Avodah Zarah, Daf Kaf Heh, Part 4
Introduction
Above in section 1 the Talmud cited a section of Joshua that refers to Sefer Hayashar. This book is referred to elsewhere in the Bible. The Talmud now explains what these references are.
כתיב (שמואל ב א, יח) "ויאמר ללמד בני יהודה קשת הנה כתובה על ספר הישר" מאי ספר הישר?
א"ר חייא בר אבא א"ר יוחנן זה ספר אברהם יצחק ויעקב שנקראו ישרים דכתיב בהו (במדבר כג, י) תמות נפשי מות ישרים ותהי אחריתי כמוהו
והיכא רמיזא "יהודה אתה יודוך אחיך ידך בעורף אויביך"
ואיזו היא מלחמה שצריכה יד כנגד עורף הוי אומר זו קשת.
It is written, And said to teach the Children of Judah [to handle] the bow, behold it is written in the Book of Yashar (II Samuel 2:18). What is the book of Yashar?
R. Hiyya b. Abba said in the name of R. Yohanan: It is the book of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who are designated as righteous, as it is said, Let me die the death of the righteous (Numbers 23:10).
And where is this fact hinted at? Judah, you, your brothers shall praise; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies (Genesis 49:8).
What kind of fighting requires hand to be directed at the [enemy’s neck]? Say that this is archery.
The first part of this quote is the same that we saw above Sefer Hayashar is Genesis. Then the Talmud asks where the hint is in Genesis that the children of Judah should learn to use the bow. This they find in a creative reading of Jacob s blessing in Genesis 49:8. Judah is told that his hands will be on the neck of your enemies. The midrash interprets this to mean not on the neck, but directed at their necks, with arrows.
ר"א אומר זה ספר משנה תורה
ואמאי קרו ליה ספר הישר דכתיב (דברים ו, יח) ועשית הישר והטוב בעיני ה’
והיכא רמיזא ידיו רב לו ואיזו היא מלחמה שצריכה שתי ידים הוי אומר זו קשת
R. Elazar said: It is the book of Deuteronomy, which is here called the Book of Yashar, because it is written, And you shall do that which is right [yashar] in the sight of the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:18).
And where does it hint [at Judah’s archery]? His hands shall contend for him (Deuteronomy 33:7): What kind of fighting requires both hands? Surely, archery.
R. Elazar identifies Sefer Hayashar with Deuteronomy which uses the word yashar. Moses hints in his blessing that Judah will fight wars with his hands and archery requires two hands.
ר’ שמואל בר נחמני אמר זה ספר שופטים. ואמאי קרו ליה ספר הישר דכתיב (שופטים יז, ו) "בימים ההם אין מלך בישראל איש הישר בעיניו יעשה"
והיכא רמיזא (שופטים ג, ב) "למען דעת דורות בני ישראל ללמדם מלחמה" ואיזו היא מלחמה שצריכה לימוד הוי אומר זו קשת
ומנלן דביהודה כתיב דכתיב (שופטים א, א) מי יעלה לנו בתחלה אל הכנעני להלחם בו ויאמר ה’ יהודה יעלה
R. Shmuel b. Nahmani said: It is the Book of Judges. And why do they call it Sefer Hayashar, because it contains the verse, In those days there was no King in Israel; every man did that which was right [ yashar ] in his own eyes.
And where is this hinted at? That the generations of the Children of Israel might know, to teach them war (Judges 3:2). What kind of warfare requires teaching? Surely, archery.
But how do we know that this verse refers to Judah? From the scriptural verse, Who shall go up for us first against the Canaanites, to fight against them? And the Lord said, Judah shall go up (Judges 1:1).
R. Shmuel b. Nahmani uses a similar technique to determine that Sefer Hayashar is the book of Judges.
But there is one problem with this verse we need the verse to refer to Judah because Judah is the tribe mentioned in the quote from II Samuel about the bow. Judges 3:2 does not seem to refer to Judah. They solve this by saying that the beginning of Judges refers to Judah. Rashi explains that this implies that all wars mentioned in the book of Judges are with the tribe of Judah, unless otherwise specified.
(שמואל א ט, כד) וירם הטבח את השוק והעליה וישם לפני שאול
מאי והעליה?
ר’ יוחנן אומר שוק ואליה מאי והעליה דמסמכא שוק לאליה
ורבי אלעזר אומר שוק וחזה מאי והעליה דמחית לה לחזה עילויה דשוק כי בעי אנופי ומנפי ליה
ורבי שמואל בר נחמני אמר שוק ושופי מאי והעליה שופי עילויה דשוק קאי:
And the cook took up the thigh, and that which was upon it and set it before Saul (I Samuel 9:24).
What means, that which was upon it ?
R. Yohanan said: the thigh and the tail. And what does that which was upon it mean? The thigh which is next to the tail;
R. Elazar said: the thigh and the breast. And what does that which was upon it mean? The placing of the breast upon the thigh when these have to be formally waved.
R. Shmuel b. Nahmani said: the leg and the cap; and what does that which was upon it mean? The cap which is above the leg.
The same three amoraim argue here over the meaning of the verse in which a cook gives a thigh of an animal that that which was upon it to Saul.
The waving here has to do with a sacrifice that has to be waved, the thigh and the breast together.
The cap seems to be the hip bone, or something in that area.