5. “If one have a large family and small income?” “He must bring more
peace-offerings, and less burnt-offerings.” “If a small family and large
income?” “He must bring more burnt-offerings, and less peace-offerings.”
“If both be small?” “Of this they say, a silver meah, and two pieces of
silver are sufficient.” “If both be large?” “Of this it is said, every man
shall give as he is able according to the blessing of the Lord thy God
which He hath given thee.”(356)
6. When one did not bring his peace-offering on the first holiday of the
feast, he may bring it during the holidays, and even on the last day of
the feast. “If the feast passed over, and he did not bring the
peace-offering?” “He is not obliged to bring it.” For this it is said,
“that which is crooked cannot be made straight, and that which is wanting
cannot be numbered.”(357)
7. Rabbi Simon, the son of Menasia, said, “if thou shalt say, a thief or a
robber, he may return and become straight.” R. Simon, the son of Jochai,
said, “we do not call one crooked, save one straight at first, and he
became afterward crooked; and this is the disciple of the wise, who
departs from the Law.”
8. The remission of vows is like flying in the air, and it has no
foundation. The decisions for the Sabbath, peace-offerings, and
trespasses, are as mountains hanging on a hair; because the verse is
small, but the decisions are many. Jurisprudence, and the Temple service,
cleanness and uncleanness, and illegal connections, have their own
foundations; they, they are the body of the law.
Chapter II
1. Men may not discourse on illegal connections with three,(358) nor on
the work of creation with two,(359) nor on the cherubs with one,(360) save
when one is wise, and comprehends it of his own knowledge. Everyone who
considers four things, it were suitable for him that he did not come into
the world. What is in the height? what is in the depth? what is before?
and what is behind? And everyone who is not anxious for the honor of his
Creator, it were suitable for him that he did not come into the world.
2. José, the son of Joezar, said that “one is not to lay his hand on the
offering.” José, the son of Jochanan, said, “he is to lay his hand on the
offering.” Joshua, the son of Perachia, said, that he “is not to lay on
his hand.” Nittai, the Arbelite, said, “he is to lay on his hand.” Judah,
the son of Tabai, said, that “he is not to lay on his hand.” Simon, the
son of Shatach, said, “he is to lay on his hand.” Shemaiah, said, “he is
to lay on his hand.” Abtalion said, “he is not to lay on his hand.” Hillel
and Menachem did not dispute. Menachem went out and Shammai entered.
Shammai said, “he is not to lay on his hand.” Hillel said, “he is to lay
on his hand.”(361) The first were Princes, and the second were Presidents
of the Tribunal.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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