Jesus in the Talmud

30 Chapter 2such was suspicious (because she was a prostitute), or whether it wants toread its source creatively and to understand “sister” literally (insinuatingsome kind of incestuous relationship)—there is quite a variety of nasty implicationsto choose from. Whichever one wishes to adopt, the possibilitythat the Talmud might respond to a tradition that is preserved only in thegnostic 19 literature is in itself remarkable enough.The second context (b Ber 17a–b) in which the Talmud presents thestory of the wicked son/disciple is an exegesis of Psalm 144:14: “Our oxenare well loaded (allufenu mesubbalim). There is no breach (peretz) andno going forth (yotzet), and no outcry (tzewahah) in our streets.” Like thefirst one, it is connected with Rav Hisda:When the rabbis took leave from the school of Rav Hisda—otherssay, from the school of R. Shemuel bar Nahmani—they said to him(Rav Hisda):Our oxen are well loaded (Ps. 144:14)—(this means): we are instructed,we are well loaded. 20Rav and Shemuel—others say, R. Yohanan and R. Eleazar—(givedifferent explanations of this).One says: We are instructed (ibid.)—(this means): we are instructedin Torah.We are well loaded (ibid.)—(this means): we are well loaded withprecepts.The other says: We are instructed—(this means): we are instructedin Torah and precepts.We are well loaded—(this means): we are well loaded with chastisements.21There is no breach (ibid.)—(this means): may our company notbe like that of David, from whom issued Ahitophel.And no going forth (ibid.)—(this means): may our company notbe like that of Saul, from whom issued Doeg the Edomite.And no outcry (ibid.)—(this means): may our company not belike that of Elisha, from whom issued Gehazi.In our streets (ibid.)—(this means): that we shall not have a son ora disciple who publicly spoils his food/dish (maqdiah tavshilo) likeJesus the Nazarene (Yeshu ha-Notzri). 22