Avodah Zarah, Daf Yod Tet, Part 5
Introduction
Today s sugya continues to interpret the verse from the beginning of Psalms.
"ועלהו לא יבול": אמר רב אחא בר אדא אמר רב ואמרי לה אמר רב אחא בר אבא אמר רב המנונא אמר רב שאפילו שיחת חולין של ת"ח צריכה תלמוד שנאמר (תהלים א, ג) ועלהו לא יבול
And whose leaf will not wither (Psalms 1:3):
R. Aha b. Ada said in the name of Rav (and some say R. Aha b. Abba said in the name of R. Hamnuna who said in the name of Rav): Even the ordinary talk of scholars needs studying, for it is said, And whose leaf does not wither.
Even the ordinary talk of Torah scholars, their daily conversations, is considered to be a topic worthy of study. It will not wither, just like the tree from the verse in Psalms. I think when reading this statement we should remember that it, like all of the Talmud, is addressed to rabbis. This might best be read as a reminder to rabbis that people will be reading into every word they say. They should make sure they speak carefully.
"וכל אשר יעשה יצליח": א"ר יהושע בן לוי דבר זה כתוב בתורה ושנוי בנביאים ומשולש בכתובים כל העוסק בתורה נכסיו מצליחין לו כתוב בתורה דכתיב (דברים כט, ח) "ושמרתם את דברי הברית הזאת ועשיתם אותם למען תשכילו את כל אשר תעשון" שנוי בנביאים דכתיב (יהושע א, ח) "לא ימוש ספר התורה [הזה] מפיך והגית בו יומם ולילה למען תשמור לעשות ככל הכתוב בו כי אז תצליח את דרכיך ואז תשכיל" משולש בכתובים דכתיב (תהלים א, ב) "כי אם בתורת ה’ חפצו ובתורתו יהגה יומם ולילה והיה כעץ שתול על פלגי מים אשר פריו יתן בעתו ועלהו לא יבול וכל אשר יעשה יצליח".
And whatever he does shall prosper (Psalms 1:3). R. Joshua b. Levi said: This matter is written in the Torah, repeated in the Prophets and mentioned a third time in the Writings: Whoever occupies himself with the Torah, his possessions shall prosper. It is written in the Torah, for it says, You shall observe the words of this covenant, and do them, that you may make all that you do prosper (Deuteronomy 29:8).
It is repeated in the Prophets, for it is written, This book of the Torah shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate upon it day and night, that you observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your ways prosperous, and then you shall have good success (Joshua 1:8).
It is mentioned a third time in the Writings, for it is written, But his delight is in the Torah of the Lord, and in His Torah he meditates day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by streams of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, and whose leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does he shall prosper (Psalms 1:2-3).
R. Joshua b. Levi emphasizes here how often we find the connection between the study of Torah and financial prosperity in the Bible.
מכריז רבי אלכסנדרי מאן בעי חיי מאן בעי חיי! כנוף ואתו כולי עלמא לגביה. אמרי ליה הב לן חיי! אמר להו (תהלים לד, יג) מי האיש החפץ חיים וגו’ נצור לשונך מרע וגו’ סור מרע ועשה טוב וגו’. שמא יאמר נצרתי לשוני מרע ושפתי מדבר מרמה אלך ואתגרה בשינה ת"ל סור מרע ועשה טוב אין טוב אלא תורה שנאמר (משלי ד, ב) כי לקח טוב נתתי לכם תורתי אל תעזובו:
R. Alexandri would call out, Who wants life, who wants life? All the people came and gathered round him saying: Give us life! He then said to them, Who is the man who desires life ? Guard your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deception, turn from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it (Psalms 34:13). Lest one say, I guarded my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking deception. I may therefore indulge in sleep, Scripture therefore tells us, Turn from evil and do good. Good means Torah is meant; as it is said, For I have given you a good teaching, do not forsake my Torah (Proverbs 4:2).
R. Alexandri works out a neat trick to get people to pay attention to him. He offers them life which here may not mean living long but a livelihood. Life is gained by studying Torah, as we learned in the above statement.