And it came to pass, when the
ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, Lord, and let your enemies be
scattered; and let them who hate you flee before you. And when it rested, he
said, Return, O Lord, to the many thousands of Israel.
This section is set off in the text with a large Hebrew
letter NUN before and after. Rabbi regards this as a separate book entirely!
With the preceding and subsequent sections included, it makes for seven books
of Torah – referenced in the verse She [Wisdom] hath hewn out her seven
pillars (Prov. 9:1).
Others argue that these NUN’s mark the section to indicate
that it is in the wrong place in the narrative – inserted there for dramatic purposes
– and will be returned to it’s proper place in the messianic era.
The page also has tirades against the books of the Minim –
possibly Judeo-Christians. It is not entirely clear, since much of the Talmudic text relating to early Christianity
(when it was still a Jewish sect) was edited out in the Middle Ages so as not
to be mistakenly seen as a critique of modern Christianity. That, by itself, if
a really interesting subject!
(note: a very interesting book on the subject is “Jesus
in the Talmud” by Peter Schafer).
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