“The son of an Israelite woman, and he was the son of an Egyptian man, went out among the children of Israel; and the son of the Israelite woman and an Israelite man fought in the camp. The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name and cursed; they brought him to Moses. And the name of his mother was Shelomit, daughter of Divri, of the tribe of Dan” (Leviticus 24:10–11). “The son of an Israelite woman…went out” – Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya: Rabbi Yehuda says: That is what is written: “Around the wicked will walk” (Psalms 12:9) – the righteous walk around the wicked. How so? When the righteous emerge from the Garden of Eden and see the wicked being judged in Gehenna, their soul is joyous within them. That is what is written: “They will emerge and see the corpses of the people who betray Me” (Isaiah 66:24). At that moment, they give praise and thanks to the Holy One blessed be He for the suffering that He inflicted upon them in this world.1The righteous thank God for having punished them for their sins in this world, so that they can receive reward in the World to Come. That is what is written: “You will say on that day: I thank You, Lord, that You were angry with me; Your wrath has turned against” (Isaiah 12:1) the nations of the world, and “You comfort me” (Isaiah 12:1) through them. When? “As lowliness is lifted up [kerum]” (Psalms 12:9) – when the Holy One blessed be He will exalt a lowly vineyard [kerem] in His world. The vineyard of the Holy One blessed be He is none other than Israel, as it is stated: “For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel and the people of Judah, the plant of His delight” (Isaiah 5:7). Rabbi Neḥemya said to him: Until when are you going to distort the Bible for us? Rather, the wicked walk around the righteous, as it is written: “Around, the wicked will walk” (Psalms 12:9). How so? When the wicked ascend from Gehenna and see the righteous sitting tranquilly within the Garden of Eden, their soul diminishes within them.2Meaning, they will be consumed with grief. That is what is written: “The wicked one sees and is angered” (Psalms 112:10). When? “As lowliness is lifted up ” – when the Holy One blessed be He will exalt the mitzvotthat are treated with contempt. ‘Why are you going out to be stoned?’ ‘Because I circumcised my son.’3The reality of this world has often caused conversations such as to this to take place between Jews, when one is sentenced to death by the ruling authorities for having observed mitzvot. ‘Why are you going out to be burned?’ ‘Because I observed Shabbat.’ ‘Why are you going out to be beheaded?’ ‘Because I ate unleavened bread.’ ‘Why are you being lashed with a whip?’ ‘Because I made a sukka, because I took a palm branch, because I donned phylacteries, because I placed sky-blue wool [on my garment], because I performed the will of my Father in Heaven.’ That is what is written: “One will say to him: What are those wounds?” (Zechariah 13:6). [He will answer:] ‘These wounds caused me to be beloved to my Father in Heaven.’ Another matter: When is “as lowliness is lifted up [kerum]” – when the Holy One blessed be He will publicize the origin [karman] of the mamzerim.4In this sense, “lifted up” means they will be separated from the rest of the congregation. They were already publicized by Moses, as it is stated: “Take out the blasphemer” (Leviticus 24:14).5The blasphemer was of illegitimate lineage, and he was eventually executed and thereby removed from the congregation.
“Even in your thought do not curse a king” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) – Rabbi Avin said: Do not curse and blaspheme before Me with the intelligence that I granted you beyond that of the animal, beast, and bird. I created two eyes for you, and they have two eyes; you have two ears, and they have two ears. I made you similar to them, as it is stated: “He is comparable to animals, which perish [nidmu]” (Psalms 49:21). Nidme6The midrash is defining the meaning of the term nidmu in the verse, which it mentions in a slightly different form, nidme. is nothing other than silence. I silenced them in your honor. How many favors have I performed for you, but you do not understand, as it is stated: “Man, in honor, does not understand” (Psalms 49:21). Another matter: “Even in your thought, do not curse a king” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) who is before you. “And in your bedrooms do not curse the wealthy” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) that is before you.7Unlike the previous exposition, where the verse was understood as referring to not cursing God, now the verse is understood as referring to not cursing powerful people. Some suggest that this sentence should be understood to mean: Do not curse a king or wealthy individual who came before you, i.e. preceded you (see Maharzu). “As the birds of the heavens will carry the sound” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) – Rabbi Yirmeya ben Elazar said: This is the raven and the art of bird divination.8It was thought that through the art of bird divination, ravens could tell a person what others had said about them. “And a winged creature will tell the matter” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) – Rabbi Levi said: There are ears on the road and ears to the wall. Another matter: “Even in your thought do not curse a king” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) who is in your generation. “And in your bedrooms do not curse the wealthy” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) that is in your generation. “As the birds of the heavens will carry the sound” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) – Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon said: The Holy One blessed be He said to David: ‘Should you have said this: “My enemies will be exceedingly ashamed and frightened” (Psalms 6:11)? Who was your enemy? Was it not Saul? Is it not written: “On the day the Lord saved him from the hands of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul” (Psalms 18:1)?’ At that moment, David said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, do not tally it among my intentional sins, but rather among my unwitting sins [shegagot].’ That is what is written: “A meditation [shigayon] by David” (Psalms 7:1). Another matter: “Even in your thought do not curse a king” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) – do not curse the King of the universe. “And in your bedrooms do not curse the wealthy” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) – the Wealthy One of the universe. “As the birds of the heavens will carry the sound” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) – Rabbi Levi said: There is a beneficial sound that emerges and a detrimental sound [that emerges]. A beneficial [sound]: “The Lord heard the sound of your words as you spoke to me, [and the Lord said to me: I heard the sound of the words of this people that they spoke to you; they did well in everything that they spoke]”(Deuteronomy 5:25). What is: “They did well [hetivu] in everything that they spoke”? Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Ada and bar Kappara: One said: It is like the preparation of [hatavat] the lamps, and one said: It is like the preparation of the incense.9Both of these were part of the Temple service. There is a detrimental sound: “The Lord heard the sound of your words, and He was enraged and took an oath, saying” (Deuteronomy 1:34). Rabbi Taḥlifa said: The Holy One blessed be He said: For them it is rage, but for Me, what rage is there?10Although God’s reaction appears to people as rage, in reality God carries out punishments but is not enraged. “That I took an oath in My wrath” (Psalms 95:11) – I took an oath in My wrath, but changed My mind. “That they would not come to My resting place” (Psalms 95:11) – they will not come to this resting place,11The Land of Israel but they will come to another resting place.12The World to Come Rabbi Levi said in the name of bar Kappara: This is analogous to a king who grew angry at his son and decreed that he shall not enter the palace with him. What did the king do? He stood and demolished it, rebuilt it, and brought his son into the palace with him. The result is that he observed his oath and brought in his son. So, the Holy One blessed be He said: “That I took an oath in My wrath that they would not come to My resting place” – they will not come to this resting place, but they will come to another resting place. “And a winged creature will tell the matter” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) – Rabbi Avin said: When a person is asleep, the body tells the soul [what it has done], the soul [tells it] to the spirit, the spirit to the angel, the angel to the cherub, the cherub to the winged creature,13This is a reference to an angelic creature called a seraph (see Kohelet Rabba 10:20). “and a winged creature will tell the matter”; before whom? Before the One who spoke and the world came into being. Another matter: “Even in your thought do not curse a king” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) – this is Moses, as it is written: “There was a king in Yeshurun” (Deuteronomy 33:5). “And in your bedrooms do not curse the wealthy” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) – this is Moses. From where did Moses become wealthy? Rabbi Ḥanin said: The Holy One blessed be He created a sapphire mine for him in his tent, and it is from there that he became wealthy. That is what is written: “Carve [pesol] for yourself [two tablets of stone]” (Exodus 34:1) – the waste [pesolet] shall be for you. At that moment, Moses said: The blessing of the Lord, it will make wealthy” (Proverbs 10:22). “As the birds of the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) – as he flew like a bird and ascended heavenward. “And a winged creature will tell the matter” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) – as it was told to Moses at Sinai: “Take out the blasphemer” (Leviticus 24:14).
“The son of an Israelite woman…went out” – from where did he go out? Rabbi Levi said: He went out of his world, just as it says: “The champion went out” (I Samuel 17:4).14Just as Goliath blasphemed God and lost his place in the World to Come, the same is true of the blasphemer, the son of the Israelite woman who went out, meaning he lost his place in the World to Come. Rabbi Berekhya said: He went out of the previous portion and said: It is written: “You shall take fine flour and you shall bake it” (Leviticus 24:5).15The reference is to the showbread, which would be placed on the table in the Tabernacle. New bread would be placed each Shabbat, and when it would be removed the following Shabbat the priests would eat it. It is the way of a king to eat hot bread. Is it perhaps to eat cold? It is as we learned there: The showbread is eaten no fewer than nine days and no more than eleven days [after it is baked]. How so? It is baked on the day before Shabbat and eaten on [the following Shabbat], on the ninth [day from when it was baked]. If a Festival occurs on the day before Shabbat it is eaten on the tenth day. If the two festival days of Rosh HaShana occur it is eaten on the eleventh,16Mishna Menaḥot 11:9. as it appears in Tanḥuma.17See Tanḥuma, Leviticus 23, where this is explained at greater length. The midrash is asserting that the blasphemer scoffed at the mitzva of the showbread, and it was that which ultimately led to his blaspheming God. Rabbi Ḥiyya taught: He went out from the portion of the lineage. He sought to pitch his tent in the camp of Dan. They said to him: ‘What leads you to pitch your tent in the camp of Dan?’ He said to them: ‘I am from one of the daughters of Dan.’ They said to him: ‘It is written: “Each man by his banner with the insignias of his patrilineal house” (Numbers 2:2) – and not his matrilineal house.’ He entered the court of Moses and lost his case. He stood and blasphemed.
“And he was the son of an Egyptian man” – the Rabbis and Rabbi Levi: The Rabbis say: Even though there were no mamzerim at that time, he was a mamzer.18A mamzer is the child of a married Jewish woman and a Jewish man who is not her husband. In this instance the father was an Egyptian man, and therefore her son was not technically a mamzer. However, he was a mamzer in the eyes of the people. Rabbi Levi said: He was a full-fledged mamzer.19Rabbi Levi holds that the offspring is a mamzer even if the paramour was a gentile. How [did it come to pass]? The taskmasters were Egyptian, and the foremen were Israelites. A taskmaster was appointed over ten foremen, and a foreman was appointed over ten men. The result is that a taskmaster was appointed over one hundred men. One time, a taskmaster went early to a foreman; he said to him: ‘Go and gather your group.’ When he entered, his wife flirted with him.20When the Egyptian taskmaster entered the Israelite foreman’s home, the Israelite’s wife flirted with him. He said: She is mine.21The taskmaster said to himself that he would be able to seduce her. He went and concealed himself behind the ladder. When her husband left, he sinned with her. [The husband] looked behind him and saw [the taskmaster] emerging from his house. Once [the taskmaster] knew that he saw him, he went to him and was beating him that entire day. He said to him: ‘Work well, work well’;22He demoted him from being a foreman to the rank of a plain laborer. he intended to kill him. At that moment the Divine Spirit inspired Moses. That is what is written: “He turned this way and that” (Exodus 2:12). What is “this way and that”? He saw what [the taskmaster] had done to him in the house and in the field. He said of him: Is it not enough that he sinned with his wife, but he seeks to kill him? Immediately, “he saw that there was no man” (Exodus 2:12) – Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Neḥemya, and the Rabbis: Rabbi Yehuda says: He saw that there was no one to stand and be zealous in the name of the Holy One blessed be He and kill him. Rabbi Neḥemya says: He saw that there was no one to stand and invoke the name of God against him and kill him. The Rabbis say: He saw that there was no hope destined to emerge from him, from his sons, and from the descendants of his sons until the end of all the generations. Immediately, “he smote the Egyptian” (Exodus 2:12). Rabbi Yitzḥak said: He killed him with a fist, just as it says: “To smite wickedness with a fist” (Isaiah 58:4). Rabbi Levi said: He killed him with the secret of Israel,23By reciting the name of God. Alternatively, he killed him and relied on the ability of the Israelites to keep a secret, as there were Israelites who witnessed the event (Etz Yosef). just as it says: “The number of the children of Israel will be like the sand of the sea” (Hosea 2:1).24When the verse states that Moses killed the Egyptian, it concludes: “And he hid him in the sand.” The midrash here asserts that this is an allusion to the Israelites, and means that Moses relied on the fact that they would keep the matter hidden. The Egyptian killed by Moses was the father of the Israelite who later blasphemed and was put to death.
Another matter: “The son of an Israelite woman…went out” – that is what is written: “A locked garden is my sister, my bride; a locked fountain, a sealed spring” (Song of Songs 4:12). Rabbi Pinḥas said: “A locked fountain” – these are the virgins. “A locked garden” – these are the married women. “A sealed spring” – these are the males.25The meaning is that none engaged in in illicit sexual activity, other than the one Israelite woman mentioned in the verse who had a son with an Egyptian man. It is taught in the name of Rabbi Natan: “A locked garden,” “a locked fountain” – these are two forms of intercourse, typical and atypical.26The reference is to vaginal and anal intercourse. Another matter: Rabbi Pinḥas said in the name of Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba: “A locked garden” (Song of Songs 4:12) – because Israel restrained themselves from licentiousness in Egypt, they were delivered from Egypt. As a result, “your branches [shelaḥayikh]” (Song of Songs 4:13) – your being sent out [shiluḥayikh],27The midrash reads the term “your branches [shelaḥayikh]” to mean “your being sent out [shiluḥayikh],” which is the result of what was indicated in the previous verse, namely that they restrained themselves from licentiousness. just as it says: “It was when Pharaoh sent out [beshalaḥ]” (Exodus 13:17). Rabbi Huna said in the name of Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba: Sarah our matriarch descended to Egypt and restrained herself from licentiousness, and all the women restrained themselves by her merit. Joseph descended to Egypt and restrained himself from licentiousness, and all of Israel restrained themselves by his merit.28Sarah refrained from licentiousness when Pharaoh had her taken so that he could marry her (see Genesis 12:14–20), and Joseph refrained from licentiousness with the wife of Potifar (see Genesis 39:7–12). In so doing, they bequeathed to their descendants the spiritual fortitude to withstand such temptation. Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: The restraint from licentiousness was itself sufficient for Israel to have been redeemed on its account. Rav Huna said in the name of bar Kappara: Due to four matters, Israel was redeemed from Egypt: Because they did not change their name, their language, they did not speak slander, and there was not one among them who was found to be steeped in licentiousness. They did not change their name; Reuben and Simeon descended [to Egypt], and Reuben and Simeon ascended. They did not call Judah Rupa, nor Reuben Luleyani, nor Joseph Leisteis, and nor Benjamin Alexandri. They did not change their language. There it is written: “The survivor came and told Abram the Hebrew” (Genesis 14:13), and here: “They said: The God of the Hebrews called upon us” (Exodus 5:3); and it is written: “That it is my mouth that is speaking to you” (Genesis 45:12) – in the sacred tongue. They did not speak slander, as it is stated: “Speak now in the ears of the people, [and they shall ask each man from his neighbor and each woman from her neighbor, silver vessels and gold vessels]” (Exodus 11:2). You find that this matter had been entrusted to them for twelve months, and not one of them informed on another.29The Israelites knew twelve months before the Exodus that they would ask to borrow goods from the Egyptians and that they would then leave Egypt never to return. Nonetheless, none of them told the Egyptians about this plan. And there was not one among them who was found to be steeped in licentiousness. Know that it was so, as there was one, and the verse publicized her, as it is stated: “And the name of his mother was Shelomit, daughter of Divri, of the tribe of Dan” (Leviticus 24:11).30The verse mentions the name of this woman who had conceived from an Egyptian man in order to emphasize that no other Israelite women had conceived from Egyptian men. “Shelomit” – as Rabbi Levi said: She was very talkative in greetings: Greetings to you, greetings to you.31She would strike up conversations with everyone, including men. “Daughter of Divri” – that she caused a matter [davar] to befall her son. “Of the tribe of Dan” – it is a disgrace for him, a disgrace for his family, a disgrace for the tribe from which he emerged.
Rav said: A mamzer never lives more than thirty days. Rabbi Ḥunai said: Once in seventy years the Holy One blessed be He brings a great plague to the world and eradicates the mamzerim and takes the upright with them. What is the source? “He too is wise, and He brings misfortune” (Isaiah 31:2). The verse should have said: “He brings good.” Rather, it is to teach you that even when the Holy One blessed be He brings misfortune to the world, He does so with wisdom. “He does not retract His words [devarav]” (Isaiah 31:2) – He does not remove His plague [devaro]. Why is this necessary? “He will rise up against the house of evildoers” (Isaiah 31:2).32In order to kill the mamzerim without causing them and their families undue embarrassment by identifying them, God kills them during plagues, when many others are dying as well. This is like that which Reish Lakish said: “In the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered the sin offering shall be slaughtered” (Leviticus 6:18). Why is this necessary? It is so the sinners will not be publicized. Reish Lakish said: There are those whom one mentions and blesses, and there are that one mentions and curses.33The word meshaḥakin, translated here as “curses,” literally means “crushes.” It was not uncommon for one to respond to hearing the name of a wicked individual by saying, “may his bones be crushed.” One mentions and blesses, “Betzalel, son of Uri, son of Ḥur, [of the tribe of Judah]” (Exodus 31:2). One mentions and curses Akhan, son of Karmi, son of Zarḥi (see Joshua 7:1). One mentions and blesses, “count the children of Levi” (Numbers 3:15). One mentions and curses, “remember what Amalek has done to you” (Deuteronomy 25:17). One mentions and blesses, “there was a man of Judah […and his name was Mordekhai]” (Esther 2:5). One mentions and curses, “a man who is and adversary and an enemy, [this wicked Haman]” (Esther 7:6). One mentions and blesses, “because Mordekhai of Judah” (Esther 10:3). One mentions and curses, “because Haman son of Hamedata” (Esther 9:24). One mentions and blesses, “David son of an Efratite” (I Samuel 17:12). One mentions and curses, “Yerovam, son of Nevat, an Efratite” (I Kings 11:26). One mentions and blesses, “there was a certain man from Ramatayim…[and his name was Elkana]” (I Samuel 1:1). One mentions and curses, “there was a certain man from the Ephraim highlands, and his name was Mikhaihu” (Judges 17:1). One mentions and blesses, “and with him was Oholiav [son of Aḥisamakh of the tribe of Dan]” (Exodus 38:23). One mentions and curses, “and the name of his mother was Shelomit, daughter of Divri, of the tribe of Dan” (Leviticus 24:11).
Rabbi Zeira, when he ascended to here, he would hear voices calling mamzer and mamzeret.34When Rabbi Zeira emigrated from Babylonia to the Land of Israel, he heard people accusing others of having the status of mamzer. He said: Has what Rav Huna said: A mamzer does not live more than thirty days, gone away? Rabbi Yaakov bar Rav Aḥa said: It is like that which Rava and Rav Huna said in the name of Rav: A mamzer does not live more than thirty days. When? In a case where [his status] is not public knowledge; but if it becomes public knowledge, he lives. In the days of Rabbi Berekhya, a certain Babylonian ascended to here, and Rabbi Berekhya knew that he was a mamzer. He went to [Rabbi Berekhya] and said to him: ‘Garner merit through me.’35This individual asked Rabbi Berekhya to give him charity. Rabbi Berekhya said: ‘Go on your way and come tomorrow, and I will give you a stipend from the public fund.’ He went to him the next day and found him sitting and speaking in the synagogue. He waited until he finished. When he finished his sermon, he went to him. Rabbi Berekhya said to them: ‘My brethren, garner merit through this man, who is a mamzer.’ They provided him with a stipend. When they left there, he said to him: ‘Rabbi, I asked you for temporal life, and you have cut short the life of this man.’36He was referring to himself. Now that everyone knew he was a mamzer, he would not be able to marry and start a family. He said to him: ‘As you live, I have granted you life, as Rava and Rav Huna said in the name of Rav: A mamzer does not live more than thirty days. When? In a case where [his status] is not public knowledge; but if it becomes public knowledge, he lives.’
Another matter: “The son of an Israelite woman…went out” – that is what is written: “I again saw all the oppressed” (Ecclesiastes 4:1). Daniel the tailor interpreted the verse regarding mamzerim. “Behold the tears of the oppressed” (Ecclesiastes 4:1) – the parents of these performed transgressions, and these miserable ones, why is it their concern?37A child has the status of a mamzer because of the illicit relationship through which he was conceived. Daniel the tailor therefore interprets the “tears of the oppressed” as referring to mamzerim, who suffer due to the misdeeds of others. So, the father of this one consorted with a forbidden woman; what did this one do, and why is it his concern?“But there is no comforter for them” (Ecclesiastes 4:1). “And power from the hand of their oppressors” (Ecclesiastes 4:1) – from the hand of the Great Sanhedrin of Israel that comes upon them by the authority of the Torah and distances them, because of: “A mamzer shall not enter into the assembly of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 23:3). “But there is no comforter for them” (Ecclesiastes 4:1) – the Holy One blessed be He says: It is incumbent upon Me to comfort them, as in this world they are tainted, but in the future, Zechariah said: I see it and it is all pure gold. That is what is written: “I saw, and behold, a candelabrum of gold in its entirety, with a gula at its top” (Zechariah 4:2). Two amora’im: One said: Exile [gola],and one said: Its redeemer [go’alah]. The one who said gola: As they were exiled to Babylon and the Divine Presence was exiled with them, as He said: “For your sake I sent to Babylon” (Isaiah 43:14). The one who said: Go’alah, its Redeemer: As it is stated: “Our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts is His name” (Isaiah 47:4). And it is written: “The one who breaches went up before them; they breached and passed the gate…their king passed before them, and the Lord is at their head” (Micah 2:13).
וַיֵּצֵא בֶּן אִשָּׁה יִשְׂרְאֵלִית (ויקרא כד, י), רַבִּי יְהוּדָה וְרַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים יב, ט): סָבִיב רְשָׁעִים יִתְהַלָּכוּן, סָבִיב לָרְשָׁעִים הַצַּדִּיקִים מְהַלְּכִין, כֵּיצַד בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהַצַּדִּיקִים יוֹצְאִין מִתּוֹךְ גַּן עֵדֶן וְרוֹאִין אֶת הָרְשָׁעִים נִדּוֹנִין בַּגֵּיהִנֹּם, נַפְשָׁם שְׂמֵחָה עֲלֵיהֶם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ישעיה סו, כד): וְיָצְאוּ וְרָאוּ בְּפִגְרֵי הָאֲנָשִׁים הַפּשְׁעִים בִּי, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה הֵן נוֹתְנִין שֶׁבַח וְהוֹדָאָה לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עַל הַיִּסּוּרִין שֶׁהֵבִיא עֲלֵיהֶם בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ישעיה יב, א): וְאָמַרְתָּ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא אוֹדְךָ ה' כִּי אָנַפְתָּ בִּי יָשֹׁב אַפְּךָ בְּאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם וּתְנַחֲמֵנִי מֵהֶם, אֵימָתַי (תהלים יב, ט): כְּרֻם זֻלּוּת, לִכְשֶׁיְרוֹמֵם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כֶּרֶם בָּזוּי בְּעוֹלָמוֹ, אֵין כַּרְמוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶלָּא יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים ה, ז): כִּי כֶרֶם ה' צְבָאוֹת בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאִישׁ יְהוּדָה נְטַע שַׁעֲשׁוּעָיו, אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה עַד מָתַי אַתָּה עוֹקֵף עָלֵינוּ אֶת הַמִּקְרָא, אֶלָּא סָבִיב לַצַּדִּיקִים הָרְשָׁעִים מְהַלְּכִין, דִּכְתִיב: סָבִיב רְשָׁעִים יִתְהַלָּכוּן, הָא כֵיצַד בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהָרְשָׁעִים עוֹלִין מִתּוֹךְ גֵּיהִנֹּם וְרוֹאִין אֶת הַצַּדִּיקִים יוֹשְׁבִים בְּשַׁלְוָה בְּתוֹךְ גַּן עֵדֶן, נַפְשָׁם מִתְמָעֶטֶת עֲלֵיהֶם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים קיב, י): רָשָׁע יִרְאֶה וְכָעַס, אֵימָתַי כְּרֻם זֻלּוּת, לִכְשֶׁיְרוֹמֵם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִצְווֹת בְּזוּיוֹת בָּעוֹלָם, מַה לְּךָ יוֹצֵא לִסָּקֵל, עַל שֶׁמַּלְתִּי אֶת בְּנִי. מַה לְּךָ יוֹצֵא לִשָּׂרֵף, עַל שֶׁשָּׁמַרְתִּי אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת. מַה לְּךָ יוֹצֵא לֵהָרֵג, עַל שֶׁאָכַלְתִּי מַצָּה. מַה לְּךָ לוֹקֶה בְּפַרְגּוֹל עַל שֶׁעָשִׂיתִי סֻכָּה, עַל שֶׁנָּטַלְתִּי לוּלָב, עַל שֶׁהִנַּחְתִּי תְּפִלִּין, עַל שֶׁהִטַּלְתִּי תְּכֵלֶת, עַל שֶׁעָשִׂיתִי רְצוֹן אַבָּא שֶׁבַּשָׁמַיִם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (זכריה יג, ו): וְאָמַר אֵלָיו מָה הַמַּכּוֹת הָאֵלֶּה, מַכּוֹת הָאֵלֶּה גָּרְמוּ לִי לְהֵאָהֵב לְאָבִי שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם. דָּבָר אַחֵר, אֵימָתַי כְּרֻם זֻלּוּת, לִכְשֶׁיְפַרְסֵם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כַּרְמָן שֶׁל מַמְזֵרִים, וּכְבָר פִּרְסְמָן עַל יְדֵי משֶׁה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כד, יד): הוֹצֵא אֶת הַמְקַלֵּל.
“The son of an Israelite woman, and he was the son of an Egyptian man, went out among the children of Israel; and the son of the Israelite woman and an Israelite man fought in the camp. The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name and cursed; they brought him to Moses. And the name of his mother was Shelomit, daughter of Divri, of the tribe of Dan” (Leviticus 24:10–11).
“The son of an Israelite woman…went out” – Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya: Rabbi Yehuda says: That is what is written: “Around the wicked will walk” (Psalms 12:9) – the righteous walk around the wicked. How so? When the righteous emerge from the Garden of Eden and see the wicked being judged in Gehenna, their soul is joyous within them. That is what is written: “They will emerge and see the corpses of the people who betray Me” (Isaiah 66:24). At that moment, they give praise and thanks to the Holy One blessed be He for the suffering that He inflicted upon them in this world.1The righteous thank God for having punished them for their sins in this world, so that they can receive reward in the World to Come. That is what is written: “You will say on that day: I thank You, Lord, that You were angry with me; Your wrath has turned against” (Isaiah 12:1) the nations of the world, and “You comfort me” (Isaiah 12:1) through them. When? “As lowliness is lifted up [kerum]” (Psalms 12:9) – when the Holy One blessed be He will exalt a lowly vineyard [kerem] in His world. The vineyard of the Holy One blessed be He is none other than Israel, as it is stated: “For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel and the people of Judah, the plant of His delight” (Isaiah 5:7).
Rabbi Neḥemya said to him: Until when are you going to distort the Bible for us? Rather, the wicked walk around the righteous, as it is written: “Around, the wicked will walk” (Psalms 12:9). How so? When the wicked ascend from Gehenna and see the righteous sitting tranquilly within the Garden of Eden, their soul diminishes within them.2Meaning, they will be consumed with grief. That is what is written: “The wicked one sees and is angered” (Psalms 112:10). When? “As lowliness is lifted up ” – when the Holy One blessed be He will exalt the mitzvot that are treated with contempt. ‘Why are you going out to be stoned?’ ‘Because I circumcised my son.’3The reality of this world has often caused conversations such as to this to take place between Jews, when one is sentenced to death by the ruling authorities for having observed mitzvot. ‘Why are you going out to be burned?’ ‘Because I observed Shabbat.’ ‘Why are you going out to be beheaded?’ ‘Because I ate unleavened bread.’ ‘Why are you being lashed with a whip?’ ‘Because I made a sukka, because I took a palm branch, because I donned phylacteries, because I placed sky-blue wool [on my garment], because I performed the will of my Father in Heaven.’ That is what is written: “One will say to him: What are those wounds?” (Zechariah 13:6). [He will answer:] ‘These wounds caused me to be beloved to my Father in Heaven.’
Another matter: When is “as lowliness is lifted up [kerum]” – when the Holy One blessed be He will publicize the origin [karman] of the mamzerim.4In this sense, “lifted up” means they will be separated from the rest of the congregation. They were already publicized by Moses, as it is stated: “Take out the blasphemer” (Leviticus 24:14).5The blasphemer was of illegitimate lineage, and he was eventually executed and thereby removed from the congregation.
גַּם בְּמַדָּעֲךָ מֶלֶךְ אַל תְּקַלֵּל (קהלת י, כ), אָמַר רַבִּי אָבִין לֹא בַּמַּדָּע שֶׁנָּתַתִּי לְךָ יַתִּיר מִן הַבְּהֵמָה וְחַיָּה וְעוֹף תְּהֵא מְחָרֵף וּמְגַדֵּף לְפָנַי, בָּרָאתִי לְךָ שְׁתֵּי עֵינַיִם וְלָהּ שְׁתֵּי עֵינַיִם, לְךָ שְׁתֵּי אָזְנַיִם וְלָהּ שְׁתֵּי אָזְנַיִם, דִּמִּיתִיךָ לָהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים מט, כא): נִמְשַׁל כַּבְּהֵמוֹת נִדְמוּ, וְאֵין נִדְמֶה אֶלָּא שְׁתִיקָה, שִׁתַּקְתִּי מִפְּנֵי כְבוֹדְךָ, כַּמָּה טוֹבוֹת עָשִׂיתִי עִמְּךָ וְאֵין אַתָּה מֵבִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים מט, כא): אָדָם בִּיקָר וְלֹא יָבִין. דָּבָר אַחֵר, גַּם בְּמַדָעֲךָ, מֶלֶךְ שֶׁלְּפָנֶיךָ, אַל תְּקַלֵּל, (קהלת י, כ): וּבְחַדְרֵי מִשְׁכָּבְךָ, עָשִׁיר שֶׁלְּפָנֶיךָ אַל תְּקַלֵּל, (קהלת י, כ): כִּי עוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם יוֹלִיךְ אֶת הַקּוֹל, אָמַר רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר זֶה הָעוֹרֵב וְחָכְמַת טַיָּארִין, (קהלת י, כ): וּבַעַל כְּנָפַיִם יַגִּיד דָּבָר, רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר אָזְנַיִם לַדֶּרֶךְ וְאָזְנַיִם לַכֹּתֶל. דָּבָר אַחֵר, גַּם בְּמַדָעֲךָ, מֶלֶךְ שֶׁבְּדוֹרְךָ אַל תְּקַלֵּל, וּבְחַדְרֵי מִשְׁכָּבְךָ, עָשִׁיר שֶׁבְּדוֹרְךָ אַל תְּקַלֵּל, כִּי עוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם יוֹלִיךְ אֶת הַקּוֹל. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בַּר סִימוֹן אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְדָוִד כָּךְ הָיִיתָ צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר (תהלים ו, יא): יֵבשׁוּ וְיִבָּהֲלוּ מְאֹד כָּל אֹיְבָי, מִי הָיָה אוֹיִבְךָ לֹא שָׁאוּל, לֹא כָּךְ כְּתִיב (תהלים יח, א): בְּיוֹם הִצִּיל ה' אוֹתוֹ מִכַּף כָּל אֹוֹיְבָיו וּמִיַּד שָׁאוּל, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה אָמַר דָּוִד לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם אַל תַּעֲלֶה אוֹתוֹ עָלַי זְדוֹנוֹת אֶלָּא שְׁגָגוֹת, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים ז, א): שִׁגָּיוֹן לְדָוִד. דָּבָר אַחֵר, גַּם בְּמַדָעֲךָ מֶלֶךְ אַל תְּקַלֵּל, מַלְכּוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם אַל תְּקַלֵּל. וּבְחַדְרֵי מִשְׁכָּבְךָ אַל תְּקַלֵּל עָשִׁיר, עֲשִׁירוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם. כִּי עוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם יוֹלִיךְ אֶת הַקּוֹל. אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי יֵשׁ קוֹל יוֹצֵא לְטוֹבָה וְיֵשׁ קוֹל לְרָעָה, לְטוֹבָה (דברים ה, כה): וַיִּשְׁמַע ה' אֶת קוֹל דִּבְרֵיכֶם בְּדַבֶּרְכֶם אֵלָי, מַהוּ (דברים ה, כה): הֵיטִיבוּ [כל] אֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּרוּ, רַבִּי חִיָּא בַּר אַדָא וּבַר קַפָּרָא, חַד אָמַר הֲטָבָה כַּהֲטָבַת נֵרוֹת, וְחַד אָמַר הֲטָבָה כַּהֲטָבַת הַקְטֹרֶת. יֵשׁ קוֹל לְרָעָה (דברים א, לד): וַיִּשְׁמַע ה' אֶת קוֹל דִּבְרֵיכֶם וַיִּקְצֹף וַיִּשָּׁבַע לֵאמֹר, אָמַר רַבִּי תַּחְלִיפָא אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לָהֶם הוּא קִצָּפוֹן, וְלִי מָה אֲנִי קִצָּפוֹן, (תהלים צה, יא): אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי בְאַפִּי, נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי בְאַפִּי וְחוֹזֵר אֲנִי בִּי, (תהלים צה, יא): אִם יְבֹאוּן אֶל מְנוּחָתִי, לִמְנוּחָה זוֹ אֵינָן בָּאִים אֲבָל בָּאִים הֵם לִמְנוּחָה אַחֶרֶת. רַבִּי לֵוִי בְּשֵׁם בַּר קַפָּרָא אָמַר מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁכָּעַס עַל בְּנוֹ וְגָזַר עָלָיו שֶׁלֹּא יִכָּנֵס עִמּוֹ לַפָּלָטִין, מֶה עָשָׂה הַמֶּלֶךְ עָמַד סָתְרֵיהּ וּבְנָיֵיהּ וְהִכְנִיס אֶת בְּנוֹ עִמּוֹ לַפָּלָטִין, נִמְצָא מְקַיֵם שְׁבוּעָתוֹ וּמַכְנִיס אֶת בְּנוֹ, כָּךְ אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי בְאַפִּי אִם יְבֹאוּן אֶל מְנוּחָתִי, לִמְנוּחָה זוֹ אֵין בָּאִין אֲבָל בָּאִין לִמְנוּחָה אַחֶרֶת. עַל כְּנָפַיִם יַגִּיד דָּבָר, אָמַר רַבִּי אָבִין בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהָאָדָם הַזֶּה יָשֵׁן הַגוּף אוֹמֵר לַנְּשָׁמָה וְהַנְּשָׁמָה לַנֶּפֶשׁ וְהַנֶּפֶשׁ לַמַּלְאָךְ וְהַמַּלְאָךְ לַכְּרוּב וְהַכְּרוּב לְבַעַל כְּנָפַיִם וּבַעַל כְּנָפַיִם יַגִיד דָּבָר, לִפְנֵי מִי, לִפְנֵי מִי שֶׁאָמַר וְהָיָה הָעוֹלָם. דָּבָר אַחֵר, גַּם בְּמַדָעֲךָ מֶלֶךְ אַל תְּקַלֵּל, זֶה משֶׁה, דִּכְתִיב (דברים לג, ה): וַיְהִי בִישֻׁרוּן מֶלֶךְ. וּבְחַדְרֵי מִשְׁכָּבְךָ אַל תְּקַלֵּל עָשִׁיר, זֶה משֶׁה, וּמֵהֵיכָן הֶעֱשִׁיר משֶׁה, אָמַר רַבִּי חָנִין מַחְצָב שֶׁל סַנְפִּירִינוֹן בָּרָא לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּתוֹךְ אָהֳלוֹ וּמִשָּׁם הֶעֱשִׁיר, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שמות לד, א): פְּסָל לְךָ, הַפְּסֹלֶת שֶׁלְּךָ, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה אָמַר משֶׁה (משלי י, כב): בִּרְכַּת ה' הִיא תַעֲשִׁיר. כִּי עוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם, שֶׁטָּס כְּעוֹף וְעָלָה לַשָּׁמַיִם, וּבַעַל כְּנָפַיִם יַגִּיד דָּבָר, שֶׁהֻגַּד לְמשֶׁה מִסִּינַי (ויקרא כד, יד): הוֹצֵא אֶת הַמְקַלֵּל.
“Even in your thought do not curse a king” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) – Rabbi Avin said: Do not curse and blaspheme before Me with the intelligence that I granted you beyond that of the animal, beast, and bird. I created two eyes for you, and they have two eyes; you have two ears, and they have two ears. I made you similar to them, as it is stated: “He is comparable to animals, which perish [nidmu]” (Psalms 49:21). Nidme6The midrash is defining the meaning of the term nidmu in the verse, which it mentions in a slightly different form, nidme. is nothing other than silence. I silenced them in your honor. How many favors have I performed for you, but you do not understand, as it is stated: “Man, in honor, does not understand” (Psalms 49:21).
Another matter: “Even in your thought, do not curse a king” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) who is before you. “And in your bedrooms do not curse the wealthy” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) that is before you.7Unlike the previous exposition, where the verse was understood as referring to not cursing God, now the verse is understood as referring to not cursing powerful people. Some suggest that this sentence should be understood to mean: Do not curse a king or wealthy individual who came before you, i.e. preceded you (see Maharzu). “As the birds of the heavens will carry the sound” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) – Rabbi Yirmeya ben Elazar said: This is the raven and the art of bird divination.8It was thought that through the art of bird divination, ravens could tell a person what others had said about them. “And a winged creature will tell the matter” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) – Rabbi Levi said: There are ears on the road and ears to the wall.
Another matter: “Even in your thought do not curse a king” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) who is in your generation. “And in your bedrooms do not curse the wealthy” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) that is in your generation. “As the birds of the heavens will carry the sound” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) – Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon said: The Holy One blessed be He said to David: ‘Should you have said this: “My enemies will be exceedingly ashamed and frightened” (Psalms 6:11)? Who was your enemy? Was it not Saul? Is it not written: “On the day the Lord saved him from the hands of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul” (Psalms 18:1)?’ At that moment, David said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, do not tally it among my intentional sins, but rather among my unwitting sins [shegagot].’ That is what is written: “A meditation [shigayon] by David” (Psalms 7:1).
Another matter: “Even in your thought do not curse a king” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) – do not curse the King of the universe. “And in your bedrooms do not curse the wealthy” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) – the Wealthy One of the universe. “As the birds of the heavens will carry the sound” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) – Rabbi Levi said: There is a beneficial sound that emerges and a detrimental sound [that emerges]. A beneficial [sound]: “The Lord heard the sound of your words as you spoke to me, [and the Lord said to me: I heard the sound of the words of this people that they spoke to you; they did well in everything that they spoke]” (Deuteronomy 5:25). What is: “They did well [hetivu] in everything that they spoke”? Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Ada and bar Kappara: One said: It is like the preparation of [hatavat] the lamps, and one said: It is like the preparation of the incense.9Both of these were part of the Temple service. There is a detrimental sound: “The Lord heard the sound of your words, and He was enraged and took an oath, saying” (Deuteronomy 1:34). Rabbi Taḥlifa said: The Holy One blessed be He said: For them it is rage, but for Me, what rage is there?10Although God’s reaction appears to people as rage, in reality God carries out punishments but is not enraged. “That I took an oath in My wrath” (Psalms 95:11) – I took an oath in My wrath, but changed My mind. “That they would not come to My resting place” (Psalms 95:11) – they will not come to this resting place,11The Land of Israel but they will come to another resting place.12The World to Come Rabbi Levi said in the name of bar Kappara: This is analogous to a king who grew angry at his son and decreed that he shall not enter the palace with him. What did the king do? He stood and demolished it, rebuilt it, and brought his son into the palace with him. The result is that he observed his oath and brought in his son. So, the Holy One blessed be He said: “That I took an oath in My wrath that they would not come to My resting place” – they will not come to this resting place, but they will come to another resting place.
“And a winged creature will tell the matter” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) – Rabbi Avin said: When a person is asleep, the body tells the soul [what it has done], the soul [tells it] to the spirit, the spirit to the angel, the angel to the cherub, the cherub to the winged creature,13This is a reference to an angelic creature called a seraph (see Kohelet Rabba 10:20). “and a winged creature will tell the matter”; before whom? Before the One who spoke and the world came into being.
Another matter: “Even in your thought do not curse a king” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) – this is Moses, as it is written: “There was a king in Yeshurun” (Deuteronomy 33:5). “And in your bedrooms do not curse the wealthy” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) – this is Moses. From where did Moses become wealthy? Rabbi Ḥanin said: The Holy One blessed be He created a sapphire mine for him in his tent, and it is from there that he became wealthy. That is what is written: “Carve [pesol] for yourself [two tablets of stone]” (Exodus 34:1) – the waste [pesolet] shall be for you. At that moment, Moses said: The blessing of the Lord, it will make wealthy” (Proverbs 10:22). “As the birds of the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) – as he flew like a bird and ascended heavenward. “And a winged creature will tell the matter” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) – as it was told to Moses at Sinai: “Take out the blasphemer” (Leviticus 24:14).
וַיֵּצֵא בֶּן אִשָּׁה יִשְׂרְאֵלִית, מֵהֵיכָן יָצָא, רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר יָצָא מֵעוֹלָמוֹ, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (שמואל א יז, ד): וַיֵּצֵא אִישׁ הַבֵּנַיִם. רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה אָמַר מִפָּרָשָׁה שֶׁל מַעְלָן יָצָא, אָמַר כְּתִיב (ויקרא כד, ה): וְלָקַחְתָּ סֹלֶת וְאָפִיתָ אֹתָהּ, דַּרְכּוֹ שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ לִהְיוֹת אוֹכֵל פַּת חַמָּה, שֶׁמָּא צוֹנֶנֶת, כְּהַהִיא דִּתְנִינַן תַּמָּן לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים אֵין נֶאֱכָל פָּחוּת מִתִּשְׁעָה וְלֹא יֶתֶר עַל אַחַד עָשָׂר, כֵּיצַד נֶאֱפָה בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת וְנֶאֱכַל בְּשַׁבָּת, לְתִשְׁעָה. חָל לִהְיוֹת יוֹם טוֹב בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת, נֶאֱכָל לַעֲשָׂרָה, שְׁנֵי יָמִים טוֹבִים שֶׁל רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה נֶאֱכָל לְאַחַד עָשָׂר, כִּדְאִיתָא בְּתַנְחוּמָא. תָּנֵי רַבִּי חִיָּא מִפָּרָשַׁת יוּחֲסִין יָצָא, שֶׁבָּא לִטַּע אָהֳלוֹ בְּמַחֲנֵה דָן, אָמְרוּ לוֹ מַה לְּךָ לִטַּע אָהָלְךָ בְּמַחֲנֵה דָן, אָמַר לָהֶם מִבְּנוֹת דָּן אֲנִי, אָמְרוּ לוֹ כְּתִיב (במדבר ב, ב): אִישׁ עַל דִּגְלוֹ בְאֹתֹת לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם וְלֹא לְבֵית אִמּוֹתָם, נִכְנַס לְבֵית דִּינוֹ שֶׁל משֶׁה וְיָצָא מְחֻיָּב, עָמַד וְגִדֵּף.
“The son of an Israelite woman…went out” – from where did he go out? Rabbi Levi said: He went out of his world, just as it says: “The champion went out” (I Samuel 17:4).14Just as Goliath blasphemed God and lost his place in the World to Come, the same is true of the blasphemer, the son of the Israelite woman who went out, meaning he lost his place in the World to Come.
Rabbi Berekhya said: He went out of the previous portion and said: It is written: “You shall take fine flour and you shall bake it” (Leviticus 24:5).15The reference is to the showbread, which would be placed on the table in the Tabernacle. New bread would be placed each Shabbat, and when it would be removed the following Shabbat the priests would eat it. It is the way of a king to eat hot bread. Is it perhaps to eat cold? It is as we learned there: The showbread is eaten no fewer than nine days and no more than eleven days [after it is baked]. How so? It is baked on the day before Shabbat and eaten on [the following Shabbat], on the ninth [day from when it was baked]. If a Festival occurs on the day before Shabbat it is eaten on the tenth day. If the two festival days of Rosh HaShana occur it is eaten on the eleventh,16Mishna Menaḥot 11:9. as it appears in Tanḥuma.17See Tanḥuma, Leviticus 23, where this is explained at greater length. The midrash is asserting that the blasphemer scoffed at the mitzva of the showbread, and it was that which ultimately led to his blaspheming God.
Rabbi Ḥiyya taught: He went out from the portion of the lineage. He sought to pitch his tent in the camp of Dan. They said to him: ‘What leads you to pitch your tent in the camp of Dan?’ He said to them: ‘I am from one of the daughters of Dan.’ They said to him: ‘It is written: “Each man by his banner with the insignias of his patrilineal house” (Numbers 2:2) – and not his matrilineal house.’ He entered the court of Moses and lost his case. He stood and blasphemed.
וְהוּא בֶּן אִישׁ מִצְרִי (ויקרא כד, י), רַבָּנָן וְרַבִּי לֵוִי, רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא הָיוּ מַמְזֵרִין בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה, הוּא הָיָה מַמְזֵר. רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר מַמְזֵר בָּרוּר הָיָה, כֵּיצַד נוֹגְשִׂין הָיוּ מִצְרִיִּים וְשׁוֹטְרִים הָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, נוֹגֵשׂ הָיָה מְמֻנֶּה עַל עֲשָׂרָה שׁוֹטְרִים, וְשׁוֹטֵר הָיָה מְמֻנֶּה עַל עֲשָׂרָה בְּנֵי אָדָם, נִמְצָא נוֹגֵשׂ מְמֻנֶּה עַל מֵאָה בְּנֵי אָדָם, חַד זְמַן קֳדַם נוֹגֵשׂ גַּבֵּי שׁוֹטֵר אָמַר לוֹ זִיל כְּנוֹשׁ לִי חֲבוּרָתָךְ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁנִּכְנַס שָׂחֲקָה לוֹ אִשְׁתּוֹ, אָמַר דְּהָדֵין גַּבְרָא הִיא, יָצָא וְהִטְמִין עַצְמוֹ לַאֲחוֹרֵי הַסֻּלָּם, כֵּיוָן שֶׁיָּצָא בַּעֲלָהּ נִכְנַס וְקִלְקֵל עִמָּהּ, הָפַךְ לַאֲחוֹרָיו וְחַמְתֵיהּ נָפֵיק מִן גּוֹ בֵּיתָא, כֵּיוָן דְּיָדַע דְּחַמְתֵיהּ נָפַק לְגַבֵּיהּ וַהֲוֵי מָחֵי לֵיהּ כָּל הַהוּא יוֹמָא, וְאָמַר לֵיהּ לָעֵי טַבְאִית לָעֵי טַבְאִית, מִתְכַּוֵּן בָּעֵי לְמִקְטְלֵיהּ, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה הֵצִיצָה רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ בְּמשֶׁה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שמות ב, יב): וַיִּפֶן כֹּה וָכֹה, מַהוּ כֹּה וָכֹה, אֶלָּא רָאָה מֶה עָשָׂה לוֹ בַּבַּיִת וּבַשָּׂדֶה, אָמַר לוֹ לֹא דַיוֹ שֶׁקִּלְקֵל עִם אִשְׁתּוֹ אֶלָּא שֶׁהוּא מְבַקֵּשׁ לְהָרְגוֹ, מִיָּד (שמות ב, יב): וַיַּרְא כִּי אֵין אִישׁ, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה וְרַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה וְרַבָּנָן, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר רָאָה שֶׁאֵין מִי יַעֲמֹד וִיקַנֵּא לִשְׁמוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וַיַּהַרְגֵּהוּ. רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה אוֹמֵר רָאָה שֶׁאֵין מִי יַעֲמֹד וְיַזְכִּיר עָלָיו אֶת הַשֵּׁם, וַיַּהַרְגֵּהוּ. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרִין רָאָה שֶׁאֵין תּוֹחֶלֶת עֲתִידָה לַעֲמֹד מִמֶּנּוּ וְלֹא מִבָּנָיו וְלֹא מִבְּנֵי בָנָיו עַד סוֹף כָּל הַדּוֹרוֹת, מִיָּד (שמות ב, יב): וַיַּךְ אֶת הַמִּצְרִי. רַבִּי יִצְחָק אָמַר בְּאֶגְרוֹף הֲרָגוֹ, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (ישעיה נח, ד): וּלְהַכּוֹת בְּאֶגְרֹף רֶשַׁע. רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר בְּמַסְטֵירִין שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל הֲרָגוֹ, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (הושע ב, א): וְהָיָה מִסְפַּר בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּחוֹל הַיָּם.
“And he was the son of an Egyptian man” – the Rabbis and Rabbi Levi: The Rabbis say: Even though there were no mamzerim at that time, he was a mamzer.18A mamzer is the child of a married Jewish woman and a Jewish man who is not her husband. In this instance the father was an Egyptian man, and therefore her son was not technically a mamzer. However, he was a mamzer in the eyes of the people. Rabbi Levi said: He was a full-fledged mamzer.19Rabbi Levi holds that the offspring is a mamzer even if the paramour was a gentile.
How [did it come to pass]? The taskmasters were Egyptian, and the foremen were Israelites. A taskmaster was appointed over ten foremen, and a foreman was appointed over ten men. The result is that a taskmaster was appointed over one hundred men. One time, a taskmaster went early to a foreman; he said to him: ‘Go and gather your group.’ When he entered, his wife flirted with him.20When the Egyptian taskmaster entered the Israelite foreman’s home, the Israelite’s wife flirted with him. He said: She is mine.21The taskmaster said to himself that he would be able to seduce her. He went and concealed himself behind the ladder. When her husband left, he sinned with her. [The husband] looked behind him and saw [the taskmaster] emerging from his house. Once [the taskmaster] knew that he saw him, he went to him and was beating him that entire day. He said to him: ‘Work well, work well’;22He demoted him from being a foreman to the rank of a plain laborer. he intended to kill him. At that moment the Divine Spirit inspired Moses. That is what is written: “He turned this way and that” (Exodus 2:12). What is “this way and that”? He saw what [the taskmaster] had done to him in the house and in the field. He said of him: Is it not enough that he sinned with his wife, but he seeks to kill him? Immediately, “he saw that there was no man” (Exodus 2:12) – Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Neḥemya, and the Rabbis: Rabbi Yehuda says: He saw that there was no one to stand and be zealous in the name of the Holy One blessed be He and kill him. Rabbi Neḥemya says: He saw that there was no one to stand and invoke the name of God against him and kill him. The Rabbis say: He saw that there was no hope destined to emerge from him, from his sons, and from the descendants of his sons until the end of all the generations. Immediately, “he smote the Egyptian” (Exodus 2:12). Rabbi Yitzḥak said: He killed him with a fist, just as it says: “To smite wickedness with a fist” (Isaiah 58:4). Rabbi Levi said: He killed him with the secret of Israel,23By reciting the name of God. Alternatively, he killed him and relied on the ability of the Israelites to keep a secret, as there were Israelites who witnessed the event (Etz Yosef). just as it says: “The number of the children of Israel will be like the sand of the sea” (Hosea 2:1).24When the verse states that Moses killed the Egyptian, it concludes: “And he hid him in the sand.” The midrash here asserts that this is an allusion to the Israelites, and means that Moses relied on the fact that they would keep the matter hidden. The Egyptian killed by Moses was the father of the Israelite who later blasphemed and was put to death.
דָּבָר אַחֵר, וַיֵּצֵא בֶּן אִשָּׁה יִשְׂרְאֵלִית, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שיר השירים ד, יב): גַּן נָעוּל אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה גַּל נָעוּל מַעְיָן חָתוּם, אָמַר רַבִּי פִּנְחָס גַּל נָעוּל אֵלּוּ הַבְּתוּלוֹת, גַּן נָעוּל אֵלּוּ הַבְּעוּלוֹת, מַעְיָן חָתוּם אֵלּוּ הַזְּכָרִים. תָּנֵי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי נָתָן גַּן נָעוּל, גַּל נָעוּל, אֵלּוּ שְׁתֵּי בְּעִילוֹת כְּדַרְכָּהּ וְשֶׁלֹּא כְּדַרְכָּהּ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, אָמַר רַבִּי פִּנְחָס בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חִיָּא בַּר אַבָּא גַּן נָעוּל, עַל יְדֵי שֶׁגָּדְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּמִצְרַיִם עַצְמָן מִן הָעֶרְוָה, נִגְאֲלוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם, מִתּוֹךְ כָּךְ (שיר השירים ד, יג): שְׁלָחַיִךְ, שְׁלוּחַיִךְ, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (שמות יג, יז): וַיְהִי בְּשַׁלַּח פַּרְעֹה, רַבִּי הוּנָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חִיָּא בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר שָׂרָה אִמֵּנוּ יָרְדָה לְמִצְרַיִם וְגָדְרָה עַצְמָהּ מִן הָעֶרְוָה, וְנִגְדְּרוּ כָּל הַנָּשִׁים בִּזְכוּתָהּ. יוֹסֵף יָרַד לְמִצְרַיִם וְגָדַר עַצְמוֹ מִן הָעֶרְוָה, וְנִגְדְּרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּזְכוּתוֹ. אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּא בַּר אַבָּא כְּדַאי הָיָה גְּדוּר עֶרְוָה בְּעַצְמוֹ שֶׁנִּגְאֲלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל יָדוֹ. רַב הוּנָא אָמַר בְּשֵׁם בַּר קַפָּרָא בִּשְׁבִיל אַרְבָּעָה דְּבָרִים נִגְאֲלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִצְרַיִם, שֶׁלֹּא שִׁנּוּ אֶת שְׁמָם וְאֶת לְשׁוֹנָם וְלֹא אָמְרוּ לָשׁוֹן הָרָע, וְלֹא נִמְצָא בֵּינֵיהֶם אֶחָד מֵהֶן פָּרוּץ בְּעֶרְוָה. לֹא שִׁנּוּ אֶת שְׁמָן רְאוּבֵן וְשִׁמְעוֹן נָחֲתִין, רְאוּבֵן וְשִׁמְעוֹן סָלְקִין, לֹא הָיוּ קוֹרִין לִיהוּדָה רוּפָּא וְלֹא לִרְאוּבֵן לוּלְיָאנִי וְלֹא לְיוֹסֵף לֵיסְטֵיס וְלֹא לְבִנְיָמִין אֲלֶכְּסַנְדְּרִי. לֹא שִׁנּוּ אֶת לְשׁוֹנָם, לְהַלָּן כְּתִיב (בראשית יד, יג): וַיָּבֹא הַפָּלִיט וַיַּגֵּד לְאַבְרָהָם הָעִבְרִי, וְכָאן (שמות ה, ג): וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֱלֹהֵי הָעִבְרִים נִקְרָא עָלֵינוּ, וּכְתִיב (בראשית מה, יב): כִּי פִי הַמְדַבֵּר אֲלֵיכֶם, בְּלָשׁוֹן הַקֹּדֶשׁ. וְלֹא אָמְרוּ לָשׁוֹן הָרָע, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יא, ב): דַּבֶּר נָא בְּאָזְנֵי הָעָם, אַתָּה מוֹצֵא שֶׁהָיָה הַדָּבָר מוּפְקָד אֶצְלָן כָּל שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ וְלֹא הִלְשִׁין אֶחָד עַל חֲבֵירוֹ. וְלֹא נִמְצָא אֶחָד מֵהֶם פָּרוּץ בְּעֶרְוָה, תֵּדַע לְךָ שֶׁהָיָה כֵּן אַחַת הָיְתָה וּפִרְסְמָהּ הַכָּתוּב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כד, יא): וְשֵׁם אִמּוֹ שְׁלֹמִית בַּת דִּבְרִי לְמַטֵּה דָן, שְׁלֹמִית, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי דַּהֲוַת פַּטָּטָא בִּשְׁלָמָא, שְׁלָם לָךְ שְׁלָם לְכוֹן. בַּת דִּבְרִי, אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק שֶׁהֵבִיאָה דֶּבֶר עַל בְּנָהּ. לְמַטֵּה דָן, גְּנַאי לְאִמּוֹ, גְּנַאי לוֹ, גְּנַאי לְמִשְׁפַּחְתּוֹ, גְּנַאי לְשִׁבְטוֹ שֶׁיָּצָא מִמֶּנּוּ.
Another matter: “The son of an Israelite woman…went out” – that is what is written: “A locked garden is my sister, my bride; a locked fountain, a sealed spring” (Song of Songs 4:12). Rabbi Pinḥas said: “A locked fountain” – these are the virgins. “A locked garden” – these are the married women. “A sealed spring” – these are the males.25The meaning is that none engaged in in illicit sexual activity, other than the one Israelite woman mentioned in the verse who had a son with an Egyptian man. It is taught in the name of Rabbi Natan: “A locked garden,” “a locked fountain” – these are two forms of intercourse, typical and atypical.26The reference is to vaginal and anal intercourse.
Another matter: Rabbi Pinḥas said in the name of Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba: “A locked garden” (Song of Songs 4:12) – because Israel restrained themselves from licentiousness in Egypt, they were delivered from Egypt. As a result, “your branches [shelaḥayikh]” (Song of Songs 4:13) – your being sent out [shiluḥayikh],27The midrash reads the term “your branches [shelaḥayikh]” to mean “your being sent out [shiluḥayikh],” which is the result of what was indicated in the previous verse, namely that they restrained themselves from licentiousness. just as it says: “It was when Pharaoh sent out [beshalaḥ]” (Exodus 13:17). Rabbi Huna said in the name of Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba: Sarah our matriarch descended to Egypt and restrained herself from licentiousness, and all the women restrained themselves by her merit. Joseph descended to Egypt and restrained himself from licentiousness, and all of Israel restrained themselves by his merit.28Sarah refrained from licentiousness when Pharaoh had her taken so that he could marry her (see Genesis 12:14–20), and Joseph refrained from licentiousness with the wife of Potifar (see Genesis 39:7–12). In so doing, they bequeathed to their descendants the spiritual fortitude to withstand such temptation.
Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: The restraint from licentiousness was itself sufficient for Israel to have been redeemed on its account. Rav Huna said in the name of bar Kappara: Due to four matters, Israel was redeemed from Egypt: Because they did not change their name, their language, they did not speak slander, and there was not one among them who was found to be steeped in licentiousness. They did not change their name; Reuben and Simeon descended [to Egypt], and Reuben and Simeon ascended. They did not call Judah Rupa, nor Reuben Luleyani, nor Joseph Leisteis, and nor Benjamin Alexandri.
They did not change their language. There it is written: “The survivor came and told Abram the Hebrew” (Genesis 14:13), and here: “They said: The God of the Hebrews called upon us” (Exodus 5:3); and it is written: “That it is my mouth that is speaking to you” (Genesis 45:12) – in the sacred tongue.
They did not speak slander, as it is stated: “Speak now in the ears of the people, [and they shall ask each man from his neighbor and each woman from her neighbor, silver vessels and gold vessels]” (Exodus 11:2). You find that this matter had been entrusted to them for twelve months, and not one of them informed on another.29The Israelites knew twelve months before the Exodus that they would ask to borrow goods from the Egyptians and that they would then leave Egypt never to return. Nonetheless, none of them told the Egyptians about this plan.
And there was not one among them who was found to be steeped in licentiousness. Know that it was so, as there was one, and the verse publicized her, as it is stated: “And the name of his mother was Shelomit, daughter of Divri, of the tribe of Dan” (Leviticus 24:11).30The verse mentions the name of this woman who had conceived from an Egyptian man in order to emphasize that no other Israelite women had conceived from Egyptian men. “Shelomit” – as Rabbi Levi said: She was very talkative in greetings: Greetings to you, greetings to you.31She would strike up conversations with everyone, including men. “Daughter of Divri” – that she caused a matter [davar] to befall her son. “Of the tribe of Dan” – it is a disgrace for him, a disgrace for his family, a disgrace for the tribe from which he emerged.
אָמַר רַב לְעוֹלָם אֵין מַמְזֵר חַי יוֹתֵר עַל שְׁלשִׁים יוֹם, אָמַר רַבִּי חוּנָאי אַחַת לְשִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מֵבִיא דֶּבֶר גָּדוֹל לָעוֹלָם וּמְכַלֶּה הַמַּמְזֵרִים וְנוֹטֵל כְּשֵׁרִים עִמָּהֶם, מַאי טַעְמָא (ישעיה לא, ב): וְגַם הוּא חָכָם וַיָּבֵא רָע, וְלֹא הָיָה צָרִיךְ קָרָא לוֹמַר אֶלָּא וַיָּבֵא טוֹב, אֶלָּא לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ רָעָה שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מֵבִיא לָעוֹלָם בְּחָכְמָה הוּא מְבִיאָהּ, (ישעיה לא, ב): וְאֶת דְּבָרָיו לֹא הֵסִיר, אֶת דְּבָרוֹ לֹא הֵסִיר, כָּל כָּךְ לָמָּה, (ישעיה לא, ב): וְקָם עַל בֵּית מְרֵעִים, וְאַתְיָא כְּהַהִיא דְּאָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ (ויקרא ו, יח): בִּמְקוֹם אֲשֶׁר תִּשָּׁחֵט [את] הָעֹלָה תִּשָּׁחֵט הַחַטָּאת, כָּל כָּךְ לָמָּה כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִתְפַּרְסְמוּ הַחַטָּאִים. אָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ מַדְכְּרִין וּמַנִּיחִין, מַדְכְּרִין וּמְשַׂחֲקִין. מַדְכְּרִין וּמַנִּיחִין (שמות לא, ב): בְּצַלְאֵל בֶּן אוּרִי בֶן חוּר. מַדְכְּרִין וּמְשַׂחֲקִין (יהושע ז, א): עָכָן בֶּן כַּרְמִי בֶן זַרְחִי. מַדְכְּרִין וּמַנִּיחִין (במדבר ג, טו): פְּקֹד אֶת בְּנֵי לֵוִי, מַדְכְּרִין וּמְשַׂחֲקִין (דברים כה, יז): זָכוֹר אֵת אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לְךָ עֲמָלֵק. מַדְכְּרִין וּמַנִּיחִין (אסתר ב, ה): אִישׁ יְהוּדִי הָיָה. מַדְכְּרִין וּמְשַׂחֲקִין (אסתר ז, ו): אִישׁ צַר וְאוֹיֵב. מַדְכְּרִין וּמַנִּיחִין (אסתר י, ג): כִּי מָרְדְּכַי הַיְּהוּדִי. מַדְכְּרִין וּמְשַׂחֲקִין (אסתר ט, כד): כִּי הָמָן בֶּן הַמְדָתָא. מַדְכְּרִין וּמַנִּיחִין (שמואל א יז, יב): וְדָוִד בֶּן אִישׁ אֶפְרָתִי. מַדְכְּרִין וּמְשַׂחֲקִין (מלכים א יא, כו): וְיָרָבְעָם בֶּן נְבָט אֶפְרָתִי. מַדְְכְּרִין וּמַנִּיחִין (שמואל א א, א): וַיְהִי אִישׁ אֶחָד מִן הָרָמָתַיִם. מַדְכְּרִין וּמְשַׂחֲקִין (שופטים יז, א): וַיְהִי אִישׁ אֶחָד מֵהַר אֶפְרָיִם וּשְׁמוֹ מִיכָיְהוּ. מַדְכְּרִין וּמַנִּיחִין (שמות לח, כג): וְאִתּוֹ אָהֳלִיאָב וגו'. מַדְכְּרִין וּמְשַׂחֲקִין (ויקרא כד, יא): וְשֵׁם אִמּוֹ שְׁלֹמִית בַּת דִּבְרִי לְמַטֵּה דָן.
Rav said: A mamzer never lives more than thirty days. Rabbi Ḥunai said: Once in seventy years the Holy One blessed be He brings a great plague to the world and eradicates the mamzerim and takes the upright with them. What is the source? “He too is wise, and He brings misfortune” (Isaiah 31:2). The verse should have said: “He brings good.” Rather, it is to teach you that even when the Holy One blessed be He brings misfortune to the world, He does so with wisdom.
“He does not retract His words [devarav]” (Isaiah 31:2) – He does not remove His plague [devaro]. Why is this necessary? “He will rise up against the house of evildoers” (Isaiah 31:2).32In order to kill the mamzerim without causing them and their families undue embarrassment by identifying them, God kills them during plagues, when many others are dying as well. This is like that which Reish Lakish said: “In the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered the sin offering shall be slaughtered” (Leviticus 6:18). Why is this necessary? It is so the sinners will not be publicized.
Reish Lakish said: There are those whom one mentions and blesses, and there are that one mentions and curses.33The word meshaḥakin, translated here as “curses,” literally means “crushes.” It was not uncommon for one to respond to hearing the name of a wicked individual by saying, “may his bones be crushed.” One mentions and blesses, “Betzalel, son of Uri, son of Ḥur, [of the tribe of Judah]” (Exodus 31:2). One mentions and curses Akhan, son of Karmi, son of Zarḥi (see Joshua 7:1). One mentions and blesses, “count the children of Levi” (Numbers 3:15). One mentions and curses, “remember what Amalek has done to you” (Deuteronomy 25:17). One mentions and blesses, “there was a man of Judah […and his name was Mordekhai]” (Esther 2:5). One mentions and curses, “a man who is and adversary and an enemy, [this wicked Haman]” (Esther 7:6). One mentions and blesses, “because Mordekhai of Judah” (Esther 10:3). One mentions and curses, “because Haman son of Hamedata” (Esther 9:24). One mentions and blesses, “David son of an Efratite” (I Samuel 17:12). One mentions and curses, “Yerovam, son of Nevat, an Efratite” (I Kings 11:26). One mentions and blesses, “there was a certain man from Ramatayim…[and his name was Elkana]” (I Samuel 1:1). One mentions and curses, “there was a certain man from the Ephraim highlands, and his name was Mikhaihu” (Judges 17:1). One mentions and blesses, “and with him was Oholiav [son of Aḥisamakh of the tribe of Dan]” (Exodus 38:23). One mentions and curses, “and the name of his mother was Shelomit, daughter of Divri, of the tribe of Dan” (Leviticus 24:11).
רַבִּי זֵירָא כָּד סָלַק לְהָכָא שָׁמַע קָלְהוֹן קָרְיָן מַמְזֵרָא וּמַמְזֵרְתָּא, אֲמַר הָא אָזֵיל הוּא, דְאָמַר רַב הוּנָא אֵין הַמַּמְזֵר חַי יוֹתֵר עַל שְׁלשִׁים יוֹם. אָמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי יַעֲקֹב בַּר רַב אַחָא כְּהַהִיא דְאָמַר רָבָא וְרַב הוּנָא בְּשֵׁם רַב אֵין הַמַּמְזֵר חַי יוֹתֵר מִשְׁלשִׁים יוֹם, אֵימָתַי בִּזְמַן שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְפֻרְסָם אֲבָל אִם נִתְפַּרְסֵם חַי הוּא. בְּיוֹמוֹי דְּרַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה סְלֵיק לְהָכָא חַד בַּבְלָאי וַהֲוָה רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה יָדַע בֵּיהּ דְּהוּא מַמְזֵר, אָזַל גַּבֵּיהּ אֲמַר לֵיהּ זַכֵּי עִמִּי, אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה זִיל לָךְ וּלְמָחָר אַתְּ אָתֵי וַאֲנַן עָבְדִין לָךְ פְּסִיקָא בְּצִבּוּרָא, לְמָחָר אָזַל גַּבֵּיהּ, אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ בְּבֵי כְּנִישְׁתָּא יָתֵיב דָּרֵישׁ, אַמְתֵּן לֵיהּ עַד דַּחֲסַל, כֵּיוָן דַּחֲסַל מִן דְּרַשׁ אָזַל לְגַבֵּיהּ אֲמַר לוֹן רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה אָחֵינַן זַכְוָון בַּהֲדֵין גַּבְרָא וְהוּא מַמְזֵר, עֲבַדּוּן לֵיהּ פְּסִיקָא, כֵּיוָן דְּנָפְקוּ לְהוֹן מִן תַּמָּן, אָמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי חַיֵּי שָׁעָה אָתֵית בָּעֵי גַבָּךְ וּפְסַקְתְּ חַיּוֹי דְּהַהוּא גַבְרָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ חַיֶּיךָ חַיִּין יַהֲבֵית לָךְ, דְּאָמַר רָבָא וְרַב הוּנָא בְּשֵׁם רַב אֵין הַמַּמְזֵר חַי יוֹתֵר מִשְּׁלשִׁים יוֹם, אֵימָתַי בִּזְמַן שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְפֻרְסָם, אֲבָל אִם נִתְפַּרְסֵם חַי הוּא.
Rabbi Zeira, when he ascended to here, he would hear voices calling mamzer and mamzeret.34When Rabbi Zeira emigrated from Babylonia to the Land of Israel, he heard people accusing others of having the status of mamzer. He said: Has what Rav Huna said: A mamzer does not live more than thirty days, gone away? Rabbi Yaakov bar Rav Aḥa said: It is like that which Rava and Rav Huna said in the name of Rav: A mamzer does not live more than thirty days. When? In a case where [his status] is not public knowledge; but if it becomes public knowledge, he lives. In the days of Rabbi Berekhya, a certain Babylonian ascended to here, and Rabbi Berekhya knew that he was a mamzer. He went to [Rabbi Berekhya] and said to him: ‘Garner merit through me.’35This individual asked Rabbi Berekhya to give him charity. Rabbi Berekhya said: ‘Go on your way and come tomorrow, and I will give you a stipend from the public fund.’ He went to him the next day and found him sitting and speaking in the synagogue. He waited until he finished. When he finished his sermon, he went to him. Rabbi Berekhya said to them: ‘My brethren, garner merit through this man, who is a mamzer.’ They provided him with a stipend. When they left there, he said to him: ‘Rabbi, I asked you for temporal life, and you have cut short the life of this man.’36He was referring to himself. Now that everyone knew he was a mamzer, he would not be able to marry and start a family. He said to him: ‘As you live, I have granted you life, as Rava and Rav Huna said in the name of Rav: A mamzer does not live more than thirty days. When? In a case where [his status] is not public knowledge; but if it becomes public knowledge, he lives.’
דָּבָר אַחֵר, וַיֵּצֵא בֶּן אִשָּׁה יִשְׂרְאֵלִית, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (קהלת ד, א): וְשַׁבְתִּי אֲנִי וָאֶרְאֶה אֶת כָּל הָעֲשׁוּקִים, דָּנִיֵּאל חַיָּטָא פָּתַר קְרָיָה בַּמַּמְזֵרִים, (קהלת ד, א): וְהִנֵּה דִּמְעַת הָעֲשׁוּקִים, אֲבוֹתָם שֶׁל אֵלּוּ עוֹבְרֵי עֲבֵרוֹת, וְאִילֵין עֲלוּבַיָא מַה אִכְפַּת לְהוֹן, כָּךְ אָבִיו שֶׁל זֶה בָּא עַל הָעֶרְוָה זֶה מַה חָטָא וּמָה אִכְפַּת לוֹ, (קהלת ד, א): וְאֵין לָהֶם מְנַחֵם, אֶלָּא (קהלת ד, א): מִיַּד עשְׁקֵיהֶם כֹּחַ, מִיַּד סַנְהֶדְּרֵי גְדוֹלָה שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁבָּאָה עֲלֵיהֶם מִכֹּחָהּ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה וּמְרַחַקְתָּן עַל שׁוּם (דברים כג, ג): לֹא יָבֹא מַמְזֵר בִּקְהַל ה'. (קהלת ד, א): וְאֵין לָהֶם מְנַחֵם, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עָלַי לְנַחֲמָן, לְפִי שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה יֵשׁ בָּהֶן פְּסֹלֶת אֲבָל לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא אָמַר זְכַרְיָה אֲנָא חֲמִיתֵּיהּ אָלוֹ כּוּרְסוֹן כֻּלּוֹ דְּהַב נְקֵי, הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב (זכריה ד, ב): רָאִיתִי וְהִנֵּה מְנוֹרַת זָהָב כֻּלָּהּ וְגֻלָּהּ עַל רֹאשָׁהּ, תְּרֵין אָמוֹרָאִין, חַד אֲמַר גֻּלָּהּ, וְחַד אֲמַר גּוֹאֲלָהּ. מַאן דַּאֲמַר גֻּלָּהּ, שֶׁגֻּלָּה לְבָבֶל וְגָלַת שְׁכִינָה עִמָּהֶן, כִּדְאֲמַר (ישעיה מג, יד): לְמַעַנְכֶם שִׁלַּחְתִּי בָּבֶלָה, וּמַאן דַּאֲמַר גּוֹאֲלָהּ, פָּרוֹקָא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה מז, ד): גֹּאֲלֵנוּ ה' צְבָאוֹת שְׁמוֹ, וּכְתִיב (מיכה ב, יג): עָלָה הַפֹּרֵץ לִפְנֵיהֶם פָּרְצוּ וַיַּעֲבֹרוּ שַׁעַר וַיַּעֲבֹר מַלְכָּם לִפְנֵיהֶם וַה' בְּרֹאשָׁם.
Another matter: “The son of an Israelite woman…went out” – that is what is written: “I again saw all the oppressed” (Ecclesiastes 4:1). Daniel the tailor interpreted the verse regarding mamzerim. “Behold the tears of the oppressed” (Ecclesiastes 4:1) – the parents of these performed transgressions, and these miserable ones, why is it their concern?37A child has the status of a mamzer because of the illicit relationship through which he was conceived. Daniel the tailor therefore interprets the “tears of the oppressed” as referring to mamzerim, who suffer due to the misdeeds of others. So, the father of this one consorted with a forbidden woman; what did this one do, and why is it his concern? “But there is no comforter for them” (Ecclesiastes 4:1).
“And power from the hand of their oppressors” (Ecclesiastes 4:1) – from the hand of the Great Sanhedrin of Israel that comes upon them by the authority of the Torah and distances them, because of: “A mamzer shall not enter into the assembly of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 23:3). “But there is no comforter for them” (Ecclesiastes 4:1) – the Holy One blessed be He says: It is incumbent upon Me to comfort them, as in this world they are tainted, but in the future, Zechariah said: I see it and it is all pure gold. That is what is written: “I saw, and behold, a candelabrum of gold in its entirety, with a gula at its top” (Zechariah 4:2). Two amora’im: One said: Exile [gola], and one said: Its redeemer [go’alah]. The one who said gola: As they were exiled to Babylon and the Divine Presence was exiled with them, as He said: “For your sake I sent to Babylon” (Isaiah 43:14). The one who said: Go’alah, its Redeemer: As it is stated: “Our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts is His name” (Isaiah 47:4). And it is written: “The one who breaches went up before them; they breached and passed the gate…their king passed before them, and the Lord is at their head” (Micah 2:13).