Avec dix déclarations (ma'amaroth), le monde a été créé, [neuf "Et Il a dit" et "Au commencement" est aussi une déclaration, à savoir. (Psaumes 33: 6): "Par la parole du Seigneur, les cieux ont été faits."] Que nous enseigne-t-on ici? N'aurait-il pas pu être créé avec une seule déclaration? Mais, [cela a été déclaré] pour punir les méchants qui détruisent le monde, qui a été créé avec dix déclarations [Car si quelqu'un détruit une âme juive, c'est comme s'il détruisait un monde entier, et les méchants, qui dans leurs péchés détruisent leurs âmes, sont considérés comme ayant détruit le monde entier. (Ainsi ai-je trouvé.) Et il me semble qu'ils détruisent le monde lui-même, car ils inclinent tout le monde à l'échelle du châtiment, de sorte qu'il est détruit à cause d'eux. «Avec dix déclarations»: il n'y a pas de comparaison entre détruire une œuvre créée en un jour et (détruire) une œuvre créée en plusieurs jours], et donner une bonne récompense aux tzaddikim, qui soutiennent le monde, qui a été créé avec dix déclarations .
Pirkei Avot
Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai received [the oral tradition] from Hillel and Shammai. He used to say: if you have learned much Torah, do not claim credit for yourself, because for such a purpose were you created. Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai had five disciples and they were these: Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus, Rabbi Joshua ben Hananiah, Rabbi Yose, the priest, Rabbi Shimon ben Nethaneel and Rabbi Eleazar ben Arach. He [Rabbi Johanan] used to list their outstanding virtues: Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus is a plastered cistern which loses not a drop; Rabbi Joshua ben Hananiah happy is the woman that gave birth to him; Rabbi Yose, the priest, is a pious man; Rabbi Simeon ben Nethaneel is one that fears sin, And Rabbi Eleazar ben Arach is like a spring that [ever] gathers force. He [Rabbi Yohanan] used to say: if all the sages of Israel were on one scale of the balance and Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus on the other scale, he would outweigh them all. Abba Shaul said in his name: if all the sages of Israel were on one scale of the balance, and Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus also with them, and Rabbi Eleazar ben Arach on the other scale, he would outweigh them all.
Ten miracles were wrought for our ancestors in Egypt, and ten at the sea. Ten plagues did the Holy one, blessed be He, bring upon the Egyptians in Egypt and ten at the sea. [With] ten trials did our ancestors try God, blessed be He, in the Wilderness, as it is said, “and they have tried Me these ten times and they have not listened to my voice” (Numbers 14:22).
Ten wonders were wrought for our ancestors in the Temple: [1] no woman miscarried from the odor of the sacred flesh; [2] the sacred flesh never became putrid; [3] no fly was ever seen in the slaughterhouse; [4] no emission occurred to the high priest on the Day of Atonement; [5] the rains did not extinguish the fire of the woodpile; [6] the wind did not prevail against the column of smoke; [7] no defect was found in the omer, or in the two loaves, or in the showbread; [8] the people stood pressed together, yet bowed down and had room enough; [9] never did a serpent or a scorpion harm anyone in Jerusalem; [10] and no man said to his fellow: the place is too congested for me to lodge overnight in Jerusalem.