is a magistrate who gives decision faithfully. "And the prophet"—this is in its literal meaning. "The prudent"—this is a king, as it is written [Prov. xvi. 10]: "There should be a wise sentence on the lips of the king." "And the ancient"—this is he who is worthy to sit as a teacher presiding over an academy. "The captain of fifty"—this is in accordance with R. Abuhu, who saith: From this we may infer, that an interpreter who is less than fifty years old is not appointed over the congregation. "And the honorable man"—this is he for whose merits his generation is forgiven; by Heaven (e.g., R. Hanina b. Dosa); in this world (e.g., R. Abuhu in the house of Caesar). "And the counsellor"—one who knows how to intercalate years and to fix months. "And the skilful"—this is the disciple who, by his keenness, sharpens the minds of his teachers. "Artificer"—at the time he is unfolding the words of the Law all are made like deaf men.[1] "And the eloquent"—this is he who, having knowledge of one thing, can derive therefrom knowledge of another thing.[2] "Orator"—this is he to whom it is fitting to impart the words of the Law, which is given in a whisper (e.g. the subject of the divine chariot. See page 21). "And I will set up boys as their princes"—that is, as R. Elazar said: These are men who are deprived of good works.[3] "And children shall rule over them"—as R. A'ha bar Jacob said: These are foxes and sons of foxes.[4] And he was not satisfied until he had said to them: "The boy shall demean himself proudly against the ancient," etc. [ibid., ibid.]—these are the men who are deprived of good works. They shall demean themselves proudly against the one who is filled with good works as a pomegranate. "And the base against the honorable"—i.e., that one to whom heavy sins are like light ones will demean himself proudly against the one to whom light sins are like heavy ones.
R. Kattina said: Even at the time of the destruction of
- ↑ The Hebrew term is חרשים, and is explained to have the same meaning as חֵרֵש, a deaf man.
- ↑ The Hebrew terms are נבון לחש, the literal meaning of which is "the instructed whisperer," but we give in the text Loesser's translation.
- ↑ The Hebrew term is נערים, which means also "to shake off, to be deprived," as in (Judges xvi. 20) וִאִנָעֵר.
- ↑ The Hebrew term is תעלולים, and is interpreted here as derived from the Aramaic תעל, i.e. men who are shrewd as a fox, but deprived of any good qualifications.
