Sanhedrin, fol. 59, col. 2.

Here are two or three other sayings from the Talmud relative to the serpent.

Benjamin the son of Jacob, Amram the father of Moses, and Jesse the father of David all died, not because of their own sin (for they had none, says Rashi), but because of the (original) sin committed under the serpent’s temptation.

Shabbath, fol. 55, col. 2.

No man was ever injured by a serpent or scorpion in Jerusalem.

Yoma, fol. 21, col. 1.

“And dust is the serpent’s food” (Isa. lxv. 25).  Rav Ammi says, “To the serpent no delicacy in the world has any other flavor than that of dust;” and Rav Assi says, “No delicacy in the world satisfies him like dust.”

Ibid., fol. 75, col. 1.

Two negatives or two affirmatives are as good as an oath.

Shevuoth, fol. 36, col. 1.

Like two pearls were the two drops of holy oil that were suspended from the two corners of the beard of Aaron.

Horayoth, fol. 12, col. 1.

For two to sit together and have no discourse about the law, is to sit in the seat of the scornful; as it is said (Ps. i.  I), “And sitteth not in the seat of the scornful.”

Avoth, chap. iii.

When two are seated together at table, the younger shall not partake before the elder, otherwise the younger shall be justly accounted a glutton.

Derech Eretz, chap. vii.

Philemo once asked Rabbi (the Holy), “If a man has two heads, on which is he to put the phylactery?” To which Rabbi replied, “Either get up and be off, or take an anathema; for thou art making fun of me.”

Menachoth, fol. 37, col. 1.

It is thus Rav Yoseph taught what is meant when it is written in Isaiah xii.  I, “I will praise Thee, O Lord, because Thou wast angry with me:  Thine anger will depart and Thou wilt comfort me.”  “The text applies,” he says, “to two men who were going abroad on a mercantile enterprise, one of whom, having had a thorn run into his foot, had to forego his intended journey, and began in consequence to utter reproaches and blaspheme.  Having afterward learned that the ship in which his companion had sailed had sunk to the bottom of the sea, he confessed his shortsightedness and praised God for His mercy.”

Niddah, fol. 31, col. 1.

The night is divided into three watches, and at each watch the Holy One—­blessed be He!—­sits and roars like a lion; as it is written (Jer. xxv. 30), “The Lord will roar from on high, ... roaring, He will roar over his habitation.”  The marks by which this division of the night is recognized are these:—­In the first watch the ass brays; in the second the dog barks; and in the third the babe is at the breast and the wife converses with her husband.

Berachoth, fol. 3, col. 1.

The Rabbis have taught that there are three reasons why a person should not enter a ruin:—­1.  Because he may be suspected of evil intent; 2.  Because the walls might tumble upon him; 3.  And because of evil spirits that frequent such places.