The Peddler Who Sold the Elixir of Life to Rabbi Yannai

Another interpretation: "Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21). So harsh is slanderous speech (lashon hara), for a person does not bring it out of his mouth until he denies the fundamental principle, as it is said, "Those who say, 'By our tongue we will prevail; our lips are with us, who is lord over us?'" (Psalms 12:5). As it were, the Holy One, blessed be He, cries out against those who speak slander: "Who will rise up for me against the evildoers?" (Psalms 94:16). Who can stand against them? And who shall stand against them? Gehinnom. But Gehinnom also cries out: I too am unable to stand against them. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: I from above and you from below. I cast arrows upon them from above, and you turn coals upon them from below, as it is said, "Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of broom-wood" (Psalms 120:4). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: Do you wish to be delivered from Gehinnom? Keep yourselves far from slanderous speech, and you will merit in this world and in the world to come, as it is said, "Who is the man who desires life and loves days, to see good?" (Psalms 34:13). "Who desires life" in this world; "loves days" in the world to come. Therefore it is said, "Guard your tongue from evil," etc. (Psalms 34:14). Our Rabbis said: There is a story about a certain peddler who would go around the towns, and he would proclaim and say: Who seeks the elixir of life? The daughter of Rabbi Yannai heard him. She said to her father: A certain peddler is going around and saying, "Who seeks the elixir of life?" He said to her: Go and call him. She went and called him to Rabbi Yannai. He said to him: Which elixir of life is it that you are selling? That peddler said to him: Sir, you do not know what this elixir is. He said to him: Even so, make it known to me. He said to him: Bring me a book of Psalms. They brought it to him, and he unrolled it, and he showed him what David said, "Who is the man who desires life... Guard your tongue from evil," etc. (Psalms 34:13-14). What did Rabbi Yannai do? He gave him six sela'im. His disciples said to him: Rabbi, did you not know this verse? He said to them: Yes, but this one came and clarified it in my hand. (Therefore leprosy comes upon one who speaks slander, "This shall be the law of the leper" [Leviticus 14:2].) This is to teach you that one who speaks slander, plagues come upon him, as it is said, "This shall be the law of the leper (metzora)" (Leviticus 14:2) - the one who brings forth evil (motzi ra).