False Scales Invite the Kingdom to Provoke a Generation

Pesikta DeRav Kahana 3:4

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

Rabbi Binai in the name of Rabbi Huna opened: "Scales of deceit are an abomination to the LORD, but a perfect weight is His delight" (Proverbs 11:1). Rabbi Binai said in the name of Rabbi Huna: If you see a generation whose measures are of falsehood, know that the kingdom is coming to provoke that generation. And what is the reason? "Scales of deceit are an abomination to the LORD" (Proverbs 11:1) — what is written after it? "When insolence comes, then comes shame" (Proverbs 11:2). Rabbi Berekhiah in the name of Rabbi Abba bar Kahana: It is written, "Shall I be pure with wicked scales and with a bag of deceitful weights?" (Micah 6:11). "Shall I be pure with wicked scales" — is it possible that one whose measures are of falsehood should be accounted pure? Rather, "with a bag of deceitful weights." Rabbi Levi said: Moses too hinted this to Israel from the Torah: "You shall not have in your bag a weight and a weight, a large and a small; you shall not have in your house a measure and a measure, a large and a small" (Deuteronomy 25:13-14). If you do this, know that the kingdom is coming to provoke that generation. And what is the reason? "For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD" (Deuteronomy 25:16) — what is written after it? "Remember what Amalek did to you" (Deuteronomy 25:17).

Themes

AmalekDivine JusticeEthics

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