as if they
had eaten at GOD'S table, as is said, 'And he said unto me, This is the
table that is before the LORD.' "(476)

4. R. Chanina, son of Chanina, said, "he who wakes in the night and
travels in the road alone, and turns his heart to vanity, is guilty of the
death of his own soul."

5. R. Nechunya, son of Hakana, said, "whoever lays on himself the yoke of
the law is relieved from the yoke of the kingdom and the yoke of the
custom of the world, and whoever breaks off the yoke of the law, imposes
on himself the yoke of the kingdom and the yoke of the custom of the
world."

6. R. Chalaphta of the village of Chananya said, "ten men who assemble
together and study the law, the Shechinah rests among them, as is said,
'God standeth in the congregation of the mighty.' "(477) And hence it is
inferred that it is also so with five, because it is said, "and hath
founded his troop in the earth."(478) And hence it is inferred that it is
likewise so with three, because it is said, "He judgeth among the
gods."(479) And hence it is inferred that it is also thus with two,
because it is said, "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to
another, and the Lord hearkened and heard, etc."(480) And hence it is
inferred that it is likewise so with one, because it is said, "In all
places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless
thee."(481)

7. R. Eleazar of Barthota said, "give unto Him of His own, for thou and
all that thou hast are His." And thus said David, "For all things come of
Thee, and of thine own have we given Thee."(482) R. Simon said, "he who
journeys on the road, meditating on the law, and ceases therefrom to
admire this beautiful tree or that beautiful fallow ground, is considered
in Scripture as endangering his life."

8. R. Dosthai, the son of Jonai, in the name of R. Meier, said, "whoever
forgetteth anything of what he had obtained by study, is considered in
Scripture as having endangered his life"; as is said, "Only take heed to
thyself and guard thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which
thine eyes have seen."(483) "Perhaps his study has been too powerful for
him?" "But it is said, 'And lest they depart from thy heart all the days
of thy life.' "(484) Hence he endangers not his life, till he deliberately
removes them from his heart.

9. Rabbi Chanina, son of Dose, said, "whosoever's fear of sin precedes his
wisdom, his wisdom will remain; but whosoever's wisdom precedes hi