Tosefta Sotah

... The people of Sodom became haughty in front of the Place only due to the goodness He showered upon them, as it says : "A land from which bread had issued forth — its place was overturned, as if (consumed by) fire. A place of sapphire were its stones, and dusts of gold were there. (And now it is) a path unknown (i.e., unfrequented) by brigands, and unseen by the falcon's eye, untrodden by the haughty (beasts) and not crossed by the lion (Job 28:5-8). The people of Sodom [said]: "Since food comes out of our land, and silver and gold, and precious stones and pearls [all come] from our land, we have no need that other people will come to us to diminish [our valuables]. Let us rise and prevent the wayfarers to enter our cities [banot]!" The Holy One of Blessing said to them: "I gave goodness to you, and you seek to forget the wayfarers from your cities?! I will forget the wayfarers in your midst [beinechem] and I will forget you from the world!" What does it say? "He breaks open a shaft away from where men sojourn; they are forgotten of the foot that pass by; they hang afar from men, they swing to and fro." (Job 28:4) and "The tents of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure, in whatsoever God brings into their hand." (Job 12:6) and so it says "As I live—declares the Lord GOD—your sister Sodom and her daughters did not do what you and your daughters did.Only this was the sin of your sister Sodom: arrogance! She and her daughters had plenty of bread"(Ezekiel 16:48-49)

How did Moses know where Joseph had been buried? They said: Serakh daughter, of Asher was of the same generation, and she went and said to Moses: "In the Nile River, Joseph is buried. And the Egyptians made for him metal skewers and affixed them with wood." Moses went and stood at the Nile River and said, "Joseph, the time has come for the Holy Blessed One to redeem Israel. Behold, the Shekhina is delayed for you, and the Israelites are delayed for you, and the clouds of glory are delayed for you. If you reveal yourself, good (okay!), and if not, we are cleansed of the oath which you have sworn upon our fathers." Then the coffin of Joseph floated to the surface and Moses took hold of it and went.

Rabbi Meir would say: Just as there are different attitudes in consumption of food, so are there different attitudes with regards to women. Some men, if a fly [merely] passes over his cup, he sets it aside and does not taste it. That [fly in the cup refers to] corrupted women, when he wishes to divorce his wife [but has not done it yet]. Some men, if a fly falls into his cup, he throws it out and does not drink it. And this is the trait of Papus ben Yehuda, who would lock [the door of the house] before his wife, and would leave. And there is a man where, if a fly falls in his cup, he throws [the fly] out and then drinks it. This is the trait of any man who sees her speak to her neighbors and relatives, and leaves her be. And there is a man where, if a fly falls into the plate, he crushes it and eats it. And this is the trait of a corrupted man who sees his wife go out with her head uncovered, her heart warmed for her servants and maidservants, and spins cloth in the marketplace, and [whose shirt is] open on both sides, and bathes and plays around with the men. This is the command from the Torah to divorce her, for it is stated [Deuteronomy 24:1-2] "[When a man takes a wife, and marries her, then it comes to pass, if she find no favor in his eyes,] because he hath found some unseemly thing in her, [that he writes her a bill of divorce, and gives it in her hand,] and sends her out of his house... [and she departs out of his house, and goes and becomes another man's wife.]" The text calls him 'another', implying that he is not of similar constitution to the first, [for] the first one sent her away because of sin, and the second came and was lenient toward her. If he merits, the heavens will cause him to send her away from his possession, and if not, she will ultimately bury him, as it says [Deuteronomy 24:2] "or if the latter man dies." It is appropriate for this [type of] man dies, because of the woman he brought into his household. One who wishes his wife to die [so he can] inherit her, or that she should die so he can marry her sister, she will ultimately bury him. Similarly, if she wishes he would die so she can marry another, he will bury her.

The Sages taught in a baraita that Rabbi Yosei HaGelili taught: At the time that the Jewish people ascended from the sea they resolved to sing a song of gratitude to God. And how did they recite this song? If a baby was lying on his mother's lap or an infant was nursing from his mother's breasts, once they saw the Divine Presence, the baby straightened his neck and the infant dropped the breast from his mouth, and they recited⁠a 'This is my God and I will glorify Him' (Exodus 15:2). As it is stated: 'Out of the mouths of babies and sucklings You have founded strength' (Psalms 8:3). Rabbi Meir would say: From where is it derived that even fetuses in their mother's womb recited the song at the sea? As it is stated: 'In full assemblies, bless God, the Lord, you that are from the source of Israel' (Psalms 68:27), indicating that even children that are in the 'source,' i.e., their mother’s womb, blessed God when they gathered at the sea.

... ...Another interpretation (Ecclesiastes 12:11) "The sayings of the wise are like goads, like nails fixed in prodding sticks. They were given by one Shepherd." Just as the goad directs the cow so as to bring life to the world, so too words of Torah are only life for the world, as it is said, “It is a tree of life . . .” [Proverbs 3:18]. Or, just as the goad is movable, might it be so for words of Torah? Scripture says, “And like nails firmly planted.” [Or, might (words of Torah like nails) neither diminish nor increase? Scripture says, “firmly planted.”] Just as a plant flourishes and grows, so too words of Torah flourish and grow. 'Masters of Assemblies' these are students of the wise that enter into multiple assemblies and declare what is impure [to be] impure, and what is pure [to be] pure; what is impure [to be] in its place and what is pure [to be] in its place. Perhaps it will arise in one's mind that since Beit Shammai [declares] impure and Beit Hillel [declares] pure, so-and-so prohibits and so-and-so permits, [Why] should I henceforth study Torah? Scripture teaches "words" "the words" "these are the words" [see Exodus 19:6-7] all of these words were given by "one Shepherd" [Ecclesiastes 12:11]. One God created them, one Benefactor gave them, the Master of all deeds, blessed be He, said them. Now make for your heart chambers within chambers and bring into it the words of Beit Shammai and the words of Beit Hillel, the words of those who declare impure and the words of those who declare pure.

When righteous people came into the world, good comes into the world, and retribution departs from the world. And when they take their leave from the world, retribution comes into the world, and goodness departs from the world. When bad people come into the world, retribution comes into the world, and goodness departs from the world. And when they depart from the world, goodness comes back into the world, and retribution departs from the world. How do we know that, when righteous people come into the world, goodness comes into the world, and retribution departs from the world? Since it is said, and he called him Noah, Saying, this one will comfort us in our work and in the toil of our hands. And how do we know that, when they take their leave of the world, retribution comes into the world and goodness departs from the world? Since it is said, the righteous man perishes and no one lays it to heart, and it says, He enters into peace, they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness. He goes in peace. To the grave. And it says, but you, draw near Heather, Sons of the sorceress, offspring of the adulterer, and the harlot. And how do we know that when bad people come into the world, retribution comes into the world and goodness departs from the world? Since it is said, when the wicked comes, then comes also contempt, and with ignominy, reproach. And how do we know that, when he departs from the world, Goodness comes into the world and retribution leaves the world? Since it says, and when the wicked perish, there is exaltation. And it says, so that the Lord may turn from the fierceness of his anger and show you mercy and have compassion on you. So long as bad people are in the world, fierce anger is in the world. When they perish from the world, retribution and fierce wrath depart from the world. And it is not that the righteous people support the world when they are alive. Only, but even after death, as it says, and after seven days the waters of the flood came upon the Earth. Now what is the meaning of these seven days? These are the seven days of mourning for Methuselah, the righteous man, which held back the retribution from coming upon the world. Therefore, it is said, and after seven days. Another matter: What is the meaning of these seven days? Scripture thereby teaches that the omnipresent gave them seven days after the decree, so that they might repent, but they did not do so. Therefore they said, and after seven days. Another matter: and after seven days - This teaches that the omnipresent changed the order of the world for them, so that the sun came up in the West and set in the East. On that account it is said, and it came to pass after seven days. Another matter: It teaches that the omnipresent gave them food and drink, and they ate and drank, and he showed them a glimpse of the world to come. All this why? So they might understand and perceive and know what it is they had lost. All the time that Abraham was alive, there was plenty, since it says, and Abraham was old, while advanced in years, and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. But once Abraham had died, there was famine in the land. When Isaac came along,⁠a there was plenty, as it is said, and Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year onehundred fold. So long as Abraham was alive, the wells gushed forth water. When Abraham had died, What does it say? Now the Philistines had stopped and filled with Earth all the wells which his father's servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father. For they said, “Now that they do not gush forth water, they are only a hazard for travelers.” They therefore went and stopped them up. Isaac came along, and the wells gushed water, as it is said, and Isaac dug again the wells of water, which had been dug in the days of Abraham his father. And Isaac's servants dug in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. Before Jacob went down to Aram Naharaim, the House of Laban the Aramaean had not received a blessing, as it is said, for you had little before I came, and it has increased abundantly, and the Lord has blessed you wherever I turned. Once he came down, what does it say? And the Lord has blessed you wherever I turned. And it says, I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you. Before Joseph went down to Egypt, the House of Potiphar had not received a blessing. But once he went down, what does it say? From the time that he made them overseer in his house, and overall that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptians House for Joseph's sake. Before Jacob went down to Egypt, there had been famine, as it is said, for the famine has been in the land. These two years. Once he came down there, What does it say? Now here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. Said R. Yose, “when Jacob, our Patriarch died, the famine came back where it had been, as it is said, so do not fear; I will provide for you and for your little ones.” providing is stated here, and providing is stated later on. Just as in this context, it is a situation of famine, So in the other context, It is a situation of famine. So long as Joseph and the tribes were alive, the Israelites enjoyed greatness and honor, as it is said, and the children of Israel were fruitful and multiplied. When Joseph died, what does it say? And Joseph died. , and a new king arose. Who knew not Joseph, and he said to his people, come, Let us take counsel against him.

After the first temple was built, the Tent of Meeting was stored away, along with its boards, hooks, bars, pillars, and sockets. Even so, they used only the table which Moses had made, and the candlestick which Moses had made. The candlestick which Moses made did not require oil of anointing, for the first act of sanctification had sanctified it for its time and for all time. When the Ark was stored away, with it were stored away the bottle of manna, the jar of oil for anointing, the staff of Aaron, its buds and flowers, and the chest in which the Philistines had placed wood for the God of Israel. All of them were in the House of the Holy of Holies. And when the Ark was stored away, the commandments were stored away. Who stored it away? Josiah the King stored it away. Why did he do so? When he saw written in the Torah, The Lord will bring you and your king whom you set over you to a nation that neither you nor your fathers have known, He commanded the Levites and they hid it away,⁠a as it is said, And he said to the Levites who taught all Israel and who were holy to the Lord, put the Holy Ark in the house which Solomon, the son of David, King of Israel, built: You need no longer carry it upon your shoulders. He said to them, “Hide it away for future use, so that it will not be taken away into exile like the rest of the temple utensils, so put it back in its place, as it is said, now serve the Lord your God and his people Israel.” At once the Levites hid it away. M. R. Eliezer says, “The Ark was taken away in exile to Babylonia, as it is said, behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your father's have stored up till this day shall be carried to Babylonia, no thing will there be left, says the Lord, and thing refers only to the commandments which are in it.” N. R. Simeon says, “Lo, It says, In the spring of the year King Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylonia with the precious vessels of the House of the Lord - this refers to the ark.” O. R. Judah b. Laqish says, “The Ark was hidden away in its place, as it is said, and the poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the Holy Place before the inner sanctuary; But they could not be seen from outside; And they are there to this day.” When the first Temple was destroyed, kingship ceased from the house of David, and the ‘urim and tummim ceased, and cities of refuge came to an end, as it is said “And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of themost holy things, till there stood up a priest with ‘urim and with tummim ”(Ezra 2:63), like a man who says to his friend: Until Elijah will come, or: Until the dead will live. When Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, the latter prophets, died, the Holy Spirit came to an end in Israel, but even so, they made themhear through an echo. It happened that the sages entered into the house of Guria in Jericho and theyheard an echo saying: There is a man who is worthy to [receive] the Holy Spirit, but his generation is unworthy for that, andthey set their eyes upon Hillel the elder. And when he died, they said about him: Woe for the humble man, woe for the pious man, the disciple of Ezra. Another time they were in sitting in Yavne and heard an echo saying: There is a man who is worthy to [receive] the Holy Spirit, but his generation is unworthy for that. They set their eyes upon Samuel the Little. And when he died, they said about him: Woe for the humble man, woefor the pious man, the disciple of Hillel the Elder. Also he said at the time ofhis death: Simeon and Ishmael [are destined] to [execution by] sword, and his associates [are destined] to death, and the remainder of the people will be for spoils, and much distress will come after that. And he said it in Aramaic. Also concerning R. Judah b. Baba they ordained that they should say about him, Woe for the humble man, woe for the pious man, disciple Samuel the Little. But the times did not allow it. The year in which Shimon the Righteous died [he said to them] "in this year I will die" "how do you know this?" they responded. He (Shimon the Righteous) responded: "all of the Yom Kippur days there was an old man dressed in all white who would go with me into the holy of holies and leave with me, on this year he went in with me but did not come out with me." Seven days passed after the holiday and he died. From the time of the death of Rebbi Shimon the Righteous they ceased blessing in the name of Hashem.

Rabbi Ishmael said: From the day that the Temple was destroyed, it would be appropriate that we not eat meat or drink wine (since these were used in the Temple service). But a court does not decree (restrictions) on the community which they cannot uphold. He would say that since they (the Romans) decree upon us that we not learn Torah, we should decree upon the community that they not marry women (since they do not know marriage and family laws), and not have children - and as a consequence, the seed of Abraham will cease. Rather, leave Israel alone (to continue to do as they now do, marrying and having families); it is better that (if they transgress), they do so inadvertently and not intentionally.