开云体育SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON? Lesson of the Serpent ? The first slander ever spoken was uttered by the Serpent who, through cunning and deceit, prevailed upon Adam and Eve to partake of the Tree of Knowledge. “The serpent said to the woman, ‘You will surely not die [by partaking of it]; for God knows that on the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and bad’” (Bereishis 3:4-5). ? R’ Yehoshua of Siknin said in R’ Levi’s name: “The serpent began speaking slander of his Creator, saying, ‘He [God] ate of this tree and created this world. He therefore ordered you not to eat thereof so you will not create other worlds, for every craftsman hates his competitors’ ” (Bereishis Rabbah 19:4). ? The result of this slander was the decree of death upon mankind. As for the serpent, it was punished measure for measure. “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will pound your head, and you will bite his heel” (Bereishis?3:15). The serpent caused death, therefore man seeks to kill him. The serpent claimed that God felt threatened by man and had enmity for him, therefore man hates the venomous serpent who seeks to do him harm. ? And so it is with the gossipmonger. As people become aware of his wicked nature, they come to loathe him and keep their distance from him, lest he find cause to speak evil of them. ? |
