1)

THE MIDOS OF MOSHE RABBEINU [line 3]

(a)

(Rav Acha bar Ada): Chachamim of Eretz Yisrael consider this verse to be three verses: "Hash-m said to Moshe, I will come to you in a thick cloud..."

(b)

(R. Chama bar Chanina): Moshe became rich from the excess stone he quarried for the Luchos. "Carve for yourself two tablets of rock like the first ones" - the excess (sapphire) carved out will be yours.

(c)

(R. Yosi bar Chanina): Torah was only given to Moshe and his descendants. It says "write for yourself" and "carve for yourself." Just like the carvings belong to Moshe, also the writing;

1.

Moshe was generous and gave the writing to Yisrael - "a generous person will be blessed."

(d)

Question (Rav Chisda): "Hash-m commanded me at that time to teach you"!

(e)

Answer: Hash-m commanded me. I (was generous and) taught you.

(f)

Question: "I taught you statues and laws, like Hash-m commanded me"!

(g)

Answer: Hash-m commanded me. I taught you.

(h)

Question: "Write for yourselves this song..."!

(i)

Answer: Hash-m gave only Shiras Ha'azinu (for Yisrael. Moshe decided to teach the rest of the Torah).

(j)

Question: "...This song should be a witness for Me in Yisrael..." (Shiras Ha'azinu itself is not a witness)!

(k)

Correction: R. Yosi bar Chanina meant that Pilpul (a sharp understanding of Torah) was given only to Moshe. (He generously shared this with Yisrael.)

(l)

(R. Yochanan): Hash-m rests His Presence only on one who is mighty, wealthy, Chacham, and humble. We learn all of these from Moshe:

1.

Mighty - Moshe spread the curtains over the Mishkan; and the boards were 10 Amos tall.

i.

Objection: Perhaps he was tall but weak!

ii.

Retraction: Rather, we learn from his ability to hold the Luchos and throw them.

iii.

(Beraisa): The Luchos were six (handbreadths) long, six wide, and three thick. (This volume of water weighs about 100 kilos, and rock is much denser than water.)

2.

Wealthy - Hash-m told Moshe to keep the excess sapphire carved out for the Luchos.

3.

Chacham - Rav and Shmuel taught that 50 gates of understanding were created. Moshe received 49 of them - "You made him (man) slightly below angels." (Ran - "You made him lack a bit, (perfect knowledge) of Hash-m" - this is the only gate Moshe did not receive.)

4.

Humble - "Moshe was exceedingly humble."

(m)

(R. Yochanan): All the Nevi'im were wealthy. We learn this from Moshe, Shmuel, Amos, and Yonah.

1.

Moshe - "I did not conscript one donkey from them."

i.

Suggestion: Perhaps this means that he did not take without paying for it.

ii.

Rejection: It is not a great praise that he did not do so!

iii.

Rather, he did not even have to take one and pay for it.

iv.

Objection: Perhaps he didn't take because he couldn't afford to pay for it!

2.

Retraction: Rather, Moshe became wealthy from the excess sapphire (like we said above).

3.

Shmuel - "... Whose ox or donkey did I take?"

i.

It is no great praise he did not take without paying for it! Rather, he did not even need to take one and pay for it.

ii.

Objection: Perhaps he didn't take because he couldn't afford to pay for it!

4.

Retraction: Rather, we learn from "In his return to Ramah, for there is his house";

i.

(Rava): Wherever he went, his house was with him.

ii.

(Rava): What it says about Shmuel is greater than what it says about Moshe. Moshe did not forcibly conscript a donkey, even to pay rental. Shmuel did not even rent with their consent - "You did not oppress us nor take willingly."

5.

Amos - "I am not a (false) Navi (seeking money)... I have cattle and sycamore trees."

i.

This is based on Rav Yosef's translation.

6.

Yonah - (R. Yochanan): "He gave its wages and descended" - he paid the hire of the entire ship;

i.

(Rav Rumnus): This was 4000 gold Dinarim.

(n)

(R. Yochanan): At first, Moshe learned Torah and forgot it, until it was given to him for a gift - "He gave to Moshe when He finished speaking with him."

2)

WHAT IS CONSIDERED BENEFIT? [line before last]

(a)

(Mishnah): If Shimon is Mudar Hana'ah from Reuven, Reuven may feed Shimon's wife and children, even though Shimon must feed them;

(b)

Reuven may not feed Shimon's animal, whether or not it is Kosher;

(c)

R. Eliezer says, he may feed Shimon's Tamei animals (Ran - extra food, if they are already being fed), but not his Kosher animals;

1.

Chachamim: What is the difference?

2.

R. Eliezer: The soul of a Kosher animal is Hash-m's, but the body is Shimon's (it gets fatter, and he may eat it). A Tamei animal is entirely Hash-m's.

38b----------------------------------------38b

3.

Chachamim: Even if an animal is Tamei, Shimon owns the body. He may sell it to Nochrim, or feed it to his dogs!

(d)

(Gemara - Rav Yitzchak bar Chananyah): If one is Mudar Hana'ah from his friend, he may marry off his daughter to him.

(e)

Question (R. Zeira): What is the case?

1.

If the Chasan is Mudar from property of the Kalah's father, [the latter] gives to him a female slave to serve him! (Surely this is forbidden!)

(f)

Answer #1: Rather, the Kalah's father is Mudar from property of the Chasan. He may marry off his daughter to him (even though the Chasan will feed her).

(g)

Objection: This is obvious! Our Mishnah teaches even more!

1.

(Mishnah): Reuven may feed Shimon's wife and children, even though Shimon must feed them.

2.

All the more so, Reuven may marry Shimon's daughter!

(h)

Answer #2: Really, the Chasan is Mudar from property of the Kalah's father. The case is, she is a Bogeres, and she herself desires to marry him.

1.

Support (Beraisa): If Shimon is Mudar Hana'ah from Reuven, Reuven may not marry off his daughter (below Bagrus) to him, but he may marry off his Bogeres to him, if she desires.

(i)

(R. Yakov): If one is Mudar Hana'ah from his son, in order that the son will learn Torah (and not need to interrupt to honor his father), the son may fill a barrel of water for his father, and light a lamp for him. (Ran - the water and lamp belong to the father. The son merely serves him.)

(j)

(R. Yitzchak): He may roast a small fish for his father.

(k)

(R. Yirmiyah): If Reuven was Mudar Hana'ah from Shimon, Shimon may serve him a cup (of Reuven's wine) of Shalom to drink. (

(l)

Question: What is a cup of Shalom?

(m)

Answer #1 (Chachamim of Bavel): It is wine given to a mourner.

(n)

Answer #2 (Chachamim of Eretz Yisrael): It is hot water, which one drinks after bathing in hot water.

(o)

(Mishnah): He may not feed his animals...

(p)

(Beraisa - Yehoshua of Uza): Reuven may feed (extra food to) Shimon's Kena'ani slaves, but not his Kosher or Tamei animals.

(q)

Question: What is the reason?

(r)

Answer: Slaves are for service (fat slaves do not serve better). It is normal to fatten animals.