Sanhedrin 95a — the Talmud in English

And

what

is the meaning of what is stated in the verse

“poor Anatot”?

This too is not one of the journeys; rather,

Jeremiah son of Hilkiah will in the future come and prophesy against it [ [A0008]against Nebuchadnezzar]

against Nebuchadnezzar,

from

a place whose name is

Anatot [ [A0012]and “poor” is an expression of speech and prophecy] .

and “afflicted” is an expression referring to speech and prophecy.

As it is written: “The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were

in Anatot in the land of Benjamin.”

And we raise a difficulty: How do we expound that the verse “Listen, Laish” speaks of Nebuchadnezzar,

are they comparable [ [A0018]Is the matter similar]? For

is the matter really comparable? For

there,

in the verse in the Book of Jeremiah, Nebuchadnezzar is compared to an

ari,

whereas

here

it is written

laish!

Rabbi Yohanan said: A lion has six names; these are they: ari, kefir, lavi, laish, shachal, shachatz.

And if so, ari is laish, and laish is ari.

And we raise a difficulty:

if so,

since “Daughter of Gallim,” “Laish,” and “Anatot” are not among the journeys,

they were diminished [ [A0032]they were reduced] the journeys from ten, for only nine journeys remain!

the stages from ten, since only nine stages remain!

And we explain:

“Cross over Maavarah”—

they are two [ [A0036]they are two different places].

different places.

And

what

is this that is written later in the verse:

“Still today he will stand at Nob”?

Rav Huna said:

Until

that day there remained

still a punishment upon Israel

for the sin of Nob , the city of the priests, whom Doeg, by Saul’s command, killed—all the priests who were there. And had Sennacherib fought Jerusalem on that day, he would have conquered it.

the city of the priests, where Doeg, by Saul’s order, killed all the priests who were there. Had Sennacherib fought against Jerusalem on that day, he would have conquered it.

The astrologers said to him [ [A0049]those who gaze at the stars], to Sennacherib:

to Sennacherib:

if you go today [ [A0051]if you go today]—

if you go today,

you will be able to conquer it [ [A0053]you will be able to conquer it].

you will be able to conquer it.

But if not [ [A0055]and if you do not go today]—

if you do not go today,

you will not be able to conquer it [ [A0057]you will not be able to conquer it].

you will not be able to conquer it.

The road which was supposed to be traversed in ten days, he traversed in one day [ [A0059]A road that ordinarily requires ten days of travel, he traversed in one day]. And these are those same ten journeys enumerated above.

These are the ten stages that were enumerated above.

When they reached Jerusalem [ [A0061]when they reached Jerusalem],

when they arrived at Jerusalem,

they laid out garments for him [ [A0063]they placed garments one upon another for him, to a height]

they piled garments for him to a great height

until he ascended and sat above the wall [ [A0065]until he ascended and sat higher than the wall],

until he had climbed up and sat higher than the wall,

until he saw all of Jerusalem [ [A0067]until he was able to see all of Jerusalem].

until he was able to see the entire city.

When he saw it—

it became tiny in his eyes [ [A0070]when he saw it, it became small and contemptible in his eyes].

when he saw it, it seemed small and lowly to him.

He said: Is this the city of Jerusalem, for which I exerted all my armies [ [A0072]This is the city of Jerusalem, for which I troubled all my army],

this is the city of Jerusalem, for which I exerted my entire army,

and for which I conquered the entire country [ [A0074]and for its sake I conquered the entire country]?

and for its sake I conquered the entire land?

Is it not small and weak compared with all the cities of the nations that I conquered by the strength of my hand [ [A0076]It is small and weak compared with all the cities of the nations that I conquered by the strength of my hand]!

for it is smaller and weaker than all the fortified cities of the nations that I conquered by force!

He arose and stood, and shook his head, moving his hand back and forth

over the Temple Mount in Zion and over the courtyard in Jerusalem [ [A0079]He stood, and was shaking his head, and moving his hand back and forth over the Temple Mount in Zion and over the courtyard in Jerusalem].

he stood and shook his head, moving his hand back and forth over the Temple Mount in Zion and over the Temple courtyard in Jerusalem.

His army’s men said [ [A0081]they said]:

the men of his army said:

Let us attack it today [ [A0083]let us attack it today]!

let us attack it today!

He said to them

Sennacherib:

You are astonished [ [A0087]It is astonishing] to fight today, for we are tired from the journey!

it is astonishing that you want to fight today, since we are tired from the journey!

Tomorrow each and every one of you will bring me a fragment of the wall [ [A0091]tomorrow each one of you will bring me a piece of the wall], and we will split it!

and we will breach it!

Immediately: “And it came to pass that night, and an angel of the Lord went out and struck in the camp of Assyria one hundred and eighty-five thousand. And they arose early in the morning, and behold, they were all dead corpses.”

Rav Pappa said: This is what people say [ [A0095]this is what people say]:

this is the popular saying:

When the quarrel spends the night—

the quarrel is annulled [ [A0098]once the dispute spends the night, that is, once a night has passed over the dispute, the dispute is annulled] .

And likewise here, because it was not conquered on that day, he no longer succeeded on the following day.

And since the Gemara mentioned the matter of the sin of Nob, the Gemara speaks further about this matter.

It is written in the Book of Samuel:

“And Ishbi in Nob, who was among the descendants of the giant, whose spear weighed three hundred [shekels of] copper, and he was girded with a new weapon, and he said to strike David.”

What is the meaning of “And Ishbi in Nob”?

Rav Yehuda said in the name of Rav: A man who came concerning the affair of Nob.

For this was the incident, as it is related in the Book of Samuel [chapter 21]:

When David fled from Saul, he reached Nob, the city of the priests, and Ahimelech the priest gave him a sword and provisions for the journey. Afterward Doeg told Saul about this, and Saul then commanded him to kill the priests, and Saul killed all the people of Nob. And because of this sin, Doeg the Edomite was killed, and Saul and his three sons were killed when they fought the Philistines.

The Holy One, blessed is He, said to David: Until when will this sin be

of Nob, the city of the priests,

hidden in your hand?

For

because of you Nob, the city of the priests, was killed; because of you Doeg the Edomite was driven away; and because of you Saul and his three sons were killed!

In what

do you wish

to be punished: whether

your descendants should perish, or

that

you should be delivered

you yourself

into the hand of the enemy?

He said before Him: Master of the world! It is preferable that I be delivered

I

into the hand of the enemy, and that my descendants should not perish.

One day he went out to hunt animals and birds [ [A0127]one day David went out to hunt animals and birds] .

.

Satan came and appeared to him as a deer [ [A0130]Satan came and appeared to him as a deer].

the Satan came and took the form of a deer.

He shot at it

David

an arrow—

but it did not reach it [ [A0135]David shot an arrow at it, but did not reach it].

David shot an arrow at it, but did not reach it.

He drew him [ [A0137]he drew him] Satan in this manner,

he drew him along in this manner,

until

he brought him [ [A0140]he brought him]

until he brought him

to the land of the Philistines.

When [ [A0143]when he saw him]

he saw

Ishbi in Nob,

who was Goliath’s brother,

said: This is the one who killed Goliath my brother [ [A0147]This is the one who killed Goliath my brother].

this is the one who killed my brother Goliath.

He bound him [ [A0149]he bound him],

he bound him,

folded him

and

placed him and cast him beneath an olive press [ [A0153]he subdued him beneath a cloth with which olives are crushed, and sat upon him to crush him] .

he subdued him beneath the cloth used for pressing olives, and sat on it to crush him.

A miracle was performed for him [ [A0156]a miracle was performed for him],

a miracle occurred for David,

the ground beneath him softened [ [A0158]and the ground beneath him became soft] ,

and he was not harmed .

This is what is written

in the Book of Psalms, which David said:

“You enlarged my steps beneath me, and my ankles did not slip.”

That day was the eve of Shabbat at twilight [ [A0166]it was twilight on the eve of Shabbat].

it was twilight on the eve of Shabbat.

Abishai son of Zeruiah was washing his head with four seahs of water [ [A0168]he washed his head with four seahs of water],

he was washing his head with four measures of water,

he saw bloodstains [ [A0170]and saw bloodstains in them].

and saw bloodstains in the water.

Some say: A dove came and thrashed before him [ [A0172]a dove came, and thrashed and beat itself before him, cooing and suffering].

a dove came and beat its wings and flung itself before him, cooing and distressed.

He said

Abishai:

The Congregation of Israel is compared to a dove [ [A0176]is compared],

is compared to a dove,

as it is stated: “The wings of a dove are covered with silver”; conclude from this, David, the king of Israel, is in distress [ [A0178]is in distress] .

is suffering.

He came to his house—

but did not find him [ [A0183]Abishai went to David’s house, but did not find him there].

Avishai went to David’s house, but did not find him there.

He said

in his heart,

We learned: One may not ride upon his horse

of a king,

nor sit upon his throne, nor use his scepter.

What is the rule in a time of danger,

is it then permitted?

He came and asked in the beit-midrash [ [A0193]he came and asked in the beit-midrash] whether it was permitted to ride upon a king’s horse in a time of danger.

he came and asked in the house of study whether it was permitted to ride the king’s horse in a time of danger.

They said to him: In a time of danger—

it is entirely proper.

He rode upon his mule [ [A0197]Abishai rode upon the king’s mule],

Avishai rode the king’s mule,

and arose and went; the ground sprang for him [ [A0199]the road was shortened for him] .

the road was shortened for him.

While he was walking [ [A0202]while he was walking],

as he was on his way,

he saw Orpah, his mother [ [A0204]he saw Orpah, Ishbi’s mother]

he saw Orpah, the mother of Ishbi-benob,

who was spinning [ [A0206]who was spinning].

who was engaged in spinning.

When she saw him, she broke her spindle, threw it at him, and thought to kill him [ [A0208]when she saw him, she broke the spindle that was in her hand and threw it at him, for she thought to kill him in this way].

when she saw him, she broke the spindle in her hand and threw it at him, thinking that she could kill him in this way.

When she saw that she had not struck him,

she said to him: Young man, bring me [ [A0211]bring me] the

bring me the

spindle!

He threw it at the top of her head [ [A0214]Abishai threw it at her head],

Avishai threw it at her head,

and killed her [ [A0216]and killed her].

and killed her.

When he saw him [ [A0218]when he saw him]

he saw him,

Ishbi in Nob said: Now there are two of them, and they will kill me [ [A0220]now there will be two fighting against me, and they will kill me]!

now two people will fight against me and kill me!

He threw David upward [ [A0223]he threw David upward into the air],

he threw David high into the air,

and planted his spear beneath him [ [A0225]and planted the spear beneath him, with its point facing upward].

and planted the spear beneath him, with its point facing upward.

He said

in his heart:

Let him fall upon it—

and he will be killed [ [A0230]David will fall upon the spear and be killed] .

let David fall onto the spear and be killed.

Abishai uttered the Name,

and through this

he set him [ [A0235]he set him]

he positioned him

between heaven and earth,

and he did not fall.

And we raise a difficulty:

Let him say it himself [ [A0240]let David himself utter the Name and save himself]!?

so that David himself could pronounce the Name and save himself!?

And we say:

A prisoner cannot free himself from prison.

And the reason is that his mind is not directed toward uttering the Name .

Meanwhile, through the utterance of the Name, they moved away from the place.

Joab said to him

to David:

What are you doing here [ [A0249]what are you doing here]?

what are you doing here?

He said to him: Thus the Holy One, blessed is He, said to me,

that I must choose how to be punished,

and thus I answered Him [ [A0253]and this is what I answered Him], that I wished to be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

and this is what I replied to Him: I want to be delivered into the hands of the enemy.

He said to him: Reverse your prayer [ [A0255]reverse your prayer, and ask to be punished by your descendants perishing], for what concern have you with the suffering of your sons? So people say:

reverse your prayer and ask to be punished by the destruction of your descendants, for why should you suffer because of your sons? As people say:

Your grandson will sell wax [ [A0257]your son’s son will sell wax] —

your grandson will sell wax—

and you will not suffer .

He said to him: If so—

assist us [ [A0263]if so, assist me through your prayer, so that the Holy One, blessed is He, will change my punishment].

if so, help me through your prayer, so that the Holy One, blessed be He, will change my punishment.

This is what is written: “And Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid,”

and

Rav Yehuda said in the name of Rav: He aided him through prayer.

Abishai said

again

the Name—

and brought him down [ [A0271]and brought down David, who until then had been suspended between heaven and earth].

he lowered David, who until then had been suspended between heaven and earth.

Ishbi was pursuing

Ishbi

after them [ [A0275]Ishbi pursued them].

Ishbi pursued them.

When they reached Kubi [ [A0277]when they reached a village named Kubi, situated between the land of the Philistines and the land of Israel],

when they reached a village called Kobi, located between the land of the Philistines and the land of Israel,

they said [ [A0279]David and Abishai said to one another]:

David and Avishai said to each other:

Stand against him [ [A0281]stand against him], and do not flee, and let us strike him together. For they were familiar with the meanings of place-names, and therefore said that the name of the place hinted that they could stand against him and kill him.

stand and confront him; do not flee, and let us strike him together. They knew the meanings of place-names, and therefore said that the name of this place hinted that they could stand against him and kill him.

Nevertheless, they were still afraid of him, and continued fleeing.

When they reached

a place named

Bei Tartei, they said: Two

cubs have killed the lion [ [A0287]two cubs killed the lion]. For the name of the place hinted at this.

two cubs killed the lion. The name of the place hinted at this.

They said to him

to Ishbi:

Go and find Orpah your mother in the grave [ [A0291]go and find Orpah your mother in her grave], for we killed her.

go and find your mother Orpah in her grave, for we killed her.

When they reminded him of his mother’s name, his strength failed him, and they killed him [ [A0293]when they reminded him of his mother’s name] ,

his strength weakened, and they killed him.

This is what is written: “Then the men of David swore to him, saying: You shall not go out with us again to war, and you shall not extinguish the lamp of Israel.”

The Sages taught: There were three

men who

had the ground spring [ [A0300]be shortened]

was shortened

for them:

Eliezer, Abraham’s servant,

and Jacob our father,

And Avishai ben Tzeruyah.

And now the Gemara explains from where we know that the way sprang for them:

Avishai ben Tzeruyah —

this is what we said [

that which we said above: when he rode upon the mule to seek David, the way sprang for him].

Eliezer, servant of Abraham —

as it is written

when he went to seek a wife for Isaac, when he said to Laban and Bethuel:

“And I came today to the spring.” Is this to say that on that very day he left [

it is demonstrated that on that day he left Abraham, and already on that same day he came to Aram-Naharaim ].

Jacob our father —

From where do we know that the way sprang for him?