Avodah Zarah 19a

עבודה זרה י״ט ע״א

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Topic

Praise of the righteous in תהלים פרק א and advice on how to learn Torah well

Overview

This amud praises the person described in the opening פסוקים of תהלים and gives advice on how to learn Torah. First, תהלים 1:1 is read as praise of אברהם אבינו, who refused to join the דור הפלגה, סדום, and the scoffing פלשתים. A side discussion explains 'אשרי איש ירא את ה׳': רב says it means doing תשובה while still strong, and רבי יהושע בן לוי says it means beating the יצר like a man. רבי אלעזר adds that one should love the מצוות themselves, not their reward. Back in תהלים 1:2, רבי teaches that a person truly learns only the Torah his heart desires, illustrated by a story with לוי. רבא and others then give a string of lessons: Torah becomes the learner's own, first learn broadly and then analyze, keep reviewing even if you forget, grow from private learning to honor and teaching, gather Torah little by little, and secure what you learn like a hunter who keeps his catch. Finally, the school of רבי ינאי says learning from only one teacher brings no blessing. רב חסדא limits this to סברא, explaining on the next amud why גמרא is better learned from one teacher.

Opening lines

The steps (31)

1. Statementאברהם did not follow the counsel of the Tower-builders
2. Statementאברהם did not stand with the sinners of סדום
3. Statementאברהם did not sit with the scoffing פלשתים
4. QuestionWhy does the verse praise only a man?
5. Responseרב: happy is one who repents while still strong
6. Responseרבי יהושע בן לוי: beat your inclination like a man
7. Statementרבי אלעזר: loving the מצוות themselves, not their reward
8. ProofSupport from אבות: serve without expecting reward
9. StatementLearn Torah in the area your heart desires
10. StatementThe story of choosing between משלי and תהלים
11. Statementלוי's witty reply: you have let me leave
12. StatementGod fulfills the wishes of one who learns Torah
13. Statementרבא: always learn where your heart desires
14. StatementThe Torah becomes the learner's own
15. StatementFirst learn, then analyze
16. StatementKeep reviewing even if you forget or don't understand
17. ChallengeUpon the heights, or on a seat?
18. ResolutionFirst on the heights, later on a seat
19. ChallengeOn the high places, or by the path?
20. ResolutionFirst in private, later in public
21. Challengeעולא's contradiction: cistern or well?
22. ResolutionFirst collect, later flow
23. StatementGather Torah little by little
24. Statementרבא: the Sages know this but don't do it
25. Proofרב נחמן בר יצחק: I did it, and it worked
26. StatementThe deceitful hunter will not live long
27. Statementרב ששת: the clever hunter roasts his catch
28. Statementרב דימי's parable of the bird catcher
29. StatementA replanted tree: learn from more than one teacher
30. Statementרב חסדא's students leave him for רבא
31. StatementFor reasoning use many teachers; for the learned tradition one is better