Nedarim

They sent word from there (sc. Palestine]:  Be on guard against scabs; take good care (to study] in company  and be heedful (not to neglect] the children of the poor,  for from them Torah goeth forth, as it is written, The water shall flow out of his buckets (mi-dalyaw]:  [meaning], from the dallim [poor] amongst them goeth forth Torah.  And why is it not usual for scholars to give birth to sons who are scholars? — Said R. Joseph, That it might not be maintained, The Torah is their legacy.  R. Shisha, the son of R. Idi, said: That they should not be arrogant towards the community. Mar Zutra said: Because they act high-handedly against the community.  R. Ashi said: Because they call people asses.  Rabina said: Because they do not first utter a blessing over the Torah.  For Rab Judah said in Rab's name: What is meant by, Who is the wise man, that he may understand this [… for what is the land destroyed etc.]?  Now, this question was put to the Sages, Prophets, and Ministering Angels,  but they could not answer it, until the Almighty Himself did so, as it is written, And the Lord said, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein:  but is not 'have not obeyed my voice' identical with, 'neither walked therein'? — Rab Judah said in Rab's name: [It means] that they did not first recite a benediction over the Torah. Isi b. Judah did not come for three days to the college of R. Jose. Wardimus, the son of R. Jose, met him and asked, 'Why have you Sir, not been for these last three days at my father's school?' He replied, 'Seeing that I do not know your father's grounds [for his rulings], why should I attend?' 'Please repeat, Sir, what he told you,' he urged; 'perhaps I may know the reason.' Said he, 'As to what was taught, R. Jose said: Their laundering takes precedence over the lives of strangers, whence do we know a verse [to support this]? Said he, Because it is written, And the suburbs of them shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts [hayyatham].  Now, what is meant by hayyatham: Shall we say, 'beasts' — but beasts are included in cattle? But if hayyatham means literally 'their lives', is it not obvious?  Hence it must surely refer to laundering,  since [neglect of one's clothes] causes the pains of scabs. R. JOSE SAID: THESE ARE NOT VOWS OF SELF-DENIAL. The scholars propounded: In the view of R. Jose, can he [the husband] annul them as matters affecting their mutual relationship?  — Come and hear: R. JOSE SAID: THESE ARE NOT VOWS OF SELF-DENIAL, implying however that they are matters affecting their mutual relationship.  — [No.] Perhaps he argues to them on their view. [Thus:] In my opinion they are not even matters affecting their mutual relationship: but you who maintain that they are vows of self-denial, should at least concede to me that these are not vows of self-denial.  What [is our decision on the matter]? — Adda b. Ahabah said: He can annul them, R. Huna said: He cannot annul,

They sent word from there (sc. Palestine]:  Be on guard against scabs; take good care (to study] in company  and be heedful (not to neglect] the children of the poor,  for from them Torah goeth forth, as it is written, The water shall flow out of his buckets (mi-dalyaw]:  [meaning], from the dallim [poor] amongst them goeth forth Torah.  And why is it not usual for scholars to give birth to sons who are scholars? — Said R. Joseph, That it might not be maintained, The Torah is their legacy.  R. Shisha, the son of R. Idi, said: That they should not be arrogant towards the community. Mar Zutra said: Because they act high-handedly against the community.  R. Ashi said: Because they call people asses.  Rabina said: Because they do not first utter a blessing over the Torah.  For Rab Judah said in Rab's name: What is meant by, Who is the wise man, that he may understand this [… for what is the land destroyed etc.]?  Now, this question was put to the Sages, Prophets, and Ministering Angels,  but they could not answer it, until the Almighty Himself did so, as it is written, And the Lord said, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein:  but is not 'have not obeyed my voice' identical with, 'neither walked therein'? — Rab Judah said in Rab's name: [It means] that they did not first recite a benediction over the Torah. Isi b. Judah did not come for three days to the college of R. Jose. Wardimus, the son of R. Jose, met him and asked, 'Why have you Sir, not been for these last three days at my father's school?' He replied, 'Seeing that I do not know your father's grounds [for his rulings], why should I attend?' 'Please repeat, Sir, what he told you,' he urged; 'perhaps I may know the reason.' Said he, 'As to what was taught, R. Jose said: Their laundering takes precedence over the lives of strangers, whence do we know a verse [to support this]? Said he, Because it is written, And the suburbs of them shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts [hayyatham].  Now, what is meant by hayyatham: Shall we say, 'beasts' — but beasts are included in cattle? But if hayyatham means literally 'their lives', is it not obvious?  Hence it must surely refer to laundering,  since [neglect of one's clothes] causes the pains of scabs. R. JOSE SAID: THESE ARE NOT VOWS OF SELF-DENIAL. The scholars propounded: In the view of R. Jose, can he [the husband] annul them as matters affecting their mutual relationship?  — Come and hear: R. JOSE SAID: THESE ARE NOT VOWS OF SELF-DENIAL, implying however that they are matters affecting their mutual relationship.  — [No.] Perhaps he argues to them on their view. [Thus:] In my opinion they are not even matters affecting their mutual relationship: but you who maintain that they are vows of self-denial, should at least concede to me that these are not vows of self-denial.  What [is our decision on the matter]? — Adda b. Ahabah said: He can annul them, R. Huna said: He cannot annul,