שאלו המינין את (ר' ישמעאל) [ר' שמלאי], אמרו לו כמה אלהות בראו את העולם, אמר להם אני ואתם נשאל לתורה, אמרו לו הרי כתיב כי אלהים קדושים (יהושע כד יט), אמר להם קראו סוף הפסוק, הם לא נאמר אלא הוא. אמר ר' ברכיה בשם ר' אבא האדמוני, מהו קדושים, שהוא קדוש בכל מיני קדושות, אמר ר' אחא בר חנינא הקב"ה דרכו בקדושה, הלוכו בקדושה, נראה בקדושה, דבורו בקדושה, חסיפת זרועו בקדושה, [נאה ואדיר בקדושה]. דרכו בקדושה מנין, שנאמר אלהים בקדש דרכך (תהלים עז יד). הליכתו בקדושה מנין, שנאמר הליכות אלי מלכי בקדש (שם סח כה). נראה בקדושה, שנאמר כן בקדש חזיתיך (שם סג ג). דבורו בקדושה, שנאמר אלהים דבר בקדשו (שם ס ח). חסיפת זרועו בקדושה מנין, שנאמר (חסף) [חשף] ה' [את] זרוע קדשו (ישעיה נב י). נאה ואדיר בקדושה מנין, שנאמר מי כמוכה באלים ה' וגו' (שמות טו יא). הוי כי אלהים קדושים הוא, שהוא קדוש בכל מיני קדושות, אמרו לו והכתיב בראשית ברא אלהים, אמר להן בראו לא כתיב כאן, אלא ברא.
The minim questioned {R. Ishmael} [R. Simlay].18yBer. 9:1 (12d); Gen. R. 8:9; Deut. R. 2:13; Tanh., Lev. 7:4. They said to him: How many deities created the world? He said to them: Let us, me and you, inquire of the Torah. They said to him: See, it written (in Josh. 24:19): FOR … HOLY GODS.19While “God” in the Bible is commonly plural, here the adjective “holy” is plural as well. He said to them: Read the rest of the verse, < where > "they" is not used but HE.20Thus the text reads literally: FOR HE IS HOLY GODS. R. Berekhyah said in the name of R. Abba the Edomite: Why is HOLY plural (in Josh. 24:19)? Because he is holy in all categories of holiness. R. Aha bar Hanina said: In regard to the Holy One, his way is in holiness; he processes in holiness; he is seen in holiness; his speech is in holiness; the uncovering of his arm is in holiness; [he is beautiful and glorious in holiness]. His way is in holiness. Where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Ps. 77:14): YOUR WAY, O GOD, IS IN HOLINESS (i.e., in the Holy Place, the Temple). He processes is in holiness. Where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Ps. 68:25): THE PROCESSIONS OF MY GOD, MY KING, ARE IN HOLINESS. He is seen in holiness, as stated (in Ps. 63:3): SO I HAVE BEHELD YOU IN HOLINESS (i.e., in the Holy Place). His speech is in holiness, as stated (in Ps. 60:8): GOD SPOKE IN HIS HOLINESS (Holy Place). The uncovering of his arm is in holiness. Where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Is. 52:10: THE LORD HAS UNCOVERED HIS ARM OF HOLINESS. He is beautiful and glorious in holiness. Where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Exod. 15:11): WHO IS LIKE YOU AMONG THE GODS, O LORD, < GLORIOUS IN HOLINESS >? Hence < the plurals > (in Josh. 24:19): FOR HE IS HOLY GODS, in < the sense > that he is holy in all types of holinesses. < The minim > said to him: But he caused to be written (in Gen. 1:1): IN THE BEGINNING GOD (in the plural) CREATED. He said to them: < The plural form of > "created" is not written here, but CREATED < in the singular to agree with the singular subject >.
שאלו המינין את (ר' ישמעאל) [ר' שמלאי], אמרו לו כמה אלהות בראו את העולם, אמר להם אני ואתם נשאל לתורה, אמרו לו הרי כתיב כי אלהים קדושים (יהושע כד יט), אמר להם קראו סוף הפסוק, הם לא נאמר אלא הוא. אמר ר' ברכיה בשם ר' אבא האדמוני, מהו קדושים, שהוא קדוש בכל מיני קדושות, אמר ר' אחא בר חנינא הקב"ה דרכו בקדושה, הלוכו בקדושה, נראה בקדושה, דבורו בקדושה, חסיפת זרועו בקדושה, [נאה ואדיר בקדושה]. דרכו בקדושה מנין, שנאמר אלהים בקדש דרכך (תהלים עז יד). הליכתו בקדושה מנין, שנאמר הליכות אלי מלכי בקדש (שם סח כה). נראה בקדושה, שנאמר כן בקדש חזיתיך (שם סג ג). דבורו בקדושה, שנאמר אלהים דבר בקדשו (שם ס ח). חסיפת זרועו בקדושה מנין, שנאמר (חסף) [חשף] ה' [את] זרוע קדשו (ישעיה נב י). נאה ואדיר בקדושה מנין, שנאמר מי כמוכה באלים ה' וגו' (שמות טו יא). הוי כי אלהים קדושים הוא, שהוא קדוש בכל מיני קדושות, אמרו לו והכתיב בראשית ברא אלהים, אמר להן בראו לא כתיב כאן, אלא ברא.
The minim questioned {R. Ishmael} [R. Simlay].18yBer. 9:1 (12d); Gen. R. 8:9; Deut. R. 2:13; Tanh., Lev. 7:4. They said to him: How many deities created the world? He said to them: Let us, me and you, inquire of the Torah. They said to him: See, it written (in Josh. 24:19): FOR … HOLY GODS.19While “God” in the Bible is commonly plural, here the adjective “holy” is plural as well. He said to them: Read the rest of the verse, < where > "they" is not used but HE.20Thus the text reads literally: FOR HE IS HOLY GODS. R. Berekhyah said in the name of R. Abba the Edomite: Why is HOLY plural (in Josh. 24:19)? Because he is holy in all categories of holiness. R. Aha bar Hanina said: In regard to the Holy One, his way is in holiness; he processes in holiness; he is seen in holiness; his speech is in holiness; the uncovering of his arm is in holiness; [he is beautiful and glorious in holiness]. His way is in holiness. Where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Ps. 77:14): YOUR WAY, O GOD, IS IN HOLINESS (i.e., in the Holy Place, the Temple). He processes is in holiness. Where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Ps. 68:25): THE PROCESSIONS OF MY GOD, MY KING, ARE IN HOLINESS. He is seen in holiness, as stated (in Ps. 63:3): SO I HAVE BEHELD YOU IN HOLINESS (i.e., in the Holy Place). His speech is in holiness, as stated (in Ps. 60:8): GOD SPOKE IN HIS HOLINESS (Holy Place). The uncovering of his arm is in holiness. Where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Is. 52:10: THE LORD HAS UNCOVERED HIS ARM OF HOLINESS. He is beautiful and glorious in holiness. Where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Exod. 15:11): WHO IS LIKE YOU AMONG THE GODS, O LORD, < GLORIOUS IN HOLINESS >? Hence < the plurals > (in Josh. 24:19): FOR HE IS HOLY GODS, in < the sense > that he is holy in all types of holinesses. < The minim > said to him: But he caused to be written (in Gen. 1:1): IN THE BEGINNING GOD (in the plural) CREATED. He said to them: < The plural form of > "created" is not written here, but CREATED < in the singular to agree with the singular subject >.