(Numb. 4:17-18:) “Then the Lord spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, ‘Do not cut off the tribe of the Kohathite families [from the Levites].’” This text is related (to Prov. 22:22), “Do not rob the impoverished because he is impoverished.” R. Tanhuma bar Abba said that R. Levi said, “’Do not rob the impoverished because he is impoverished.’ This refers to the lupine<sup class="footnote-marker">114</sup><i class="footnote">Gk.: <i>thermos</i> (“hot”).</i> which arrives with the dessert. One should not say, ‘There are nuts and dates before me. I will say the blessing over them and leave the lupine alone.’ The Holy One, blessed be He, said (ibid.), ‘Do not rob the impoverished because he is impoverished.’” R. Hezekiah said that R. Jeremiah bar Abba said in the name of R. Johanan, “It is with reference to everyone who does not say something in the name of the one who said it that the text says (ibid.), ‘do not rob the impoverished because he is impoverished.’<sup class="footnote-marker">115</sup><i class="footnote">See <i>Avot</i> 6:3.</i> So when a person hears something, it is necessary to cite it in the name of the one who [originally] said it, even though [doing so takes up] more than a third of a law (<i>halakhah</i>).” Thus our masters have taught (in <i>Pe'ah</i> 2:6): R. Nahum the Scribe<sup class="footnote-marker">116</sup><i class="footnote"><i>Livlar.</i> Cf. Lat.: <i>libellaris</i> (“documentary”); <i>libellarius</i> (“relating to a written rental contract”); <i>librarius</i> (“scribe,” “copyist”).</i> said, “I have received from R. May'asha, who received […] from the elders, a law (<i>halakhah</i>) of Moses from Sinai. So it is with reference to whoever does not say something in the name of the one who said it that the text (of Prov. 22:22) says, ‘do not rob the impoverished.’ But everyone who does say something in the name of the one who said it brings redemption into the world.<sup class="footnote-marker">117</sup><i class="footnote"><i>Meg</i>. 15a.</i> From whom have you learned it? From Esther when she heard of the matter from Mordecai. For that reason she was worthy of having Israel be redeemed at her hands.” Ergo, if you hear something, cite it in the name of the one who said it. Another interpretation (of Prov. 22:22), “Do not rob the impoverished.” It speaks about the tribe of Levi, and it is calling the tribe of Levi poor.<sup class="footnote-marker">118</sup><i class="footnote">See Numb. R. 5:2.</i> Were [the Levites] poor? R. Judah bar Simon and our masters [differ about the matter]. One of them says, “Why were they called poor? Because they were poor from [lack of] inheritance, as stated (in Josh. 13:33), ‘But Moses gave no inheritance to the tribe of Levi….’ Therefore, do not rob them of the donations, which I have told you [to give].” But the other (i.e., our masters) says, “It is because they were poor in number. Why so? Because the ark was destroying them. Therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, commanded Moses and said (in Numb. 4:18), ‘Do not cut off the tribe of the Kohathite families [from the Levites].’”