(ד) אַתֶּ֣ם רְאִיתֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתִי לְמִצְרָ֑יִם וָאֶשָּׂ֤א אֶתְכֶם֙ עַל־כַּנְפֵ֣י נְשָׁרִ֔ים וָאָבִ֥א אֶתְכֶ֖ם אֵלָֽי׃
(4) ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Me.
אָמַר רַבָּה בַּר רַב הוּנָא: הָכָא בְּצִפּוֹר דְּרוֹר עָסְקִינַן, לְפִי שֶׁאֵינָהּ מְקַבֶּלֶת מָרוּת. דְּתָנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל: לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמָהּ ״צִפּוֹר דְּרוֹר״ — מִפְּנֵי שֶׁדָּרָה בַּבַּיִת כְּבַשָּׂדֶה. הַשְׁתָּא דְּאָתֵית לְהָכִי — חַיָּה אַחַיָּה נָמֵי לָא קַשְׁיָא, הָא בְּבֵיבָר גָּדוֹל, הָא בְּבֵיבָר קָטָן.
Rabba bar Rav Huna said: Here, in the mishna, according to which a bird in a house is not considered trapped, we are dealing with a free bird, a sparrow, because it does not accept authority. That bird is not intimidated and evades capture even in a house, as the school of Rabbi Yishmael taught: Why is it called a free bird [tzippor dror]? Because it dwells [dara] in a house as it does in a field. Therefore, the distinction between a roofed and unroofed enclosure resolves the apparent contradiction between the mishna and the Tosefta. The Gemara says: Now that you have arrived at this understanding, that the difference between the rulings in the two sources is predicated on different circumstances and not on a tannaitic dispute, the apparent contradiction between the ruling with regard to an animal in the mishna and the ruling with regard to an animal in the Tosefta is also not difficult. This, the ruling in the Tosefta which prohibits apprehending the animal, is referring to a large enclosure from which the animal cannot escape, but it can still avoid being apprehended. Therefore, the trapping is considered inadequate, and apprehending the animal constitutes trapping. That, the ruling in the mishna that permits apprehending the animal, is referring to a small enclosure in which the animal cannot evade its pursuers and requires no further trapping.
אַתְּרֵי גִישְׁרֵי דְרוֹגְנַג וְשָׁוַאר מֵהַאי לְהַאי וּמֵהַאי לְהַאי וְנָקֵיט תְּרֵי מִזְגֵי דְחַמְרָא בִּידֵיהּ וּמוֹרִיק מֵהַאי לְהַאי וּמֵהַאי לְהַאי וְלָא נָטְפָא נִיטּוּפְתָּא לְאַרְעָא וְאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם יַעֲלוּ שָׁמַיִם יֵרְדוּ תְהוֹמוֹת הֲוָה עַד דִּשְׁמַעוּ בֵּי מַלְכוּתָא וְקַטְלוּהוּ אָמַר רַבָּה לְדִידִי חֲזֵי לִי אוּרְזִילָא בַּר יוֹמֵיהּ דַּהֲוָה כְּהַר תָּבוֹר וְהַר תָּבוֹר כַּמָּה הָוֵי אַרְבַּע פַּרְסֵי וּמְשָׁאכָא דְצַוְּארֵיהּ תְּלָתָא פַּרְסֵי וּבֵי מַרְבַּעְתָּא דְרֵישֵׁיהּ פַּרְסָא וּפַלְגָא רְמָא כּוּפְתָּא וּסְכַר לֵיהּ לְיַרְדְּנָא וְאָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה לְדִידִי חַזְיָא לִי הָהִיא אַקְרוּקְתָּא דְּהַוְיָא כִּי אַקְרָא דְהַגְרוּנְיָא וְאַקְרָא דְהַגְרוּנְיָא כַּמָּה הָוְיָא שִׁתִּין בָּתֵּי אֲתָא תַּנִּינָא בַּלְעַהּ אֲתָא פּוּשְׁקַנְצָא וּבַלְעַהּ לְתַנִּינָא וּסְלֵיק יְתֵיב בְּאִילָנָא תָּא חֲזִי כַּמָּה נְפִישׁ חֵילֵיהּ דְּאִילָנָא אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא בַּר שְׁמוּאֵל אִי לָא הֲוַאי הָתָם לָא הֵימַנִי וְאָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה זִימְנָא חֲדָא הֲוָה קָא אָזְלִינַן בִּסְפִינְתָּא וַחֲזֵינַן הָהוּא כַּוְורָא דְּיָתְבָא לֵיהּ אָכְלָה טִינָא בְּאוּסְיֵיהּ וְאַדְחוּהוּ מַיָּא וְשַׁדְיוּהוּ לְגוּדָּא וַחֲרוּב מִינֵּיהּ שִׁתִּין מָחוֹזֵי וַאֲכוּל מִינֵּיהּ שִׁתִּין מָחוֹזֵי וּמְלַחוּ מִינֵּיהּ שִׁתִּין מָחוֹזֵי וּמַלִּאוּ מֵחַד גִּלְגְּלָא דְעֵינֵיהּ תְּלָת מְאָה גַּרְבֵי מִשְׁחָא וְכִי הֲדַרַן לְבָתַר תְּרֵיסַר יַרְחֵי שַׁתָּא חֲזֵינַן דַּהֲוָה קָא מְנַסְּרִי מִגַּרְמֵיהּ מְטַלְּלָתָא וְיָתְבִי לְמִבְנִינְהוּ הָנָךְ מָחוֹזֵי וְאָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה זִימְנָא חֲדָא הֲוָה קָא אָזְלִינַן בִּסְפִינְתָּא וַחֲזֵינַן הָהוּא כְּווֹרָא דְּיָתְבָא לֵיהּ חָלְתָּא אַגַּבֵּיהּ וְקָדַח אַגְמָא עִילָּוֵיהּ סָבְרִינַן יַבֶּשְׁתָּא הִיא וּסְלֵקִינַן וַאֲפֵינַן וּבַשְּׁלִינַן אַגַּבֵּיהּ וְכַד חַם גַּבֵּיהּ אִתְהֲפִיךְ וְאִי לָאו דַּהֲוָה מְקָרְבָא סְפִינְתָּא הֲוָה טָבְעִינַן וְאָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה זִימְנָא חֲדָא הֲוָה אָזְלִינַן בִּסְפִינְתָּא וּסְגַאי סְפִינְתָּא בֵּין שִׁיצָא לְשִׁיצָא דִּכְוָארָא תְּלָתָא יוֹמֵי וּתְלָתָא לֵילָווֹתָא אִיהוּ בִּזְקִיפָא וַאֲנַן בְּשִׁיפּוּלָא וְכִי תֵּימָא לָא מְסַגְּיָא סְפִינְתָּא טוּבָא כִּי אֲתָא רַב דִּימִי אָמַר כְּמֵיחַם קוּמְקוּמָא דְמַיָּא מְסַגְּיָא שִׁתִּין פַּרְסֵי וְשָׁאדֵי פָּרָשָׁא גִּירָא וְקָדְמָה לֵיהּ וְאָמַר רַב אָשֵׁי הָהוּא גִּילְדָּנָא דְיַמָּא הוּא דְּאִית לֵיהּ תְּרֵי שִׁייצֵי וְאָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה זִימְנָא חֲדָא הֲוָה אָזְלִינַן בִּסְפִינְתָּא וַחֲזֵינַן הָהוּא צִיפְּרָא דְּקָאֵים עַד קַרְצוּלֵיהּ בְּמַיָּא וְרֵישֵׁיהּ בִּרְקִיעַ וְאָמְרִינַן לֵיכָּא מַיָּא וּבָעֵינַן לֵחוּת לְאִקּוֹרֵי נַפְשִׁין וּנְפַק בַּת קָלָא וְאָמַר לַן לָא תֵּיחוּתוּ הָכָא דִּנְפַלַת לֵיהּ חֲצִיצָא לְבַר נַגָּרָא הָא שַׁב שְׁנֵי וְלָא קָא מָטְיָא אַאַרְעָא וְלָאו מִשּׁוּם דִּנְפִישִׁי מַיָּא אֶלָּא מִשּׁוּם דִּרְדִפִי מַיָּא אָמַר רַב אָשֵׁי וְהָהוּא זִיז שָׂדַי הוּא דִּכְתִיב וְזִיז שָׂדַי עִמָּדִי וְאָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה זִימְנָא חֲדָא הֲוָה קָא אָזְלִינַן בְּמַדְבְּרָא וַחֲזֵינַן הָנְהוּ אֲווֹזֵי דְּשָׁמְטִי גַּדְפַיְיהוּ מִשֻּׁמְנַיְיהוּ וְקָא נָגְדִי נַחֲלֵי דְמִשְׁחָא מִתּוּתַיְיהוּ אָמֵינָא לְהוּ אִית לַן בְּגַוַּיְיכוּ חֻלָקָא לְעָלְמָא דְאָתֵי חֲדָא דְּלִי גַּדְפָּא וַחֲדָא דְּלִי אַטְמָא כִּי אֲתַאי לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר לִי עֲתִידִין יִשְׂרָאֵל לִיתֵּן עֲלֵיהֶן אֶת הַדִּין (סִימָן כְּעַפְרָא דִתְכֵילְתָּא טְרַקְתֵּיהּ עַקְרַבָּא לְסִלְתֵּיהּ) וְאָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה זִימְנָא חֲדָא הֲוָה קָא אָזְלִינַן בְּמַדְבְּרָא וְאִיתְלַוִּי בַּהֲדַן הַהוּא טַיָּיעָא דַּהֲוָה שָׁקֵיל עַפְרָא וּמוֹרַח לֵיהּ וְאָמַר הָא אוֹרְחָא לְדוּכְתָּא פְּלָן וְהָא אוֹרְחָא לְדוּכְתָּא פְּלָן אָמְרִינַן לֵיהּ כַּמָּה מְרַחֲקִינַן מִמַּיָּא וְאָמַר לַן הַבוּ לִי עַפְרָא יָהֲבִינַן לֵיהּ וְאָמַר לַן תַּמְנֵי פַּרְסֵי תָּנֵינַן וְיָהֲבִינַן לֵיהּ אָמַר לַן דִּמְרַחֲקִינַן תְּלָתָא פַּרְסֵי אֲפַכִית לֵיהּ וְלָא יְכֵילִית לֵיהּ אָמַר לִי תָּא אַחֲוֵי לָךְ מֵתֵי מִדְבָּר אֲזַלִי חֲזִיתִינְהוּ וְדָמוּ כְּמַאן דְּמִיבַּסְּמִי
on the two bridges of the river Rognag, and he jumped from this one to that one, and from that one to this one. And he was holding two cups of wine in his hands and was pouring from this one to that one, and from that one to this one, and not one drop fell to the ground. And that day was stormy, similar to the description in a verse dealing with seafarers: “They mounted up to the heavens, they went down to the deeps; their soul melted away because of trouble” (Psalms 107:26). He continued in this manner until word of his behavior was heard in the house of the king, and they killed him. Rabba said: I have seen a day-old antelope [urzila] that was as large as Mount Tabor. And how large is Mount Tabor? It is four parasangs. And the length of its neck was three parasangs, and the place where his head rests was a parasang and a half. It cast feces [kufta] and thereby dammed up the Jordan. And Rabba bar bar Ḥana said: I have seen a certain frog [akrokta] that was as large as the fort [akra] of Hagronya. And how large is the fort of Hagronya? It is as large as sixty houses. A snake came and swallowed the frog. A raven came and swallowed the snake, and flew up and sat in a tree. Come and see how great is the strength of the tree, which could bear the weight of that raven. Rav Pappa bar Shmuel said: If I had not been there and seen this, I would not believe it. § And Rabba bar bar Ḥana said: Once we were traveling in a ship and we saw a certain fish in whose nostril [be’usyeih] a mud eater [akhla tina], i.e., a type of insect, had sat and killed him. And the waters thrust the fish and threw it upon the shore. And sixty districts were destroyed by the fish, and sixty districts ate from it, and another sixty districts salted its meat to preserve it. And they filled from one of its eyeballs three hundred flasks of oil. And when we returned there after the twelve months of the year had passed, we saw that they were cutting beams from its bones, and they had set out to build those districts that had been destroyed. And Rabba bar bar Ḥana said: Once we were traveling on a ship and we saw a certain fish upon which sand had settled, and grass grew on it. We assumed that it was dry land and went up and baked and cooked on the back of the fish, but when its back grew hot it turned over. And were it not for the fact that the ship was close by, we would have drowned. And Rabba bar bar Ḥana said: Once we were traveling in a ship and the ship traveled between one fin [shitza] and the other fin of a fish for three days and three nights. The fish was swimming in the opposite direction of the ship, so that it was swimming upward against the wind and the waves, and we were sailing downward. And if you would say that the ship did not travel very fast, when Rav Dimi came from Eretz Yisrael to Babylonia he said: In the short amount of time required to heat a kettle of water, that ship can travel sixty parasangs. And another demonstration of its speed is that a horseman shot an arrow, and yet the ship was traveling so swiftly that it outraced it. And Rav Ashi said: That fish was a sea gildana, which has two sets of fins. And Rabba bar bar Ḥana said: Once we were traveling in a ship and we saw a certain bird that was standing with water up to its ankles [kartzuleih] and its head was in the sky. And we said to ourselves that there is no deep water here, and we wanted to go down to cool ourselves off. And a Divine Voice emerged and said to us: Do not go down here, as the ax of a carpenter fell into it seven years ago and it has still not reached the bottom. And this is not because the water is so large and deep. Rather, it is because the water is turbulent. Rav Ashi said: And that bird is called ziz sadai, wild beast, as it is written: “I know all the fowls of the mountains; and the ziz sadai is Mine” (Psalms 50:11). And Rabba bar bar Ḥana said: Once we were traveling in the desert and we saw these geese whose wings were sloping because they were so fat, and streams of oil flowed beneath them. I said to them: Shall we have a portion of you in the World-to-Come? One raised a wing, and one raised a leg, signaling an affirmative response. When I came before Rabbi Elazar, he said to me: The Jewish people will eventually be held accountable for the suffering of the geese. Since the Jews do not repent, the geese are forced to continue to grow fat as they wait to be given to the Jewish people as a reward. § The Gemara provides a mnemonic for the items shown by an Arab man to Rabba bar bar Ḥana in the following stories: Like the dust of the sky-blue; the scorpion stung the basket. And Rabba bar bar Ḥana said: Once we were traveling in the desert and we were accompanied by a certain Arab who would take dust and smell it and say: This is the road to such and such a place, and that is the road to such and such a place. We said to him: How far are we from water? And he said to us: Bring me dust. We brought it to him, and he said: Eight parasangs. Later, we said this a second time, and gave him dust, and he said to us that we are at a distance of three parasangs. I switched the type of dust to test him, but I could not confuse him, as he was an expert in this matter. That Arab said to me: Come, I will show you the dead of the wilderness, i.e., the Jewish people who left Egypt and died in the wilderness. I went and saw them; and they had the appearance of one who is intoxicated,
יוֹמָא חַד הֲוָה יָתֵיב גַּבֵּיהּ הָהוּא גַּבְרָא דַּהֲוָה יָדַע בְּלִישָּׁנָא דְצִיפּוֹרֵי אֲתָא עוֹרְבָא וְקָא קָרֵי לֵיהּ אֲמַר לֵיהּ מַאי קָאָמַר אֲמַר לֵיהּ עִילִישׁ בְּרַח עִילִישׁ בְּרַח אָמַר עוֹרְבָא שַׁקָּרָא הוּא וְלָא סָמֵיכְנָא עֲלֵיהּ אַדְּהָכִי אֲתָא יוֹנָה וְקָא קָרְיָא אֲמַר לֵיהּ מַאי קָאָמְרָה אֲמַר לֵיהּ עִילִישׁ בְּרַח עִילִישׁ בְּרַח אָמַר כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּיוֹנָה מְתִילָא שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ מִתְרְחִישׁ לִי נִיסָּא אָמַר אֵיזִיל אֶחְזֵי בְּנָתֵיהּ דְּרַב נַחְמָן אִי קָיְימָן בְּהֵימָנוּתַיְיהוּ אַהְדְּרִינְהוּ אֲמַר נְשֵׁי כׇּל מִילֵּי דְּאִית לְהוּ סָדְרָן לַהֲדָדֵי בְּבֵית הַכִּסֵּא שַׁמְעִינְהוּ דְּקָאָמְרָן עָדֵי גּוּבְרִין וּנְהַרְדָּעֵי גּוּבְרִין לֵימָא לְהוּ לְשָׁבוֹיַיְהוּ דְּלִירַחֲקִינְהוּ מֵהָכָא דְּלָא לֵיתוֹ אִינָשִׁין וְלִישְׁמְעִי וְלִיפְרְקִינַן קָם עֲרַק אֲתָא אִיהוּ וְהָהוּא גַּבְרָא לְדִידֵיהּ אִיתְרְחִישׁ לֵיהּ נִיסָּא עֲבַר בְּמַבָּרָא וְהָהוּא גַּבְרָא אַשְׁכְּחוּהּ וְקַטְלוּהּ כִּי הָדְרָן וְאָתָן אֲמַר הֲווֹ קָא בָחֲשָׁן קִידְרָא בִּכְשָׁפִים
One day a certain man was sitting with him in captivity who knew the language of birds. A raven came and called to Rav Ilish. Rav Ilish said to the man: What is the raven saying? He said to him that it is saying: Ilish, escape; Ilish, escape. Rav Ilish said: It is a lying raven, and I do not rely on it. In the meantime, a dove came and was calling out. Rav Ilish said to the man: What is it saying? He said to him that the dove said: Ilish, escape; Ilish, escape. Ilish said: The Congregation of Israel is compared to a dove; I conclude from the dove’s words that a miracle will happen for me, and I can attempt to escape. Rav Ilish said: Before I leave, I will go and I will see Rav Naḥman’s daughters. If they remained steadfast in their faith and are acting appropriately, then I will take them with me and I will return them to their home. He said: Women tell all of their secret matters to each other in the bathroom, so he went there to eavesdrop on them. He heard them saying: These captors are now our husbands, and the men of Neharde’a to whom we are married are our husbands. We should tell our captors to distance us from here so that our husbands should not come to this area and hear that we are here, and redeem us, and take us home. They preferred to remain with their captors. Upon hearing this Rav Ilish arose and escaped. He and that man who knew the language of the birds came to a river crossing. A miracle happened for him and he crossed the river on a ferry, and the captors found that man and killed him. When Rav Naḥman’s daughters were returned and they came back from their captivity, Rav Ilish said: They would stir the pot with witchcraft, and that is why they were not burned by the boiling pot, but it was not due to their righteousness.
(ג) ד"א ואשא אתכם על כנפי נשרים, מה נשתנה נשר זה מכל העופות כולם, שכל העופות כולן נותנין את בניהם בין רגליהם מפני שהן מתייראין מעוף אחר שהוא פורח על גביהם, אבל הנשר הזה אינו מתיירא אלא מאדם זה בלבד שלא יזרוק בו חץ, אמר מוטב שיכנס בו ולא בבנו. – משל לאחד שהיה מהלך בדרך, והיה בנו מנהיג לפניו, ובאו לסטים לשבותו מלפניו, נטלו מלפניו ונתנו מלאחריו; בא הזאב לטרפו מאחוריו, נטלו מאחריו ונתנו לפניו, לסטים מלפניו וזאב מלאחריו נטלו ונתנו על כתיפו, שנ' (דברים א) ובמדבר אשר ראית אשר נשאך ה' אלהיך וגו'.
(3) Variantly: "and I bore you on eagles' wings": How is the eagle different from all other birds? All other birds keep their young under their feet, fearing other birds that fly above them — unlike the eagle, who fears man alone, that he not shoot an arrow at him. Better that it strike it and not its young. An analogy: A man was walking on the road leading his son before him, when robbers came to snatch his son — whereupon he placed him behind him — whereupon a wolf came to snatch him from behind — whereupon he placed him before him. Robbers before him and a wolf behind him, he took his son and placed him on his shoulder, viz.: (Devarim 1:31) "… and in the desert, where you saw how the L rd your G d bore you, as a man bears his son.
אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: הָרוֹאֶה נָהָר בַּחֲלוֹם, יַשְׁכִּים וְיֹאמַר: ״הִנְנִי נֹטֶה אֵלֶיהָ כְּנָהָר שָׁלוֹם״, קוֹדֶם שֶׁיִּקְדְּמֶנּוּ פָּסוּק אַחֵר — ״כִּי יָבֹא כַנָּהָר צָר״. הָרוֹאֶה צִפּוֹר בַּחֲלוֹם, יַשְׁכִּים וְיֹאמַר ״כְּצִפֳּרִים עָפוֹת כֵּן יָגֵן וְגוֹ׳״, קוֹדֶם שֶׁיִּקְדְּמֶנּוּ פָּסוּק אַחֵר — ״כְּצִפּוֹר נוֹדֶדֶת מִן קִנָּהּ וְגוֹ׳״. הָרוֹאֶה קְדֵרָה בַּחֲלוֹם, יַשְׁכִּים וְיֹאמַר: ״ה׳ תִּשְׁפֹּת שָׁלוֹם לָנוּ״, קוֹדֶם שֶׁיִּקְדְּמֶנּוּ פָּסוּק אַחֵר — ״שְׁפֹת הַסִּיר שְׁפֹת״.
Since rivers, birds, and pots have ambiguous connotations, it is recommended that someone who sees them in a dream recite a verse that interprets the dream positively. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: One who sees something in a dream that may be interpreted ambiguously should quickly recite an appropriate verse suggestive of a positive interpretation. For example, one who sees a river in a dream should rise early and recite: “I will extend peace to her like a river,” before a different verse, with a negative connotation, can precede it in becoming reality: “For distress will come in like a river” (Isaiah 59:19). One who sees a bird in a dream should rise early and recite: “As birds hovering, so will the Lord of hosts protect Jerusalem,” before a different verse, with a negative connotation, can precede it in becoming reality: “As a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man that wanders from his place” (Proverbs 27:8). One who sees a pot in a dream should rise early and recite: “Lord, You will establish peace for us,” before a different verse, which concludes with a wrathful prophecy, can precede it in becoming reality: “Set on the pot, set it on” (Ezekiel 24:3).
(א) ולא יזבחו עוד את זבחיהם לשעירים היו ישראל במצרים להוטים אחר החכמה הזאת ונמשכים אחריה מאד לדעת מהן עתידות, ונקראו שעירים לפי שהם מתדמים בדמות שעירים, או על שם שאדם משתער בראיתם. וכן נקראו שדים על שם שהם שוכנים במקום שדוד וחרב כגון המדברות וקצוי הצפון החרבים שאין שם ישוב כלל לרוב הקרירות. (ב) וכתב הרמב"ן ז"ל כי עיקר הויתם משני יסודות קלים, והם האש והרוח, ועל כן יטוסו לרוב דקותם וקלותם, וכשם שכל הנבראים בעולם השפל הזה בכלל בין בעלי חיים ובעלי הצומח והדומם הם מורכבים מארבעה יסודות, כן היתה יצירת השדים במעשה בראשית מורכבת משני יסודות אלה, אבל היו המורכבים מארבעה יסודות גוף גס ומורגש להשגת האדם, והשדים המורכבים משני יסודות אלה הם גוף דק איננו מורגש ולא מושג לחושי האדם, אבל הם מתדמים ומתלבשים צורה לעיני הרואים, והנה הם גוף רוחני, כי כן היסודות האלה רוחניים, וכשם שהמורכבים מארבע יסודות הויתם וקיומם הוא חבור היסודות, ובריאותם מזג היסודות, וחלים כאשר יגברו זה על זה, ומיתתם פרודם זה מזה, כן הוית השדים וקיומם הוא חבור שני היסודות ומיתתם בהפרדם זה מזה, וזה שאמרו רבותינו ז"ל ששה דברים נאמרו בשדים, שלשה כמלאכי השרת, יש להם כנפים כמלאכי השרת וטסין כמלאכי השרת ויודעין מה שעתיד להיות כמלאכי השרת, יודעין סלקא דעתך, אלא אימא שומעין מה שעתיד להיות כמלאכי השרת. (ג) ובאור הענין כי לפי שהם שוכנים באויר בגלגלי היסודות מבינים העתידות משרי המזלות, וזה קל וחומר מעופות אם העופות יודעים העתידות מהם ומגידין אותם בצפצופן, ומן העופות יודעין המנחשים המכירים והבקיאין באותה חכמה, קל וחומר לשדים שאפשר להם לדעת זה משרי המזלות. ומה שיודעים השדים גם העופות אינו אלא עתידה קרובה לא רחוקה לימים רבים. שלשה כבני אדם, אוכלין ושותין כבני אדם פרים ורבים כבני אדם ומתים כבני אדם. אין הכוונה בזה מזון האדם, כי האדם ההמורכב מארבע יסודות והוא גוף גס מורגש הנה מזונו כיוצא בו עב גס, אבל השדים שהם גוף רוחני דק הנה מזונם גם כן כיוצא בהם דק, ואכילתם ושתיתם היא ריח האש וליחות המים, כי חלק האש שבהם הוא מיבש חלק הרוח שבהם וצריך להחזיר הליחות ההוא שאבד ממנו, וזהו אוכלין ושותין כבני אדם, כי מזונו של אדם הוא על הדרך הזה, כי ליחות גופו מתיבש בתוכן לשתי סבות, האחת מפני האויר המקיפו מבחוץ והשנית מפני החום הטבעי המיבש ליחותו מבפנים, ועל כן יצטרך למזון להחזיר הליחות שאבד ממנו, וכזה הוא מזון השדים כי הם לוחכים ליחות המים, כענין שכתוב (מלכים א י״ח:ל״ח) ואת המים אשר בתעלה לחכה, וזהו ענין הקטרת שמקטירין להם, כי העשן העולה והליחות ההוא הוא מזונם, והנה הם נהנים בזה ומתחברים אל האדם ומגידים לו עתידות כידוע באותה חכמה הנקראת ניגרומנזיא"ה. וענין המיתה שבהם שאמרו מתים כבני אדם, הוא כשם שמיתת האדם הוא פרוד חבור ארבעה יסודותיו, כן מיתת השדים פרוד חבור יסודותיהם. וענין הטיסה שאמרו טסין כמלאכי השרת לרוב קלות שתי יסודותיהם, וזה קל וחומר מן העופות, אם הגוף המורכב מארבעה יסודות פורח באויר בקלות רב מפני שגברו עליו האש והרוח, והמים והעפר מעטים בו מאד, אף כי השדים שהם מיסודי האש והרוח בלבד שהם יסודות קלים ומן היסודות הכבדים אין בהם כלום.
(1) ולא יזבחו עוד את זבחיהם לשעירים, “so that they will no longer offer their sacrificial offerings to the (he-goats) demons.” While the Israelites were exiled in Egypt they were enthusiastic followers of that particular cult in order to gain some advance knowledge of what was in store for them in the future. This particular cult was known by the name שעירים because the people worshipping it either dressed up as he-goats or because people’s hair would stand on edge from fright when they beheld the worshippers of that cult. Alternatively, these apparitions were known as שדים, demons, because they would dwell in regions which are not inhabited by man such as wildernesses, deserts, regions too cold for humans to be comfortable in. (2) These “demons” were primarily composed of only 2 of the 4 elements which man is made of, i.e. of fire and air (spirit). Seeing that they are also light in weight they can fly all over at will. At the time of their creation they were composed of only two elements instead of the four elements which human beings, animals, as well as the plants have in common. As a result, instead of possessing solid bodies such as human beings and animals which therefore are tangible and easily recognizable, these demons are of such transparent shape that they cannot be easily seen and identified. However, they are able to assume a visible form when they so desire by “dressing up” as if they were humans or animals. Their “bodies” are essentially spiritual in nature The creatures composed of four elements are germane to their environment being a composition of the elements in which they exist, i.e. earth, and they fall sick when the correct balance of their four elements is disturbed so that they die as a result and the respective elements disintegrate each to merge again with its constituent part. These demons experience a similar fate when there is an imbalance in the two elements they consist of.
This is what our sages (Chagigah 16) meant when they said that we have been told of six features possessed by these demons to help us identify them. In three respects they are like human beings, whereas in another three respects they are like angels, i.e. disembodied creatures. These demons have wings, can fly, and have foreknowledge of future events just like the angels. (3) Their “knowledge” is not the result of their intelligence; rather they have overheard such information which abounds in the celestial regions originating with G’d. G’d reveals such information to the mazzalot, horoscopes, etc. The demons overhear this being able to move in those regions. In fact it is logical that the demons possess such “knowledge.” If even birds are aware of future events and communicate them by means of their twittering (and the diviners came by their foreknowledge of events through having learned to decipher the twittering of the birds) then the demons which fly much higher in much more rarefied regions than the birds are certainly privy to such information, getting their information from the planets in charge of the various mazalot. Whatever knowledge of impending events either the birds or the demons possess relates only to events in the near term; neither birds nor demons have foreknowledge of events in the distant future.
The three areas in which these demons are closer to human beings are that they eat and drink like human beings, they procreate like human beings, and they die like human beings. The Talmud did not mean that the demons eat the kind of food humans eat. Seeing that humans are composed of four elements some very tangible and substantive, the food requirements of humans are similar, i.e. man requires what is known as “solid food.” The demons being composed of very “light” elements only naturally do not require “solid” food. Their requirements are limited to fragrances needed by the fire in their components and by moisture to replenish the moisture lost through its close association with fire, its other component. The fire dried out some of the natural moisture of the air; hence this moisture needs replacement. The reason the sages in the Talmud compared the eating of the demons to our eating habits is only to describe that just as man’s body uses up fat if he does not eat, and liquid if he does not drink and replaces those sources of energy in order to revive these vital parts, so the demons need to eat and drink because of parallel considerations. The matter of fire consuming water is illustrated in Kings I 18,38 where the prophet describes the fire consuming the sacrifices Elijah offered as also consuming the water in which the animals had been drenched as well as the moat he built around the altar. When people (pagans) burn up sacrifices to these demons they do so in order to feed them. The smoke from the animals being burned provide the fragrance and the moisture these demons require. Seeing they receive benefit from what people do for them, the demons in return tell people of events about to happen. The discipline which studies these phenomena is known as “necromancy.” Concerning the “death” of these demons which the Talmud speaks of and compares to the death of human beings, what they mean is simply that parts (elements) which are fused into living tissue combining all these elements disintegrate after death. The parts making up the creature known as demon similarly disintegrates at some point. When it does this is called the “death” of the demon.
Regarding the matter of demons “flying,” described in the Talmud as comparable to the flight of the angels, this is due to the lightness of their bodies, If birds can fly then these demons obviously can fly even better. After all, the bodies of the birds are composed of all four basic elements and all have to be transported by their wings.
This is what our sages (Chagigah 16) meant when they said that we have been told of six features possessed by these demons to help us identify them. In three respects they are like human beings, whereas in another three respects they are like angels, i.e. disembodied creatures. These demons have wings, can fly, and have foreknowledge of future events just like the angels. (3) Their “knowledge” is not the result of their intelligence; rather they have overheard such information which abounds in the celestial regions originating with G’d. G’d reveals such information to the mazzalot, horoscopes, etc. The demons overhear this being able to move in those regions. In fact it is logical that the demons possess such “knowledge.” If even birds are aware of future events and communicate them by means of their twittering (and the diviners came by their foreknowledge of events through having learned to decipher the twittering of the birds) then the demons which fly much higher in much more rarefied regions than the birds are certainly privy to such information, getting their information from the planets in charge of the various mazalot. Whatever knowledge of impending events either the birds or the demons possess relates only to events in the near term; neither birds nor demons have foreknowledge of events in the distant future.
The three areas in which these demons are closer to human beings are that they eat and drink like human beings, they procreate like human beings, and they die like human beings. The Talmud did not mean that the demons eat the kind of food humans eat. Seeing that humans are composed of four elements some very tangible and substantive, the food requirements of humans are similar, i.e. man requires what is known as “solid food.” The demons being composed of very “light” elements only naturally do not require “solid” food. Their requirements are limited to fragrances needed by the fire in their components and by moisture to replenish the moisture lost through its close association with fire, its other component. The fire dried out some of the natural moisture of the air; hence this moisture needs replacement. The reason the sages in the Talmud compared the eating of the demons to our eating habits is only to describe that just as man’s body uses up fat if he does not eat, and liquid if he does not drink and replaces those sources of energy in order to revive these vital parts, so the demons need to eat and drink because of parallel considerations. The matter of fire consuming water is illustrated in Kings I 18,38 where the prophet describes the fire consuming the sacrifices Elijah offered as also consuming the water in which the animals had been drenched as well as the moat he built around the altar. When people (pagans) burn up sacrifices to these demons they do so in order to feed them. The smoke from the animals being burned provide the fragrance and the moisture these demons require. Seeing they receive benefit from what people do for them, the demons in return tell people of events about to happen. The discipline which studies these phenomena is known as “necromancy.” Concerning the “death” of these demons which the Talmud speaks of and compares to the death of human beings, what they mean is simply that parts (elements) which are fused into living tissue combining all these elements disintegrate after death. The parts making up the creature known as demon similarly disintegrates at some point. When it does this is called the “death” of the demon.
Regarding the matter of demons “flying,” described in the Talmud as comparable to the flight of the angels, this is due to the lightness of their bodies, If birds can fly then these demons obviously can fly even better. After all, the bodies of the birds are composed of all four basic elements and all have to be transported by their wings.
הָרוֹאֶה אַוּוֹז בַּחֲלוֹם — יְצַפֶּה לְחׇכְמָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״חׇכְמוֹת בַּחוּץ תָּרֹנָּה״. וְהַבָּא עָלֶיהָ הָוֵי רֹאשׁ יְשִׁיבָה. אָמַר רַב אָשֵׁי: אֲנִי רְאִיתִיהָ, וּבָאתִי עָלֶיהָ, וּסְלֵקִית לִגְדוּלָּה.
One who sees a goose in a dream should anticipate wisdom, as it is stated: “Wisdoms cry aloud in the streets, she utters her voice in the broad places” (Proverbs 1:20); geese tend to sound their voices. One who dreams that he has relations with the goose will become head of the yeshiva. Rav Ashi said: I saw a goose and had relations with it in my dream and I ascended to greatness and became head of the yeshiva.