(Lev. 19:2:) “You shall be holy.”7Tanh., Gen. 1:7. See what is written (in Josh. 24:19), “for He is a holy God (in the plural).”8The words, HOLY and GOD, are both plural in the Hebrew. What is the meaning of this verse? It provides an opening for the heretics (minim), in that it seems to them like two powers.9See Alan F. Segal, Two Powers in Heaven: Early Rabbinic Reports about Christianity and Gnosticism (“Studies in Judaism in Late Antiquity,” 25; Leiden: Brill, 1977), p. 121. The heretics asked R. Simlay, “What is the meaning of ‘for He is a holy God?’10See Tanh. (Buber), Gen. 1:7; and the parallels listed there. Do you not say that He is one power? See from this verse, that there are [at least] two powers.” He said to them, “You idiots! Had it said, ‘[for] they are holy,’ you would have spoken [well. But] it is written, ‘[for] He (in the singular).’” And [regarding] that which it says, “holy God (in the plural),” R. Berekhyah said in the name of R. Abba, “What is the meaning of ‘He is a holy [God] (with holy in the plural)?’ That He is holy in all categories of holiness.” How? R. Aha bar Hanina said, “His speech is in holiness, as stated (in Ps. 60:8), ‘God spoke in His holiness (i.e., in the holy place, the Temple).’ His way is in holiness, as stated (in Ps. 77:14), ‘Your way, O God, is in holiness (i.e., in the holy place).’ He is seen in holiness, as stated (in Ps. 63:3), ‘So I have beheld You in holiness, (i.e., in the holy place).’ His praise11Gk.: kalos (“beautifully”). is in holiness, as stated (in Exod. 15:11), ‘Who is like You, glorious in holiness?’ The uncovering of His arm is in holiness, as stated (in Is. 52:10), ‘The Lord has uncovered His arm of holiness.’” Ergo (in Josh. 24:19) “He is a holy God (with holy in the plural),” because He is holy in all categories of holiness.
קְדֹשִׁים תִּהְיוּ. רְאֵה מַה כְּתִיב: כִּי אֱלֹהִים קְדֹשִׁים הוּא (יהושע כד, יט), מַהוּ כָּאן, הַפָּסוּק הַזֶּה פֶּתַח לַמִּינִים הוּא, שֶׁנִּרְאֶה לָהֶם כִּשְׁנֵי רְשֻׁיּוֹת שָׁאֲלוּ הַמִּינִים אֶת רַבִּי שִׂמְלַאי, מַהוּ כִּי אֱלֹהִים קְדֹשִׁים הוּא. אֵין אַתֶּם אוֹמְרִים שֶׁרְשׁוּת אֶחָד הוּא, הֲרֵי שְׁתֵּי רְשֻׁיּוֹת הֵן מִן הַפָּסוּק הַזֶּה. אָמַר לָהֶן, שׁוֹטִים שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, אִלּוּ אָמַר, קְדוֹשִׁים הֵם, אַתֶּם אוֹמְרִים. עַכְשָׁו, הוּא כְּתִיב. וּמַה שֶּׁאָמַר אֱלֹהִים קְדֹשִׁים, אָמַר רַבִּי בְּרֶכְיָה, מַהוּ קְדֹשִׁים הוּא, שֶׁהוּא קָדוֹשׁ בְּכָל מִינֵי קְדֻשּׁוֹת, שֶׁכָּל מַעֲשָׂיו בִּקְדֻשָּׁה. דִּבּוּרוֹ בִּקְדֻשָּׁה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: אֱלֹהִים דִּבֶּר בְּקָדְשׁוֹ (תהלים ס, ח). דַּרְכּוֹ בִּקְדֻשָּׁה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: אֱלֹהִים בַּקֹּדֶשׁ דַּרְכֶּךָ (תהלים עז, יד). הִלּוּכוֹ בִּקְדֻשָּׁה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: הֲלִיכוֹת אֵלִי מַלְכִּי בַּקֹּדֶשׁ (שם סח, כה). חֲשִׂיפַת זְרוֹעוֹ בִּקְדֻשָּׁה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: חָשַׂף ה' אֶת זְרוֹעַ קָדְשׁוֹ (ישעיה נב, י). מַרְאֵהוּ בִּקְדֻשָּׁה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: כֵּן בַּקֹּדֶשׁ חֲזִיתִיךָ (תהלים סג, ג). קִלּוּסוֹ בִּקְדֻשָּׁה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: מִי כָּמוֹךָ נֶאְדָּר בַּקֹּדֶשׁ (שמות טו, יא). הֲרֵי, כִּי אֱלֹהִים קְדֹשִׁים הוּא, כִּי קָדוֹשׁ בְּכָל מִינֵי קְדֻשּׁוֹת.
(Lev. 19:2:) “You shall be holy.”7Tanh., Gen. 1:7. See what is written (in Josh. 24:19), “for He is a holy God (in the plural).”8The words, HOLY and GOD, are both plural in the Hebrew. What is the meaning of this verse? It provides an opening for the heretics (minim), in that it seems to them like two powers.9See Alan F. Segal, Two Powers in Heaven: Early Rabbinic Reports about Christianity and Gnosticism (“Studies in Judaism in Late Antiquity,” 25; Leiden: Brill, 1977), p. 121. The heretics asked R. Simlay, “What is the meaning of ‘for He is a holy God?’10See Tanh. (Buber), Gen. 1:7; and the parallels listed there. Do you not say that He is one power? See from this verse, that there are [at least] two powers.” He said to them, “You idiots! Had it said, ‘[for] they are holy,’ you would have spoken [well. But] it is written, ‘[for] He (in the singular).’” And [regarding] that which it says, “holy God (in the plural),” R. Berekhyah said in the name of R. Abba, “What is the meaning of ‘He is a holy [God] (with holy in the plural)?’ That He is holy in all categories of holiness.” How? R. Aha bar Hanina said, “His speech is in holiness, as stated (in Ps. 60:8), ‘God spoke in His holiness (i.e., in the holy place, the Temple).’ His way is in holiness, as stated (in Ps. 77:14), ‘Your way, O God, is in holiness (i.e., in the holy place).’ He is seen in holiness, as stated (in Ps. 63:3), ‘So I have beheld You in holiness, (i.e., in the holy place).’ His praise11Gk.: kalos (“beautifully”). is in holiness, as stated (in Exod. 15:11), ‘Who is like You, glorious in holiness?’ The uncovering of His arm is in holiness, as stated (in Is. 52:10), ‘The Lord has uncovered His arm of holiness.’” Ergo (in Josh. 24:19) “He is a holy God (with holy in the plural),” because He is holy in all categories of holiness.