Penitential Posture and Rhetoric

Rav [once] happened [to come] to Babylonia on a public fast. He stood and read from a [Torah] scroll. [When] he began [to read,] he recited a blessing, [but when] he concluded, he did not recite a blessing. Everyone [else] fell on their faces, [i.e., bowed down on the floor, as was the custom,] but Rav did not fall on his face. What is the reason that Rav did not fall on his face? It was a stone floor, and it was taught [in a baraita]: Nor shall you install any figured stone in your land, to bow down upon it (Leviticus 26:1), [that,] upon it, [i.e., any type of figured stone,] you shall not bow down in your land, [i.e., anywhere in your land other than in the Temple;] but you shall bow down upon the stones of the Temple. [This is] in accordance with [the opinion of] Ulla, [as] Ulla said, “The Torah prohibited [bowing down] only [upon] a stone floor.” If so, why [was it] specifically Rav [who did not bow down?] All of [the other people present were] also [prohibited from bowing down on the stone floor. The stone section of the floor was only] in front of Rav, [as the rest of the floor was not paved. If so, Rav] should have gone to [where the rest of] the congregation [was standing] and fallen on his face [there.] He did not want to trouble the congregation [to make room for him]. And if you wish, say: Rav would stretch out his arms and legs [and fully prostrate himself on the ground, whereas the others would merely bend their bodies as a symbolic gesture]. And [this is] in accordance with [the opinion of] Ulla, as Ulla said, “The Torah prohibited [bowing down upon a stone floor] only [when it is done with] outstretched arms and legs.” [Rav] should have fallen on his face without stretching out his arms and legs. He did not [want to] change his [usual] custom [of full prostration, and where he was standing he could not fully prostrate himself in his usual manner because there the floor was of stone]. And if you wish, say [a different reason as to why Rav did not fall on his face]: An important person is different, in accordance with [the opinion of] R. Eleazar, as R. Eleazar said: An important person is not permitted to fall on his face [in public] unless [he knows that] he will be answered like Joshua ben Nun [in his time], as it is written: And the Lord said to Joshua: Get up; [why do you lie upon your face?] (Joshua 7:10).

The sages taught [in a baraita: The term] kiddah [indicates falling] upon [one’s] face, [with one’s face toward the ground,] as it is stated: Then Bathsheba bowed [va-tikod] with her face to the ground (1 Kings 1:31). Keria‘ [means bowing] upon one’s knees, as it is stated [with regard to Solomon: He finished praying and he rose from before the altar of the Lord,] from kneeling [mi-keroa‘] upon his knees (1 Kings 8:54). [Finally,] hishtaḥava’ah, that is [bowing with one’s] arms and legs spread [in total submission,] as it is stated [that Jacob asked, in response to Joseph’s dream]: Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow down [le-hishtaḥavot] to you to the ground? (Genesis 37:10).

[On the topic of bowing,] R. Ḥiyya bar Avin said: I saw Abaye and Rava, who would bend [their heads and not actually prostrate themselves on the ground].