Rab Judah said in Rab’s name: One should never [intentionally] bring himself to the test, since David king of Israel did so, and fell. He said unto Him, ‘Sovereign of the Universe! Why do we say [in prayer] “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,” but not the God of David?’ He replied, ‘They were tried by me, but thou wast not.’ Then, replied he, ‘Sovereign of the Universe, examine and try me’ — as it is written, Examine me, O Lord, and try me, (Psalms 26:2). He answered ‘I will test thee, and yet grant thee a special privilege; for I did not inform them [of the nature of their trial beforehand], yet, I inform thee that I will try thee in a matter of adultery.’
Straightway, And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed etc., (2 Samuel 11:2). R. Johanan said: He changed his night couch to a day couch, but he forgot the halachah [the Law]: there is a small organ in man which satisfies him in his hunger but makes him hunger when satisfied. And he walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
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Author: Babylonian Talmud
Keywords: Little bird, Bird mountain, Bird flees to the mountain, David and Bathsheba, Bathsheba, Evil Inclination, Evil nature, Evil one, Hara Yetser, Ha-ra Yetser, Hara Yetzer, Ha-ra Yetzer, Hara Yezer, Ha-ra Yezer, Man's sinful nature, Personification of evil, Personification, Satan, Satan tempts, Sexual temptation, Sin, Sin in the flesh, Sin personified, Sin within, Sinful nature, Temptation, Temptation from within, Tempted of Satan, Tempted of the devil, Tempted sexually, Tempted to do evil, The Evil Inclination, The Evil One, Wicked one, Yetser ha ra, Yetser ra, Yetser tov, Yetzer, Yetzer ha ra, Yetzer ha tov, Yetzer Hara, Yetzer ra, Yetzer tov, Yezer ha ra, Yezer Hara
Bible reference(s): 2 Samuel 11:2, Psalm 26:2, Psalm 17:3, Psalm 11:1
Source: Babylonian Talmud: Tractate Sanhedrin, Folio 107a.
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