Why the Ten Tribes Were Exiled for Their Love of Wine

And so you find that the ten tribes went into exile only because of wine. See what it says (Amos 6:1): "Woe to those who are at ease in Zion" — for they were dwelling in palaces of luxury in tranquility; "and to those who are confident in the mountain of Samaria" (ibid.) — for they were dwelling securely [in Sebaste]; "the notables of the foremost of the nations, to whom the House of Israel comes" (Amos 6:1). How so? The nations of the world would sit [and converse] and say: Who is mighty in Israel? And they would say: Samson. And they would say again: Who is mighty among the nations? And they would say: Goliath, of whom it is written, "His height was six cubits and a span" (1 Samuel 17:4). And these [agreed with one another] and said: Samson is the mightiest in Israel — hence "the notables of the foremost of the nations." And they would say again: Who is wealthy among the nations of the world? And they would say: [Hadrian]. And who is wealthy in Israel? And they would say: Solomon, of whom it is written, "And the king made silver [as common in Jerusalem as stones]" (1 Kings 10:27). Come and see: each and every tribe had its own festival-place. When one sought to go to his festival-place, he would take his flock with him, so that he might eat fattened animals from his sheep, as it is said, "and they eat lambs from the flock, etc. [who drink from bowls of wine]" (Amos 6:4, 6). What was their end? "Therefore now they shall go into exile at the head of the exiles" (ibid. 6:7). Why? Because they were avid after wine. Therefore he warns Aaron, "Drink no wine or strong drink" (Leviticus 10:9).