The Tale of the Wicked Neighbor

Unknown

Mid-12th Century

In the name of my brother, R. Hillel of blessed memory, I heard [about] what he found in Midrash Lekhu Nerannenah. And I am unable to quote the midrash verbatim, but I will write what I heard:

[This is] a story about a man who had an outrageous neighbor, and a wall separated them. The evil one desired his [neighbor’s] wife and was envious of his…

Please login or register for free access to Posen Library
Register
Already have an account?
Engage with this Source

Ephraim of Bonn transmitted this story in a commentary on a piyyut for Shavuot, alleging that he heard it from his brother, Hillel ben Jacob, who had read it in a midrashic text. It presents a cautionary tale, in which a man starts by desiring his neighbor’s wife and ends up transgressing each of the ten commandments.

Read more

Related Guide

Early Medieval Tales and Legends

6th to 12th Century

You may also like

Fragment of a worn page depicting two birds facing each other among branches and fruits, with a decorated border.
Tooltip info icon

The Speech of Asher ben Judah

On the fourth day, sodden with drink and without a care in the world, we went out to stroll along the quiet waters and to sniff some fresh air. By the canals were lovely gazelles and cooing doves. Wh…
View Source

The Speech of Tuviah ben Zedekiah

Listen to me, oh maskil, and know my words. Know that when the kings went to war and set out with their armies on the roads, God awakened the spirit of Cushan-rishathaim [Cushan the doubly wicked; see…
View Source
Damaged manuscript page with Arabic text above an illustration of two lions seated among flora, facing and gesturing toward each other.
Tooltip info icon

Fox Fables

Mishle shu'alim (Fox Fables), 104, 59.
[ . . . ] Lo, I draw parables of beasts and birds to strengthen hands that are weak, and of creeping things that crawl upon the ground; these are for a similitude for them that walk on…
View Source
Two facing pages containing simple humanoid drawings, one large and two smaller orthogonal to it, each with arms extended and various non-human details, decorations, and protrusions, and Hebrew scattered throughout.
Tooltip info icon

Book of Delight

Sefer sha'ashu'im (Book of Delight), I.1-2, IV:2, V:2.
There was a man in the land of Barcelona, and his name was Joseph Ibn Zabara. That man was settled on his lees, at ease from his youth [see Jeremiah 48:11], with his cousins and friends. His…
View Source
Two facing pages containing simple humanoid drawings, one large and two smaller orthogonal to it, each with arms extended and various non-human details, decorations, and protrusions, and Hebrew scattered throughout.
Tooltip info icon

The Tale of the Drakon

There is a kind of demon which is called drakon in Greek. If it is hit by a sword no harm will come to it, unless [the attacker] is also born of a drakon. There was one who was born from [the union of…
View Source

The Tale of the Sorcerer

Sefer hasidim (Book of the Pious), Ginsburg MS Mos. 82, fols. 78a-b.
Mishpatim [Judgments]: “Do not allow a sorceress to live (Exodus 22:17) is adjoined to If a man seduces (Exodus 22:15). For all such doings are done by sorcery. And whoever lies with a beast (Exodus…
View Source