Our Lips Will Pay the Bulls We Once Offered

Pesikta DeRav Kahana 24:19

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

Return to the LORD, and say to Him, May You forgive all iniquity (Hosea 14:3). Rabbi Yudah and Rabbi Nechemyah. Rabbi Yudah said: May You forgive all, yet do not lift up our iniquities. And Rabbi Nechemyah said: All, do not bear away the whole; take half and leave half. Receive the good (Hosea 14:3). Rabbi Natan and Rabbi Acha in the name of Rabbi Simon: the numerical value of the word for good is the same as soul, so receive the good means receive the soul. And let us pay the bulls of our lips (Hosea 14:3). Rabbi Abahu said: Who shall pay those bulls that we used to offer before You? Our lips, in the prayer we pray before You. Rabbi Yitzchak said: This is the atonement by which You atone for our souls. And what great goodness do You do for our souls, and what are we to say? Good. It is good to give thanks to the LORD (Psalms 92:2). Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good (Psalms 118:1). Completed.

Themes

PrayerRepentanceSacrifice

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