Another matter, “any man from the house of Israel” – that is what is written: “One who slaughters a bull, smites a man; one who sacrifices a lamb, beheads a dog; one who presents a meal offering, it is the blood of a swine; one who brings frankincense, brings a gift of iniquity” (Isaiah 66:3). Rabbi Yoḥanan and Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Anyone who robs another the value of a peruta, the Torah ascribes to him as though he killed him, and there are many verses for this, as it is stated: “One who slaughters a bull, smites a man.”
“He learned to maul prey, he devoured man” (Ezekiel 19:3), “So are the ways of every pursuer of ill-gotten gain; it takes the life of its owners” (Proverbs 1:19), “The robbery of the children of Judah, that they shed innocent blood in their land” (Joel 4:19), “They said to the king: The man who eliminated us, and who devised against us, so that we would be destroyed from standing within [the entire border of Israel]” (II Samuel 21:5).19This was stated by the Gibeonites in reference to Saul.
Did he kill them or devise against them? Rather, by destroying Nov, the city of priests, which would provide them with sustenance, the verse ascribes to him as though he killed them. Reish Lakish would transpose the verse: One who smites a man, slaughters a bull; one who beheads a dog, sacrifices a lamb; [one who offers] the blood of a swine, presents a meal offering; one who brings a gift of iniquity, brings frankincense.
“They too chose their ways” (Isaiah 66:3).20Reish Lakish reads the verse to mean that people commit terrible acts but consider themselves blameless or even to have performed meritorious acts. Rabbi Elazar asked Rabbi Ḥanina, and some say Rabbi Ḥanina asked Rabbi Elazar. Is it possible that the teacher asks the student?21Rabbi Elazar was a disciple of Rabbi Ḥanina. Rather, he asked him only to test him.
He said to him: ‘What is this that is written: “Two I ask of You…. Distance vanity and falsehood from me; do not give me poverty or wealth; feed me my allotted bread, lest I become sated, and renounce, and say: Who is the Lord? And lest I become poor, and steal, and appropriate the name of my God” (Proverbs 30:7–9). Which of them is worse, the first or the second?’22Which is worse, poverty, which can lead one to steal and swear falsely in the name of God, or wealth, which can lead one to become smug and deny the existence of God?
He said to him: ‘We found that the Holy One blessed be He overlooked idol worship but did not overlook desecration of the Name. From where is it derived that the Holy One blessed be He overlooked idol worship? As stated: “You, house of Israel, so said the Lord God: Let each man go worship his idols” (Ezekiel 20:39). And it is written: “You shall not profane My holy name any more” (Ezekiel 20:39).’23Since profaning the name of God is worse than denying His existence, the dangers inherent in poverty are greater than those inherent in wealth.
Israel would violate the prohibition of the private altar in the wilderness, and punishments would befall them. The nations of the world would see and say: They worship in His name and He kills them. Therefore, Moses cautions Israel and says to them: “Any man from the house of Israel who will slaughter…” (Leviticus 17:3).