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תענית 8
Soncino English Talmud · Berean Standard Bible
to whom his studies are as hard as iron, it is because he has failed to systematize his studies, as it is said, And one do not whet the edge. What is his remedy? Let him attend the school even more regularly, as it is said, Then must he put to more strength; but wisdom is profitable to direct. [The latter words indicate] how much more profitable would his efforts be if he had originally systematized his studies. Thus for example, Resh Lakish made it his practice to repeat in systematic order his studies forty times corresponding to the forty days during which the Torah was given, and only then would he come before R. Johanan. R. Adda b. Abbahu made it his practice to repeat in systematic order his studies twenty-four times corresponding to the [twenty-four books which embody] the Torah, the Prophets and the Hagiographa, and only then would he come before Raba. Raba said: If you see a student who finds his studies as hard as iron, it is because his teacher does not encourage him, as it is said, ‘and one do not whet the edge’. What is his remedy? Let him seek many companions [to intercede for him with his teacher], as it is said. ‘Then must he put to more strength; but wisdom is profitable to direct.’ [The latter words indicate,] how much more successful he would have been had his efforts originally found favour with his teacher. R. Ammi further said: What is the meaning of the verse, If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then the charmer hath no advantage? If you see a generation over whom the heavens are rust coloured like copper so that neither dew nor rain falls, it is because that generation is wanting in men who pray softly. What then is their remedy? Let them go to one skilled in the art of praying softly, as it is written, The noise thereof telleth concerning it. ‘Then the charmer hath no advantage’ [means]: ‘As to him who is skilled in the art of praying softly and does not do so what benefit has he? But if he has prayed softly and was not answered, what is his remedy? Let him go to the most pious man of that generation that he may intercede abundantly for him, as it is said, And giveth it a charge that it strike the mark [be-mafgia'h]. and striking the mark [pegi'ah] is prayer, as it is said, Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession [tifga’] to Me. But if he did pray softly and proved successful and on account of this he becomes overproud he thereby brings divine displeasure upon the world, as it is said, The cattle also concerning the storm that cometh up. Raba said: Two scholars who reside in the same city but are intolerant of each other in matters of halachah provoke anger and bring it upon themselves, as it is said, The cattle also concerning the storm that cometh up. Resh Lakish said: What is the meaning of the verse, If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then the charmer hath no advantage? In the Messianic age all animals will assemble and come to the serpent and say to him, ‘The lion claws [his victim] and devours him, the wolf tears him and devours him, but as for thee what benefit dost thou derive? His reply will be, The charmer hath no advantage. R. Ammi said: A man's prayer is only answered if he takes his heart into his hand, as it is said, Let us lift up our heart with our hands. [But it is not so. Surely] Samuel appointed an amora to act for him and his exposition ran thus: But they beguiled Him with their mouth, and lied unto Him with their tongue. For their heart was not steadfast with Him, neither were they faithful in His covenant; and yet, But He being full of compassion, forgiveth iniquity etc.? — This is no contradiction. The one refers to the individual, and the other to the community. R. Ammi said: Rain falls only for the sake of Men of Faith, as it is said, Truth springeth out of the earth and righteousness hath looked down from heaven. R. Ammi further said: Come and see how great the Men of Faith are as is evidenced from the episode of the Weasel and the Well. If this is the case with one who trusts in the Weasel and the Well how much more so if one trusts in the Holy One blessed be He! R. Johanan said: He who leads a righteous life [on earth below] is judged strictly [in heaven] above, as it is said, Truth springeth out of the earth and righteousness hath looked down from heaven. R. Hiyya b. Abin in the name of R. Huna [adduced this lesson] from this verse, And Thy wrath according to the fear that is due unto Thee. Resh Lakish said: [It may be adduced] from this verse, Thou didst take away him that joyfully worked righteousness, those that remembered Thee in Thy ways — behold Thou wast wroth, and we sinned-upon them have we stayed of old, that we might be saved. R. Joshua b. Levi said: He who joyfully bears the chastisements that befall him brings salvation to the world as it is said, ‘Upon them have we stayed of old, that we might be saved’. Resh Lakish said: What is the meaning of the verse, And He will shut up the heaven? — When the heavens are shut up so that neither dew nor rain falls it is like to a woman who is in labour but who cannot give birth. This is in keeping with what Resh Lakish said in the name of Bar Kappara: ‘Withholding’ is applied to rain, and ‘withholding’ is applied to a woman;
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‘withholding’ is applied to a woman, as it is said, For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs; and ‘withholding’ is applied to rain, as it is written, ‘And He will shut up the heaven.’ ‘Bearing’ is applied to a woman, and ‘bearing’ is applied to rain; ‘bearing’ is applied to a woman, as it is written, And she conceived and bore a son; and ‘bearing’ is applied to rain, as it is written, And make it bear and bud. ‘Remembering’ is applied to a woman and ‘remembering’ is applied to rain; ‘remembering’ is applied to a woman, as it is written, And the Lord remembered Sarah; and ‘remembering’ is applied to rain, as it is written, Thou hast remembered the earth, and watered her, greatly enriching her, with the river of God that is full of water. What is the meaning of, ‘With the river of God that is full of water’? — A Tanna taught: There is in heaven a kind of chamber from which the rain issues. R. Samuel b. Nahmani said: What is the meaning of the verse, Whether it be for correction, or for His earth, or for mercy, that He cause it to come? If the rain is ‘for correction,’ [then it falls] upon the mountains and upon the hills; if it is ‘for mercy’, He causes it to come upon His earth, upon the fields and upon the vineyards; if it is ‘for correction’, upon the trees; if it is upon His earth, upon the seeds [in the ground]; if it is ‘for mercy’, He causes it to come for cisterns, pits and caves. In the days of R. Samuel b. Nahmani there was a famine and pestilence. People asked, What shall we do? Shall we pray for [the removal] of the two? That is not possible. Let us then pray for [the removal of] the pestilence and we will endure the famine. Thereupon R. Samuel b. Nahmani said to them: Let us rather pray [for the removal of] the famine, because when the All-Merciful gives plenty, He gives it for the living, as it is said, Thou openest Thy hand, and satisfiest every living thing with favour. How do we know that it is not fitting to pray for two things [at the same time]? — Because it is written, So we fasted and besought our God for this. ‘This’ would indicate that there were other things to pray for. In the West [Palestine] it was reported in the name of R. Haggai that it could be adduced from this verse, That they might ask mercy of the God of heaven concerning this secret. ‘This would indicate that there were other things too [to pray for]. In the days of R. Zera there was a religious persecution and fasting was also prohibited. R. Zera said to his colleagues: Let us now resolve to fast and when the decree is rescinded we will observe these fasts. His colleagues asked him: What is your authority for this? He replied: Because it is written, Then said he unto me, ‘Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day when thou didst set thy heart to understand, and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard’. R. Isaac said: If rain falls on the eve of Sabbath then though the years be [years of drought] as in the days of Elijah it is yet none-the-less but a sign of [divine] anger. This is in agreement with the statement of Rabbah b. Shila who said: The day when rain falls is as hard [to bear] as a day of Judgment. Amemar said: Were it not that mankind must have rain we would pray and have it cease. R. Isaac further said: Sunshine on the Sabbath is an act of kindness towards the poor, as it is said, But unto you that fear My name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings. R. Isaac further said: The day when rain falls is great for thereon even the peruta in one's purse is blessed, as it is said, To give the rain of Thy land in its season, and to bless all the work of thy hands. R. Isaac further said: Blessing is only possible in things hidden from sight, as it is said, The Lord will command the blessing with thee in thy barns. In the school of R. Ishmael it was taught: Blessing is only possible in things not under the direct control of the eye, as it is said, ‘The Lord will command the blessing with thee in thy barns.’ Our Rabbis have taught: On entering the barn to measure the new grain one shall recite the benediction, ‘May it be Thy will O Lord, our God, that Thou mayest send blessing upon the work of our hands’. Once he has begun to measure he says, ‘Blessed be He who sends blessing into this heap’. If, however, he first measured the grain and then recited the benediction then his prayer is in vain, because blessing is not to be found in anything that has been already weighed or measured or numbered, but only in a thing hidden from sight. (Mnemonic: Gathering of Armies, Charity, Tithes, Sustenance.) R. Johanan said: The day on which rain falls is as great as the day of the Gathering of exiled [Israel,] as it is said, Turn our captivity: O Lord, as the streams in the dry land. By ‘streams’ rain is meant, as it is said, And the channels of the sea appeared. R. Johanan further said: The day when rain falls is great, for thereon even warring armies cease [fighting], as it is said, Watering her ridges abundantly, settling down the furrows thereof. R. Johanan further said: Rain is withheld only on account of those who subscribe to charity in public and fail to pay, as it is said, As vapours and wind without rain, so is he that boasteth himself of a false gift R. Johanan further said: What is the meaning of the verse
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