To teach that a dog is of higher station than a slave, a

Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Mekhilta Tractate Kaspa 2:9

Curated by The Jewish Mythology Team · Published January 8, 2025

To teach that a dog is of higher station than a slave, a treifah being relegated to a dog, but only neveilah, to a slave, and to teach that the Holy One Blessed be He does not withhold the reward of any creature, viz.: It is written (Exodus 11:7) "And against all the children of Israel (during the exodus) a dog will not sharpen its tongue." The Holy One Blessed be He says, as it were, "Give it its reward (treifah)" (for holding its tongue.) Now does this not follow a fortiori? If it is so—that He does not withhold "reward"—from animals, how much more so (does He not withhold it) from men! As it is written (Jeremiah 18:10) "… to repay every man according to his ways …" and (Ibid. 12) "the Throne of Glory … (13) the hope of Israel, the L–rd!"

Themes

Prophecy Divine justice Holy Land

Biblical References

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