תלמוד על מדות 2:3

HALAKHAH: The Mishnah is Abba Yose ben Ḥanin’s, since Abba Yose ben Ḥanin said, corresponding to the thirteen gates. But according to the Rabbis there were seven gates⁵⁸As described in Mishnah Middot1:4.. In the Rabbis’ opinion, where were the thirteen prostrations? As we have stated there⁵⁹Mishnah Middot2:3., “There were thirteen breaches, were the Greek kings breached it; they came back and closed them and decided correspondingly thirteen prostrations.”

“Miracles happened to Nicanor’s doors; one remembers him for praise.” It was stated²¹⁷Babli 38a, Tosephta 2:4.: “It happened that they were traveling in a ship²¹⁸The parallel sources add: “From Alexandria”. when they ran into a big storm. They took one of the doors and threw it into the sea. When they wanted to throw also the second one he stood up and embraced it. He told them, it you are throwing it into the sea, throw me with it. He was crying and mourning continuously until he arrived at the port²¹⁹Greek λιμήν, -ένες, ὁ. of Jaffa. When he arrived at the port of Jaffa it started bubbling under the ship. As we have stated there²²⁰Mishnah Middot 2:3., ‘ All doors there were changed into golden ones except Nicanor’s doors since a miracle happened to them, but some say because their bronze had a golden shine.’ ” It was stated in the name of Rebbi Eliezer²²¹In the parallel sources: R. Eliezer ben Jacob., “their bronze was (Corinthian)²²²This is the correct scribe’s text. The corrector who did not understand the word changed it to the text in brackets. Corinthian brass was the most expensive kind, used for luxury goods; a copper alloy probably containing some precious metal. Greek Κορίνθιον “Corinthian”, adj., n.. [gold colored and more] beautiful than gold.”