Pesachim 119a — the Talmud in English

Rabbi Elazar said: ![](pamud.bmp "

Exact page location")

this is one who recognizes his fellow’s place in the study hall,

who knows how to say, “This is so-and-so’s place, and this is so-and-so’s place,” for this is proof that he is accustomed to sitting there constantly.

Some say: Rabbi Elazar said: This is one who receives the face of his fellow in the study hall,

for he precedes him to the study hall and receives the face of his fellow, and not that his fellow receives him [Maharsha].

What

is the explanation of that which is written

“to conceal the Ancient of Days”,

which is the conclusion of the preceding verse: “For for those who sit before the Lord shall be its merchandise, to eat to satiety and to conceal the Ancient.”

This is one who conceals matters that the Ancient of Days concealed

[the Holy One, blessed is He].

And what are they?

The secrets of Torah,

the Account of the Chariot, the Account of Creation, and the interpretation of the Name of the Lord, which he does not transmit to every person, but only to one who is fit for this.

And some say: This is one who reveals matters that the Ancient of Days concealed.

And what are they?

The reasons of Torah.

And thus it says: “to conceal the Ancient”—the secrets of Torah, which had initially been concealed, and the Ancient of Days gave permission to reveal them.

And one who reveals them merits that which is stated in this verse.

Rav Kahana said in the name of Rabbi Yishmael son of Rabbi Yosei: What

is the explanation of that

which is written

in Psalms

“For the conductor, a psalm of David”?

Sing to the One whom they defeat, and rejoice!

Since it is not written “to the victorious one” but “for the conductor,” it implies a causative expression, referring to the Holy One, blessed is He, who gives His creatures the power to defeat Him.

Come and see that the attribute of the Holy One, blessed is He, is unlike the attribute of flesh and blood.

Flesh and blood, when they defeat him,

he

is saddened.

But the Holy One, blessed is He, when they defeat Him, rejoices.

As it is stated

“And He said to destroy them.

Had not Moses, His chosen one, stood in the breach before Him

to turn back His wrath from destroying.” Behold, He called him “His chosen one” and praised him for turning back His wrath; it follows that He rejoices in this.

Rav Kahana said in the name of Rabbi Yishmael son of Rabbi Yosei,

and likewise

Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda Nesi’a: What

is the explanation of that

which is written

in the Book of Ezekiel in the description of the appearance of the living creatures

“And the hands of a man were beneath their wings”?

“His hand” is written

[whereas the kri is “their hands”],

this is the hand of the Holy One, blessed is He, spread beneath the wings of the living creatures in order to receive penitents immediately

[because of]

the attribute of justice,

which prosecutes and says, “Do not receive them.” And the Holy One, blessed is He, receives them secretly [beneath the wings of the living creatures].

Rav Yehuda said in the name of Shmuel: All the silver and gold in the world, Joseph gathered it and brought it to Egypt.

As it is stated

“And Joseph gathered all the silver that was found

in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan.”

I have only

that he gathered

but

the silver

that was in the land of Egypt

and in the land of Canaan.

The silver that was

in the other lands—from where?

The verse states

“And all the land came to Egypt,”

and they brought all their silver with them.

And when Israel went up from Egypt, they brought it up with them.

As it is stated

“And they emptied out Egypt.”

Rav Asi said: They made it

—the Children of Israel made Egypt—

like this trap,

a net that they spread for the capture of birds,

which has no grain

as bait, and no bird turns toward it. So Israel emptied out the Egyptians [the translation of “and they emptied out” is “and they emptied”] of all their property.

Rabbi Shimon

ben Lakish

said:

They made it

like the depths,

the depth of the sea,

which has no fish,

for they are found only at the seashore, where there is food.

And it remained stored

—this silver—

until Rehoboam.

Shishak, king of Egypt, came and took it from Rehoboam.

As it is stated

“And it was in the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak, king of Egypt, went up

[against Jerusalem],

and he took the treasures of the House of the Lord and the treasures of the king’s house.”

Zerah, king of Cush, came and took it from Shishak.

Asa came

the king of Judah

and took it from Zerah, king of Cush, and sent it to Hadad-Rimmon son of Tabrimmon

king of Aram, so that he would assist him in his war with Baasha, king of Israel.

The Ammonites came and took it from Hadad-Rimmon son of Tabrimmon.

Jehoshaphat came

the king of Judah

and took it from the Ammonites.

And it remained stored until Ahaz,

king of Judah.

Sennacherib came and took it from Ahaz.

Hezekiah came and took it from Sennacherib, and it remained stored until Zedekiah.

The Chaldeans came and took it from Zedekiah.

The Persians came and took it from the Chaldeans.

The Greeks came and took it from the Persians.

The Romans came and took it from the Greeks.

And it is still stored in Rome.

[All these who took it from one another did so by means of war, for it was their practice to bring their treasures with them to war in order to draw the hearts of the fighters after the wealth, so that they would not flee. And when they defeated them, the victors took their property.]

Rabbi Hama bar Hanina said: Joseph concealed three treasures in Egypt.

One was revealed to Korah.

One was revealed to Antoninus son of Asuerus.

And one is hidden for the righteous for the future to come.

It is stated in Ecclesiastes [chapter 5]

“Wealth kept by its owner to his detriment.”

Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: This is Korah’s wealth,

for through the abundance of his property he became arrogant and was lost from the world.

And likewise it is stated concerning the congregation of Korah, who were swallowed up

“and all the substance that was at their feet.”

Rabbi Elazar said: This is a person’s property that sets him on his feet,

which gladdens his heart.

Rabbi Levi said: Three hundred white mules’ loads were the keys to Korah’s storehouses.

And all of them were keys and leather locks

that is, the three hundred mules carried only the keys and the locks of the treasuries, while the treasuries themselves were leather sacks full of silver and gold.

Dia-sh

an acronym: David, Yishai, his brothers, Shmuel.

Adi-sh:

his brothers, David, Yishai, Shmuel.

Kashda-kh:

all of them, Shmuel, David, all of them.

Meodekha,

and this is

a sign

for the names of those who say the verses in Hallel, from “Meodekha” onward.

Rabbi Shmuel bar Nahmani said in the name of Rabbi Yonatan: “I thank You, for You have answered me,” David said.

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” Yishai said

about David, who was the youngest of his sons, and all his days was a shepherd of sheep, yet became a leader.

“From the Lord this has come

it is wondrous in our eyes,”

his brothers said,

since it is written in the plural.

“This is the day the Lord has made

let us rejoice and be glad in it,”

Shmuel said,

for he prophesied concerning him that in the end they would rejoice and be glad in it, when he would save them from the hands of their enemies.

“Please, Lord, save now,” his brothers said,

that the Lord should save them through David.

“Please, Lord, grant success now”—

David said,

that he should succeed in his kingship.

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,”

Yishai said.

“We have blessed you from the House of the Lord,”

Shmuel said,

that is, we bless you.

“The Lord is God, and He has given us light”—

all of them said.

For it is an expression in the plural.

“Bind the festival-offering with cords

up to the horns of the altar,”

Shmuel said,

that they should bring many sacrifices and peace-offerings, whose blood is presented on the altar, in order to rejoice.

“You are my God, and I shall thank You,” David said.

“My God, I shall exalt You,” all of them said.