Bava Batra

from one province [on the border of Palestine and Syria] to [an adjacent] province [in Syria]. Our Rabbis taught:  In Palestine it is not permitted to make a profit [as middleman]  in things which are life's necessaries, such as, for instance, wines, oils and the various kinds of flour. It has been said about R. Eleazar b. Azariah that he used to make a profit in wine and oil. In [the case of] wine he held the same opinion as R. Judah;  in [the case of] oil? — In the place of R. Eleazar b. Azariah oil was plentiful. Our Rabbis taught: It is not permitted to make a profit in eggs twice. [As to the meaning of 'twice',] Mari b. Mari said: Rab and Samuel are in dispute. One says: Two for one.  And the other says: [Selling] by a dealer to a dealer. Our Rabbis taught: Public prayers  are offered for goods [which have become dangerously  cheap], even on the Sabbath. R. Johanan said: For instance linen garments in Babylon and wine and oil in Palestine. R. Joseph said: This [is only so] when [these have become so] cheap that ten are sold at [the price of] six. Our Rabbis taught:  It is not permitted to go forth from Palestine  to a foreign country unless two se'ahs  are sold for one sela'. R. Simeon said: [This is permitted only] when one cannot find [anything] to buy, but when one is able [to find something] to buy. even if a se'ah  cost a sela' one must not depart. And so said R. Simeon b. Yohai: Elimelech, Mahlon and Chilion were [of the] great men of their generation, and they were [also] leaders of their generation. Why, then, were they punished? Because they left Palestine for a foreign country; for it is written, And all the city was astir concerning them, and the women said: 'Is this Naomi?' What [is meant by] 'Is this Naomi?' — R. Isaac said: They said, 'Did you see what befell Naomi who left Palestine for a foreign country?' R. Isaac further stated: On the very day, when Ruth the Moabitess came to Palestine, died the wife of Boaz. This is why people say, 'Before a person dies, the master of his house is appointed'. Rabbah, son of R. Huna, said in the name of Rab: Ibzan  is Boaz. What does he come to teach us [by this statement]? — The same  that Rabbah son of R. Huna [taught elsewhere]. For Rabbah, son of R. Huna, said in the name of Rab: Boaz made for his sons a hundred and twenty wedding feasts, for it is said, And he [Ibzan]  had thirty sons, and thirty daughters he sent abroad, and thirty daughters he brought in from abroad for his sons; and he judged Israel seven years;  and in the case of everyone [of these] he made two wedding feasts, one in the house of the father and one in the house of the father-inlaw. To none of them did he invite Manoah,  [for] he said, 'Whereby will the barren mule repay me?'  All these died in his lifetime. It is [in relation to such a case as] this that people say: 'Of what use to you are sixty; the sixty that you beget for your lifetime?  [Marry] again  and beget [one] brighter  than sixty.' (Mnemonic sign: King Abraham, the ten years when he passed away he was exalted alone.) R. Hanan b. Raba said in the name of Rab: Elimelech and Salmon  and such a one  and the father of Naomi all were the sons of Nahshon, the son of Amminadab.  What does he come to teach us [by this statement]? — That even the merit of one's ancestors is of no avail  when one leaves the land [of Palestine] for a foreign country. R. Hanan b. Raba further stated in the name of Rab: [The name of] the mother of Abraham [was] Amathlai the daughter of Karnebo;  [the name of] the mother of Haman was Amathlai, the daughter of 'Orabti;  and your mnemonic [may be], 'unclean [to] unclean, clean [to] clean'.  The mother of David was named Nizbeth the daughter of Adael. The mother of Samson [was named] Zlelponith, and his sister, Nashyan. In what [respect] do [these names] matter?  — In respect of a reply to the heretics. R. Hanan b. Raba further stated in the name of Rab: Abraham our father was imprisoned for ten years. 'Three in Kutha,  and seven in Kardu. But R. Dimi of Nehardea taught [in the reverse [order]. R. Hisda said: The small side of Kutha  is Ur of the Chaldees. R. Hanan b. Raba further said in the name of Rab: On the day when Abraham our father passed away from the world all the great ones of the nations of the world, stood in a line  and said: Woe to the world that has lost