Bava Metzia

And he pressed upon them greatly?  — R. Eleazar said: This teaches that one may shew unwillingness to an inferior person,  but not to a great man. It is written, And I will fetch a morsel of bread;  but it is also written, And Abraham ran unto the herd:  Said R. Eleazar: This teaches that righteous men promise little and perform much; whereas the wicked promise much and do not perform even little. Whence do we know [the latter half]? — From Ephron. At first it is written, The land is worth four hundred shekels of silver;  but subsequently, And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant;  indicating that he refused to accept anything but centenaria,  for there is a place where shekels are called centenaria. Scripture writes, [ordinary] meal, and [it is then written], fine meal!  — Said R. Isaac: This shews that a woman looks with a more grudging eye upon guests than a man. It is written, Knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth;  but it is also written, And he took butter and milk, and the calf;  yet he brought no bread before them! — Ephraim Maksha'ah,  a disciple of R. Meir, said in his teacher's name: Our Patriarch Abraham ate hullin  only when undefiled,  and that day our mother Sarah had her menstrual period. And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, She is in the tent:  this is to inform us that she was modest.  Rab Judah said in Rab's name: The Ministering Angels knew that our mother Sarah was in the tent, but why [bring out the fact that she was] in her tent? In order to make her beloved to her husband.  R. Jose son of R. Hanina said: In order to send her the wine-cup of Benediction. It has been taught on the authority of R. Jose: Why are the letters ejw in elajw dotted?  The Torah thereby taught etiquette, that a man must enquire of his hostess [about his host].  But did not Samuel say: One must not inquire at all after a woman's well-being?  — [When enquiry is made] through her husband, it is different [and permitted]. After I have waxed old, I have had youth.  R. Hisda said: After the flesh is worn and the wrinkles have multiplied, the flesh was rejuvenated, the wrinkles were smoothed out, and beauty returned to its place. It is written, And my lord is old;  but it is also written, [And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child,] seeing that I am old?  the Holy One, blessed be He, not putting the question in her words! — The School of Ishmael taught: Peace is a precious thing, for even the Holy One, blessed be He, made a variation for its sake, as it is written, Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old, shall I have pleasure, my Lord being old also; whereas it is further written, And the Lord said unto Abraham etc…seeing that I am old. And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck?  How many children then did Sarah suckle?  — R. Levi said: On the day that Abraham weaned his son Isaac, he made a great banquet, and all the peoples of the world derided him, saying, 'Have you seen that old man and woman, who brought a foundling from the street, and now claim him as their son! And what is more, they make a great banquet to establish their claim!' What did our father Abraham do? — He went and invited all the great men of the age, and our mother Sarah invited their wives. Each one brought her child with her, but not the wetnurse, and a miracle happened unto our mother Sarah, her breasts opened like two fountains, and she suckled them all. Yet they still scoffed, saying, 'Granted that Sarah could give birth at the age of ninety, could Abraham beget [child] at the age of a hundred?' Immediately the lineaments of Isaac's visage changed and became like Abraham's, whereupon they all cried out, Abraham begat Isaac. Until Abraham there was no old age;  whoever wished to speak to Abraham would speak to Isaac, and the reverse.  Thereupon he prayed, and old age came into existence, as it is written, And Abraham was old and well-stricken in age.  Until Jacob there was no illness:  then Jacob came and prayed, and illness came into being, as it is written, And one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick.  Until Elisha no sick man ever recovered, but Elijah came and prayed, and he recovered, for it is written, Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died,'  thus proving that he had been sick on previous occasions too,  [but had recovered]. Our Rabbis taught: On three occasions did Elisha fall sick: once when he repulsed Gehazi with both hands;  a second time when he incited bears against children;  and a third with the sickness whereof he died, as it is written, Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. BUT, BEFORE THEY BEGIN WORK, GO OUT AND TELL THEM, '[I ENGAGE YOU] ON CONDITION THAT YOU HAVE NO OTHER CLAIM UPON ME BUT BREAD AND PULSE' etc. R. Aha, the son of R. Joseph, said to R. Hisda: Did we learn, 'Bread [made] of pulse,' or 'bread and pulse'? — He replied: In very truth, a waw ['and'] is necessary  as large as a rudder on the Libruth. R. SIMEON B. GAMALIEL SAID: IT WAS UNNECESSARY [TO STIPULATE THUS]: EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON LOCAL CUSTOM. What does EVERYTHING add?  — It adds that which has been taught: If one engages a labourer, and stipulates, '[I will pay you] as one or two townspeople [are paid],' he must remunerate him with the lowest wage [paid]: this is R. Joshua's view. But the Sages say: An average must be struck. MISHNAH. NOW, THE FOLLOWING [LABOURERS] MAY EAT [OF THAT UPON WHICH THEY ARE EMPLOYED] ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURAL LAW: HE WHO IS ENGAGED UPON THAT WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE SOIL WHEN ITS LABOUR IS FINISHED,  AND UPON THAT WHICH IS DETACHED FROM THE SOIL BEFORE ITS LABOUR IS COMPLETED,  PROVIDING THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT GROWS FROM THE EARTH. BUT THE FOLLOWING MAY NOT EAT: HE WHO IS ENGAGED UPON THAT WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE SOIL