1)

What is the meaning of "Kaspech Hayah l'Sigim"?

1.

Bereishis Rabah 28:7: The money that Yisrael took out of Egypt was a pitfall for them.

2.

Rashi: They made copper coins and covered them with silver to swindle people.

3.

Maharsha (Bava Basra 15b): A buyer would make the dross on his silver coin look like silver [so the seller would think that it is clean silver].

2)

What is the meaning of "Sav'ech Mahul ba'Mayim"?

1.

Rashi (from Pesikta d'Rav Kahana): Their drinks are mixed with water (Radak - the buyer thinks that it is pure wine 1 . Sav'ech is wine sold in a store. It is called so, for empty, frivolous drunkards come and get drunk 2 there). We do not find elsewhere that "Mahul" means mixed. A Midrash explains that "li'Schok Amarti Mehulal" (Koheles 2:2) means mixed. Radak citing his father - in Arabic, Almahal means mixed. Malbim - this answers how they descended to such a level. It was not sudden. Even before, people gave silver with dross, and even before that, they mixed water into the wine.


1

Bava Basra 15b: Our verse teaches about "bi'Ymei Shefot ha'Shoftim" (Rus 1:1) - they judged their judges. If a judge rebuked someone "Kaspech Hayah l'Sigim", he would reply "Sav'ech Mahul ba'Mayim."

2

A Ben Sorer u'Moreh is "Zolel v'Sovei" (Devarim 21:2). (PF)

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:

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