Another matter, “who is like the wise man” – this is the Torah scholar. “And who knows the meaning of a matter” – as he knows how to interpret his learning.9He knows how to arrive at halakhic conclusions. “The wisdom of a man [illuminates his face]” – when he is asked a question and responds; “and the boldness of his face is changed” – when he is asked a question and does not know how to respond. Rabbi Ḥiyya was sitting and teaching: From where is it derived that one cannot substitute for a firstborn?10A firstborn kosher animal has sanctity and must be given to a priest (see Deuteronomy 15:19–23).
If one attempts to transfer the sanctity to a different animal, both animals are considered sacred. However, once the firstborn animal is given to the priest, if one attempts to transfer the sanctity to a different animal, the attempt is meaningless, and the second animal is not considered sacred. This is the teaching that Rabbi Ḥiyya was explicating. The face of bar Pedaya glowed. [Rabbi Ḥiyya] said: This one knows what I am sitting and teaching.
A certain gentile saw Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Ilai; he saw that his face glowed. He said: ‘This man is one of three things; either he is intoxicated with wine, lends with interest, or raises pigs.’ Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Ilai said: ‘Let despair come upon that man, as I do not have even one of the three. I am not a lender with interest, as it is stated: “Do not lend to your brother with interest” (Deuteronomy 23:20).
I am not a raiser of pigs, as it is prohibited for an Israelite to raise pigs, as it is taught there: It is prohibited for a person to raise pigs anywhere.11Mishna Bava Kama 7:7. And I am not intoxicated with wine, as even the four cups of wine that I drink on Passover eve cause my head to ache from Passover until Shavuot.’12Rabbi Yehuda bar Rabbi Ilai did not like wine and would not drink it unless absolutely necessary. [The gentile] said to him: ‘Why does your face glow?’
He said to him: ‘It is my Torah that causes my face to glow, as it is written: “The wisdom of a man illuminates his face…”’ Rabbi Abbahu went to Caesarea and he came from there and his face was glowing. His students saw him and ascended and told Rabbi Yoḥanan: ‘This Rabbi Abbahu found a treasure.’ He said to them: ‘Why [do you say so]?’ They said to him: ‘Because his face is glowing.’
He said to them: ‘Perhaps he heard some new Torah.’ They ascended to him and they said to him: ‘What new Torah did the Master hear?’ He said to them: ‘An ancient Tosefta was cited.’ They recited a verse in his regard: “The wisdom of a man…”