(68) Jer. XVII, 8. Cf. verse 12, above.

23. R. Eleazar Chisma (69) said, "The laws concerning the sacrifices
of birds and the purification of women are essential ordinances (70);
astronomy and geometry are the after-courses of wisdom" (71).

Rabbi Chanania, the son of Akashia, said, "The Holy One, blessed be
He, was pleased to make Israel worthy; wherefore He gave them a
copious _Torah_ and many commandments, as it is said, 'It pleased the
Lord, for his righteousness' sake, to magnify the _Torah_ and make it
honorable'".

(69) A contemporary of AKiba.

(70) _Kinnim_, "nests," is the name of a tract in _Seder
Kodashim_ of the _Mishnah_, and tells of the young birds,
which men and women were at times required to offer as
sacrifice. _Niddah_ is a tract of _Seder Teharot_ of the
_Mishnah_, and relates of the uncleannesses of woman.

(71) _I.e._, the mathematical sciences, in which R. Eleazar
was very proficient, are only to be considered as helps to the
study of the essentials of _Torah_.