§ Rav Tuvi bar Rav Kisna raises a contradiction to Rava: ...If one sits and does not transgress, he receives a reward as one who performs a mitzva, despite the fact that he does not actually perform a mitzva. Rava said to him: There, when it is referring to one who sits and does not transgress, it does not mean that he was merely sitting; rather, it is speaking of a case where an opportunity to commit a sinful act presents itself to him and he is saved from it.
This is like an incident involving Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappi, who was enticed by a certain noblewoman [matronita] to engage in sexual intercourse with her. He said a formula of an incantation and was covered with boils and scabs so as to render himself unattractive to her. She performed an act of magic and he was healed. He fled and hid in a bathhouse that was so dangerous, due to the demons that frequented the place, that when two people entered together even during the day they would be harmed. The next day the Sages said to him: Who protected you in that dangerous place? Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappi said to them: There were angels who appeared like two soldiers [nosei keisar] who guarded me all night.
They said to him: Perhaps a matter of forbidden intercourse presented itself to you and you were saved from it, which is why a miracle occurred for you. As we learned: With regard to anyone to whom a matter of forbidden intercourse presented itself to him and he was saved from it, a miracle is performed for him. As it says: “Mighty in strength who fulfill His word, hearkening to the voice of His word” (Psalms 103:20). This is referring to one such as Rabbi Tzadok and his colleagues. To what is this referring?
Rabbi Tzadok was enticed by a certain noblewoman to engage in sexual intercourse with her. He said to her: My heart is weak and I am incapable at present; is there something to eat that can strengthen me? She said to him: There is something non-kosher. He said to her: What difference is there? One who performs such an act eats such food as well. She lit the oven and placed the non-kosher food in it to roast. He climbed and sat in the oven. She said to him: What is the meaning of this? He said to her: One who performs this act falls into this, i.e., the fires of Gehenna. She said to him: If I had known that the matter was so serious for you, I would not have caused you such anguish.
The Gemara further relates: Rav Kahana would sell baskets woven from palm leaves to women. He was enticed by a certain noblewoman. He said to her: Let me go and adorn myself beforehand. He ascended to the roof and fell from the roof toward the ground. Elijah the prophet came and caught him. Elijah the prophet said to Rav Kahana: You have troubled me to travel four hundred parasangs [parsei] to save you. Rav Kahana said to him: What caused me to be in this situation of temptation? Was it not poverty, as I am forced to engage in a trade that leads me to come into contact with women? Elijah gave him a basket [shifa] full of dinars, to spare him from having to work as a salesman.
(13) Stay for the night. Then in the morning, if he will act as a redeemer, good! let him redeem. But if he does not want to act as redeemer for you, I will do so myself, as the LORD lives! Lie down until morning.”
(ז) חי ה' שכבי עד הבקר, ר' יודן אמר כל הלילה היה יצר הרע מקנטרו ומצערו ומפתהו בדברים היא פנויה ואתה פנוי, אתה מבקש אשה והיא מבקשת איש עמוד ובועלה ותקנה אותה בביאה, ונשבע חי ה' ליצרו. ולאשה אמר שכבי עד הבקר (ברמז קל"ז):
(ח) ותשכב מרגלותיו עד הבקר ותקם בטרם יכיר, בטרום כתיב, מלמד ששהתה שש שעות שוכבת מרגלותיו. ויאמר אל יודע אמר לבן ביתו אל יודע, כל אותו הלילה היה בועז שטוח על פניו ואומר רבש"ע גלוי וידוע לפניך שלא נגעתי בה אל יודע שלא יתחלל שם שמים בפרהסיא.
"As the L-rd lives, lie (here) until the morning." Because the yetzer hara sat and aggrieved him (Boaz) the whole night, saying: You are single and need a wife, and she (Ruth) is single and needs a husband, and you know that a woman is acquired (as a wife) by intercourse — Arise and sleep with her and let her be your wife — he swore to his yetzer hara "As the L-rd lives," I will not touch her. And to the woman he said: "Lie (here) until the morning."
"And she laid by his feet until morning, and she left at the first sign of light". She was laying by his feet for 6 hours. That whole night, Boaz put his hands over his face, "Ribbono Shel Olam, it is known and clear to you that I have not touched her, that I have not publicly disgraced Your name."