void” – one who has earlier and later days voids it. From where is it derived that if one said: ‘I am a nazirite for one hundred days’ and became impure after one hundred minus one day, from where is it derived that it voids it all? The verse states: “And the first days shall be void” – one who has later days, voids, and this one has latter days. If he became impure on day one hundred, does it, perhaps, void everything? The verse states: “And the [first] days…” – by inference, there are later days, and this has no latter days. Or even if he became impure at the beginning of the one hundred, does it void everything? The verse states: “And the first days shall be void” – one who has earlier days, voids, and this one has no earlier days. “As his naziriteship was impure,” – impurity voids everything, but shaving does not void everything, but only thirty days, as we require “shall grow long” (Numbers 6:5). Impurity voids, but wine does not void.
“This is the law of the nazirite, on the day of the completion of the days of his naziriteship he shall bring it to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting” (Numbers 6:13). “This is the law of the nazirite” the law for both a nazirite for [a specific period of] days, and an eternal nazirite. Do you, perhaps, include the naziriteship of Samson?127There is a form of naziriteship called the naziriteship of Samson which is distinct from an eternal naziriteship, as described in the midrash here. The verse states: “This,” as they said: What is the difference between an eternal nazirite and a Samson nazirite? If the hair of an eternal nazirite becomes heavy, he may ease it with a razor, and he brings three animals.128He brings the three offerings, a sin offering, a burnt offering, and a peace offering, brought by a standard nazirite when he shaves at the end of his naziriteship. If he becomes impure, he brings an impurity offering. If the hair of a Samson nazirite becomes heavy, he may not ease it with a razor and if he becomes impure, he does not bring an impurity offering. Rabbi says: Avshalom was an eternal nazirite, as it is stated: “It was at the end of forty years, and Avshalom said to the king: Please let me go and pay my vow that I vowed to the Lord in Hebron. For your servant took a vow while I lived in Geshur in Aram, saying: If the Lord restores me to Jerusalem, I will worship the Lord” (II Samuel 15:7–8). What is “at the end of forty years”? Rabbi Nehorai says in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua: At the end of forty years since they requested a king for them. That year that they requested a king for them was the tenth year of Samuel of Rama. Avshalom would shave once every twelve months, this is the statement of Rabbi, as it is stated: “…It was at the end yamim leyamim that he would cut his hair, for it weighed upon him and he would cut his hair; he would weigh the hair of his head; it was two hundred shekels, by the king's weight” (II Samuel 14:26). Yamim is stated here, and elsewhere it is stated: “Its redemption shall be yamim” (Leviticus 25:29). Just as there it is twelve months, so, too, here, it is twelve months. Rabbi Nehorai says: He would cut his hair once every thirty days, just as the priests cut their hair, as it is stated: “They shall not grow long hair, they shall trim the hair of their heads” (Ezekiel 44:20). Rabbi Yosei says: From Shabbat eve to Sabbat eve, as we find that princes cut their hair from Shabbat eve to Shabbat eve. “This is the law” – for a purity offering or even for an impurity offering? The verse states: “On the day of the completion of the days of his naziriteship” – I said it only regarding one for whom there is an end to his naziriteship. “On the day of the completion,” he shall bring during the day, but not at night. “He shall bring it [oto]” – he shall bring himself, and other do not compel him to come. This is one of three instances of et in the Torah that Rabbi Yishmael expounds. “They will cause them [otam] to bear the iniquity of guilt” (Leviticus 22:16). Did others cause them, rather they caused it to themselves? Similarly, you say: “He buried him [oto] in the valley” (Deuteronomy 34:6). Did others bury him, or rather he buried himself? Here, too, you say: He shall bring it [oto]. He shall bring himself, and other do not compel him to come.
“He shall sacrifice his offering to the Lord: One unblemished lamb in its first year as a burnt offering, one unblemished ewe in its first year as a sin offering, and one unblemished ram as a peace offering” (Numbers 6:14). “He shall sacrifice his offering to the Lord,” it tells that the animal is consecrated to the Lord. “In its first year,” of its own [life], and not one year according to the years. “Unblemished,” to exclude a blemished animal. “One,” and not two. “One,” that his consecration should be exclusively for God’s name. “As a burnt offering,” its consecration shall be for the sake of a burnt offering: “A ewe,” is it, perhaps, two?129Clearly, the verse means one. The verse states: “One.” It says “one,” as one does not shave for two naziriteships together.130Rather, one must bring separate offerings for each naziriteship. “In its first year,” one year of its own, and not one year according to the years. “Unblemished,” to exclude a blemished animal. “As a sin offering,” its consecration shall be for the sake of a sin offering: “A ram,” is it, perhaps, two? The verse states: “One.” It says “one”; as one shaves over one offering.131Even if the nazirite only brought the peace offering he may shave his head. “Unblemished,” to exclude a blemished animal. “As a peace offering,” its consecration shall be for the sake of a peace offering. It teaches regarding the nazirite that he must bring three animals.
“And a basket of unleavened bread, loaves of high quality flour mixed with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread smeared with oil, and their meal offering, and their libations” (Numbers 6:15). “And a basket of unleavened bread,” there is a mitzva to bring it in a basket. I have only a basket, from where is it derived to include other vessels? The verse states: “A basket [sal],” “and a basket [vesal].”132The extra vav is expounded to include other vessels. “And a basket of unleavened bread”; a generalization, “loaves…and wafers of unleavened bread”; a detail; the generalization includes only what is in the detail. It teaches that it does not require four different types, like the thanks offering. “Unleavened bread, loaves of high quality flour mixed with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread smeared with oil” – why was it necessary to mention unleavened bread in relation to the wafers? It is because otherwise, I could have applied smearing to the loaves or mixing to the wafers. The verse states: “Unleavened bread,” regarding unleavened bread they are equal, but are not equal regarding mixing and spreading. “And wafers of unleavened bread smeared with oil,” is it, perhaps, performed in the manner of the smearers?133They typically smear the entire wafer. The verse states: “With oil,” enough to fulfill the mitzvaof oil. How does he do so? He dips his finger and places one annointment on this one and one anointment on that one.134One anointment per wafer, but he does not smear the entire wafer. “And their meal offering, and their libations” – for the burnt offering and for the peace offering, or, is it even for the sin offering and the guilt offering? Just as it is stated regarding the leper, who brings a meal offering with his sin offering, his guilt offering, and his burnt offering, as it is stated: “On the eighth day he shall take two unblemished lambs, and one unblemished ewe…[and three-tenths of an ephah of high quality flour mixed with oil as a meal offering, and one log of oil]” (Leviticus 14:10). He would bring three-tenths of an ephah, one-tenth for each and every kind. Is is, perhaps, the same regarding a nazirite? The verse states: “And the ram he shall prepare as a peace offering…[and the priest shall perform its meal offering, and its libation]” (Numbers 6:17). Was the ram not included in the generalization “and their meal offering and their libations”? But it emerged from the generalization and taught regarding the generalization: Just as the ram, which is a peace offering, is unique in that it comes as a vow and as a gift offering and requires libations, so, too, everything that comes as a vow or as a gift offering requires libations.135This excludes sin offerings and guilt offerings that were brought only if one sinned.
“The priest shall bring them before the Lord, and shall perform his sin offering, and his burnt offering (Numbers 6:16). This teaches that the sin offering is sacrificed before the burnt offering in every instance. “And the ram, he shall prepare as a peace offering to the Lord, with the basket of unleavened bread, and the priest shall perform its meal offering, and its libation” (Numbers 6:17). “And the ram, he shall prepare as a peace offering.” This tells us that the burnt offering precedes the peace offering. “With the basket of unleavened bread” – he shall have the bread precede the slaughter of the ram, as the bread is sanctified only with the blood of the slaughter. “And the priest shall perform his meal offering…” – this is for the purpose that we stated.136At the end of section 19.
“The nazirite shall shave his consecrated head at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and shall take the hair of his consecrated head, and he shall place it on the fire that is beneath the peace offering” (Numbers 6:18). “The nazirite shall shave his consecrated head at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.” Rabbi Yoshiya says: It is with regard to the peace offering that the verse is speaking.137The nazirite should shave his hair after the peace offering is sacrificed. Or, it is only “at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting,” in its plain sense. You said: If the Torah said this: “You shall not ascend on stairs to My altar, [so that your nakedness will not be exposed upon it]” (Exodus 20:23), all the more so regarding a disgraceful act – that he should not shave. Why, then, does the verse state: “At the entrance of the Tent of Meeting”? The verse is speaking of the peace offering, in whose regard it is written: “He shall slaughter it at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting” (Leviticus 3:2). Rabbi Yitzḥak says: It is unnecessary. It says: “And he shall take the hair of his consecrated head, and he shall place it on the fire that is beneath [the peace offering]”; this is regarding something that is lacking taking and placing, and not something that is lacking taking, bringing, and placing. That is, in the place that he would cook, there he would shave. I have only that he shaves in the Temple. From where is it derived even in the rest of the country? It says: “Shall shave [gilaḥ],” “and…shall shave [vegilaḥ],”138The midrash is using the letter vav at the beginning of the word as a source for the halakha stated. even in the rest of the country. What is the difference between one who shaves at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and one who shaves in the rest of the country? One who shaves at the entrance to the Tent of Meering casts the hair beneath the pot,139This is the pot in which the peace offering is cooked. but one who shaves in the rest of the country does not cast his hair beneath the pot. “The nazirite shall shave…at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.” Abba Ḥanan said in the name of Rabbi Elazar: If the entrance was not open, he would not shave. He would take the gravy and place it on the hair of his consecrated head and cast it beneath the pot of the peace offering, as it is stated: “And he shall place it on the fire that is beneath the peace offering [zevaḥ hashelamim]” – from his offering [mizivḥo], he shall place beneath it. “The peace offering” – I have only beneath the peace offering, beneath the sin-offering, from where is it derived? The verse states: Zevaḥ, in any case.140Any type of offering. I have only if he burns it when he shaves in the Temple, in the rest of the country from where is it derived? The verse states: “And he shall place it on the fire,” in any case.
“The priest shall take the cooked foreleg of the ram, and one loaf of unleavened bread from the basket, and one wafer of unleavened bread, and he shall place them on the palms of the nazirite, after he has shaved his consecrated head” (Numbers 6:19). “The priest shall take the cooked foreleg” – “cooked” is nothing other than complete.141From the fact that it does not say flesh, but rather the foreleg, it means that the foreleg must be complete. Another matter, “the priest shall take the cooked foreleg,” is it, perhaps, raw? The verse states: “Cooked.” If cooked, is it perhaps, [cooked separately,] in and of itself? The verse states: “Of the ram.” It teaches that it was cooked with the ram. How would he perform it? He would cut it until he would leave a hairbreadth; neither would the sacred absorb from the non-sacred, nor would the non-sacred absorb from the sacred. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said in the name of bar Kappara: All prohibited items that impart flavor are nullified in a mixture of one to one hundred. Rabbi Ḥiyya and Rabbi Yehoshua said in the name of bar Kappara: All prohibited items that impart flavor are nullified in a mixture of one to sixty. Both of them derive it from the nazirite’s lamb. The one who says one to one hundred, you estimate the foreleg is one one-hundreth of the ram. The one who says one to sixty, you estimate the foreleg is one-sixtieth. The one who says one one-hundredth, you remove the bones from the foreleg. The one who says one-sixtieth, you do not remove the bones from the foreleg. Perhaps, just as you remove the bones from the foreleg, so, remove the bones from the ram. You cannot, as it is taught: The waste of the teruma does not join the teruma to neutralize the non-sacred produce, but the waste of the non-sacred produce joins the non-sacred produce to neutralize the teruma. “And one loaf of unleavened bread from the basket” – if it broke, or if part of it is missing, it is disqualified. “He shall place them on the palms of the nazirite, after he shaved his naziriteship.” These are after he has shaved his consecrated head, but the bringing of his offering is not after he has shaved his consecrated head.
“The priest shall wave them as a wave offering before the Lord, it is sacred for the priest, with the breast of waving and with the haunch of lifting, and then the nazirite may drink wine” (Numbers 6:20). “The priest shall wave them.” The priest places his hands beneath the hands of the nazirite and waves. How does he wave? He waves to and fro. From where is it derived that he would raise and lower? It is as it is stated: “That was waved and that was raised” (Exodus 29:27). It juxtaposes raising to waving. Just as waving, one waves to and fro, so, too, raising, one waves to and fro. And just as raising, one raises and lowers, so, with waving, one raises and lowers. From here they said: The mitzvaof waving, one waves to and fro and raises and lowers. Waving, one performs one wave, not two. “Before the Lord,” in the east, as everywhere that it is stated: “Before the Lord,” it is in the east unless it is otherwise specified in the verse. “It is sacred for the priest, with the breast of waving and with the haunch of lifting.” Is the nazirite’s ram not included in: “For [I have taken] the breast of waving and the haunch of lifting [from the children of Israel, from their peace offerings, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons as an eternal allotment from the children of Israel]”? (Leviticus 7:34). Why is it stated here? It is because the law regarding the nazirite’s ram addressed a new matter; that it requires the separation of the foreleg.142In a regular peace offering the foreleg is not separated and given to the priest. Is it, perhaps, limited to its novel element? That is why the verse needed to restore it to its general principle; that it requires separation of the breast and the haunch. “Then the nazirite may drink wine.” Is this after a single act, or is it only after all the actions? It is written here: “Then the nazirite may drink wine.” It is written there: “After he has shaved his consecrated head” (Numbers 6:19). Just as there, it is after a single action, so, too, here it is after a single action.
“This is the law of the nazirite who vows, his offering to the Lord for his naziriteship, besides what he can afford; in accordance with his vow that he vows, so he shall perform with the law of his naziriteship” (Numbers 6:21). “This is the law of the nazirite…” I have only for the present, from where is it derived for the generations that this matter will be practiced in Shilo and in the eternal Temple? The verse states: “The law.” Will the nazirite offering be, perhaps, in practice, even on improvised altars? The verse states: “This.”143“This” is a restrictive term, excluding improvised altars. “His offering to the Lord for his naziriteship,” but not his naziriteship for his offering.144The order is naziriteship, followed by offering. “His offering to the Lord for his naziriteship,” just as one is liable for misappropriation of an offering, so, too, one is liable for misappropriation of the hair. “Besides what he can afford,” is [being] a nazirite contingent on what he can afford? How so? “His offering to the Lord for his naziriteship” – where he separated from his own. “Besides what he can afford” – where others separated for him so he could gain atonement with their gift. “In accordance with his vow that he vows.” From where do you say that if one said: ‘I am a nazirite in order to shave over one hundred burnt offerings and over one hundred peace offerings’ that he is obligated to bring them all? The verse states: “In accordance with his vow.” Or, even if he said: ‘I am a nazirite in order to shave over one hundred sin offerings and over one hundred guilt offerings’ that he would be obligated to bring them? The verse states: “That he vows.” I said only regarding consecrated items that come as vows or gift offerings, excluding sin offerings and guilt offerings that do not come as vows or gift offerings. “So he shall perform with the law of his naziriteship.” Or, even if he said: ‘I am a nazirite on condition that I can drink wine and become impure to corpses,’ do I read in his regard: “In accordance with his vow”? The verse states: “So he shall perform with the law of his naziriteship.” Or, even if he said: ‘Five naziriteships are incumbent upon me that I will shave one shave that will be effective for all of them,’ do I read in his regard: “In accordance with his vow”? The verse states: “So he shall perform with the law of his naziriteship.”145In both cases, once he takes a vow of naziriteship, all the details of the laws of naziriteship take effect upon him.
Rabbi Shemaya would say: What did the Torah see that led it to be lenient regarding an impure nazirite, in that he brings turtledoves or young pigeons?146One as a sin offering and one as a burnt offering. It is because when he became a nazirite, his intent was for the sake of Heaven, and when he became impure, he lost everything that he had done and went back to the beginning. That is why the Torah had mercy on him, to absolve him with the offering of a poor person. Why is the guilt offering a lamb? It is because he did not protect himself from impurity. The Torah penalized him so that he would accept naziriteship in purity. Why does a pure nazirite bring three types of offerings? It is in order to permit three matters that are prohibited for him: Anything derived from the grapevine, shaving, and impurity. He would bring the sin offering to permit impurity, the burnt offering to permit shaving, and the peace offering to permit what is derived from the grapevine. Because two prohibitions are written regarding eating what is derived from the grapevine, that is why he would bring two types of bread with the peace offering. Libations for the burnt offering and for the peace offering correspond to the two prohibitions of drinking, to permit them. Why would he separate the foreleg from the nazirite’s peace offering? It is to strengthen his arm.147So that he would be able to withstand the evil inclination when he resumed drinking wine. Why does the portion of the nazirite follow the portion of the sota, and after the portion of the nazirite, the Priestly Benediction? It is because they would say to the sota: ‘My daughter, wine accomplishes much. It is the way of a woman only to separate herself from wine like a nazirite.’ They stipulate in her regard everything that is stated in the portion. If she was pure, “she will be absolved and conceive offspring” (Numbers 5:28). Priests, who bless Israel, will emerge from her.
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 matriarchs1The heavens, the earth, and the sea. 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). They2The nations of the world. said: ‘Now he will eradicate the enemies of Israel3This is a euphemism for Israel. from the world. Is it possible for these to contend [lehitvake’aḥ] with their Creator?’ When He said to them:4To Israel. “If your sins will be like scarlet, [they will be whitened as snow]” (Isaiah 1:18), they5The nations of the world. 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.6She complained to the judge. 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 speech7The metaphor is that God created "speech,” which is what Israel heard. That "speech" spoke to God. 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).8See Shemot Rabba 31:8. 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 again9He checks whether he overlooked something good and did not remove it. as, typically, one who selects the bad from the good does not then select again.10He no longer checks the bad that he removed from the good. 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).11See Rashi on Shabbat 33a. 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,12These are the fruits that grow during the first three years after the tree is planted, and are forbidden. 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?13Namely, until it dies. See Sanhedrin 63a.
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 commenced14This can be read to mean that Saul was the first to build an altar. 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 hands15They do not recite the Priestly Benediction. during the afternoon prayer, due to drunkenness.16Wine was drunk regularly at meals, and a priest who drank wine may not recite the Priestly Benediction.
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.17The man with whom she committed adultery. 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.
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]”18This is expounded as though it was written baḥataf, meaning hurriedly. (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,19The book of Leviticus. 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 places20The altars used for idol worship were built on 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).21The nations caused Israel to suffer more than God wanted them to suffer. “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 wine22Israel. 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,23The word is written with a yod, kis, but is read with the letter vav, kos. 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).24The verse is expounded to include menstrual blood, the blood of the hymen, the difficulties of child rearing, the discomfort of pregnancy, the pain of childbirth, the longing for her husband in his absence, and the fact that while he can directly initiate relations, she must do so discreetly (Eiruvin 100b). 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.25The treatment for a wasp sting, cold food, exacerbates a scorpion bite, and the treatment for a scorpion bite, hot food, exacerbates a wasp sting.
“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.26Who commits adultery. “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 prolonged27Keḥetef with a tav can be interpreted as though it were with a tet, meaning in an instant.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).28See Bemidbar Rabba 9:35, which describes the punishment of the adulterer. “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,29Namely, is suffering needlessly because of the adultery which she committed. 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,30On the adulterous woman. 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,31I have seen menstrual blood. and he does not withdraw.32All the halakhic obstacles become like a flat plain for him, and therefore he has relations with his wife even though she is a nidda. 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,33Noah had three children, so if one was cursed, a third of the world was cursed. 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 disqualified34See Deuteronomy 23:2. 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,35In accordance wth the view that the fruit eaten by Adam was fruit from a vine. See Berachot 40a. 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).
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.36This is another name for Samaria. “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.37A great city in Babylon. “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 they38The cities mentioned. 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.39The Aramaic phrase means beds of ivory. “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.40It is possible to toss [lizrok] cups of congealed wine from one to another, to whet their appetites for drink. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Small cups.41One tosses the small amount of wine from the cup directly into one’s throat. The Rabbis say: Cups that have pipes attached to them.42When placed on their sides, a flow of liquid emerged from the pipe directly into the mouth of the drinker. 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).43They did not take to heart the destruction that their sinful ways would bring to them. Joseph represents the kingdom of Israel, as opposed to the kingdom of Judah. 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].”
הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (משלי לא, א): דִּבְרֵי לְמוּאֵל מֶלֶךְ, לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁלֹמֹה לְמוּאֵל, אָמַר רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בְּאוֹתוֹ הַלַּיְלָה שֶׁהִשְׁלִים שְׁלֹמֹה מְלֶאכֶת בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ נָשָׂא בִּתְיָה בַּת פַּרְעֹה, וְהָיָה שָׁם צַהֲלַת שִׂמְחַת בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, וְצַהֲלַת בַּת פַּרְעֹה, וְעָלְתָה צַהֲלַת שִׂמְחַת בַּת פַּרְעֹה יוֹתֵר מִצַּהֲלַת בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, הוּא דְאָמַר מַתְלָא כֹּלָא מְחַנְפִים לְמַלְכָּא. וּלְכָךְ נִקְרָא לְמוּאֵל, שֶׁהִשְׁלִיךְ עֹל מַלְכוּת שָׁמַיִם מֵעָלָיו, כְּלוֹמַר לָמָּה לוֹ אֵל. וּבְאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה עָלְתָה בַּמַּחְשָׁבָה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְהַחֲרִיב אֶת יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ירמיה לב, לא): כִּי עַל אַפִּי וְעַל חֲמָתִי וגו'. רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי אֶלֶף מִינֵי זֶמֶר הִכְנִיסָה לוֹ בַּת פַּרְעֹה, וְהָיָה מְצַוֶּה לְזַמֵּר לְפָנָיו בְּאוֹתוֹ לַיְלָה, וְהָיְתָה אוֹמֶרֶת לוֹ, כָּךְ מְזַמְּרִין לִפְנֵי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים פְּלוֹנִית וְכָךְ מְזַמְּרִין לִפְנֵי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים פְּלוֹנִית. מֶה עָשְׂתָה בַּת פַּרְעֹה, כְּמִין פָּרָס שָׁטְחָה לוֹ לְמַעְלָה מִמֶּנּוּ וְקָבְעָה בּוֹ כָּל מִינֵי אֲבָנִים טוֹבוֹת וּמַרְגָּלִיּוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ מַבְהִיקוֹת כְּעֵין כּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת, וְכָל זְמַן שֶׁהָיָה שְׁלֹמֹה רוֹצֶה לַעֲמֹד הָיָה רוֹאֶה אוֹתָן הַכּוֹכָבִים וְהַמַּזָּלוֹת וְהָיָה יָשֵׁן לוֹ עַד אַרְבַּע שָׁעוֹת. אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם נִתְקָרֵב תָּמִיד בְּאַרְבַּע שָׁעוֹת, וְעַל אוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה שָׁנִינוּ, מַעֲשֶׂה הָיָה וְנִתְקָרֵב תָּמִיד שֶׁל שַׁחַר בְּאַרְבַּע שָׁעוֹת וְהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲצֵבִים שֶׁהָיָה יוֹם חֲנֻכַּת בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ וְלֹא הָיוּ יְכוֹלִין לַעֲשׂוֹת מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהָיָה יָשֵׁן שְׁלֹמֹה וְהָיוּ מִתְיָרְאִים לַהֲקִיצוֹ מִפְּנֵי אֵימַת הַמַּלְכוּת, הָלְכוּ וְהוֹדִיעוּ לְבַת שֶׁבַע אִמּוֹ, וְהָלְכָה הִיא וֶהֱקִיצַתּוּ וְהוֹכִיחַתּוּ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (משלי לא, א): מַשָֹּׂא אֲשֶׁר יִסְרַתּוּ אִמּוֹ. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מְלַמֵּד שֶׁכְּפָפַתּוּ אִמּוֹ עַל הָעַמּוּד וְאָמְרָה לוֹ (משלי לא, ב): מַה בְּרִי, הַכֹּל יוֹדְעִין שֶׁאָבִיךָ יְרֵא שָׁמַיִם הָיָה, עַכְשָׁיו יֹאמְרוּ כֵּן, בַּת שֶׁבַע הִיא אִמּוֹ גָּרְמָה לוֹ, (משלי לא, ב): וּמַה בַּר בִּטְנִי, כָּל נָשִׁים שֶׁל בֵּית אָבִיךָ כֵּיוָן שֶׁמִּתְעַבְּרוֹת שׁוּב אֵין רוֹאוֹת פְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ, וַאֲנִי דָחַקְתִּי וְנִכְנַסְתִּי כְּדֵי שֶׁיְהֵא הַבֵּן מְלֻבָּן וּמְזֹרָז, (משלי לא ב): וּמֶה בַּר נְדָרָי, כָּל נָשִׁים שֶׁל בֵּית אָבִיךָ כֵּיוָן שֶׁמִּתְעַבְּרוֹת הָיוּ נוֹדְרוֹת וְאוֹמְרוֹת יִהְיֶה לָנוּ בֵּן הָגוּן לְמַלְכוּת, וַאֲנִי נָדַרְתִּי וְאָמַרְתִּי יִהְיֶה לִי בֵּן זָרוּז וּמְלֻמָּד בַּתּוֹרָה וְהָגוּן לִנְבִיאוּת. (משלי לא, ג): אַל תִּתֵּן לַנָּשִׁים חֵילֶךָ, שֶׁתְּהֵא רוֹדֵף אַחַר זִמָּה, שֶׁהֵם מְטַלְטְלִין דַּעְתּוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם. (משלי כט, ג): וְרֹעֶה זוֹנוֹת יְאַבֶּד הוֹן, (משלי לא, ג): וּדְרָכֶיךָ לַמְחוֹת מְלָכִין, הַתּוֹרָה הִזְהִירָה וְאָמְרָה (דברים יז, יז): וְלֹא יַרְבֶּה לוֹ נָשִׁים, הִזָּהֵר בַּדְּבָרִים הַלָּלוּ שֶׁהֵם מְחִיַּת מְלָכִים. (משלי יז, ד): אַל לַמְּלָכִים לְמוֹאֵל, מַה לְּךָ אֵצֶל מְלָכִים, שֶׁאוֹמְרִים לָמָּה לָנוּ אֵל, לַעֲשׂוֹת כְּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם, (משלי יז, ד): אַל לַמְּלָכִים שְׁתוֹ יָיִן, מַה לְּךָ לְהַשְׁווֹת עַצְמְךָ לַמְּלָכִים הַשּׁוֹתִים יַיִן וּמִשְׁתַּכְּרִין וְעוֹשִׂין כָּל מִינֵי זִמָּה, אַל תַּעֲשֶׂה כְּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם. (משלי יז, ד): וּלְרוֹזְנִים אֵי שֵׁכָר, מִי שֶׁכָּל רָזֵי עוֹלָם גְּלוּיִם לוֹ יִשְׁתֶּה יַיִן וְיִשְׁתַּכֵּר, (משלי יז, ה): פֶּן יִשְׁתֶּה וְיִשְׁכַּח מְחֻקָּק, אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אֵלּוּ דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה הַחֲקוּקִים, וְכָתוּב בָּהֶם (שמות כ, יג): לֹא תִנְאָף, (משלי יז, ה): וִישַׁנֶּה דִּין כָּל בְּנֵי עֹנִי, אָמְרָה לוֹ הַדִּין נִמְסַר לְמַלְכוּת בֵּית דָּוִד, כְּמָה דִכְתִיב (ירמיה כא, יב): בֵּית דָּוִד כֹּה אָמַר ה' דִּינוּ לַבֹּקֶר מִשְׁפָּט, תִּשְׁתֶּה יַיִן וּתְשַׁנֶּה דִּין כָּל בְּנֵי עֹנִי, תְּזַכֶּה אֶת הַחַיָּב וּתְחַיֵּב אֶת הַזַּכַּאי. מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ דַּיָּן שֶׁשָּׁתָה רְבִיעִית יַיִן אַל יָדוּן, וְכֵן חָכָם שֶׁשָּׁתָה רְבִיעִין יַיִן אַל יוֹרֶה. (משלי יז, ו): תְּנוּ שֵׁכָר לְאוֹבֵד וְיַיִן לְמָרֵי נָפֶשׁ, אָמַר רַבִּי חָנָן לֹא נִבְרָא יַיִן בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה אֶלָּא לְשַׁלֵּם שָׂכָר לָרְשָׁעִים בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה שֶׁהֵם אֲבוּדִים לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, וּלְנַחֵם אֲבֵלִים, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: וְיַיִן לְמָרֵי נָפֶשׁ. מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ כָּל הַנֶּהֱרָגִין בְּבֵית דִּין הָיוּ מַשְׁקִין אוֹתוֹ יַיִן חַי כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּטָּרֵף דַּעְתּוֹ עָלָיו, לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר: תְּנוּ שֵׁכָר לְאוֹבֵד, (משלי יז, ז): יִשְׁתֶּה וְיִשְׁכַּח רִישׁוֹ, עַל הָאוֹבֵד יֹאמַר, שֶׁיִּשְׁכַּח הַמָּוֶת שֶׁהוּא רִישׁוֹ (משלי יז, ז): וַעֲמָלוֹ, עַל מָרֵי נֶפֶשׁ הוּא אוֹמֵר, שֶׁיָּמוּתוּ לוֹ בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת וְהוּא מַר נֶפֶשׁ וְהַיַּיִן יְשַׂמַּח לֵב, וְלֹא יִזְכֹּר עוֹד אֶת צַעֲרוֹ. (משלי יז, ז): וַעֲמָלוֹ לֹא יִזְכֹּר עוֹד, אֵלּוּ בָנָיו שֶׁהֵם עֲמָלוֹ, כְּהַהִיא דִּתְנֵינַן (דברים כו, ז): וְאֶת עֲמָלֵנוּ אֵלּוּ הַבָּנִים, כְּמָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות א, כב): כָּל הַבֵּן הַיִּלּוֹד וגו'. (משלי לא, ח): פְּתַח פִּיךָ לְאִלֵּם, מִכָּאן שֶׁאִם אֵין טוֹעֲנִין לְיוֹרֵשׁ וּלְלוֹקֵחַ שֶׁבֵּית דִּין טוֹעֲנִין. דָּבָר אַחֵר, פְּתַח פִּיךָ לְאִלֵּם, כְּנֶגֶד הַיְתוֹמִים הוּא אוֹמֵר שֶׁאֵינָן יוֹדְעִין לִטְעוֹן, וְעוֹד שֶׁאֵין יוֹדְעִין בְּעֵסֶק אֲבִיהֶם, שֶׁבֵּית דִּין טוֹעֲנִין בִּשְׁבִילָן, הֱוֵי (משלי לא, ח): אֶל דִּין כָּל בְּנֵי חֲלוֹף, זֶה בְּנֵי הַמֵּת שֶׁחָלַף וְהָלַךְ לְבֵית עוֹלָמוֹ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, שֶׁהֵן חִלּוּפֵי אֲבִיהֶם, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (תהלים נה, כ): אֲשֶׁר אֵין חֲלִיפוֹת לָמוֹ וגו', אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא זֶה שֶׁאֵין מֵנִיחַ לוֹ בֵּן (משלי לא, ט): פְּתַח פִּיךָ שְׁפָט צֶדֶק, שֶׁלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁתְּלַמְּדֵם טַעֲנוֹת (משלי לא, ט): וְדִין עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (שמות כג, ו): לֹא תַטֶּה מִשְׁפַּט אֶבְיֹנְךָ בְּרִיבוֹ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, אֵלּוּ הַצְּדָקוֹת וּמַתְּנוֹת עֲנִיִּים, שֶׁהֵם דִּינָם, שֶׁאַתָּה צָרִיךְ לְהוֹצִיא מִן הַגַּזְלָן וְלָתֵת לָהֶם, לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי כב, כב): אַל תִּגְזָל דָּל כִּי דַל הוּא וגו'. דָּבָר אַחֵר, דִּבְרֵי לְמוּאֵל מֶלֶךְ מַשָֹּׂא וגו', זוֹ הָיְתָה תּוֹרָה שֶׁמְיַסַּרְתּוֹ לִשְׁלֹמֹה, שֶׁנִּקְרֵאת אֵם לְלוֹמְדֶיהָ, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (משלי ב, ג): כִּי אִם לַבִּינָה תִקְרָא אֵם כָּתוּב, וְלָמָּה נִקְרָא הַדָּבָר מַשָֹּׂא, לְפִי שֶׁדָּבָר קָשֶׁה בָּא לוֹ לְכָל מִי שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה כְּמַעֲשֵׂה שְׁלֹמֹה, מַה בְּרִי וגו', אֵין אוֹמֵר מַה בְּנִי, אֶלָּא, מַה בְּרִי, אֵלּוּ צַוָּאוֹת וְאַזְהָרוֹת שֶׁל תּוֹרָה, שֶׁהִיא נִקְרֵאת בַּר, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (תהלים ב, יב): נַשְׁקוּ בַר פֶּן יֶאֱנַף וגו', שֶׁכָּל דְּבָרֶיהָ בָּרִים, וְעַל אַזְהָרָה הַכְּתוּבָה בַּתּוֹרָה (דברים ז, ג): וְלֹא תִתְחַתֵּן בָּם בִּתְּךָ לֹא תִתֵּן לִבְנוֹ, הוּא אוֹמֵר דָּבָר זֶה, לְפִי שֶׁשְּׁלֹמֹה לָקַח מִבְּנוֹת הַגּוֹיִם וְהִתְחַתֵּן בָּהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים א יא, א ב): וְהַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה אָהַב נָשִׁים וגו' מִן הַגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר אָמַר ה' אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא תָבֹאוּ בָהֶם וְהֵם לֹא יָבֹאוּ בָכֶם אָכֵן יַטּוּ וגו'. חֲנַנְיָה בֶּן רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אָמַר מִשּׁוּם הָכֵי אָמַר: לֹא תִתְחַתֵּן בָּם. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי אוֹמֵר: לְאַהֲבָה מַמָּשׁ, לִזְנוּת. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר חֲלַפְתָּא אוֹמֵר לֹא חִיְּבָן לְגַיְרָן וּלְקָרְבָן תַּחַת כַּנְפֵי שָׁמָיִם. וּמַה בַּר בִּטְנִי, הִזְהִירָה תּוֹרָה עַל אֵשֶׁת אִישׁ, וּלְכָךְ כָּתוּב בְּכָאן בֶּטֶן, שֶׁבְּנוֹאֵף וְנוֹאֶפֶת כְּתִיב (במדבר ה, כז): וְצָבְתָה בִטְנָהּ וגו' (במדבר ה, כב): לַצְבּוֹת בֶּטֶן וגו'. וּמֶה בַּר נְדָרָי, הִזְהִירַתּוּ הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁלֹא לִשְׁתּוֹת יַיִן כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹא יָבֹא לְהִתְעַסֵּק בִּזְנוּת, וּלְכָךְ כָּתוּב בְּכָאן נְדָרָי, כְּנֶגֶד פָּרָשַׁת נָזִיר הַכְּתוּבָה אַחַר פָּרָשַׁת סוֹטָה שֶׁכָּתוּב בָּהּ: אִישׁ אוֹ אִשָּׁה כִּי יַפְלִא לִנְדֹּר וגו'. אַל תִּתֵּן לַנָּשִׁים חֵילֶךָ, אַחַר שֶׁזָּכַר רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ אֵלּוּ שָׁלשׁ אַזְהָרוֹת בְּרֶמֶז, חָזַר וּפְרָטָן בְּפֵרוּשׁ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: אַל תִּתֵּן לַנָּשִׁים חֵילֶךָ, כְּנֶגֶד נָשִׁים נָכְרִיּוֹת שֶׁלָּקַח וְסָרוּ לְבָבוֹ מִן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, הֱוֵי: חֵילֶךָ, זֶה חֵילָהּ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה שֶׁאָמְרָה (דברים יז, יז): וְלֹא יַרְבֶּה לוֹ נָשִׁים וגו', וְעָבַר עָלֶיהָ. וּדְרָכֶיךָ לַמְחוֹת מְלָכִין, כְּנֶגֶד זְנוּת אֵשֶׁת אִישׁ הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וּדְרָכֶיךָ לַמְחוֹת, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (בראשית ו, יב): כִּי הִשְׁחִית כָּל בָּשָׂר וגו', לַמְחוֹת, דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה הַיּוֹעֲצִים אוֹתְךָ טוֹבָה, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (משלי ח, יד): לִי עֵצָה וְתוּשִׁיָּה, וְאֵין מְלָכִין אֶלָּא עֵצוֹת, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (דניאל ד, כד): לָהֵן מַלְכָּא מִלְכִּי יִשְׁפַּר עֲלָךְ, הֱוֵי: לַמְחוֹת מְלָכִין, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (במדבר ה, כג): וְכָתַב אֶת הָאָלֹת הָאֵלֶּה וגו', אַל לַמְּלָכִים לְמוֹאֵל וגו', שְׁלשָׁה שֵׁמוֹת נִקְרְאוּ לוֹ: יְדִידְיָה, קֹהֶלֶת וּשְׁלֹמֹה. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר, שִׁבְעָה: אָגוּר, בִּן יָקֶה, לְמוּאֵל, אִיתִיאֵל. אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן עִקַּר אַוְתֵּינַנָּיָה שֶׁלָּהֶם שְׁלשָׁה: יְדִידְיָה, קֹהֶלֶת וּשְׁלֹמֹה. מוֹדֶה רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בְּרַבִּי נַחְמָן בְּאִילֵין אַרְבַּעְתֵּיהּ, אֶלָּא שֶׁנִּתְכַּנֶּה בָּהֶם וְהֻצְרְכוּ לְהִדָּרֵשׁ: אָגוּר, שֶׁאָגַר דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה. יָקֶה, שֶׁהֵקִיא דִבְרֵי תוֹרָה כַּסֵּפֶל הַזֶּה שֶׁהוּא מִתְמַלֵּא בִּן שַׁעְתּוֹ וּמִתְפַּנֶּה בִּן שַׁעְתּוֹ. לְמוּאֵל, שֶׁנָּם לָאֵל וְאָמַר יָכֵילְנָא לְהַרְבּוֹת נָשִׁים וְלֹא לַחֲטוֹא. אִיתִיאֵל, שֶׁאָמַר אִתִּי אֵל וְאוּכָל. וְאוֹמֵר: אַל לַמְּלָכִים לְמוֹאֵל, אָמְרָה הַתּוֹרָה שְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים שֶׁנִּצְטַוּוּ הַמְלָכִים: שֶׁלֹא לְהַרְבּוֹת נָשִׁים, וְשֶׁלֹא לְהַרְבּוֹת סוּסִים, וְשֶׁלֹא לְהַרְבּוֹת כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב, אֵין עֲלֵיהֶם לוֹמַר לָאֵל שֶׁיַּרְבּוּ וְלֹא יֶחֶטְאוּ. (משלי לא, ד) אַל לַמְּלָכִים שְׁתוֹ יָיִן, הֲרֵי זֶה אָמוּר כְּנֶגֶד נֶדֶר נָזִיר הָאָמוּר אַחַר פָּרָשַׁת סוֹטָה שֶׁצְּרִיכִין הַמְּלָכִים לִשְׁמֹר עַצְמָן מִן הַיַּיִן, וְכֵן הָרוֹזְנִים, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹא יָבוֹאוּ לִידֵי זִמָּה וִיחַיְבוּ הָעוֹלָם. וְלָמָּה הִזְהִירָה מְלָכִים וְרוֹזְנִים לְבַדָּם, וַהֲלֹא כָּל בְּנֵי אָדָם צְרִיכִין לְהִזָּהֵר מִן הַיַּיִן שֶׁלֹא יִשְׁתּוּ וִיקַלְקְלוּ, אֶלָּא מִפְּנֵי שֶׁסִּפֵּק בְּיַד מְלָכִים לִשְׁתּוֹת וְלַעֲשׂוֹת כָּל רְצוֹנָם בַּעֲבֵרָה וְאֵין שֶׁיְמַחֶה בְּיָדָם. (משלי לא, ה) פֶּן יִשְׁתֶּה וְיִשְׁכַּח מְחֻקָּק, שֶׁבִּשְׁבִיל הַיַּיִן שֶׁיִּשְׁתֶּה יִשְׁכַּח מַה שֶּׁצִּוְתָה תּוֹרָה לַמְחוֹקֵק חֻקִּים שֶׁל תּוֹרָה, הִיא פָּרָשַׁת סוֹטָה. (משלי לא, ה) וִישַׁנֶּה דִּין כָּל בְּנֵי עֹנִי, הַנּוֹאֵף הַזֶּה כְּשֶׁהוּא הוֹלֵךְ אֵצֶל אֵשֶׁת אִישׁ וְהִיא מִתְעַבֶּרֶת הֵימֶנּוּ, נִמְצָא אוֹתוֹ מַמְזֵר שֶׁאֵין לוֹ דִין חֵלֶק בְּנִכְסֵי בַּעֲלָהּ, וְהוּא יְחַלֵּק עִם בָּנָיו בַּנְּכָסִים, שֶׁיִּהְיוּ סְבוּרִים שֶׁהוּא בְּנוֹ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, פְּעָמִים לֹא יַנִּיחַ הַבַּעַל בֵּן וּמִן הַתּוֹרָה יְרֻשָּׁתוֹ חוֹזֶרֶת לְאֶחָיו, וְזֶה הַמַּמְזֵר יוֹרֵשׁ מָמוֹנוֹ, שֶׁיִּהְיוּ סְבוּרִים שֶׁהוּא בְּנוֹ, וִישַׁנֶּה דִּין כָּל בְּנֵי עֹנִי, לְכָךְ הִזְהִירָה תּוֹרָה אַחַר סוֹטָה דִּין נָזִיר: שֶׁהַיַּיִן גּוֹרֵם לַנּוֹאֵף וְנוֹאֶפֶת לָבוֹא לְתַקָּלָה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: אִישׁ אוֹ אִשָּׁה כִּי יַפְלִא וגו'. וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁחָזַר שְׁלֹמֹה וְהוֹדָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי ל, ב): כִּי בַעַר אָנֹכִי מֵאִישׁ, זֶה נֹחַ, דִּכְתִיב (בראשית ט, כ): וַיָּחֶל נֹחַ אִישׁ וגו', שֶׁעַל יְדֵי יַיִן נִתְקַלֵּל, וְלֹא לָמַדְתִּי מִמֶּנּוּ. (משלי ל, ב): וְלֹא בִינַת אָדָם לִי, זֶה אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן, שֶׁעַל יְדֵי יַיִן שֶׁשָּׁתָה נִתְקַלֵּל הָעוֹלָם בַּעֲבוּרוֹ, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי אָבִין יַיִן מָסְכָה לוֹ חַוָּה לְאָדָם וְשָׁתָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ג, ו): וַתֵּרֶא הָאִשָּׁה כִּי טוֹב הָעֵץ לְמַאֲכָל, וּכְתִיב (משלי כג, לא): אַל תֵּרֶא יַיִן כִּי יִתְאַדָּם וגו', (משלי ל, ג): וְלֹא לָמַדְתִּי חָכְמָה, מֵחָכְמַת הַתּוֹרָה, שֶׁבְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁכָּתוּב יַיִן בַּתּוֹרָה עוֹשֶׂה רשֶׁם, (משלי ל, ג): וְדַעַת קְדשִׁים אֵדָע, מִי שֶׁרוֹצֶה לְקַדֵּשׁ עַצְמוֹ שֶׁלֹא יִכָּשֵׁל בִּזְנוּת, יַזִּיר עַצְמוֹ מִן הַיָּיִן. וְקִלְקַלְתִּי בִּזְנוּת, וְדַעַת קְדשִׁים אֵדָע, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר פָּרָשַׁת נָזִיר אַחַר סוֹטָה.
That is what is written: “The words of Lemuel the king” (Proverbs 31:1). Why is Solomon called Lemuel? Rabbi Yishmael said: On the very night that Solomon completed the labor of the Temple, he married Bitya daughter of Pharaoh. There was rejoicing there, in the celebration of the Temple and the rejoicing over Pharaoh’s daughter. The rejoicing over Pharaoh’s daughter overshadowed the rejoicing over the Temple. That is what the parable says: Everyone flatters the king. That is why he is called Lemuel, because he cast the yoke of God’s kingdom from upon him, as though saying: ‘Why does he need God [lama lo el]?’ At that moment, the Holy One blessed be He considered destroying Jerusalem. That is what is written: “For [this city has been] a cause of My wrath and of My anger [from the day that they built it until this day; remove it from My presence]” (Jeremiah 32:31).
The Rabbis said: Pharaoh’s daughter introduced to him one thousand types of song, and he commanded them to be sung before him that night. She would say to him: ‘This is the way they sing before such-and-such idol, and that is the way they sing before such-and-such idol.’ What did Pharaoh’s daughter do? She spread a hanging over him and affixed on it all sorts of gems and jewels that shone like stars and constellations, and any time Solomon would seek to rise, he would see the stars and constellations and he slept until the fourth hour of the day. Rabbi Levi said: On that day, the daily offering was sacrificed at the fourth hour. Regarding that hour, we learned: There was an incident and the daily morning offering was sacrificed at the fourth hour. Israel were saddened, as it was the day of the dedication of the Temple, but they were unable to do anything because Solomon was sleeping and they were afraid to wake him due to fear of the monarchy. They went and informed Bathsheba his mother and she went and woke him and rebuked him. That is what is written: “The oration with which his mother admonished him” (Proverbs 31:1).
Rabbi Yoḥanan said: It teaches that his mother bent him over a post and said to him: “What, my son?” (Proverbs 31:2) – everyone knows that your father was God-fearing. Now, this is what they will say: Bathsheba his mother caused him to do thus. “What, son of my womb?” (Proverbs 31:2) – all the women of your father’s household, once they became pregnant, they would never see the face of the king, but I forced my way and entered so that my son would be fair and agile.44The Rabbis say that relations during the last trimester are beneficial to the fetus. “And what, son of my vows?” (Proverbs 31:2) – all the women of your father’s household, when they would become pregnant they would vow and say: ‘Let me have a son who is worthy of kingship,’ but I vowed and said: ‘Let me have a son who will be quick and scholarly in Torah and worthy of prophecy.’ “Do not give your strength to women” (Proverbs 31:3) – you would be pursuing lewdness, as they agitate a man’s mind: “A companion of harlots will lose a fortune” (Proverbs 29:3). “Or let your ways destroy kings” (Proverbs 31:3); the Torah cautioned and said: “He shall not amass for himself many wives” (Deuteronomy 17:17). Be careful regarding these matters, as they destroy kings. “It is not for kings, Lemuel” (Proverbs 31:4); what [business] do you have with kings who say: ‘Why do we need God [lama lanu el],’ and [you] emulate their actions? “It is not for kings to drink wine” (Proverbs 31:4) – why do you liken yourself to kings who drink wine, become inebriated, and perform all kinds of acts of lewdness? Do not emulate their actions.
“Or for princes: Where is strong drink?” (Proverbs 31:4). Shall one for whom all the secrets of the world are revealed drink wine and become inebriated? “Lest he drink, and forget what was legislated [meḥukak]” (Proverbs 31:5) – Rabbi Shimon said: These are the words of the Torah that are inscribed [haḥakukim], and it is written among them: “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:13). “And subvert justice for all the children of the poor” (Proverbs 31:5), she [his mother] said to him: Justice was entrusted to the kingdom of the House of David, just as it is written: “House of David, so said the Lord: Adjudicate justice in the morning” (Jeremiah 21:12). If you drink wine and subvert justice for all the children of the poor, you will exonerate the guilty and convict the innocent. From here they said: A judge who drank a quarter log of wine shall not judge, likewise, a Sage who drank a quarter log of wine shall not issue a ruling.
“Give strong drink to the hopeless, and wine to embittered souls” (Proverbs 31:6). Rabbi Ḥanan said: Wine was created in this world only to pay a reward to the wicked in this world, as they are hopeless in the World to Come, and to comfort mourners. That is what is written: “And wine to embittered souls.” From here they said: All those executed by the court would be given undiluted wine to drink to addle their minds. That is what is written: “Give strong drink to the hopeless.” “Let him drink and forget his poverty, [and remember his misery no longer]” (Proverbs 31:7). Regarding the hopeless, it says that he will forget death, which is his poverty.45He has no reward after death. “And…his misery,” is said regarding the embittered soul; one whose sons and daughters die before him and his soul is embittered. The wine will cause his heart to rejoice and he will no longer remember his sorrow. “And remember his misery no longer,” these are his children, who are his misery, like that which we learned: “And our misery” (Deuteronomy 26:7), these are the children, just as it is stated: “Every son that is born [you shall cast into the Nile]” (Exodus 1:22).
“Open your mouth for the mute” (Proverbs 31:8), from here [we learn] that if there are none proffering a claim for an heir or for a purchaser, the court proffers a claim on their behalf. Alternatively, “open your mouth for the mute,” this relates to the orphans who do not know how to proffer a claim; moreover, they do not know their father’s business, that the court proffers a claim on their behalf. That is, “for the judgment for all whose lives are transitory [benei ḥalof]” (Proverbs 31:8), these are the children of [someone] dead who passed [sheḥalaf] and went to his eternal home. Another matter, they46The orphans themselves. are their father’s replacement [ḥilufei], just as it says: “For whom there is no replacement [ḥalifot]” (Psalms 55:20) – Rabbi Ḥanina said: This is one who does not leave a son after him. “Open your mouth, rule justly” (Proverbs 31:9), that you will not act in a matter that will teach [false] claims. “And the case of the poor and indigent” (Proverbs 31:9), just as it says: “You shall not distort the judgment of your indigent in his dispute” (Exodus 23:6). Another matter, these are the charities and the gifts to the poor, which is theirs by law, as you must take from the robber and give to them, to realize what is stated: “Do not rob the impoverished, as he is impoverished…” (Proverbs 22:22).
Another matter, “the words of Lemuel the king, the oration [masa] [with which his mother admonished him]” (Proverbs 31:1); this is the Torah that admonished Solomon, as it is called the mother [em] of those who study it, just as it says: “For if [im] you call for understanding” (Proverbs 2:3) – em is written.47The word im and the word em have the same Hebrew letters. Why are the words called masa?48Literally, a burden. It is because harsh matters will befall anyone who emulates the actions of Solomon. “What, my son [beri]?” (Proverbs 31:2). It does not say “what, beni,” but rather, “what beri.” These are the commands and the prohibitions in the Torah, which is called bar, just as it says: “Kiss bar, lest he become angry…” (Psalms 2:12), as all its matters are clear [barim]. It is regarding a prohibition in the Torah: “You shall not marry them; your daughter you shall not give to his son, [and his daughter you shall not take for your son]” (Deuteronomy 7:3), that it says this matter. It is because Solomon took from the daughters of the nations and married them, as it is stated: “King Solomon loved many…women… from the nations, regarding whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel: Do not consort with them, and they shall not consort with you, as they will sway [your heart after their gods; Solomon clung to them for love]” (I Kings 11:1–2). Ḥananya ben Rabbi Yehoshua said: It is for that reason that it said: “You shall not marry them.” Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai says: Actually “for love” [means] for harlotry.49Namely, he did not marry them. Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥalafta says: He did not require them to convert and to draw them near beneath the wings of Heaven.
“What, son of my womb [bitni]?” The Torah cautioned regarding a married woman. This is why beten is written here, as regarding an adulterer and an adulteress it is written: “Her belly [bitna] will distend…” (Numbers 5:27); “to cause a belly [beten] to distend…” (Numbers 5:22).
“What, son of my vows?” The Torah cautioned him not to drink wine so that he would not come to engage in harlotry. This why “my vows” is written here, corresponding to the portion of the nazirite that is written after the portion of the sota. In it, it is written: “When a man or a woman will articulate to take [a vow of a nazirite].” “Do not give your strength to women” (Proverbs 31:3) – after the Divine Spirit alluded to these three prohibitions,50Not to intermarry, not to commit adultery, and not to drink wine. it then detailed them specifically. That is what is written: “Do not give your strength to women,” corresponding to the foreign women whom he took and they diverted his heart from the Holy One blessed be He. “Your strength,” that is the strength of the Torah that said: “He shall not amass for himself many wives” (Deuteronomy 17:17), and he violated it.
“Or let your ways eradicate counsel [melakhin]” (Proverbs 31:3), the verse is speaking regarding harlotry with a married woman. That is what is written: “Or let your ways [udrakhekha] eradicate,” just as it says: “As all flesh has corrupted [its way [darko]]” (Genesis 6:12). “Eradicate” – matters of Torah that counsel you to good, just as it says: “Counsel and resourcefulness are mine” (Proverbs 8:14). Melakhin is nothing other than counsel, just as it says: “Therefore, king, let my counsel [milki] be acceptable to you” (Daniel 4:24). That is, “eradicate [lamḥot] counsel,” just as it says: “The [priest] shall write these curses [in the scroll, and he shall dissolve [umaḥa] them]” (Numbers 5:23).
“It is not for kings, Lemuel…” He was called by three names: Yedidya, Kohelet, and Solomon. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Seven – [those three, and] Agur, ben Yakeh, Lemuel, Itiel. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: His primary essence was three: Yedidya, Kohelet, and Solomon. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman concedes regarding these four; that he was called by them as a nickname and [therefore] they require expounding. Agur, because he accumulated [agar] matters of Torah. Yakeh, because he expelled [heki] matters of Torah, like this bowl that is filled for a while and emptied after a while. Lemuel, as he whispered [nam] to God [lael]: ‘I can amass many wives and not sin.’ Itiel, as he said: ‘God [el] is with me [iti] and I will prevail.’ And it says: “It is not for kings, Lemuel.” The Torah said three matters regarding which kings were commanded: Not to amass many wives, not to amass many horses, and not to amass much gold and silver. They must not say [lomar] to God [lael] that they will amass and will not sin.
“It is not for kings to drink wine” (Proverbs 31:4). This is stated regarding the vow of the nazirite that is written after the portion of the sota, that kings must guard themselves from wine, and likewise princes, so they will not come to lewdness and render the world guilty. Why did it caution kings and princes alone? After all, everybody must be cautious regarding wine so they will not drink and be corrupted. It is, rather, because kings have the wherewithal to drink and do anything in transgression that they wish, and there is no one to reprimand them. “Lest he drink, and forget what was legislated [mekhukak]” (Proverbs 31:5); due to the wine that he drank, he will forget what the Torah commanded to the legislator [mekhokek]51This is a reference to Moses. See Deuteronomy 33:21. – the statutes of the Torah; that is the portion of the sota.
“And subvert justice for all the children of the poor” (Proverbs 31:5). This adulterer who goes to the married woman and she becomes pregnant from him, that mamzer52Any child born from a forbidden union that is punishable by karet. has no portion in the belongings of her husband, but he will receive a portion of his belongings with his [other, actual] sons because they think he is his son. Another matter, at times, the husband will not leave a son, and by Torah law, the inheritance then goes to his brothers. But this mamzer will inherit his belongings, as they think he is his son, and [this] will subvert justice for all the children of the poor. That is why after the sota, the Torah cautioned regarding the law of the nazirite, as wine causes the adulterer and the adulteress to sin. That is what is written: “When a man or a woman will articulate [to take the vow of a nazirite, to abstain for the Lord].”
From where is it derived that Solomon later conceded?53That he should not have drunk. It is as it is stated: “I am a greater fool than a man [ish]” (Proverbs 30:2) – this is Noah, as it is written: “Noah, the man [ish] [of the soil], began [and he planted a vineyard]” (Genesis 9:20) – by means of wine he was cursed,54Since his descendants were cursed as a result of his drunkenness , it is as though he was cursed (Etz Yosef). but I [Solomon] did not learn from him. “And the understanding of man [adam] is not mine” (Proverbs 30:2) – this is Adam the first man, who, by means of the wine that he drank, the entire world was cursed because of him, as Rabbi Avin said: Eve poured wine for Adam and he drank, as it is stated: “The woman saw [vatereh] that the tree was good for eating…” (Genesis 3:6), and it is written: “Do not look at [tereh] wine in its redness” (Proverbs 23:31). “I have not learned wisdom” (Proverbs 30:3) – from the wisdom of the Torah, as everywhere that wine is written, it makes an impression. “Nor do I know sacred knowledge” (Proverbs 30:3). One who seeks to sanctify himself so he will not sin with harlotry, shall abstain from wine. I was corrupted with harlotry, but now “I know sacred knowledge.” That is why the portion of the nazirite is stated after sota.
דַּבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (במדבר ו, ב), אֵלּוּ הַנּוֹדְרִים בְּנָזִיר, (במדבר ו, ב): וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵיהֶם, לְהַזְהִיר בֵּית דִּין עַל כָּךְ שֶׁלֹא יַנִּיחוּ לְנָזִיר לַעֲבֹר עַל נְזִירוּתוֹ, שֶׁאִם יִרְאוּ שֶׁיִּרְצֶה לְבַטֵּל נְזִירוּתוֹ יִכְפּוּ אוֹתוֹ כְּדֵי לְקַיֵּם דְּבָרָיו, לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁהַגְּדוֹלִים מוּזְהָרִין עַל יְדֵי הַקְּטַנִּים וְהֵם נֶעֱנָשִׁים עַל יְדֵיהֶם אִם לֹא יוֹכִיחוּ אוֹתָם, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (ויקרא כו, לז): וְכָשְׁלוּ אִישׁ בְּאָחִיו, אִישׁ בַּעֲוֹן אָחִיו, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁכָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲרֵבִים זֶה בָּזֶה. (במדבר ו, ב): אִישׁ אוֹ אִשָּׁה כִּי יַפְלִא וגו', הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שופטים יג, ב): וַיְהִי אִישׁ אֶחָד מִצָּרְעָה וגו'. וַיְהִי, אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיְהִי אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא לָשׁוֹן צַעַר, (אסתר א, א): וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ, הָיָה הָמָן. (רות א, א): וַיְהִי בִּימֵי שְׁפֹט, הָיָה רָעָב. (בראשית ו, א): וַיְהִי כִּי הֵחֵל הָאָדָם] וגו' (בראשית ו, ב): וַיִּרְאוּ בְּנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים וגו'. (בראשית יד, א): וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אַמְרָפֶל, (בראשית יד, ב): עָשׂוּ מִלְחָמָה. (יהושע ה, יג): וַיְהִי בִּהְיוֹת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּירִיחוֹ וגו' (יהושע ה, יג): וְחַרְבּוֹ שְׁלוּפָה בְּיָדוֹ. (יהושע ו, כו): וַיְהִי ה' אֶת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ. (יהושע ז, ב): וַיִּמְעֲלוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מַעַל בַּחֵרֶם. (שמואל א ח, א): וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר זָקֵן שְׁמוּאֵל, (שמואל א ח, ג): וְלֹא הָלְכוּ בָנָיו בִּדְרָכָיו, (שמואל א יח, יד): וַיְהִי דָּוִד לְכָל דְּרָכָו מַשְׂכִּיל. (שמואל א יח, ט): וַיְהִי שָׁאוּל עוֹיֵן אֶת דָּוִד. (שופטים יג, ב): וַיְהִי אִישׁ אֶחָד מִצָּרְעָה, (שופטים יג, כב): וַיֹּאמֶר מָנוֹחַ אֶל אִשְׁתּוֹ מוֹת נָמוּת. וַיְהִי אָמַר רַבִּי יוּדָן, כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בַּלָּשׁוֹן הַזֶּה, בַּצַּדִּיקִים, שָׁקוּל הוּא כִּשְׁלשִׁים וְאֶחָד צַדִּיקִים, כְּמִנְיַן וַיְהִי. אִישׁ אֶחָד, כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: אֶחָד, גָּדוֹל הוּא. בְּהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא נֶאֱמַר אֶחָד דִּכְתִיב (דברים ו, ד): ה' אֶחָד, אֵין בָּעוֹלָם כַּיּוֹצֵא בּוֹ, וְכֵן בְּאַבְרָהָם (יחזקאל לג, כד): אֶחָד הָיָה אַבְרָהָם, לֹא הָיָה בְּאוֹתָן יָמִים כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ. בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל כְּתִיב (דברי הימים א יז, כא): וּמִי כְּעַמְךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל גּוֹי אֶחָד בָּאָרֶץ, אֵין בָּאֻמּוֹת כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּהֵן. וְכֵן בַּאֲבִימֶלֶךְ הוּא אוֹמֵר (בראשית כו, י): כִּמְעַט שָׁכַב אַחַד הָעָם, לְפִי שֶׁהָיָה מֶלֶךְ. וְכֵן בְּאֶלְקָנָה הוּא אוֹמֵר (שמואל א א, א): אֶחָד, לְפִי שֶׁלֹא הָיָה בְּדוֹרוֹ כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ. (שופטים יג, ב): מִצָּרְעָה, כָּל שֶׁשְּׁמוֹ וְשֵׁם עִירוֹ מְפֹרָשׁ בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁהוּא מֵאוֹתוֹ הָעִיר. שְׁמוֹ וְלֹא שֵׁם עִירוֹ, בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁהוּא מִירוּשָׁלַיִם. (שופטים יג, ב): מִמִּשְׁפַּחַת הַדָּנִי, לְפִי שֶׁצָּרְעָה הָיְתָה לִיהוּדָה, כְּדִכְתִיב (יהושע טו, לג): אֶשְׁתָּאוֹל וְצָרְעָה וְאַשְׁנָה, וְצָרְעָה הָיְתָה לְדָן (יהושע יט, מא): וַיְהִי גְּבוּל נַחֲלָתָם צָרְעָה וְאֶשְׁתָּאוֹל. לְפִיכָךְ צָרִיךְ לְפָרֵשׁ שֶׁהָיָה מִמִּשְׁפַּחַת הַדָּנִי, אֵינוֹ אוֹמֵר מִשֵּׁבֶט, אֶלָּא מִמִּשְׁפַּחַת הַדָּנִי, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהָיָה אָבִיו מִדָּן וְאִמּוֹ שֶׁל מָנוֹחַ מִיהוּדָה, וְעַל זֶה אָמַר יַעֲקֹב (בראשית מט, טז): דָּן יָדִין עַמּוֹ וגו', כַּמְיֻחָד שֶׁבַּשְּׁבָטִים, זֶה יְהוּדָה, לְכָךְ הֵקִישׁוֹ לִיהוּדָה, שֶׁמֵּאֶרֶץ יְהוּדָה הָיָה וְאִמּוֹ הָיְתָה מִיהוּדָה, וְכֵן מָנוֹחַ הָיָה מִדָּן, וְאִשְׁתּוֹ הָיְתָה מִיהוּדָה, נִמְצָא שִׁמְשׁוֹן בָּא מִשֵּׁבֶט דָּן וּמִשֵּׁבֶט יְהוּדָה, שֶׁכָּךְ אָמְרוּ: אִמֵּיהּ דְּשִׁמְשׁוֹן הַצְלֶלְפּוֹנִי שְׁמָהּ, וְהִיא מְיֻחֶסֶת עַל שֵׁבֶט יְהוּדָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברי הימים א ד, ג): וְשֵׁם אֲחוֹתָם הַצְלֶלְפּוֹנִי. (שופטים יג, ב): וּשְׁמוֹ מָנוֹחַ, הָרְשָׁעִים קוֹדְמִים לִשְׁמָם (שמואל א כה, כה): נָבָל שְׁמוֹ, (שמואל א יז, ד): גָּלְיָת שְׁמוֹ, (שמואל ב כ, כא): שֶׁבַע בֶּן בִּכְרִי שְׁמוֹ. אֲבָל הַצַּדִּיקִים שְׁמָן קוֹדְמָם (שמואל א א, א): וּשְׁמוֹ אֶלְקָנָה, (שמואל א יז, יב): וּשְׁמוֹ יִשַּׁי, (רות ב, א): וּשְׁמוֹ בֹּעַז, (אסתר ב, ה): וּשְׁמוֹ מָרְדְּכַי, וּשְׁמוֹ מָנוֹחַ. דּוֹמִין לְבוֹרְאָן (שמות ו, ג): וּשְׁמִי ה'. אֲתִיבִין לֵיהּ הָכְתִיב (בראשית כד, כט): וּלְרִבְקָה אָח וּשְׁמוֹ לָבָן. רַבִּי יִצְחָק אוֹמֵר אַפָּרָדוֹכְּסוֹס, וְרַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה אָמַר מְלֻבָּן בְּרֶשַׁע. אֲתִיבִין (שופטים יז, א): וּשְׁמוֹ מִיכָיְהוּ, לְפִי שֶׁהָיָה מְקַבֵּל אוֹרְחִים נִכְתַּב שְׁמוֹ כְּשֵׁם הַצַּדִּיקִים. אֲתִיבִין מִבְּנֵי שְׁמוּאֵל (שמואל א ח, ב): וַיְהִי שֶׁם בְּנוֹ הַבְּכוֹר יוֹאֵל וְשֵׁם מִשְׁנֵהוּ אֲבִיָּה, רַבָּנִין אָמְרֵי מַה זֶּה רָשָׁע אַף זֶה רָשָׁע, רַבִּי יוּדָן אָמַר בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי סִימוֹן לְבַסּוֹף עָשׂוּ תְּשׁוּבָה, וּלְכָךְ נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ (דברי הימים א ו, יג): וַשְׁנִי, שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּנּוּ לְמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים, וּלְכָךְ זָכוּ לְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (יואל א, א): דְּבַר ה' אֲשֶׁר הָיָה אֶל יוֹאֵל בֶּן פְּתוּאֵל, זֶה שְׁמוּאֵל. לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ פְּתוּאֵל, שֶׁפִּתָּה לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בִּתְפִלָּתוֹ. מָנוֹחַ, לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ מָנוֹחַ, שֶׁזָּכָה לְדַבֵּר עִמּוֹ מַלְאָךְ, וְהַנְּבוּאָה נִקְרֵאת מְנוּחָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה נא, נט): וּשְׂרָיָה שַׂר מְנוּחָה, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁזָּכָה בָּרוּךְ בֶּן נֵרִיָּה לְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (ישעיה יא, ב): וְנָחָה עָלָיו רוּחַ ה'. (שופטים יג, ב): וְאִשְׁתּוֹ עֲקָרָה וְלֹא יָלָדָה, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהָיָה מַחֲלֹקֶת בֵּין מָנוֹחַ לְאִשְׁתּוֹ, הוּא אוֹמֵר לָהּ אַתְּ עֲקָרָה וּלְכָךְ אֵינֵךְ יוֹלֶדֶת, וְהִיא אוֹמֶרֶת לוֹ אַתְּ עָקָר וּלְכָךְ לֹא יָלַדְתִּי. לֹא הָיָה מָנוֹחַ עָקָר (שופטים יג, ג): וַיֵּרָא מַלְאַךְ ה' אֶל הָאִשָּׁה, מִכָּאן אַתָּה לָמֵד שֶׁאִשְׁתּוֹ שֶׁל מָנוֹחַ צַדֶּקֶת הָיְתָה שֶׁזָּכְתָה לְדַבֵּר עִמָּה מַלְאָךְ, וְלָשׂוּם שָׁלוֹם בֵּינָהּ לְבֵין בַּעֲלָהּ, וּלְהוֹדִיעָהּ שֶׁהִיא עֲקָרָה, וְהִיא מוֹנַעַת הַהֵרָיוֹן וְלֹא בַּעֲלָהּ, לְכָךְ דִּבֶּר עִמָּהּ. וּלְפִי שֶׁרָאֲתָה בַּמַּלְאָךְ נִקְרֵאת שְׁמָה הַצְּלֶלְפּוֹנִי, שֶׁהִיא פּוֹנָה בַּמַּלְאָךְ, וְאֵין צְלֶל אֶלָּא מַלְאָךְ, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (בראשית יט, ח): כִּי עַל כֵּן בָּאוּ בְּצֵל קֹרָתִי. לְהַלָּן שֶׁהָיָה לוֹט צַדִּיק יוֹתֵר מֵאִשְׁתּוֹ בָּאוּ הַמַּלְאָכִים בְּצֵל קוֹרָתוֹ וְלֹא בְּצֵל קוֹרָתָהּ, בְּרַם הָכָא שֶׁבָּא הַמַּלְאָךְ אֶצְלָהּ, לְפִי שֶׁהָיְתָה צַדֶּקֶת, לְכָךְ נִקְרָאת הַצְלֶל. לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר הַצְלֶל, וְלֹא אָמַר הַצֵּל, לְפִי שֶׁשְּׁתֵי פְּעָמִים נִרְאָה לָהּ לָאִשָּׁה, אַחַת בָּעִיר וְאַחַת בַּשָֹּׂדֶה. (שופטים יג, ג): וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֶיהָ הִנֵּה נָא אַתְּ עֲקָרָה וְלֹא יָלַדְתְּ, הוֹדִיעָהּ שֶׁהִיא עֲקָרָה וּלְכָךְ לֹא יָלְדָה, כְּדֵי לָשׂוּם שָׁלוֹם בֵּינָהּ לְבֵין בַּעֲלָהּ, לְפִי שֶׁהָיְתָה מִתְרַעֶמֶת עַל מָנוֹחַ בַּעֲלָהּ עַל שֶׁלֹא הָיְתָה יוֹלֶדֶת. (שופטים יג ג): וְהָרִית וְיָלַדְתְּ בֵּן, מִכָּאן וָאֵילָךְ אַתְּ תְּקַבְּלִי הֵרָיוֹן וְתֵלְדִי בֵּן. (שופטים יג, ד): וְעַתָּה הִשָּׁמְרִי נָא, הִזְהִירָהּ שֶׁלֹא תִשְׁתֶּה חֹמֶץ יַיִן וְחֹמֶץ שֵׁכָר וְכָל מִשְׁרַת עֲנָבִים, שֶׁאֵלּוּ אֵינָם אֶלָּא מִשְׁמֶרֶת לַיַּיִן כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹא יָבוֹא הַנָּזִיר לִשְׁתּוֹת יַיִן, לְכָךְ אֲסָרָן עָלָיו הַכָּתוּב. (שופטים יג, ד): וְאַל תִּשְׁתִּי יַיִן וְשֵׁכָר, כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (במדבר ו, ג): מִיַּיִן וְשֵׁכָר יַזִּיר. (שופטים יג ד): וְאַל תֹּאכְלִי כָּל טָמֵא, וְאֵין טָמֵא אֶלָּא אִסּוּר, שֶׁהַתּוֹרָה הִזְהִירָה לְנָזִיר שֶׁלֹא לֶאֱכֹל כְּלוּם. (במדבר ו, ד): מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר יֵעָשֶׂה מִגֶּפֶן הַיַּיִן, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (במדבר ו, ג): וַעֲנָבִים לַחִים וִיבֵשִׁים לֹא יֹאכֵל. מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר יֵעָשֶׂה מִגֶּפֶן הַיַּיִן וגו'. כִּי כִּי הִנָּךְ הָרָה וְיֹלַדְתְּ בֵּן (שופטים יג, ה), מִכָּאן שֶׁהָיְתָה הַשִּׁכְבַת זֶרַע שֶׁל הַלַּיְלָה שְׁמוּרָה בְּרַחְמָהּ וְלֹא פְּלָטַתָּה, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁאָמַר לָהּ הַמַּלְאָךְ (שופטים יג, ג): וְהָרִית וְיָלַדְתְּ בֵּן, אוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה קִבְּלָה הָרֶחֶם אוֹתָהּ טִפָּה לְשָׁם. (שופטים יג, ה): וּמוֹרָה לֹא יַעֲלֶה עַל רֹאשׁוֹ, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (במדבר ו, ה): תַּעַר לֹא יַעֲבֹר עַל רֹאשׁוֹ, לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ שֶׁל תַּעַר, מוֹרָה, שֶׁאֵין הַשֵֹּׂעָר מִתְיָרֵא אֶלָּא מִן תַּעַר שֶׁהוּא מְגַלְּחוֹ גִּלּוּחַ שֶׁל הַשְׁחָתָה, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (ויקרא יט, כז): וְלֹא תַשְׁחִית אֵת פְּאַת זְקָנֶךָ. (שופטים יג, ה): כִּי נְזִיר אֱלֹהִים יִהְיֶה הַנַּעַר מִן הַבֶּטֶן, גָּלוּי הָיָה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁשִּׁמְשׁוֹן הָיָה הוֹלֵךְ אַחַר עֵינָיו, לְפִיכָךְ הִזְהִירוֹ בְּנָזִיר שֶׁלֹא יִהְיֶה שׁוֹתֶה יַיִן, לְפִי שֶׁהַיַּיִן מֵבִיא לִידֵי זִמָּה, וּמַה בִּזְּמַן שֶׁהָיָה נָזִיר הָלַךְ אַחַר עֵינָיו, אִלּוּ הָיָה שׁוֹתֶה לֹא הָיָה לוֹ תַּקָּנָה לְעוֹלָם מֵרֹב שֶׁהָיָה רוֹדֵף אַחַר זִמָּה. מַהוּ שֶׁאָמַר: מִן הַבָּטֶן, לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה א, ה): בְּטֶרֶם אֶצָרְךָ בַבֶּטֶן יְדַעְתִּיךָ. אֲבָל בָּרְשָׁעִים מַהוּ אוֹמֵר (תהלים נח, ד): זֹרוּ רְשָׁעִים מֵרָחֶם תָּעוּ מִבֶּטֶן דֹּבְרֵי כָזָב, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (תהלים נא, ז): הֵן בְּעָווֹן חוֹלָלְתִּי וגו'. (שופטים יג, ה): וְהוּא יָחֵל לְהוֹשִׁיעַ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל מִיַּד פְּלִשְׁתִּים, בּוֹ תִּהְיֶה חָלָה נְבוּאוֹת יַעֲקֹב, שֶׁאָמַר (בראשית מט, טז יז): דָּן יָדִין עַמּוֹ וגו', יְהִי דָן וגו'. (שופטים יג, ו): וַתָּבֹא הָאִשָּׁה וַתֹּאמֶר לְאִישָׁהּ לֵאמֹר אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים בָּא אֵלַי וּמַרְאֵהוּ כְּמַרְאֵה מַלְאַךְ הָאֱלֹהִים נוֹרָא מְאֹד וגו', מִכָּאן שֶׁלֹא הָיְתָה שׁוֹרָה הַשְּׁכִינָה אֶלָּא עַל בַּעֲלֵי מַרְאֶה. (שופטים יג, ז): וַיֹּאמֶר לִי הִנָּךְ הָרָה וגו', אֲבָל מַה שֶּׁאָמַר לָהּ. הִנָּה נָא אַתְּ עֲקָרָה, לֹא גִלְתָה לוֹ, שֶׁלֹא רָצְתָה לְגַלּוֹת קִלְקוּלָהּ. (שופטים יג, ז): כִּי נְזִיר אֱלֹהִים יִהְיֶה הַנַּעַר מִן הַבֶּטֶן עַד יוֹם מוֹתוֹ, הִיא הוֹסִיפָה עַד יוֹם מוֹתוֹ, לְפִי שֶׁלֹא יָדְעָה מַה שֶּׁעָתִיד, אֲבָל הַמַּלְאָךְ שֶׁהָיָה יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁעָתִיד הוּא לְאַבֵּד נְזִירוּתוֹ עַל יְדֵי דְלִילָה, לְכָךְ לֹא אָמַר: עַד יוֹם מוֹתוֹ. (שופטים יג, ח): וַיֶּעְתַּר מָנוֹחַ אֶל ה' וַיֹּאמַר בִּי אֲדוֹנָי אִישׁ וגו', אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ, לָמָּה נִמְשְׁלָה תְּפִלַּת הַצַּדִּיקִים לְעֶתֶר, לוֹמַר לָךְ מָה עֶתֶר זֶה מְהַפֵּךְ אֶת הַתְּבוּאָה בַּגּוֹרֶן מִמָּקוֹם לְמָקוֹם, כָּךְ תְּפִלָּתָן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים מְהַפְּכִין מִדַּת אַכְזָרִיּוּת לְמִדַּת רַחְמָנוּת. (שופטים יג, ט): וַיִּשְׁמַע הָאֱלֹהִים בְּקוֹל מָנוֹחַ, לָמָּה חָזַר הַמַּלְאָךְ אֵצֶל הָאִשָּׁה וְלֹא בָּא אֵצֶל מָנוֹחַ, שֶׁלֹא לִפְסֹל דְּבָרָיו הָרִאשׁוֹנִים שֶׁאָמַר לָאִשָּׁה. דָּבָר אַחֵר, כְּדֵי לְחַבְּבָהּ בְּעֵינָיו. (שופטים יג, י): וַתְּמַהֵר הָאִשָּׁה וַתָּרָץ וגו', מְלַמֵּד שֶׁכָּל מַעֲשֵׂה הַצַּדִּיקִים בִּמְהִירוּת. (שופטים יג, י): אֲשֶׁר בָּא בַיּוֹם אֵלָי, אֵינוֹ אוֹמֵר הַיּוֹם אֶלָּא בַיּוֹם, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁלֹא נִרְאָה הַמַּלְאָךְ אֵלֶיהָ עַד לְמָחָר, לְפִי שֶׁמָּנוֹחַ לֹא נִתְפַּלֵּל עַד לְמָחָר בִּתְפִלַּת הַבֹּקֶר, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (תהלים ה, ד): ה' בֹּקֶר תִּשְׁמַע קוֹלִי וגו', מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהַצַּדִּיקִים מְבָרְרִים עַל מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם. (שופטים יג, יא): וַיֹּאמֶר אָנִי, אֲנִי הוּא בַּתְּחִלָּה וַאֲנִי הוּא בַּסּוֹף, שֶׁאֵינִי מַחֲלִיף בִּדְבָרָי. (שופטים יג, יב): וַיֹּאמֶר מָנוֹחַ עַתָּה יָבֹא דְבָרֶיךָ, אָמַר לוֹ מָנוֹחַ עַד כָּאן שָׁמַעְתִּי מִן הָאִשָּׁה וְהַנָּשִׁים אֵינָם בְּנוֹת הוֹרָאָה וְאֵין לִסְמֹךְ עַל דִּבְרֵיהֶן, אֲבָל עַתָּה יָבֹא דְבָרֶיךָ, מִפִּיךָ אֲנִי רוֹצֶה לִשְׁמֹעַ, שֶׁאֵינִי מַאֲמִין בִּדְבָרֶיהָ, שֶׁמָּא חָלְפָה בִּדְבָרֶיהָ אוֹ פִּחֲתָה אוֹ הוֹתִירָה. (שופטים יג, יב): מַה יִּהְיֶה מִשְׁפַּט הַנַּעַר, מַה נְּזִירוּת יִצְטָרֵךְ הַנַּעַר לִשְׁמֹר אַחַר שֶׁיִּוָּלֵד. (שופטים יג, יב): וּמַעֲשֵׂהוּ, מַה תַּעֲשֶׂה אִמּוֹ קֹדֶם לָכֵן כָּל הַיָּמִים שֶׁתְּהֵא הָרָה מִמֶּנּוּ. (שופטים יג, יג): וַיֹּאמֶר מַלְאַךְ ה' אֶל מָנוֹחַ מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר אָמַרְתִּי אֶל הָאִשָּׁה, לַחְלֹק כָּבוֹד לָאִשָּׁה וּלְחַבְּבָהּ בְּעֵינָיו. (שופטים יג, יג): תִּשָּׁמֵר, עַל חֹמֶץ יַיִן וְחֹמֶץ שֵׁכָר וּמִשְׁרַת עֲנָבִים אָמַר לוֹ (שופטים יג, יד): מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר יֵצֵא מִגֶּפֶן הַיַּיִן לֹא תֹאכַל וְיַיִּן וְשֵׁכָר עַל תֵּשְׁתְּ, כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ. (שופטים יג, יד): וְכָל טֻמְאָה אַל תֹּאכַל, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (במדבר ו, ג): וַעֲנָבִים לַחִים וִיבֵשִׁים לֹא יֹאכֵל. (שופטים יג, יד): כֹּל אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִיהָ תִּשְׁמֹר, מַה שֶּׁאָמַר לָהּ (שופטים יג, ה): וּמוֹרָה לֹא יַעֲלֶה עַל רֹאשׁוֹ. (שופטים יג, טו): וַיֹּאמֶר מָנוֹחַ אֶל מַלְאַךְ ה' נַעַצְרָה נָא אוֹתָךְ, אָמַר לוֹ מָנוֹחַ עֲצוּרִים הָיִינוּ, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (בראשית כ, יח): כִּי עָצֹר עָצַר ה' בְּעַד כָּל רֶחֶם, וְאַתָּה בִּשַֹּׂרְתָּנוּ בְּהַרְוָחָה, נַעֲשֶׂה עִמְּךָ יוֹם טוֹב, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (במדבר כט, לה): בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת תִּהְיֶה לָכֶם, (שופטים יג, יד): וְנַעֲשֶׂה לְפָנֶיךָ גְּדִי עִזִּים, שִׂמַּחְתָּנוּ וְנִשְׂמַח עִמְּךָ בִּגְדִי עִזִּים, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין שִׂמְחָה אֶלָּא בְּבָשָׂר. (שופטים יג, טז): וַיֹּאמֶר מַלְאַךְ ה' אֶל מָנוֹחַ אִם תַּעַצְרֵנִי לֹא אֹכַל בְּלַחְמֶךָ, אָמַר לוֹ הַמַּלְאָךְ אֵין דֶּרֶךְ נְבִיאֵי ה' לְקַבֵּל שָׂכָר עַל נְבוּאָתָם. בִּנְבִיאֵי שֶׁקֶר מַהוּ אוֹמֵר (יחזקאל יג, יט): וַתְּחַלֶּלְנָה אֹתִי אֶל עַמִּי בְּשַׁעֲלֵי שְׂעוֹרִים וּבִפְתוֹתֵי לֶחֶם לְהָמִית וגו'. אֲבָל בִּנְבִיאֵי אֱמֶת מַהוּ אוֹמֵר (מלכים ב ה, טז): וַיֹּאמֶר חַי ה' אֲשֶׁר עָמַדְתִּי לְפָנָיו אִם אֶקָּח. (שופטים יג, טז): וְאִם תַּעֲשֶׂה עֹלָה לַה' תַּעֲלֶנָּה, רָמַז לוֹ הַמַּלְאָךְ שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לְהַעֲלוֹת עֹלָה לַה' עַל בְּשׂוֹרָה טוֹבָה כְּשֵׁם שֶׁעָשָׂה אַבְרָהָם בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא (בראשית יב, ז): לְזַרְעֲךָ אֶתֵּן אֶת הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת, מִיָּד בָּנָה אַבְרָהָם מִזְבֵּחַ עַל בְּשׂוֹרָה טוֹבָה, שֶׁכֵּן כְּתִיב (בראשית יב, ז): וַיִּבֶן שָׁם מִזְבֵּחַ לַה' הַנִּרְאֶה אֵלָיו, וְאֵין מִזְבֵּחַ אֶלָּא קָרְבָּן. (שופטים יג, טז): כִּי לֹא יָדַע מָנוֹחַ כִּי מַלְאַךְ ה' הוּא, לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר, לְפִי שֶׁאִשְׁתּוֹ אָמְרָה לוֹ (שופטים יג, ו): וּמַרְאֵהוּ כְּמַרְאֵה מַלְאַךְ ה' נוֹרָא מְאֹד, הָיְתָה סְבוּרָה שֶׁהִכִּיר בּוֹ מָנוֹחַ שֶׁהוּא מַלְאָךְ, וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן הָיָה מְזַמְּנוֹ לוֹ לֶאֱכֹל, שֶׁטּוֹעֶה הָיָה כַּסָּבוּר שֶׁיֵּשׁ אֲכִילָה לְמַעְלָה, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: כִּי לֹא יָדַע מָנוֹחַ כִּי מַלְאַךְ ה' הוּא, לְכָךְ הָיָה מְזַמְּנוֹ לֶאֱכֹל, אֲבָל אִלּוּ הָיָה יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁהָיָה מַלְאָךְ אֵינוֹ אוֹמֵר לוֹ שֶׁיֹּאכַל, שֶׁבָּקִי הָיָה שֶׁאֵין אֲכִילָה לְמַעְלָה. וְלָמָּה לֹא הִכִּיר בּוֹ, מִכָּאן אַתְּ לָמֵד בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהָיוּ הַנְּבִיאִים הוֹלְכִים בִּשְׁלִיחוּתוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ שֶׁהָיְתָה שׁוֹרָה עֲלֵיהֶם הָיְתָה נוֹתֶנֶת לָהֶם אֵימָה בְּעֵינֵי רוֹאֵיהֶם, שֶׁהַכֹּל מִתְיָרְאִים מֵהֶם, שֶׁהָיוּ דוֹמִים לְמַלְאָכִים. וְלָמָּה אָכְלוּ הַמַּלְאָכִים שֶׁבָּאוּ לְבַשֵֹּׂר אֶת שָׂרָה בְּהֵרָיוֹן וְזֶה לֹא רָצָה לֶאֱכֹל, לְפִי שֶׁאוֹתָם מַלְאָכִים כְּשֶׁנִּתְרָאוּ תְּחִלָּה לְאַבְרָהָם כִּדְמוּת עוֹבְרֵי דֶרֶךְ נִתְרָאוּ לוֹ, וְהוּא הִכְנִיסָם לְבֵיתוֹ כְּמִנְהָגוֹ וְהִזְמִינָם לֶאֱכֹל, וְהֵם לֹא רָצוּ לְבַטֵּל מִמֶּנּוּ מִנְהַג הָאַכְסְנָאִים, וְאָכְלוּ עִמּוֹ, וְאַחַר שֶׁאָכְלוּ אָמְרוּ שְׁלִיחוּתָן, וְלֹא נִרְאֶה הַדָּבָר שֶׁיְקַבְּלוּ שָׂכָר עַל שְׁלִיחוּתָן, אֲבָל זֶה הַמַּלְאָךְ בַּתְּחִלָּה אָמַר שְׁלִיחוּתוֹ, וְאִלּוּ הָיָה אוֹכֵל עִמּוֹ הָיָה נִרְאֶה כְּאִלּוּ קִבֵּל שָׂכָר עַל שְׁלִיחוּתוֹ, לְכָךְ נִמְנַע מִלֶּאֱכֹל. וַיֹּאמֶר מָנוֹחַ אֶל מַלְאַךְ ה' מִי שְׁמֶךָ (שופטים יג, יז), לְפִי שֶׁלֹא הִכִּיר בּוֹ שֶׁהָיָה מַלְאָךְ לְכָךְ שָׁאַל לוֹ עַל שְׁמוֹ. (שופטים יגף יז): כִּי יָבֹא דְבָרְךָ וְכִבַּדְנוּךָ. אָמַר לוֹ מָנוֹחַ אֱמֹר לִי שִׁמְךָ כְּדֵי שֶׁאֶשְׁאַל בְּאֵיזֶה מָקוֹם אֶמְצָאֲךָ בְּעֵת שֶׁיִּתְקַיֵּם נְבוּאָתְךָ וְנִתֵּן לְךָ דּוֹרוֹן, וְאֵין וְכִבַּדְנוּךָ אֶלָּא מִנְחָה, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (במדבר כב, יז): כִּי כַבֵּד אֲכַבֶּדְךָ. (שופטים יג, יח): וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ מַלְאַךְ ה' לָמָּה זֶה תִּשְׁאַל לִשְׁמִי, אָמַר לוֹ הַמַּלְאָךְ אֵין אַתְּ צָרִיךְ לֵידַע שְׁמִי, שֶׁאֵין סוֹפְךָ שֶׁתִּרְאֵנִי עוֹד לְעוֹלָם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שופטים יג, יח): וְהוּא פֶלִּאי, עַל עַצְמוֹ אָמַר לוֹ שֶׁהוּא יִהְיֶה מְכֻסֶּה מִמֶּנּוּ שֶׁלֹא יִרְאֶנּוּ עוֹד לְעוֹלָם, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (תהלים קלט, ו): פְּלִיאָה דַעַת מִמֶּנִּי. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וְהוּא פֶלִאי, אָמַר לוֹ הַמַּלְאָךְ אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ לוֹמַר לְךָ שְׁמִי, שֶׁלְּפִי הַשְּׁלִיחוּת שֶׁשּׁוֹלֵחַ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אוֹתָנוּ קוֹרֵא לָנוּ שֵׁם, הֱוֵי: וְהוּא פֶלִיא, לְפִי פְּלִיאָה וּפְלִיאָה שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה עַל יָדֵינוּ הוּא קוֹרֵא לָנוּ שֵׁם. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וְהוּא פֶלִאי, שֵׁם שְׁמוֹ הַמַּלְאָךְ פֶּלִיא, לְפִי שְׁלִיחוּת הוּא בָּא לְהַזִּיר אֶת שִׁמְשׁוֹן, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (שופטים יג, ה): כִּי נְזִיר אֱלֹהִים יִהְיֶה הַנַּעַר, לְכָךְ קָרָא שְׁמוֹ פֶּלִאי, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב: אִישׁ אוֹ אִשָּׁה כִּי יַפְלִא וגו'.
“Speak to the children of Israel” (Numbers 6:2), those who take the vow of the nazirite. “And say to them,” to caution the court regarding this, that they should not allow the nazirite to violate his naziriteship. If they see that he seeks to violate his naziriteship, they shall compel him to fulfill his statement. This is to teach you that the great are cautioned regarding the lesser, and they will be punished due to them if they do not rebuke them. Likewise it says: “They will stumble over one another” (Leviticus 26:37); one due to the iniquity of another. This is to teach you that the entire Jewish people are guarantors for one another.
“When a man or a woman will articulate [to take the vow of a nazirite]” – that is what is written: “There was [vayhi] a certain man from Tzora…” (Judges 13:2).55This is the beginning of the chapter dealing with the birth and naziriteship of Samson. Rabbi Levi said: Every place that vayhi is stated, it is nothing other than an expression of suffering: “Vayhi in the days of Aḥashverosh” (Esther 1:1) – there was Haman. “Vayhi in the days when the judges [judged]” (Ruth 1:1) – there was a famine. “Vayhi when man began [to increase]” (Genesis 6:1) – “the sons of the great [saw the daughters of man]” (Genesis 6:2).56This eventually led to the Flood. See Genesis 6:1–3. “Vayhi in the days of Amrafel” (Genesis 14:1) – “they waged a war” (Genesis 14:2). “Vayhi when Joshua was in Jericho…” (Joshua 5:13) – “[a man was standing before him] and his drawn sword was in his hand” (Joshua 5:13).57Joshua was confronted by the commander of the host of the Lord. “Vayhi the Lord was with Joshua” (Joshua 6:27) – “the children of Israel committed trespass regarding the proscribed thing” (Joshua 7:1). “Vayhi when Samuel aged” (I Samuel 8:1) – “his sons did not follow his path” (I Samuel 8:3). “Vayhi David was successful in all his endeavors” (I Samuel 18:14) – “Saul was hostile to David” (I Samuel 18:9). “Vayhi a certain man from Tzora…” (Judges 13:2) – “Manoaḥ said to his wife, we will die” (Judges 13:22).
Vayhi, Rabbi Yudan said: Every place that this expression is stated regarding the righteous, he is the equivalent of thirty-one righteous men, the numerical value of vayhi.58Vav – 6, yod – 10, heh – 5, yod – 10 = 31. “A certain [eḥad] man,” a great man. Wherever ehad is used it indicates greatness. With regards to the Holy One Blessed be He, one is said as it it written "God is One" (Deuteronomy 6:4); there is no one in the world who is His equal. Likewise, regarding Abraham: “Abraham was one [eḥad]” (Ezekiel 33:24); there was no one in those days who was his equal. Regarding Israel, it is written: “Who is like Your people, Israel, one [eḥad] nation on the earth” (I Chronicles 17:21); there is none among the nations that are its equal. Likewise, regarding Avimelekh it says: “One of [aḥad] the people almost lay with your wife” (Genesis 26:10); because he was king. Likewise regarding Elkana it says: “Eḥad” (I Samuel 1:1), as there was no one in his generation who was his equal.
“[There was a certain man] from Tzora [from the family of the Danite]” (Judges 13:2), anyone whose name and the name of his city are stated, it is known that he is from that city. His name, but not the name of his city, it is known that he is from Jerusalem. “From the family of the Danite,” because Tzora belonged to Judah, as it is written: “Eshtaol, Tzora, and Ashna” (Joshua 15:33), and Tzora belonged to Dan, “the border of their inheritance was Tzora, Eshtaol…” (Joshua 19:41), it was necessary to state that he was “from the family of the Danite.” It does not say “from the tribe,” but rather, “from the family of the Danite.” It teaches that his [Manoaḥ’s] father was from Dan and Manoaḥ’s mother was from Judah. In this regard, Jacob said: “Dan will judge his people, [as one of [ke’aḥad] the tribes of Israel]” (Genesis 49:16), like the most elite of the tribes; this is Judah. That is why Jacob juxtaposed him to Judah, as he was from the land of Judah and his mother was from Judah. Likewise Manoaḥ was from Dan and his wife was from Judah; consequently Samson emerged from the tribe of Dan and the tribe of Judah, as they said: The name of Samson’s mother was Hatzlelponi, and her lineage is ascribed to the tribe of Judah, as it is stated: “And the name of their sister was Hatzlelponi” (I Chronicles 4:3).
“And his name was Manoaḥ” (Judges 13:2). The wicked precede their name: “Naval was his name” (I Samuel 25:25); “Goliath was his name” (I Samuel 17:4); “Sheva ben Bikhri was his name” (II Samuel 20:21). But the righteous, their name precedes them: “And his name was Elkana” (I Samuel 1:1); “And his name was Yishai” (I Samuel 17:12); “And his name was Boaz” (Ruth 2:1); “And his name was Mordekhai” (Esther 2:5); “And his name was Manoaḥ.” They are similar to their Creator: “But My name, the Lord…” (Exodus 6:3). They raised an objection to it: But is it not written: “Rebecca had a brother and his name was Lavan”? (Genesis 24:29). Rabbi Yitzḥak said: He was conspicuous.59Lavan was not his name, but rather, his whiteness was a conspicuous attribute of his. Rabbi Berekhya said: He was obvious [meluban] in his wickedness. They raised an objection: “And his name was Mikhaihu” (Judges 17:1) – because he received guests, his name was written like the names of the righteous. They raised an objection from the [verse regarding the] sons of Samuel: “The name of his firstborn son was Joel and the name of his second was Aviya” (I Samuel 8:2). The Rabbis said: Just as this one was wicked, so, too, that one was wicked. Rabbi Yudan said in the name of Rabbi Simon: Ultimately, they repented. That is why he [Samuel’s firstborn, Joel] is called: “Vashni” (I Chronicles 6:13), as they changed [shenishtanu] to good deeds.60The full verse reads: “The sons of Samuel: his first-born, Vashni, and Aviya.” That is why they merited the Divine Spirit. That is what is written: “The word of the Lord that was to Joel son of Petuel” (Joel 1:1). This is Samuel. Why is he called Petuel? It is because he enticed [pita] the Holy One blessed be He with his prayer.61See Psalms 99:6.
Manoaḥ, why is he called Manoaḥ? It is because he was privileged to speak with an angel, and prophecy is called rest [menuḥa], as it is stated: “Seraya was the minister of Menuḥa” (Jeremiah 51:59). It teaches that Barukh ben Neriya62He was Seraya’s brother and a disciple of the prophet Jeremiah. According to another opinion, Seraya was another name of Barukh. merited the Divine Spirit, just as it says: “The spirit of the Lord will rest [venaḥa] upon him (Isaiah 11:2).
“His wife was barren, she had not given birth” (Judges 13:2). This teaches that there was a dispute between Manoaḥ and his wife. He said to her: ‘You are barren; that is why you have not given birth.’ She said to him: ‘You are sterile and that is why I have not given birth.’ Manoaḥ was not sterile.
“An angel of the Lord appeared to the woman” (Judges 13:3). From here you learn that Manoaḥ’s wife was a righteous woman who merited having an angel speak with her, to introduce harmony between her and her husband and to inform her that she was barren and it was she who was preventing the pregnancy, not her husband; that is why he spoke with her. Because she saw the angel, she is called Hatzlelponi, because she addressed [pona] the angel. Tzelal is nothing other than an angel, just as it says: “As it is for this that they entered beneath the shelter [betzel] of my roof” (Genesis 19:8).63Lot is referring to the angels who came to rescue him from the destruction of Sodom. There, because Lot was more righteous than his wife, the angels came to the shelter of his house and not the shelter of her house. However, here, where the angel came to her because she was righteous, that is why she is called Hatzlel. Why is it stated: Hatzlel, and it did not say Hatzel? It is because he appeared to the woman twice, once in the city and once in the field. “Behold now, you are barren and have not given birth” (Judges 13:3); he informed her that she was barren and that is why she had not given birth in order to introduce harmony between her and her husband, as she had been angry at her husband Manoaḥ because she was not giving birth. “But you will conceive, and you will bear a son,” (Judges 13:3), from here on you will conceive and you will bear a son.
“Now, please beware” (Judges 13:4); he cautioned her not to drink vinegar of wine and vinegar of intoxicating drink and the water in which grapes were soaked64See Numbers 6:3.. These are nothing other than precautions for wine, so that the nazirite will not come to drink wine, that is why the verse prohibited them for him. “And do not drink wine or intoxicating drink" (Judges 13:4), just as it says: “From wine and intoxicating drink he shall abstain” (Numbers 6:3), “…and do not eat any impurity” (Judges 13:4). Impure is nothing other than prohibited, as the Torah cautioned the nazirite not to eat anything “that may be derives from the grapevine,” (Numbers 6:4), just as it says: “…and grapes, fresh or dried, he shall not eat. [Throughout his days as a nazirite] he may not eat from anything that may be derived from the grapevine” (Numbers 6:3–4). “For behold, you will conceive and bear a son” (Judges 13:5). From here, the semen from the night was kept in her womb and she had not expelled it. When the angel said to her: “For behold, you will conceive and bear a son,” the womb absorbed that drop.
“A razor [umorah] shall not come upon his head” (Judges 13:5), just as it says: “A razor shall not pass on his head” (Numbers 6:5). Why is a razor called morah? It is because the hair fears [mityareh] nothing other than the razor as it shaves a shave of destruction, just as it says: “Do not destroy the corner of your beard” (Leviticus 19:27).
“For the lad will be a nazirite to God from the womb” (Judges 13:5). It was revealed before the Holy One blessed be He that Samson was one who would follow his eyes. That is why He cautioned him as a nazirite that he should not drink wine, because wine leads to licentiousness. If, when he was a nazirite, he followed his eyes, had he drunk wine there would have been no rehabilitation for him as he would have constantly been pursuing licentiousness. What is it that is said: “From the womb”? It is to realize what is stated: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:5). However, regarding the wicked what does it say? “The wicked are corrupt from the womb; liars go astray from birth” (Psalms 58:4). Likewise it says: “I was formed in iniquity; [in sin my mother conceived me]” (Psalms 51:7).
“He will begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines” (Judges 13:5). In him will be fulfilled the prophecy of Jacob , who said: “Dan will judge his people…Dan will be [a serpent]…[I await your deliverance, Lord]” (Genesis 49:16–18).
“The woman came and she told her husband, saying: A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like the appearance of an angel of God, very awesome…” (Judges 13:6). From here [we derive that] the Divine Presence would rest only upon those with a striking appearance. “He said to me: Behold, you will conceive [and give birth to a son]” (Judges 13:7), but what he said to her: “Behold now, you are barren” (Judges 13:3), she did not reveal to him, as she did not wish to reveal her inadequacy.
“As the lad will be a nazirite to God from the womb until the day of his death” (Judges 13:7). She added [the phrase]: “Until the day of his death,” as she did not know what was in the future. But the angel, who knew that he was going to lose his naziriteship by means of Delilah, that was why he did not say: “Until the day of his death.”
“Manoaḥ entreated [vayetar] the Lord, and said: Please, my Lord, the man [of God whom You sent, let him come again to us]” (Judges 13:8). Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: Why is the prayer of the righteous analogized to a pitchfork [eter]? It is to say to you: Just as the pitchfork overturns the grain in the field from place to place, so the prayer of the righteous overturns the attribute of cruelty to the attribute of mercy.
“God heeded the voice of Manoaḥ, [and the angel of God came again to the woman]” (Judges 13:9). Why did the angel of God return to the woman and did not come to Manoaḥ? It was in order to avoid invalidating his initial statements that he said to the woman. Alternatively, it was to endear her in his eyes.
“The woman hurried, ran, [and told her husband]” (Judges 13:10). It teaches that all actions of the righteous are with alacrity. “[Behold, the man] who on that day [bayom] came to me, [appeared to me]” (Judges 13:10). It does not say “today [hayom],” but rather, bayom. It teaches that the angel did not appear to her until the following day, because Manoaḥ did not pray until the morning prayer of the following day, just as it says: “Lord, in the morning hear my voice…” (Psalms 5:4). It teaches that the righteous seek clarity regarding their actions. “[Are you the man who spoke to the woman?] He said: I am” (Judges 13:11); I am initially and I am ultimately, as I am not changing my words.
“Manoaḥ said: Now, let your words come” (Judges 13:12). Manoaḥ said to him: ‘Until now, I have heard from the woman, and women are not qualified to instruct, and one may not rely on their statements. But, “now, let your words come,” I would like to hear from your mouth, as I do not believe her statements; perhaps she made changes in her statement, or subtracted or added.’ “What will be the guidelines for the lad?” (Judges 13:12); what naziriteship must he observe after he is born? “…and his actions?” (Judges 13:12); what shall his mother do all the days that she is pregnant with him? “The angel of the Lord said to Manoaḥ: “From everything that I said to the woman [let her beware]” (Judges 13:13), in order to accord honor to the woman and endear her to him. “Let her beware” (Judges 13:13), he said to him regarding vinegar of wine, vinegar of intoxicating drink, and the water in which grapes were soaked: “She shall not partake of anything that may be derived from the grapevine and she shall not drink wine or intoxicating drink” (Judges 13:14), in its plain sense. “And she shall not eat any impurity” (Judges 13:14), just as it says: “And grapes, fresh or dried, he shall not eat” (Numbers 6:3). “Everything that I commanded her, she shall observe” (Judges 13:14); what he said to her: “A razor shall not come upon his head” (Judges 13:5).
“Manoaḥ said to the angel of the Lord: Please let us detain [naatzera] you” (Judges 13:15). Manoaḥ said to him: ‘We had been obstructed, just as it says: “For the Lord had obstructed all wombs of the house of Avimelekh” (Genesis 20:18), and you brought us tidings of relief. Let us make a festival with you, just as it says: “On the eighth day it shall be an assembly [atzeret] for you” (Numbers 29:35). “And we will prepare a young goat before you” (Judges 13:15); you caused us to rejoice and we will rejoice with you with a goat, as rejoicing is only with meat.’
“The angel of the Lord said to Manoaḥ: If you detain me, I will not eat of your food” (Judges 13:16). The angel said to him: ‘It is not the way of the prophets of the Lord to receive payment for their prophecy.’ Regarding false prophets, what does it say? “You profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and for crumbs of bread, to kill…” (Ezekiel 13:19). But regarding true prophets, what does it say? “He65Elisha. said: As the Lord before whom I have stood lives, I will not accept” (II Kings 5:16).
“If you would prepare a burnt offering, offer it up to the Lord” (Judges 13:16). The angel intimated to him that he needed to offer up a burnt offering to the Lord in response to the good tidings, just as Abraham did when the Holy One blessed be He said to him: “To your offspring, I will give this land” (Genesis 12:7). Immediately, Abraham built an altar in response to the good tidings, as it is written: “He built an altar to the Lord, who appeared to him” (Genesis 12:7), and an altar is for nothing other than an offering.
“For Manoaḥ did not know that he was an angel of the Lord” (Judges 13:16). Why is it stated? It is because his wife said to him: “His appearance was like the appearance of an angel of God, very awesome” (Judges 13:6); she was under the impression that Manoaḥ identified that he was an angel, but, nevertheless, he invited him to eat, as he was mistaken, believing that there is eating on High. That is why it is stated: “For Manoaḥ did not know that he was an angel of the Lord.” That is why he invited him to eat. But had he known that he was an angel, he would not have said to him to eat, as he was well-versed in the fact that there is no eating on High. Why did he not identify him? From here you learn that when prophets would go on a mission of the Holy One blessed be He, the Divine Spirit that would rest upon them would confer awesomeness upon them in the eyes of their beholders, as everyone feared them, as they resembled angels.
Why, then, did the angels who came to inform Sarah regarding pregnancy eat, but this one did not want to eat? It is because those angels, when they first appeared to Abraham, they appeared to him in the image of wayfarers, and he brought them into his house as he was accustomed to, and invited them to eat. They did not want to deprive him of the exercise of hospitality and they ate with him. After they ate, they stated their mission. It did not appear as though they received payment for their mission. But this angel, initially he stated his mission. Had he eaten with him, it would have appeared as though he received payment for his mission. That is why he refrained from eating.
“Mano’aḥ said to the angel of the Lord: What is your name?” (Judges 13:17). It is because he did not identify him as an angel, that is why he asked him regarding his name. “So that when your words come to pass we will honor you [vekhibadnukha]” (Judges 13:17); Manoaḥ said to him: ‘Tell me your name so that I will ask where I might find you when your prophecy comes to pass, and we will give you a gift.’ Vekhibadnukha is nothing other than a gift, just as it says: “For I will honor you [ki khabed akhabedkha]” (Numbers 22:17).66Balak sought to convince Bilam to curse Israel on his behalf, and said he would honor him, meaning he would shower him with gifts of silver and gold.
“The angel of the Lord said to him: Why do you ask my name?” (Judges 13:18). The angel said to him: ‘You need not ask my name, as ultimately, you will never see me again.’ That is what is written: “It is inscrutable [vehu feli]” (Judges 13:18). Regarding himself, he said to him that he will be obscured from him, that he will never see him again, just as it says: “This knowledge is inscrutable to me. [It is sublime; I cannot reach it]” (Psalms 139:6). Alternatively, “It is inscrutable [vehu feli]” – the angel said to him: ‘I do not know to tell you my name as, in accordance with the mission upon which the Holy One blessed be He sends us, He calls us a name.’ That is: Vehu feli; in accordance with each and every wonder [pelia uflia] that He performs through us, He calls us a name. Alternatively, vehu feli, it is a name. The name of the angel is feli, based on his mission to render Samson a nazirite, just as it says: “For the lad will be a nazirite to God” (Judges 13:5). This is why He called him feli, like the matter that the verse said: “When a man or a woman will articulate [yafli] [to take the vow of a nazirite]…” (Numbers 6:2).
אַתְּ מוֹצֵא שֶׁרָמַז משֶׁה בְּפָרָשָׁה זוֹ לִנְזִירוּת שִׁמְשׁוֹן, לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁאֵין לְךָ דָּבָר כָּתוּב בִּנְבִיאִים וּכְתוּבִים שֶׁלֹא רָמְזוֹ משֶׁה בַּתּוֹרָה, אִישׁ זֶה הָיָה הַמַּלְאָךְ שֶׁבָּא לְהַזִּיר אֶת שִׁמְשׁוֹן שֶׁנִּקְרָא אִישׁ, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (שופטים יג, יא): הַאַתָּה הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ אֶל הָאִשָּׁה, מַהוּ (שופטים יג, יא): וַיֹּאמֶר אָנִי, אָמַר לוֹ הַמַּלְאָךְ אַתָּה חוֹשֵׁב בִּי שֶׁאֲנִי אִישׁ, וַאֲנִי אֵינִי אִישׁ אֶלָּא אֲנִי מַלְאָךְ. וְדִכְוָתֵיהּ (בראשית כז, כד): אַתָּה זֶה בְּנִי עֵשָׂו וַיֹּאמֶר אָנִי, אֵינִי עֵשָׂו אֶלָּא יַעֲקֹב. אוֹ אִשָּׁה, שֶׁלֹא נִרְאָה תְּחִלָּה אֶלָּא לָאִשָּׁה, כִּי יַפְלִא, שֶׁשֵּׁם שְׁמוֹ פֶּלִאי. לִנְדֹּר נֶדֶר נָזִיר לְהַזִיר לַה', כְּמָה דִכְתִיב (שופטים יג, ה): כִּי נְזִיר אֱלֹהִים יִהְיֶה הַנַּעַר.
You find that Moses alluded to the naziriteship of Samson in this portion, to teach you that there is no matter that is written in the Prophets and the Writings to which Moses did not allude in the Torah. “A man” (Numbers 6:2), this is the angel, who came to render Samson a nazirite, who was called a man, just as it says: “Are you the man who spoke to the woman?” (Judges 13:11). “He said: I am” (Judges 13:11). The angel said to him: ‘You think of me that I am a man, but I am not a man; rather, I am an angel.’ Similarly, “He said: Are you my son Esau? He said: I am” (Genesis 27:24). I am not Esau, but rather, Jacob.67Meaning the word "I" can sometimes mean I am not who you think I am.
“Or a woman” (Numbers 6:2), it is because he first appeared only to the woman. “When…will articulate [yafli]” (Numbers 6:2), as his name is peli. “To take the vow of a nazirite to abstain for the Lord” (Numbers 6:2), “for the lad will be a nazirite of God” (Judges 13:5).
דַּבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וגו'. תָּנֵי דַּבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, יִשְׂרָאֵל נוֹדְרִין נְזִירוּת וְאֵין הָעוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים נוֹדְרִים נְזִירוּת. וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵיהֶם, לְרַבּוֹת אֶת הָעֲבָדִים. אִישׁ וְלֹא קָטָן, אוֹ אִשָּׁה, לַעֲשׂוֹת הַנָּשִׁים כַּאֲנָשִׁים, וְזוֹ הִיא שֶׁשָּׁנִינוּ הַכּוּתִים אֵין לָהֶם נְזִירוּת נָשִׁים וַעֲבָדִים יֵשׁ לָהֶם נְזִירוּת, חוֹמֶר בְּנָשִׁים מִבַּעֲבָדִים שֶׁהוּא כּוֹפֶה עַבְדּוֹ וְאֵינוֹ כּוֹפֶה אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ, חוֹמֶר בַּעֲבָדִים מִבְּנָשִׁים שֶׁהוּא מֵפֵר נִדְרֵי אִשְׁתּוֹ וְאֵינוֹ מֵפֵר אֶת נִדְרֵי עַבְדּוֹ. הֵפֵר לְאִשְׁתּוֹ הֵפֵר עוֹלָמִית, הֵפֵר לְעַבְדּוֹ, יָצָא לַחֵרוּת מַשְׁלִים נְזִירוּתוֹ, עָבַר מִכְּנֶגֶד פָּנָיו, רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר לֹא יִשְׁתֶּה וְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר יִשְׁתֶּה. כִּי יַפְלִא, מִי שֶׁיּוֹדֵעַ לְהַפְלוֹת, מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ: מֻפְלָא הַסָּמוּךְ לְאִישׁ נְדָרָיו קַיָּמִין. דָּבָר אַחֵר, כִּי יַפְלִא, כְּשֶׁיִּפְרוֹשׁ לִנְדֹּר, פְּרַט לִמְהַרְהֵר בַּלֵּב. לִנְדֹּר נֶדֶר נָזִיר לָמָּה נֶאֶמְרָה פָּרָשָׁה זוֹ, לְפִי שֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר (במדבר ל, ג): אִישׁ כִּי יִדֹּר נֶדֶר לַה' אוֹ הִשָּׁבַע וגו', שֶׁאִם נָדַר יוֹם אֶחָד, אָסוּר יוֹם אֶחָד, שְׁנַיִם, אָסוּר שְׁנַיִם, מֵאוֹתוֹ הַמִּין שֶׁנָּדַר, מֵאוֹתוֹ הַמִּין אָסוּר, שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי אַף בִּנְזִירוּת כֵּן, לְכָךְ נֶאֶמְרָה פָּרָשָׁה זוֹ שֶׁאִם נָדַר יוֹם אֶחָד אוֹ שָׁעָה אַחַת אָסוּר שְׁלשִׁים יוֹם לִשְׁתּוֹת יַיִן וְלִטַּמָּא לַמֵּתִים וְאָסוּר בְּתִגְלַחַת. לִנְדֹּר נֶדֶר נָזִיר, לָמָּה כְּתִיב כָּאן נֶדֶר, לַעֲשׂוֹת נְזִירוּת כַּנְּדָרִים, מַה בַּנְּדָרִים עוֹבֵר עַל בַּל יַחֵל וְעַל בַּל תְּאַחֵר, אַף בַּנְּזִירוּת כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּהֵן, וּמַה בַּנְּדָרִים הָאָב מֵפֵר נִדְרֵי בִּתּוֹ וְהָאִישׁ מֵפֵר נִדְרֵי אִשְׁתּוֹ, אַף בִּנְזִירוּת כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּהֵן. נָזִיר לְהַזִּיר, לַעֲשׂוֹת כִּנּוּי נְזִירוּת כַּנְּזִירוּת, הָאוֹמֵר הֲרֵינִי נָזִּיק נָזִיחַ פָּזִיחַ, הֲרֵי זֶה נָזִיר. לְהַזִּיר, יָכוֹל שֶׁיַּזִּיר אֶת אֲחֵרִים, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר נָזִיר, אֶת עַצְמוֹ מַזִּיר וְאֵין מַזִּיר אֶת אֲחֵרִים, אֲבָל הֲלָכָה לְמשֶׁה מִסִּינַי שֶׁהָאִישׁ מַדִּיר אֶת בְּנוֹ בְּנָזִיר וְאֵין הָאִשָּׁה מַדֶּרֶת אֶת בְּנָהּ בְּנָזִיר. רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר: נָזִיר לְהַזִּיר, מִכָּאן שֶׁאָדָם קוֹבֵעַ עָלָיו נְזִירוּת בְּתוֹךְ נְזִירוּתוֹ. לְהַזִּיר לַה', שִׁמְעוֹן הַצַּדִּיק אָמַר מִיָּמַי לֹא אָכַלְתִּי אֲשַׁם נָזִיר אֶלָּא אֶחָד, פַּעַם אַחַת עָלָה אֵלַי אֶחָד מִן הַדָּרוֹם וּרְאִיתִיו אַדְמוֹנִי וִיפֵה עֵינַיִם וְטוֹב רֹאִי וּקְוֻצּוֹתָיו תַּלְתַּלִּים מְסֻדָּרוֹת תִּלִּים תִּלִּים, אָמַרְתִּי לוֹ מָה רָאִיתָ לְהַשְׁחִית אֶת הַשֵֹּׂעָר הַנָּאֶה הַזֶּה. נָם לִי: רַבִּי, רוֹעֶה הָיִיתִי בְּעִירִי וְהָלַכְתִּי לְמַלֵּא אֶת הַנִּיאוּב מִן הַמַּעְיָן, וְרָאִיתִי אֶת הַבּוּבְיָא שֶׁלִּי בְּתוֹךְ הַמַּיִם וּפָחַז יִצְרִי עָלַי וּבִקֵּשׁ לְאַבְּדֵנִי מִן הָעוֹלָם, אָמַרְתִּי לוֹ: רָשָׁע, מָה אַתָּה מִתְגָּאֶה בְּדָבָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ שֶׁלְּךָ, שֶׁל עָפָר, שֶׁל רִמָּה, וְשֶׁל תּוֹלֵעָה הוּא, עָלַי לְהַקְדִּישְׁךָ לַשָּׁמַיִם וּלְגַלֵּחֲךָ לַשָּׁמַיִם. וְהִרְכַּנְתִּי אֶת רֹאשִׁי וּנְשַׁקְתִּיו, וְאָמַרְתִּי לוֹ כְּמוֹתְךָ יִרְבּוּ עוֹשֵׂי רְצוֹן הַמָּקוֹם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, עָלֶיךָ אָמַר הַכָּתוּב לְהַזִּיר לַה'. רַבִּי מוֹנָא בָּעֵי, לָמָּה לֹא הָיָה שִׁמְעוֹן הַצַּדִּיק אוֹכֵל אֲשַׁם נָזִיר, אִם תֹּאמַר מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנָּזִיר חוֹטֵא הוּא עַל שֶׁצִּעֵר עַצְמוֹ מִן הַיַּיִן, וְכִי לֹא אָכַל שִׁמְעוֹן הַצַּדִיק חַטַּאת חֵלֶב אוֹ חַטַּאת דָּם מִיָּמָיו, סָבוּר שִׁמְעוֹן הַצַּדִּיק, בְּנֵי אָדָם מִתּוֹךְ הַקְּפָדָה הֵם נוֹדְרִים בְּנָזִיר, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהֵם נוֹדְרִים מִתּוֹךְ הַקְּפָדָה סוֹפָן לִתְהוֹת, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהוּא תּוֹהֶה נַעֲשׂוּ קָרְבְּנוֹתָיו כְּשׁוֹחֵט חֻלִּין בָּעֲזָרָה. וְזֶה מִתּוֹךְ יִשּׁוּב הַדַּעַת נָדַר וּפִיו וְלִבּוֹ שָׁוִים.
“Speak to the children of Israel…” (Numbers 6:2), it is taught: “Speak to the children of Israel” – Israel take a vow of naziriteship but the idolaters do not take a vow of naziriteship. “And say to them” (Numbers 6:2), to include the slaves. “A man,” but not a minor, “or a woman,” to render the women like the men.68The laws of naziriteship apply to women just as they apply to men. That is what we learned: The Samaritans69There are versions where this reads, the gentiles. Some say that it comes to teach that the legal status of the Samaritans is equal to that of gentiles. do not have naziriteship, women and slaves have naziriteship. There is a stringency regarding women more than slaves, as one compels his slave70He can compel him not to observe his naziriteship as long as he is in servitude. and does not compel his wife.71If he did not nullify his wife's vow on the day that he heard of the vow, he cannot compel her not to observe her naziriteship. There is a stringency regarding slaves more than women, as he nullifies the vows of his wife but he does not nullify the vow of his slave. If he nullified for his wife, he has nullified for perpetuity. If he nullified72If he did not allow his slave to observe his naziriteship. for his slave, when he is liberated, he completes his naziriteship. If he passed from his presence,73If the slave fled. Rabbi Meir says: He may not drink74This is to encourage him to return to his master so he can resume drinking wine. and Rabbi Yosei says: He may drink.75This is so he will not suffer from deprivation which could affect his fitness to serve his master when he returns.
“When…will articulate [ki yafli],” one who is able to distinguish [lehaflot]. From here they said: One who is able to distinguish [mufla] and will soon reach majority, his vows take effect. Alternatively, “when…will articulate” – when one articulates his vow, [this means] to the exclusion of one who ruminates [on becoming a nazir] in their heart.
“To take the vow of a nazirite” – why was this portion stated?76A person can take any vow. Why is there a special portion relating to the vow of the nazirite. It is because it says: “If a man takes a vow to the Lord, or takes [an oath]…” (Numbers 30:3); if one took a vow for one day, it is prohibited for one day,77If one takes a vow to abstain from something for one day, the vow obligates him for one day. for two, it is prohibited for two; from the species regarding which he took a vow, from that species he is prohibited. Do I hear that the same is true regarding naziriteship as well? This is why this portion is stated; whether he took a vow for one day or for one hour, it is prohibited for thirty days to drink wine, to become impure by means of a dead person, and it is prohibited to shave.
“To take the vow of a nazirite,” why is “vow” written here?78It could have just said: “To abstain for the Lord.” It is to render naziriteship like vows. Just as regarding vows one violates: “One shall not profane” (Numbers 30:3) and “you shall not delay” (Deuteronomy 23:22), the same is true regarding naziriteship. And just as regarding vows, the father nullifies the vows of his daughter and the husband violates the vows of his wife, the same is true regarding naziriteship.
“A nazirite, to abstain [nazir lehazir],” it is to render substitutes for naziriteship like naziriteship.79Even if someone does not say explicitly that they will be a nazir, but says instead a substitute phrase, it obligates them. One who says: Behold I am a nazik, naziaḥ, paziaḥ, he is a nazirite.
Lehazir, it is, perhaps that he can render others nazirites [sheyazir]? The verse states: “Nazirite” – he can render himself a nazirite but he cannot render others a nazirite. However, there is a halakha transmitted to Moses at Sinai that a man renders his son a nazirite, but a woman does not render her son a nazirite.
Rabbi Yishmael says: Nazir lehazir; [we learn] from here that a person can establish naziriteship during his naziriteship.80See Jerusalem Talmud, Nedarim 1:1.
“To abstain for the Lord.” Shimon HaTzadik said: In all my days, I had never eaten the guilt offering of a nazirite. One time, one from the south came and I saw him, that he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes, and a fine appearance, and his locks were curls, arranged in piles. I said to him: ‘What did you see that led you to destroy this fine hair?’81A nazirite shaves all of his hair when he completes his naziriteship. See Numbers 6:18. He whispered to me: ‘Rabbi, I was a shepherd in my city and I went to fill the vessel with water from the spring. I saw my reflection in the water and my evil inclination quickly overcame me and sought to eliminate me from the world. I said to it: Wicked one, why are you proud of something that is not yours? It is of dust, worms, and maggots. I will consecrate you to Heaven and shave you for the sake of Heaven.’ I lowered my head and kissed him and I said to him: ‘May there be many like you in Israel, who perform the will of the Omnipresent.’ In your regard, the verse said: “To abstain for the Lord.”
Rabbi Mona asked: Why would Shimon HaTzadik not eat the guilt offering of a nazirite? If you say it is because the nazirite is a sinner because he afflicted himself by abstaining from wine, did Shimon HaTzadik not partake of a sin offering of fats, or a sin offering of blood?82A sin offering brought by somebody who ate forbidden fats, or blood. Shimon Hatzadik believed that people take a vow of naziriteship in anger. Since they vow in anger, they will ultimately come to regret.83When they become impure by means of a corpse and are required to begin the naziriteship anew, they regret having taken the vow at all. Since he regrets, his offerings become tantamount to slaughtering non-consecrated animals in the Temple courtyard. However, since this one took a vow after consideration, his mouth and his heart were in concert.
מִיַּיִן וְשֵׁכָר יַזִּיר וגו' (במדבר ו, ג), הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ישעיה ה, כב כג): הוֹי גִּבּוֹרִים לִשְׁתּוֹת יָיִן וגו' מַצְדִיקֵי רָשָׁע עֵקֶב שֹׁחַד וגו'. תַּמָּן כְּתִיב (קהלת י, יז): אַשְׁרֵיךְ אֶרֶץ שֶׁמַּלְכֵּךְ בֶּן חוֹרִים, אֵימָתַי הָאָרֶץ בְּאַשְׁרֵי בִּזְּמַן שֶׁמַּלְכָּהּ עוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות לב, טז): וְהַלֻּחֹת מַעֲשֵׂה אֱלֹהִים הֵמָּה וגו', אַל תִּקְרֵי חָרוּת אֶלָּא חֵרוּת, שֶׁאֵין לְךָ בֶּן חוֹרִין אֶלָּא מִי שֶׁהוּא עוֹסֵק בְּתַלְמוּד תּוֹרָה בִּלְבָד. (קהלת י, יז): וְשָׂרַיִךְ בָּעֵת יֹאכֵלוּ, שֶׁקּוֹבְעִים עִתִּים לַתּוֹרָה וְאַחַר כָּךְ הֵם אוֹכְלִים, לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר (קהלת ט, ז): לֵךְ אֱכֹל בְּשִׂמְחָה לַחְמֶךָ וּשְׁתֵה בְּלֶב טוֹב יֵינֶךָ כִּי כְבָר רָצָה הָאֱלֹהִים אֶת מַעֲשֶׂיךָ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב אַחֲרָיו (קהלת י, יז): בִּגְבוּרָה וְלֹא בַשְּׁתִי, בִּגְבוּרָה שֶׁל תּוֹרָה וְלֹא בִּשְׁתִיָּה שֶׁל יַיִן, לְכָךְ אָמַר יְשַׁעְיָה גְּבוּרָה שֶׁל תּוֹרָה הִיא בְּאַשְׁרֵי, אֲבָל גְּבוּרַת יַיִן הוּא בְּאוֹי, הוֹי גִּבּוֹרִים לִשְׁתּוֹת יַיִן. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (משלי כג, כט ל): לְמִי אוֹי לְמִי אֲבוֹי וגו' לַמְּאַחֲרִים עַל הַיָּיִן וגו'. (ישעיה ה, כב): וְאַנְשֵׁי חַיִל לִמְסֹךְ שֵׁכָר, תַּמָּן כְּתִיב (שמות יח, כא כב): וְאַתָּה תֶחֱזֶה מִכָּל הָעָם וגו' וְשָׁפְטוּ אֶת הָעָם וגו', אֲבָל אֵלּוּ אֵינָם אַנְשֵׁי חַיִל אֶלָּא לִמְסֹךְ שֵׁכָר, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (משלי כג, ל): לַבָּאִים לַחְקוֹר מִמְסָךְ, מַהוּ לִמְסֹךְ שֵׁכָר, שֶׁהָיוּ מוֹסְכִים יַיִן חָזָק בְּיַיִן קַל כְּדֵי לְהִשְׁתַּכֵּר בּוֹ. מַעֲשֶׂה בַּחֲבוּרָה אַחַת שֶׁל זָלִין, שֶׁהָיוּ יוֹשְׁבִים וְשׁוֹתִים יַיִן עַד חֲצִי הַלַּיְלָה וְלֹא הָיוּ מִשְׁתַּכְּרִים, בָּא לָהֶם יַיִן אָמְרוּ לִמְזֹג יַיִן בְּיַיִן, הָיוּ עוֹשִׂים כֵּן עַד שֶׁנִּכְנַס בָּהֶם הַיַּיִן עָמְדוּ וְהִכּוּ זֶה אֶת זֶה מִתּוֹךְ הַשִּׁכְרוּת, נָפְלָה צְוָחָה בָּעִיר וּבָא הַלֻּפָּר וּתְפָשָׂם וּמְסָרָם לַמַּלְכוּת וְנֶאֶבְדוּ כֻלָּם, מִי גָּרַם לָהֶם הַיַּיִן שֶׁהָיוּ שׁוֹתִים, וַעֲלֵיהֶם נֶאֱמַר: לַבָּאִים לַחְקוֹר מִמְסָךְ, אֵין מִמְסָךְ אֶלָּא יַיִן בְּיָיִן, הֱוֵי: וְאַנְשֵׁי חַיִל לִמְסֹךְ שֵׁכָר. וּמִתּוֹךְ כָּךְ מְשַׁכְּחִין אֶת הַתּוֹרָה וּמְעַוְּתִים אֶת הַדִּין, שֶׁכֵּן כְּתִיב אַחֲרָיו: מַצְדִּיקֵי רָשָׁע עֵקֶב שֹׁחַד, וְאוֹמֵר (משלי לא, ה): פֶּן יִשְׁתֶּה וְיִשְׁכַּח מְחֻקָּק, יִשְׁכַּח אֶת הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁנִּתְּנָה עַל יְדֵי מְחוֹקֵק, זֶה משֶׁה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים לג, כא): כִּי שָׁם חֶלְקַת מְחֹקֵק סָפוּן, מַה כְּתִיב (משלי לא, ה): וִישַׁנֶּה דִּין כָּל בְּנֵי עֹנִי, הַיַּיִן וְהַדַּעַת נִמְשְׁלוּ כְּכִימָה וְעַקְרָב, כָּל שָׁעָה שֶׁכִּימָה נִרְאֵית בָּרָקִיעַ אֵין עַקְרָב נִרְאֶה בָּרָקִיעַ, וּמִשֶּׁעַקְרָב נִרְאֶה אֵין כִּימָה נִרְאֵית. כָּךְ הַיַּיִן מָשׁוּל כְּעַקְרָב, וְהַדַּעַת מְשׁוּלָה כְּכִימָה, מָה עַקְרָב מַכֶּה בְּעֻקְצוֹ, כָּךְ הַיַּיִן מַכֶּה בְּסוֹפוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי כג, לב): אַחֲרִיתוֹ כְּנָחָשׁ יִשָּׁךְ. וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁהַכִּימָה מַבְשֶׁלֶת אֶת הַפֵּרוֹת וְנוֹתֶנֶת בָּהֶם טַעַם, כָּךְ הַדַּעַת נוֹתֶנֶת רֵיחַ וְטַעַם בִּדְבָרָיו שֶׁל אָדָם, נִכְנַס הַיַּיִן יָצָא הַדָּעַת. כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁיֵּשׁ יַיִן אֵין דַּעַת, נִכְנַס יַיִן יָצָא סוֹד, יַיִן חֶשְׁבּוֹנוֹ שִׁבְעִים וְסוֹד חֶשְׁבּוֹנוֹ שִׁבְעִים. הַדַּעַת מִתְחַלֶּקֶת בְּאַרְבַּע חֲלָקִים, שְׁנַיִם בִּשְׁתֵּי הַכְּלָיוֹת וְחֵלֶק אֶחָד בַּפֶּה וְחֵלֶק אֶחָד בַּלֵּב. וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁשְּׁנֵי חֲלָקִים שֶׁל חָכְמָה בִּשְׁתֵּי כְּלָיוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (איוב לח, לו): מִי שָׁת בַּטֻּחוֹת חָכְמָה, אֵלּוּ הַכְּלָיוֹת שֶׁהֵן טוּחוֹת בַּגּוּף. וְחֵלֶק אֶחָד בַּלֵּב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים נא, ח): וּבְסָתֻם חָכְמָה תוֹדִיעֵנִי. וְחֵלֶק אֶחָד בַּפֶּה (תהלים מט, ד): פִּי יְדַבֵּר חָכְמוֹת, נִתְּנָה הַדַּעַת הַזּוֹ בְּאַרְבָּעָה כֵּלִים הָאֵלּוּ, וּכְנֶגְדָּן נָתְנוּ חֲכָמִים שִׁעוּר לַשִּׁכְרוּת בְּאַרְבָּעָה רְבִיעִית יַיִן חַי, שֶׁהֵן אַרְבָּעָה כּוֹסוֹת. שָׁתָה אָדָם כּוֹס אֶחָד שֶׁהוּא רְבִיעִית, יָצָא הָאָדָם מֵרְבִיעִית דַּעְתּוֹ. שָׁתָה שְׁנֵי כּוֹסוֹת, יָצְאוּ שְׁנֵי חֲלָקִים מִדַּעְתּוֹ. שָׁתָה שְׁלשָׁה כּוֹסוֹת, יָצְאוּ שְׁלשָׁה חֲלָקִים מִדַּעְתּוֹ וְלִבּוֹ מְטוֹרָף, מִיָּד הוּא מַתְחִיל לְדַבֵּר שֶׁלֹא כְּהֹגֶן. שָׁתָה כּוֹס רְבִיעִית, יָצָא כָּל דַּעְתּוֹ נִשְׁתַּעְמְמוּ כָּל הַכְּלָיוֹת וְנִטְרַף לִבּוֹ וְהַלָּשׁוֹן נִפְסַק, מְבַקֵּשׁ לְדַבֵּר וְאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹנוֹ עָגוּם. לְכָךְ אָמְרוּ כֹּהֵן שֶׁשָּׁתָה רְבִיעִית יַיִן פָּסוּל לַעֲבוֹדָה, יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁשָּׁתָה רְבִיעִית יַיִן, פָּסוּל מִלָּדוּן. לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁאֵין טוֹב יוֹצֵא מִן הַיַּיִן, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב מִיַּיִן וְשֵׁכָר יַזִּיר, וְחֹמֶץ מִפְּנֵי שִׁכְרוּת, לָמָּה אָסְרָה מִשְׁרַת עֲנָבִים, שֶׁהוּא לֹא יִשְׁתַּכֵּר מֵהֶם. וְגַם אָסְרָה אֲכִילַת כָּל הַיּוֹצֵא מִן הַגֶּפֶן, דְּבָרִים שֶׁלֹא יִשְׁתַּכֵּר מֵהֶם, לָמָּה כָּךְ, מִכָּאן שֶׁחַיָּב אָדָם לְהַרְחִיק עַצְמוֹ מִן הַכִּעוּר וּמִן הַדּוֹמֶה לַכִּעוּר וּמִן הַדּוֹמֶה לַדּוֹמֶה, מִכָּאן שֶׁעָשְׂתָה תּוֹרָה סְיָג לִדְבָרֶיהָ. תַּמָּן תְּנֵינַן (משנה אבות א-א): הֱווּ מְתוּנִים בַּדִּין וְהַעֲמִידוּ תַלְמִידִים הַרְבֵּה וַעֲשׂוּ סְיָג לַתּוֹרָה. כֵּיצַד, יַעֲשֶׂה אָדָם סְיָג לִדְבָרָיו כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁעָשְׂתָה תּוֹרָה סְיָג לִדְבָרֶיהָ, הֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר (ויקרא יח, יט): וְאֶל אִשָּׁה בְּנִדַּת טֻמְאָתָהּ לֹא תִקְרַב, יָכוֹל יְחַבְּקֶנָּהּ וִינַשְׁקֶנָּהּ וִידַבֵּר עִמָּהּ דְּבָרִים בְּטֵלִים, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: לֹא תִקְרַב. יָכוֹל תִּישַׁן עִמּוֹ בִּבְגָדֶיהָ עַל הַמִּטָּה, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: לֹא תִקְרַב. יָכוֹל תִּרְחַץ אֶת פָּנֶיהָ וּתְכַחֵל אֶת עֵינֶיהָ וְיִטֹּל הֵימֶנָּהּ אֶת הַכּוֹס, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (ויקרא טו, לג): וְהַדָּוָה בְּנִדָּתָהּ, כָּל יָמִים שֶׁהִיא דָּוָה תְּהֵא בְּנִדּוּי. מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ כָּל הַמְנַבֶּלֶת עַצְמָהּ בִּימֵי נִדָּתָהּ רוּחַ חֲכָמִים נוֹחָה הֵימֶנָּהּ, כָּל הַמִּתְקַשֶּׁטֶת עַצְמָהּ בִּימֵי נִדָּתָהּ אֵין רוּחַ חֲכָמִים נוֹחָה הֵימֶנָּהּ. הֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר (ויקרא יח, ו): אִישׁ אִישׁ אֶל כָּל שְׁאֵר בְּשָׂרוֹ וגו', מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ אַל יִתְיַחֵד אָדָם עִם כָּל הַנָּשִׁים בְּפוּנְדָּק אֲפִלּוּ עִם אֲחוֹתוֹ וַאֲפִלּוּ עִם בִּתּוֹ וְעִם חֲמוֹתוֹ, מִפְּנֵי טַעֲנַת הַבְּרִיּוֹת. לֹא יְסַפֵּר עִם אִשָּׁה בַּשּׁוּק אֲפִלּוּ עִם אִשְׁתּוֹ וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר עִם אִשָּׁה אַחֶרֶת, מִפְּנֵי טַעֲנַת הַבְּרִיּוֹת. כָּאן נֶאֱמַר אֵצֶל שְׁאֵר בָּשָׂר לֹא תִקְרְבוּ, וּלְהַלָּן הוּא אוֹמֵר לֹא תִקְרַב, לְדָבָר הַמֵּבִיא לִדְבַר עֲבֵרָה לֹא תִקְרְבוּ, הַרְחֵק מִן הַכִּעוּר וּמִן הַדּוֹמֶה לַכִּעוּר, שֶׁכָּךְ אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים הַרְחֵק מֵחֵטְא הַקַּל שֶׁמָּא יְבִיאֲךָ לִידֵי חָמוּר, הֱוֵי רָץ לְמִצְוָה קַלָּה שֶׁיְבִיאֲךָ לַחֲמוּרָה. אַחֲרִיתוֹ כְּנָחָשׁ יִשָּׁךְ, מָה הַנַּחָשׁ עַל יְדֵי שֶׁהֵסִית לְחַוָּה לִשְׁתּוֹת יַיִן נִתְקַלְּלָה הָאֲדָמָה בַּעֲבוּרוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ג, יז): אֲרוּרָה הָאֲדָמָה בַּעֲבוּרֶךָ, כָּךְ עַל יְדֵי יַיִן נִתְקַלֵּל שְׁלִישׁוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ט, כד כה): וַיִּקֶץ נֹחַ מִיֵּינוֹ וגו' וַיֹּאמֶר אָרוּר כְּנַעַן, זֶה הָיָה חָם שֶׁהָיָה בְּנוֹ שְׁלִישִׁי, וְהוּא נִקְרָא אֲבִי כְנָעַן. מַה צִּפְעוֹן זֶה מַפְרִישׁ בֵּין מִיתָה לְחַיִּים, כָּךְ מַפְרִישׁ הַיַּיִן אֶת הָאָדָם מִדַּרְכֵי חַיִּים לְדַרְכֵי הַמָּוֶת, לְפִי שֶׁהַיַּיִן גּוֹרֵם לוֹ לַעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (משלי לא, לג): עֵינֶיךָ יִרְאוּ זָרוֹת, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (תהלים פא, י): לֹא יִהְיֶה בְךָ אֵל זָר, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (במדבר ו, ג ד): וְכָל מִשְׁרַת עֲנָבִים לֹא יִשְׁתֶּה וגו' מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר יֵעָשֶׂה מִגֶּפֶן הַיַּיִן. עָשְׂתָה תּוֹרָה סְיָג לִדְבָרֶיהָ שֶׁלֹא יֹאכַל וְלֹא יִשְׁתֶּה מִכָּל דָּבָר הַנַּעֲשָׂה מִגֶּפֶן הַיִּין כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹא יָבוֹא לִשְׁתּוֹת, מַתְלָא אָמַר לֵךְ לֵךְ אָמְרִין לִנְזִירָא, סְחוֹר סְחוֹר, לְכַרְמָא לָא תִקְרָב. מִיַּיִן וְשֵׁכָר יַזִּיר, אֲפִלּוּ לֹא אָמַר אֶלָּא הֲרֵינִי נָזִיר מִן הַיַּיִן, הֲרֵי הוּא נָזִיר שָׁלֵם, לְפִי שֶׁמָּצִינוּ שְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים אֲסוּרִים בַּנָּזִיר, לִשְׁתּוֹת יַיִן, וּלְגַלַּח שְׂעָרוֹ, וְלִטַּמָּא לַמֵּתִים. יָכוֹל לֹא יְהֵא נָזִיר עַד שֶׁיַּזִּיר מִכֻּלָּם, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: מִיַּיִן וְשֵׁכָר יַזִּיר, אֲפִלּוּ מֵאֶחָד מִשְּׁלָשְׁתָּן הֲרֵי זֶה נָזִיר. אָמְרוּ הָאוֹמֵר הֲרֵינִי נָזִיר מִן הַחַרְצַנִּים, מִן הַזָּגִים, מִן הַתִּגְלַחַת, מִן הַטֻּמְאָה, הֲרֵי זֶה נָזִיר, וְכָל דִּקְדּוּקֵי נָזִיר עָלָיו. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הַגְּלִילִי אוֹמֵר: מִיַּיִן וְשֵׁכָר יַזִּיר, לָמָּה כָּפַל הַכָּתוּב יַיִן וְשֵׁכָר וַהֲלֹא יַיִן הוּא שֵׁכָר וְשֵׁכָר הוּא יַיִן, לָמָּה כֵן, לְפִי שֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר (דברים יד, כג): וְאָכַלְתָּ לִפְנֵי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ בַּמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר וגו' מַעְשַׂר דְּגָנְךָ וגו', יָכוֹל אַף הַנָּזִיר בְּמַשְׁמַע, וּמָה אֲנִי מְקַיֵּם מִיַּיִן וְשֵׁכָר יַזִּיר, בִּשְׁאָר כָּל הַמִּינִים חוּץ מִיֵּין מִצְוָה אוֹ אַף בְּיֵין מִצְוָה, וּמָה אֲנִי מְקַיֵם: וְאָכַלְתָּ לִפְנֵי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ בַּמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר וגו' מַעְשַׂר וגו', בִּשְׁאָר כָּל אָדָם חוּץ מִן הַנָּזִיר, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר מִיַּיִן וְשֵׁכָר יַזִּיר, לַעֲשׂוֹת יֵין מִצְוָה כְּיֵין רְשׁוּת. רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר הַקַּפָּר אוֹמֵר יַיִן, זֶה מָזוּג. שֵׁכָר, זֶה חַי. אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא יַיִן, זֶה חַי. וְשֵׁכָר, זֶה מָזוּג. תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (במדבר כח, ז): וְנִסְכֹּה יַיִן רְבִיעִית הַהִין וגו' הַסֵּךְ נֶסֶךְ שֵׁכָר, חַי אַתָּה מְנַסֵּךְ וְאֵין אַתָּה מְנַסֵּךְ מָזוּג, הָא אֵין עָלֶיךָ לוֹמַר כַּלָּשׁוֹן הָאַחֲרוֹן אֶלָּא כַּלָּשׁוֹן הָרִאשׁוֹן, יַיִן, זֶה מָזוּג. שֵׁכָר, זֶה חַי. יַזִּיר, אֵין נְזִירוּת בְּכָל מָקוֹם אֶלָּא פְּרִישׁוּת, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (ויקרא כב, כ): וְיִנָּזְרוּ מִקָּדְשֵׁי בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאוֹמֵר (ויקרא כה, ה): עִנְּבֵי נְזִירֶךָ, וְאוֹמֵר (הושע ט, י): וַיִּנָּזְרוּ לַבּשֶׁת, וְאוֹמֵר (זכריה ז, ג): הַאֶבְכֶּה בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַחֲמִשִּׁי הִנָּזֵר. הָא אֵין נְזִירוּת בְּכָל מָקוֹם אֶלָּא פְּרִישׁוּת. יַזִּיר, שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי מִסְּחוֹרָתוֹ וּמֵרְפוּאָתוֹ, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר לֹא יִשְׁתֶּה, בִּשְּׁתִיָּה הוּא אָסוּר וּמֻתָּר בִּרְפוּאָתוֹ וּבִסְחוֹרָתוֹ. חֹמֶץ יַיִן וְחֹמֶץ שֵׁכָר לֹא יִשְׁתֶּה, מַגִּיד שֶׁעָשָׂה בּוֹ חֹמֶץ כַּיַּיִן וְחֹמֶץ מִצְוָה כְּיֵין מִצְוָה. וְכָל מִשְׁרַת וגו', מַגִּיד שֶׁאִם שָׁרָה עֲנָבִים בַּמַּיִם, שֶׁהֵם בְּנוֹתֵן טַעַם. מִכָּאן אַתָּה דָן לְכָל אִסּוּרִים שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה, מָה אִם הַיּוֹצֵא מִן הַגֶּפֶן שֶׁאֵין אִסּוּרָן אִסּוּר עוֹלָם וְאֵין אִסּוּרָן אִסּוּר הֲנָאָה וְיֵשׁ לוֹ הֶתֵּר אַחַר אִסּוּרוֹ, עָשָׂה בוֹ טַעַם כְּעִקָּר. שְׁאָר אִסּוּרִין שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה שֶׁאִסּוּרָן אִסּוּר עוֹלָם וְאִסּוּרָן אִסּוּר הֲנָאָה וְאֵין לָהֶם הֶתֵּר לְאַחַר אִסּוּרָן, אֵינוֹ דִין שֶׁנַּעֲשֶׂה בוֹ טַעַם כְּעִקָּר. וַעֲנָבִים כְּמַשְׁמָעָן, לַחִים לְהָבִיא אֶת הַבּוֹסֶר, וִיבֵשִׁים לֹא יֹאכֵל, לְחַיֵּב עַל זֶה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ וְעַל זֶה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ, וּמִכָּאן אַתָּה דָן לְכָל אִסּוּרִין שֶׁל נָזִיר, וּמַה כָּאן שֶׁהוּא מִין אֶחָד וְהֵם שְׁנֵי שֵׁמוֹת חַיָּב עַל זֶה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ וְעַל זֶה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ, אַף כָּל שֶׁהֵם מִין אֶחָד וְהֵם שְׁנֵי שֵׁמוֹת, חַיָּב עַל זֶה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ וְעַל זֶה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ, לְהָבִיא יַיִן חָדָשׁ וַעֲנָבִים שֶׁהוּא חַיָּב שְׁנָיִם.
“From wine and intoxicating drink he shall abstain: vinegar of wine and vinegar of intoxicating drink he shall not drink; he shall not drink anything in which grapes were soaked, and grapes, fresh or dried, he shall not eat” (Numbers 6:3).
“From wine and intoxicating drink…” – that is what is written: “Woe, the valiant to drink wine…who vindicate the wicked following a bribe…” (Isaiah 5:22–23). There it is written: “Happy are you, land, that your king is a free man” (Ecclesiastes 10:17). When is the land characterized as happy? It is when its king engages in Torah, as it is stated: “The tablets were the work of God [and the writing was the writing of God, engraved [ḥarut] on the tablets]” (Exodus 32:16) – do not read it as ḥarut, but rather, as ḥerut, freedom, as one is a free man [ben ḥorin] only when one engages in Torah study. “And your princes dine at the proper time” (Ecclesiastes 10:17), as they set fixed times for Torah and they eat thereafter, to realize what is stated: “Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a good heart, as God has already accepted your actions” (Ecclesiastes 9:7). That is what is written thereafter: “In valor and not in drunkenness” (Ecclesiastes 10:17), with the valor of Torah, not with the drunkenness of wine. That is why Isaiah said: The valor of Torah is characterized with “happy” (Ecclesiastes 10:17), but the valor of wine is with “woe,” – “woe, the valiant to drink wine” (Isaiah 5:22). Likewise it says: “To whom, woe? To whom, alas…. To those who linger over wine” (Proverbs 23:29–30). “And capable men [anshei ḥayil] to mix intoxicating drink” (Isaiah 5:22). There it is written: “You shall identify from among the people [capable men [anshei ḥayil]]…They shall judge the people…” (Exodus 18:21–22). But these are capable men only to mix intoxicating drink, just as it says: “To those who come to assess the mixture” (Proverbs 23:30). What is “to mix intoxicating drink”? They would mix strong wine with weak wine in order to become inebriated with it. There was an incident involving a group of dissolute men, who would eat and drink until midnight but would not become inebriated. Wine was brought to them; they said mix wine with wine. They did so until the wine entered them. They arose and struck one another in a drunken state. Their cry circulated throughout the city. The constable came, apprehended them, transferred them to the custody of the kingdom, and they were all eliminated. What caused this to befall them? It was the wine that they were drinking. In their regard it is stated: “To those who come to assess the mixture” – the mixture is nothing other than wine mixed with wine. That is, “and capable men to mix intoxicating drink.” On account of this they forget the Torah and corrupt the law, as it is written thereafter: “Who vindicate the wicked following a bribe” (Isaiah 5:23), and it says: “Lest he drink, and forget what was legislated” (Proverbs 31:5) – he will forget the Torah that was given by means of the lawgiver, this is Moses, as it is stated: “As there the lawgiver’s plot is hidden” (Deuteronomy 33:21). What is written? “And subvert justice for all the children of the poor” (Proverbs 31:5).
Wine and knowledge are likened to the Pleiades and Scorpio. Whenever the Pleiades are visible in the sky, Scorpio is not visible in the sky, and when Scorpio is visible, the Pleiades are not visible. So, wine is likened to Scorpio, and knowledge is likened to the Pleiades. Just as the scorpion strikes with its tail, so, wine, strikes in its aftermath, as it is stated: “At its end, it bites like a serpent” (Proverbs 23:32). Just as the Pleiades ripens fruits and provides them with flavor, so, knowledge provides flavor and fragrance to a person’s words. Wine enters, knowledge exits. Any place there is wine, there is no knowledge. Wine enters, a secret emerges; the numerical value of wine [yayin] is seventy84Yod – 10, yod – 10, nun – 50 = 70. and the numerical value of secret [sod] is seventy.85Samekh – 60, vav – 6, dalet – 4 = 70.
Knowledge is divided into four portions; two in the two kidneys, one portion in the mouth, and one portion in the heart. From where is it derived that two portions of wisdom are in the two kidneys? It is as it is stated: “Who set wisdom in obscurity [batuḥot]?” (Job 38:36). These are the kidneys, that are obscured [tuḥot] in the body. And one portion in the heart, as it is stated: “Inform me of wisdom in the closed place” (Psalms 51:8). And one portion in the mouth, as it is stated: “My mouth will speak wisdom” (Psalms 49:4). Wisdom was placed in these four receptacles and, corresponding to them, the Sages established the measure of inebriation in four receptacles, each containing a quarter log of undiluted wine, which constitute four cups.86Of wine diluted in the customary manner. If a person drank one cup, which is a quarter log, one-quarter of his knowledge has departed. If he drank two cups, two portions of his knowledge have departed. If he drank three cups, three portions of his knowledge have departed, and his heart is confused. Immediately, he begins speaking inappropriately. If he drank the fourth cup, all of his knowledge has departed. Both his kidneys have gone mad, his heart is confused, and the tongue ceases. He seeks to speak but cannot. Instead, his tongue is despondent.
This is why they said that a priest who drank a quarter log of wine was disqualified from Temple service, and an Israelite who drank a quarter log of wine was disqualified from serving as a judge. This is to teach you that no good emerges from wine. That is what is written: “From wine and intoxicating drink he shall abstain: vinegar…” – due to inebriation. Why did the Torah prohibit “anything in which grapes were soaked,” that he would not become inebriated from them? Eating anything that emerges from the grapevine is also prohibited; things from which he would not become inebriated. Why? From here one learns that a person is obligated to distance himself from impropriety, and from anything resembling impropriety, and from anything that resembles anything that resembles it. From here one learns that the Torah established a fence surrounding its matters. There we learned: Be measured in judgment, establish many students, and establish a fence around the Torah (Mishna Avot 1:1).
How does a person establish a fence around his matters, like the Torah did around its matters? It says: “To a woman in her menstrual impurity you shall not approach” (Leviticus 18:19). May one, perhaps, hug her, kiss her, or speak idle matters with her? The verse states: “You shall not approach.” May she, perhaps, sleep with him on the bed clothed? The verse states: “You shall not approach.” May she, perhaps, wash her face and line her eyes, and may he take a cup from her? The verse states: “And one who is afflicted with her menstruation [benidata]…” (Leviticus 15:33), as long as she is afflicted, she shall be ostracized [benidui].87From her husband. From here they said: Any woman who makes herself repulsive during the days of her menstruation, the Sages are pleased with her. But any woman who adorns herself during the days of her menstruation, the Sages are not pleased with her.
It says: “Any man shall not approach his kin [to uncover nakedness]” (Leviticus 18:6). From here they said: A man may not enter into seclusion with any women at an inn, even with his sister, even with his daughter, and even with his mother-in-law, due to the [potential] allegations of the people [there]. One may not converse with a woman in the marketplace, even with one’s wife, and it goes without saying with another woman, due to the allegations of the people. Here, it is stated regarding his kin: “You shall not approach [tikrevu], and elsewhere it says: “You shall not approach [tikrav]” (Leviticus 18:19) – to a matter that brings one to a matter of transgression, you shall not approach; distance yourself from impropriety and from anything that resembles impropriety. For, so said the Sages: Distance yourself from a minor sin, lest it bring you to a major one; run to fulfill a minor mitzva, as it will bring you to a major one.
“At its end, it bites like a serpent” – 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, due to wine, one-third of the world was cursed, as it is stated: “Noah awoke from his wine…. He said: Cursed is Canaan” (Genesis 9:24–25). This is Ḥam, who was his third son, and he is called “the father of Canaan” (Genesis 9:18).
Just as this adder sets aside between life and 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).
Likewise, it says: “He shall not drink anything in which grapes were soaked…from anything that may be derived from the grapevine…” (Number 6:3–4). The Torah established a fence surrounding its matters, that one may not eat and may not drink from anything that is made from the grapevine, so that he will not come to drink. The parable says: ‘Go, go,’ one says to the nazirite, ‘around, around; do not approach the vineyard.’ “From wine and intoxicating drink he shall abstain,” even if he said only: ‘Behold, I am a nazirite from wine,’ he is a full-fledged nazirite, as we found three matters are prohibited for a nazirite: Drinking wine, shaving hair, and becoming impure due to a dead person. Is one, perhaps, not a nazirite until he abstains from all of them? The verse states: “From wine and intoxicating drink he shall abstain” – even from one of the three, he is a nazirite. They said: One who says: ‘Behold I am a nazirite from the [grape] seeds, from the [grape] skins, from shaving, from impurity’ is a nazirite, and all the minutiae of the nazirite are incumbent upon him.
Rabbi Yosei HaGelili says: “From wine and intoxicating drink he shall abstain” – why did the verse repeat “wine and intoxicating drink”? Is wine not intoxicating drink, and is intoxicating drink not wine? Why did it do so? It is because it says: “You shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place that He will choose…the tithe of your grain, [your wine…]” (Deuteronomy 14:23), is it perhaps that even the nazirite is included? How then do I realize: “From wine and intoxicating drink he shall abstain”? It is with all other types of wine, with the exception of the wine of mitzva. Or, is it even with the wine of mitzva? How, then, do I realize the verse: “You shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place that He will choose…the tithe [of your grain, your wine…]”? It is regarding all other people, with the exception of the nazirite. The verse states: “From wine and intoxicating drink he shall abstain,” to render the wine of mitzva as wine that is optional.
Rabbi Elazar HaKapar says: “Wine,” this is diluted, “and intoxicating drink,” this is undiluted. Or, perhaps, it is that “wine,” this is undiluted; “and intoxicating drink,” this is diluted? The verse states: “Its libation is wine, one fourth of a hin…” (Leviticus 23:13), “Pour a libation of intoxicating drink […to the Lord]” (Numbers 28:7). You pour libations of undiluted wine, but you do not pour libations with diluted wine. Consequently, you must not say like the second formulation, but rather like the first formulation: “Wine,” this is diluted; “and intoxicating drink,” this is undiluted.
“He shall abstain [yazir]” – nezirut everywhere is nothing other than separation. Likewise, it says: “They shall abstain [veyinazeru] from the sacred items of the children of Israel” (Leviticus 22:2). And it says: “[You shall not…gather] the grapes that you left untended [nezirekha]” (Leviticus 25:5). And it says: “They separated themselves [vayinazeru] from me and turned to the shameful” (Hosea 9:10). And it says: “Shall I weep during the fifth month, abstaining [hinazer]?” (Zechariah 7:3). Consequently, nezirut everywhere is nothing other than separation. “He shall abstain” – do I hear, from his commerce and from his healing? The verse states: “He shall not drink” – drinking is forbidden to him, but his medical needs and his commerce are permitted.88He is allowed to sell wine, and place wine on a wound if necessary.
“Vinegar of wine and vinegar of intoxicating drink he shall not drink,” this tells that it rendered vinegar like wine in this regard, and the vinegar of a mitzva like the wine of a mitzva.89If he took a vow to drink vinegar and then vowed to become a nazirite, he cannot drink the vinegar.
“Anything in which…were soaked” – it tells that if one soaked grapes in water, its status is determined by the flavor.90If the water tastes like wine, it is prohibited for him. From here you expound to all Torah prohibitions: If what is derived from the vine, the prohibition of which is not an eternal prohibition,91The prohibitions of the nazirite are limited in time. At the time of the vow the person determines the amount of time that he will be a nazirite (with a thirty day minimum). and the prohibition of which is not a prohibition against benefit,92A nazirite may not drink wine, but he may benefit from wine. For example, he can sell wine. and there is dissolution of the prohibition,93A nazirite can have his vow abrogated if he has a sufficient reason. it rendered flavor the same as substance; the rest of the Torah prohibitions, prohibitions that are eternal, prohibitions that are prohibitive of benefit, and there is no dissolution of the prohibitions, is it not logical that we would render flavor the same as substance?
“And grapes,” in their plain sense; “fresh” to include the unripe; “or dried, he shall not eat,” to incur liability for this by itself, and for that by itself. From here you expound to all nazirite prohibitions. If, here, where it is one species with two names, one incurs liability for this by itself and for that by itself, so, too, in all cases where there is one species with two names, one incurs liability for this by itself and for that by itself.94If he was warned not to eat grapes and nevertheless ate fresh grapes and dried grapes, he gets punished twice, once for eating fresh grapes and once for eating dried grapes. This comes to include new wine and grapes, that he incurs liability for two.
כֹּל יְמֵי נִזְרוֹ מִכֹּל וגו' (במדבר ו, ד), בָּא הַכָּתוּב לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁאִם אָכַל כַּזַּיִת מִכֻּלָּם שֶׁהוּא לוֹקֶה אֶת הָאַרְבָּעִים, מִכָּאן אַתָּה דָן לְכָל אִסּוּרִין שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה, מָה אִם הַיּוֹצֵא מִן הַגֶּפֶן שֶׁאֵין אִסּוּרוֹ אִסּוּר עוֹלָם וְאֵין אִסּוּרוֹ אִסּוּר הֲנָאָה וְיֵשׁ לוֹ הֶתֵּר לְאַחַר אִסּוּרוֹ, הֲרֵי הֵן מִצְטַרְפִין זֶה עִם זֶה לְכַזַּיִת, שְׁאָר אִסּוּרִין שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה שֶׁאִסּוּרָן אִסּוּר עוֹלָם וְאִסּוּרָן אִסּוּר הֲנָאָה וְאֵין לָהֶם הֶתֵּר אַחַר אִסּוּר, דִּין הוּא שֶׁיִּצְטָרְפוּ זֶה עִם זֶה לְכַזַּיִת. מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר יֵעָשֶׂה מִגֶּפֶן הַיַּיִן, שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי אַף הֶעָלִין וְהַלּוּלָבִין בְּמַשְׁמַע, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר מֵחַרְצַנִּים וְעַד זָג, מַה פְּרָט מְפֹרָשׁ פְּרִי וּפְסוֹלֶת פֶּרִי, אַף אֵין לִי אֶלָּא פְּרִי וּפְסוֹלֶת פֶּרִי, לְהוֹצִיא אֶת הֶעָלִין וְאֶת הַלּוּלָבִין שֶׁאֵינָן פְּרִי וּפְסוֹלֶת פֶּרִי. מֵחַרְצַנִּים, מִעוּט חַרְצַנִּים שְׁנַיִם, וְעַד זָג, אֶחָד, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲזַרְיָה אֵלּוּ הֵן הַחַרְצַנִּים וְאֵלּוּ הֵן הַזַּגִּים, הַחַרְצַנִּים אֵלוּ הַחִיצוֹנִים, וְהַזַּגִּין אֵלּוּ הַפְּנִימִים, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (שמות כח, לד): פַּעֲמֹן זָהָב וְרִמּוֹן, וּמְתַרְגְּמִינָן זַגָּא דְדַהֲבָא וְרִמּוֹנָא, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יְהוּדָה. וְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר שֶׁלֹא תִטְעֶה כַּזּוֹג שֶׁל בְּהֵמָה הַחִיצוֹן זוֹג וְהַפְּנִימִי עִנְבָּל. לֹא יֹאכֵל, אֵין אֲכִילָה פָּחוֹת מִכַּזַּיִת, מִכָּאן לְאִסּוּרֵי נָזִיר בְּכַזַּיִת.
“All the days of his naziriteship, from anything that may be derived from the grapevine, from seeds to skin, he shall not eat” (Numbers 6:4).
“All the days of his naziriteship, from anything…” – the verse comes to teach you that if someone ate an olive-bulk from all of them, he is flogged forty lashes. From here you expound to all Torah prohibitions: If what is derived from the vine, whose prohibition is not an eternal prohibition, and the prohibition is not a prohibition of benefit, and there is dissolution of the prohibition, they join each other to constitute an olive-bulk, the rest of the Torah prohibitions, which are eternal prohibitions, and the prohibitions are prohibitions of benefit, and there is no dissolution of the prohibitions, it is logical that they would join each other to constitute an olive-bulk.
“From anything that may be derived from the grapevine” – I hear even the leaves and the tendrils are included? The verse states: “From seeds to skin” – just as the detail is explicit, the fruit and the waste of the fruit, so I include only the fruit and the waste of the fruit, to the exclusion of leaves and tendrils, that are not fruit or waste of the fruit.
“Meḥartzanim” – the minimum of “ḥartzanim” is two; “ad zag,” one, this is the statement of Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya.
Which are ḥartzanim and which are zagim? The ḥartzanim are the external and the zagim are the internal, just as it says: “Golden bell and pomegranate” (Exodus 28:34), and we translate it: The clapper [zaga]95The zag is on the inside of the bell. of gold and a pomegranate; this is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda. Rabbi Yosei says: So you shall not be mistaken, it is like the bell [zug] of an animal; the external is zug while the internal is inbal. “He shall not eat” – eating is no less than an olive-bulk. From here one learns that the prohibitions of a nazirite are an olive-bulk.96A nazirite is liable for punishment if he eats an olive-bulk or more.
כָּל יְמֵי נֶדֶר נִזְרוֹ תַּעַר וגו' (במדבר ו, ה), לָמָּה צִוָּה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לַנָּזִיר שֶׁלֹא יְגַלַּח רֹאשׁוֹ, לְפִי שֶׁהַגִּלּוּחַ מְתָאֳרוֹ וּמְיַפֵּהוּ, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאָמְרוּ בְּיוֹסֵף (בראשית מא, יד): וַיְגַלַּח וַיְחַלֵּף שִׂמְלֹתָיו, וְגִדּוּל שֵׂעָר הוּא לְשֵׁם צַעַר וְאֵבֶל, לְכָךְ אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אַחַר שֶׁזֶּה הַנָּזִיר אָסַר עַצְמוֹ מִן הַיַּיִן כְּדֵי לְהַרְחִיק עַצְמוֹ מִן הַזִּמָּה, יְגַדֵּל שַׂעֲרוֹ, שֶׁיִּתְנַבֵּל וְיִצְטָעֵר, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹא יְהֵא יֵצֶר הָרָע קוֹפֵץ עָלָיו, (במדבר ו, ה): עַד מְלֹאת הַיָּמִם אֲשֶׁר יַזִּיר לַה' קָדשׁ יִהְיֶה, יֶאֶסְרוֹ עָלָיו כַּקֹּדֶשׁ, שֶׁלֹא יִגַּע בּוֹ, לְפִי שֶׁהוּא הִקְדִּישׁוֹ לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם. כָּל יְמֵי נֶדֶר נִזְרוֹ, נִדְרוֹ תָּלוּי בִּנְזִירוּתוֹ וְלֹא נְזִירוּתוֹ תְּלוּיָה בְּנִדְרוֹ. תַּעַר לֹא יַעֲבֹר, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא תָּעַר, תָּלָשׁ, מְרַט וְסִפְסֵף כָּל שֶׁהוּא מִנַּיִן, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר לֹא יַעֲבֹר עַל רֹאשׁוֹ, לְרַבּוֹת כָּל הַמַּעֲבִירִים, וּמֵאַחַר שֶׁסּוֹפֵנוּ לְרַבּוֹת כָּל דָּבָר, מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: תַּעַר, לְפִי שֶׁלֹא לָמַדְנוּ לְתִגְלַחַת אַחֲרוֹנָה שֶׁהִיא בְּתַעַר, לְלַמֵּד מִמְּצוֹרָע אִי אֶפְשָׁר, שֶׁאֵין דָּנִין קַל מֵחָמוּר לְהַחְמִיר עָלָיו. רַבִּי אוֹמֵר אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ הֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר: תַּעַר לֹא יַעֲבֹר עַל רֹאשׁוֹ עַד מְלֹאת, הַתּוֹרָה אָמְרָה אַחַר מְלֹאת לֹא תְהֵא תִּגְלַחַת אֶלָּא בְּתַעַר. דָּבָר אַחֵר, אִם כֵּן לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר: תַּעַר, לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁאֵינוֹ סוֹתֵר לֹא זוּג וְלֹא מִסְפָּרַיִם, אֶלָּא תַּעַר בִּלְבָד. עַד מְלֹאת הַיָּמִם אֲשֶׁר יַזִּיר לַה', מִנַּיִן אַתָּה אוֹמֵר שֶׁאִם אָמַר הֲרֵינִי נָזִיר סְתָם מְגַלֵּחַ יוֹם שְׁלשִׁים וְאֶחָד, וְאִם גִּלַּח יוֹם שְׁלשִׁים לֹא יָצָא, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: עַד מְלֹאת הַיָּמִם אֲשֶׁר יַזִּיר לַה', וַעֲדַיִן לֹא מָלְאוּ יְמֵי נְזִירוּתוֹ. קָדשׁ יִהְיֶה, זוֹ קְדֻשַּׁת שֵׂעָר. קָדשׁ יִהְיֶה, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא הַמְּגַלֵּחַ כְּמִצְוָתוֹ שֶׁשְֹּׂעָרוֹ אָסוּר, גִּלְחוּהוּ אֲחֵרִים קֹדֶם זְמַנּוֹ וְשֶׁלֹא כְּמִצְוָתוֹ מִנַּיִן, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: קָדשׁ יִהְיֶה, מִכָּל מָקוֹם. בַּר פַּדָּא אָמַר סְתָם נְזִירוּת שְׁלשִׁים יוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: קָדשׁ יִהְיֶה, יִהְיֶה בְּגִימַטְרִיָּא שְׁלשִׁים. רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן כְּנֶגֶד תֵּשַׁע וְעֶשְׂרִים פַּעַם שֶׁכָּתוּב בַּפָּרָשָׁה נֶדֶר, נָזִיר, נִזְרוֹ, יַזִּיר, לְהַזִּיר, וְהָא אִינוּן תְּלָתִין. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר בּוֹן אֶחָד לְחִדּוּשׁוֹ יָצָא, וְאֵינוֹ עוֹלֶה מִן הַמִּנְיָן. עַל דַּעְתֵּיהּ דְּבַר פַּדָּא אִם גִּלַּח יוֹם שְׁלשִׁים לֹא יָצָא, עַל דַּעְתֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל אִם גִּלַּח יוֹם שְׁלשִׁים יָצָא. אִית דְּבָעֵי נַשְׁמְעִנַּהּ מִן הֲדָא, (במדבר ו, ה): גַּדֵּל פֶּרַע שְׂעַר רֹאשׁוֹ, כַּמָּה הוּא גִּדּוּל שֵׂעָר שְׁלשִׁים יוֹם. וְאִית דְּבָעֵי נַשְׁמְעִנַּהּ מִן הֲדָא עַד מְלֹאת הַיָּמִם, וְכַמָּה הֵם יָמִים מְלֵאִים שְׁלשִׁים יוֹם. מֵעַתָּה אִם גִּלַּח יוֹם שְׁלשִׁים לֹא יָצָא. אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק בַּר אֶלְעָזָר הַיָּמִים, הַיָּמִם כְּתִיב, גַּדֵּל פֶּרַע, לוֹמַר לָךְ שֶׁהוּא גַּדֵּל פֶּרַע, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ פֶּרַע, מִי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ פֶּרַע מִנַּיִן, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: שְׂעַר רֹאשׁוֹ, מַשֶּׁהוּ. אֵין לִי שֶׁהוּא אָסוּר לְגַלֵּחַ אֶלָא עַד מְלֹאת הַיָּמִם אֲשֶׁר יַזִּיר, מִנַּיִן שֶׁהוּא אָסוּר בְּתִגְלַחַת עַד הֲבָאַת קָרְבָּן, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (במדבר ו, כ): וְאַחַר יִשְׁתֶּה הַנָּזִיר יָיִן, וְכִי הַנָּזִיר שׁוֹתֶה יַיִן, אֶלָּא מֻפְנֶה לְהַקִּישׁ לָדוּן מִמֶּנּוּ גְּזֵרָה שָׁוָה, נֶאֱמַר כָּאן נָזִיר (במדבר ו, ה): כָּל יְמֵי נֶדֶר נִזְרוֹ, וְנֶאֱמַר לְהַלָּן נָזִיר, מַה לְּהַלָּן אָסוּר לִשְׁתּוֹת עַד הֲבָאַת קָרְבָּן, אַף כָּאן אָסוּר לְגַלֵּחַ עַד הֲבָאַת קָרְבָּן.
“All the days of the vow of his naziriteship, a razor shall not pass on his head; until completion of the days that he will abstain for the Lord, he shall be holy; the hair of his head shall grow long” (Numbers 6:5).
“All the days of the vow of his naziriteship, a razor…” – why did the Holy One blessed be He command the nazirite that he shall not shave the hair of his head? It is because shaving accentuates his features and beautifies him, just as they said regarding Joseph: “He shaved and changed his garments” (Genesis 41:14). Growing hair is for the purpose of suffering and mourning. That is why the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Since this nazirite prohibited wine for himself in order to distance himself from lewdness, let him grow his hair so he will be repulsive and suffer, so that the evil inclination will not accost him.’ “Until completion of the days that he will abstain for the Lord, he97This interpretation understands קדוש יהיה as “it (his hair) shall be holy.” shall be holy” – it shall be prohibited for him like consecrated items, that he may not touch it, because he consecrated it for the sake of Heaven.
“All the days of the vow of his naziriteship” – his vow is contingent upon his naziriteship, but his naziriteship is not contingent upon his vow.98As stated above, regardless of the formulation of his vow, e.g., if he vowed to observe naziriteship for fewer than thirty days or for only some of the prohibitions, he is a full-fledged nazirite.
“A razor shall not pass” – I have only a razor; from where is it derived regarding one who severs near the root, plucks, or trims, regardless of the amount? The verse states: “Shall not pass [yaavor] on his head,” to include all removers [hamaavirim]. Considering that ultimately we will include everything, why does the verse state: “Razor”? It is because we did not learn that the final shave is with a razor. To derive it from the leper is impossible, as one does not derive a lenient case from a stringent case,99A leper has to shave all of his hair when he becomes pure, a nazirite only shaves the hair on his head when he has completed his naziriteship. to be stringent in its regard.100If “razor” does not apply to the matter of the prohibition where it is written, apply it to the final shave. Rabbi Yosei says: It is not necessary, as it says: “A razor shall not pass on his head; until completion” – but after completion, the shave shall be with nothing other than a razor. Alternatively, if so, why is "razor" stated? It is to teach you that neither scissors nor shears voids his naziriteship; only a razor alone.101See Nazir 40a.
“Until completion of the days that he will abstain for the Lord,” from where is it derived that if one said: ‘I am a nazirite,’ without specifying, he shaves on day thirty-one, but if he shaved on day thirty he did not fulfill his obligation? The verse states: “Until completion of the days that he will abstain for the Lord,” and the days of his naziriteship have not yet been completed.
“He shall be holy,” this is the sanctity of the hair. “He shall be holy” – I can only conclude that if someone shaves in accordance with his mitzva, that his hair is prohibited.102It is forbidden to derive any benefit from the hair of a nazirite, see Mishna Kiddushin 2:9. If others shaved him, if he shaved before his time, or not in accordance with his mitzva, from where is it derived [that the hair is prohibited]? “It shall be holy,” in any case.
Bar Pada said: Unspecified naziriteship is for thirty days, as it is stated: “He shall be holy [kadosh yihye].” The numerical value of yihye is thirty.103Yod – 10, heh – 5, yod – 10, heh – 5 = 30. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman in the name of Rabbi Yonatan: Corresponding to the twenty-nine times that “vow [neder],” “nazirite [nazir],” “his naziriteship [nizro],” “he shall abstain [yazir],” and “to abstain [lehazir]” are written in the portion. But are they not thirty? Rabbi Yosei bar Bon said: One is for its novelty,104It is needed to teach the basic halakha. and is not included in the tally. According to the opinion of bar Pada, if he shaved on day thirty, he did not fulfill his obligation. According to the opinion of Rabbi Shmuel, if he shaved on day thirty, he fulfilled his obligation.
Some seek to have us derive it from this: “The hair of his head shall grow long.” How much is considered hair growth? It is thirty days. And some seek to have us derive it from this: “Until completion [melot] of the days [hayamim].” How many are full [mele’im] days?105These are the number of days in a full month. Thirty days. Consequently, if he shaved on day thirty, he did not fulfill his obligation. Rabbi Yitzḥak bar Elazar said: Hayamim is written without a yod.106This indicates that it is the number of days in a month that is not full, i.e. twenty-nine.
“Shall grow long,” to tell you that he is capable of growing hair long.107In thirty days. I have only one who has long hair; one who does not have long hair, from where do I derive it? “The hair of his head” – any amount.
I can only conclude that he is prohibited from shaving until “completion of the days that he will abstain.” From where is it derived that he is prohibited from shaving until the bringing of the offering? The verse states: “Then the nazirite may drink wine” (Numbers 6:20). Does the nazirite drink wine? Rather, it is here108The word is mentioned in the verse. in order to derive and learn a verbal analogy from it. Here it is stated nazirite: “All the days of the vow of his naziriteship” (Numbers 6:5), and there109Numbers 6:20. nazirite is stated. Just as there it is prohibited to drink until the bringing of the offering, here, too, it is prohibited to shave until the bringing of the offering.
כָּל יְמֵי הַזִּירוֹ לַה' וגו' (במדבר ו, ו), בֹּא וּרְאֵה שֶׁכָּל מִי שֶׁמְּקַדֵּשׁ אֶת עַצְמוֹ מִלְּמַטָּה מְקַדְּשִׁין אוֹתוֹ מִלְּמַעְלָה, זֶה לְפִי שֶׁמַּזִּיר אֶת עַצְמוֹ מִן הַיַּיִן וְנוֹהֵג צַעַר בְּעַצְמוֹ שֶׁלֹא יְגַלֵּחַ רֹאשׁוֹ כְּדֵי לִשְׁמֹר עַצְמוֹ מִן הָעֲבֵרָה, אוֹמֵר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הֲרֵי הוּא חָשׁוּב לְפָנַי כְּכֹהֵן גָדוֹל, מַה כֹּהֵן אָסוּר לִטַּמָּא לְכָל הַמֵּתִים, אַף נָזִיר אָסוּר לִטַּמָּא לְכָל הַמֵּתִים, מַה בְּכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל כְּתִיב (ויקרא כא, יב): כִּי נֵזֶר שֶׁמֶן מִשְׁחַת אֱלֹהָיו עָלָיו, אַף בַּנָּזִיר הוּא אוֹמֵר (במדבר ו, ז): כִּי נֵזֶר אֱלֹהָיו עַל רֹאשׁוֹ, מַה בְּכֹהֵן כְּתִיב (דברי הימים א כג, יג): וַיִּבָּדֵל אַהֲרֹן לְהַקְדִּישׁוֹ קֹדֶשׁ קֳדָשִׁים, אַף נָזִיר נִקְרָא קָדוֹשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר ו, ח): כָּל יְמֵי נִזְרוֹ קָדשׁ הוּא לַה'. בֹּא וּרְאֵה כַּמָּה הַמִּצְווֹת מְעַטְּרוֹת אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, וַהֲלֹא גִּדּוּל שֵׂעָר נִוּוּל הוּא לָאָדָם, שֶׁהוּא אֵינוֹ חוֹפֵף רֹאשׁוֹ, וּלְפִי שֶׁהוּא מְגַדְּלוֹ לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם קְרָאוֹ הַכָּתוּב עֲטָרָה לְרֹאשׁוֹ, הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב: כִּי נֵזֶר אֱלֹהָיו עַל רֹאשׁוֹ. כָּל יְמֵי הַזִּירוֹ וגו', נָזִיר שֶׁכָּל יָמָיו אָסוּר לִשְׁתּוֹת וּלְגַלֵּחַ וְלִטַּמָּא לַמֵּתִים, וְאִם גִּלַּח וְשָׁתָה יַיִן וְנִטְמָא לַמֵּתִים סוֹפֵג אֶת הָאַרְבָּעִים, עַל הַיַּיִן מִנַּיִן שֶׁלּוֹקֶה, דִּכְתִיב (במדבר ו, ד): כֹּל יְמֵי נִזְרוֹ וגו', לַעֲשׂוֹת יָמִים שֶׁל אַחַר מְלֹאת כַּיָּמִים שֶׁלִּפְנֵי מְלֹאת. לְגַלֵּחַ מִנַּיִן, דִּכְתִיב (במדבר ו, ה): כָּל יְמֵי נֶדֶר נִזְרוֹ וגו', לְרַבּוֹת יָמִים שֶׁל אַחַר מְלֹאת כַּיָּמִים שֶׁלִּפְנֵי מְלֹאת. עַל הַטֻּמְאָה מִנַּיִן, דִּכְתִיב כָּל יְמֵי הַזִּירוֹ לַה' וגו', לַעֲשׂוֹת יָמִים שֶׁל אַחַר מְלֹאת כַּיָּמִים שֶׁלִּפְנֵי מְלֹאת. שְׁלשָׁה מִנִּין אֲסוּרִים בְּנָזִיר, הַטֻּמְאָה וְהַתִּגְלַחַת וְהַיּוֹצֵא מִן הַגֶּפֶן. הַטֻּמְאָה מִנַּיִן, דִּכְתִיב (במדבר ו, ו): כָּל יְמֵי הַזִּירוֹ לַה' עַל נֶפֶשׁ מֵת וגו'. תִּגְלַחַת מִנַּיִן, דִּכְתִיב (במדבר ו, ה): כָּל יְמֵי נֶדֶר נִזְרוֹ תַּעַר לֹא יַעֲבֹר עַל רֹאשׁוֹ. הַיּוֹצֵא מִן הַגֶּפֶן, דִּכְתִיב (במדבר ו, ד): כֹּל יְמֵי נִזְרוֹ מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר יֵעָשֶׂה מִגֶּפֶן וגו'. חֹמֶר בַּטֻּמְאָה וּבַתִּגְלַחַת מִבַּיּוֹצֵא מִן הַגֶּפֶן, שֶׁהַטֻּמְאָה וְהַתִּגְלַחַת סוֹתְרִים וְהַיּוֹצֵא מִן הַגֶּפֶן אֵינוֹ סוֹתֵר. וְחֹמֶר בַּיּוֹצֵא מִן הַגֶּפֶן מִבַּטֻּמְאָה וְתִגְלַחַת, שֶׁלֹא הֻתַּר כְּלַל הַיּוֹצֵא מִן הַגֶּפֶן וְהֻתַּר בְּתִגְלַחַת מִצְוָה, כְּגוֹן מְצוֹרָע, דְּנַפְקָא מֵרֹאשׁוֹ הָאָמוּר בַּמְּצוֹרָע הַמְיֻתָּר, לְהָבִיא נָזִיר מְצוֹרָע שֶׁמְגַלֵּחַ, וְהֻתַּר בְּמֵת מִצְוָה לִטַּמָּא. חֹמֶר בַּטֻּמְאָה מִתִּגְלַחַת, שֶׁהַטֻּמְאָה סוֹתֶרֶת אֶת הַכֹּל וְחַיָּבִין עָלֶיהָ קָרְבָּן, וְתִגְלַחַת אֵינָהּ סוֹתֶרֶת אֶלָּא שְׁלשִׁים יוֹם וְאֵין חַיָּבִין עָלֶיהָ קָרְבָּן. עַל נֶפֶשׁ מֵת לֹא יָבֹא, שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי נַפְשׁוֹת בְּהֵמָה בְּמַשְׁמַע, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כד, יח): מַכֵּה נֶפֶשׁ בְּהֵמָה, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (במדבר ו, ז): לְאָבִיו וּלְאִמּוֹ, בַּמֶּה עִנְיָן מְדַבֵּר בְּנַפְשׁוֹת אָדָם. רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ, הֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר לֹא יָבֹא בִּנְפָשׁוֹת הַמְּטַמְּאוֹת בְּבִיאָה הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן נַפְשׁוֹת אָדָם. לְאָבִיו לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר, לְפִי שֶׁהוּא כּוֹלֵל בְּכֹהֵן הֶדְיוֹט (ויקרא כא, א): לְנֶפֶשׁ לֹא יִטַּמָּא בְּעַמָּיו, וְחָזַר וְהִתִּירוֹ לַקְּרוֹבִים (ויקרא כא, ב): כִּי אִם לִשְׁאֵרוֹ וגו', יָכוֹל אַף נָזִיר כֵּן יְהֵא מֻתָּר לִטַּמָּא לַקְּרוֹבִים, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר לְאָבִיו, לוֹמַר שֶׁאֵינוֹ מִטַּמֵּא לַקְּרוֹבִים. וּלְאִמּוֹ לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר, לְפִי שֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר בַּנָּזִיר לֹא יִטַּמָּא לָהֶם בְּמֹתָם, רַבִּי אוֹמֵר בְּמֹתָם אֵין מִטַּמֵּא, אֲבָל מִטַּמֵּא הוּא בְּנִגְעָן וּבְזִיבָתָן, וְאֵין לִי אֶלָּא בְּנָזִיר, בְּכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל מִנַּיִן, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (ויקרא כא, יא): וּלְאִמּוֹ בְּכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל, שֶׁלֹא הָיִיתִי צָרִיךְ, שֶׁכְּבָר קַל וָחֹמֶר הוּא, וּמָה אִם בַּמָּקוֹם שֶׁכֹּהֵן הֶדְיוֹט מִטַּמֵּא לְאָחִיו מֵאָבִיו אֵין כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל מִטַּמֵּא לְאָבִיו, מָקוֹם שֶׁאֵין כֹּהֵן הֶדְיוֹט מִטַּמֵא לְאָחִיו מֵאִמּוֹ דִּין הוּא שֶׁלֹא יְהֵא כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל מִטַּמֵּא לְאִמּוֹ. אִם זָכִיתָ מִן הַדִּין, מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר וּלְאִמּוֹ בְּכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל, מֻפְנֶה לְהַקִּישׁ לָדוּן מִמֶּנּוּ גְּזֵרָה שָׁוָה, נֶאֱמַר בְּכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל אִמּוֹ, וְנֶאֱמַר בַּנָּזִיר אִמּוֹ, מָה אִמּוֹ הָאָמוּר בַּנָּזִיר מִטַּמֵּא בְּנִגְעָן וּבְזִיבָתָן, אַף אִמּוֹ הָאָמוּר בְּכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל מִטַּמֵּא בְּנִגְעָן וּבְזִיבָתָן. (במדבר ו, ז): לְאָחִיו, לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר, לְאָחִיו אֵינוֹ מִטַּמֵּא אֲבָל מִטַּמֵּא הוּא לְמֵת מִצְוָה. (במדבר ו, ז): וּלְאַחֹתוֹ, מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר, הֲרֵי שֶׁהָיָה הוֹלֵךְ לִשְׁחֹט אֶת פִּסְחוֹ וְלָמוּל אֶת בְּנוֹ וְשָׁמַע שֶׁמֵּת לוֹ מֵת, יָכוֹל יִטַּמָּא, אָמַרְתָּ: לֹא יִטַּמָּא לָהֶם בְּמֹתָם, יָכוֹל לֹא יִטַּמָּא לְמֵת מִצְוָה, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וּלְאַחֹתוֹ, לַאֲחוֹתוֹ אֵינוֹ מִטַּמֵּא אֲבָל מִטַּמֵּא הוּא לְמֵת מִצְוָה. נֶאֱמַר: לְאָחִיו, לְהַתִּירוֹ לִטַּמָּא לְמֵת מִצְוָה, שֶׁאֵינוֹ אֶלָּא אִסּוּר לָאו, לֹא יִטַּמָּא לָהֶם. וְנֶאֱמַר: וּלְאַחֹתוֹ, לְהַתִּירוֹ לִטַּמָּא אֲפִלּוּ בִּמְקוֹם פֶּסַח וּמִילָה, דְּחַיָּבֵי כְּרִיתוֹת הֵן, אֲבָל לִבְנוֹ וּלְבִתּוֹ לֹא נֶאֱמַר, שֶׁאֵין הַקְּטַנִּים נִזּוֹרִין. רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר: נֶפֶשׁ, אֵלּוּ הָרְחוֹקִים, מֵת, אֵלוּ הַקְּרוֹבִים, לְאָבִיו, לְאָבִיו אֵינוֹ מִטַּמֵּא אֲבָל מִטַּמֵּא הוּא לְמֵת מִצְוָה. וְאִם נֶאֱמַר לְאָבִיו, לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר וּלְאִמּוֹ, אִם נֶאֱמַר אָבִיו, וְלֹא נֶאֱמַר אִמּוֹ הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר לְכָךְ לֹא יִטַּמָּא לוֹ מִשּׁוּם דַּחֲזָקָה בְּעַלְמָא הוּא, אֲבָל אִמּוֹ דְּוַדַּאי יְלִידְתֵּיהּ לִטַּמָּא לָהּ, וְאִי כָּתַב רַחֲמָנָא אִמּוֹ הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר, לְאִמּוֹ הוּא דְּלָא, דְּלָא אָזֵיל זַרְעָהּ בַּתְרָהּ, אֲבָל אָבִיו כֵּיוָן שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב: לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם, אֵימָא לִטַּמָּא לֵיהּ, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: לְאָבִיו. לְאָחִיו, שֶׁאִם הוּא כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל וְנָזִיר, לְאָחִיו אֵינוֹ מִטַּמֵּא אֲבָל מִטַּמֵּא הוּא לְמֵת מִצְוָה. וּלְאַחֹתוֹ, שֶׁאִם הָיָה הוֹלֵךְ לִשְׁחֹט פִּסְחוֹ וְלָמוּל אֶת בְּנוֹ, לַאֲחוֹתוֹ אֵינוֹ מִטַּמֵּא אֲבָל מִטַּמֵּא הוּא לְמֵת מִצְוָה. לֹא יִטַּמָּא לָהֶם בְּמֹתָם, אֲבָל עוֹמֵד הוּא בַּהֶסְפֵּד וּבַשּׁוּרָה. רַבִּי אוֹמֵר בְּמוֹתָם אֵינוֹ מִטַּמֵּא אֲבָל מִטַּמֵּא הוּא בְּנִגְעָם וּבְזִיבָתָם, (במדבר ו, ז): כִּי נֵזֶר אֱלֹהָיו עַל רֹאשׁוֹ, לְהַגִּיד מַה גָּרַם.
“All the days of his abstinence to the Lord, he shall not approach a dead person” (Numbers 6:6).
“All the days of his abstinence to the Lord….” Come and see that anyone who sanctifies himself below, they sanctify him above. This one, because he abstains from wine and conducts himself with suffering in that he does not shave the hair of his head in order to protect himself from transgression, the Holy One blessed be He says: ‘He is considered before Me like a High Priest.’ Just as it is prohibited for a priest to become impure for all corpses, so it is prohibited for a nazirite to become impure for all corpses. Just as regarding the High Priest, it is written: “For the crown of the anointing oil of his God is on him” (Leviticus 21:12), so, by the nazirite it says: “For the crown of his God is on his head” (Numbers 6:7). Just as regarding the priest, it is written: “Aaron was set apart, to sanctify him as most holy” (I Chronicles 23:13), so, the nazirite is called holy, as it is stated: “All the days of his naziriteship he is holy to the Lord” (Numbers 6:8). Come and see how much the mitzvot adorn Israel. Does growing hair long not render a person repulsive, as he is unable to shampoo his hair? But because he grows it for the sake of Heaven, the verse characterizes it as a crown for his head. That is what is written: “For the crown of his God is on his head.”
“All the days of his abstinence...” – a nazirite whose days are completed110But who did not yet bring the sacrifice which terminates the naziriteship. is forbidden to drink, to shave, and to become impure due to dead people. If he shaved, drank wine, or became impure due to dead people, he incurs forty lashes. Regarding wine, from where is it derived that he is flogged? It is written: “All the days of his naziriteship [from anything that may be derived from the grapevine…he shall not eat]” (Numbers 6:4), rendering the days after completion like the days before completion. Regarding shaving, from where is it derived? It is as it is written: “All the days of the vow of his naziriteship, [a razor shall not pass on his head]” (Numbers 6:5), to include the days after completion like the days before completion. Regarding impurity, from where is it derived? It is as it is written: “All the days of his abstinence to the Lord, [he shall not approach a dead person],” rendering the days after completion like the days before completion.
Three categories are prohibited for the nazirite; impurity, shaving, and what is derived from the grapevine. Impurity, from where is it derived? It is as it is written: “All the days of his abstinence to the Lord, [he shall not approach] a dead person.” Shaving, from where is it derived? It is as it is written: “All the days of the vow of his naziriteship, a razor shall not pass on his head.” (Numbers 6:5) What is derived from the grapevine, from where is it derived? It is as it is written: “All the days of his naziriteship, from anything that may be derived from the grapevine [he shall not eat]” (Numbers 6:4). There is a stringency in impurity and shaving, more than in what may be derived from the grapevine, as impurity and shaving voids the naziriteship and what emerges from the grapevine does not void. There is a stringency in what may be derived from the grapevine, more than in impurity and shaving, as what may be derived from the grapevine has no allowance at all, but shaving for a mitzva, e.g., a leper, as it is derived from the extraneous “his head”111Leviticus 14:9. that is stated regarding the leper to include a nazirite leper, that he shaves. And there is an allowance to become impure for a met mitzva.112This is a corpse with no one to bury it. There is a stringency in impurity more than in shaving, as impurity voids everything and one is obligated to bring an offering for it, but shaving voids only thirty days and one is not obligated to bring an offering for it.
“He shall not approach [lo yavo] a dead person [nefesh met].” I hear that even dead animals [nafshot behema] are included, like the matter that is stated: “One who kills an animal [nefesh behema]” (Leviticus 24:18). The verse states: “For his father and for his mother […he shall not become impure]” (Numbers 6:7); regarding what matter is the verse speaking? It is regarding dead people. Rabbi Yishmael says: This is not necessary. It says lo yavo; it is regarding the dead who impurify through bia,113Entry under the same roof as the corpse. and these are dead people.
“For his father,” why is it stated? It is because it [the law] is broad regarding a common priest: “He shall not become impure from a dead person among his people” (Leviticus 21:1) and then it permits him regarding relatives: “Except for his relative [who is close to him: For his mother, for his father, for his son, for his daughter, for his brother]” (Leviticus 21:2); perhaps the same is true regarding the nazirite? The verse states: “For his father,” saying that he may not become impure for relatives.
“And for his mother,” why is it stated? It is because it says regarding the nazirite: “He shall not become impure for them upon their death” (Numbers 6:7). Rabbi says: Upon their deaths he may not become impure, but for their leprosy or for their ziva,114See Leviticus 15:1–15, 25–30. he may become impure. Regarding the High Priest, from where is it derived? The verse states: “And for his mother” (Leviticus 21:11), regarding the High Priest, which was unnnecesary for me, as it is already an a fortiori inference: If in an instance where a common priest may become impure for his paternal brother, the High Priest may not become impure for his father, in an instance where a common priest may not become impure for his maternal brother, it follows that the High Priest may not become impure from his mother. If you obtained this logically, why does the verse state: “And for his mother,” regarding the High Priest? It is here in order to derive and learn a verbal analogy from it. “His mother” is stated regarding the High Priest and “his mother” is stated regarding the nazirite. Just as “his mother” that is written regarding the nazirite [is regarding her death], but he may become impure for her leprosy or for her ziva, so, too, regarding “his mother” that is written regarding the High Priest, he may become impure for her leprosy of for her ziva.
“For his brother” (Numbers 6:7), why is it stated? For his brother he may not become impure, but he may become impure for a met mitzva. “And for his sister” (Numbers 6:7), why is it stated? One who was going to slaughter his Paschal lamb and to circumcise his son and he heard that a relative of his died, shall he, perhaps, become impure? You said: “He shall not become impure for them upon their death.” Shall he, perhaps, not become impure for a met mitzva? The verse states: “For his sister,” for his sister he does not become impure, but he becomes impure for a met mitzva. “For his brother” is stated to permit him to become impure for a met mitzva, which is only a prohibition: “He shall not become impure for them.” “And for his sister” is to permit him to become impure even in the place of the Paschal lamb and circumcision, for which one incurs liability for karet. But for his son and for his daughter are not stated, as minors cannot become nazirites.
Rabbi Akiva says: Nefesh, these are those who are unrelated. Met, these are those who are relatives. “For his father” he may not become impure, but he may become impure for a met mitzva. If “for his father” is stated, why is “and for his mother” stated? Had his father been stated and his mother had not been stated, I would have said: This is why he may not become impure for him, because he [his status as his father] is based on presumed status, but his mother, who certainly bore him, let him become impure for her. And had the All Merciful written "his mother," I would have said: It is for his mother that he may not, as her offspring are not attributed to her, but his father, because the verse said: “By their families, by their patrilineal houses” (Numbers 1:2); let us say that he may become impure for him. That is why “for his father” is stated. “For his brother” – that were he a High Priest and a nazirite, he may not become impure for his brother, but he may become impure for a met mitzva. “And for his sister” – that were he going to slaughter his Paschal lamb or to circumcise his son, he may not become impure for his sister, but he may become impure for a met mitzva.
“He shall not become impure for them upon their death,” but he stands there at the eulogy and at the line.115This is the line of those comforting the mourners. This is in contradistinction to the High Priest, who is not present at those occasions. Rabbi says: Upon their death” he does not become impure, but he becomes impure for their leprosy and for their ziva.
“For the crown of his God is on his head,” to relate what is the cause.
כֹּל יְמֵי נִזְרוֹ קָדשׁ הוּא לַה' (במדבר ו, ח), לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר, לְפִי שֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר (במדבר ו, ה): עַד מְלֹאת הַיָּמִם, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ פֶּסֶק לִנְזִירוּתוֹ, נְזִיר עוֹלָם מִנַּיִן, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: כֹּל יְמֵי נִזְרוֹ, לְהָבִיא נְזִיר עוֹלָם. קָדשׁ הוּא לַה', זוֹ קְדֻשַּׁת הַגּוּף.
“All the days of his naziriteship he is holy to the Lord” (Numbers 6:8).
“All the days of his naziriteship he is holy to the Lord.” Why is it stated? Because it says: “until completion of the days” (Numbers 6:5) – I only have those for whom there is an end to their naziriteship, from where do I derive [the concept that there may be] an eternal nazirite? The verse states: “All the days of his naziriteship,” to include an eternal nazirite. “He is holy to the Lord,” this is the sanctity of the body.116That he may not make it impure through coming in contact with a corpse.
וְכִי יָמוּת מֵת עָלָיו (במדבר ו, ט), בִּמְחֻוֶּרֶת עָלָיו הַטֻּמְאָה, לְהוֹצִיא אֶת הַסָּפֵק, זוֹ טֻמְאַת הַתְּהוֹם. אֵי זוֹ טֻמְאַת הַתְּהוֹם, כָּל שֶׁאֵין מַכִּירָהּ אֶחָד בְּסוֹף הָעוֹלָם, הָיָה מַכִּירָהּ אֶחָד בְּסוֹף הָעוֹלָם אֵין זוֹ טֻמְאַת הַתְּהוֹם. הָיָה טָמוּן בְּתֶבֶן אוֹ בִּצְרוֹרוֹת, הֲרֵי זוֹ טֻמְאַת הַתְּהוֹם, בְּמַיִם בַּאֲפֵלָה וּבִנְקִיקֵי הַסְּלָעִים, אֵין זוֹ טֻמְאַת הַתְּהוֹם, וְלֹא אָמְרוּ טֻמְאַת הַתְּהוֹם אֶלָּא לַמֵּת בִּלְבָד. (במדבר ו, ט). בְּפֶתַע פִּתְאֹם, רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן אָמַר בְּפֶתַע, זֶה שׁוֹגֵג, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (במדבר לה, כב): בְּפֶתַע בְּלֹא אֵיבָה הֲדָפוֹ. פִּתְאֹם, זֶה אוֹנֶס, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (במדבר יב, ד): וַיֹּאמֶר ה' פִּתְאֹם אֶל משֶׁה וגו'. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי: פִּתְאֹם, זֶה מֵזִיד, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (משלי כב, ג): וּפְתָיִים עָבְרוּ וְנֶעֱנָשׁוּ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, פִּתְאוֹם, זֶה שׁוֹגֵג, דִּכְתִיב (משלי יד, טו): פֶּתִי יַאֲמִין לְכָל דָּבָר. וְכִי מֵאַחַר שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּפִתְאֹם לְהוֹצִיא מִמֶּנּוּ מֵזִיד אוֹנֵס וְשׁוֹגֵג, לָמָּה צָרִיךְ הַכָּתוּב לִכְתֹּב: בְּפֶתַע, לְהָבִיא אֶת הַשּׁוֹגֵג, אִלּוּ לֹא נִכְתַּב: פֶּתַע, הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר כִּי מֵבִיא קָרְבָּן עַל טֻמְאָתוֹ הֵיכָא דְנִטְמָא בְּשׁוֹגֵג, מִידֵי דַּהֲוָה אַכָּל הַתּוֹרָה כֻּלָּה, אֲבָל אֹנֶס וּמֵזִיד אֵימָא לָא, כָּתַב רַחֲמָנָא פֶּתַע, דְּשׁוֹגֵג הוּא, לְגַלּוֹת עַל פִּתְאֹם דְּאֹנֶס וּמֵזִיד הוּא, וַאֲפִלּוּ הָכֵי חַיָּב קָרְבָּן עַל טֻמְאָתוֹ. (במדבר ו, ט): וְטִמֵּא רֹאשׁ נִזְרוֹ, בְּמִי שֶׁהָיָה טָהוֹר וְנִטְמָא, הֲרֵי הוּא חַיָּב בְּהַעֲבָרַת שֵׂעָר וּבַהֲבָאַת קָרְבָּן וְלִפְטֹר הַנָּזִיר בְּקָבֶר. (במדבר ו, ט): וְגִלַּח רֹאשׁוֹ. רֹאשׁוֹ הוּא מְגַלֵּחַ וְאֵין מְגַלֵּחַ כָּל שְׂעָרוֹ. (במדבר ו, ט): בְּיוֹם טָהֳרָתוֹ, בְּיוֹם הֲזָיָתוֹ בַּשְּׁבִיעִי, אַתָּה אוֹמֵר בְּיוֹם הֲזָיָתוֹ בַּשְּׁבִיעִי אוֹ בַּשְּׁמִינִי, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (במדבר ו, ט): בַּיוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי יְגַלְּחֶנּוּ, אִי בַּשְּׁבִיעִי, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹא הִזָּה, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: בְּיוֹם טָהֳרָתוֹ, בְּיוֹם הֲזָיָתוֹ. בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא שְׁבִיעִי, שְׁמִינִי, תְּשִׁיעִי וַעֲשִׂירִי מִנַּיִן, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר יְגַלְּחֶנּוּ. אֵין לִי אֶלָּא בַּיּוֹם, בַּלַּיְלָה מִנַּיִן, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר יְגַלְּחֶנּוּ. אֵין לִי אֶלָּא תִּגְלַחַת הַטֻּמְאָה, תִּגְלַחַת טָהֳרָה מִנַּיִן, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר יְגַלְּחֶנּוּ. כֵּיצַד, הָיָה מַזֶּה בַּשְּׁלִישִׁי וּבַשְּׁבִיעִי וּמְגַלֵּחַ בַּשְּׁבִיעִי וּמֵבִיא קָרְבְּנוֹתָיו בַּשְּׁמִינִי, וְאִם גִּלַּח בַּשְּׁמִינִי, מֵבִיא קָרְבְּנוֹתָיו בּוֹ בַּיּוֹם, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא.
If a corpse shall die near him with unexpected suddenness, and make impure his consecrated head, he shall shave his head on the day of his purification, on the seventh day he shall shave it” (Numbers 6:9).
“If a corpse shall die near him” – this is in a case where the impurity is clear; to the exclusion of a case of uncertainty, this is the impurity of the depths.117When the nazir became impure from a concealed or buried corpse which nobody was aware of at the time the nazir came in contact with it. Which is the impurity of the depths? It is any case where there is no one, even at the ends of the earth, who can identify it [the corpse]. If there were one at the ends of the earth who could identify it, this is not the impurity of the depths. If it was concealed in hay or pebbles, this is the impurity of the depths. If it was in water, darkness, or boulder crevices, this is not the impurity of the depths. They said impurity of the depths only regarding a corpse alone.
“With unexpected suddenness [befeta pitom],” Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Befeta, this is unwitting, as it says: “With suddenness [befeta], without enmity, he pushed him” (Numbers 35:22).118This is one of the examples of an unwitting murderer. Pitom, this is by force of circumstance, as it says: “The Lord said pitom to Moses, [Aaron and Miriam]” (Numbers 12:4). The Rabbis say: Pitom is intentional, as it says: “But simpletons [uftayim] continued and were punished” (Proverbs 22:3). Alternatively, pitom, this is unwitting, as it is written: “A peti will believe anything” (Proverbs 14:15). If pitom can mean intentional, by force of circumstance and unwitting, why did the verse need to write befeta to include the unwitting?119The word pitom can mean intentional, by force of circumstance, or unwitting, so why did the verse also use the word befeta? Had befeta not been written, I would have said that one brings an offering for his impurity where he was impure unwittingly, just as it is throughout the entire Torah, but if it was by force of circumstance or intentional, I would say that he is not. The All Merciful wrote peta, which is unwitting, to reveal regarding pitom, that it is by force of circumstance or intentional, and nevertheless, he is obligated to bring an offering for his impurity.
“And make impure his consecrated head, [he shall shave his head]” – regarding one who was ritually pure and became impure, he is obligated in the removal of hair and the bringing of an offering, and to exempt a nazirite located at a grave.120Who at the time of the vow was impure because he was in a graveyard. “He shall shave his head” – he shaves his head but he does not shave all his hair.
“On the day of his purification,” it is on the day of his sprinkling, on the seventh. Do you say: On the day of his sprinkling, on the seventh, or on the eighth? The verse states: “On the seventh day he shall shave it.” If on the seventh, even though he did not sprinkle? The verse states: “On the day of his purification” – on the day of his sprinkling. “On the seventh day” – I have only the seventh, from where do I derive the eighth, ninth, and tenth?121That if he did not shave on the seventh day, he can shave at a later date. The verse states: “He shall shave it.” I have only during the day, from where do I derive at night? The verse states: “He shall shave it.” I have only shaving in impurity, from where do I derive shaving in purity?122That he can shave at night also when he shaves in purity. The verse states: "He shall shave it." How so? He would sprinkle on the third and the seventh, shave on the seventh, and bring his offerings on the eighth. If he shaved on the eighth, he brings his offering on that same day; this is the statement of Rabbi Akiva.
וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי (במדבר ו, י), לְהוֹצִיא אֶת הַשְּׁבִיעִי, אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא לְהוֹצִיא אֶת הַתְּשִׁיעִי, נֶאֱמַר כָּאן שְׁמִינִי, וְנֶאֱמַר לְהַלָּן שְׁמִינִי (ויקרא כב, כז): וּמִיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי וָהָלְאָה וגו', מַה שְּׁמִינִי הָאָמוּר לְהַלָּן הִכְשִׁיר בּוֹ שְׁמִינִי וּמִשְּׁמִינִי וָהָלְאָה, אַף שְׁמִינִי הָאָמוּר כָּאן הִכְשִׁיר בּוֹ שְׁמִינִי וּמִשְּׁמִינִי וָהָלְאָה. אִלּוּ אָמַר תּוֹרִים, יָכוֹל הַרְבֵּה, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (במדבר ו, י): יָבִא שְׁתֵּי תֹרִים, לֹא אָמַרְתִּי אֶלָּא שְׁתַּיִם. יָכוֹל יָבִיא תּוֹרִים וּבְנֵי יוֹנָה, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (במדבר ו, י): אוֹ שְׁנֵי בְּנֵי יוֹנָה. יָכוֹל יָבִיא פְּרִידָה אַחַת מִזּוֹ וּפְרִידָה אַחַת מִזּוֹ, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: שְׁתֵּי תֹרִים אוֹ שְׁנֵי בְּנֵי יוֹנָה. מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ אֵין מְבִיאִין תּוֹרִין כְּנֶגֶד בְּנֵי יוֹנָה וְלֹא בְּנֵי יוֹנָה כְּנֶגֶד תּוֹרִין. (במדבר ו, י): אֶל הַכֹּהֵן אֶל פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהוּא חַיָּב בְּטִפּוּל הֲבָאָתָם עַד שֶׁיְּבִיאֵם אֶל פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד.
“And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting” (Numbers 6:10).
“And on the eighth day” – to exclude the seventh, or is it to exclude the ninth? “Eighth” is stated here and “eighth” is stated elsewhere: “And from the eighth day on” (Leviticus 22:27). Just as “eighth” stated elsewhere, it allowed in that regard the eighth and from the eighth on, so, too, “eighth” stated here allows in its regard the eighth and from the eighth on.
Had it said “turtledoves,” would it be, perhaps, many? The verse states: "He shall bring two turtledoves” – I said only two. May one, perhaps, bring turtledoves and young pigeons? The verse states: “Or two young pigeons.” May one, perhaps, bring one young bird from this and one young bird from that? The verse states: “He shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons.” From here they said: One does not bring a turtledove opposite a young pigeon, nor a young pigeon opposite a turtle dove.123One may not bring one as a burnt offering and one as a sin offering. “To the priest, to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting,” it teaches that one must tend to those he is bringing until he brings them to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.
וְעָשָׂה הַכֹּהֵן אֶחָד לְחַטָּאת וְאֶחָד לְעֹלָה (במדבר ו, יא), שֶׁיַּפְרִישֵׁם הַכֹּהֵן אֶחָד לְחַטָּאת וְאֶחָד לְעֹלָה בַּעֲשִׂיָּתָן. אֵין לִי אֶלָּא הַפְרָשָׁה לַכֹּהֵן, בַּבַּעַל מִנַּיִן. נֶאֱמַר בְּיוֹלֶדֶת (ויקרא יב, ח): וְלָקְחָה שְׁתֵּי תֹרִים אוֹ שְׁנֵי בְּנֵי יוֹנָה אֶחָד לְעֹלָה וְאֶחָד לְחַטָּאת, הֲרֵי שֶׁהַבְּעָלִים מַפְרִישִׁין בִּשְׁעַת לְקִיחָתָן, נִמְצְאוּ לְמֵדִין הַפְרָשָׁה בַּכֹּהֵן וְהַפְרָשָׁה בַּבְּעָלִים, וְנִמְצֵינוּ לְמֵדִים כָּאן קֵן סְתוּמָה בִּזְמַן שֶׁהַכֹּהֵן צָרִיךְ לְהַפְרִישָׁן בִּזְּמַן שֶׁהַבְּעָלִים מַפְרִישִׁין אוֹתָהּ סְתוּמָה, וְנִמְצֵינוּ לְמֵדִין כָּאן קֵן מְפֹרֶשֶׁת בִּזְּמַן שֶׁהַבְּעָלִים מַפְרִישִׁין אֵיזוֹ לָעוֹלָה וְאֵיזוֹ לַחַטָּאת. (במדבר ו, יא): וְכִפֶּר עָלָיו מֵאֲשֶׁר חָטָא עַל הַנָּפֶשׁ, מִשּׁוּם טֻמְאַת הַמֵּתִים, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל. רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אוֹמֵר, מֵאֲשֶׁר חָטָא עַל נַפְשׁוֹ, שֶׁצִּעֵר עַצְמוֹ מִן הַיַּיִן. וַהֲלֹא דְּבָרִים קַל וָחֹמֶר, וּמָה הַמְצַעֵר נַפְשׁוֹ מִן הַיַּיִן צָרִיךְ כַּפָּרָה, קַל וָחֹמֶר הַמְּצַעֵר נַפְשׁוֹ עַל כָּל דָּבָר. (במדבר ו, יא יב): וְקִדַּשׁ אֶת רֹאשׁוֹ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא, וְהִזִּיר לַה' אֶת יְמֵי נִזְרוֹ, נִמְצֵינוּ לְמֵדִין שֶׁמַּתְחִיל לִמְנוֹת מִיּוֹם שֶׁגִּלַּח דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בֶּן רַבִּי יְהוּדָה. רַבִּי אוֹמֵר וְכִפֶּר עָלָיו מֵאֲשֶׁר חָטָא עַל הַנָּפֶשׁ. וְקִדַּשׁ אֶת רֹאשׁוֹ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא, בְּיוֹם הֲבָאַת קָרְבְּנוֹתָיו.
“The priest shall offer one as a sin offering, and one as a burnt offering, and atone for him, for what he sinned regarding the corpse, and he shall sanctify his head on that day” (Numbers 6:11).
“The priest shall offer one as a sin offering, and one as a burnt offering," that the priest will designate them, one as a sin offering and one as a burnt offering in the course of their preparation. I have only designation by the priest, from where do I derive by the owner? It is stated regarding a birth mother: “She shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one as a burnt offering and one as a sin offering" (Leviticus 12:8); the owners designate [them] at the time they buy them. Consequently, we have learned here: Designation by the priest and designation by the owner. And consequently, we have learned here: An undesignated pair, when is the priest required to designate them? When the owners set them aside for an offering but left them undesignated. And consequently, we have learned here: A designated pair is when the owners designated which is for a burnt offering, and which is for a sin offering.
“And atone for him, for what he sinned regarding the corpse,” due to impurity from corpses, this is the statement of Rabbi Yishmael. Rabbi Elazar says: Since he sinned against his soul, as he afflicted himself by abstaining from wine. Are these matters not inferred a fortiori? If one who afflicted himself by abstaining from wine requires atonement, all the more so one who afflicted himself by abstaining from all matters.124This is the basis for the opinion of the Sage that anyone who fasts is called a sinner (Ta’anit 11a).
“He shall dedicate to the Lord the days of his naziriteship, and he shall bring a lamb in its first year as a guilt offering and the first days shall be void, as his naziriteship was impure” (Numbers 6:12).
“And shall sanctify his head on that day…He shall dedicate to the Lord the days of his naziriteship” (Numbers 6:11–12); consequently, we have learned that someone begins counting from the day that he shaved, this is the statement of Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Yehuda. Rabbi says: “And atone for him, for what he sinned regarding the corpse, and shall sanctify his head on that day” (Numbers 6:11) – on the day of the bringing of his offerings.
וְהִזִּיר לַה' אֶת יְמֵי נִזְרוֹ (במדבר ו, יב), כָּל אֲשָׁמוֹת שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה מְעַכְּבִין אֶת הַכַּפָּרָה חוּץ מִזֶּה. יָכוֹל אַף זֶה מְעַכֵּב, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר וְהִזִּיר וְהֵבִיא, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹא הֵבִיא הִזִּיר. מִשֵּׁם רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אָמְרוּ אַף זֶה מְעַכֵּב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְהִזִּיר לַה', אֵימָתַי (במדבר ו, יב): וְהֵבִיא כֶּבֶשׂ בֶּן שְׁנָתוֹ לְאָשָׁם, וְהִזִּיר לַה' אֶת יְמֵי נִזְרוֹ, מִנַּיִן שֶׁהוּא אָסוּר לִטַּמָּא לְמֵתִים בַּיָּמִים שֶׁל אַחַר נְזִירוּתוֹ כַּיָּמִים שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ נְזִירוּתוֹ עַד הֲבָאַת קָרְבָּן, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (במדבר ו, כ): וְאַחַר יִשְׁתֶּה הַנָּזִיר יַיִן. וְכִי נָזִיר שׁוֹתֶה יַיִן, אֶלָּא מֻפְנֶה לְהַקִּישׁ, לָדוּן מִמֶּנּוּ גְּזֵרָה שָׁוָה, נֶאֱמַר כָּאן נָזִיר, וְנֶאֱמַר לְהַלָּן נָזִיר, מַה נָּזִיר הָאָמוּר לְהַלָּן עָשָׂה בוֹ יָמִים שֶׁל אַחַר נְזִירוּת כַּיָּמִים שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ נְזִירוּת עַד הֲבָאַת קָרְבָּן, אַף נָזִיר הָאָמוּר כָּאן נַעֲשָׂה בוֹ יָמִים שֶׁל אַחַר נְזִירוּת כַּיָּמִים שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ נְזִירוּת עַד הֲבָאַת קָרְבָּן. (במדבר ו, יב): וְהֵבִיא כֶּבֶשׂ, וְלֹא אַיִל. (במדבר ו, יב): בֶּן שְׁנָתוֹ לְעַצְמוֹ וְלֹא בֶּן שָׁנָה לִשְׁנֵי עוֹלָם. (במדבר ו, יב): לְאָשָׁם, הֲרֵי זֶה קְנַס. אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן לֹא מָצִינוּ אָשָׁם שֶׁיָּבוֹא לְבַטֵּל אֶלָּא זֶה בִּלְבָד, שֶׁכֵּן כְּתִיב אַחֲרָיו (במדבר ו, יב): וְהַיָּמִים הָרִאשֹׁנִים יִפְּלוּ. וְהַיָּמִים הָרִאשֹׁנִים יִפְּלוּ, מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ רִאשׁוֹנִים וְאַחֲרוֹנִים סוֹתְרוֹ, מִנַּיִן אִם אָמַר הֲרֵינִי נָזִיר מֵאָה יוֹם וְנִטְמָא סוֹף מֵאָה חָסֵר יוֹם אֶחָד, מִנַּיִן שֶׁהוּא סוֹתֵר אֶת הַכֹּל, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְהַיָּמִים הָרִאשֹׁנִים יִפְּלוּ, מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ אַחֲרוֹנִים סוֹתֵר וְזֶה יֵשׁ לוֹ אַחֲרוֹנִים. נִטְמָא בְּיוֹם מֵאָה, יָכוֹל יְהֵא סוֹתֵר הַכֹּל, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְהַיָּמִים וגו', מִכְּלַל דְּאִיכָּא אַחֲרוֹנִים, וְזֶה אֵין לוֹ אַחֲרוֹנִים. אוֹ אֲפִלּוּ נִטְמָא בִּתְחִלַּת מֵאָה סוֹתֵר אֶת הַכֹּל, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְהַיָּמִים הָרִאשֹׁנִים יִפְּלוּ, מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ רִאשׁוֹנִים, וְזֶה אֵין לוֹ רִאשׁוֹנִים. (במדבר ו, יב): כִּי טָמֵא נִזְרוֹ, הַטֻּמְאָה סוֹתֶרֶת אֶת הַכֹּל וְאֵין הַתִּגְלַחַת סוֹתֶרֶת אֶת הַכֹּל אֶלָּא שְׁלשִׁים יוֹם, דִּבְעֵינַן גַּדֵּל פֶּרַע, הַטֻּמְאָה סוֹתֶרֶת וְאֵין הַיַּיִן סוֹתֵר.
“He shall dedicate to the Lord the days of his naziriteship.” All the guilt offerings in the Torah prevent atonement [if they are not brought] except for this one. Could it be, perhaps, that this one prevents it? The verse states: He shall dedicate…and shall bring” – even though he has not brought [the guilt offering], he has dedicated. In the name of Rabbi Yishmael they said: This one, too, prevents it, as it is stated: “He shall dedicate to the Lord.” When? “And he shall bring a lamb in its first year as a guilt offering.”
“He shall dedicate to the Lord the days of his naziriteship.” From where is it derived that he is prohibited from becoming impure due to a corpse on the days following his naziriteship like [during] the days of his naziriteship, until the bringing of the offering? The verse states: “Then the nazirite may drink wine” (Numbers 6:20). Does the nazirite drink wine? Rather, it is here in order to derive and learn a verbal analogy from it. Here, nazirite is stated, and there nazirite is stated. Just as regarding the nazirite stated elsewhere,125With regard to drinking wine. it rendered the days after naziriteship like the days during naziriteship until the bringing of the offering, so, too, regarding the nazirite stated here, it renders the days after naziriteship like the days during naziriteship until the bringing of the offering,
“He shall bring a sheep,” and not a ram. “In its first year,” of its own, and not one year according to the years of the world.126The age of the animal is determined by its birthday, and is not considered a year older as soon as Rosh HaShana arrives.
“As a guilt offering,” this is a penalty. Rabbi Shimon said: We have not found a guilt offering that comes to void, other than this one alone, as it is written after it: “And the first days shall be void.”
“And the first days shall be void” – one who has earlier and later days voids it. From where is it derived that if one said: ‘I am a nazirite for one hundred days’ and became impure after one hundred minus one day, from where is it derived that it voids it all? The verse states: “And the first days shall be void” – one who has later days, voids, and this one has latter days. If he became impure on day one hundred, does it, perhaps, void everything? The verse states: “And the [first] days…” – by inference, there are later days, and this has no latter days. Or even if he became impure at the beginning of the one hundred, does it void everything? The verse states: “And the first days shall be void” – one who has earlier days, voids, and this one has no earlier days.
“As his naziriteship was impure,” – impurity voids everything, but shaving does not void everything, but only thirty days, as we require “shall grow long” (Numbers 6:5). Impurity voids, but wine does not void.
וְזֹאת תּוֹרַת הַנָּזִיר (במדבר ו, יג), תּוֹרַת, אֶחָד נְזִיר יָמִים וְאֶחָד נְזִיר עוֹלָם, יָכוֹל שֶׁאַתְּ מַרְבֶּה נְזִירוּת שִׁמְשׁוֹן, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְזֹאת, שֶׁכֵּן אָמְרוּ מַה בֵּין נְזִיר עוֹלָם לִנְזִיר שִׁמְשׁוֹן, נְזִיר עוֹלָם הִכְבִּיד שַׂעֲרוֹ מֵקֵל בְּתַעַר וּמֵבִיא שָׁלשׁ בְּהֵמוֹת, וְאִם נִטְמָא מֵבִיא קָרְבַּן טֻמְאָה. נְזִיר שִׁמְשׁוֹן הִכְבִּיד שַׂעֲרוֹ אֵין מֵקֵל בְּתַעַר, וְאִם נִטְמָא אֵין מֵבִיא קָרְבַּן טֻמְאָה. רַבִּי אוֹמֵר אַבְשָׁלוֹם נְזִיר עוֹלָם הָיָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל ב טו, ז ח): וַיְהִי מִקֵּץ אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְשָׁלוֹם אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ אֵלְכָה נָּא וַאֲשַׁלֵּם אֶת נִדְרִי אֲשֶׁר נָדַרְתִּי לַה' בְּחֶבְרוֹן. כִּי נֵדֶר נָדַר עַבְדְּךָ בְּשִׁבְתִּי בִגְשׁוּר בַּאֲרָם לֵאמֹר אִם יָשׁוֹב יְשִׁיבֵנִי ה' יְרוּשָׁלָיִם וְעָבַדְתִּי אֶת ה'. מַהוּ מִקֵּץ אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה, רַבִּי נְהוֹרַאי אוֹמֵר מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ לְקֵץ אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה שֶׁשָּׁאֲלוּ לָהֶם מֶלֶךְ, וְאוֹתָהּ שָׁנָה שֶׁשָּׁאֲלוּ לָהֶם מֶלֶךְ הִיא שְׁנַת עֶשֶׂר לִשְׁמוּאֵל הָרָמָתִי, וּמְגַלֵּחַ אַבְשָׁלוֹם אֶחָד לִשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל ב יד, כו): וְהָיָה מִקֵּץ יָמִים לַיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר יְגַלֵּחַ כִּי כָבֵד עָלָיו וְגִלְּחוֹ וְשָׁקַל אֶת שְׂעַר רֹאשׁוֹ מָאתַיִם שְׁקָלִים בְּאֶבֶן הַמֶּלֶךְ, נֶאֱמַר כָּאן יָמִים, וְנֶאֱמַר לְהַלָּן (ויקרא כה, כט): יָמִים תִּהְיֶה גְאֻלָּתוֹ, מַה לְּהַלָּן שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ אַף כָּאן שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ. רַבִּי נְהוֹרַאי אוֹמֵר מְגַלֵּחַ אֶחָד לִשְׁלשִׁים יוֹם, כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁהַכֹּהֲנִים מְגַלְּחִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל מד, כ): וּפֶרַע לֹא יְשַׁלֵּחוּ כָּסוֹם יִכְסְמוּ אֶת רָאשֵׁיהֶם. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר מֵעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת לְעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת, שֶׁכֵּן מָצִינוּ בִּבְנֵי מְלָכִים מְגַלְּחִים מֵעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת לְעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת. וְזֹאת תּוֹרַת, לְקָרְבַּן טָהֳרָה אוֹ אַף לְקָרְבַּן טֻמְאָה, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (במדבר ו, יג): בְּיוֹם מְלֹאת יְמֵי נִזְרוֹ, לֹא אָמַרְתִּי אֶלָּא בְּמִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ פֶּסֶק לִנְזִירוּתוֹ. בְּיוֹם מְלֹאת, בַּיּוֹם יָבִיא וְלֹא בַלַּיְלָה. (במדבר ו, יג): יָבִיא אֹתוֹ, הוּא יָבִיא אֶת עַצְמוֹ וְאֵין אֲחֵרִים מְבִיאִין אוֹתוֹ. זוֹ אַחַת מִשְׁלשָׁה אֶתִים שֶׁהָיָה רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל דּוֹרֵשׁ בַּתּוֹרָה (ויקרא כב, טז): וְהִשִֹּׂיאוּ אוֹתָם עֲוֹן אַשְׁמָה, וְכִי אֲחֵרִים מַשִֹּׂיאִים אוֹתָם וַהֲלֹא הֵם מַשִֹּׂיאִין אֶת עַצְמָן. כַּיּוֹצֵא בּוֹ אַתָּה אוֹמֵר (דברים לד, ו): וַיִּקְבֹּר אֹתוֹ בַגַּי, וְכִי אֲחֵרִים קָבְרוּ אוֹתוֹ וַהֲלֹא הוּא קָבַר אֶת עַצְמוֹ, אַף כָּאן אַתָּה אוֹמֵר: יָבִיא אֹתוֹ, הוּא יָבִיא אֶת עַצְמוֹ וְאֵין אֲחֵרִים מְבִיאִים אוֹתוֹ.
“This is the law of the nazirite, on the day of the completion of the days of his naziriteship he shall bring it to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting” (Numbers 6:13).
“This is the law of the nazirite” the law for both a nazirite for [a specific period of] days, and an eternal nazirite. Do you, perhaps, include the naziriteship of Samson?127There is a form of naziriteship called the naziriteship of Samson which is distinct from an eternal naziriteship, as described in the midrash here. The verse states: “This,” as they said: What is the difference between an eternal nazirite and a Samson nazirite? If the hair of an eternal nazirite becomes heavy, he may ease it with a razor, and he brings three animals.128He brings the three offerings, a sin offering, a burnt offering, and a peace offering, brought by a standard nazirite when he shaves at the end of his naziriteship. If he becomes impure, he brings an impurity offering. If the hair of a Samson nazirite becomes heavy, he may not ease it with a razor and if he becomes impure, he does not bring an impurity offering.
Rabbi says: Avshalom was an eternal nazirite, as it is stated: “It was at the end of forty years, and Avshalom said to the king: Please let me go and pay my vow that I vowed to the Lord in Hebron. For your servant took a vow while I lived in Geshur in Aram, saying: If the Lord restores me to Jerusalem, I will worship the Lord” (II Samuel 15:7–8). What is “at the end of forty years”? Rabbi Nehorai says in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua: At the end of forty years since they requested a king for them. That year that they requested a king for them was the tenth year of Samuel of Rama. Avshalom would shave once every twelve months, this is the statement of Rabbi, as it is stated: “…It was at the end yamim leyamim that he would cut his hair, for it weighed upon him and he would cut his hair; he would weigh the hair of his head; it was two hundred shekels, by the king's weight” (II Samuel 14:26). Yamim is stated here, and elsewhere it is stated: “Its redemption shall be yamim” (Leviticus 25:29). Just as there it is twelve months, so, too, here, it is twelve months. Rabbi Nehorai says: He would cut his hair once every thirty days, just as the priests cut their hair, as it is stated: “They shall not grow long hair, they shall trim the hair of their heads” (Ezekiel 44:20). Rabbi Yosei says: From Shabbat eve to Sabbat eve, as we find that princes cut their hair from Shabbat eve to Shabbat eve.
“This is the law” – for a purity offering or even for an impurity offering? The verse states: “On the day of the completion of the days of his naziriteship” – I said it only regarding one for whom there is an end to his naziriteship.
“On the day of the completion,” he shall bring during the day, but not at night.
“He shall bring it [oto]” – he shall bring himself, and other do not compel him to come. This is one of three instances of et in the Torah that Rabbi Yishmael expounds. “They will cause them [otam] to bear the iniquity of guilt” (Leviticus 22:16). Did others cause them, rather they caused it to themselves? Similarly, you say: “He buried him [oto] in the valley” (Deuteronomy 34:6). Did others bury him, or rather he buried himself? Here, too, you say: He shall bring it [oto]. He shall bring himself, and other do not compel him to come.
וְהִקְרִיב אֶת קָרְבָּנוֹ לַה' (במדבר ו, יד), מַגִּיד שֶׁהַבְּהֵמָה מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת לַשֵּׁם. (במדבר ו, יד): בֶּן שְׁנָתוֹ, בֶּן שָׁנָה לְעַצְמוֹ וְלֹא בֶּן שָׁנָה לַשָּׁנִים. (במדבר ו, יד): תָמִים, לְהוֹצִיא אֶת בַּעֲל מוּם. (במדבר ו, יד): אֶחָד, וְלֹא שְׁנַיִם. אֶחָד, שֶׁיְהֵא הֶקְדֵּשׁוֹ לַשֵּׁם. (במדבר ו, יד): לְעֹלָה, שֶׁיְהֵא הֶקְדֵּשׁוֹ לְשֵׁם עוֹלָה. (במדבר ו, יד): וְכַבְשָׂה, יָכוֹל שְׁתַּיִם, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (במדבר ו, יד): אַחַת. אָמַרְתָּ אַחַת, אֵין מְגַלְּחִין שְׁתֵּי נְזִירוֹת כְּאֶחָת. (במדבר ו, יד): בַּת שְׁנָתָה, בַּת שָׁנָה לְעַצְמָהּ וְלֹא בַּת שָׁנָה לַשָּׁנִים. (במדבר ו, יד): תְּמִימָה, לְהוֹצִיא בַּעֲלַת מוּם. (במדבר ו, יד): לְחַטָּאת, שֶׁיְהֵא הֶקְדֵשָׁהּ לְשֵׁם חַטָּאת. (במדבר ו, יד): וְאַיִל, יָכוֹל שְׁנַיִם, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (במדבר ו, יד): אֶחָד. אָמַרְתָּ אֶחָד, מְגַלֵּחַ הוּא עַל זֶבַח אֶחָד. (במדבר ו, יד): תָּמִים, לְהוֹצִיא בַּעַל מוּם. (במדבר ו, יד): לִשְׁלָמִים, שֶׁיְהֵא הֶקְדֵשׁוֹ לְשֵׁם שְׁלָמִים. לִמֵּד בַּנָּזִיר שֶׁיִּטְעֹן בְּשָׁלשׁ בְּהֵמוֹת.
“He shall sacrifice his offering to the Lord: One unblemished lamb in its first year as a burnt offering, one unblemished ewe in its first year as a sin offering, and one unblemished ram as a peace offering” (Numbers 6:14).
“He shall sacrifice his offering to the Lord,” it tells that the animal is consecrated to the Lord. “In its first year,” of its own [life], and not one year according to the years.
“Unblemished,” to exclude a blemished animal. “One,” and not two. “One,” that his consecration should be exclusively for God’s name.
“As a burnt offering,” its consecration shall be for the sake of a burnt offering:
“A ewe,” is it, perhaps, two?129Clearly, the verse means one. The verse states: “One.” It says “one,” as one does not shave for two naziriteships together.130Rather, one must bring separate offerings for each naziriteship.
“In its first year,” one year of its own, and not one year according to the years.
“Unblemished,” to exclude a blemished animal.
“As a sin offering,” its consecration shall be for the sake of a sin offering:
“A ram,” is it, perhaps, two? The verse states: “One.” It says “one”; as one shaves over one offering.131Even if the nazirite only brought the peace offering he may shave his head.
“Unblemished,” to exclude a blemished animal.
“As a peace offering,” its consecration shall be for the sake of a peace offering.
It teaches regarding the nazirite that he must bring three animals.
וְסַל מַצּוֹת (במדבר ו, טו), מִצְוָה שֶׁיָּבִיא בְּסָל, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא סָל, מִנַּיִן אַתְּ מַרְבֶּה שְׁאָר הַכֵּלִים, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר סַל, וְסַל, וְסַל מַצּוֹת, כְּלָל, (במדבר ו, טו): חַת וגו' וּרְקִיקֵי מַצּוֹת וגו', פְּרָט, אֵין בַּכְּלָל אֶלָּא מַה שֶּׁבַּפְּרָט, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁאֵין טָעוּן אַרְבָּעָה מִינִין כַּתּוֹדָה. מַצּוֹת סֹלֶת חַת בְּלוּלֹת בַּשֶּׁמֶן וּרְקִיקֵי מַצּוֹת מְשֻׁחִים בַּשָּׁמֶן, לָמָּה צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר מַצּוֹת בָּרְקִיקִים, יָכוֹל לִתֵּן לַחַלּוֹת מְשִׁיחָה וְלָרְקִיקִים בְּלִילָה, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: מַצּוֹת, לַמַּצָּה שָׁוּוּ וְלֹא שָׁוּוּ לַבְּלִילָה וְלַמְּשִׁיחָה. וּרְקִיקֵי מַצּוֹת מְשֻׁחִים בַּשָּׁמֶן, יָכוֹל כְּדֶרֶךְ הַמּוֹשְׁחִין, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר בַּשָּׁמֶן, כְּדֵי קִיּוּם שָׁמֶן. כֵּיצַד הוּא עוֹשֶׂה, טוֹבֵל אֶצְבָּעוֹ וְנוֹתֵן אַחַת עַל זוֹ וְאַחַת עַל זוֹ. (במדבר ו, טו): וּמִנְחָתָם וְנִסְכֵּיהֶם, לָעוֹלָה וְלַשְּׁלָמִים, אוֹ אַף לַחַטָּאת וְלָאָשָׁם, כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁהוּא אָמוּר בַּמְּצֹרָע שֶׁמֵּבִיא מִנְחָה עַל חַטָּאתוֹ וַאֲשָׁמוֹ וְעוֹלָתוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא יד, י): וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי יִקַּח שְׁנֵי כְבָשִׂים תְּמִימִם וְכַבְשָׂה אַחַת בַּת שְׁנָתָהּ וגו', הָיָה מֵבִיא שְׁלשָׁה עֶשְׂרוֹנִים עִשָֹּׂרוֹן לְכָל מִין וּמִין, יָכוֹל אַף בַּנָּזִיר כֵּן, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (במדבר ו, יז): וְאֶת הָאַיִל יַעֲשֶׂה זֶבַח שְׁלָמִים וגו' וְעָשָה הַכֹּהֵן אֶת מִנְחָתוֹ וְאֶת נִסְכּוֹ. וַהֲלוֹא אַיִל הָיָה בִּכְלַל וּמִנְחָתָם וְנִסְכֵּיהֶם, וְיָצָא מִן הַכְּלָל וְלִמֵּד עַל הַכְּלָל, מָה הָאַיִל שֶׁהוּא שְׁלָמִים מְיֻחָד שֶׁהוּא בָּא בְּנֶדֶר וּבִנְדָבָה טָעוּן נְסָכִים, אַף כָּל הַבָּאִים בְּנֶדֶר וּבִנְדָבָה שֶׁיִּטְעֲנוּ נְסָכִים.
“And a basket of unleavened bread, loaves of high quality flour mixed with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread smeared with oil, and their meal offering, and their libations” (Numbers 6:15).
“And a basket of unleavened bread,” there is a mitzva to bring it in a basket. I have only a basket, from where is it derived to include other vessels? The verse states: “A basket [sal],” “and a basket [vesal].”132The extra vav is expounded to include other vessels.
“And a basket of unleavened bread”; a generalization, “loaves…and wafers of unleavened bread”; a detail; the generalization includes only what is in the detail. It teaches that it does not require four different types, like the thanks offering.
“Unleavened bread, loaves of high quality flour mixed with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread smeared with oil” – why was it necessary to mention unleavened bread in relation to the wafers? It is because otherwise, I could have applied smearing to the loaves or mixing to the wafers. The verse states: “Unleavened bread,” regarding unleavened bread they are equal, but are not equal regarding mixing and spreading.
“And wafers of unleavened bread smeared with oil,” is it, perhaps, performed in the manner of the smearers?133They typically smear the entire wafer. The verse states: “With oil,” enough to fulfill the mitzva of oil. How does he do so? He dips his finger and places one annointment on this one and one anointment on that one.134One anointment per wafer, but he does not smear the entire wafer.
“And their meal offering, and their libations” – for the burnt offering and for the peace offering, or, is it even for the sin offering and the guilt offering? Just as it is stated regarding the leper, who brings a meal offering with his sin offering, his guilt offering, and his burnt offering, as it is stated: “On the eighth day he shall take two unblemished lambs, and one unblemished ewe…[and three-tenths of an ephah of high quality flour mixed with oil as a meal offering, and one log of oil]” (Leviticus 14:10). He would bring three-tenths of an ephah, one-tenth for each and every kind. Is is, perhaps, the same regarding a nazirite? The verse states: “And the ram he shall prepare as a peace offering…[and the priest shall perform its meal offering, and its libation]” (Numbers 6:17). Was the ram not included in the generalization “and their meal offering and their libations”? But it emerged from the generalization and taught regarding the generalization: Just as the ram, which is a peace offering, is unique in that it comes as a vow and as a gift offering and requires libations, so, too, everything that comes as a vow or as a gift offering requires libations.135This excludes sin offerings and guilt offerings that were brought only if one sinned.
וְהִקְרִיב הַכֹּהֵן לִפְנֵי ה' וְעָשָׂה אֶת חַטָּאתוֹ וְאֶת עֹלָתוֹ (במדבר ו, טז), מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהַחַטָּאת קָרֵב קֹדֶם לָעוֹלָה בְּכָל מָקוֹם. (במדבר ו, יז): וְאֶת הָאַיִל יַעֲשֶׂה זֶבַח שְׁלָמִים, מַגִּיד שֶׁהָעוֹלָה קוֹדֶמֶת לַשְּׁלָמִים. (במדבר ו, יז): עַל סַל הַמַּצּוֹת, שֶׁיַּקְדִּים הַלֶּחֶם לִזְבִיחַת הָאַיִל, שֶׁאֵין הַלֶּחֶם קָדוֹשׁ אֶלָּא בְּדַם הַזֶּבַח. (במדבר ו, יז): וְעָשָׂה הַכֹּהֵן אֶת מִנְחָתוֹ וגו', לָעִנְיָן שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ.
“The priest shall bring them before the Lord, and shall perform his sin offering, and his burnt offering (Numbers 6:16).
This teaches that the sin offering is sacrificed before the burnt offering in every instance.
“And the ram, he shall prepare as a peace offering to the Lord, with the basket of unleavened bread, and the priest shall perform its meal offering, and its libation” (Numbers 6:17).
“And the ram, he shall prepare as a peace offering.” This tells us that the burnt offering precedes the peace offering. “With the basket of unleavened bread” – he shall have the bread precede the slaughter of the ram, as the bread is sanctified only with the blood of the slaughter. “And the priest shall perform his meal offering…” – this is for the purpose that we stated.136At the end of section 19.
וְגִלַּח הַנָּזִיר פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד (במדבר ו, יח), רַבִּי יֹאשִׁיָּה אוֹמֵר בַּשְּׁלָמִים הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ, אָמַרְתָּ אִם כָּךְ אָמְרָה תּוֹרָה (שמות כ, כג): וְלֹא תַעֲלֶה בְמַעֲלֹת עַל מִזְבְּחִי וגו', קַל וָחֹמֶר לִדְבַר בִּזָּיוֹן, שֶׁלֹא יְגַלֵּחַ, הָא מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, בַּשְּׁלָמִים הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בָּהֶן (ויקרא ג, ב): וּשְׁחָטוֹ פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד. רַבִּי יִצְחָק אוֹמֵר אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ הֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר (במדבר ו, יח): וְלָקַח אֶת שְׂעַר רֹאשׁ נִזְרוֹ וְנָתַן עַל הָאֵשׁ אֲשֶׁר תַּחַת וגו', בְּמִי שֶׁמְחֻסָר לְקִיחָה וּנְתִינָה, וְלֹא בְּמִי שֶׁמְחֻסָר לְקִיחָה הֲבָאָה וּנְתִינָה, הֱוֵי מָקוֹם שֶׁהָיָה מְבַשֵּׁל שָׁם הָיָה מְגַלֵּחַ. אֵין לִי שֶׁמְּגַלֵּחַ אֶלָּא בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ, וּמִנַּיִן אַף בַּמְּדִינָה, אָמַרְתָּ גִּלַּח וְגִלַּח, אַף בַּמְּדִינָה. מַה בֵּין מְגַלֵּחַ פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד לִמְגַלֵּחַ בַּמְּדִינָה, הַמְּגַלֵחַ פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד הָיָה מְשַׁלֵּחַ אֶת הַשֵֹּׂעָר תַּחַת הַדּוּד, וְהַמְּגַלֵּחַ בַּמְדִינָה לֹא הָיָה מְשַׁלְּחוֹ תַּחַת הַדּוּד. וְגִלַּח הַנָּזִיר פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, אַבָּא חָנָן אוֹמֵר מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אִם אֵין שָׁם פֶּתַח פָּתוּח לֹא הָיָה מְגַלֵחַ, וְנוֹטֵל אֶת הָרֹטֶב וְנוֹתֵן עַל שְׂעַר רֹאשׁ נִזְרוֹ וּמְשַׁלֵּחַ תַּחַת הַדּוּד שֶׁל שְׁלָמִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְנָתַן עַל הָאֵשׁ אֲשֶׁר תַּחַת זֶבַח הַשְּׁלָמִים, מִזִּבְחוֹ יְהֵא תַּחְתָּיו. הַשְּׁלָמִים, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא תַּחַת הַשְּׁלָמִים, תַּחַת חַטָּאת מִנַּיִן, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: זֶבַח, מִכָּל מָקוֹם. אֵין לִי שֶׁשֹּׂוֹרְפוֹ אֶלָּא בִּזְמַן שֶׁמְּגַלֵּחַ בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ, בַּמְדִינָה מִנַּיִן, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר וְנָתַן עַל הָאֵשׁ, מִכָּל מָקוֹם.
“The nazirite shall shave his consecrated head at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and shall take the hair of his consecrated head, and he shall place it on the fire that is beneath the peace offering” (Numbers 6:18).
“The nazirite shall shave his consecrated head at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.” Rabbi Yoshiya says: It is with regard to the peace offering that the verse is speaking.137The nazirite should shave his hair after the peace offering is sacrificed. Or, it is only “at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting,” in its plain sense. You said: If the Torah said this: “You shall not ascend on stairs to My altar, [so that your nakedness will not be exposed upon it]” (Exodus 20:23), all the more so regarding a disgraceful act – that he should not shave. Why, then, does the verse state: “At the entrance of the Tent of Meeting”? The verse is speaking of the peace offering, in whose regard it is written: “He shall slaughter it at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting” (Leviticus 3:2). Rabbi Yitzḥak says: It is unnecessary. It says: “And he shall take the hair of his consecrated head, and he shall place it on the fire that is beneath [the peace offering]”; this is regarding something that is lacking taking and placing, and not something that is lacking taking, bringing, and placing. That is, in the place that he would cook, there he would shave.
I have only that he shaves in the Temple. From where is it derived even in the rest of the country? It says: “Shall shave [gilaḥ],” “and…shall shave [vegilaḥ],”138The midrash is using the letter vav at the beginning of the word as a source for the halakha stated. even in the rest of the country. What is the difference between one who shaves at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and one who shaves in the rest of the country? One who shaves at the entrance to the Tent of Meering casts the hair beneath the pot,139This is the pot in which the peace offering is cooked. but one who shaves in the rest of the country does not cast his hair beneath the pot.
“The nazirite shall shave…at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.” Abba Ḥanan said in the name of Rabbi Elazar: If the entrance was not open, he would not shave. He would take the gravy and place it on the hair of his consecrated head and cast it beneath the pot of the peace offering, as it is stated: “And he shall place it on the fire that is beneath the peace offering [zevaḥ hashelamim]” – from his offering [mizivḥo], he shall place beneath it. “The peace offering” – I have only beneath the peace offering, beneath the sin-offering, from where is it derived? The verse states: Zevaḥ, in any case.140Any type of offering. I have only if he burns it when he shaves in the Temple, in the rest of the country from where is it derived? The verse states: “And he shall place it on the fire,” in any case.
וְלָקַח הַכֹּהֵן אֶת הַזְּרֹעַ בְּשֵׁלָה (במדבר ו, יט), אֵין בְּשֵׁלָה אֶלָּא שְׁלֵמָה. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וְלָקַח הַכֹּהֵן אֶת הַזְּרֹעַ, יָכוֹל חַיָּה, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר בְּשֵׁלָה, אִי בְּשֵׁלָה, יָכוֹל בִּפְנֵי עַצְמָהּ, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (במדבר ו, יט): מִן הָאַיִל, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁנִּתְבַּשְּׁלָה עִם הָאָיִל, כֵּיצַד הוּא עוֹשֶׂה, חוֹתְכָהּ עַד שֶׁהוּא מַנִּיחַ כַּשַֹּׂעֲרָה. לֹא הַקֹּדֶשׁ בּוֹלֵעַ מִן הַחֹל וְלֹא הַחֹל בּוֹלֵעַ מִן הַקֹּדֶשׁ. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי בְּשֵׁם בַּר קַפָּרָא אָמַר כָּל נוֹתְנֵי טְעָמִים, אֶחָד מִמֵּאָה. רַבִּי חִיָּא וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בְּשֵׁם בַּר קַפָּרָא אָמַר כָּל נוֹתְנֵי טְעָמִים אֶחָד מִשִּׁשִּׁים, וּשְׁנֵיהֶם לְמֵדִים מֵאֵיל נָזִיר, מַאן דְּאָמַר אֶחָד מִמֵּאָה, אַתְּ עוֹשֶׂה, אֶת הַזְּרוֹעַ אֶחָד מִמֵּאָה לָאָיִל. וּמַאן דְּאָמַר אֶחָד מִשִּׁשִּׁים, אַתְּ עוֹשֶׂה אֶת הַזְּרוֹעַ אֶחָד מִשִּׁשִּׁים. מַאן דְּאָמַר אֶחָד מִמֵּאָה, אַתְּ מוֹצִיא אֶת הָעֲצָמוֹת מִן הַזְּרוֹעַ, מַאן דְאָמַר אֶחָד מִשִּׁשִּׁים אֵין אַתְּ מוֹצִיא הָעֲצָמוֹת מִן הַזְּרוֹעַ. וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁאַתְּ מוֹצִיא אֶת הָעֲצָמוֹת מִן הַזְּרוֹעַ כָּךְ הוֹצֵא מִן הָאַיִל, לֵית יָכוֹל, דְּתָנֵי אֵין טִנֹּפֶת שֶׁל תְּרוּמָה מִצְטָרֶפֶת עִם הַתְּרוּמָה לְהַעֲלוֹת אֶת הַחֻלִּין, אֲבָל טִנֹּפֶת שֶׁל חֻלִּין מִצְטָרֶפֶת עִם הַחֻלִּין לְהַעֲלוֹת אֶת הַתְּרוּמָה. (במדבר ו, יט): וְחַלַּת מַצָּה אַחַת מִן הַסַּל, שֶׁאִם נִפְרְצָה אוֹ חָסְרָה, פְּסוּלָה. (במדבר ו, יט): וְנָתַן עַל כַּפֵּי הַנָּזִיר אַחַר הִתְגַּלְּחוֹ אֶת נִזְרוֹ, אֵלּוּ אַחַר הִתְגַּלְּחוֹ אֶת נִזְרוֹ, וְאֵין הֲבָאַת קָרְבָּנוֹ אַחַר הִתְגַּלְּחוֹ אֶת נִזְרוֹ.
“The priest shall take the cooked foreleg of the ram, and one loaf of unleavened bread from the basket, and one wafer of unleavened bread, and he shall place them on the palms of the nazirite, after he has shaved his consecrated head” (Numbers 6:19).
“The priest shall take the cooked foreleg” – “cooked” is nothing other than complete.141From the fact that it does not say flesh, but rather the foreleg, it means that the foreleg must be complete.
Another matter, “the priest shall take the cooked foreleg,” is it, perhaps, raw? The verse states: “Cooked.” If cooked, is it perhaps, [cooked separately,] in and of itself? The verse states: “Of the ram.” It teaches that it was cooked with the ram. How would he perform it? He would cut it until he would leave a hairbreadth; neither would the sacred absorb from the non-sacred, nor would the non-sacred absorb from the sacred.
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said in the name of bar Kappara: All prohibited items that impart flavor are nullified in a mixture of one to one hundred. Rabbi Ḥiyya and Rabbi Yehoshua said in the name of bar Kappara: All prohibited items that impart flavor are nullified in a mixture of one to sixty. Both of them derive it from the nazirite’s lamb. The one who says one to one hundred, you estimate the foreleg is one one-hundreth of the ram. The one who says one to sixty, you estimate the foreleg is one-sixtieth. The one who says one one-hundredth, you remove the bones from the foreleg. The one who says one-sixtieth, you do not remove the bones from the foreleg. Perhaps, just as you remove the bones from the foreleg, so, remove the bones from the ram. You cannot, as it is taught: The waste of the teruma does not join the teruma to neutralize the non-sacred produce, but the waste of the non-sacred produce joins the non-sacred produce to neutralize the teruma.
“And one loaf of unleavened bread from the basket” – if it broke, or if part of it is missing, it is disqualified.
“He shall place them on the palms of the nazirite, after he shaved his naziriteship.” These are after he has shaved his consecrated head, but the bringing of his offering is not after he has shaved his consecrated head.
וְהֵנִיף אוֹתָם הַכֹּהֵן (במדבר ו, כ), מַנִּיחַ הַכֹּהֵן יָדָיו תַּחַת כַּפֵּי הַנָּזִיר וּמֵנִיף. כֵּיצַד מֵנִיף, מוֹלִיךְ וּמֵבִיא. וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁהָיָה מַעֲלֶה וּמוֹרִיד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כט, כז): אֲשֶׁר הוּנַף וַאֲשֶׁר הוּרָם, מַקִּישׁ הֲרָמָה לִתְנוּפָה, מַה תְּנוּפָה מוֹלִיךְ וּמֵבִיא אַף הֲרָמָה מוֹלִיךְ וּמֵבִיא. מָה הֲרָמָה מַעֲלֶה וּמוֹרִיד אַף תְּנוּפָה מַעֲלֶה וּמוֹרִיד. מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ מִצְוַת תְּנוּפָה, מוֹלִיךְ וּמֵבִיא מַעֲלֶה וּמוֹרִיד. תְּנוּפָה, תְּנוּפָה אַחַת וְלֹא שְׁתַּיִם. (במדבר ו, כ): לִפְנֵי ה', בַּמִּזְרָח, שֶׁבְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: לִפְנֵי ה', הוּא בַּמִּזְרָח עַד שֶׁיִּפְרֹט לְךָ הַכָּתוּב. (במדבר ו, כ): קֹדֶשׁ הוּא לַכֹּהֵן עַל חֲזֵה הַתְּנוּפָה וְעַל שׁוֹק הַתְּרוּמָה, וַהֲלוֹא אֵיל נָזִיר בִּכְלַל (ויקרא ז, לד): כִּי אֶת חֲזֵה הַתְּנוּפָה וְאֵת שׁוֹק הַתְּרוּמָה וגו', וְלָמָּה נֶאֱמַר כָּאן, לְפִי שֶׁיָּצָא אֵיל נָזִיר לָדוּן בְּדָבָר חָדָשׁ, שֶׁהוּא טָעוּן בְּהַפְרָשַׁת זְרוֹעַ, יָכוֹל אֵין לוֹ אֶלָּא חִדּוּשׁוֹ בִּלְבָד, לְכָךְ צָרִיךְ הַכָּתוּב לְהַחֲזִירוֹ לִכְלָלוֹ, שֶׁהוּא טָעוּן הַפְרָשַׁת חָזֶה וְשׁוֹק. (במדבר ו, כ): וְאַחַר יִשְׁתֶּה הַנָּזִיר, אַחַר מַעֲשֶׂה יְחִידִי, אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא אַחַר הַמַּעֲשִׂים כֻּלָּם, כְּתִיב הָכָא וְאַחַר יִשְׁתֶּה, וּכְתִיב הָתָם (במדבר ו, יט): אַחַר הִתְגַּלְּחוֹ אֶת נִזְרוֹ, מָה הָתָם אַחַר מַעֲשֶׂה יְחִידִי, אַף כָּאן אַחַר מַעֲשֶׂה יְחִידִי.
“The priest shall wave them as a wave offering before the Lord, it is sacred for the priest, with the breast of waving and with the haunch of lifting, and then the nazirite may drink wine” (Numbers 6:20).
“The priest shall wave them.” The priest places his hands beneath the hands of the nazirite and waves. How does he wave? He waves to and fro. From where is it derived that he would raise and lower? It is as it is stated: “That was waved and that was raised” (Exodus 29:27). It juxtaposes raising to waving. Just as waving, one waves to and fro, so, too, raising, one waves to and fro. And just as raising, one raises and lowers, so, with waving, one raises and lowers. From here they said: The mitzva of waving, one waves to and fro and raises and lowers. Waving, one performs one wave, not two. “Before the Lord,” in the east, as everywhere that it is stated: “Before the Lord,” it is in the east unless it is otherwise specified in the verse.
“It is sacred for the priest, with the breast of waving and with the haunch of lifting.” Is the nazirite’s ram not included in: “For [I have taken] the breast of waving and the haunch of lifting [from the children of Israel, from their peace offerings, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons as an eternal allotment from the children of Israel]”? (Leviticus 7:34). Why is it stated here? It is because the law regarding the nazirite’s ram addressed a new matter; that it requires the separation of the foreleg.142In a regular peace offering the foreleg is not separated and given to the priest. Is it, perhaps, limited to its novel element? That is why the verse needed to restore it to its general principle; that it requires separation of the breast and the haunch.
“Then the nazirite may drink wine.” Is this after a single act, or is it only after all the actions? It is written here: “Then the nazirite may drink wine.” It is written there: “After he has shaved his consecrated head” (Numbers 6:19). Just as there, it is after a single action, so, too, here it is after a single action.
זֹאת תּוֹרַת הַנָּזִיר וגו' (במדבר ו, כא), אֵין לִי אֶלָּא לְשָׁעָה, לַדּוֹרוֹת מִנַּיִן שֶׁיְּהֵא הַדָּבָר נוֹהֵג בְּשִׁילוֹ וּבְבֵית עוֹלָמִים, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: תּוֹרַת. יָכוֹל אַף בַּבָּמָה יִנְהֹג קָרְבַּן נְזִירוּת, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר זֹאת. (במדבר ו, כא): קָרְבָּנוֹ לַה' עַל נִזְרוֹ, וְלֹא נִזְרוֹ עַל קָרְבָּנוֹ. קָרְבָּנוֹ לַה' עַל נִזְרוֹ, הֲרֵי נִזְרוֹ כַּקָּרְבָּן, לוֹמַר כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁמּוֹעֲלִין בַּקָּרְבָּן כָּךְ מוֹעֲלִים בַּשֵֹּׂעָר. (במדבר ו, כא): מִלְּבַד אֲשֶׁר תַּשִֹּׂיג יָדוֹ. וְכִי נָזִיר תָּלוּי בְּהַשָֹּׂגַת יַד, הָא כֵיצַד, קָרְבָּנוֹ לַה' עַל נִזְרוֹ, שֶׁהִפְרִישׁ הוּא מִשֶּׁלּוֹ. מִלְּבַד אֲשֶׁר תַּשִֹּׂיג יָדוֹ,, שֶׁהִפְרִישׁוּ לוֹ אֲחֵרִים שֶׁיִּתְכַּפֵּר בְּמַתָּנָתָם. (במדבר ו, כא): כְּפִי נִדְרוֹ אֲשֶׁר יִדֹּר, מִנַּיִן אַתָּה אוֹמֵר שֶׁאִם אָמַר הֲרֵינִי נָזִיר עַל מְנָת לְגַלֵּחַ עַל מֵאָה עוֹלוֹת וְעַל מֵאָה שְׁלָמִים, שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לְהָבִיא אֶת כֻּלָּם, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: כְּפִי נִדְרוֹ. אוֹ אֲפִלּוּ אָמַר הֲרֵינִי נָזִיר עַל מְנָת לְגַלֵּחַ עַל מֵאָה חַטָּאוֹת וְעַל מֵאָה אֲשָׁמוֹת שֶׁיְהֵא חַיָּב לַהֲבִיאָן, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: אֲשֶׁר יִדֹּר, לֹא אָמַרְתִּי אֶלָּא קָדָשִׁים הַבָּאִים בְּנֵדֶר וּבִנְדָבָה, יָצְאוּ חַטָּאוֹת וַאֲשָׁמוֹת שֶׁאֵין בָּאִין בְּנֵדֶר וּבִנְדָבָה. (במדבר ו, כא): כֵּן יַעֲשֶׂה עַל תּוֹרַת נִזְרוֹ, אוֹ אֲפִלּוּ אָמַר הֲרֵינִי נָזִיר עַל מְנָת שֶׁאֱהֵא שׁוֹתֶה יַיִן וּמִטַּמֵּא לְמֵתִים קוֹרֵא אֲנִי עָלָיו כְּפִי נִדְרוֹ, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר כֵּן יַעֲשֶׂה עַל תּוֹרַת נִזְרוֹ, אוֹ אֲפִלּוּ אָמַר הֲרֵי עָלַי חָמֵשׁ נְזִירוֹת, שֶׁאֲגַלֵּחַ תִּגְלַחַת אַחַת וְתַעֲלֶה לְכֻלָּן, קוֹרֵא אֲנִי עָלָיו: כְּפִי נִדְרוֹ, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר כֵּן יַעֲשֶׂה עַל תּוֹרַת נִזְרוֹ:
“This is the law of the nazirite who vows, his offering to the Lord for his naziriteship, besides what he can afford; in accordance with his vow that he vows, so he shall perform with the law of his naziriteship” (Numbers 6:21).
“This is the law of the nazirite…” I have only for the present, from where is it derived for the generations that this matter will be practiced in Shilo and in the eternal Temple? The verse states: “The law.” Will the nazirite offering be, perhaps, in practice, even on improvised altars? The verse states: “This.”143“This” is a restrictive term, excluding improvised altars.
“His offering to the Lord for his naziriteship,” but not his naziriteship for his offering.144The order is naziriteship, followed by offering. “His offering to the Lord for his naziriteship,” just as one is liable for misappropriation of an offering, so, too, one is liable for misappropriation of the hair.
“Besides what he can afford,” is [being] a nazirite contingent on what he can afford? How so? “His offering to the Lord for his naziriteship” – where he separated from his own. “Besides what he can afford” – where others separated for him so he could gain atonement with their gift.
“In accordance with his vow that he vows.” From where do you say that if one said: ‘I am a nazirite in order to shave over one hundred burnt offerings and over one hundred peace offerings’ that he is obligated to bring them all? The verse states: “In accordance with his vow.” Or, even if he said: ‘I am a nazirite in order to shave over one hundred sin offerings and over one hundred guilt offerings’ that he would be obligated to bring them? The verse states: “That he vows.” I said only regarding consecrated items that come as vows or gift offerings, excluding sin offerings and guilt offerings that do not come as vows or gift offerings.
“So he shall perform with the law of his naziriteship.” Or, even if he said: ‘I am a nazirite on condition that I can drink wine and become impure to corpses,’ do I read in his regard: “In accordance with his vow”? The verse states: “So he shall perform with the law of his naziriteship.” Or, even if he said: ‘Five naziriteships are incumbent upon me that I will shave one shave that will be effective for all of them,’ do I read in his regard: “In accordance with his vow”? The verse states: “So he shall perform with the law of his naziriteship.”145In both cases, once he takes a vow of naziriteship, all the details of the laws of naziriteship take effect upon him.
הָיָה רַבִּי שְׁמַעְיָה אוֹמֵר: מָה רָאֲתָה תּוֹרָה לְהָקֵל עַל נָזִיר טָמֵא שֶׁמֵּבִיא תּוֹרִים אוֹ בְּנֵי יוֹנָה, לְפִי שֶׁהוּא כְּשֶׁנָּזַר לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם נִתְכַּוֵּן וּכְשֶׁנִּטְמָא מְאַבֵּד כָּל מַה שֶּׁעָשָׂה וְחוֹזֵר מֵרֹאשׁ, לְפִיכָךְ חָסָה הַתּוֹרָה עָלָיו לִפְטֹר עַצְמוֹ בְּקָרְבַּן עָנִי. לָמָּה הָיָה כֶּבֶשׂ לְאָשָׁם, לְפִי שֶׁלֹא שָׁמַר עַצְמוֹ מִן הַטֻּמְאָה קָנְסָה אוֹתוֹ הַתּוֹרָה כְּדֵי שֶׁיְקַבֵּל נְזִירוּת בְּטָהֳרָה. לָמָּה נָזִיר טָהוֹר מֵבִיא שְׁלשָׁה מִינֵי קָרְבָּן, כְּדֵי לְהַתִּיר שְׁלשָׁה דְּבָרִים הָאֲסוּרִים לוֹ, הַיּוֹצֵא מִן הַגֶּפֶן, וְהַתִּגְלַחַת, וְהַטֻּמְאָה. הַחַטָּאת הָיָה מֵבִיא לְהַתִּיר הַטֻּמְאָה, וְהָעוֹלָה לְהַתִּיר הַתִּגְלַחַת, וְהַשְּׁלָמִים לְהַתִּיר הַיּוֹצֵא מִן הַגָּפֶן. וּלְפִי שֶׁכְּתוּבִין שְׁתֵּי אַזְהָרוֹת בַּאֲכִילַת הַיּוֹצֵא מִן הַגֶּפֶן, לְכָךְ הָיָה מֵבִיא עִם הַשְּׁלָמִים שְׁנֵי מִינֵי לֶחֶם, נְסָכִים לָעוֹלָה וְלַשְּׁלָמִים כְּנֶגֶד שְׁתֵּי אַזְהָרוֹת שֶׁל שְׁתִיָּה לְהַתִּירָן. וְלָמָּה הָיָה מַפְרִישׁ מִשַּׁלְּמֵי נָזִיר הַזְּרוֹעַ, כְּדֵי לְחַזֵּק זְרוֹעוֹ. לָמָּה פָּרָשַׁת נָזִיר אַחַר פָּרָשַׁת סוֹטָה, וְאַחַר פָּרָשַׁת נָזִיר בִּרְכַּת כֹּהֲנִים, לְפִי שֶׁהָיוּ אוֹמְרִים לַסּוֹטָה בִּתִּי הַרְבֵּה יַיִן עוֹשֶׂה, אֵין דַּרְכָּהּ שֶׁל אִשָּׁה אֶלָּא לְהִבָּדֵל מִן הַיַּיִן כַּנָּזִיר, מַתְנִים עָלֶיהָ כָּל הָאָמוּר בַּפָּרָשָׁה, אִם הָיְתָה טְהוֹרָה (במדבר ה, כח): וְנִקְתָה וְנִזְרְעָה זָרַע, יוֹצְאִים הֵימֶנָּה כֹּהֲנִים מְבָרְכִים אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל.
Rabbi Shemaya would say: What did the Torah see that led it to be lenient regarding an impure nazirite, in that he brings turtledoves or young pigeons?146One as a sin offering and one as a burnt offering. It is because when he became a nazirite, his intent was for the sake of Heaven, and when he became impure, he lost everything that he had done and went back to the beginning. That is why the Torah had mercy on him, to absolve him with the offering of a poor person. Why is the guilt offering a lamb? It is because he did not protect himself from impurity. The Torah penalized him so that he would accept naziriteship in purity.
Why does a pure nazirite bring three types of offerings? It is in order to permit three matters that are prohibited for him: Anything derived from the grapevine, shaving, and impurity. He would bring the sin offering to permit impurity, the burnt offering to permit shaving, and the peace offering to permit what is derived from the grapevine. Because two prohibitions are written regarding eating what is derived from the grapevine, that is why he would bring two types of bread with the peace offering. Libations for the burnt offering and for the peace offering correspond to the two prohibitions of drinking, to permit them. Why would he separate the foreleg from the nazirite’s peace offering? It is to strengthen his arm.147So that he would be able to withstand the evil inclination when he resumed drinking wine.
Why does the portion of the nazirite follow the portion of the sota, and after the portion of the nazirite, the Priestly Benediction? It is because they would say to the sota: ‘My daughter, wine accomplishes much. It is the way of a woman only to separate herself from wine like a nazirite.’ They stipulate in her regard everything that is stated in the portion. If she was pure, “she will be absolved and conceive offspring” (Numbers 5:28). Priests, who bless Israel, will emerge from her.