📖 Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 38

כְּתִיב, ״וּבָא הַבַּיִת וְסָמַךְ יָדוֹ עַל הַקִּיר וּנְשָׁכוֹ הַנָּחָשׁ״ (עמוס ה, יט). וּכְשֶׁבָּא יַעֲקֹב לְאֶרֶץ אֲחֻזָּתוֹ שֶׁבְּאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן נְשָׁכוֹ הַנָּחָשׁ, וְאֵי זֶה הוּא הַנָּחָשׁ? זֶה שְׁכֶם בֶּן חֲמוֹר. שֶׁהָיְתָה בִּתּוֹ שֶׁל יַעֲקֹב יוֹשֶׁבֶת אֹהָלִים וְלֹא הָיְתָה יוֹצְאָה לַחוּץ. מֶה עָשָׂה שְׁכֶם בֶּן חֲמוֹר? הֵבִיא נַעֲרוֹת מְשַׂחֲקוֹת חוּצָה לוֹ מְתוֹפְפוֹת. וְיָצְאָה דִינָה לִרְאוֹת בִּבְנוֹת הָאָרֶץ הַמְשַׂחֲקוֹת, וּשְׁלָלָהּ וְשָׁכַב עִמָּהּ, וְהָרְתָה וְיָלְדָה אֶת אָסְנַת. וְאָמְרוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְהָרְגָהּ, שֶׁאָמְרוּ: ״עַכְשָׁו יֹאמְרוּ בְּכָל הָאָרֶץ שֶׁיֵּשׁ בֵּית זְנוּת בְּאָהֳלֵי יַעֲקֹב״.

JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN "OR went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and the serpent bit him" (Amos 5:19). When Jacob went into his house in the land of Canaan the serpent bit him. || And who was the serpent? This was Shechem, the son of Chamor. Because the daughter of Jacob was abiding in the tents, and she did not go into the street; what did Shechem, the son of Chamor, do? He brought dancing girls who were (also) playing on pipes in the streets. Dinah went forth to see those girls who were making merry; and he seized her, and he slept with her, and she conceived and bare Asenath. The sons of Israel said that she should be killed, for they said that now people would say in all the land that there was an immoral daughter in the tents of Jacob.

מָה עָשָׂה יַעֲקֹב? הֵבִיא שֶׁרֶץ שֶׁל זָהָב, שֵׁם הַקֹּדֶשׁ כָּתוּב בּוֹ, וְתָלָה עַל צַוָּארָהּ, וְשִׁלְּחָהּ וְהָלְכָה. וְהַכֹּל צָפוּי לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. וְיָרַד מִיכָאֵל הַמַּלְאָךְ וְהוֹרִידָהּ לְמִצְרַיִם לְבֵית פּוֹטִיפֶרַע, שֶׁהָיְתָה אָסְנַת רְאוּיָה לְיוֹסֵף לְאִשָּׁה. וְהָיְתָה אִשְׁתּוֹ שֶׁל פּוֹטִיפֶרַע עֲקָרָה, וְגִדְּלָה עִמָּהּ כְּבַת. וּכְשֶׁיָּרַד יוֹסֵף לְמִצְרַיִם לְקָחָהּ לוֹ לְאִשָּׁה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּתֶּן לוֹ אֶת אָסְנַת בַּת פּוֹטִיפֶרַע״.

What did (Jacob) do? He wrote the Holy Name upon a golden plate, and suspended it about her neck and sent her away. She went her way. Everything is revealed before the Holy One, blessed be He, and Michael the angel descended and took her, and brought her down to Egypt to the house of Potiphera; because Asenath was destined to become the wife of Joseph. Now the wife of Potiphera was barren, and (Asenath) grew up with her as a daughter. When Joseph came down to Egypt he married her, as it is said, "And he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potiphera priest of On" (Gen. 41:45).

שִׁמְעוֹן וְלֵוִי קִנְּאוּ עַל הַזְּנוּת הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הַכְזוֹנָה יַעֲשֶׂה אֶת אֲחוֹתֵנוּ?״, וְלָקְחוּ אִישׁ חַרְבּוֹ וְהָרְגוּ אֶת כָּל אַנְשֵׁי שְׁכֶם. וּכְשֶׁשָּׁמַע יַעֲקֹב נִתְיָרֵא מְאֹד, שֶׁאָמַר: ״עַכְשָׁו יֹאמְרוּ לְכָל עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ וְיֵאָסְפוּ עָלַי וְיַהַרְגוּנִי״. הִתְחִיל לְקַלֵּל רָגְזָם שֶׁל בָּנָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אָרוּר אַפָּם כִּי עָז״. וְעוֹד שֶׁקִּלֵּל אֶת חַרְבָּם בִּלְשׁוֹן יְוָנִית, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כְּלֵי חָמָס מְכֵרֹתֵיהֶם״. שָׁמְעוּ כָּל עַמֵּי וְנִתְיָרְאוּ מְאֹד, וְאָמְרוּ: ״אִם שְׁנֵי בְּנֵי יַעֲקֹב עָשׂוּ אֶת כָּל הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה, אִם יֵאָסְפוּ כֻּלָּם יְכוֹלִים הֵם לְהַחֲרִיב אֶת הָעוֹלָם״. וְנָפַל פַּחְדּוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עֲלֵיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּסְּעוּ וַיְהִי חִתַּת אֱלֹהִים״.

Simeon and Levi were moved by a great zeal on account of the immorality, as it is said, "And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?" (Gen. 34:31). And each man took his sword and slew all the men of Shechem. When Jacob heard thereof, he became sorely afraid. For he said: Now all the people of the land will hear, and they will gather together against me || and smite me. He began to curse the wrath of his sons, as it is said, "Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce" (Gen. 49:7); and he also cursed their sword in the Greek language, for he said: "Weapons of violence are their swords" (Gen. 49:5). All the kings of the earth heard (thereof) and feared very much, saying: If two sons of Jacob have done all these great things, if they all band themselves together, they will be able to destroy the world. And the dread of the Holy One, blessed be He, fell upon them, as it is said, "And the terror of God was upon the cities,… and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob" (Gen. 35:5).

וַיִּקַּח יַעֲקֹב בָּנָיו וּבְנֵי בָנָיו וְנָשָׁיו, וַיֵּלֶךְ לְקִרְיַת אַרְבַּע אֵצֶל יִצְחָק אָבִיו. וַיִּמְצָא שָׁם אֶת עֵשָׂו וְאֶת בָּנָיו וְאֶת נָשָׁיו יוֹשְׁבִים בְּאֹהֶל יִצְחָק, וַיִּתְקַע לוֹ אָהֳלוֹ חוּצָה לָהּ. וַיַּרְא יִצְחָק אֶת יַעֲקֹב וְאֶת נָשָׁיו וְאֶת בָּנָיו וְאֶת בְּנוֹתָיו וְאֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ לִשְׁנֵ״י בָנָי״ו, וַיִּשְׂמַח בְּלִבּוֹ מְאֹד. וְעָלָיו הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״וּרְאֵה בָנִים לְבָנֶיךָ, שָׁלוֹם עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל״.

Jacob took his sons and his grandsons, and his wives, and he went to Kirjath Arba (so as to be) near Isaac his father. And he found there Esau and his sons and his wives dwelling in the tents of Isaac. And he spread his tent apart from him; and Isaac saw Jacob, his wives, his daughters, and all that belonged to him, and he rejoiced in his heart exceedingly. Concerning him the Scripture saith, "Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, peace be upon Israel" (Ps. 128:6).

רַבִּי לֵוִי אוֹמֵר: בִּשְׁעַת אֲסִיפָתוֹ שֶׁל יִצְחָק, הִנִּיחַ אֶת מִקְנֵהוּ וְאֶת כָּל קִנְיָנוֹ וְאֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ לִשְׁנֵי בָנָיו. לְפִיכָךְ גָּמְלוּ חֶסֶד לוֹ שְׁנֵיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּקְבְּרוּ אֹתוֹ עֵשָׂו וְיַעֲקֹב בָּנָיו״.

Rabbi Levi said: In the hour of the ingathering of Isaac, he left his cattle and his possessions, and all that he had, to his two sons; therefore they both rendered loving-kindness (to him), as it is said, "And Esau and Jacob his sons buried him" (Gen. 35:29).

אָמַר עֵשָׂו לְיַעֲקֹב: נַחֲלֹק כָּל מַה שֶׁהִנִּיחַ לָנוּ אַבָּא לִשְׁנַיִם, וַאֲנִי בּוֹרֵר שֶׁאֲנִי בְּכוֹר. אָמַר יַעֲקֹב: הָרָשָׁע הַזֶּה לֹא מִלֵּא עֵינוֹ מִן הָעֹשֶׁר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וְגַם עֵינוֹ לֹא תִשְׂבַּע עֹשֶׁר״. מֶה עָשָׂה יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ? חִלֵּק לִשְׁנֵי חֲלָקִים כָּל מַה שֶׁהִנִּיחַ אָבִיו: חֵלֶק אֶחָד וְאֶת אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל חֵלֶק אַחֵר. מֶה עָשָׂה עֵשָׂו? הָלַךְ אֵצֶל יִשְׁמָעֵאל לַמִּדְבָּר לְהִמָּלֵךְ בּוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וַיֵּלֶךְ עֵשָׂו אֶל יִשְׁמָעֵאל" (בראשית כח ט). אָמַר לוֹ יִשְׁמָעֵאל לְעֵשָׂו: הָאֱמוֹרִי וְהַכְּנַעֲנִי אָז בָּאָרֶץ וְיַעֲקֹב בּוֹטֵחַ לָרֶשֶׁת אֶת הָאָרֶץ, וְלָכֵן טֹל אַתָּה מַה שֶׁהִנִּיחַ אָבִיךָ וְאֵין לְיַעֲקֹב מְאוּמָה.

Esau said to Jacob: Divide all that my father has left into two portions, and I will choose (first), because I am the elder. || Jacob said: This wicked man has not satisfied his eye with wealth, as it is said, "Neither are his eyes satisfied with riches" (Eccles. 4:8). What did Jacob do? He divided all that his father had left as the one part, and the other part was to be the land of Israel and the Cave of Machpelah. What did Esau do? He went to Ishmael in the wilderness in order to consult him, as it is said, "And Esau went unto Ishmael" (Gen. 28:9). Ishmael said to Esau: The Amorite and the Canaanite are in the land, and Jacob trusts (in God) that he will inherit the land, therefore take all that thy father has left, and Jacob will have nothing.

וְלָקַח עֵשָׂו כָּל מַה שֶּׁהִנִּיחַ אָבִיו, וְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמְעָרַת הַמַּכְפֵּלָה לָקַח יַעֲקֹב, וְכָתְבוּ כְּתַב עוֹלָם בֵּינֵיהֶם. אָמַר לוֹ יַעֲקֹב לְעֵשָׂו: ״לֵךְ מֵאֶרֶץ אֲחֻזָּתִי מֵאֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן״. וְלָקַח עֵשָׂו אֶת נָשָׁיו וְאֶת בָּנָיו וְאֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶל אֶרֶץ מִפְּנֵי יַעֲקֹב אָחִיו״. וּבִשְׂכַר שֶׁפִּנָּה אֶת כָּל כֵּלָיו בִּשְׁבִיל יַעֲקֹב אָחִיו, נָתַן לוֹ מֵאָה מְדִינוֹת מִשֵּׂעִיר וְעַד מַגְדִּיאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אַלּוּף מַגְדִּיאֵל אַלּוּף עִירָם״ – זֶה רוֹמִי.

And Esau took all that his father had left, and he gave to Jacob the land of Israel, and the Cave of Machpelah, and they wrote a perpetual deed between them. Jacob said to Esau: Go from the land of my possession, from the land of Canaan. Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all that he had, [as it is said, "And Esau took his wives… and all his possessions which he had gathered in the land of Canaan], and went into a land away from his brother Jacob" (Gen. 36:6). And as a reward because he removed all his belongings on account of Jacob his brother, He gave him one hundred provinces from Seir unto Magdiel, and Magdiel is Rome, as it is said, "Duke Magdiel, Duke Iram" (Gen. 36:43).

אָז יָשַׁב יַעֲקֹב בֶּטַח וְשַׁאֲנָן וְשָׁלֵו בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן וּבְאֶרֶץ מוֹלַדְתּוֹ וּבְאֶרֶץ מְגוּרֵי אָבִיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֵּשֶׁב יַעֲקֹב בְּאֶרֶץ מְגוּרֵי אָבִיו״.

Then Jacob dwelt safely and in peace in the land of his possession, and in the land of his birth, and in the land of the sojournings of his father.

רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר: כָּל בֶּן זוֹקֶן חָבִיב לְאָבִיו יוֹתֵר מִדַּאי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְיִשְׂרָאֵל אָהַב אֶת יוֹסֵף מִכָּל בָּנָיו כִּי בֶן זְקֻנִים הוּא לוֹ״. וְכִי בֶּן זְקוּנִים הָיָה לוֹ? וַהֲלֹא בִּנְיָמִין הָיָה בֶּן זְקוּנִים! אֶלָּא עַל יְדֵי שֶׁרָאָה בִּנְבוּאָתוֹ שֶׁהוּא עָתִיד לִמְלֹךְ, לְפִיכָךְ הָיָה אוֹהֵב אוֹתוֹ מִכָּל אֶחָיו, וְקִנְאוּ בּוֹ קִנְאָה גְּדוֹלָה. ״וַיִּרְאוּ אֶחָיו כִּי אֹתוֹ אָהַב אֲבִיהֶם מִכָּל אֶחָיו״ וְכוּ'. וְעוֹד שֶׁרָאָה אוֹתוֹ בַּחֲלוֹמוֹ שֶׁעָתִיד לִמְלֹךְ וְהִגִּיד לְאָבִיו, וְהוֹסִיפוּ לוֹ שִׂנְאָה קָשָׁה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיּוֹסִפוּ עוֹד שְׂנֹא אֹתוֹ״. וְעוֹד שֶׁרָאָה בְּנֵי פִּלַגְשֵׁי אָבִיו אוֹכְלִים בְּשַׂר אַיִל וּבְשַׂר כְּבָשִׂים כְּשֶׁהֵם חַיִּים, וְהוֹצִיא עֲלֵיהֶם דּוֹפִי אֶל יַעֲקֹב אֲבִיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְלֹא יָכְלוּ דַּבְּרוֹ לְשָׁלוֹם״. אָמַר יַעֲקֹב לְיוֹסֵף: ״בְּנִי, הֲרֵי יֵשׁ לִי כַּמָּה יָמִים שֶׁלֹּא שָׁמַעְתִּי אֶת שְׁלוֹם אַחֶיךָ וְאֶת שְׁלוֹם הַצֹּאן וְתִרְאֵם״. וְהַנַּעַר הָיָה הוֹלֵךְ וְתוֹעֶה בַּדֶּרֶךְ, וּפָגַע גַּבְרִיאֵל הַמַּלְאָךְ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּמְצָאֵהוּ אִישׁ וְהִנֵּה תֹעֶה בַּשָּׂדֶה״. וְאֵין אִישׁ אֶלָּא גַּבְרִיאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהָאִישׁ גַּבְרִיאֵל״.

Rabbi Ishmael said: Every son of the old age || is beloved of his father, as it is said, "Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age" (Gen. 37:3). Was he then the son of his old age? Was not Benjamin the son of his old age? But owing to the fact that (Jacob) saw by his prophetic power that (Joseph) would rule in the future, therefore he loved him more than all his sons. And they envied him with a great envy, as it is said, "And his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren; and they hated him" (ibid. 4). Further, because he saw in his dream that in the future he would rule, and he told his father, and they envied him yet more and more, as it is said, "And they hated him yet the more" (ibid. 8). Moreover, he saw the sons of his father's concubines eating the flesh of the roes and the flesh of the sheep whilst they were alive, and he brought a reproach against them before Jacob their father, so that they could not see his face any more (in peace), as it is said, "And they could not speak peaceably unto him" (ibid. 4). Jacob said to Joseph: Joseph, my son ! Verily I have (waited) many days without hearing of the welfare of thy brethren, and of the welfare of the flock, as it is said, "Go now, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flock" (ibid. 14). And the lad was wandering in the field, and the angel Gabriel met him, as it is said, "And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field" (ibid. 15). (The word) "man" (here in this context) is Gabriel only, as it is said, "The man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision" (Dan. 9:21).

אָמַר לוֹ: ״מַה תְּבַקֵּשׁ?״ אָמַר לוֹ: ״אֶת אַחַי אָנֹכִי מְבַקֵּשׁ״. וְהוֹלִיכוֹ אֵצֶל אֶחָיו, וְרָאוּ אוֹתוֹ וּבִקְּשׁוּ לְהָרְגוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּרְאוּ אֹתוֹ מֵרָחֹק וַיִּתְנַכְּלוּ אֹתוֹ לַהֲמִיתוֹ״. אָמַר לָהֶם רְאוּבֵן: ״אַל תִּשְׁפְּכוּ דָם, הַשְׁלִיכוּ אוֹתוֹ אֶל הַבּוֹר הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר בַּמִּדְבָּר וְיָמוּת שָׁם, וְאַל תִּשְׁפְּכוּ דָם״. וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ לוֹ אֶחָיו וְלָקְחוּ אֶת יוֹסֵף וְהִשְׁלִיכוּ אוֹתוֹ אֶל הַבּוֹר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיַּשְׁלִכוּ אֹתוֹ הַבֹּרָה״. מֶה עָשָׂה רְאוּבֵן? הָלַךְ וְיָשַׁב לוֹ בְּאַחַד הֶהָרִים לָרֶדֶת בַּלַּיְלָה וּלְהַעֲלוֹת אֶת יוֹסֵף מֵהַבּוֹר. וּבְשָׁעָה אַחַת אֶחָיו הָיוּ יוֹשְׁבִים בְּמָקוֹם אֶחָד וְלֵב אֶחָד וְעֵצָה אַחַת, וְעָבְרוּ עֲלֵיהֶם אֹרְחַת יִשְׁמְעֵאלִים וְאָמְרוּ: ״בּוֹאוּ וְנִמְכְּרֶנּוּ לַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִים וְיִהְיוּ מוֹלִיכִין אוֹתוֹ לִקְצֵה הַמִּדְבָּר וְאֵין יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ שׁוֹמֵעַ שִׁמְעוֹ עוֹד״.

And (Gabriel) said to him: What seekest thou? He said to him: I seek my brethren, as it is said, "And he said, I seek my brethren" (Gen. 37:16). And he led him to || his brethren, and they saw him and sought to slay him, as it is said, "And they saw him afar off" (Gen. 37:18). Reuben said to them: Do not shed his blood, as it is said, "And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood; cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness" (Gen. 37:22). And his brethren listened to him, and they took Joseph and cast him into the pit, as it is said, "And they took him, and cast him into the pit" (Gen. 37:24). What did Reuben do? He went and stayed on one of the mountains, so as to go down by night to bring up Joseph out of the pit. And his nine brethren were sitting down in one place, all of them like one man, with one heart and one plan. Ishmaelites passed by them, and (the brethren) said: Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and they will lead him to the end of the wilderness, and Jacob will not hear any further report concerning him.

וּמָכְרוּ אוֹתוֹ לַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִים בְּעֶשְׂרִים כָּסֶף. כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד נָטַל שְׁנֵי כְסָפִים לִקְנוֹת מִנְעָלִים בְּרַגְלֵיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״עַל מִכְרָם בַּכֶּסֶף צַדִּיק וְאֶבְיוֹן בַּעֲבוּר נַעֲלָיִם״. אָמְרוּ: ״נָשִׂים חֵרֶם בֵּינֵינוּ שֶׁאֵין אֶחָד מִמֶּנּוּ מַגִּיד הַדָּבָר לְיַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ״. אָמְרוּ בֵּינֵיהֶם: ״רְאוּבֵן אֵין כָּאן, בִּנְיָמִין אֵין כָּאן, וְאֵין הַחֵרֶם מִתְקַיֵּם אֶלָּא בַּעֲשָׂרָה, וַאֲנַחְנוּ תִּשְׁעָה. אִם כֵּן, הֵיאַךְ נַעֲשֶׂה?״ שִׁתְּפוּ הַמָּקוֹם עִמָּהֶם וְהָיוּ עֲשָׂרָה, וְהֶחֱרִימוּ בֵּינֵיהֶם שֶׁלֹּא יַגִּיד שׁוּם אֶחָד מֵהֶם סוֹד זֶה לְיַעֲקֹב.

(The brethren) sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver, and each one of them took two pieces of silver (apiece) to purchase shoes for their feet, as it is said, "Thus saith the Lord,… Because they have sold the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes" (Amos 2:6). They said: Let us swear among ourselves that no one of us shall declare the matter to our father Jacob. Judah said to them: Reuben is not here, and the ban cannot be valid through nine (adults). What did they do? They associated the Omnipresent with them and proclaimed the ban.

יָרַד רְאוּבֵן בַּלַּיְלָה לְהַעֲלוֹת יוֹסֵף מִן הַבּוֹר וְלֹא מְצָ��וֹ שָׁם. אָמַר לָהֶם רְאוּבֵן: ״הֲרַגְתֶּם אֶת יוֹסֵף וַאֲנִי אָנָה אֲנִי בָא מִצָּרַת אָבִינוּ?״ וַיַּגִּידוּ לוֹ אֶחָיו הַדָּבָר שֶׁעָשׂוּ וְאֶת הַחֵרֶם שֶׁהֶחֱרִימוּ, וְשָׁתַק. וְגַם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שָׁתַק, וּמִפְּנֵי הַחֵרֶם לֹא הִגִּיד הַדָּבָר לְיַעֲקֹב. וּכְתִיב בּוֹ ״מַגִּיד דְּבָרָיו לְיַעֲקֹב״, לְפִיכָךְ לֹא יָדַע יַעֲקֹב אֶת הַדָּבָר שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה לְיוֹסֵף, וְלָכֵן אָמַר: ״טָרֹף טֹרַף יוֹסֵף״.

And Reuben || went down by night to bring up Joseph out of the pit, but he did not find him there. He said to them: Ye have slain Joseph; "and I, whither shall I go?" (Gen. 37:80). And they told him what they had done, and the ban which they had proclaimed; and Reuben heard of the ban, and was silent; the Holy One, blessed be He, because of the ban, did not tell the matter to Jacob, and (though) concerning Him it is written, "He sheweth his word unto Jacob" (Ps. 147:19); but this word He did not shew unto Jacob, therefore Jacob did not know what had been done to Joseph, and he said: "Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces" (Gen. 37:33).

רַבִּי יַנַּאי אוֹמֵר: עָוֹן שֶׁעָשׂוּ הַשְּׁבָטִים בִּמְכִירַת יוֹסֵף לֹא נִתְכַּפֵּר לָהֶם עַד עֵת מִיתָתָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״בְּאָזְנָי ה' צְבָאוֹת אִם יְכֻפַּר הֶעָוֹן הַזֶּה עַד תְּמֻתוּן״. וּבַעֲוֹן מְכִירַת יוֹסֵף בָּא רָעָב לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים, וְיָרְדוּ אֲחֵי יוֹסֵף לִשְׁבֹּר אֹכֶל בְּמִצְרַיִם וּמָצְאוּ אֶת יוֹסֵף שֶׁהוּא חַי. וְהִתִּירוּ אֶת הַחֵרֶם, וְשָׁמַע יַעֲקֹב עַל יוֹסֵף שֶׁהוּא חַי, וְהָיְתָה רוּחוֹ שֶׁל יַעֲקֹב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַתְּחִי רוּחַ יַעֲקֹב אֲבִיהֶם״. וְכִי מֵת הָיְתָה רוּחוֹ שֶׁל יַעֲקֹב אֲבִיהֶם?

Rabbi Jannai said: The sale of Joseph was not atoned by the tribes until they died, as it is said, "And the Lord of hosts revealed Himself in mine ears, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die" (Isa. 22:14). Owing to the sale (of Joseph) a famine came into the land of Israel for seven years, and the brethren of Joseph "went down to buy corn" (Gen. 42:3) in Egypt. And they found Joseph (still) living, and they absolved themselves of the ban; and Jacob heard about Joseph that he was living, and his soul and his spirit revived. Did their father Jacob's spirit die, so that it had to be revived? But, owing to the ban, the Holy Spirit had departed from him, and when they had removed the ban the Holy Spirit rested on him as at first; that || is what is written, "The spirit of Jacob their father revived" (Gen. 45:27).

רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר: הַחֵרֶם הוּא שְׁבוּעָה וְהַשְּׁבוּעָה הוּא הַחֵרֶם, שֶׁכָּל מִי שֶׁהוּא יוֹדֵעַ וּמֵפֵר הַחֵרֶם כְּאִלּוּ הוּא מֵפֵר אֶת הַשְּׁבוּעָה, וְכָל מִי שֶׁיּוֹדֵעַ הַדָּבָר וְאֵינוֹ מַגִּיד יִפֹּל עָלָיו הַחֵרֶם, וּמְכַלֶּה אֶת עֵצָיו וְאֶת אֲבָנָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְכִלַּתּוּ אֶת עֵצָיו וְאֶת אֲבָנָיו״.

Rabbi 'Aḳiba said: The ban is as much as the oath, and an oath is as much as the ban; and everyone who violates the ban is as though he had violated the oath, and everyone who violates the oath is as though he had violated the ban. Everyone who knows the matter and does not declare it, the ban falls upon him and destroys his timber and his stones, as it is said, "I will cause it to go forth, saith the Lord… and it shall enter into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name… and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof" (Zech. 5:4).

תֵּדַע לְךָ שֶׁהַחֵרֶם הוּא דָּבָר קָשֶׁה וְכָבֵד. בֹּא וּרְאֵה כֹּחַ הַחֵרֶם כַּמָּה הוּא גָּדוֹל, שֶׁיְּהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן נוּן הֶחֱרִים יְרִיחוֹ וְאֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר בָּהּ שָׂרַף בָּאֵשׁ, וְעָכָן בֶּן זֶרַח בֶּן כַּרְמִי רָאָה אֶת הַתְּרָפִים וְאֶת הַכֶּסֶף שֶׁהָיוּ מַקְרִיבִים לְפָנָיו וְאֶת הָאַדֶּרֶת שֶׁהָיְתָה פְּרוּשָׂה לְפָנָיו וּלְשׁוֹן הַזָּהָב אֶחָד בְּפִיו, וְחָמַד אוֹתָן בְּלִבּוֹ וְהָלַךְ וּלְקָחָם וּטְמָנָם בְּתוֹךְ אָהֳלוֹ. וְעַל מְעַט אֲשֶׁר מָעַל מֵתוּ שְׁלֹשִׁים וְשֵׁשׁ אֲנָשִׁים צַדִּיקִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיַּכּוּ מֵהֶם אַנְשֵׁי הָעַי״ וְכוּ'.

Know the power of the ban. Come and see from Joshua, the son of Nun, who put Jericho under the ban; it was to be burnt with all things therein by fire. Achan, son of Carmi, son of Zerach, saw the Teraphim, and the silver which they brought (as offerings) before it, and the mantle which was spread before it, and one tongue of gold in its mouth. And in his heart he coveted them, and went and buried them in the midst of his tent. On account of his trespass which he had committed, thirty-six righteous men died on his account, as it is said, "And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men" (Josh. 7:5).

וְהָלַךְ יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְקָרַע בְּגָדָיו וְנָפַל עַל פָּנָיו אַרְצָה לִפְנֵי אֲרוֹן ה', וּבִקֵּשׁ תְּשׁוּבָה וְנִרְצָה לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְאָמַר לוֹ: ״יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, דַּע כִּי מָעַל יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּחֵרֶם״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״חָטָא יִשְׂרָאֵל וְגַם עָבְרוּ אֶת בְּרִיתִי״. רָאָה יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר אֲבָנִים שֶׁל כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל שֶׁהֵם כְּנֶגֶד שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר שְׁבָטִים, וְכָל שֵׁבֶט וָשֵׁבֶט שֶׁהָיָה עוֹשֶׂה דְּבַר עֲבֵרָה לֹא הָיְתָה מַגִּיהַּ אוֹרָהּ. וְיָדַע שֶׁשֵּׁבֶט יְהוּדָה מָעַל בַּחֵרֶם, וְהִפִּיל גּוֹרָלוֹת וְנִלְכַּד עָכָן בֶּן כַּרְמִי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּלָּכֵד עָכָן בֶּן כַּרְמִי״. וְלָקַח יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אֶת עָכָן בֶּן כַּרְמִי וְאֶת הַכֶּסֶף וְאֶת הָאַדֶּרֶת וְאֶת לְשׁוֹן הַזָּהָב וְאֶת בָּנָיו וְאֶת בְּנוֹתָיו וְאֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ, וְהֶעֱלָם לְעֵמֶק עָכוֹר וּסְקָלָם וּשְׂרָפָם שָׁם. וַהֲלֹא כָּתוּב: ״לֹא יוּמְתוּ אָבוֹת עַל בָּנִים וּבָנִים לֹא יוּמְתוּ עַל אָבוֹת״! אִם כֵּן, הַבָּנִים וְהַבָּנוֹת שֶׁל עָכָן מַה חָטְאוּ שֶׁהֶעֱלָם לְעֵמֶק עָכוֹר וּסְקָלָם וּשְׂרָפָם שָׁם? הָיָה לוֹ לִסְקֹל וְלִשְׂרֹף עָכָן לְבַדּוֹ שֶׁמָּעַל בַּחֵרֶם. אֶלָּא עַל שֶׁיָּדְעוּ בַּדָּבָר וְלֹא הִגִּידוּ, סְקָלָם וּשְׂרָפָם גַּם הֵם. וְלָמָּה שְׂרָפָם? עַל שֶׁמֵּתוּ עָלָיו שִׁשָּׁה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים צַדִּיקִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיַּכּוּ מֵהֶם אַנְשֵׁי הָעַי כִּשְׁלֹשִׁים וְשִׁשָּׁה אִישׁ״.

Joshua went and rent his garments, and fell upon his face to the ground before the Ark of the Covenant of God, and he sought (to effect) repentance, and the Holy One, blessed be He, was appeased by him, and He said to him: Joshua ! Israel has trespassed the sin of trespass in the matter of the devoted things, as it is said, "Israel hath sinned" (Josh. 7:11). Joshua gazed at the twelve || stones which were upon the High Priest, which correspond to the twelve tribes. Every tribe that had done some transgression, the light (of its stone) became dim, and he saw the stone of the tribe of Judah, the light of which became dim. And he knew that the tribe of Judah had transgressed in the matter of the devoted thing. He cast lots, and Achan was taken, as it is said, "And he brought near his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, was taken" (Josh. 7:18). Joshua took Achan, the son of Zerach, with the silver and the mantle and the tongue of gold, and his sons and his daughters, and all that he had, and he brought them up into the valley of Achor. And it is written, "The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers" (Deut. 24:16). But because they were cognizant of the matter, and did not report it, he stoned them and burnt them. If there was a burning, why (was there) a stoning, and if a stoning, why a burning? But the stoning was because they knew of the matter and did not report it; burning (was inflicted) because thirty-six righteous men died through him, as it is said, "And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men" (Josh. 7:5).

וְעַל שֶׁנָּתַן הוֹדָאָה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, יֵשׁ לוֹ חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״יַעְכָּרְךָ ה' בַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה״. בַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה אַתָּה עָכוּר וְאֵין אַתָּה עָכוּר לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא.

Because (Achan) confessed before the Name of the Holy One, blessed be He, he has a portion in the world to come, as it is said, "And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? The Lord shall trouble thee this day" (Josh. 7:25). "This day" thou art troubled, but thou shalt not be troubled in the future world.

וְתֵדַע לְךָ כֹּחַ הַחֵרֶם. בֹּא וּרְאֵה מִן הַשְּׁבָטִים שֶׁקִּנְּאוּ עַל הַזְּנוּת עַל שֵׁבֶט בִּנְיָמִין. אָמַר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: קִנֵּאתֶם עַל הַזְּנוּת עַל שֵׁבֶט בִּנְיָמִין וְלֹא קִנֵּאתֶם עַל פֶּסֶל מִיכָה, לְפִיכָךְ הָרְגוּ בָּהֶם עַל בִּנְיָמִין פַּעַם רִאשׁוֹנָה וּשְׁנִיָּה וּשְׁלִישִׁית עַד שֶׁהָלְכוּ וְנָפְלוּ עַל פְּנֵיהֶם אַרְצָה לִפְנֵי אֲרוֹן ה' וְעָשׂוּ תְּשׁוּבָה גְּדוֹלָה וְנִרְצָה לָהֶם. וְחָרְמוּ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹלִים (נ״א: שָׁלוֹם) אַחֲרֵיהֶם, וְעָשׂוּ תְּשׁוּבָה מִקָּטֹן וְעַד גָּדוֹל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי הַשְּׁבוּעָה הַגְּדוֹלָה״ וְכוּ', וְכִי נִשְׁבְּעוּ שְׁבוּעָה כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל? אֶלָּא שֶׁחֵרֶם זוֹ הִיא הַשְּׁבוּעָה.

Know thou the power of the ban. Come and see from the (story of) the tribes, who were zealous because of immorality against || the tribe of Benjamin. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: Ye are zealous because of the immorality, and ye are not zealous because of the image of Micah. Therefore the Benjamites slew some of them a first and a second and a third time, until they went before the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord seeking repentance, and they were forgiven. They decreed that all Israel should (make peace) with them, and they repented both old and young, as it is said, "For they made a great oath concerning him that came not up unto the Lord to Mizpah" (Judg. 21:5). Did all Israel take an oath? But the ban is the same as the oath.

אַנְשֵׁי יָבֵשׁ גִּלְעָד לֹא עָלוּ וְלֹא בָאוּ עִמָּהֶם בַּקָּהָל, וְנִתְחַיְּבוּ מִיתָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שופטים כא, ה): ״מִי אֲשֶׁר לֹא עָלָה בַקָּהָל מִכָּל שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְכוּ' לַאֲשֶׁר לֹא עָלָה אֶל ה' הַמִּצְפָּה לֵאמֹר מוֹת יוּמָת״.

The men of Jabesh-Gilead neither went up nor did they go with them in the assembly, and they incurred (the penalty of) death, as it is said, "Concerning him that came not up unto the Lord to Mizpah, saying, He shall surely be put to death" (ibid.).

תֵּדַע לְךָ כֹּחַ הַחֵרֶם. בֹּא וּרְאֵה מִשָּׁאוּל בֶּן קִישׁ שֶׁהֶחֱרִים שֶׁיָּצוּמוּ כָּל הָעָם מִקָּטֹן וְעַד גָּדוֹל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אָרוּר הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יֹאכַל לֶחֶם״ וְכוּ'. וִיהוֹנָתָן לֹא שָׁמַע וְאָכַל מְעַט דְּבַשׁ וַנָּהֲרוּ עֵינָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַתָּאֹרְנָה עֵינָיו״. רָאָה שָׁאוּל אֶת הַפְּלִשְׁתִּים חוֹזְרִים עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיָדַע שֶׁמָּעֲלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּחֵרֶם, וְרָאָה בִּשְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה אֲבָנִים שֶׁכָּל שֵׁבֶט וָשֵׁבֶט שֶׁהָיָה עוֹשֶׂה דְּבַר מִצְוָה הָיָה אַבְנוֹ מַגִּיהַּ אוֹרָה, וְכָל שֵׁבֶט וָשֵׁבֶט שֶׁהָיָה עוֹשֶׂה דְּבַר עֲבֵרָה לֹא הָיְתָה אַבְנוֹ מַגִּיהַּ אוֹרָה. וְיָדַע שֶׁשֵּׁבֶט בִּנְיָמִין מָעַל בַּחֵרֶם וְהִפִּיל גּוֹרָלוֹת וְנִלְכַּד שָׁאוּל וִיהוֹנָתָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּלָּכֵד שָׁאוּל וְיוֹנָתָן״. וְלָקַח שָׁאוּל אֶת חַרְבּוֹ לַהֲרֹג אֶת בְּנוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כֹּה יַעֲשֶׂה אֱלֹהִים לִי וְכֹה יוֹסִיף כִּי מוֹת תָּמוּת יְהוֹנָתָן״. אָמְרוּ לוֹ הָעָם: ״אֲדוֹנֵנוּ הַמֶּלֶךְ, שְׁגָגָה הִיא!״ וְהִקְרִיבוּ עָלָיו קָרְבַּן עוֹלָה עַל שִׁגְגָתוֹ וַיֵּעָתֶר לוֹ, וּפְדָאוּהוּ הָעָם מִמָּוֶת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּפְדּוּ הָעָם אֶת יְהוֹנָתָן וְלֹא מֵת״.

Know thou the power of the ban. Come and see from (the story of) Saul, the son of Kish, who decreed that all people, both young and old, should fast, as it is said, "Cursed be the man that eateth any food until it be evening" (1 Sam. 14:24). Jonathan did not hear (of this), and ate a little honey, and his eyes were enlightened, as it is said, "And his eyes were enlightened" (1 Sam. 14:27). Saul saw the Philistines returning against Israel, and he knew that Israel had trespassed in the matter of the ban. He looked at the twelve stones; for each tribe which performed one of the precepts had its stone || (on the High Priest's breast-plate) shining with its light, and each tribe which transgressed, the light of its stone was dim. He knew that the tribe of Benjamin had trespassed in the matter of the ban. He cast lots concerning Benjamin, and Saul and Jonathan were taken, as it is said, "And Jonathan and Saul were taken" (1 Sam. 14:41). Saul took his sword to slay his son, as it is said, "God do so, and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan" (1 Sam. 14:44). The people said to him: Our lord king ! It is an error. They brought on his behalf a sacrifice of a burnt offering for his error, and He was entreated of him, and they saved him from an evil death, as it is said, "So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not" (1 Sam. 14:45).

הַכּוּתִים אֵינָן נֶחְשָׁבִים לְגוֹי מִשִּׁבְעִים לְשׁוֹנוֹת, אֶלָּא מִיֶּתֶר חֲמִשָּׁה גּוֹיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיָּבֵא מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר״ וְכוּ'.

The Cutheans are not considered as a nation of the seventy languages, but they were the remnant of the five nations precious to the king, as it is said, "And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Avva, and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel" (2 Kings 17:24).

רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: הוֹסִיף עֲלֵיהֶם עוֹד אַרְבָּעָה גּוֹיִם, וְכֻלָּם גַּם הֵם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (עזרא ד ט): ״דִּינָיֵא וַאֲפַרְסַתְכָיֵא״ וְכוּ'.

Rabbi José said: He added four more nations to them, and they were in all nine nations, as it is said, "The Dinaites, and the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites, and the rest of the nations… set in the city of Samaria" (Ezra 4:9, 10).

וּכְשֶׁגָּלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמְּקוֹמָם מִשּׁוֹמְרוֹן לְבָבֶל, שָׁלַח הַמֶּלֶךְ עֲבָדָיו וְהוֹשִׁיבוּ אוֹתָם בְּשׁוֹמְרוֹן לְהַעֲלוֹת מַס לַמַּלְכוּת. מֶה עָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא? שָׁלַח בָּהֶם אֶת הָאֲרָיוֹת וְהָיוּ הוֹרְגִים בָּהֶם. שָׁלְחוּ וְאָמְרוּ לְמֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל: ״אֲדוֹנֵנוּ הַמֶּלֶךְ, הָאָרֶץ שֶׁשָּׁלַחְנוּ עָלֶיהָ אֵינָהּ מְקַבֶּלֶת אוֹתָנוּ כִּי נִשְׁאַרְנוּ מְעַט מֵהַרְבֵּה״. שָׁלַח הַמֶּלֶךְ וְקָרָא לְכָל זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַר לָהֶם: ״כָּל הַשָּׁנִים הַלָּלוּ שֶׁהֱיִיתֶם בְּאַרְצְכֶם לֹא שִׁכְּלָה אֶתְכֶם חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה, וְעַכְשָׁו אֵינָהּ מְקַבֶּלֶת אֶתְכֶם?״ אָמְרוּ לוֹ דָּבָר שֶׁל עֵצָה, אוּלַי יָשִׁיב אוֹתָם לְאַרְצָם. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: ״אֲדוֹנֵנוּ הַמֶּלֶךְ, הָאָרֶץ הַהִיא אֵינָהּ מְקַבֶּלֶת גּוֹי שֶׁאֵינוֹ נִמּוֹל״. אָמַר לָהֶם: ״תְּנוּ שְׁנַיִם מִכֶּם וְיֵלְכוּ וִילַמְּדוּ תּוֹרָה, וּדְבַר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֵין לְהָשִׁיב״. וְשָׁלְחוּ וְקָרְאוּ אֶת רַבִּי דּוֹסְתַּאי וְאֶת רַבִּי יַנַּאי, וּמָלוּ אוֹתָם וְהָיוּ מְלַמְּדִים אוֹתָם תּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָב נוֹטָרִיקוֹן, וּבוֹכִים. וְהַגּוֹיִם הָאֵלֶּה הָיוּ הוֹלְכִים בְּחֻקּוֹת הַתּוֹרָה וּבְחֻקּוֹת אֱלֹהֵיהֶם – אֶת ה' הָיוּ יְרֵאִים וֵאלֹהֵיהֶן הָיוּ עוֹבְדִין.

And when the Israelites were exiled from Samaria to Babylon, the king sent his servants, and he caused them to dwell in Samaria, to raise tribute for (his) kingdom. What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He sent lions among them, || which killed some of them, as it is said, "And so it was, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the Lord: therefore the Lord sent lions among them, which killed some of them" (2 Kings 17:25). They sent to the king, saying: Our lord, the king ! The land whither thou hast sent us will not receive us, for we are left but a few out of many. The king sent and called for all the elders of Israel, and said to them: All those years during which ye were in your land, the beasts of the field did not bereave you, and now it will not receive my servants. They gave him a word of advice, (thinking) perhaps he would restore them to their land. They said to him: Our lord, O king! That land does not receive a nation who do not study the Torah; behold, that land does not receive a nation who are not circumcised. The king said to them: Give me two of you, who shall go and circumcise them and teach them the book of the Torah; and there is no refusal to the word of the king. They sent Rabbi Dosethai of the Court-House, and Rabbi Micaiah, and they circumcised them, and they taught them the book of the Torah in the Noṭariḳon script, and they wept. Those nations followed the statutes of the Torah, and they served (also) their own gods.

וּכְשֶׁעָלָה עֶזְרָא מִבָּבֶל וּזְרֻבָּבֶל בֶּן שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל וִיהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן יְהוֹצָדָק, וְהִתְחִילוּ בּוֹנִים בַּהֵיכָל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״בֵּאדַיִן זְרֻבָּבֶל בֶּן שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל״ וְכוּ'. וּבָאוּ עֲלֵיהֶם הַשּׁוֹמְרוֹנִים לַמִּלְחָמָה מֵאָה וּשְׁמוֹנִים אֶלֶף. וְכִי שׁוֹמְרוֹנִים הָיוּ? וַהֲלֹא כּוּתִיִּים הָיוּ! אֶלָּא עַל שֵׁם עִיר שׁוֹמְרוֹן נִקְרְאוּ שׁוֹמְרוֹנִים. וְעוֹד שֶׁבִּקְּשׁוּ לַהֲרֹג נְחֶמְיָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לְכָה וְנִוָּעֲדָה יַחְדָּו״. וְעוֹד שֶׁבִּקְּשׁוּ לְבַטֵּל מְלֶאכֶת שָׁמַיִם שְׁתֵּי שָׁנִים, וְהָיְתָה בְּטֵלָה עַד שְׁנַת הַיּוֹבֵל.

When Ezra came up (with) Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, || son of Jehozadak, they began to build the Temple of the Lord, as it is said, "Then rose up Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God" (Ezra 5:2). And the Samaritans came against them to fight (with) 180,000 (men). Were they Samaritans? Were they not Cutheans? But they were called Samaritans because of the city of Samaria. And further, they sought to kill Nehemiah, as it is said, "Come, let us meet together in one of the villages,… but they thought to do me mischief" (Neh. 6:2). Moreover, they made the work of the Lord to cease for two years ["Then ceased the work of the house of God, which is at Jerusalem]; and it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius, king of Persia" (Ezra 4:24).

מָה עָשָׂה עֶזְרָא וּזְרֻבָּבֶל בֶּן שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל וִיהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן יְהוֹצָדָק? קִבְּצוּ כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל הֵיכַל ה', וְהֵבִיאוּ שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת כֹּהֲנִים וּשְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת שׁוֹפָרוֹת וּשְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת סִפְרֵי תוֹרוֹת, וְהָיוּ תּוֹקְעִים בָּהֶם, וְהַלְוִיִּם מְשׁוֹרְרִין וּמְזַמְּרִין וּמְנַדִּין אֶת הַכּוּתִים בְּסוֹד שֵׁם הַמְפֹרָשׁ, בִּכְתָב הַנִּכְתָּב עַל הַלּוּחוֹת וּבְחֵרֶם בֵּית דִּין הָעֶלְיוֹן וּבְחֵרֶם בֵּית דִּין הַתַּחְתּוֹן, שֶׁלֹּא יֹאכַל אָדָם פַּת כּוּתִים עַד עוֹלָם. מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ כָּל הָאוֹכֵל בָּשָׂר מִשְּׁחִיטַת כּוּתִי כְּאִלּוּ אוֹכֵל בְּשַׂר חֲזִיר, וְאַל יִתְגַּיֵּר אָדָם כּוּתִי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאֵין לָהֶם חֵלֶק בִּתְחִיַּת הַמֵּתִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (עזרא ד, ג) ״לֹא לָכֶם וָלָנוּ״, לֹא בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וְלֹא בָּעוֹלָם הַבָּא, וְעוֹד שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה לָהֶם חֵלֶק וְנַחֲלָה בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (נחמיה ב, כ) ״וְלָכֶם אֵין חֵלֶק וּצְדָקָה וְזִכָּרוֹן בִּירוּשָׁלָ‍ִם״.

What did Ezra, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jehozadak, do? They gathered all the congregation to the Temple of the Lord, and they brought 800 priests, 800 children, and 800 scrolls of the Torah in their hands, and they blew (the trumpets), and the Levites sang songs and praises, and they excommunicated the Cutheans with the mystery of the Ineffable Name, and with the script such as was written upon the tables (of the Law), and by the ban of the heavenly Court of Justice, and by the ban of the earthly Court of Justice (decreeing) that no one of Israel should eat the bread of the Cutheans. Hence (the sages) said: Everyone who eats the bread of the Cutheans is as though he had eaten of the flesh of swine. Let no man make a proselyte in Israel from among the Cutheans. They have no || portion in the resurrection of the dead, as it is said, "Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God" (Ezra 4:3), neither in this world, nor in the world to come. So that they should have neither portion nor inheritance in Israel, as it is said, "But ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem" (Neh. 2:20).

וְשָׁלְחוּ הַחֵרֶם אֵצֶל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְעוֹד הוֹסִיפוּ עֲלֵיהֶם חֵרֶם עַל חֵרֶם, וְהַמֶּלֶךְ כּוֹרֶשׁ קָבַע עֲלֵיהֶם חֵרֶם עוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (עזרא ו, יב) ״וֵאלָהָא דִּי שַׁכִּן שְׁמֵהּ תַּמָּה״ וְכוּ'.

They sent the ban (letter) to the Israelites who were in Babylon. Moreover, they added an additional ban upon them, and King Cyrus ordained it as a perpetual ban upon them, (as it is said,) "And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples that shall put forth their hand to alter the same, to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I, Darius, have made a decree; let it be done with all diligence" (Ezra 6:12).