PASSAGES RELATING TO JESUS
77
Joshua. As the section about Balaam, Num. xxii.-
xxiv., forms part of the Pentateuch, the question
arises, Why was it necessary to state expressly that
Moses wrote it? Rashi answers that Moses went
out of his way to include the prophecies of Balaam,
which did not properly belong to his own subject.
Marx (Traditio Veterrima, p. 42) accepts this, and
quotes a passage from the Jerusalem Talmud to show
how much importance was attached to the Balaam
section. As this passage seems to me to suggest
more than Marx finds in it, I quote it here, adding
some preceding words which did not come within
the scope of his reference.
(18) j. Ber. i. 8 (3°).-For Rab Mathnah and Rab
Shemuel bar Nahman says, both say, It would
be proper that the Ten Words should be read
every day. And why are they not read ?
Because of the misrepresentation of the
Minim, that they might not say, ' These
[i.e.
the Ten Words] only were given to Moses
on Sinai.' Rab Shemuel bar Nahman in the
name of Rabbi Jehudah bar Zebuda says,
It would be proper that the Parashah of
Balk and Balaam should be read every day.
And why is it not read? In order not to
weary the congregation.' Rab Huna says,
'Because there is written in it
Lying down
and rising
up' [Num. xxiii. 24]. Rabbi Jose
bar Rabbi Bun says, ` Because there is
written
in it the going forth
[out of Egypt], and
the Kingdom' [Num. xxiii.
21,
22].
Rabbi
El'azar ' says, 'Because it is written in the
Torah, the Prophets and the Writings.'
 |  |  |