[them], he would [in fact] not have worshipped [them]; and [consequently] the Creator only informed him (Moses) of the [usual] course of [things in] this world'. Behold! what this resembles;-[it is just] as if He had said: With regard to this people, [I know that] there will be among them righteous and wicked men; in which case the wicked man could not surely [on this account] say, that it was already decreed that he should be a wicked man, namely, because He informed Moses [in general terms], that there would be wicked men in Israel, in the same way as it is said [also in general terms]: For the poor shall never cease out of the land (Deut. xv. 11.)?-Now it was exactly so with regard to the Egyptians, [namely, that] every one of those Egyptians, who dealt so wickedly with the Israelites, had it not been

literally and ולא הודיעו הבורא אלא מנהגו של עולם

:

the Creator made only known to him the custom (practice, i. e. the usual course) of the world.

2 That is, without definitely declaring which or who is to be the poor man, but merely alluding to the usual course of things in this world, it being very natural that among a whole nation there should be poor men. Nor is it less natural that among a whole nation there should be wicked men, than that there should be poor men; yet it would be as absurd in the wicked man to say: that he must needs be wicked in consequence of the declaration made by God in general terms: that there will be wicked men in Israel, as it would be in the that he must needs be poor, in consequence declared that the poor shall never cease out of

poor man to say of God's having the land.

his wish to deal wickedly with them, was at liberty3 [not to do so], seeing that He did by no means definitely decree that any particular individual [should do so], but [He merely] revealed to him (Abraham), that his seed would in the end (ultimately), and at a future time, be in bondage in a land that was not theirs. But now we have already said, that it is not in the power of man to comprehend how the Holy One, blessed be He! knows the things that are to come to pass in future times.

* 1 literally: the power [was] in his hand.

PRECEPTS RELATING TO REPENTANCE.

CHAPTER VII.

Now since free-will was granted to every man, as was demonstrated by us, a man should endeavour to become a penitent; to make a verbal confession of his sins; and to shake off his sins from his hands; so that he may die a penitent (convert), and [thus] deserve [to partake of the blessings of] the life of the world that is to come.

II. A man ought always to look upon himself as if he were at the point of death1; now perchance he may die at this die at this very hour (immediately), and consequently while persevering in his sins; he ought therefore to turn from his sins forthwith, and not to say: I will turn when I grow old; lest he die before he grows old. This is that which Solomon said in

literally: turned to die (to death); an idiom used by the Rabbins to denote one whose life is drawing to a close (who is at the point of death).

his wisdom: Let thy garments be ALWAYS white, (Eccles. ix. 8).

רבי אליעזר אומר שוב יום אחד לפני מיתתך שאלו 2 תלמידיו את רבי אליעזר וכי אדם יודע אי זה יום ימות אמר להם וכל שכן ישוב היום שמא ימות למחר ונמצא כל ימיו בתשובה ואף שלמה אמר בחכמתו בכל עת יהיו בגדיך לבנים ושמן על ראשך אל יחסר אמר רבי יוחנן בן זכאי משל לאדם שזימן את עבדיו לסעודה ולא קבע להם זמן פקחים שבהם קשטו את עצמן וישבו על פתח בית המלך אמרו כלום חסר לבית המלך טפשין שבהם הלכו למלאכתן אמרו כלום יש סעודה בלא טורח פתאום בקש המלך את עבדיו פקחים שבהם נכנסו לפני המלך כשהם מקושטין והטפשין שבהן נכנסו לפניו כשהן מלוכלכין שמח המלך לקראת פקחים וכעס לקראת טפשין אמר הללו שקשטו את עצמן לסעודה ישבו ויאכלו וישתו הללו שלא קשטו את

עצמן לסעודה יעמדו ויראו

"Rabbi Eliezer [used to] say: Turn (repent) one day before thou diest. On his disciples asking him: How can a man know the day on which he is to die? he said unto them: So much more ought he to turn (repent) to-day, lest he die tomorrow, and consequently [he ought to be engaged] in repentance all his days; and so also Solomon said: Let thy garments be ALWAYS white; and let thy head lack no ointment, (Eccles. ix. 8). Rabbi Jochanan the son of Zackai said, by way of parable; It is like one (a king) who invited his servants to a repast without appointing the time; now the prudent men that were among them dressed themselves neatly, and sat down at the door of the royal mansion, saying [to themselves]: Can there be any thing wanting in the house of a king? (and consequently the repast may be prepared at a moment's notice; we ought therefore to keep ourselves in readiness); but the foolish men that were among them went about their business, saying [to themselves]: Is there any repast [that can be prepared] without trouble? (and consequently there will still be time enough for us to dress); on

а

III. Ye must not think that only such transgressions require repentance as are connected with a [positive] act, as for instance, fornication, robbery, or theft; [it is not so], but in the same way as one ought to turn from these [transgressions], so ought he also to search into the wicked dispositions which he may have, and to turn from anger, hatred, jealousy, mockery, hunting for mammon and honours, or hunting for [dainty] food, and the like; from all these ought a man to turn with repentance. And indeed these sins are even more serious1 than those connected with a [positive] act, inasmuch as when a man is plunged in these, it is very difficult [for him] to part with them, just as it is said: Let the wicked forsake &c. (Isai. lv. 7).

IV. Moreover the penitent man (convert) must not imagine that, in consequence of the ini

a sudden the king summoned his servants; the prudent men that were among them, entered into the presence of the king neatly dressed, but the foolish men that were among them, entered into his presence dirty. The king [therefore] expressed his joy on meeting the prudent men, but was angry on meeting the foolish men; and so he said: They who dressed themselves neatly for the repast-let them sit down, eat, and drink; but they who did not dress themselves neatly for the repast-let them stand and look."

Bab. Talmud, Treatise Sabbath, Section 23.

1 IND Dp literally: harder than those.

2 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man HIS THOUGHTS; and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.