The Talmud: Selections: Contents

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INTRODUCTION
NATURE AND SCOPE OF THE TALMUD	1
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF ITS COMPILATION	10
PART FIRST.
BIBLICAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER I.
FROM CAIN AND ABEL TO THE DESTRUCTION OF BABEL'S TOWER
Death of Abel--Enoch--Kenan--Lemech--Death of Cain--Enoch, his righteousness--Death of Adam--Enoch's ascent to Heaven--Methusaleh--Lemech--Noah--The Flood--Nimrod--The Building of the Tower--Confusion of Language.
CHAPTER II.
FROM THE BIRTH OF ABRAHAM TO THE DESTRUCTION OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH	30
Therach--Birth of Abram his son--His early peril--His knowledge of God and studies with Noah--His return to his father's house--He destroys his father's
p. viii
idols--His deliverance from Ur Chaldee--Death of Charan his brother--Abram settles in Canaan--His parting with Lot--Sodom--The wickedness of its inhabitants--Legends of their wrongdoings--Destruction of the City.
CHAPTER III.
FROM THE BIRTH OF ISAAC TO THE WARS OF SHECHEM	50
Birth of Isaac--Dismissal of Hagar and Ishmael--Abram's visits to Ishmael--"A good nail"--Sacrifice of Isaac--His deliverance--Death of Sarah--Birth of Esau and Jacob--Death of Abraham--Esau sells his birthright--Jacob's flight--His reception by Laban--Meeting of Esau and Jacob--Jacob settles in Shechem--Dinah and the son of Chamor--The vengeance of Jacob's sons--The threatening Emorites--Death of Rachel.
CHAPTER IV.
FROM JOSEPH'S YOUTH TO HIS ELEVATION OVER EGYPT	72
The Master of Dreams--Joseph sold by his brethren--He is taken to Egypt--The grief of Jacob--Zelicha, the wife of Potiphar--The unjust accusation--Joseph in prison--The Chief Butler--Death of Isaac--Division of his property--Pharaoh's dreams--Failure of the wise men--Joseph interprets the dreams--His elevation to the office of Viceroy.
CHAPTER V.
JOSEPH'S GREATNESS AND JACOB'S ENTRY INTO EGYPT	92
Marriage of Joseph--The famine--Joseph's brethren journey to Egypt--They are brought before the Viceroy--The money in the sacks--Benjamin goes down to Egypt--The silver cup--Joseph and Judah--Joseph makes himself known--Jacob journeys to meet his son.
p. ix
CHAPTER VI.
DEATH OF JACOB--DELIVERANCE FROM EGYPT	113
Death of Jacob--His burial--Esau's interference--Esau killed by Hushim, the son of Dan--Death of Pharaoh--Joseph's death--Death of Jacob's sons--The new king--Pithom and Ráamses--The proclamation of Death--Birth of Moses--His adoption by Pharaoh's daughter--His flight to Ethiopia--He travels to Midian, and marries Ziporah, the daughter of Reüel--He is sent to Pharaoh--The Plagues--Deliverance of the Israelites--The passage of the Red Sea.
PART SECOND.
SPECIMENS OF BIBLICAL COMMENTARIES.
I. The Deliverance from Egypt	142
II. The Ten Plagues	155
Blood--Frogs--Lice--The Multitude of Beasts--Pestilence--Boils--Hail--Locusts--Darkness--The Slaying of the First Born.
III. The Death of Moses	163
IV. The Book of Esther	166
V. King Solomon, the Wise	192
PART THIRD.
THE RABBIS--THEIR TEACHINGS AND INCIDENTS IN THEIR LIVES.
Rabbi Judah, the "Chief"	205
Simon, the Righteous	209
Rabbi Ishmael, the High Priest	213
Rabbi Meir	215
Hillel Hannasi	220
Tashi	222
Maimonides	224
Rabbi Amnon, of Metz	227
p. x
TEACHINGS OF THE RABBIS
Benevolence	231
Meekness	237
The Fear of God	238
Honour to Parents	241
The Law and its Study	245
Prayer	253
The Sabbath	257
Rewards and Punishments	260
Trades	262
Death	263
Funeral Sermon over a Dead Rabbi	264
INCIDENTS IN THE LIVES OF THE RABBIS.
Rabbi Akiba	266
Elishah ben Abuyah	273
Rabbi Simon	276
Rabbi Judah: Soul and Body equally answerable to God	217
Rabbi Joshua: God's Knowledge of the Future	299
Rabbi Gamliel: A Wife for a Rib	279
Rabbi Joshua: Why Woman was made from the rib of Man	280
Rabbi Simon ben Jochai: Why the Manna fell daily	280
Rabbi Eleazer: The Way of Life	281
Rabbi Johanan, son of Zakai: The Highwayman and the Sneak Thief	281
Rabbi Nachman: The Blessing of Rabbi Yitzchak	282
Gebiah ben Pesisah	283
A Wise King	284
PART FOURTH.
PROVERBS AND SAVINGS OF THE RABBIS, LEGENDS, &c.
Sayings of the Rabbis	286
The Desert Island	299
The Emperor and the Aged Man	302
Proving a Claim	304
p. xi
A Payment with Interest	306
The Weasel and the Well	303
The Lawful Heir	309
Nothing in the World without a Use	310
The Reward of Faith	312
Abtinoss and Garmah	312
Trust in God	313
The Bride and Bridegroom	316
Truth	317
The Destruction of Bithar	313
The Destruction of Jerusalem	319
Second Destruction of Jerusalem	322
Hannah and her Seven Sons	324
PART FIFTH.
CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LAW--THE HOLY DAYS.
Sketch of Civil and Criminal Codes	329
Passover	332
Pentecost, or Feast of Weeks	333
New Year, or Day of Memorial	335
The Day of Atonement	341
Succoth, or Feast of Tabernacles	349
Hannuckah	356
Purim	358

INTRODUCTION.