塞弗·哈巴希尔 51

1His students asked Rabbi Berachiah, "Accept our words before you!" He did not give them permission. One time, he did give them permission, but he* did this to check whether now they could direct their souls. "The first day," he examined them and said, "Let me hear your wisdom." They opened and said, "'In the beginning' (Genesis 1:1) is one. [Two is:] 'Spirit that will wrap itself is from before me; souls I made' (Isaiah 57:16). [Three is:] 'The brook [פלג] of Elohim is filled with water' (Psalms 65:10)." [Rabbi Berachiah asked them,] "What is 'brook'?"[They answered,] "You taught us, our rabbi,** that [God] took waters of creation and divided them, gave half in the heavens and half in the ocean sea, as is written, 'The brook of Elohim is filled with water' — and through it, a person learns Torah. As rabbi Chama said, 'Through the merit of gemilut chasadim a person learns Torah. Similarly, it is written, All who are thirsty, go to water, and if he has no money [כסף], go, obtain food and eat' (Isaiah 55:1) — go to Him and He will bestow kindness to you: obtain*** and eat!'"*[Ed. - Sefaria text reads "she," but other versions say, "he."]**[Ed. - Sefaria text reads "we saw"; other versions of the text say "our rabbi."]***[alternatively, 'hope.' For example, see Nehemiah 2:13, 15; Psalms 119:166, 145:15; Esther 9:1]