(Rabah bar bar Chanah): Making someone blush is worse than having Bi'ah with a doubtfully married woman.

(Rava): He learns from "Kor'u v'Lo Damu" - David said 'if I would be torn, my blood would not spill';

Even when my tormentors are learning about Tzara'as and Tum'as Ohel (the most difficult tractates), they ask me 'which death penalty is given for Bi'ah with a married woman?'

I answer 'it is strangulation, and he has a share in the world to come, but one who makes someone blush has no share in the world to come.' (Tosfos (59a DH Chutz) - the latter is punished forever. Or, he is punished for 12 months; afterwards, he dwells without good and without bad. Some say that every Jew comes to the world to come; see Devarim 7:10:154:1 and the notes there.)

(Mar Zutra bar Tuvya): It is better to cast oneself into a lit furnace than to make someone blush;

We learn from Tamar - "Hi Mutzeis v'Hi Sholchah" (she did not save herself from being burned by saying that she was pregnant from Yehudah, for it would have embarrassed him).

(Rav Chanina brei d'Rav Idi): "Lo Sonu Ish Es Amiso" refers to one's fellowman, i.e. he also observes Torah and Mitzvos.

(Rav): A man must be very careful not to afflict his wife. Women are prone to cry, and Hash-m is quick to punish when the victim cries.

(R. Elazar): The gates of prayer were locked from the time of the destruction of the Mikdash - "Sasam Tefilasi";

Even so, the gates of tears were not locked - "Dim'asi Al Techerash".

(Rav): Anyone who follows his wife's counsel falls to Gehinom. We learn from Achav.

Question (Rav Papa): People say 'if your wife is short, bend down to listen to her'!

Answer #1: In matters of the house, listen to her, but not regarding worldly matters.

Answer #2: In worldly matters, listen to her, but not regarding spiritual matters.

(Rav Chisda): All the gates (of prayer) were locked, except for gates of (one who suffered) affliction - "Hash-m Nitzav Al Chomas Anach."

(R. Elazar): Hash-m punishes for everything through a Shali'ach, except for affliction - "uv'Yado Anach."

(R. Avahu): There are three sinners from whom Hash-m does not take His eyes off them until He punishes them - swindlers, robbers and idolaters.

We learn about swindlers from "uv'Yado Anach";

We learn about robbers from - "Chamas... Al Panai Tamid";

We learn about idolaters from "ha'Mach'isim Osi Al Panai Tamid".

(Rav Yehudah): A man must be very careful not to lack grain in his house, for this causes constant quarrels - "Gevulech Shalom Chelev Chitim Yasbi'ech".

(Rav Papa): People say that when barley is finished from the barrel, quarrels come.

(Rav Chinena): A man must be very careful not to lack grain in his house, for Yisrael are called poor only due to lack of grain - "va'Yidal Yisrael Me'od".

(Rav Chelbo): A man must be very careful to honor his wife properly, for Berachah is found in his house only due to her - "ul'Avram Heitiv Ba'avurah".

Rava advised men of his city to honor their wives, in order that they will get rich.

(Mishnah - R. Eliezer): The oven of Achnai is assembled rings of earthenware, with sand in between them. It does not receive Tum'ah;

Chachamim say, it receives Tum'ah.

(Beraisa): R. Eliezer gave all proofs in the world why it is Tahor; Chachamim did not accept them.

R. Eliezer: If the law is like me, this carob tree should show it. (The tree moved 100 Amos.)

Chachamim: We don't bring proof from a tree.

R. Eliezer: If the law is like me, the irrigation ditch should show it. (The water reversed the direction of its flow.)

Chachamim: We don't bring proof from an irrigation ditch.

R. Eliezer: If the law is like me, the walls of the Beis Medrash should show it. (The walls leaned to fall.)

R. Yehoshua (to the walls): We are arguing over Halachah. This is not your affair!

The walls stopped falling, to honor R. Yehoshua. To this day they remain bent, in honor of R. Eliezer.

R. Eliezer: If the law is like me, Heaven should show it.

(A voice from Heaven): Why do you argue with R. Eliezer? The Halachah always follows him!

R. Yehoshua: It (the Halachah) is not in Heaven.

Question: What does this mean?

Answer (R. Yirmiyah): Once the Torah was given on Sinai, we do not heed voices from Heaven. Rather, we follow the majority of Chachamim - "Acharei Rabim Lehatos".

R. Nasan (to Eliyahu): What was Hash-m doing at the time of that dispute?

Eliyahu: He laughed and said 'My children Nitzchuni. (This could mean 'defeated Me', or 'made Me (My Torah) Eternal.')

That day, they burned all the food that was Tahor according to R. Eliezer (and Tamei according to Chachamim). They voted and excommunicated him. R. Akiva volunteered to inform him, lest someone else do this improperly.

R. Akiva dressed in black, and sat four Amos away from R. Eliezer, who inquired about this. When he heard, he tore his clothing and removed his shoes (Rashi - like one who was excommunicated must do). He sat on the floor and cried. Olives, wheat and barley were stricken. Some say that even the dough in a woman's hands spoiled.

Wherever R. Eliezer looked at was burned. R. Gamliel (the Nasi, who authorized the excommunication) was on a boat. A storm was about to sink it.

R. Gamliel: Hash-m, you know that I acted for Your honor, lest disputes increase in Yisrael! (The storm abated.)

R. Eliezer's wife was R. Gamliel's sister. After this episode, she would not allow him to fall on his face (to say Tachanun, lest Hash-m avenge R. Eliezer's pain). One day, she did not stop him (she erred about which day was Rosh Chodesh, on which Tachanun is not said. Some say that she went to give bread to a poor person at the door). She found him on his face.

His wife: Get up! You killed my brother. (They then heard the announcement of his death.)

R. Eliezer: How did you know?

His wife: I have a tradition from my father's house (from David) that all the gates were locked, except for gates of Ona'ah.

(Beraisa): One who (verbally) afflicts a convert transgresses three Lavim. One who pressures him (to pay a loan) transgresses two Lavim.

Objection: Surely, the three Lavim of affliction are "v'Ger Lo Soneh", "v'Chi Yagur...", and "Lo Sonu Ish Es Amiso" (a convert is also 'your countryman').

Similarly, one who pressures him transgresses "v'Lo Silchatzenu", "v'Ger Lo Silchatz", and "Ami... Lo Sihyeh Lo k'Nosheh" (a convert is also in 'My nation'!).

Correction: Rather, one who pressures or afflicts a convert transgresses three Lavim.

(Beraisa - R. Eliezer ha'Gadol): The Torah warns in 36 (some say - 46) places not to mistreat a convert, for he is prone to return to his former way.

Question: What do we learn from "v'Ger Lo Soneh v'Lo Silchatzenu Ki Gerim Heyisem b'Eretz Mitzrayim"?

Answer (R. Nasan): Do not point out in someone else a blemish that you yourself have.

People say that one in a family from which someone was hanged should not mention the word 'hang', for it recalls his shame.