Sanhedrin

Why is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding?  Rab said: The Kenesseth Yisrael  gave the prophet a victorious answer.  [For] the prophet said to Israel. 'Return and repent: your fathers who sinned — where are they?' They replied, 'And your prophets who did not sin — where are they? As it is written. Your fathers, where are they? — and the prophets, do they live for ever!'  He answered them, 'Yet [your fathers] repented and admitted [the justice of their punishment],  as it is written, But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the Lord of Hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.' Samuel said: Ten men came and sat down before him [sc. the prophet]. Said he to them, 'Return and repent.' They answered, 'If a master sells his slave, or a husband divorces his wife, — has one a claim upon the other?'  Thereupon the Holy One, blessed be He, said to the prophet, 'Go and say to them, Thus saith the Lord, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.'  This agrees with Resh Lakish, who said: Why does Scripture write, David my servant, Nebuchadnezzar my servant?  Because it was revealed and known to Him who spoke, and the world was created  that Israel would argue thus: therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, forestalled [them] by calling him His servant, and when a servant acquires property — to whom does the servant belong, and to whom the property? And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone. As I live, saith the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you. For he doth chastise him to discretion, and his God doth teach him.  Rabbah b. Bar Hana said: The prophet urged Israel, 'Return and repent.' They replied, 'We cannot: the Tempter  rules over us. He said to them, 'Curb your [evil] desires.' They replied, 'Let His God teach us.' FOUR COMMONERS, VIZ., BALAAM, DOEG, AHITOPHEL, AND GEHAZI. Belo'-am [denotes without the people].19  Another explanation: Balaam denotes that he corrupted a people.20  The son of Beor [denotes] that he committed bestiality.21  A Tanna taught: Beor, Cushan-rishathaim and Laban the Syrian are identical; Beor denotes that he committed bestiality; Cushan-rishathaim, that he perpetrated two evils upon Israel: one in the days of Jacob,  and the other in the days of the Judges.  But what was his real name? Laban the Syrian. Scripture writes, the son of Beor;  [but also] his son [was] Beor.  R. Johanan said: His father [Beor] was as his son in the matter of prophecy. Now only Balaam will not enter [the future world], but other [heathens] will enter.  On whose authority is the Mishnah [taught]? — On R. Joshua's. For it has been taught: R. Eliezer said, The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God:  The And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed.  A Tanna taught: There was never peace between Midian and Moab. The matter may be compared to two dogs in one kernel which were always enraged at each other. Then a wolf attacked one, whereupon the other said, If I do not help him, he will kill him to-day, and attack me to-morrow; so they both went and killed the wolf. R. Papa observed: Thus people say, 'The weasel and cat [when at peace with each other] had a feast on the fat of the luckless.' And the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.  But whither had the princes of Midian gone? — As soon as he said to them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, [as the Lord shall speak unto me],  they reasoned, Does any father hate his son!  R. Nahman said: Impudence, even against Heaven, is of avail: at first it is written, Thou shalt not go with them,'  yet subsequently it is said, Rise up and go with them.40  R. Shesheth said: Impudence is sovereignty without a crown,  for it is written, And I am this day weak, R. Johanan said: Balaam limped on one foot, as it is written, And he walked haltingly.  Samson was lame in both feet, as it is written, [Dan shall be a serpent by the way,] an adder in the path that biteth the horse's heels.44  Balaam was blind in one eye, as it is said, [and the man] whose eye is open …45  He practised enchantment by means of his membrum. For here it is written, falling, but having his eyes open; whilst elsewhere is written, And Haman was fallen on the bed whereon Esther was. It was stated, Mar Zutra said: He practised enchantment by means of his membrum. Mar the son of Rabina said: He committed bestiality with his ass. The view that he practised enchantment by means of his membrum is as was stated. The view that he committed bestiality with his ass [is because] here it is written, He bowed,  he lay down as a lion and as a great lion;  whilst elsewhere it is written, At her feet