Sotah 47
רַב וּשְׁמוּאֵל, חַד אָמַר: נֵס. וְחַד אָמַר: נֵס בְּתוֹךְ נֵס. מַאן דְּאָמַר נֵס — יַעַר הֲוָה, דּוּבִּים לָא הֲווֹ. מַאן דְּאָמַר נֵס בְּתוֹךְ נֵס — לֹא יַעַר הֲוָה וְלָא דּוּבִּים הֲווֹ. וְלִיהְוֵי דּוּבִּים וְלָא לֶיהֱוֵי יַעַר! דִּבְעִיתִי.
Rav and Shmuel had a dispute with regard to this episode. One says there was a miracle, and one says there was a miracle within a miracle. The Gemara explains: The one who says there was a miracle claims that there was already a forest in that place but there were no bears, and the miracle was the appearance of bears. The one who says it was a miracle within a miracle claims that neither was there a forest nor were there bears in that area. The Gemara asks with regard to the second opinion: Why was a double miracle required? And let there be bears and no forest; the forest served no role in the story, so why was it created? The Gemara explains: The forest was necessary, as bears are frightened to venture into open areas but will attack people in their natural habitat, a forest.
אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: בִּשְׁבִיל אַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁנַיִם קׇרְבָּנוֹת שֶׁהִקְרִיב בָּלָק מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב הוּבְקְעוּ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל אַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁנַיִם יְלָדִים. אִינִי?
Rabbi Ḥanina says: Due to forty-two offerings that Balak, king of Moab, brought when he tried to have Balaam curse the Jewish people, forty-two children were broken off from Israel, in that incident involving Elisha. The Gemara asks: Is that so? Was that the reward for his offerings?
וְהָאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: לְעוֹלָם יַעֲסוֹק אָדָם בְּתוֹרָה וּבְמִצְוֹת, וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא לִשְׁמָהּ. שֶׁמִּתּוֹךְ שֶׁלֹּא לִשְׁמָהּ — בָּא לִשְׁמָהּ. שֶׁבִּשְׂכַר אַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁנַיִם קׇרְבָּנוֹת שֶׁהִקְרִיב בָּלָק מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב, זָכָה וְיָצְתָה מִמֶּנּוּ רוּת שֶׁיָּצָא מִמֶּנָּה שְׁלֹמֹה, שֶׁכָּתוּב בֵּיהּ ״אֶלֶף עֹלוֹת יַעֲלֶה שְׁלֹמֹה״. וְאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בֶּן חוֹנִי: רוּת בִּתּוֹ שֶׁל עֶגְלוֹן בְּנוֹ שֶׁל בָּלָק הָיְתָה! תַּאֲוָתוֹ מִיהָא לִקְלָלָה הֱוֵי.
But didn’t Rav Yehuda say that Rav says: A person should always engage in Torah study and in performance of mitzvot, even if he does so not for their own sake, as through such acts performed not for their own sake, one will come to perform them for their own sake. He proves the value of a mitzva done not for its own sake: As in reward for the forty-two offerings that Balak, king of Moab, brought, he merited that Ruth descended from him, from whom King Solomon descended, about whom it is written that he brought many offerings: “A thousand burnt-offerings did Solomon offer up” (I Kings 3:4). And Rabbi Yosei ben Ḥoni similarly says: Ruth was the daughter of Eglon, son of Balak. These Sages state that Balak’s reward was to have Ruth descend from him, not that a number of Jewish people perish. The Gemara answers: His desire, in any event, was to curse the Jewish people, and his reward for sacrificing his offerings was that the curse was fulfilled in the incident involving Elisha, as well.
״וַיֹּאמְרוּ אַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר אֶל אֱלִישָׁע הִנֵּה נָא מוֹשַׁב הָעִיר טוֹב כַּאֲשֶׁר אֲדֹנִי רֹאֶה וְגוֹ׳״. וְכִי מֵאַחַר דְּמַיִם רָעִים וְאֶרֶץ מְשַׁכֶּלֶת, אֶלָּא מָה טוֹבָתָהּ? אָמַר רַבִּי חָנִין: חֵן מָקוֹם עַל יוֹשְׁבָיו. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, שְׁלֹשָׁה חִינּוֹת הֵן: חֵן מָקוֹם עַל יוֹשְׁבָיו, חֵן אִשָּׁה עַל בַּעְלָהּ, חֵן מִקָּח עַל (מִקָּחוֹ).
The Gemara returns to discussing the incident involving Elisha: “And the men of the city said to Elisha: Behold, please, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees, but the water is bad and the land miscarries” (II Kings 2:19). The Gemara asks: But if the water is bad and the land causes women to miscarry, what is pleasant about it? Rabbi Ḥanin says: The grace of a place is upon its inhabitants, i.e., people are fond of their hometown despite its shortcomings. Rabbi Yoḥanan says: There are three graces that have a similar impact: The grace of a place upon its inhabitants; the grace of a woman upon her husband, despite her faults; and the grace of a purchased item upon its buyer, as one who has bought something views it in a positive light.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן, שְׁלֹשָׁה חֲלָאִין חָלָה אֱלִישָׁע: אֶחָד שֶׁגֵּירָה דּוּבִּים בַּתִּינוֹקוֹת, וְאֶחָד שֶׁדְּחָפוֹ לְגֵחֲזִי בִּשְׁתֵּי יָדַיִם, וְאֶחָד שֶׁמֵּת בּוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וֶאֱלִישָׁע חָלָה אֶת חׇלְיוֹ אֲשֶׁר יָמוּת בּוֹ״.
§ The Sages taught: Elisha fell ill three times. One was a punishment for inciting the bears to attack the children; and one was a punishment for pushing Gehazi away with both hands, without leaving him the option to return; and one was the sickness from which he died, as an expression of illness is stated three times in the verse about Elisha: “And Elisha became sick [ḥala] with his illness [ḥolyo] from which he would die” (II Kings 13:14). The root ḥet, lamed, heh, which indicates illness, is used twice in this verse, and it is stated once that Elisha will die.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: לְעוֹלָם תְּהֵא שְׂמֹאל דּוֹחָה וְיָמִין מְקָרֶבֶת, לֹא כֶּאֱלִישָׁע שֶׁדְּחָפוֹ לְגֵחֲזִי בִּשְׁתֵּי יָדָיו, וְלֹא כִּיהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן פְּרַחְיָה שֶׁדְּחָפוֹ לְיֵשׁוּ הַנּוֹצְרִי מִתַּלְמִידָיו בִּשְׁתֵּי יָדָיו.
The Sages taught: It should always be the left, weaker, hand that pushes another away and the right, stronger, hand that draws him near. In other words, even when a student is rebuffed, he should be given the opportunity to return. This is not like Elisha, who pushed Gehazi away with both hands, and not like Yehoshua ben Peraḥya, who pushed Jesus the Nazarene, one of his students, away with both hands.
אֱלִישָׁע מַאי הִיא, דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיֹּאמֶר נַעֲמָן הוֹאֵל קַח כִּכָּרָיִם״, וּכְתִיב: ״וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו לֹא לִבִּי הָלַךְ כַּאֲשֶׁר הָפַךְ אִישׁ מֵעַל מֶרְכַּבְתּוֹ לִקְרָאתֶךָ הַעֵת לָקַחַת אֶת הַכֶּסֶף וְלָקַחַת בְּגָדִים וְזֵיתִים וּכְרָמִים וְצֹאן וּבָקָר וַעֲבָדִים וּשְׁפָחוֹת״.
The Gemara specifies: What was that incident with Elisha? As it is written: “And Naaman said: Pray, take talents” (II Kings 5:23). Naaman offered Gehazi payment for the help Elisha had given him, and when the verse recounts Elisha’s words to Gehazi, it is written: “And he said to him: Did not my heart go, when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to take money, and to take garments, and olives, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and servants, and maidservants?” (II Kings 5:26). Here Elisha criticizes Gehazi for taking the payment.
וּמִי שָׁקֵיל כּוּלֵּי הַאי? כֶּסֶף וּבְגָדִים הוּא דְּשָׁקֵיל! אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה הָיָה אֱלִישָׁע עוֹסֵק בִּשְׁמֹנָה שְׁרָצִים, אָמַר לוֹ: רָשָׁע, הִגִּיעַ עֵת לִיטּוֹל שְׂכַר שְׁמֹנָה שְׁרָצִים. ״וְצָרַעַת נַעֲמָן תִּדְבַּק בְּךָ וּבְזַרְעֲךָ לְעוֹלָם״. ״וְאַרְבָּעָה אֲנָשִׁים הָיוּ מְצֹרָעִים״, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: זֶה גֵּחֲזִי וּשְׁלֹשֶׁת בָּנָיו.
The Gemara clarifies the criticism: And did he take all that? But it was only money and garments that he took. Rabbi Yitzḥak says: At that time, Elisha was engaged in the study of the topic of the eight impure creeping animals. He said to Gehazi: Wicked one, it is time for you to receive now, in this temporal world, the reward for studying the topic of the eight impure creeping animals. This is why the verse lists eight items. The Gemara adds parenthetically that Elisha also said to Gehazi: “And the leprosy of Naaman shall cleave to you and to your descendants forever” (II Kings 5:27), and that the verse later states: “Now there were four leprous men” (II Kings 7:3), about whom Rabbi Yoḥanan says: This is referring to Gehazi and his three sons.
״וַיָּבֹא אֱלִישָׁע דַּמֶּשֶׂק״. לָמָּה הָלַךְ? אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: שֶׁהָלַךְ לְהַחְזִירוֹ לְגֵחֲזִי בִּתְשׁוּבָה, וְלֹא חָזַר. אָמַר לוֹ: חֲזוֹר בָּךְ. אָמַר לוֹ: כָּךְ מְקוּבְּלַנִי מִמְּךָ, כׇּל מִי שֶׁחָטָא וְהֶחְטִיא אֶת הָרַבִּים — אֵין מַסְפִּיקִין בְּיָדוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת תְּשׁוּבָה.
The verse states: “And Elisha came to Damascus” (II Kings 8:7). The Gemara asks: For what purpose did he go there? Rabbi Yoḥanan says: He went to help Gehazi in repentance, but Gehazi would not agree to repent from his evil ways. Elisha said to him: Return from your sins. Gehazi said to him: This is the tradition that I received from you: Whoever sins and caused the masses to sin is not given the opportunity to repent.
מַאי עֲבַד? אִיכָּא דְּאָמְרִי: אֶבֶן שׁוֹאֶבֶת תָּלָה לוֹ לְחַטַּאת יָרָבְעָם, וְהֶעֱמִידוֹ בֵּין שָׁמַיִם לָאָרֶץ. וְאִיכָּא דְּאָמְרִי: שֵׁם חֲקַק לַהּ אַפּוּמַּהּ, וְהָיְתָה אוֹמֶרֶת ״אָנֹכִי״ וְ״לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ״.
The Gemara asks: What did Gehazi do that caused the masses to sin? There are those who say that he hung a magnetic rock on Jeroboam’s calf, the golden calf that Jeroboam established as an idol, and used a magnet to pull the calf off the ground so that he suspended it between heaven and earth, i.e., caused it to hover above the ground. This seemingly miraculous occurrence caused the people to worship it even more devoutly. And there are those who say: He engraved the sacred name on its mouth, and it would say: “I am the Lord your God” and: “You shall not have other gods” (Exodus 20:2). The idol would quote the two prohibitions from the Ten Commandments against idol worship, causing people to worship it even more devoutly.
וְאִיכָּא דְּאָמְרִי: רַבָּנַן דְּחָה מִקַּמֵּיהּ, דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיֹּאמְרוּ בְנֵי הַנְּבִיאִים אֶל אֱלִישָׁע הִנֵּה נָא הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אֲנַחְנוּ יֹשְׁבִים שָׁם לְפָנֶיךָ צַר מִמֶּנּוּ״, מִכְּלָל דְּעַד הָאִידָּנָא לָא הֲוָה דְּחִיק.
And there are those who say: Gehazi pushed the Sages away from coming before him, preventing them learning from Elisha, as it is written, after the aforementioned incident: “And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, behold this place where we are staying before you is too cramped for us” (II Kings 6:1). This proves by inference that until that time the place was not cramped, as Gehazi would turn people away.
יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן פְּרַחְיָה מַאי הִיא — כְּדַהֲוָה קָא קָטֵיל יַנַּאי מַלְכָּא לְרַבָּנַן, שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן שָׁטַח (אַטְמִינֵהוּ) [אַטְמַרְתֵּיהּ] אֲחָתֵיהּ, רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן פְּרַחְיָה אֲזַל עֲרַק לַאֲלֶכְּסַנְדְּרִיָּא שֶׁל מִצְרַיִם. כִּי הֲוָה שְׁלָמָא, שְׁלַח לֵיהּ שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן שָׁטַח: מִנַּי יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִיר הַקּוֹדֶשׁ לִךְ אֲלֶכְּסַנְדְּרִיָּא שֶׁל מִצְרַיִם: אֲחוֹתִי! בַּעֲלִי שָׁרוּי בְּתוֹכֵךְ, וַאֲנִי יוֹשֶׁבֶת שׁוֹמֵמָה! אֲמַר: שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ הֲוָה לֵיהּ שְׁלָמָא.
The Gemara returns to the incident in which Yehoshua ben Peraḥya turned away Jesus the Nazarene: What is this incident? When King Yannai was killing the Sages, Shimon ben Shataḥ was hidden by his sister, Yannai’s wife, while Rabbi Yehoshua ben Peraḥya went and fled to Alexandria of Egypt. When peace was made between Yannai and the Sages, Shimon ben Shataḥ sent him the following letter: From myself, Jerusalem the holy city, to you, Alexandria of Egypt. My sister, my husband dwells within you, and I am sitting desolate. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Peraḥya said: I can learn from it that there is peace, and I can return.
כִּי אֲתָא, אִקְּלַע לְהָהוּא אוּשְׁפִּיזָא, קָם קַמַּיְיהוּ בִּיקָרָא שַׁפִּיר, עָבְדִי לֵיהּ יְקָרָא טוּבָא, יָתֵיב וְקָא מִשְׁתַּבַּח: כַּמָּה נָאָה אַכְסַנְיָא זוֹ! אֲמַר לֵיהּ יֵשׁוּ הַנּוֹצְרִי: רַבִּי, עֵינֶיהָ טְרוּטוֹת. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: רָשָׁע, בְּכָךְ אַתָּה עוֹסֵק? אַפֵּיק אַרְבַּע מְאָה שִׁפּוּרֵי וְשַׁמְּתֵיהּ. כׇּל יוֹמָא אֲתָא לְקַמֵּיהּ וְלָא קַבְּלֵיהּ.
When he came back to Eretz Yisrael, Rabbi Yehoshua arrived at a certain inn. The innkeeper stood before him, honoring him considerably, and overall they accorded him great honor. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Peraḥya then sat and was praising them by saying: How beautiful is this inn. Jesus the Nazarene, one of his students, said to him: My teacher, but the eyes of the innkeeper’s wife are narrow [terutot]. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Peraḥya said to him: Wicked one, is this what you are engaged in, gazing at women? He brought out four hundred shofarot and excommunicated him. Every day Jesus would come before him, but he would not accept his wish to return.
יוֹמָא חַד הֲוָה קָרֵי קְרִיַּת שְׁמַע, אֲתָא לְקַמֵּיהּ. הֲוָה בְּדַעְתֵּיהּ לְקַבּוֹלֵיהּ, אַחְוִי לֵיהּ בִּידֵיהּ, סְבַר מִדְחָא דָּחֵי לֵיהּ, אֲזַל זְקַף לְבֵינְתָּא פַּלְחַאּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: חֲזוֹר בָּךְ! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: כָּךְ מְקוּבְּלַנִי מִמְּךָ, כׇּל הַחוֹטֵא וּמַחְטִיא אֶת הָרַבִּים — אֵין מַסְפִּיקִין בְּיָדוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת תְּשׁוּבָה. דְּאָמַר מָר: יֵשׁוּ הַנּוֹצְרִי כִּישֵּׁף וְהִסִּית וְהִדִּיחַ וְהֶחְטִיא אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל.
One day, Rabbi Yehoshua ben Peraḥya was reciting Shema when Jesus came before him. He intended to accept him on this occasion, so he signaled to him with his hand to wait. Jesus thought he was rejecting him entirely. He therefore went and stood up a brick and worshipped it as an idol. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Peraḥya said to him: Return from your sins. Jesus said to him: This is the tradition that I received from you: Anyone who sins and causes the masses to sin is not given the opportunity to repent. The Gemara explains how he caused the masses to sin: For the Master said: Jesus the Nazarene performed sorcery, and he incited the masses, and subverted the masses, and caused the Jewish people to sin.
תַּנְיָא, רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר אוֹמֵר: יֵצֶר, תִּינוֹק, וְאִשָּׁה — תְּהֵא שְׂמֹאל דּוֹחָה וְיָמִין מְקָרֶבֶת.
It is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar says: With regard to the evil inclination, to a child, and to a woman, the left hand should reject and the right hand should welcome. If one pushes too forcefully, the damage might be irreversible.
מַתְנִי׳ נִמְצָא הַהוֹרֵג עַד שֶׁלֹּא נֶעֶרְפָה הָעֶגְלָה — תֵּצֵא וְתִרְעֶה בָּעֵדֶר. מִשֶּׁנֶּעֶרְפָה הָעֶגְלָה — תִּקָּבֵר בִּמְקוֹמָהּ, שֶׁעַל סָפֵק בָּאתָה מִתְּחִילָּתָהּ — כִּיפְּרָה סְפֵיקָהּ, וְהָלְכָה לָהּ. נֶעֶרְפָה הָעֶגְלָה וְאַחַר כָּךְ נִמְצָא הַהוֹרֵג — הֲרֵי זֶה יֵהָרֵג.
MISHNA: If the killer is found before the heifer’s neck was broken, the heifer shall go out and graze among the herd. It is not considered sacred at all, and it may rejoin the other animals. If the killer is found from the time when the heifer’s neck was broken, even if the rest of the ritual has not yet been performed, it is prohibited to benefit from the animal, despite the killer having been found; it should be buried in its place. This is because the heifer initially came for uncertainty, as the killer was unknown, and it atoned for its uncertainty and left, i.e., it fulfilled its purpose of bringing atonement and is considered a heifer whose neck is broken in all regards. If the heifer’s neck was broken and afterward the killer was found, he is killed. The ritual does not atone for him.
עֵד אֶחָד אוֹמֵר ״רָאִיתִי אֶת הַהוֹרֵג״, וְעֵד אֶחָד אוֹמֵר ״לֹא רָאִיתָ״. אִשָּׁה אוֹמֶרֶת ״רָאִיתִי״, וְאִשָּׁה אוֹמֶרֶת ״לֹא רָאִית״ — הָיוּ עוֹרְפִין. עֵד אֶחָד אוֹמֵר ״רָאִיתִי״, וּשְׁנַיִם אוֹמְרִים ״לֹא רָאִיתָ״ — הָיוּ עוֹרְפִין. שְׁנַיִם אוֹמְרִים ״רָאִינוּ״, וְאֶחָד אוֹמֵר לָהֶן ״לֹא רְאִיתֶם״ — לֹא הָיוּ עוֹרְפִין.
If one witness says: I saw the killer, and one other witness says: You did not see him; or if a woman says: I saw, and another woman says: You did not see, they would break the neck of the heifer, as without clear testimony about the identity of the killer the ritual is performed. Similarly, if one witness says: I saw the killer, and two witnesses say: You did not see, they would break the neck of the heifer, as the pair is relied upon. If two witnesses say: We saw the killer, and one witness says to them: You did not see, they would not break the neck of the heifer, as there are two witnesses to the identity of the killer.
מִשֶּׁרַבּוּ הָרוֹצְחָנִין — בָּטְלָה עֶגְלָה עֲרוּפָה. מִשֶּׁבָּא אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן דִּינַאי, וּתְחִינָּה בֶּן פְּרִישָׁה הָיָה נִקְרָא, חָזְרוּ לִקְרוֹתוֹ ״בֶּן הָרַצְחָן״.
The mishna further states: From the time when murderers proliferated, the ritual of the heifer whose neck is broken was nullified. The ritual was performed only when the identity of the murderer was completely unknown. Once there were many known murderers, the conditions for the performance of the ritual were no longer present, as the probable identity of the murderer was known. From the time when Eliezer ben Dinai, who was also called Teḥina ben Perisha, came, they renamed him: Son of a murderer. This is an example of a publicly known murderer.
מִשֶּׁרַבּוּ הַמְנָאֲפִים — פָּסְקוּ הַמַּיִם הַמָּרִים. וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בֶּן זַכַּאי הִפְסִיקָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לֹא אֶפְקוֹד עַל בְּנוֹתֵיכֶם כִּי תִזְנֶינָה וְעַל כַּלּוֹתֵיכֶם כִּי תְנָאַפְנָה כִּי הֵם וְגוֹ׳״.
The mishna teaches a similar occurrence: From the time when adulterers proliferated, the performance of the ritual of the bitter waters was nullified; they would not administer the bitter waters to the sota. And it was Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Zakkai who nullified it, as it is stated: “I will not punish your daughters when they commit harlotry, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery; for they consort with lewd women” (Hosea 4:14), meaning that when the husbands are adulterers, the wives are not punished for their own adultery.
מִשֶּׁמֵּת יוֹסֵי בֶּן יוֹעֶזֶר אִישׁ צְרֵידָה וְיוֹסֵי בֶּן יְהוּדָה אִישׁ יְרוּשָׁלַיִם בָּטְלוּ הָאֶשְׁכֹּלוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אֵין אֶשְׁכּוֹל לֶאֱכוֹל בִּכּוּרָה אִוְּתָה נַפְשִׁי״, יוֹחָנָן כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל הֶעֱבִיר הוֹדָיַית הַמַּעֲשֵׂר. אַף הוּא בִּטֵּל אֶת הַמְעוֹרְרִין וְאֶת הַנּוֹקְפִין.
From the time when Yosei ben Yo’ezer of Tzereida and Yosei ben Yehuda of Jerusalem died, the clusters ceased, i.e., they were the last of the clusters, as explained in the Gemara, as it is stated: “There is no cluster to eat; nor first-ripe fig that my soul desires” (Micah 7:1). The mishna continues in the same vein: Yoḥanan the High Priest took away the declaration of the tithe. After his time, no one recited the passage about the elimination of tithes that had previously been said at the end of a three-year tithing cycle. He also nullified the actions of the awakeners and the strikers at the Temple.
עַד יָמָיו הָיָה פַּטִּישׁ מַכֶּה בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם. וּבְיָמָיו אֵין צָרִיךְ לִשְׁאוֹל עַל הַדְּמַאי.
Until his days the hammer of smiths would strike in Jerusalem on the intermediate days of a Festival, but he banned the practice. And furthermore, in his days there was no need to inquire about doubtfully tithed produce [demai], as everyone was careful to tithe.
גְּמָ׳ תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: מִנַּיִן שֶׁאִם נֶעֶרְפָה הָעֶגְלָה וְאַחַר כָּךְ נִמְצָא הַהוֹרֵג שֶׁאֵין פּוֹטֶרֶת אוֹתוֹ — תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״וְלָאָרֶץ לֹא יְכֻפַּר לַדָּם אֲשֶׁר שֻׁפַּךְ בָּהּ כִּי אִם בְּדַם שֹׁפְכוֹ״.
GEMARA: The Sages taught: From where is it derived that if the heifer’s neck was broken and afterward the killer was found, then the breaking of the neck does not exempt him from punishment? The verse states: “And the land shall not be atoned, for the blood that was spilled in it, but by the blood of he who spilled it” (Numbers 35:33).
עֵד אֶחָד אוֹמֵר רָאִיתִי אֶת הַהוֹרֵג כּוּ׳. טַעְמָא דְּמַכְחֵישׁ לֵיהּ, הָא לָא מַכְחֵישׁ לֵיהּ — עֵד אֶחָד מְהֵימַן.
The mishna taught that if one witness says: I saw the killer, and another testifies: You did not see him, they would break the heifer’s neck. The Gemara infers: The reason they break the neck is because the second witness contradicts him, but if no one contradicts him, one witness is relied upon, and they do not break the heifer’s neck.
מְנָהָנֵי מִילֵּי? דְּתָנוּ רַבָּנַן: ״לֹא נוֹדַע מִי הִכָּהוּ״. הָא נוֹדַע מִי הִכָּהוּ, אֲפִילּוּ אֶחָד בְּסוֹף הָעוֹלָם — לֹא הָיוּ עוֹרְפִין. רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר: מִנַּיִן לְסַנְהֶדְרִין שֶׁרָאוּ אֶחָד שֶׁהָרַג אֶת הַנֶּפֶשׁ וְאֵין מַכִּירִין אוֹתוֹ, שֶׁלֹּא הָיוּ עוֹרְפִין — תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״וְעֵינֵינוּ לֹא רָאוּ״, וַהֲלֹא רָאוּ.
From where are these matters derived? The Gemara answers that it is as the Sages taught in a baraita: It states with regard to the heifer whose neck is broken: “It is not known who has smitten him” (Deuteronomy 21:1). Consequently, if it was known who smote him, even if it was only one person at the end of the world who knew, they would not break the neck of the heifer. Rabbi Akiva says: From where is it derived that if the members of the Sanhedrin themselves saw one person kill someone, but they do not recognize him, then they would not break the neck of the heifer? The verse states: “Nor did our eyes see” (Deuteronomy 21:7), and did they not see? Seeing the murder alone obviates the need for the performance of the ritual.
הַשְׁתָּא דְּאָמְרַתְּ עֵד אֶחָד מְהֵימַן, אִידַּךְ חַד הֵיכִי מָצֵי מַכְחֵישׁ לֵיהּ? וְהָאָמַר עוּלָּא: כׇּל מָקוֹם שֶׁהֶאֱמִינָה תּוֹרָה עֵד אֶחָד — הֲרֵי כָּאן שְׁנַיִם, וְאֵין דְּבָרָיו שֶׁל אֶחָד בִּמְקוֹם שְׁנַיִם! אָמַר לָךְ עוּלָּא, תְּנִי: ״לֹא הָיוּ עוֹרְפִין״. וְכֵן אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק, תְּנִי: ״לֹא הָיוּ עוֹרְפִין״.
The Gemara poses a question: Now that you have said that in this case one witness is relied upon, if so, how is the other one able to contradict him? Didn’t Ulla say: Wherever the Torah relies on one witness, there is the equivalent of the testimony of two witnesses here, and the statement of one witness has no standing in a place where it is contradicted by two witnesses. The Gemara answers: Ulla could have said to you that the text of the mishna should be emended and teach the mishna in this way: They would not break the neck of the heifer. And Rabbi Yitzḥak also said to teach: They would not break the neck.
וְרַבִּי חִיָּיא אָמַר, תְּנִי: ״הָיוּ עוֹרְפִין״. וּלְרַבִּי חִיָּיא קַשְׁיָא דְּעוּלָּא! לָא קַשְׁיָא: כָּאן בְּבַת אַחַת, כָּאן בְּזֶה אַחַר זֶה.
And Rabbi Ḥiyya said that one should teach: They would break the neck. The Gemara asks: And according to Rabbi Ḥiyya, the above ruling of Ulla is difficult. The Gemara answers: This is not difficult, as here, in the mishna, the case is discussing when two witnesses came simultaneously, and therefore both of their testimonies are rejected; whereas there, with regard to the statement of Ulla, it is referring to a case when they testified one after the other. Ulla rules that once the testimony of the first witness has been accepted the testimony of the second witness cannot nullify it.
תְּנַן: עֵד אֶחָד אוֹמֵר ״רָאִיתִי אֶת הַהוֹרֵג״, וּשְׁנַיִם אוֹמְרִים ״לֹא רָאִיתָ״ — הָיוּ עוֹרְפִין. הָא חַד וְחַד — לֹא הָיוּ עוֹרְפִין, תְּיוּבְתָּא דְּרַבִּי חִיָּיא!
We learned in the mishna: If one witness says: I saw the killer, and two say: You did not see, they would break the neck. This cannot be stated just to teach us this halakha, as the fact that two witnesses override one witness is well known. The Gemara assumes that it is stated for the following inference: Therefore, if one testified, and the other one then testified, they would not break the neck. This appears to be a conclusive refutation of Rabbi Ḥiyya, who has the text of: They would break the neck.
וְלִיטַעְמָיךְ, אֵימָא סֵיפָא: שְׁנַיִם אוֹמְרִים ״רָאִינוּ״, וְעֵד אֶחָד אוֹמֵר ״לֹא רְאִיתֶם״ — לֹא הָיוּ עוֹרְפִין. הָא חַד וְחַד — הָיוּ עוֹרְפִין.
The Gemara answers: And according to your reasoning that the mishna states its cases in order to teach an inference, say the latter clause of the mishna: If two witnesses say: We saw, and one witness says: You did not see, they would not break the neck. The Gemara makes an inference from this clause: Therefore, if one came and then the other one came, i.e., they did not come simultaneously, they would break the neck. The two inferences from the different clauses of the mishna consequently contradict one another, and the mishna needs to be explained differently.
אֶלָּא: מַתְנִיתִין כּוּלַּהּ בִּפְסוּלֵי עֵדוּת, וְכִדְרַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה, דְּאָמַר: כׇּל מָקוֹם שֶׁהֶאֱמִינָה תּוֹרָה עֵד אֶחָד הַלֵּךְ אַחַר רוֹב דֵּעוֹת, וְעָשׂוּ שְׁתֵּי נָשִׁים בְּאִישׁ אֶחָד כִּשְׁנֵי אֲנָשִׁים בְּאִישׁ אֶחָד.
Rather, the correct understanding is that the entire mishna is not dealing with valid witnesses and stating an obvious halakha in order to enable an inference, but instead it is dealing with people who are disqualified from bearing witness and is also teaching us a novel ruling. And the mishna is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Neḥemya, who says: Wherever the Torah relies on one witness, follow the majority of opinions. In other words, if the testimonies of two disqualified witnesses conflict, the court rules in accordance with the testimony provided by more witnesses, whether or not they are qualified to testify. And they established that with regard to the testimony of two women, who are usually disqualified from testifying, when they testify against one man, it should be like that of two men against one man, and the court will rule in accordance with the testimony of the two women.
וְאִיכָּא דְאָמְרִי: כׇּל הֵיכָא דַּאֲתָא עֵד אֶחָד — כָּשֵׁר מֵעִיקָּרָא, אֲפִילּוּ מֵאָה נָשִׁים כִּי אֶחָד דָּמְיָין. וְהָכָא בְּמַאי עָסְקִינַן — כְּגוֹן דַּאֲתַאי אִשָּׁה מֵעִיקָּרָא. וְתָרְצַהּ לִדְרַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה הָכִי: רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה אוֹמֵר: כׇּל מָקוֹם שֶׁהֶאֱמִינָה תּוֹרָה עֵד אֶחָד — הַלֵּךְ אַחַר רוֹב דֵּעוֹת, וְעָשׂוּ שְׁתֵּי נָשִׁים בְּאִשָּׁה אַחַת כִּשְׁנֵי אֲנָשִׁים בְּאִישׁ אֶחָד, אֲבָל שְׁתֵּי נָשִׁים בְּאִישׁ אֶחָד — כִּי פַּלְגָא וּפַלְגָא דָּמֵי.
And there are those who say a different version of Rabbi Neḥemya’s opinion: Anywhere that one valid witness came at the outset, even one hundred women who later contradict him are considered like one witness, and do not override his testimony. And with what are we dealing here in the mishna? A case where a woman came at the outset, and testified that she saw the killer. Then two other women arrived to contradict her statement. And according to this interpretation you must emend the statement of Rabbi Neḥemya so that it reads like this: Rabbi Neḥemya says: Wherever the Torah relies on one witness, follow the majority of opinions. And they established that two women against one woman are like two men against one man. But two women in opposition to one man who is a valid witness is like half of a pair of witnesses and half of a pair of witnesses, and the mishna did not address that case.
וְתַרְתֵּי פְּסוּלֵי עֵדוּת, לְמָה לִי? מַהוּ דְּתֵימָא: כִּי אָזְלִינַן בָּתַר רוֹב דֵּעוֹת — לְחוּמְרָא, אֲבָל לְקוּלָּא — לָא, קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן.
The Gemara poses a question on these two interpretations of the mishna: And why do I need two cases in the mishna to teach the halakha that the majority opinion of those disqualified from bearing witness is followed? The Gemara explains: It is necessary, lest you say that when we follow the majority opinion in the case of invalid witnesses, this is when it results in a decision to be stringent and require the performance of the ritual. But when it results in a decision to be lenient and say that the ritual is not required, we do not follow the majority opinion, and the performance of the ritual is required even if there is one witness saying that the killer was not seen. Therefore, the mishna teaches us that there is no difference in this regard, and the majority opinion is followed in any case.
מִשֶּׁרַבּוּ הָרוֹצְחִין כּוּ׳. תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: מִשֶּׁרַבּוּ הָרוֹצְחָנִין — בָּטְלָה עֶגְלָה עֲרוּפָה, לְפִי שֶׁאֵינָהּ בָּאָה אֶלָּא עַל הַסָּפֵק. מִשֶּׁרַבּוּ הָרוֹצְחָנִין בְּגָלוּי — בָּטְלָה עֶגְלָה עֲרוּפָה.
§ The mishna taught that from the time when murderers proliferated, the ritual of the heifer whose neck is broken was nullified. The Sages taught: From the time when murderers proliferated, the ritual of the heifer whose neck is broken was nullified, because it comes only for a case involving uncertainty with regard to the identity of the murderer. Therefore, when there was an increase of murderers acting openly so that their identities were known, the ritual of the heifer whose neck is broken was nullified.
מִשֶּׁרַבּוּ הַנּוֹאֲפִין כּוּ׳. תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: ״וְנִקָּה הָאִישׁ מֵעָוֹן״, בִּזְמַן שֶׁהָאִישׁ מְנוּקֶּה מֵעָוֹן — הַמַּיִם בּוֹדְקִין אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ, אֵין הָאִישׁ מְנוּקֶּה מֵעָוֹן — אֵין הַמַּיִם בּוֹדְקִין אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ. וְאוֹמֵר: ״לֹא אֶפְקוֹד עַל בְּנוֹתֵיכֶם כִּי תִזְנֶינָה כּוּ׳״.
The mishna also taught that from the time when adulterers proliferated, the performance of the ritual of the bitter water of a sota was nullified. The Sages taught: It states: “And the man shall be cleared of transgression, and that woman shall bear her transgression” (Numbers 5:31), which indicates that when the man is clear of transgression the waters evaluate if his wife was unfaithful, but if the man is not clear of transgression the waters do not evaluate if his wife was unfaithful. And it states: “I will not punish your daughters when they commit harlotry, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery; for they consort with lewd women, and they sacrifice with prostitutes; and the people that is without understanding is distraught” (Hosea 4:14).
מַאי ״וְאוֹמֵר״? וְכִי תֵּימָא עָוֹן דִּידֵיהּ — אִין, דִּבְנֵיהּ וְדִבְנָתֵיהּ — לָא, תָּא שְׁמַע: ״לֹא אֶפְקוֹד עַל בְּנוֹתֵיכֶם כִּי תִזְנֶינָה וְעַל כַּלּוֹתֵיכֶם כִּי תְנָאַפְנָה״.
The Gemara clarifies: What is the purpose of the addition of: And it states? What is lacking in the exposition from the verse of the Torah? The Gemara explains: And if you would say that based on the verse: “And the man shall be cleared of transgression,” the halakha would be that with regard to his transgression, yes, it will cause the waters to be ineffective, but the transgression of his sons and daughters does not impact the effectiveness, come and hear the verse: “I will not punish your daughters,” i.e., I will not punish your wives, due to your daughters, “when they commit harlotry, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery.”
וְכִי תֵּימָא: עֲוֹן אֵשֶׁת אִישׁ — אִין, עָוֹן דִּפְנוּיָה — לָא, תָּא שְׁמַע: ״כִּי הֵם עִם הַזֹּנוֹת יְפָרֵדוּ וְעִם הַקְּדֵשׁוֹת יְזַבֵּחוּ וְגוֹ׳״.
And if you would say: With regard to the transgression of adultery with a married woman, yes, it will cause the waters to be ineffective, but the transgression of one who engaged in sexual intercourse with an unmarried woman does not impact the effectiveness, come and hear the continuation of the verse: “For they consort with lewd women, and they sacrifice with prostitutes.”
מַאי ״וְעָם לֹא יָבִין יִלָּבֵט״? אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: אָמַר לָהֶם נָבִיא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל: אִם אַתֶּם מַקְפִּידִין עַל עַצְמְכֶם — מַיִם בּוֹדְקִין נְשׁוֹתֵיכֶם, וְאִם לָאו — אֵין הַמַּיִם בּוֹדְקִין נְשׁוֹתֵיכֶם.
The Gemara turns its attention to the end of the verse. What is the meaning of: “And the people that is without understanding is distraught”? Rabbi Elazar says: The prophet said to the Jewish people: If you are particular about yourselves, the water evaluates your wives; but if not, the water does not evaluate your wives. This would make people distraught, as they would not know how to overcome their suspicion if they are concerned that their wives have been unfaithful.
מִשֶּׁרַבּוּ בַּעֲלֵי הֲנָאָה, נִתְעַוְּתוּ הַדִּינִין וְנִתְקַלְקְלוּ הַמַּעֲשִׂים וְאֵין נוֹחַ בָּעוֹלָם. מִשֶּׁרַבּוּ רוֹאֵי פָנִים בַּדִּין, בָּטַל ״לֹא תָגוּרוּ״, וּפָסַק ״לֹא תַכִּירוּ״, וּפָרְקוּ עוֹל שָׁמַיִם וְנָתְנוּ עֲלֵיהֶם עוֹל בָּשָׂר וָדָם.
§ The Gemara cites statements similar to those of the mishna. From the time when those who accept benefit from others proliferated, the laws became twisted and deeds became corrupted, and there was no comfort in the world. From the time when those who look at the faces of the litigants in judgment, in order to rule based on the appearance of the litigants, proliferated, the fulfillment of the verse: “You shall not fear the face of any man” (Deuteronomy 1:17), ceased, and the fulfillment of the verse: “You shall not respect faces in judgment” (Deuteronomy 1:17), halted, and they removed the yoke of Heaven from themselves, and placed upon themselves the yoke of flesh and blood.
מִשֶּׁרַבּוּ לוֹחֲשֵׁי לְחִישׁוֹת בַּדִּין — רָבָה חֲרוֹן אַף בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, וְנִסְתַּלְּקָה הַשְּׁכִינָה, מִשּׁוּם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״בְּקֶרֶב אֱלֹהִים יִשְׁפֹּט״. מִשֶּׁרַבּוּ ״אַחֲרֵי בִצְעָם לִבָּם הֹלֵךְ״ — רַבּוּ ״הָאוֹמְרִים לָרַע טוֹב וְלַטּוֹב רָע״. מִשֶּׁרַבּוּ ״הָאוֹמְרִים לָרַע טוֹב וְלַטּוֹב רָע״ — רַבּוּ ״הוֹי הוֹי״ בָּעוֹלָם.
From the time when those who whisper whisperings in judgment, advising judges surreptitiously, proliferated, fierce anger proliferated in Israel, and the Divine Presence departed, because it is stated: “God stands in the congregation of God; in the midst of the judges He judges” (Psalms 82:1). The Divine Presence that dwells among judges leaves if they judge improperly. From the time when those who are referred to in the verse: “Their heart goes after their covetousness” (Ezekiel 33:31), proliferated, “Those who say to evil good, and to good evil” (Isaiah 5:20) proliferated, i.e., those who treat wicked people as though they were righteous proliferated as a result. From the time when the fulfillment of the verse: “Those who say to evil good, and to good evil,” proliferated, the cry of: Woe, woe, proliferated in the world. There was an increase in troubles that cause people to cry out.
מִשֶּׁרַבּוּ מוֹשְׁכֵי הָרוֹק — רַבּוּ הַיְּהִירִים וְנִתְמַעֲטוּ הַתַּלְמִידִים, וְהַתּוֹרָה חוֹזֶרֶת עַל לוֹמְדֶיהָ. מִשֶּׁרַבּוּ הַיְּהִירִים — הִתְחִילוּ בְּנוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל לְהִנָּשֵׂא לִיהִירִים, שֶׁאֵין דּוֹרֵינוּ רוֹאֶה אֶלָּא לַפָּנִים.
From the time when those who show their arrogance by drawing out spittle proliferated, the number of haughty people in general proliferated, and the number of students decreased, as they would say haughtily that there was nothing left for them to learn, and the Torah needs to go around to seek those who study it, as people do not learn of their own initiative. Furthermore, from the time when haughty people proliferated, the daughters of Israel began marrying haughty men, as our generation looks only at the face, i.e., the external aspects of a person, and ignores the inner aspects of a person.
אִינִי?! וְהָאָמַר מָר: הַאי מַאן דְּמִיַּהַר — אֲפִילּוּ אַאִינָשֵׁי בֵּיתֵיהּ לָא מִיקַּבַּל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״גֶּבֶר יָהִיר וְלֹא יִנְוֶה״, לֹא יִנְוֶה אֲפִילּוּ בַּנָּוֶה שֶׁלּוֹ! מֵעִיקָּרָא קָפְצָה עֲלֵיהּ, לְסוֹף מִיתְּזִיל עֲלַיְיהוּ.
The Gemara raises a difficulty: Is that so? Do women wish to marry arrogant men? But didn’t the Master say: One who is haughty is not even accepted by the members of his household, as it is stated: “The haughty man abides not” (Habakkuk 2:5)? “Abides [yinaveh] not” means that even in his abode [naveh], he is not accepted. The Gemara explains: Initially, she jumps at the chance to marry him, because he appears to be a great person to her, but in the end, once she gets to know him, he is demeaned in her eyes.
מִשֶּׁרַבּוּ מַטִּילֵי מְלַאי עַל בַּעֲלֵי בָתִּים — רָבָה הַשּׁוֹחַד וְהַטָּיַית מִשְׁפָּט, וּפָסְקָה טוֹבָה. מִשֶּׁרַבּוּ ״מְקַבְּלֵנִי טוֹבָתְךָ״ וּ״מְחַזְּקֵנִי טוֹבוֹתֶיךָ״ — רַבּוּ ״אִישׁ הַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינָיו יַעֲשֶׂה״. שְׁפָלִים הוּגְבְּהוּ, וְהַגְּבוֹהִים הוּשְׁפְּלוּ, וּמַלְכוּתָא אָזְלָא וְנָוְלָא. מִשֶּׁרַבּוּ צָרֵי עַיִן וְטוֹרְפֵי טֶרֶף — רַבּוּ מְאַמְּצֵי הַלֵּב וְקוֹפְצֵי יָדַיִם מִלְּהַלְווֹת, וְעָבְרוּ עַל מַה שֶּׁכָּתוּב בַּתּוֹרָה ״הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ פֶּן וְגוֹ׳״.
The baraita continues: From the time when there was an increase in those who placed upon homeowners the obligation to designate the profits from merchandise for the upkeep of judges, bribery and corruption of judgment proliferated and good ceased. From the time when those judges and leaders who say: I accept your favor, and: I hold your favor, proliferated, the fulfillment of the verse: “Every man did that which was right in his eyes” (Judges 17:6), proliferated. Lowly ones were raised and lofty ones were lowered, and the monarchy is increasingly on the decline. From the time when misers and those greedy for profit proliferated, those hardened of heart and who closed their hands from lending proliferated, and they transgressed that which is written in the Torah: “You shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your needy brother…Guard yourself in case there is a base thought in your heart…and you do not give him” (Deuteronomy 15:7, 9).
מִשֶּׁרַבּוּ ״נְטוּיוֹת גָּרוֹן וּמְשַׂקְּרוֹת עֵינָיִם״ — רַבּוּ מַיִם הַמָּרִים, אֶלָּא שֶׁפָּסְקוּ. מִשֶּׁרַבּוּ מְקַבְּלֵי מַתָּנוֹת — נִתְמַעֲטוּ הַיָּמִים וְנִתְקַצְּרוּ הַשָּׁנִים, דִּכְתִיב: ״וְשׂוֹנֵא מַתָּנֹת יִחְיֶה״. מִשֶּׁרַבּוּ זְחוּחֵי הַלֵּב — רַבּוּ מַחֲלוֹקֹת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. מִשֶּׁרַבּוּ תַּלְמִידֵי שַׁמַּאי וְהִילֵּל שֶׁלֹּא שִׁימְּשׁוּ כׇּל צוֹרְכָּן — רַבּוּ מַחְלוֹקוֹת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, וְנַעֲשֵׂית תּוֹרָה כִּשְׁתֵּי תוֹרוֹת. מִשֶּׁרַבּוּ מְקַבְּלֵי צְדָקָה מִן הַנׇּכְרִי — הָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְמַעְלָה וְהֵם לְמַטָּה, יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנִים וְהֵם לְאָחוֹר.
From the time when women with “stretched-forth necks and wanton eyes” (Isaiah 3:16) proliferated, the bitter waters of a sota proliferated, as more people were suspected of committing adultery; but they eventually ceased when licentiousness became too widespread. From the time when those who accept gifts proliferated, the days decreased and the years shortened, as it is written: “And he who hates gifts lives” (Proverbs 15:27). From the time when those with boastful [zeḥuḥei] hearts proliferated, dispute proliferated in Israel. From the time when the students of Shammai and Hillel who did not serve their Rabbis sufficiently proliferated, dispute proliferated in Israel, and the Torah became like two Torahs. From the time when those who accept charity from gentiles proliferated, the Jewish people were above and they below; the Jewish people ahead and they behind. This last statement is a euphemism; it was the Jewish people that were below and behind, but the Gemara did not want to say so explicitly.
מִשֶּׁמֵּת יוֹסֵי בֶּן יוֹעֶזֶר כּוּ׳. מַאי ״אֶשְׁכּוֹלוֹת״? אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל, אִישׁ שֶׁהַכֹּל בּוֹ. יוֹחָנָן כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל הֶעֱבִיר הוֹדָיַית הַמַּעֲשֵׂר כּוּ׳. מַאי טַעְמָא? אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא: לְפִי שֶׁאֵין נוֹתְנִין אוֹתוֹ כְּתִיקּוּנוֹ. דְּרַחֲמָנָא אָמַר דְּיָהֲבִי לִלְוִיִּם,
§ The mishna taught that from the time when Yosei ben Yo’ezer died the clusters ceased. The Gemara poses a question: What is the meaning of clusters [eshkolot]? Rav Yehuda says that Shmuel says: It means a man who contains all [ish shehakol bo] elements of Torah and mitzvot. The mishna further taught that Yoḥanan the High Priest took away the declaration of the tithe. The Gemara poses a question: What is the reason he did this? Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, says: Because they did not give the tithe in the proper manner as stated by the Torah. In what way is that? As the Merciful One states in the Torah that they should give the first tithe to the Levites,
