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Daily Daf Dose
*** Rabbi Yochanan asked Rish Lakish: It is written [Melachim II 20:12]: At that time, Berodach-baladan son of Baladan, the king of Bavel, sent etc. (We see that an idolater is identified as the son of another idolater; this would seemingly be inconsistent with Rish Lakish’s viewpoint.)
Why did the Gemora use specifically this idolater’s name; there are many other names in the Torah, such as Balak ben Tzipor and others? What is the significance of mentioning Berodach-baladan son of Baladan?
*** Rav said: Everyone agrees that a slave does not have genealogical connections to their offspring, for it is written [Breishis 22:5]: Stay here by yourselves with the donkey. We understand that to mean that a slave is similar to a donkey.
Why would Avraham use such a seemingly derogatory language to his servant Eliezer and to his son Yishmael?
*** Rav Assi said: “The son of David will not come until all the souls are vacated from guf.” (There exists a chamber in heaven that contains the souls created during the six days of creation. The mitzvah of procreation is to bring the souls out of guf and advance the coming of Mashiach. One who has children fulfills this obligation even if they subsequently die.)
The Maharal writes that the souls which descend into this world before the Redemption are contained in a chamber called guf, body. This is because the souls residing in this world prior to the arrival of Mashiach have a connection to the body, the physical world. After the arrival of Mashiach, the souls will not be embedded inside the body; rather, they will be separate from the body.
*** Rabbi Akiva had twelve thousand pairs of students spread out from Gevas until Antiparis, and they all died during one period because they did not treat each other with respect.
Why does the Gemora say that there were twelve thousand pairs of students; it should have stated that there were twenty four thousand students?
Ben Yehoyadah answers: Rabbi Akiva observed that there was jealousy amongst them. He intentionally paired the younger students with the older ones in order that the younger disciples will be forced to respect those that were older than them. Nevertheless, it didn’t work, and they still didn’t honor each other.
Why did the Gemora use specifically this idolater’s name; there are many other names in the Torah, such as Balak ben Tzipor and others? What is the significance of mentioning Berodach-baladan son of Baladan?
*** Rav said: Everyone agrees that a slave does not have genealogical connections to their offspring, for it is written [Breishis 22:5]: Stay here by yourselves with the donkey. We understand that to mean that a slave is similar to a donkey.
Why would Avraham use such a seemingly derogatory language to his servant Eliezer and to his son Yishmael?
*** Rav Assi said: “The son of David will not come until all the souls are vacated from guf.” (There exists a chamber in heaven that contains the souls created during the six days of creation. The mitzvah of procreation is to bring the souls out of guf and advance the coming of Mashiach. One who has children fulfills this obligation even if they subsequently die.)
The Maharal writes that the souls which descend into this world before the Redemption are contained in a chamber called guf, body. This is because the souls residing in this world prior to the arrival of Mashiach have a connection to the body, the physical world. After the arrival of Mashiach, the souls will not be embedded inside the body; rather, they will be separate from the body.
*** Rabbi Akiva had twelve thousand pairs of students spread out from Gevas until Antiparis, and they all died during one period because they did not treat each other with respect.
Why does the Gemora say that there were twelve thousand pairs of students; it should have stated that there were twenty four thousand students?
Ben Yehoyadah answers: Rabbi Akiva observed that there was jealousy amongst them. He intentionally paired the younger students with the older ones in order that the younger disciples will be forced to respect those that were older than them. Nevertheless, it didn’t work, and they still didn’t honor each other.
3 comments:
They all died within 32 days - b'gematria "kovod." (Nesivos Olam)
I believe the reason that the Gemara uses Baladan ben Baladan as an example is because the Gemara in Sanhedrin 96a states that he was thus called because Baladan the father was king and his face changed and became like that of a dog. As a result of this deformity, Baladan had to vacate the throne. His son Merodach took over and when the son would write, he would write his name and the name of his father, King Baladan as a sign of respect. Perhaps the Gemara here uses Baladan as an example because normally one would not want to associate himself with a father whose face looked like a dog. Baladan, however, showed respect for his father, and therefore the Gemara here states that this is a clear proof that a gentile is a true son of his father.
What is the connection between showing respect and proving that an idolater's son is recognized as his?
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