1)

What do we learn from "ha'Chachmah Ta'oz l'Chacham me'Asarah Shalitim [Asher Hayu ba'Ir]"?

1.

Nedarim 32b: The wisdom is Teshuvah and good deeds. The 10 officers are the eyes, ears, hands, feet, male organ, and mouth.

2.

Rav Sadya Gaon: It is more than several rulers, if they would be in the city.

3.

Rashi: It said "Al Tirsha Harbe" (18) - if you did a little evil, do not add to it. Rather, inspect your deeds and regret sin. Chachmah strengthens a Chacham - it counsels him to repent. A verse testifies about Yoshiyah "v'Chamohu Lo Hayah Lefanav Melech." (Divrei ha'Yamim II, 23:25). His Chachmah stood for him - he inspected his deeds. It was better for him than 10 kings in Yerushalayim who did evil and did not repent - Rechav'am, Avyam, Achazyah, Yo'ash after Yehoyada died, Amatzyah, Achaz, Menasheh, Amon, Yehoyakim and Tzidkiyah 1 . h

4.

Rashi and R. Avigdor citing Koheles Zuta: Are there 10 authorities in one place? There is only one, man 2 , and one Gabai - the angel of death! Rather, even if one person reads [Mikra], fasts, feeds the hungry, gives to the thirsty to drink and clothes the naked, may he be saved from 10 matters that obligate him every day - two eyes, two ears, two hands, two feet, mouth and heart 3 .

5.

Koheles Zuta, partially cited in Rashi: Ha'Chachmah Ta'oz l'Chacham refers to Noach; me'Asarah Shalitim are the 10 generations before him. Alternatively, ha'Chachmah Ta'oz l'Chacham refers to Avraham; me'Asarah Shalitim are the 10 generations before him. Alternatively, l'Chacham refers to Yosef; me'Asarah Shalitim are his Alternatively, l'Chacham refers to Moshe; me'Asarah Shalitim are the 10 matters that process food in the body - from the mouth to the stomach


1

Magihah (in Toras Chayim): Some substitute Yehoram ben Yehoshafat and Yo'achaz ben Yoshiyah in place of Menasheh and Tzidkiyah, for Menasheh repented (Sanhedrin 102b), and Tzidkiyah was a Tzadik (Erchin 17a). (Why do they not include Yehoyachin? He did "ha'Ra b'Einei Hashem" like his father Yehoyakim (Melachim II, 24:9)! Rus Rabah 7 calls Yechanyah a Tzadik; the Gemara calls Tzidkiyah a Tzadik, even though 24:18-19 say that he did evil. Alternatively, he is not included because he reigned only three months. - PF)

2

Our text of the Midrash says 'Ru'ach'.

3

Our text of the Midrash says 'body', and not heart. Rashi and R. Avigdor citing the Midrash - his eyes show to him evil matters - 'do not put your eyes on what is not yours, for the eyes descend to the gates of the Raki'a.' The ears hear idle words - 'one should not let his ears hear idle words, for they are singed before the [other] limbs. Hands steal and extort. Legs bring him to Aveirah. His mouth speaks Havalim.

4

Rashi: I do not know how to resolve these Midrashim with the coming verse "Ki Adam Ein Tzadik ba'Aretz

2)

Is "Asarah" precise?

1.

Yes. Refer to 7:19:1:1, 3-5, 9.

2.

Rav Sadya Gaon: No. Ibn Ezra, Metzudas David - it says 10, for this completes a count; above this are units 1 . Rashbam - also "v'Afu Eser Nashim Lachmechem" (Vayikra 26:26) is not precise.


1

Ibn Ezra: In Leshon ha'Kodesh, the first letter is Aleph, the last [of the first 10] is Yud, and Hei and Vov are in the middle. The vowels are from these letters, and also the letters of Hashem's name.

3)

Why does it say "Asher Hayu ba'Ir"?

1.

Ibn Ezra: The power [of Chachmah] is seen when all [Chachmos] join in one place, united.

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:

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