if the thief is found, he pays double" — A thief (one who

Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Mekhilta Tractate Nezikin 15:5

Curated by The Jewish Mythology Team · Published January 11, 2025

"if the thief is found, he pays double": A thief (one who steals by stealth) pays kefel, but not a robber (one who steals openly). Why did Scripture see fit to be more severe with a thief than with a robber? R. Yochanan says: A robber likens the honor of a servant to the honor of his Master, (not fearing both). A thief accords more honor to a servant than to His Master, (fearing the first, but not the second). A thief makes the Eye on high, unseeing, as it were, and the Ear, unhearing. As it is written (Isaiah 29:15) "Woe unto those who would probe deeper than the L–rd, to conceal (their) counsel, doing their work in the dark; saying: 'Who sees us? Who notices us?'" And (Psalms 94:7) "They say 'The L–rd does not see; the G–d of Jacob does not understand.'" And (Ezekiel 9:9) "For they said 'The L–rd has forsaken the land; the eye of the L–rd does not see.'"

Themes

Patriarchs Prophecy Charity

Biblical References

Continue Reading

Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael And thus do you find with the forefathers, that they And thus do you find with the forefathers, that they deported themselves with circumspection (in this regard), viz.: (Ge... Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Nathan says — Whence is it derived that the L–rd showed our R. Nathan says: Whence is it derived that the L–rd showed our father Abraham, Gehennom, the giving of the Torah and the ... Apocrypha Adam Is Taken Into Paradise One such story, preserved in Vita Adae et Evae (The Life of Adam and Eve), tells of a remarkable vision. It's a bit obsc... Apocrypha The First Torah We often picture Moses on Mount Sinai, receiving the divine word directly from God. Forty days and forty nights of dicta... Apocrypha Abraham In Egypt The land was barren. A terrible famine gripped the region, forcing Abraham and Sarah to seek refuge in Egypt. They first... Apocrypha The Angel Who Saved Isaac I'm talking about the Akedah, the binding of Isaac. We all know the story: Abraham, tested to the absolute limit, raises... Apocrypha The Descent Of The Light-man Jewish tradition is rich with stories of dreams and visions, and the power they hold. One particularly striking tale, fo... Apocrypha Jacob The Angel Was Jacob, the patriarch, just an ordinary man? Tradition whispers secrets, suggesting his story is far grander than we ... Apocrypha A Prayer to End the Arrogance of Tyrants It pulls no punches in its call for humility and divine justice. Ben Sira, a sage writing in Hebrew around 200 BCE, give...