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Babylonian Talmud: Tractate Baba Bathrabut according to him who said [that the division was made] in accordance with [the number of] those that entered the land, what [purpose does the instruction] 'To the more you shall give the more inheritance' [serve]?1 — This is a difficulty. R. Papa further said to Abaye: According to him who said [that the land was divided] in accordance with [the number of] those who came out of Egypt, one can well understand why the daughters of Zelophehad' complained,2 but according to him who said [that the division was made] in accordance with [the number of] those that entered the land, why did they complain? Surely he was not there3 that he should [he entitled to] receive [a share]!4 — But [their complaint was with reference] to the reversion5 to, and [their right] of taking [a share] in the possessions of Hepher.6 According to him who said that [the land was divided] in accordance with [the number of] those that come out of Egypt, one can well understand why the sons of Joseph complained; as it is written, And the children of Joseph spoke;7 but according to him who said [that the division was made] in accordance with [the number of] those that entered the land, why did they complain? Surely all of them had received [their respective shares]! — [They complained] on account of the many minors8 they had [in their tribe].9 Abaye said: From this it is to be inferred [that there was not [even] one who did not receive [a share in the land]. For, should it enter your mind [to say that] there was one who did not receive [a share], would he not have complained?10 And if it be said that Scripture recorded [the case of him only] who complained and benefited, but did not record [the case of anyone] who complained and did not benefit, [it may be retorted]: The children of Joseph, surely, complained and did not benefit, and [yet] Scripture recorded their case. There,11 [it may be replied, Scripture desired] to impart to us good advice, [namely,] that a person should he on his guard against an evil eye. And this indeed is [the purpose] of what Joshua said unto them; as it is written, And Joshua said unto them: 'If thou be a great people, get thee up to the forest'.12 [It is this that] he said to them: 'Go and hide yourselves in the forests so that an evil eye may have no power over you'.
Baba Bathra 118bThey said unto him, 'We are of the seed of Joseph over whom the evil eye has no power'. as it is written, Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine by a fountain,1 and R. Abbahu said: Do not render,2 'by the fountain,'3 but 'those who transcend the eye'.3 R. Jose son of R. Hanina said, [this4 is inferred] from the following [verse]: And let them grow like fishes into a multitude in the midst of the earth.5 [This means that] as the fishes in the sea are covered by the waters and no eye has any power over them, so, in the case of the seed of Joseph. no [evil] eye has [any] power over them. 'The share of the spies was taken by Joshua and Caleb'.6 Whence is this7 [derived]? — 'Ulla replied: [From] the Scriptural verse which states, But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive of those men.8 What, [it may be asked, is meant by the expression.] 'remained alive'? If it means [that] they actually remained alive, surely another verse is already on record, [stating.] And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.9 What, then [is meant by] 'remained alive'? They10 lived11 on12 their13 portion. 'The murmurers and the company of Korah had no share in the land'.14 But has it not been taught [elsewhere]. 'Joshua and Caleb took the shares of the spies, of the murmurers and of the company of Korah'? — [This is] no difficulty: [one] Master compares the murmurers to the spies15 [while] the other] Master does not compare the murmurers to the spies. For it was taught: Our father died in the wilderness.16 refers to Zelophehad; and he was not among the company of them,16 refers to the company of the spies; that gathered themselves together against the Lord,16 refers to the murmurers; in the company of Korah,16 bears the obvious meaning. [Thus, one] Master compares the murmurers to the spies17 and [the other] Master does not.18 R. Papa further said to Abaye: But according to him who compares the murmurers to the spies, have Joshua and Caleb had [their shares] multiplied so [many times] that they inherited all the land of Israel?19 — He said to him: We mean the murmurers in the company of Korah.20 R. Papa further said to Abaye: According to him who said that the land was divided in accordance with [the number of] those who came out of Egypt, it is correct for Scripture to state, And there fell tell parts to Manasseh.21 [because] the six [parts] for [the] six houses of their fathers22 and the four [parts] of these23 are ten; but according to him who said that [the land was divided] in accordance with [the number of] those who entered the land. [the number of the Parts] would only have been eight. [since] six [parts] for the six fathers' houses and two24 [parts] of theirs are [only] eight! — And according to your reasoning were there [not] nine25 [parts only] even according to him who said [that the division was] in accordance with [the number of] those who came out of Egypt? All, however, you can say in reply26 is [that] they had [also a share of] one brother of [their] father, here27 [then] also, [it may be said that] they had [the shares of] two brothers of [their] father. For it was taught: Thou shalt surely give them a [possession of an inheritance],28 refers to29 the inheritance of their father; among their father's brethren,28 refers to29 the inheritance of their father's father; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them,28 refers to29 the portion of the birthright.30 R. Eliezer b. Jacob said: They also took the share of their father's brother.31 for it is said, Thou shalt surely give.32 But according to him who said [that] they had two father's brothers?33 — That34 is deduced from, a possession of an inheritance.35 R. Papa further said to Abaye: Whom36 does Scripture enumerate?37 If children are enumerated, there were [surely] more [than ten];38 if fathers' houses are enumerated. [these] were [only] six!39 - To Next Folio -
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