How the World Was Divided Into Ten Measures of Everything

Midrash Aggadah Kiddushin 49b (Hebraic Literature, 1901)

Curated by The Jewish Mythology Team · Published January 10, 2025

Ten measures of every quality came down into the world, said the sages in Kiddushin 49b, and nine of each were claimed by one nation while the rest of humanity had to share the last one among themselves.

Ten measures of wealth came down — Rome seized nine. Ten measures of poverty — nine fell upon Babylon. Ten measures of pride came down, and Elam took nine. Ten measures of bravery — Persia claimed nine. Ten measures of vermin went to Media. Ten measures of sorcery landed in Egypt, where Pharaoh's magicians had already turned staffs into snakes. Ten measures of shamelessness were taken by the city of Mishan.

The list continues with a smile. Ten measures of talk came into the world — women took nine. Ten measures of early rising — Ethiopia claimed nine. Ten measures of sleep — the servants of the household took nine, and left one measure for everyone else.

The joke lands, but the structure is serious. The Talmud is teaching geography as moral temperament. Every nation, every class, every gender inherits a disproportionate share of something — gift or curse — and the wise person learns to recognize which measure is pressing hardest on his own shoulders before he blames his neighbor for having too much.

Themes

Wisdom Ethics Parables

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