The Talmud: Selections from the Contents of That Ancient Book, Its Commentaries, Teachings, Poetry and Legends; Also, Brief Sketches of the Men Who Made and Commented Upon It (Classic Reprint)

PREFACE.
THE object of the followil1g pages is to give to the student
and general reader a fair ideaof the contents of the Talmud.
Some time since the translator was asked how it was that
no English translation of the Talmud was in existence, and
being cO'nvinced that many would be interested in its contents,
he resolved upon the book which he now presents to
the public. It is merely a collection of specimens, and
makes no pretensions to any more advanced standing. The
only object has been to give in plain, easy language, a correct
idea of the scope, and as general an idea as possible of
the varied sections of the ancient and wonderful work.
A portion of the introduction is taken from the preface to,
the Mishna of Maimonides; the chronology is from the
"Seder Haddoroth" (Order of Historical Ages), and the
sketches' of the Rabbis of the Talmud are taken from various
hints afforded by the book itself, joined with opinions of the
"translator. "The sketches of Maimon

Table of Contents

CONTENTS; INTRODUCTION; NATURE AND SCOPE OF THE TALMUD; CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF ITS COMPILATION; PART FIRST; BIBLICAL HISTORY; CHAPTER I; • •; • •; FROM CAIN AND ABEL TO THE DESTRUCTION OF; BABEL'S TOWER; Death of Abel-Enoch-Kenan-Lemech-Death of; Cain-Enoch, his righteoUSTIfSS-Death of Adam-,; Enoch's ascent to Heaven-Methusaleh-LemechNoah-; The Flood-Nimrod-The Building of the; Tower-Confusion of Language; CHAPTER II; fROM THE BIRTH OF ABRAHAM TO THE DESTRUCTION; AGE; I; 10; OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH 30; Therach-Birth of Abram his son-His early peril-; His knowledge of God and studies with Noah-His; return to his father's house-"-He destroys his father's idols-His del