Rabbi Meir had a disciple named Sumchus, who in every case assigned forty-eight reasons why one thing should be called clean and why another should be called unclean, though Scripture declared the contrary. (A striking illustration of Rabbinical ingenuity!)

Eiruvin, fol. 13, col. 2.

Forty-eight prophets and seven prophetesses prophesied unto Israel, and they have neither diminished nor added to that which is written in the law, except the reading of the Book of Esther.

Megillah, fol. 14, col. 1.

The Rabbis teach that in future (in the days of the Messiah) all Scripture will be abolished except the Book of Esther, also all festivals except the feast of Purim. (See Menorath Hamaor, fol. 135, col. 1.)

By forty-eight things the law is acquired.  These are study, attention, careful conversation, mental discernment, solicitude, reverential fear, meekness, geniality of soul, purity, attention to the wise, mutual discussion, debating, sedateness, learning in the Scripture and the Mishna, not dabbling in commerce, self-denial, moderation in sleep, aversion to gossip, etc., etc.

Avoth, chap. 6.

When God gave the law to Moses, He assigned forty-nine reasons in every case for pronouncing one thing unclean and as many for pronouncing other things clean.

Sophrim, chap. 16, mish. 6.

He that has fifty zouzim, and trades therewith, may not glean what is left in the corner of the field (Lev. xix. 9).  He that takes it, and has no right to it, will come to want before the day of his departure.  And if one who is entitled to it leaves it to others more needy, before he dies he will not only be able to support himself, but be a stay to others.

Peah, chap. 8, mish. 9.

Fifty measures of understanding were created in the world, and all except one were given to Moses; as it is said (Ps. viii. 5), “Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels.”

Rosh Hashanah, fol. 21, col, 2.

Poverty in a house is harder to bear than fifty plagues.

Bava Bathra, fol 116, col. 1.

    The above saying is based on Job xix. 21, compared with Exod.
    viii. 19.

For fifty-two years no man traveled through the land of Judea.

Yoma. fol. 54, col. 1.

Black cummin is one of the sixty deadly drugs.

Berachoth, fol. 40, col. 1.

Ulla and Rav Chasda were once traveling together, when they came up to the gate of the house of Rav Chena bar Chenelai.  At sight of it Rav Chasda stooped and sighed.  “Why sighest thou?” asked Ulla, “seeing, as Rav says, sighing breaks the body in halves; for it is said (Ezek. xxi. 6), ‘sigh, therefore, O son of man, with the breaking of thy loins;’ and Rabbi Yochanan says a sigh breaks up the whole constitution; for it is said (Ezek.