EXOD295 (Continued from [[DEUT584]] Deuteronomy 12:28 good BLOCH 113-4). The rabbis of the third century coined the phrase "beyond the prescription of the law" (lifnim mishurat hadin) to define the moral principle of equity (Baba Kama 89b). There are two biblical sources from which this principle derives; one is in the Pentateuch, and the other in the Hagiographa. The Pentateuchal source reads: [this verse]. The text appears to imply that abiding by the law is essential but there are additional paths beyond the law which also need to be pursued. According to Rabbi Joseph (3rd cent.), "deeds" refers to conduct within the letter of the law, "they must perform" refers to acts beyond the prescription of the law (Baba Metzia 30b). The Hagiographical source of equity is a verse in the Book of Proverbs: "That thou mayest walk in the way of good men and keep the paths of the righteous" (Proverbs 2:20). The rabbis assumed that only persons who are motivated by ideals of equity may be considered good and righteous (Baba Metzia 83a). The principle of equity is reflected in many decisions and rules promulgated by the talmudic sages. Rabbi Yochanan b. Zakkai (1st cent.) suspended the biblical ritual for testing a wife suspected by her husband of adultery [Numbers 11:5-31--AJL]. He ruled that the test is effective only if the conduct of the husband is above reproach (the ancient doctrine of clean hands). He obviously considered it inequitable to subject wives to a ritual test of morality in a generation when the moral stance of husbands was under a cloud of suspicion (Sotah 47a).