Avodah Zarah, Daf Samekh Heh, Part 2
Introduction
The Talmud brings another tale of a rabbi who sends a gift to an idolater on his festival.
רבא אמטי ליה קורבנא לבר שישך ביום אידם.
אמר ידענא ביה דלא פלח לעבודת כוכבים
Rava once sent a gift to Bar-Sheshak on his festival day, saying, I know that he does not worship idols.
אזל אשכחיה דיתיב עד צואריה בוורדא וקיימן זונות ערומות קמיה
א"ל אית לכו כה"ג לעלמא דאתי
א"ל דידן עדיפא טפי מהאי
א"ל טפי מהאי מי הוה?
א"ל אתון איכא עלייכו אימתא דמלכותא אנן לא תיהוי עלן אימתא דמלכותא
א"ל אנא מיהא מאי אימתא דמלכותא איכא עלי עד דיתבי אתא ההוא פריסתקא דמלכא א"ל קום דקבעי לך מלכא
He went and found him sitting up to his neck in rosewater while naked harlots were standing before him. [Bar-Sheshak] said to him, Do you [Jews] have anything like this in the world to come? He replied, Our [world to come] is better than this.
He asked, Is there anything better than this?
[Rava] answered, You have the fear of the ruling power on you, but we will have no fear of the ruling power. He said to him, What fear do I have of the ruling power! While they were sitting together, the king’s official arrived with the message, Arise, the king requires your presence.
In the interesting continuation of this tale, Rava finds Bar-Sheshak living the good life, at least according to Bar-Sheshak s evaluation. But Rava points out that as long as people are afraid of the government they are essentially still living in fear. And indeed the king s official does come and ask for Bar-Sheshak s presence.
כי נפיק ואזיל א"ל עינא דבעי למיחזי לכו בישותא תיפקע
א"ל רבא אמן פקע עיניה דבר שישך
As he was departing [Bar-Sheshak] said to [Rava], May the eye burst that wishes to see evil to you! To this Rava responded, Amen, and Bar-Sheshak’s eye burst.
Poor Bar-Sheshak.
אמר רב פפי איבעי ליה למימרא ליה מהאי קרא (תהלים מה, י) בנות מלכים ביקרותיך נצבה שגל לימינך בכתם אופיר אמר ר"נ בר יצחק איבעי ליה למימרא ליה מהכא (ישעיהו סד, ג) עין לא ראתה אלהים זולתך יעשה למחכה לו:
R. Papi said: [Rava] should have answered him by the following verse, Kings daughters are among your favorites; at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir (Psalms 45:10).
R. Nahman b. Yitzchak said: [Rava] should have answered him by quoting the verse, No eye has seen it, God, aside from You, Who will do for those who await Him (Isaiah 64:3).
R. Papi cites a verse that shows that in the world to come royalty will serve the Jews. R. Nahman b. Yitzchak says that the people of Israel s reward will be so great in the world to come that it cannot even be described.