Midrash Tanchuma, Shmini 5

וַיְדַבֵּר ה' אֶל אַהֲרֹן יַיִן וְשֵׂכָר אַל תֵּשְׁתְּ. לָמָּה הוּא מְצַוֶּה עַל הַיַּיִן. שֶׁכָּל הַשּׁוֹתֶה יַיִן, חַבּוּרוֹת וּפְצָעִים וּבֹשֶׁת וְחֶרְפָּה בָּאוֹת עָלָיו. וְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ צֹוַחַת, לְמִי אוֹי לְמִי אֲבוֹי לְמִי מִדְיָנִים וְגוֹ', לַמְאַחֲרִים עַל הַיַּיִן, אֶל תֵּרֶא יַיִן כִּי יִתְאַדָּם וְגוֹ', אַחֲרִיתוֹ כְּנָחָשׁ יִשָּׁךְ וּכְצִפְעוֹנִי יַפְרִישׁ, עֵינֶיךָ יִרְאוּ זָרוֹת וְלִבְּךָ יְדַבֵּר תַּהְפֻכוֹת, וְהָיִיתָ כְּשֹׁכֵב בְּלֶב יָם (משלי כג, כט-לד), וְכָל אוֹתוֹ עִנְיָן. לְמִי אוֹי לְמִי אֲבוֹי. עַל מִי הֵם אוֹמְרִים וַי, לְמִי שֶׁהוּא בְּעַל מְרִיבוֹת. וְעַל מִי הֵם מְשִׂיחִים לְמִי פְּצָעִים חִנָּם, לְמִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּפָנָיו חַבּוּרוֹת וְעַל מִי שֶׁעֵינָיו עֲכוּרוֹת וַאֲדֻמּוֹת וּשְׁחֹרוֹת מִן הַיַּיִן, לַמְאַחֲרִים עַל הַיַּיִן. אַל תֵּרֶא יַיִן כִּי יִתְאַדָּם, אַחֲרִיתוֹ דָּם. דָּם נָאֶה מִבַּחוּץ וְרַע מִבִּפְנִים, וְלֹא תֹּאמַר שֶׁהוּא יָפֶה מִבִּפְנִים כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהוּא מִבַּחוּץ. כִּי יִתֵּן בַּכּוֹס עֵינוֹ, בַּכִּיס כְּתִיב. הַשִּׁכּוֹר נוֹתֵן עֵינוֹ בַּכּוֹס לִשְׁתּוֹת, וְהַחֶנְוָנִי נוֹתֵן עֵינוֹ בַּכִּיס. כִּי יִתֵּן בַּכּוֹס עֵינוֹ. רוֹאֶה אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ שׁוֹתֶה, וְהוּא אוֹמֵר לוֹ: מְזֹג לִי וַאֲנִי שׁוֹתֶה, וּמִתְלַכְלֵךְ בִּרְעִי וּבְמֵימֵי רַגְלַיִם. יִתְהַלֵּךְ בְּמֵישָׁרִים. סוֹפוֹ לִמְכֹּר כָּל חֶפְצֵי בֵּיתוֹ וְאֶת כָּל כְּלֵי תַּשְׁמִישׁוֹ, וְאֵין לוֹ לֹא בֶּגֶד וְלֹא תַּשְׁמִישֵׁי הַבַּיִת וְלֹא כְּלוּם וְהַבַּיִת רֵיקָה מִן הַכֹּל. יִתְהַלֵּךְ בְּמֵישָׁרִים, סוֹף שֶׁהוּא מַתִּיר אֶת הָעֲבֵרוֹת וְעוֹשֶׂה אוֹתָם הֶפְקֵר כְּמִישׁוֹר. מֵשִׂיחַ עִם אִשָּׁה בַּשּׁוּק וּמְנַבֵּל אֶת פִּיו, וְאוֹמֵר דְּבָרִים רָעִים בַּשִּׁכְרוּת וְאֵינוֹ מִתְבַּיֵּשׁ, לְפִי שֶׁנִּטַּלְטְלָה דַּעְתּוֹ וְאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ מַהוּ אוֹמֵר וּמַהוּ עוֹשֶׂה. וְאַחֲרִיתוֹ כְּנָחָשׁ יִשָּׁךְ, אַחֲרִית הַיַּיִן יִשָּׁךְ כְּנָחָשׁ. שֶׁאִם נָחָשׁ נוֹשֵׁךְ אָדָם, אֵינוֹ מַרְגִּישׁ לְשָׁעָה וּמְהַלֵּךְ לְבֵיתוֹ, וְהַמַּכָּה מִתְחַלְחֶלֶת בּוֹ. כְּנָחָשׁ יִשָּׁךְ, וַדַּאי כְּנָחָשׁ. מָה הַנָּחָשׁ נִתְקַלְּלָה אֲדָמָה בַּעֲבוּרוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: אֲרוּרָה הָאֲדָמָה בַּעֲבוּרֶךָ (בראשית ג, יז), כָּךְ הַיַּיִן, נִתְקַלֵּל כְּנַעַן בַּעֲבוּרוֹ, שֶׁהוּא שְׁלִישֵׁי שֶׁל עוֹלָם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ג, ט): וַיֹּאמֶר אָרוּר כְּנַעַן הֱוֵי וְאַחֲרִיתוֹ כְּנָחָשׁ יִשָּׁךְ. עֵינֶיךָ יִרְאוּ זָרוֹת. רְאֵה מָה הַיַּיִן גּוֹרֵם לְמִי שֶׁהוּא שׁוֹתֶה, עֵינָיו יִרְאוּ זָרוֹת, לֹא יִהְיֶה בְךָ אֵל זָר (תהלים פא, י). הַיַּיִן גּוֹרֵם לַעֲבֹד עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְגַם אֵלֶּה בַּיַּיִן שָׁגוּ וּבַשֵּׁכָר תָּעוּ (ישעיה כח, ז). מַה תָּעוּ. אֵלֶּה אֱלֹהֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיֵּשֵׁב הָעָם לֶאֱכֹל וְשָׁתוֹ וַיָּקוּמוּ לְצַחֵק (שמות לב, ו). מִתּוֹךְ הַיַּיִן אָמְרוּ, אֵלֶּה אֱלֹהֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְלִבְּךָ יְדַבֵּר תַּהְפֻכוֹת. שֶׁגּוֹרֵם לְאַרְבָּעָה דְּבָרִים, עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, גִּלּוּי עֲרָיוֹת, שְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים, וְלָשׁוֹן הָרַע. רְאֵה כַּמָּה קָשֶׁה הַיַּיִן. אַף כִּי הַיַּיִן בֹּגֵד גֶּבֶר יָהִיר (חבקוק ב, ה). וּכְתִיב: זֵד יָהִיר לֵץ שְׁמוֹ (משלי כא, כד). וְאֵין זֵד אֶלָּא עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: גַּעֲרַת זֵדִים אֲרוּרִים הַשּׁוֹגִים מִמִּצְוֹתֶיךָ (תהלים קיט, כא). וְאֵין זֵד אֶלָּא גִּלּוּי עֲרָיוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: זֵדִים קָמוּ עָלַי (תהלים פו, יד). וְאוֹמֵר: גַּם מִזֵּדִים חֲשׂךְ עַבְדֶּךָ (תהלים יט, יד). הִשָּׁמֵר מִן הַיַּיִן, אַתָּה שׁוֹתֶה וְשׁוֹנֶה וְרוֹאֶה כָּל הָעוֹלָם כִּסְפִינָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְהָיִיתָ כְּשֹׁכֵב בְּלֶב יָם וּכְשֹׁכֵב בְּרֹאשׁ חִבֵּל (משלי כג, לד). כְּשֶׁהוּא שׁוֹכֵב, מַכִּין אוֹתוֹ וְאֵינוֹ חוֹשֵׁשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: הִכּוּנִי בַל חָלִיתִי הֲלָמוּנִי בַּל יָדָעְתִּי (משלי כג, לה). וְהוּא אֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ וְאֵינוֹ מִתְבַּיֵּשׁ וּמְגַלֶּה עַצְמוֹ, וְאַחַר כָּךְ חוֹזֵר וּמְבַקְּשׁוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: מָתַי אָקִיץ אוֹסִיף אֲבַקְשֶׁנּו עוֹד (שם). רְאֵה מָה אַחֲרִית רָעָה שֶׁל כָּל שׁוֹתֵי יַיִן. יְשַׁעְיָה אָמַר, הוֹי מַשְׁכִּימֵי בַּבֹּקֶר שֵׁכָר יִרְדֹפוּ מְאַחֲרֵי בַּנֶּשֶׁף יַיִן יַדְלִיקֵם (ישעיה ה, יא). אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, הוֹאִיל וְכָךְ הַיַּיִן גּוֹרֵם, בְּדִין הוּא שֶׁאֲצַוֶּה אֶת הַכֹּהֲנִים שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיוּ שׁוֹתִין יַיִן וּמְשַׁמְּשִׁין לְפָנַי. הֱוֵי, יַיִן וְשֵׁכָר אַל תֵּשְׁתְּ. שְׁלֹמֹה אָמַר, אַל תְּהִי בְּסוֹבְאֵי יַיִן (משלי כג, כ), אַל תִּגְרֹם לְעַצְמְךָ לִשְׁתּוֹת שִׁבְעִים, וְתִרְאֶה פְּנֵי שִׁבְעִים וְתָבֹא לִידֵי מִיתָה. יַיִן עוֹלֶה לְמִנְיַן שִׁבְעִים. וְלֹא תִּרְאֶה שִׁבְעִים, סַנְהֶדְרִין, וְתִגְרֹם לְעַצְמְךָ מִיתָה. רְאֵה מַה כְּתִיב: כִּי יִהְיֶה לְאִישׁ בֵּן סוֹרֵר וּמוֹרֶה אֵינֶנּוּ שׁוֹמֵעַ וְגוֹ', וְתָפְשׂוּ בּוֹ אָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ וְגוֹ', וְאָמְרוּ אֶל זִקְנֵי עִירוֹ וְגוֹ' וְהַדִּין נַעֲשָׂה בּוֹ. וּרְגָמוּהוּ כָּל אַנְשֵׁי עִירוֹ בָּאֲבָנִים וָמֵת (דברים כא, יח-כ). לָמָּה, שֶׁהוּא זוֹלֵל וְסוֹבֵא. וּשְׁלֹמֹה אָמַר, אֶל תְּהִי בְּסוֹבְאֵי יַיִן בְּזוֹלְלֵי בָּשָׂר (משלי כג, כ), שֶׁלֹּא תִּגְרֹם לְעַצְמְךָ סְקִילָה, חֲמוּרָה שֶׁבַּמִּיתוֹת. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה הַלֵּוִי בְּרַבִּי שָׁלוֹם, בְּלָשׁוֹן עִבְרִי שְׁמוֹ יַיִן, וּבְלָשׁוֹן אֲרַמִּי חֲמַר. בַּגִּימַטְרִיָּא מָאתַיִם וְאַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁמֹנֶה, כְּנֶגֶד אֵיבָרִים שֶׁבָּאָדָם. הַיַּיִן נִכְנַס בְּכָל אֵבָר וְאֵבָר וְהַגּוּף מִתְרַשֵּׁל וְהַדַּעַת מְטֻלְטֶלֶת. נִכְנַס הַיַּיִן וְהַדַּעַת יוֹצֵאת. וְכָךְ שָׁנָה רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר הַקַּפָּר, נִכְנַס יַיִן יָצָא סוֹד. נִכְנַס הַיַּיִן שֶׁהוּא שִׁבְעִים וְיָצָא סוֹד שֶׁהוּא שִׁבְעִים. לְכָךְ נִצְטַוָּה כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁתֶּה יַיִן בִּשְׁעַת עֲבוֹדָה, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא תִּטַּלְטֵל דַּעְתּוֹ, אֶלָּא מְשַׁמֵּר הַתּוֹרָה וּמְשַׁמֵּר הַדַּעַת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: תּוֹרַת אֱמֶת הָיְתָה בְּפִיהוּ וְעַוְלָה לֹא נִמְצָא בִּשְׂפָתָיו (מלאכי ב, ו). וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר, כִּי שִׂפְתֵי כֹהֵן יִשְׁמְרוּ דַעַת וְגוֹ' (מלאכי ב, ז). לְכָךְ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְצַוֶּה עַל אַהֲרֹן, יַיִן וְשֵׁכָר אַל תֵּשְׁתְּ אַתָּה וּבָנֶיךָ אִתָּךְ. וְלֹא תִּהְיֶה סָבוּר, שֶׁמָּא לְשֶׁעָבַר תְּחִלָּה צִוִּיתִי אֶתְכֶם כְּשֶׁבֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ קַיָּם וְאַתֶּם מְשַׁמְּשִׁים בּוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: בְּבֹאֲכֶם אֶל אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד. אֶלָּא אַף לְעוֹלָם שִׁמְרוּ עַצְמְכֶם מִן הַיַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: חֻקַּת עוֹלָם לְדוֹרוֹתֵיכֶם (ויקרא י, ט). לְפִיכָךְ שִׁמְרוּ עַצְמְכֶם מִן הַיַּיִן, שֶׁהוּא סִמַּן קְלָלָה. שֶׁכֵּן הוּא אוֹמֵר בְּנֹחַ, וַיֵּשְׁתְּ מִן הַיַּיִן וַיִּשְׁכַּר וַיִּתְגַּל (בראשית ט, כא). נִכְנַס חָם וְרָאָה עֶרְוָתוֹ. מָה אָמַר לוֹ: קִלֵּל אֶת בְּנוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיֹּאמֶר אָרוּר כְּנַעַן (בראשית ט, כה). לְפִיכָךְ, יַיִן וְשֵׁכָר אַל תֵּשְׁתְּ. וְכֵן אַתָּה מוֹצֵא, עֲשֶׂרֶת הַשְּׁבָטִים לֹא גָּלוּ אֶלָּא מִתּוֹךְ הַיַּיִן. רְאֵה מַהוּ אוֹמֵר, הוֹי הַשַּׁאֲנַנִּים בְּצִיּוֹן וְהַבֹּטְחִים בְּהַר שֹׁמְרוֹן נְקֻבֵי רֵאשִׁית הַגּוֹיִם וּבָאוּ לָהֶם בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל (עמוס ו, א). הַשַּׁאֲנַנִּים בַּצִּיּוֹן, שֶׁהֵן הָיוּ יוֹשְׁבִין בְּהֵיכְלֵי עֹנֶג בְּשַׁלְוָה. הַבּוֹטְחִים בְּהַר שׁוֹמְרוֹן, שֶׁהָיוּ יוֹשְׁבִין לָבֶטַח בְּסֶבַּסְטִיָּה וְשׁוֹתִין וּמִשְׁתַּכְּרִין. נְקֻבֵי רֵאשִׁית הַגּוֹיִם וּבָאוּ לָהֶם בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל. כֵּיצַד, אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם יוֹשְׁבִין וּמְסִיחִין וְאוֹמְרִים: מִי גִּבּוֹר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. וְהֵם אוֹמְרִים: שִׁמְשׁוֹן. וְחוֹזְרִים וְאוֹמְרִים: מִי גִּבּוֹר בַּגּוֹיִם. וְהֵם אוֹמְרִים: גָּלְיָת, שֶׁכָּתוּב בּוֹ, גָּבְהוֹ שֵׁשׁ אַמּוֹת וָזָרֶת (ש״א יז, ד). הֱוֵי, נְקוּבֵי רֵאשִׁית הַגּוֹיִם וּבָאוּ לָהֶם בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְחוֹזְרִים וְאוֹמְרִים: מִי עָשִׁיר בָּאֻמּוֹת. וְהֵם אוֹמְרִים: אַדְרִיָּנוּס. וּמִי עָשִׁיר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. וְהֵם אוֹמְרִים: שְׁלֹמֹה. וּמַסְכִימִין אֵלּוּ וָאֵלּוּ וְאוֹמְרִים: שְׁלֹמֹה עָשִׁיר, שֶׁכָּתוּב בּוֹ, וַיִּתֵּן הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת הַכֶּסֶף בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם כַּאֲבָנִים (מ״א י, כז). בֹּא וּרְאֵה, כָּל שֵׁבֶט וְשֵׁבֶט הָיָה לוֹ מְיוּמָס בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ. כֵּיוָן שֶׁהָיָה מְבַקֵּשׁ לָצֵאת לִמְיוּמָס שֶׁלּוֹ, הָיָה נוֹטֵל עֶדְרוֹ עִמּוֹ כְּדֵי לִהְיוֹת אֹכֶל מִצֹּאנוֹ פְּטוּמִין. מִנַּיִן, שֶׁכֵּן כְּתִיב: וְאֹכְלִים כָּרִים מִצֹּאן וַעֲגָלִים מִתּוֹךְ מַרְבֵּק, הַשּׁוֹתִים בְּמִזְרְקֵי יַיִן וְרֵאשִׁית שְׁמָנִים יִמְשָׁחוּ וְלֹא נֶחְלוּ עַל שֵׁבֶר יוֹסֵף, לָכֵן עַתָּה יִגְלוּ בְּרֹאשׁ גֹּלִים וְסָר מִרְזַח סְרוּחִים (עמוס ו, ד-ז). לָמָּה, עַל יְדֵי שֶׁהָיוּ לְהוּטִין אַחַר הַיַּיִן. לְפִיכָךְ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַזְהִיר לְאַהֲרֹן, יַיִן וְשֵׁכָר אַל תֵּשְׁתְּ. אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם שֶׁאֵינוֹ לָהוּט אַחַר הַיַּיִן. שֶׁכֵּן אַתָּה מוֹצֵא בִּבְנֵי יוֹנָדָב בֶּן רֵכָב, שֶׁצִּוָּה אוֹתָם אֲבִיהֶם, אַל תִּשְׁתּוּ יַיִן אַתֶּם וּבְנֵיכֶם עַד עוֹלָם. וּמָה רָאָה לוֹמַר, אַל תִּשְׁתּוּ יַיִן אַתֶּם וּבְנֵיכֶם. אֶלָּא שֶׁשָּׁמַע לְיִרְמְיָה שֶׁהָיָה מִתְנַבֵּא עַל חֻרְבַּן בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ. הִתְחִיל מְצַוֶּה אֶת בָּנָיו, מֵעַכְשָׁו, אַל תִּשְׁתּוּ יַיִן, וּבַיִת לֹא תִּבְנוּ וְזֶרַע לֹא תִּזְרְעוּ וְכֶרֶם לֹא תִּטְעוּ כִּי בָּאֹהָלִים תֵּשְׁבוּ כָּל יְמֵיכֶם (ירמיה לה, ו-ז). וְהָיוּ מִתְאַבְּלִים מֵעַכְשָׁו וְשָׁמְרוּ מִצְוַת אֲבִיהֶם. וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהָיָה יִרְמְיָה מִתְנַבֵּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל לוֹמַר לָהֶם עֲשׂוּ תְּשׁוּבָה וְלֹא הָיוּ עוֹשִׂים, אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְיִרְמְיָה, אַתָּה אוֹמֵר לָהֶם עֲשׂוּ תְּשׁוּבָה וְאֵינָם עוֹשִׂים. בָּנָיו שֶׁל יוֹנָדָב בֶּן רֵכָב מִצְוָה קַלָּה צִוָּה אוֹתָם אֲבִיהֶם וְהֵם מְשַׁמְּרִים אוֹתָהּ, וַאֲנִי אוֹמֵר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁיַּעֲשׂוּ תְּשׁוּבָה וְאֵינָם עוֹשִׂים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: הוּקַם אֶת דִּבְרֵי יוֹנָדָב בֶּן רֵכָב אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה אֶת בָּנָיו לְבִלְתִּי שְׁתוֹת יַיִן וְלֹא שָׁתוּ עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה (ירמיה לה, יד), וַאֲנִי דִּבַּרְתִּי לָהֶם הַשְׁכֵּם וְשָׁלֹחַ. מַה כְּתִיב שָׁם. אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְיִרְמְיָה, לֵךְ אֱמֹר לָהֶם, חַיֵּיכֶם, בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁשְּׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת הַמִּצְוָה הַזֹּאת, שֶׁאֵין מִשְׁפְּחוֹתֵיכֶם פּוֹסֶקֶת מִלְּפָנַי לְעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: כֹּה אָמַר ה', לֹא יִכָּרֵת אִישׁ לְיוֹנָדָב בֶּן רֵכָב עוֹמֵד לְפָנַי כָּל הַיָּמִים (ירמיה לה, יט). לְפִיכָךְ הוּא מַזְהִירָן עַל הַיַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: יַיִן וְשֵׁכָר אַל תֵּשְׁתְּ. אָמַר יְשַׁעְיָה, צְוָחָה עַל הַיַּיִן בַּחוּצוֹת, עָרְבָה כָּל שִׂמְחָה (ישעיה כד, יא). מַהוּ עָרְבָה כָּל שִׂמְחָה. חָשְׁכָה, כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אֲמַר: וַיְהִי עֶרֶב וַיְהִי בֹקֶר (בראשית א, ה). שָׁבַת מְשׁוֹשׁ הָאָרֶץ (ישעיה כד, יא), שָׁבְתָה צִיּוֹן שֶׁכָּתוּב בָּהּ, יְפֵה נוֹף מְשׂוֹשׂ כָּל הָאָרֶץ (תהלים מח, ג). אָמַר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, הַיַּיִן סִימַן קְלָלָה לָעוֹלָם. אֲבָל לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, אֲנִי עוֹשֶׂה אוֹתוֹ עָסִיס, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְהָיָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִטְּפוּ הֶהָרִים עָסִיס וְהַגְּבָעוֹת תֵּלֵכְנָה חָלָב וְכָל אֲפִיקֵי יְהוּדָה יֵלְכוּ מָיִם וּמַעְיָן יֵצֵא מִבֵּית ה' וְהִשְׁקָה אֶת נַחַל הַשִּׁטִּים (יואל ד, יח). (Lev. 10:8-9:) “And the Lord spoke unto Aaron, [saying], ‘Drink no wine or intoxicating liquor.’” Why did He give a commandment concerning wine?¹³Lev. R. 12:1; cf. Numb. R. 10:2; M. Prov. 23. Because anyone who drinks wine will have boils, sores, shame, and reproach come upon him. So the holy spirit cries out (in Prov. 23:29-35), “Who has woe; who has sorrow; who has contentions; who has talk; who has unexplained sores; who has redness of eyes? Those who tarry over wine [….] Do not stare at wine when it is red, [when it gives its color to the cup….] In the end it will bite like a snake; [….] Your eyes will see strange things; [….] You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, [….] They struck me, but I felt no hurt.” (Vs. 29) “Who has woe; who has sorrow” [means,] about whom do they say, “Woe?”; “who has contentions,” [means,] about whom do they say [that he is a master of] quarrels. [(ibid., cont.) “Who has talk, means,] and about whom do they talk? (ibid., cont.) “Who has unexplained sores,” [means,] whom [do they say] has boils on his face? [(ibid., cont.) “Who has redness of eyes ('ayin),” [means,] and about whom do they say that his eyes ('ayin) are bleary and red from wine? About whom do they say all these evils? (Vs. 30) “Those who tarry over wine.” (Vs. 31) “Do not stare at wine when it is red.” Its end is blood. It is fine on the outside and bad on the inside; so never say that it is beautiful on the inside, just as [it appears] on the outside. (According to ibid., cont.,) “When it gives its color ('ayin) to the cup (kos).” [This is the oral text (the qere).] The written text (ketiv) [says] “to the purse (kis).” The drunkard sets his eye on the cup, but the shopkeeper [sets his eye] on the purse. “When it gives its color to the cup.” When one sees his comrade drinking, he says, “Pour one for me to drink.” Then he drinks and defiles himself in dung and urine. (Ibid., cont.) “He/it¹⁴In the Biblical context it is the wine that goes down smoothly. goes down smoothly.” He ends in selling all the objects in his house and all his useful implements. Thus he [is left with] no clothes and no useful implements for the house, so that [he is left] with nothing and the house is empty from [having] everything. “He/it goes down smoothly.” In the end he declares transgressions permissible and makes them something accessible [to all] like a commons. He converses with a woman in the market place where he talks obscenely and says evil things in a drunken state without being ashamed, because he is confused and knows neither what he is saying nor what he is doing. (Prov. 23:32) “In the end it will bite like a snake.” When the snake bites a person, he does not feel it for a time; but after he goes home, [the poison in] the wound permeates him. “In the end it will bite like a snake,” most certainly like a snake. Just as in the case of the snake, [the Holy One, blessed be He,] cursed the land on account of it, as stated (in Gen. 3:17), “cursed is the land because of you”; so in the case of wine, Canaan, who was a third of the world was cursed on account of it, as stated (in Gen. 9:24-25), “Then Noah awoke from his wine…, [And he said, ‘Cursed be Canaan].’”¹⁵As Enoch Zundel explains in his commentary on Tanh., Lev. 3:5, Canaan’s curse comes through his father Ham, upon whom the curse actually fell. Since Ham represented a third of Noah’s sons, a third of the world came from him. So also Numb. R. 10:2. Ergo (in Prov. 23:32), “In the end it will bite like a snake….” (Vs. 33) “Your eyes will see strange things.” See what wine causes one who drinks it! “Your eyes will see strange things” [is a reference to], (Ps. 81:10) “There shall not be a strange god with you.” It causes him to serve idols. So it says (in Is. 28:7), “These also reel with wine and stagger with strong drink.” What is the meaning of these? [These of] which it is spoken (in Exod. 32:4), “These are your gods, O Israel.” Thus it is stated (in Exod. 32:6), “and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to engage in amorous sport.” [It was] because of wine that they said (in Exod. 32:4), “These are your gods, O Israel.” Therefore (in Prov. 23:33), “and your heart will speak deceitful things.” Thus it causes four things: idolatry, uncovering of nakedness, shedding of blood, and evil speech. See how strong wine is! So it is written (in Hab. 2:5), “And moreover, wine betrays an arrogant man.” It is also written (in Prov. 21:24), “An insolent and arrogant one, scorner is his name.” Now “insolent” must mean idolatry. Thus it is stated (in Ps. 119:21), “You rebuke the cursed insolent ones.” Moreover, “insolent ones” must [also] refer to the uncovering of nakedness. Thus it is stated (in Ps. 86:14), “O God, insolent ones have risen up over against me…”; and it says (in Ps. 19:14), “Also keep your servant from insolent ones.” Moreover, when one drinks and transgresses, he sees the whole world as a ship. It is so stated (in Prov. 23:34), “You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea.” When he lies down they smite him, but he does not feel it. Thus it is stated (in vs. 35), “They struck me, but I felt no hurt; they beat me, but I did not know it.” So when he is unknowing and unashamed, he uncovers himself. Then afterwards he returns and seeks it (i.e., wine). [Thus it is stated (ibid.),] “when I wake up, I seek it yet again.” See how evil is the end of those who drink wine. [Isaiah said (in Is. 5:11),] “Woe to those who rise early in the morning to pursue strong drink; who remain behind in the evening for wine to inflame them.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “Inasmuch as wine causes such [evils], it is right for Me to command the priests not to drink wine when they minister before Me. Ergo (in Lev. 10:9:), “Drink no wine or intoxicating liquor.” Solomon said (in Prov. 23:20), “Do not be among those who imbibe wine.” Do not cause yourself to drink [wine (yyn), which implies] seventy. Then you would face seventy [judges of the Sanhedrin] and fall into the hands of death. Y (= 10) plus y (= 10), for a subtotal of 20, plus n (= 50) results in seventy.¹⁶Cf. Sanh. 38a. So you would face seventy [members of] the Sanhedrin¹⁷Gk.: Synedrion. and cause your own death. See what is written (in Deut. 21:18-19), “If one has a defiant and rebellious son…, his father and mother shall take hold of him [and bring him out unto the elders of his town]….” Then the sentence shall be passed over him; and (in vs. 21) “[All the people of his own town] shall stone him [to death] with stones.” Why? Because he is (according to vs. 20) “a glutton and a drunkard.” So Solomon has said (in Prov. 23:20), “Do not be among those who imbibe wine, who gorge themselves on meat,”¹⁸See also Prov. 23:22, which adds an admonition to obey parents. lest you bring stoning upon yourself, the most weighty of the executions.
R. Judah bar Shallum the Levite said, “In the Hebrew language the name [for wine] is yyn, and in the Aramaic language its name is hmr. By gematria¹⁹Gk.: geometria or grammateis. Gematria is an exegetical method in which an interpretation is reached from the sum of the numerical value of the letters in a word. hmr becomes two hundred and forty-eight, corresponding to the [number of] parts in a human being. The wine enters into each and every limb, so that the body becomes weakened and knowledge becomes confounded. When wine enters, knowledge departs.” And so Eleazar Haqappar has taught, “Wine (yyn), with a numerical value of seventy enters; and secrets (swd), with a numerical value of seventy,²⁰S (= 60), W (= 6), and D (= 4) add up to 70. depart.”²¹Cf. Sanh. 38a, which attributes the teaching to R. Hiyya. Therefore, the high priest was commanded not to drink wine during the time of the service, lest it confound his knowledge; for he preserves the Torah (and preserves the service) and the knowledge. Thus it is stated (in Mal. 2:6), “The true Torah was in his mouth, and no injustice was found on his lips.” It also says (in vs. 7), “For the lips of a priest preserve knowledge.” Therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, commanded Aaron (in Lev. 10:9), “Drink no wine or intoxicating liquor, you and your children as well.” And do [not] think that I may have commanded you [only] for the past in the beginning, at a time when the Temple was standing and you were ministering in it, since it is stated (ibid., cont.), “when you come unto the tent of witness….” [Rather,] you shall also keep yourselves from wine forever, as stated (ibid., cont.), “it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.” Therefore, keep yourselves from wine, because wine is a sign²²Gk.: semeion. of a curse. In the case of Noah, what is written about him? (In Gen. 9:21), “Then he drank of the wine and became drunk.” Cham entered and saw his nakedness. What did [Noah] say to him? He cursed his son (in vs. 25), “And he said, ‘Cursed be Canaan.’” Therefore (in Lev. 10:9), “Drink no wine or intoxicating liquor.” And so you find that the ten tribes went into exile only from wine.²³Cf. Lev. 5:3; Numb. 10:3. See what [scripture] says (in Amos 6:1), “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion,” because they were dwelling at ease in pleasure palaces. (Ibid., cont.) “and who have confidence in the mountain of Samaria,” because they were dwelling confidently in [Sebaste].²⁴The city built by Herod on the site of old Samaria. (Ibid., cont.:) “The notables of the leading nation, the ones to whom the House of Israel comes.” In what sense? The peoples of the world would sit and talk. They would say, “Who is the mightiest in Israel?” And they would answer, “Samson.” Then again they would say, “Who is the mightiest among the gentiles?” And they would answer, “Goliath,” about whom it is written (in I Sam. 17:4), “his height was six cubits and a span.” Ergo (in Amos 6:1), “The notables of the leading nation, the ones to whom the House of Israel comes.” Then again they would say, “Who is the wealthiest among the peoples of the world?” And they would answer, “Hadrian.” Then, “Who is the wealthiest in Israel?” And they would answer, “Solomon.” And these would agree with those that Solomon was the wealthiest, as stated (in I Kings 10:27), “And the king made silver [in Jerusalem as plentiful as stones].” Come and see, each and every tribe had its own May festival.²⁵Gk. Maioumas. When one wanted to go to his May festival, he would take his herd with him, so that he would eat fatlings from his flock. It is so stated (in Amos 6:4, 6), “and they would eat lambs from the flock…. Those who drink [straight] from the wine bowls….” What is their end? (Amos 6:7) “Therefore they shall now go at the head of the exiles.” Why? Because they had a passion for wine. For this reason he warns Aaron (in Lev. 10:9), “Drink no wine or intoxicating liquor.” Blessed is the one who does not have a passion for wine, for you find such to be the case with the children of Jonadab ben Rechab, in that their ancestor had commanded them, “Do not drink wine, you and your children forever” (Jer. 35:6). But what was his reason for saying, “Do not drink wine, you and your children?” It is simply that he had heard Jeremiah prophesying that the Temple would be destroyed. He said to them, “From now on, (Jer. 35:6-7), ‘Do not drink wine… You shall not build a house, sow seed, plant a vineyard, [or own such things]; but you shall dwell in tents all your days.” Now they had mourned and observed the commandments of their ancestor; but when Jeremiah was prophesying to Israel [and] telling them to repent, they were not doing so. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Jeremiah, “You are telling them to repent, and they are not doing so. Now in the case of the children of Jonadab ben Rechab, when their ancestor gave them a simple commandment, they observed it; but when I tell Israel to repent, they do not observe [My commandment].” It is so stated (in Jer. 35:14), “The words of Jonadab ben Rechab have been upheld. He commanded his children not to drink wine, and to this day they have not drunk it…. But I spoke to you from early morning to late evening, [and you did not hearken unto me].” What is written there? The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Jeremiah, “Say to them, ‘By your life, whereas you have heeded this commandment, your lineage shall never disappear from before Me, even as it is written (in vs. 19), “Therefore, thus says the Lord [of hosts, the God of Israel], ‘Someone belonging to Jonadab ben Rechab shall not (ever) be cut off [from standing] before Me for ever.’”’” He therefore enlightens them concerning wine (in Lev. 10:9), “Drink no wine or intoxicating liquor.” Isaiah said (in is. 24:11), “There is a cry over wine in the streets; all gladness is obscured.” What is the meaning of “all gladness is obscured (rt.: 'rb)?”²⁶Above, Exod. 11:8. [That ] all gladness has become dark, just as you say (in Gen. 1:5),²⁷Also Gen. 1:8, 13, 19, 23, 31. “and there was evening ('rb).” (Is. 24:11, cont.:) “The joy of the earth has [departed], because Zion has come to an end.” Thus it is written (in Ps. 48:3), “Beauteous landscape, joy of the whole earth, [even Mount Zion].” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel, “In this world wine is a sign of a curse, but in the world to come I will make it into fresh grape juice. Thus it is stated (in Joel 4:18), “And it shall come to pass on that day the mountains shall flow with fresh grape juice….”