## Shabbat Daf 31a

###### Shabbat 31a:1
[Shabbat 31a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/31a:1)

שֶׁהִמְרוּ זֶה אֶת זֶה, אָמְרוּ: כׇּל מִי שֶׁיֵּלֵךְ וְיַקְנִיט אֶת הִלֵּל יִטּוֹל אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת זוּז. אָמַר אֶחָד מֵהֶם: אֲנִי אַקְנִיטֶנּוּ. אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם עֶרֶב שַׁבָּת הָיָה, וְהִלֵּל חָפַף אֶת רֹאשׁוֹ. הָלַךְ וְעָבַר עַל פֶּתַח בֵּיתוֹ, אָמַר: מִי כָּאן הִלֵּל, מִי כָּאן הִלֵּל? נִתְעַטֵּף וְיָצָא לִקְרָאתוֹ. אָמַר לוֹ: בְּנִי, מָה אַתָּה מְבַקֵּשׁ? אָמַר לוֹ: שְׁאֵלָה יֵשׁ לִי לִשְׁאוֹל. אָמַר לוֹ: שְׁאַל בְּנִי. שְׁאַל: מִפְּנֵי מָה רָאשֵׁיהֶן שֶׁל בַּבְלִיִּים סְגַלְגַּלּוֹת? אָמַר לוֹ: בְּנִי, שְׁאֵלָה גְּדוֹלָה שָׁאַלְתָּ. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם חַיּוֹת פִּקְּחוֹת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**who wagered with each other** and **said: Anyone who will go and aggravate Hillel** to the point that he reprimands him, **will take four-hundred** *zuz*. **One of them said: I will aggravate him. That day** that he chose to bother Hillel **was Shabbat eve, and Hillel was washing** the hair on **his head. He went and passed the entrance to** Hillel’s **house** and in a demeaning manner **said: Who here is Hillel, who here is Hillel?** Hillel **wrapped himself** in a dignified garment **and went out to greet him. He said to him: My son, what do you seek? He said to him: I have a question to ask.** Hillel **said to him: Ask, my son, ask.** The man asked him: **Why are the heads of Babylonians oval?** He was alluding to and attempting to insult Hillel, who was Babylonian. **He said to him: My son, you have asked a significant question.** The reason is **because they do not have clever midwives.** They do not know how to shape the child’s head at birth.


###### Shabbat 31a:2
[Shabbat 31a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/31a:2)

הָלַךְ וְהִמְתִּין שָׁעָה אַחַת, חָזַר וְאָמַר: מִי כָּאן הִלֵּל, מִי כָּאן הִלֵּל? נִתְעַטֵּף וְיָצָא לִקְרָאתוֹ. אָמַר לוֹ: בְּנִי, מָה אַתָּה מְבַקֵּשׁ? אָמַר לוֹ: שְׁאֵלָה יֵשׁ לִי לִשְׁאוֹל. אָמַר לוֹ: שְׁאַל בְּנִי. שְׁאַל: מִפְּנֵי מָה עֵינֵיהֶן שֶׁל תַּרְמוֹדִיִּין תְּרוּטוֹת? אָמַר לוֹ: בְּנִי, שְׁאֵלָה גְּדוֹלָה שָׁאַלְתָּ. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁדָּרִין בֵּין הַחוֹלוֹת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
That man **went and waited one hour,** a short while, **returned** to look for Hillel, **and said: Who here is Hillel, who here is Hillel?** Again, Hillel **wrapped himself and went out to greet him.** Hillel **said to him: My son, what do you seek?** The man **said to him: I have a question to ask. He said to him: Ask, my son, ask.** The man asked: **Why are the eyes of the residents of Tadmor bleary [*terutot*]?** Hillel **said to him: My son, you have asked a significant question.** The reason is **because they live among the sands** and the sand gets into their eyes.


###### Shabbat 31a:3
[Shabbat 31a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/31a:3)

הָלַךְ וְהִמְתִּין שָׁעָה אַחַת, חָזַר וְאָמַר: מִי כָּאן הִלֵּל, מִי כָּאן הִלֵּל? נִתְעַטֵּף וְיָצָא לִקְרָאתוֹ, אָמַר לוֹ: בְּנִי, מָה אַתָּה מְבַקֵּשׁ? אָמַר לוֹ: שְׁאֵלָה יֵשׁ לִי לִשְׁאוֹל. אָמַר לוֹ: שְׁאַל בְּנִי. שְׁאַל: מִפְּנֵי מָה רַגְלֵיהֶם שֶׁל אַפְרִקִיִּים רְחָבוֹת? אָמַר לוֹ: בְּנִי שְׁאֵלָה גְּדוֹלָה שָׁאַלְתָּ — מִפְּנֵי שֶׁדָּרִין בֵּין בִּצְעֵי הַמַּיִם.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Once again the man **went, waited one hour, returned, and said: Who here is Hillel, who here is Hillel?** Again, **he,** Hillel, **wrapped himself and went out to greet him. He said to him: My son, what do you seek? He said to him: I have a question to ask. He said to him: Ask, my son, ask.** The man asked: **Why do Africans have wide feet?** Hillel **said to him: You have asked a significant question.** The reason is **because they live in marshlands** and their feet widened to enable them to walk through those swampy areas.


###### Shabbat 31a:4
[Shabbat 31a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/31a:4)

אָמַר לוֹ: שְׁאֵלוֹת הַרְבֵּה יֵשׁ לִי לִשְׁאוֹל, וּמִתְיָרֵא אֲנִי שֶׁמָּא תִּכְעוֹס. נִתְעַטֵּף וְיָשַׁב לְפָנָיו. אָמַר לוֹ: כׇּל שְׁאֵלוֹת שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָךְ לִשְׁאוֹל שְׁאַל. אָמַר לוֹ אַתָּה הוּא הִלֵּל שֶׁקּוֹרִין אוֹתְךָ ״נְשִׂיא יִשְׂרָאֵל״? אָמַר לוֹ: הֵן. אָמַר לוֹ: אִם אַתָּה הוּא, לֹא יִרְבּוּ כְּמוֹתְךָ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. אָמַר לוֹ: בְּנִי, מִפְּנֵי מָה? אָמַר לוֹ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאִבַּדְתִּי עַל יָדְךָ אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת זוּז. אָמַר לוֹ: הֱוֵי זָהִיר בְּרוּחֲךָ כְּדַי הוּא הִלֵּל שֶׁתְּאַבֵּד עַל יָדוֹ אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת זוּז וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת זוּז, וְהִלֵּל לֹא יַקְפִּיד.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
That man **said to him: I have many** more **questions to ask, but I am afraid lest you get angry.** Hillel **wrapped himself and sat before him,** and **he said to him: All of** the **questions that you have to ask, ask** them. The man got angry and **said to him: Are you Hillel whom they call** the ***Nasi* of Israel? He said to him: Yes. He said to him: If** it **is you,** then **may there not be many like you in Israel.** Hillel **said to him: My son, for what** reason do you say this? The man **said to him: Because I lost four hundred *zuz* because of you.** Hillel **said to him: Be vigilant of your spirit** and avoid situations of this sort. **Hillel is worthy of having you lose four hundred *zuz* and** another **four hundred *zuz* on his account, and Hillel will not get upset.**


###### Shabbat 31a:5
[Shabbat 31a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/31a:5)

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: מַעֲשֶׂה בְּגוֹי אֶחָד שֶׁבָּא לִפְנֵי שַׁמַּאי. אָמַר לוֹ: כַּמָּה תּוֹרוֹת יֵשׁ לָכֶם? אָמַר לוֹ: שְׁתַּיִם, תּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָב וְתוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה. אָמַר לוֹ: שֶׁבִּכְתָב אֲנִי מַאֲמִינְךָ, וְשֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה — אֵינִי מַאֲמִינְךָ. גַּיְּירֵנִי עַל מְנָת שֶׁתְּלַמְּדֵנִי תּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָב. גָּעַר בּוֹ וְהוֹצִיאוֹ בִּנְזִיפָה. בָּא לִפְנֵי הִלֵּל, גַּיְירֵיהּ. יוֹמָא קַמָּא אֲמַר לֵיהּ: א״ב ג״ד. לִמְחַר אֲפֵיךְ לֵיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: וְהָא אֶתְמוֹל לָא אֲמַרְתְּ לִי הָכִי! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לָאו עֲלַי דִּידִי קָא סָמְכַתְּ? דְּעַל פֶּה נָמֵי סְמוֹךְ עֲלַי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**The Sages taught:** There was **an incident involving one gentile who came before Shammai.** The gentile **said to Shammai: How many Torahs do you have? He said to him: Two, the Written Torah and the Oral Torah.** The gentile **said to him:** With regard to **the Written** Torah, **I believe you, but** with regard to **the Oral** Torah, **I do not believe you. Convert me on condition that you will teach me** only the **Written Torah.** Shammai **scolded him and cast him out with reprimand.** The same gentile **came before Hillel,** who **converted him** and began teaching him Torah. **On the first day, he** showed him the letters of the alphabet and **said to him: *Alef*, *bet*, *gimmel*, *dalet*. The next day he reversed** the order of the letters and told him that an *alef* is a *tav* and so on. The convert **said to him: But yesterday you did not tell me that.** Hillel **said to him:** You see that it is impossible to learn what is written without relying on an oral tradition. **Didn’t you rely on me?** Therefore, you should **also rely on me** with regard to the matter **of the Oral** Torah, and accept the interpretations that it contains.


###### Shabbat 31a:6
[Shabbat 31a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/31a:6)

שׁוּב מַעֲשֶׂה בְּגוֹי אֶחָד שֶׁבָּא לִפְנֵי שַׁמַּאי. אָמַר לוֹ: גַּיְּירֵנִי עַל מְנָת שֶׁתְּלַמְּדֵנִי כׇּל הַתּוֹרָה כּוּלָּהּ כְּשֶׁאֲנִי עוֹמֵד עַל רֶגֶל אַחַת! דְּחָפוֹ בְּאַמַּת הַבִּנְיָן שֶׁבְּיָדוֹ. בָּא לִפְנֵי הִלֵּל, גַּיְירֵיהּ. אָמַר לוֹ: דַּעֲלָךְ סְנֵי לְחַבְרָךְ לָא תַּעֲבֵיד — זוֹ הִיא כׇּל הַתּוֹרָה כּוּלָּהּ, וְאִידַּךְ פֵּירוּשָׁהּ הוּא, זִיל גְּמוֹר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
There was **another incident involving one gentile who came before Shammai** and **said to** Shammai: **Convert me on condition that you teach me the entire Torah while I am standing on one foot.** Shammai **pushed him** away **with the builder’s cubit in his hand.** This was a common measuring stick and Shammai was a builder by trade. The same gentile **came before Hillel. He converted him** and **said to him:** That **which is hateful to you do not do to another; that is the entire Torah, and the rest is its interpretation. Go study.**


###### Shabbat 31a:7
[Shabbat 31a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/31a:7)

שׁוּב מַעֲשֶׂה בְּגוֹי אֶחָד שֶׁהָיָה עוֹבֵר אֲחוֹרֵי בֵּית הַמִּדְרָשׁ, וְשָׁמַע קוֹל סוֹפֵר שֶׁהָיָה אוֹמֵר: ״וְאֵלֶּה הַבְּגָדִים אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשׂוּ חוֹשֶׁן וְאֵפוֹד״. אָמַר: הַלָּלוּ לְמִי? אָמְרוּ לוֹ: לְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל. אָמַר אוֹתוֹ גּוֹי בְּעַצְמוֹ: אֵלֵךְ וְאֶתְגַּיֵּיר בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁיְּשִׂימוּנִי כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל. בָּא לִפְנֵי שַׁמַּאי, אָמַר לוֹ: גַּיְּירֵנִי עַל מְנָת שֶׁתְּשִׂימֵנִי כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל. דְּחָפוֹ בְּאַמַּת הַבִּנְיָן שֶׁבְּיָדוֹ. בָּא לִפְנֵי הִלֵּל, גַּיְירֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
There was **another incident involving one gentile who was passing behind the study hall** and **heard the voice of a teacher who was** teaching Torah to his students and **saying** the verse: **“And these are the garments which they shall make: A breastplate, and an *efod,*** and a robe, and a tunic of checkered work, a mitre, and a girdle” (Exodus 28:4). **The gentile said: These** garments, **for whom are they** designated? The students **said to him: For the High Priest. The gentile said to himself: I will go and convert so that they will install me as High Priest. He came before Shammai** and **said to him: Convert me on condition that you install me** as High Priest. Shammai **pushed him with the builder’s cubit in his hand. He came before Hillel; he converted him.**


###### Shabbat 31a:8
[Shabbat 31a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/31a:8)

אָמַר לוֹ: כְּלוּם מַעֲמִידִין מֶלֶךְ אֶלָּא מִי שֶׁיּוֹדֵעַ טַכְסִיסֵי מַלְכוּת, לֵךְ לְמוֹד טַכְסִיסֵי מַלְכוּת. הָלַךְ וְקָרָא. כֵּיוָן שֶׁהִגִּיעַ ״וְהַזָּר הַקָּרֵב יוּמָת״, אָמַר לֵיהּ: מִקְרָא זֶה עַל מִי נֶאֱמַר? אָמַר לוֹ: אֲפִילּוּ עַל דָּוִד מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל. נָשָׂא אוֹתוֹ גֵּר קַל וָחוֹמֶר בְּעַצְמוֹ: וּמַה יִּשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁנִּקְרְאוּ בָּנִים לַמָּקוֹם וּמִתּוֹךְ אַהֲבָה שֶׁאֲהָבָם קְרָא לָהֶם: ״בְּנִי בְּכוֹרִי יִשְׂרָאֵל״, כְּתִיב עֲלֵיהֶם ״וְהַזָּר הַקָּרֵב יוּמָת״ — גֵּר הַקַּל שֶׁבָּא בְּמַקְלוֹ וּבְתַרְמִילוֹ, עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Hillel **said to him,** to the convert: **Is it not** the way of the world that **only one who knows the protocols [*takhsisei*]** of royalty **is appointed king? Go** and **learn the royal protocols** by engaging in Torah study. **He went and read** the Bible. **When he reached** the verse which says: **“And the common man that draws near shall be put to death”** (Numbers 1:51), the convert **said to** Hillel: **With regard to whom is the verse speaking?** Hillel **said to him: Even with regard to David, king of Israel. The convert reasoned an *a fortiori* inference himself: If the Jewish people are called God’s children, and due to the love that God loved them he called them: “Israel is My son, My firstborn”** (Exodus 4:22), and nevertheless **it is written about them: And the common man that draws near shall be put to death; a mere convert who came** without merit, **with** nothing more than **his staff and traveling bag, all the more so** that this applies to him, as well.


###### Shabbat 31a:9
[Shabbat 31a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/31a:9)

בָּא לִפְנֵי שַׁמַּאי, אָמַר לוֹ: כְּלוּם רָאוּי אֲנִי לִהְיוֹת כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל? וַהֲלֹא כְּתִיב בַּתּוֹרָה: ״וְהַזָּר הַקָּרֵב יוּמָת״. בָּא לִפְנֵי הִלֵּל, אָמַר לוֹ: עַנְוְותָן הִלֵּל, יָנוּחוּ לְךָ בְּרָכוֹת עַל רֹאשְׁךָ, שֶׁקֵּרַבְתַּנִי תַּחַת כַּנְפֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה. לְיָמִים נִזְדַּוְּוגוּ שְׁלָשְׁתָּן לִמְקוֹם אֶחָד, אָמְרוּ: קַפְּדָנוּתוֹ שֶׁל שַׁמַּאי בִּקְּשָׁה לְטוֹרְדֵנוּ מִן הָעוֹלָם, עִנְוְותָנוּתוֹ שֶׁל הִלֵּל קֵרְבַתְנוּ תַּחַת כַּנְפֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The convert **came before Shammai** and **told him** that he retracts his demand to appoint him High Priest, saying: **Am I at all worthy to be High Priest? Is it not written in the Torah: And the common man that draws near shall be put to death? He came before Hillel** and **said to him: Hillel the patient, may blessings rest upon your head as you brought me under the wings of the Divine Presence.** The Gemara relates: **Eventually, the three** converts **gathered together** in **one place,** and **they said: Shammai’s impatience sought to drive us from the world; Hillel’s patience brought us beneath the wings of the Divine Presence.**


###### Shabbat 31a:10
[Shabbat 31a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/31a:10)

אָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ: מַאי דִכְתִיב ״וְהָיָה אֱמוּנַת עִתֶּיךָ חוֹסֶן יְשׁוּעוֹת חׇכְמַת וָדָעַת וְגוֹ׳״. ״אֱמוּנַת״ — זֶה סֵדֶר זְרָעִים. ״עִתֶּיךָ״ — זֶה סֵדֶר מוֹעֵד. ״חוֹסֶן״ — זֶה סֵדֶר נָשִׁים. ״יְשׁוּעוֹת״ — זֶה סֵדֶר נְזִיקִין. ״חׇכְמַת״ — זֶה סֵדֶר קׇדָשִׁים. ״וָדָעַת״ — זֶה סֵדֶר טְהָרוֹת. וַאֲפִילּוּ הָכִי, ״יִרְאַת ה׳ הִיא אוֹצָרוֹ״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara continues discussing the conduct of the Sages, citing that **Reish Lakish said: What** is the meaning of **that which is written: “And the faith of your times shall be a strength of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge,** the fear of the Lord is his treasure” (Isaiah 33:6)? **Faith; that is the order of *Zera*’*im*, Seeds,** in the Mishna, because a person has faith in God and plants his seeds (Jerusalem Talmud). **Your times; that is the order of *Moed*, Festival,** which deals with the various occasions and Festivals that occur throughout the year. **Strength; that is the order of *Nashim*, Women. Salvations; that is the order of *Nezikin*, Damages,** as one who is being pursued is rescued from the hands of his pursuer. **Wisdom; that is the order of *Kodashim*, Consecrated Items. And knowledge; that is the order of *Teharot*, Purity,** which is particularly difficult to master. **And even** if a person studies and masters all of these, **“the fear of the Lord is his treasure,”** it is preeminent.


###### Shabbat 31a:11
[Shabbat 31a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/31a:11)

אָמַר רָבָא: בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁמַּכְנִיסִין אָדָם לְדִין, אוֹמְרִים לוֹ: נָשָׂאתָ וְנָתַתָּ בָּאֱמוּנָה? קָבַעְתָּ עִתִּים לַתּוֹרָה? עָסַקְתָּ בִּפְרִיָּה וּרְבִיָּה? צִפִּיתָ לִישׁוּעָה? פִּלְפַּלְתָּ בְּחׇכְמָה? הֵבַנְתָּ דָּבָר מִתּוֹךְ דָּבָר? וַאֲפִילּוּ הָכִי, אִי יִרְאַת ה׳ הִיא אוֹצָרוֹ — אִין, אִי לָא — לָא. מָשָׁל לְאָדָם שֶׁאָמַר לִשְׁלוּחוֹ: הַעֲלֵה לִי כּוֹר חִיטִּין לָעֲלִיָּיה. הָלַךְ וְהֶעֱלָה לוֹ. אָמַר לוֹ: עֵירַבְתָּ לִי בָּהֶן קַב חוֹמְטוֹן? אָמַר לוֹ: לָאו. אָמַר לוֹ: מוּטָב אִם לֹא הֶעֱלֵיתָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
With regard to the same verse, **Rava said:** After departing from this world, **when a person is brought to judgment** for the life he lived in this world, **they say to him** in the order of that verse: Did **you conduct business faithfully?** Did **you designate times for Torah** study? Did **you engage in procreation? Did you await salvation? Did you engage** in the dialectics of **wisdom** or understand **one matter from another? And, nevertheless,** beyond all these, **if the fear of the Lord is his treasure, yes,** he is worthy, and **if not, no,** none of these accomplishments have any value. There is **a parable** that illustrates this. **A person who said to his emissary: Bring a *kor* of wheat up to the attic for me** to store there. The messenger **went and brought it up for him. He said to the emissary:** Did **you mix a *kav* of *ḥomton*,** a preservative to keep away worms, **into it for me? He said to him: No. He said to him:** If so, it would have been **preferable had you not brought it up.** Of what use is worm-infested wheat? Likewise, Torah and mitzvot without the fear of God are of no value.


###### Shabbat 31a:12
[Shabbat 31a:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/31a:12)

תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל: מְעָרֵב אָדָם קַב חוֹמְטוֹן בְּכוֹר שֶׁל תְּבוּאָה, וְאֵינוֹ חוֹשֵׁשׁ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
On a related note, the Gemara cites a *halakha* that was **taught** in **the school** of **Rabbi Yishmael: A person** who sells wheat **may,** *ab initio*, **mix a *kav* of *ḥomton* into a *kor* of grain and need not be concerned** that by selling it all at the price of grain he will be guilty of theft, as the *kav* of *ḥomton* is essential for the preservation of the wheat.


###### Shabbat 31a:13
[Shabbat 31a:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shabbat/r/31a:13)

אָמַר רַבָּה בַּר רַב הוּנָא: כׇּל אָדָם שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ תּוֹרָה וְאֵין בּוֹ

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rabba bar Rav Huna said: Any person who has Torah in him but does not have**