i both committed fornication. The former (actuated by a
good motive, see Gen. xxxviii. 26) became the ancestress of kings and
prophets. The latter brought about the destruction of myriads in Israel.
Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak says, "To do evil from a good motive is better
than observing the law from a bad one" (e.g., Tamar and Zimri, Lot and
his daughters).

_Nazir_, fol. 23, col. 2.

The Rabbis have taught that the text, "And when it rested, he said,
Return, O Lord, to the myriads and thousands of Israel" (Num. x. 36),
intimates that the Shechinah does not rest upon less than two myriads
and two thousands (two being the minimum plurality). Suppose one of the
twenty-two thousand neglect the duty of procreation, is he not the cause
of the Shechinah's departure from Israel?

_Yevamoth_, fol. 64, col. 1.

"And place over them to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds,
and rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens" (Exod. xviii. 21). The rulers
of thousands were six hundred in number, the rulers of hundreds six
thousand, of fifties twelve thousand, and rulers of tens six myriads.
The total number of rulers in Israel, therefore, was seven myriad eight
thousand six hundred.

_Sanhedrin_, fol. 18, col. 1.

Once upon a time the people of Egypt appeared before Alexander of
Macedon to complain of Israel. "It is said (Exod. xii. 36), they argued,
'The Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that
they lent unto them,' etc.;" and they prayed, "Give us now back the gold
and the silver that ye took from us." Givia ben Pesisa said to the wise
men (of Israel), "Give me permission to plead against them before
Alexander. If they overcome me, say, 'You have overcome a plebeian
only,' but if I overcome them, say, 'The law of Moses our master has
triumphed over you.'" They accordingly gave him leave, and he went and
argued thus, "Whence do ye produce your proof?" "From the law," said
they. Then said he, "I will bring no other evidence but from the law. It
is said (Exod. xii. 40), 'The sojourning of the children of Israel, who
dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.' Pay us now the
usufruct of the labor of the sixty myriads whom ye enslaved in Egypt for
four hundred and thirty years." Alexander gave the Egyptians three days'
grace to prepare a reply, but they never put in an appearance. In fact,
they fled away and left both their fields and vineyards.

Ibid., fol. 91, col. 1.

"And Jethro said, Bles