Study Sotah folio 9B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
וכן מצינו בנחש הקדמוני, שנתן עיניו במה שאינו ראוי לו — מה שביקש לא נתנו לו, ומה שבידו נטלוהו ממנו. אמר הקדוש ברוך הוא: אני אמרתי יהא מלך על כל בהמה וחיה, ועכשיו ״ארור הוא מכל הבהמה ומכל חית השדה״.
And, so too, we found with regard to the primeval snake who seduced Eve, for he placed his eyes on that which was unfit for him, as he wanted to marry Eve. Consequently, that which he desired was not given to him, and that which was in his possession was taken from him. God said: I initially said that the snake will be king over every domesticated animal and wild animal, but now he is cursed more than all the livestock and all the wild animals of the field, as it is stated: “And YHWH God said to the serpent: Because you have done this, you are cursed from among all cattle, and from among all animals of the field; upon your belly should you go, and dust should you eat all the days of your life” (Genesis 3:14).
אני אמרתי יהלך בקומה זקופה, עכשיו — ״על גחונו ילך״. אני אמרתי יהא מאכלו מאכל אדם, עכשיו — ״עפר יאכל״. הוא אמר אהרוג את אדם ואשא את חוה, עכשיו — ״איבה אשית בינך ובין האשה ובין זרעך ובין זרעה״.
The baraita explains the elements of this curse. I said that the snake will walk upright, but now he should go on his belly; I said that his food will be the same as the food eaten by a person, but now he should eat dust. The snake said: I will kill Adam and marry Eve, but now: “I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed” (Genesis 3:15).
וכן מצינו בקין וקרח ובלעם ודואג ואחיתופל וגחזי ואבשלום ואדוניהו ועוזיהו והמן — שנתנו עיניהם במה שאינו ראוי להם. מה שביקשו — לא ניתן להם, ומה שבידם — נטלוהו מהם.
The baraita continues: And so we found with regard to Cain, who desired to inherit the whole world alone (see Genesis 4); and Korah, who desired the priesthood (see Numbers 16); and Balaam, who desired Balak’s money (see Numbers 22); and Doeg, who was jealous of David (see I Samuel 21–22); and Ahithophel, who was also jealous of David (see II Samuel 16); and Gehazi, who took Naaman’s money (see II Kings 5); and Absalom, who wanted the kingdom (see II Samuel 15); and Adonijah, who also wanted the kingdom (see I Kings 1); and Uzziah, who wanted to be the High Priest (see II Chronicles 26); and Haman, who wanted to kill all the Jews (see Esther 3:13). All of these were people who placed their eyes on that which is unfit for them, and consequently what they desired was not given to them, and what they had was taken from them.