[Another interpretation (of Numb. 19:2): THIS IS THE STATUTE OF THE TORAH. R. Tanhum bar Hanila'i opened (with Ps. 12:7 [6]): THE SAYINGS OF THE LORD ARE PURE SAYINGS.⁴⁶., Numb. 6:4 Lev. R. 26:1; PRK 4:2; PR 14:4. Are THE SAYINGS OF THE LORD true SAYINGS, but the sayings of flesh and blood not true sayings? Now by universal custom, when a king of flesh and blood enters a province, the inhabitants of the province praise⁴⁷ Cf. Gk.: kalos (“beautiful”). him; and their praise is pleasing to him. He says to them: Tomorrow I am building bath houses⁴⁸: The translation derives its meaning from the Gk. demosia (“public buildings”), but Jastrow, s.v., demosia, understands the plural of this word more specifically to mean “public baths”, a meaning that well fits this context. for you. Tomorrow I am building baths for you. Tomorrow I am bringing in the water itself (literally: true water) for you. Then he goes to sleep and never gets up. Where is he now? Where are his promises (literally: statements)? The Holy One, however, is not like this. Rather (in Jer. 10:10): BUT THE LORD IS A TRUE GOD. And why is he TRUE? R. Abbin said: Because (ibid, cont.:) HE IS A LIVING GOD AND AN EVERLASTING KING.

footnotes: ⁴⁶ Tanh ⁴⁷ Rt.: QLS. ⁴⁸ Dimosa’ot