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Divine Protection in the Wilderness
TANAKH
The Israelites faced numerous dangers in the wilderness, including deadly serpents and scorpions, yet they were miraculously protected and provided for by God. Deuteronomy recounts Moses' final speeches, reminding the Israelites of their journey through the desert and the divine interventions that ensured their survival.
Killing Dangerous Creatures on Shabbat
TALMUD
The rabbis debated whether one could kill dangerous creatures like snakes and scorpions on Shabbat to prevent harm. The Babylonian Talmud in tractate Shabbat discusses the conditions under which it is permissible to kill such creatures on Shabbat.
The Zodiac in Jewish Thought
HALAKHAH
The division of the ninth sphere into twelve sections, including the scorpion, reflects the medieval Jewish engagement with astronomy and astrology. In the Mishneh Torah, Maimonides (Rambam) discusses the mazalot (zodiac signs) and their significance in understanding the natural world and divine order.
Divine Protection in the Desert of Shur
MIDRASH
The Midrash Tanchuma Buber provides a vivid depiction of the dangers in the desert of Shur, emphasizing the miraculous protection provided by God. This midrashic text elaborates on the challenges faced by the Israelites in the wilderness, including encounters with serpents and scorpions, and highlights divine intervention.
Emergency Treatments for Scorpion Stings
TALMUD
The Talmud provides specific medical treatments for children stung by scorpions and hornets, emphasizing the urgency based on the child's age. In the Talmudic tractate Ketubot, Abaye shares emergency medical advice from his foster mother for treating children stung by scorpions and hornets.
Safety Over Ritual
HALAKHAH
Even in times of mourning, safety takes precedence over ritual prohibitions. The 16th-century Shulchan Arukh, a key codification of Jewish law, addresses the permissibility of wearing shoes during mourning if there is a danger of scorpion attacks.
Perils in the Desert
LITURGY
The journey of the Israelites through the desert was fraught with dangers, including scorpions and other perilous creatures. This special liturgy for Shabbat HaGadol, the Sabbath before Passover, commemorates the Israelites' arduous journey through the desert after the Exodus.
Divine Protection from Scorpions
KABBALAH
The Book of Genesis says that in order to rescue Joseph, Reuven suggested his brothers lower him into a pit rather than shed his blood. The Zohar, a foundational work of Kabbalah, wonders how Reuven's action would rescue Joseph if the pit, per midrash, was full of scorpions and snakes, and it explores how divine intervention can protect a righteous person from some natural dangers, even if not from their enemies.
Prayer and Peril
TALMUD
The Jerusalem Talmud distinguishes between the danger posed by a snake and a scorpion during prayer, emphasizing the need to interrupt prayer if threatened by a scorpion. This text from the Jerusalem Talmud highlights the importance of maintaining focus during prayer, even in the face of potential danger.
Miraculous Protection in the Wilderness
COMMENTARY
The tradition emphasizes the great dangers God protected the Israelites from in the wilderness, including scorpions. The Siftei Chakhamim, a supercommentary on Rashi’s Torah commentary, explains a phrase that Rashi quotes from the Midrash Sifrei on the miraculous protection the Israelites received from God in the wilderness.
The Hidden Dangers in the Pit
MUSAR
Perhaps Reuven's ignorance of the hidden dangers in the pit prevented his actions from being considered actual murder. In his ethical work, Shemirat HaLashon, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan, known as the Chofetz Chaim, discusses the moral and ethical lessons from the biblical story of Joseph and his brothers.
Preventing Harm on Shabbat
MISHNAH
The Mishnah addresses the balance between observing Shabbat and taking necessary actions to prevent harm, such as from a scorpion. This early third-century text recounts a specific incident involving Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakkai and the permissibility of taking preventive measures on Shabbat.
Prohibited Creatures
COMMENTARY
The Torah explicitly prohibits the consumption of creatures that crawl on their belly, walk on four legs, or have numerous feet, including scorpions, as they are considered detestable. Leviticus 11:42 outlines these dietary laws, and Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz's contemporary commentary expands on the verse with examples and explanations.
Zodiac stamp, Sign of Scorpio, Month of Heshvan. Issued: February 27, 1961. Israeli postage stamp catalog, Catalog Number: 245, Designer: I. Blaushild.
Zodiac stamp, Sign of Scorpio, Month of Heshvan. Issued: February 27, 1961. Israeli postage stamp catalog, Catalog Number: 245, Designer: I. Blaushild.
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