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Text Excerpt
בני שמואל חטאו אינו אלא טועה, שנאמר: ״ויהי (כי זקן שמואל ובניו לא הלכו) בדרכיו״ — בדרכיו הוא דלא הלכו, מיחטא נמי לא חטאו.
that the sons of Samuel sinned is nothing other than mistaken, as it is stated: “And it came to pass, when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel…And his sons walked not in his ways but sought after unjust gain, and took bribes, and perverted justice” (I Samuel 8:1–3). By inference: In his ways they did not walk, however, they did not sin either. They were not the equals of their father, but they were not sinners.
אלא מה אני מקיים ״ויטו אחרי הבצע״ — שלא עשו כמעשה אביהם, שהיה שמואל הצדיק מחזר בכל מקומות ישראל ודן אותם בעריהם, שנאמר: ״והלך מדי שנה בשנה וסבב בית אל והגלגל והמצפה ושפט את ישראל״, והם לא עשו כן, אלא ישבו בעריהם כדי להרבות שכר לחזניהן ולסופריהן.
However, how then do I establish the meaning of the verse: “And they sought after unjust gain,” indicating that they were sinners? It means that they did not conduct themselves in accordance with the actions of their father. As Samuel the righteous would travel to all places where the people of Israel were located and sit in judgment in their towns, as it is stated: “And he went from year to year in circuit from Beth-El, and Gilgal, and Mitzpa, and judged Israel in all those places” (I Samuel 7:16). And, however, they did not do so and travel from place to place. Rather, they sat in their own cities in order to enhance the fees collected by their attendants and scribes. Therefore, the verse ascribes to them liability as if they sinned by seeking ill-gotten gains and bribes.
כתנאי. ״ויטו אחרי הבצע״, רבי מאיר אומר חלקם שאלו בפיהם. רבי יהודה אומר: מלאי הטילו על בעלי בתים. רבי עקיבא אומר: קופה יתירה של מעשר נטלו בזרוע. רבי יוסי אומר: מתנות נטלו בזרוע.
The Talmud notes that this matter is parallel to a dispute between tanna’im. As it was taught in a baraita that the verse states: “And they sought after unjust gain.” R' Meir says: This means that they vocally demanded their portions of the tithe due them as Levites, abusing their position to the detriment of other Levites. R' Yehuda says: They imposed upon local homeowners to sell their merchandise and support them. R' Akiva says: They took an extra basket of tithes, beyond that which was their due, by force. R' Yosei says: They took only the gifts due them; however, they took them by force. They acted improperly, as a Levite is required to wait until he is given his gifts and may not take them.