Daf 10a (דַּף י׳ ע״א)

Rabbi El'azar said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר): This verse that is written, “Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For to You it belongs” (הַאי קְרָא דִּכְתִיב מִי לֹא יִרָאֲךָ מֶלֶךְ הַגּוֹיִם כִּי לְךָ יָאָתָה) what praise is this? (מַאי שְׁבָחָא אִיהוּ). He said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ): El'azar my son, this verse is said in several places (אֶלְעָזָר בְּרִי, הַאי קְרָא בְּכַמָּה דוּכְתֵּי אִתְּמָר). But surely this is not as it is written (אֲבָל וַדַּאי לָאו אִיהוּ), Some say: this is how it is (נ״א הָכִי). For it is written: “For in all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like You” (דִּכְתִיב כִּי בְכָל חַכְמֵי הַגּוֹיִם וּבְכָל מַלְכוּתָם מֵאֵין כָּמוֹךָ) (Jeremiah 10). For it comes to open the mouths of the guilty, who think that Kudsha Berikh Hu does not know their thoughts and meditations (דְּהָא אֲתָא לְמִפְתַּח פּוּמָא דְחַיָּיבִין דְּחָשְׁבִין דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לָא יְדַע הִרְהוּרִין וּמַחְשָׁבִין דִּילְהוֹן). And for this reason it is necessary to inform their foolishness (וּבְגִין כָּךְ אִית לְאוֹדָעָא שְׁטוּתָא דִילְהוֹן).

Once, a philosopher of the nations came to me (דְּזִמְנָא חָדָא אֲתָא פִּילוֹסוֹפָא חָדָא דְּאוּמוֹת הָעוֹלָם לְגַבָּאי), and he said to me (אָמַר לִי): You say that your God rules over all the heights of heaven (אַתּוּן אָמְרִין דֶּאֱלָהֲכוֹן שַׁלִּיט בְּכָל רוּמֵי שְׁמַיָּא). All the hosts and legions do not cleave nor know His place (כֻּלְהוּן חַיָּילִין וּמַשִּׁרְיָין לָא אִדַּבְּקָן וְלָא יָדְעֵי אֲתַר דִּילֵיהּ). This verse does not magnify His honor so greatly (הַאי קְרָא לָא אַסְגֵּי יְקָרֵיהּ כָּל כָּךְ). For it is written: “For in all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms there is none like You” (דִּכְתִיב כִּי בְכָל חַכְמֵי הַגּוֹיִם וּבְכָל מַלְכוּתָם מֵאֵין כָּמוֹךָ) (Jeremiah 10). What comparison is this, to men who have no existence (מַאי שִׁיקּוּלָא דָא לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא דִּי לֵית לוֹן קִיּוּמָא). And further, you say: “And there has not arisen a prophet since in Yisrael like Moshe” (וְתוּ דְּאַתּוּן אָמְרִין וְלֹא קָם נָבִיא עוֹד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל כְּמשֶׁה) (Deuteronomy 34). In Yisrael he did not arise, but among the nations he did arise (בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא קָם, אֲבָל בְּאוּמוֹת הָעוֹלָם קָם). So too I say: “Among all the wise men of the nations there is none like Him,” but among the sages of Yisrael there is (אוּף הָכִי אֲנָא אֵימָא בְּכָל חַכְמֵי הַגּוֹיִם אֵין כָּמוֹהוּ, אֲבָל בְּחַכְמֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אִית). If so, the God that is among the sages of Yisrael like Him, is He not the Supreme Ruler (אִי הָכִי אֱלָהָא דְאִית בְּחַכְמֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּוָותֵיהּ לָאו אִיהוּ עִלָּאָה שַׁלִּיטָא)? Look into the verse and you will find that it is exact as is proper (אִסְתַּכַּל בַּקְּרָא וְתִשְׁכַּח דְּדַיִּיקְנָא כְּדְקָא יְאוּת). I said to him: Surely you have spoken well (אֲמִינָא לֵיהּ וַדַּאי שַׁפִּיר קָא אֲמַרְתְּ). Who revives the dead except Kudsha Berikh Hu alone (מָאן מְחַיֶּה מֵתִים אֶלָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי)? Eliyahu and Elisha came and revived the dead (אֲתָא אֵלִיָּהוּ וְאֱלִישָׁע וְאַחֲיוּ מֵתַיָיא). Who brings down rain except Kudsha Berikh Hu alone (מָאן מוֹרִיד גְּשָׁמִים אֶלָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי)?

Eliyahu came and withheld it, and brought it down with his prayer (אֲתָא אֵלִיָּהוּ וּמְנַע לוֹן וּנְחִית לוֹן בִּצְלוֹתֵיהּ). Who made heaven and earth except Kudsha Berikh Hu alone (מָאן עֲבַד שְׁמַיָּא וְאַרְעָא אֶלָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי)? Abraham came, and they were sustained in his merit (אֲתָא אַבְרָהָם אִתְקַיְּימוּ בְּקִיּוּמוֹהִי בְּגִינֵיהּ). Who directs the sun except Kudsha Berikh Hu (מָאן מַנְהִיג שִׁמְשָׁא אֶלָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא)? Joshua came, quieted it, and commanded it to stand in its place, and so it was, as it is written: “And the sun stood still and the moon stayed” (אֲתָא יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְשָׁכִיךְ לֵיהּ וּפַקִּיד לֵיהּ דְּיֵקוּם עַל קִיּוּמֵיהּ וְאִשְׁתְּכַךְ, וּכְתִיב וַיִּדּוֹם הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְיָרֵחַ עָמָד) (Joshua 10). Kudsha Berikh Hu decrees judgment, and so too Moshe decrees judgment and it is fulfilled (קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא גּוֹזֵר גְּזַר דִּין, אוּף הָכִי משֶׁה גָּזִיר גְּזַר דִּין וְאִתְקַיָּימוּ).

And furthermore, Kudsha Berikh Hu decrees decrees, and the Righteous of Yisrael annul them, as it is written: “A righteous one rules, the fear of Elohim” (וְתוּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא גּוֹזֵר גִּזְרִין וְצַדִּיקַיָּיא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל מְבַטְּלִין לוֹ, דִּכְתִיב צַדִּיק מוֹשֵׁל יִרְאַת אֱלֹהִים) (II Samuel 23). And furthermore, He commanded them to go in His ways, truly to be like Him in all (וְתוּ דְּאִיהוּ פַּקִּיד לוֹן לְמֶהַךְ בְּאוֹרְחוֹי מַמָּשׁ לְאִתְדְּמָא לֵיהּ בְּכֹלָּא). That philosopher went, and converted in the village of Sheḥalayim (אֲזַל הַהוּא פִּילוֹסוֹפָא וְאִתְגַּיַּיר בִּכְפַר שְׁחָלַיִם). And they called him Yose Ketina (וְקָרוּן לֵיהּ יוֹסֵי קְטִינָאָה). And he studied much Orayta (וְאוֹלִיף אוֹרַיְיתָא סַגְיָא). And he was among the sages and the righteous of that place (וְאִיהוּ בֵּין חַכִּימִין וְזַכָּאִין דְּהַהוּא אֲתַר).

Now it is necessary to look into the verse (הַשְׁתָּא אִית לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בַּקְּרָא), and behold it is written: “All the nations are as nothing before Him” (וְהָא כְּתִיב כָּל הַגּוֹיִם כְּאַיִן נֶגְדוֹ) (Isaiah 40). What increase is there here (מַאי רִבּוּיָא הָכָא)? Rather: “Who would not fear You, King of the nations?” (אֶלָּא מִי לֹא יִרָאֲךָ מֶלֶךְ הַגּוֹיִם). And is He King of the nations, and not King of Yisrael (וְכִי מֶלֶךְ הַגּוֹיִם אִיהוּ וְלָאו מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל)? Rather, in every place Kudsha Berikh Hu desires to be praised by Yisrael (אֶלָּא בְּכָל אֲתַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בָּעָא לְאִשְׁתַּבָּחָא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל), and He is not called except upon Yisrael alone (וְלָא אִתְקְרֵי אֶלָא עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּלְחוֹדוֹי). As it is written: “The Elohim of Yisrael, the Elohim of the Hebrews” (דִּכְתִיב אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֱלֹהֵי הָעִבְרִים) (Exodus 5), and it is written: “Thus says Hashem, the King of Yisrael” (וּכְתִיב כֹּה אָמַר יְיָ מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל) (Isaiah 44). The King of Yisrael surely (מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל וַדַּאי).

The nations of the world said: We have another patron in heaven (אָמְרוּ אוּמוֹת הָעוֹלָם פַּטְרוֹן אָחֳרָן אִית לָן בִּשְׁמַיָא). For your King rules only over you alone, and over us He does not rule (דְּהָא מַלְכֵיכוֹן לָא שָׁלִיט אֶלָא עֲלַיְיכוּ בִּלְחוֹדֵיכוֹן וְעֲלָנָא לָא שָׁלִיט). The verse came and said: “Who would not fear You, King of the nations” (אֲתָא קְרָא וְאָמַר מִי לֹא יִרָאֲךָ מֶלֶךְ הַגּוֹיִם).p1-17 These are the great rulers appointed over them (אִלֵּין שַׁלִּיטִין רַבְרְבָן דִּי מְמַנָּן עֲלַיְיהוּ). And “in all their kingdoms”—in that Molcho above (וּבְכָל מַלְכוּתָם בְּהַהוּא מָלְכוּ דִּלְעֵילָא). For there are four supernal kingdoms which rule, and they rule by His will over all the other nations (דְּהָא אַרְבַּע מַלְכְּוָון שַׁלִּיטִין אִית לְעֵילָא וְשָׁלְטִין בִּרְעוּתֵיהּ עַל כָּל שְׁאָר עַמִּין). And with all this, there is not among them one who does even a small thing except as He commands them (וְעִם כָּל דָּא לֵית בְּהוּ דְּיַעֲבִיד אֲפִלּוּ מִלָּה זְעֵירָא אֶלָּא כְּמָה דְּפָּקִּיד לוֹן). As it is written: “And as He wills, He does in the host of heaven and the dwellers of earth” (דִּכְתִיב וּכְמִצְבְּיֵה עָבִיד בְּחֵיל שְׁמַיָּא וְדָיְירֵי אַרְעָא) (Daniel 4).

The wise men of the nations are the supernal rulers, and their wisdom comes from them (חַכְמֵי הַגּוֹיִם אִנּוּן מְמַנָּן וְרַבְרְבָן דִּלְעֵילָא דְּחָכְמְתָא דִּלְהוֹן מִנַּיְיהוּ הֲוָה). “In all their kingdoms”—the kingdom which rules, as it is said (בְּכָל מַלְכוּתָם מַלְכוּתָא דְּשָׁלִיט כְּמָה דְּאִתְּמָר). And this is the verse in its plain meaning (וְדָא הוּא קְרָא כִּפְשָׁטֵיהּ). But “in all the wise men of the nations and in all their kingdoms” (אֲבָל בְּכָל חַכְמֵי הַגּוֹיִם וּבְכָל מַלְכוּתָם). This I found in the ancient books (הַאי אַשְׁכַּחְנָא בְּסִפְרֵי קַדְמָאֵי): that the camps and the hosts (דְּאִנּוּן מַשִּׁרְיָין וְחַיָּילִין), even though they are appointed over the affairs of the world (אַף עַל גַּב דְּאִתְפַּקְּדָן עַל מִלִּין דְּעָלְמָא), and each one is appointed to perform his task (וּפַקִּיד לְכָל חַד לְמֶעֱבַד עֲבִידְתָּא), who is it? (מָאן הוּא). The Holy Concealed One (סְתִימָא קַדִּישָׁא)—and not according to their will (וְלָא כִּרְעוּתֵיהּ)—who makes any one of them like You (דְּיַעֲבִיד שׁוּם חַד מִנַּיְיהוּ כָּמוֹךָ).

Because You are inscribed above, and You are inscribed in Your works above all of them (בְּגִין דְּאַנְתְּ רָשִׁים בְּעִילוּיָא, וְאַנְתְּ רָשִׁים בְּעוֹבָדָךְ מִכֻּלְּהוּ). And this is “there is none like You, Hashem” (וְדָא הוּא מֵאֵין כָּמוֹךָ יְיָ). Who is it? The Holy Concealed One who acts and is like You, above and below, to be comparable to You in all (מָאן הוּא סְתִימָאָה קַדִּישָׁא דְּיַעֲבִיד וְלֶהֱוֵי כָּמוֹךָ עֵילָא וְתַתָּא. וִיהֵא דָּמֵי לָךְ בְּכָלָּא). The work of the Holy King is heaven and earth (עוֹבָדָא דְּמַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ). But as for them, “they are vanity, and their desirable things shall not profit” (אֲבָל אִנּוּן תֹּהוּ וַחֲמוּדֵיהֶם בַּל יוֹעִילוּ) (Isaiah 45). Concerning Kudsha Berikh Hu it is written: “Bereshit bare [created] Elohim” (בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא כְּתִיב בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים וְגו׳) (Bereshit 1:1). In their kingdoms it is written: “And the earth was tohu va’vohu” (בְּמַלְכוּתָם כְּתִיב וְהָאָרֶץ הָיְתָה תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ) (Bereshit 1:2).

Rabbi Shimon said to the Friends (אָמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן לְחַבְרַיָיא): Sons of this wedding feast (בְּנֵי הִלּוּלָא דָא), each one of you shall adorn one adornment for the Bride (כָּל חַד מִנְּכוֹן יְקַשֵּׁט קִשּׁוּטָא חַד לְכַּלָּה). He said to Rabbi El'azar his son (אָמַר לְרִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרֵיהּ): El'azar, bring forth one treasure for the Bride (אֶלְעָזָר הַב נְבַזְבְּזָא חַד לְכַּלָּה), for tomorrow Kudsha Berikh Hu will behold her when she enters the Huppah [Wedding Canopy] (דְּהָא לְמָחָר אִסְתַּכַּל קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא כַּד יֵעוּל לַחוּפָּה), with those songs and praises which the sons of the palace will give to her, so that she may stand before Him (בְּאִנּוּן שִׁירִין וּשְׁבָחִין דְּיַהֲבוּ לָהּ בְּנֵי הֵיכָלָא לְקַיְּימָא קַמֵּיהּ).