sotah 38

giving - both blessings and food.

it's a face-to-face encounter, a conversation.
should only be blessed by those with a giving and generous nature, who even the birds know has good eyes.

(continuing the discussion on which ritual texts should be said in lashon hakodesh, The Priests' Blessing. This page lists various details, including that it should be done with the priest facing the people. Amongst the discussion of the priests' blessing is a detail that one should only eat with, and be led in birchat hamazon, by someone who is generous (= has good eyes). and that even the birds recognise who is a miser. And an ungiving, miserly nature, is what causes a lack of hospitality, resulting in anon murder victim between town, and a ritual where the elders and priests have to publicly declare that they are not responsible for this bloodshed, that came from a lack of generosity)

sotah 37

from out of the depths, they called. those who stood in the valley, or first went down into the sea, became worthy of the most high. ‪

The priests and Levites who were eligible for Temple duty stood in the valley, between Mt Gerizim and Mt Ebal during the blessings and curses. Also on this page is the story of the tribe of Binyamin (or Nachshon) being the first to enter the Sea, causing it to split. And earning them the location of the temple (or kingship). Either way, it's going down to be elevated up.

sotah 36

blinded and rendered impotent.

but the one who faced their father, was never harmed by the evil eye ever again.

(the talmud has taken a bit of detour. The mishna listed various texts that can be said in any language, and others that can only be said in hebrew. lashon hakodesh. sotah can be done in any language. The passage about the blessings and the curses was done in hebrew. part of the narrative of entering the land, was that the torah was written in 70 languages on stones by the Jordan. This page describes the stones worn by the High Priest, as part of his clothing. With half the tribes inscribed in one, half on the other. similar to blessings and curses with half the tribes on each mountain. Joseph's name is written with an extra heh, earned because did a kiddush hashem in private. when he didn't sleep with Potiphar's wife. Joseph was planning to, but the coitus was interupted by a vision of Jacob at the window, and a threat that his name would not appear on the high priest's stones. He regained control of his penis, but the sperm leaked out of his fingernails. R. Yohanan describes Joseph as being fruitful, because the evil eye has no power over him. He, and not the evil eye or his lust, is in control of his penis. Also on this page is a story about how the land was conquered. Moshe's hornet, that didn't cross the Jordan, was on the bank and flung it's venom at the inhabitants. Blinding and castrating them. Attacking the eye and the penis. mirroring Joseph seeing a vision and losing his erection. One in the eye. all 3 of them)

sotah 35

threatening God with stones (after hearing about the land)

but when entering the land, have to write God's law on stones in 70 languages.

sotah 34

some need signs and wonders, others pray.

the individual who carries no sign or wonder, but a prayer for protection from the dead ancestors.

vs

the stones, the fruit, the wall of water.

sotah 33

one person, praying on their own, needs to use the holy tongue to be heard.

but many can pray in any language, and be heard in the highest heaven.

sotah 32

how many voices does it take to accuse her? one? two? one against two? one hundred against one?
tell it to the mountains, and speak soft and loud.