The Red Heifer Ramp and Simeon the Just's Humility

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Chukat 25:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

There we learned (in a Mishnah): Abba Saul says: As for the ramp of the heifer, the High Priests would make it from their own resources, and not one of them would bring out his heifer on the ramp of his fellow; rather, he would tear it down and again build it from his own resources. R. Aha said in the name of R. Hanina: More than sixty talents of gold were spent upon it, for they were all arrogant. But have we not learned (in a Mishnah): Simeon the Just made two heifers, yet he did not bring out the second one on the ramp upon which he had brought out the first. Are you able to say of that righteous one that he was arrogant? R. Abbin said in the name of R. Eleazar: It was on account of the honor of the heifer.

Themes

TribesSimeonDivine JusticeHumilityTeaching

Biblical References

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