1)

(a)According to Rebbi Chanina, the forty-two youths who were killed by Elisha - were the result of the forty-two Korbanos brought by Balak king of Mo'av in the Name of Hash-m (with the intention of harming Yisrael).

(b)We query this from a statement by Rav Yehudah Amar Rav - who explains that Balak's reward was a son (i.e. descendant), Eglon, King of Mo'av, whose daughter (i.e. descendant) was the ancestor of David, whose son Shlomo ...

(c)... brought a thousand Korbanos on the day that he inaugurated the Beis-Hamikdash.

(d)He learns from there - that one should not hesitate to perform Mitzvos even for the wrong motive, as this will eventually lead a person to perform them Lishmah.

(e)Despite the latter reward, the forty-two youths also died - to bring to fruition Balak's destructive intentions to which end he brought the Korbanos.

2)

(a)Even though the water of Yericho was bad, and people died there, the residents nevertheless referred to it as a good land - because, as Rebbi Chanin explains - a person grows fond of the place where he lives ...

(b)... to which Rebbi Yochanan adds - a wife in the eyes of her husband and a purchased article in the eyes of the purchaser.

3)

(a)We learn from the Pasuk "v'Elisha Chalah" Es Cholyo* Asher Yamus Bah" - that Elisha was sick three times in his life.

(b)If the last illness was the one from which he died - the other two were punishments for inciting the bears against the youths, and for his mistreating his servant Gechazi.

(c)The mistake that Elisha made with regard to his handling of his servant Gechazi was - totally rejecting him.

(d)The Tana of the Beraisa says - that he should have rejected him with his left hand, but drawn him close with his right.

4)

(a)Elisha accused Gechazi of taking eight items from Na'aman, the Syrian general, though really - he only took two, money (two Kikar of silver) and clothes (two suits).

(b)Rebbi Yitzchak explain the fact that the Tana lists eight - as an indication of the reward that he would now receive in this world for the Torah that he had learned (because they had just been leaning Perek Shemoneh Sheratzim).

(c)According to Rebbi Yochanan, the four Metzora'im outside the gates of Shomron were - Gechazi and his three sons.

5)

(a)Elisha went to Damascus in order to bring Gechazi back into the fold. The latter reacted by claiming that Elisha himself had taught him that someone who sins and causes others to sin is not granted the opportunity of doing Teshuvah.

(b)Some say that he caused others to sin by using a magnet to lift Yeravam ben Nevat's calf into the air, conveying the impression that it was Divine. According to others - he engraved a name of Hash-m on its mouth, and it began to announce 'Anochi' and 'Lo Yiheyeh Lecha'.

(c)The third version of his sin is - that he would refuse many Rabanan entry to the Beis ha'Midrash, which explains their complaint to Elisha that there was not sufficient room in the Beis-ha'Midrash (insinuating that before there was).

6)

(a)When Yanai ha'Melech fell out with the Chachamim, his wife hid Shimon ben Shetach (her brother) - whilst Yehoshua ben Perachyah escaped to Alexandria of Egypt.

(b)When Shimon ben Shetach sent Rebbi Yehoshua ben Perachyah a message 'From me Yerushalayim the holy city to you Alexandria my sister. My husband is dwelling in you and I am desolate' - he was informing him that Yanai had now made peace with the Chachamim and it was safe to return. He referred to Yehoshua ben Perachyah (in the name of Yerushalayim) as 'my husband' - because he was the Nasi.

(c)When they arrived at an inn on their homeward journey, Yehoshua ben Perachyah praised the good deeds of the proprietress, to which his Talmid (alias Yeshu) responded by praising her beautiful round eyes, resulting in his being placed in Cherem accompanied by the blowing of four hundred Shofros.

(d)That Talmid believed that Yehoshua ben Perachyah had rejected him - when, after having refusing to accept him a number of times, the latter was once reciting the Shema when he came to ask for forgiveness. In fact, he had in mind to accept him this time, and because he was reading the Shema, he made a sign with his hand to that effect. Yeshu however, misunderstood the sign to be a negative one, and he left his presence with the intention of serving idols.

7)

(a)After the Talmid worshipped a brick, Yehoshua ben Perachyah tried to bring him back to the fold - to which he responded in the same way as Gechazi did (that Yehoshua ben Perachyah himself had taught him that someone who sins and causes others to sin is not granted the opportunity of doing Teshuvah).

(b)Tat Talmid caused the people to sin - by performing witchcraft, and by persuading them to worship idols.

(c)The three things, listed by Rebbi Elazar b'Rebbi Shimon in a Beraisa, that one should at worst, reject with the left hand and draw back with the right are - the Yetzer ha'Ra, a child and one's wife.

(d)The first of these one cannot reject outright - because one would not have children); the latter two a child and one's wife - both of whom will run away permanently if one is too hard with them.

8)

(a)Our Mishnah, which rules that if the murderer is found before the Eglah Arufah's neck has been cut, the Eglah Arufah goes out to Chulin - disagrees with the Tana who forbids deriving any benefit from the Eglah from the moment it is taken down to the Nachal Eisan.

(b)If the murderer is found after the Eglah Arufah's neck has already been cut ...

1. ... the Eglah - must be buried (because it achieved its original purpose of temporary atonement [until the murderer is found] as it was meant to do).

2. ... the murderer - is put to death by the sword.

(c)In a case where ...

1. ... one witness claims that he saw the murderer and another witness claims that he is lying, or where ...

2. ... one women claimed that she saw the murderer and another woman claims that she is lying - they break the Eglah Arufah's neck.

3. ... one witness claimed that he saw the murderer and two witnesses claim that he did not - they break its neck.

4. ... two witnesses claim that they saw the murderer and one claims that they did not - they do not break its neck.

9)

(a)The Eglah Arufah ceased to function - when murder became commonplace (and the murderers were well-known [based on the Pasuk "Lo Noda Mi Hikahu"]).

(b)The first of these was Eliezer ben Dina'i. In fact, Eliezer ben Dina'i, Techinah ben Perishah and ben ha'Ratzchan - were all one and the same person.

(c)Rebbi Yochanan ben Zakai cancelled the Mei Sotah - when, due to an increase in adulterers (which had spread to their children), it no longer had any affect on their wives.

(d)We learn from the Pasuk "Lo Efkod Al B'noseichem Ki Siznenah v'Al Kaloseichem Ki Sinafenah ... " - that when a man's daughters and daughters-in-law are guilty of adultery, the Mei Sotah will no longer take affect on his wife.

10)

(a)With the death of Yosi ben Yoezer Ish Tzreidah and Yosi ben Yochanan Ish Yerushalayim - the 'Eshkolos' (whose learning was so perfect and clear that it was without Machlokes).

(b)The first Machlokes in Halachah (that occurred in their day) was about making Semichah on the Yom Tov Korbanos).

(c)Yochanan Kohen Gadol negated - Hodayas Ma'aser ('the confession of Ma'asros on Erev Pesach of every fourth year).

(d)He also cancelled the Me'orerin and the Nokfin (which will be explained later in the Sugya). When the Tana says that in his day ...

1. ... the hammer used to bang in Yerushalayim, he is referring - to the concession of Meleches Davar ha'Aveid (performing a Melachah in order to prevent a monetary loss) on Chol ha'Mo'ed, which Yochanan Kohen Gadol negated (because the noise could be heard far away, and not everybody knows that it is a Davar ha'Aveid).

2. ... it became unnecessary to ask about Demai, he means - that there was no longer any point in asking the owner (who was an Am ha'Aretz whether he had separated Ma'asros or not), because Yochanan Kohen Gadol instituted the Takanah of Demai, obligating anyone who purchased products that grew from the ground to separate Ma'asros anyway.

11)

(a)The Beraisa learns from the Pasuk ...

1. ... in Mas'ei "v'la'Aretz Lo Yechupar l'Dam Asher Shupach Bah Ki Im b'Dam Shofcho" - that a murderer who is found after the neck of the Eglah Arufah has been broken, must nevertheless be apprehended and punished (even though there are no witnesses!).

2. ... in Shoftim "Lo Noda Mi Hikahu" - that if one witness saw the murder and knows who the murderer is (even if he is on the other side of the world), they do not break the Eglah's neck.

(b)And Rebbi Akiva learns from the Pasuk there - "v'Einenu Lo Ra'u" - that in the event that the Sanhedrin witnessed the murder, even if they do not recognize the murderer, they do not break the neck of the Eglah.

12)

(a)They canceled the Eglah Arufah when the murderers increased and became known - because the Eglah is only brought when there is a Safek, but not when the facts are known.

(b)We learn from the Pasuk (in connection with the Sotah) "v'Nikah ha'Ish me'Avon" - that if the husband is guilty of immoral conduct, the Mei Sotah will not take effect on his wife.

(c)Having quoted the Pasuk ...

1. ... "v'Nikah ha'Ish me'Avon", the Tana nevertheless goes on to quote the Pasuk "Lo Efkod Al Benoseichem Ki Siznenah ... " - to teach us that even if it is only his children who commit adultery, the water will not work either.

2. ... "Lo Efkod Al Benoseichem Ki Siznenah ... " he nevertheless finds it necessary to quote the Pasuk "Ki Heim Im ha'Zonos Yipareidu v'Im ha'Kedeishos Yizaveichu" - to teach us that even if his illicit relations involved, not with married women but unmarried prostitutes (for which he is not Chayav Kares), the water will not work either.

(d)Rebbi Elazar learns from the conclusion of that Pasuk "v'Am Lo Yavin Yilbat" - that if the men are not careful to behave correctly, the Mei Sotah will not work on their wives.

13)

(a)Running after personal pleasures resulted in the breakdown of law and order and caused Hash-m to derive no Naches from His world - because the judges too, got taken up with it, and as a result, they were too busy to judge properly and to teach the people what they must do.

(b)When the judges began to show favoritism in judgment, they simultaneously began to fear the powerful, to lose their integrity and man's rule took over from that of G-d. What caused ...

1. ... G-d to vent His anger against Yisrael and to remove His Shechinah from them - was the employment of lawyers, who advised the judges as to who was innocent and who was guilty.

2. ... people to lose their perception of the difference between good and bad (i.e. praising the Resha'im) - was the pursuit of monetary gains.

3. ... all the woes enumerated in Yeshayah to materialize - was the people losing their perception of the difference between good and bad.

(c)Drawing in their spittle resulted in an increase of snobs and a decrease in Torah-study. Drawing spit is indicative of - vanity.

(d)The women of that time became attracted to these snobs. The statement that a conceited man is not even accepted by his wife - pertains to later in the marriage. What happened was that - initially, the women were attracted to them, but later, all their respect dissipated.

14)

(a)When the judges ...

1. ... entered into lucrative business deals with the populace (supplying them with funds for business assignments, to share in the ultimate profits) - the result was judicial corruption, perversion of justice and the stopping of good from Yisrael.

2. ... began eliciting favors from them - the result was complete anarchy, the breakdown of all social barriers and the weakening of the (Jewish) ruling power.

(b)The increase of misers and grabbers (i.e. robbers) brought about tough-hearted characters and people who refused to lend money to those who needed it. Women strutting around with outstretched necks and with painted eyes brought about a potential increase in Mei Sotah, which did not materialize - because it coincided with an increase in adultery, and we have already learned that when that happened, the Mei Sotah stopped functioning.

(c)Based on the Pasuk "v'Sonei Matanos Yichyeh" - people's lives were curtailed (and their lives became more miserable), commensurate with the increase of people who accepted gifts.

(d)A growth in the Talmidim of Shamai and Hillel resulted in a growth in Machlokes - because, in their vanity, they did not listen carefully to what their Rebbes taught them, and inevitably, misunderstandings crept in.

15)

(a)The result of Jews accepting Tzedakah from Nochrim was - that the Nochrim gained the upper-hand over them.

(b)We learned in our Mishnah that with the death of Yosi ben Yoezer Ish Tzreidah and Yosi ben Yochanan Ish Yerushalayim, the 'Eshkolos' came to an end. "Eshkolos", Rebbi Yosi b'Rebbi Chanina points out - is the acronym of 'Ish sheha'Kol Bo'.