X Only Means Y (article preview)

Here is my article for this coming Shabbos in the Jewish Link, as a preview for paid subscribers. I’ll have a summary post probably early next week.

On Bava Batra 75a, Rabba thrice quotes Rabbi Yochanan about messianic times – Hashem making a meal for the righteous from the Leviathan’s flesh; a sukkah for the righteous from it’s skin; and seven chuppot (canopies) for each and every righteous person. Each aggadic explanation involves Scriptural interpretations, some of which we’ll examine momentarily. 

Beforehand, let’s dispense with the strangeness of the third-generation Pumbeditan Amora, Rabba bar Nachmani, citing second-generation Tiberian Amora Rabbi Yochanan. We never find that Rabba traveled to the Land of Israel. Indeed, while printings (Vilna, Venice, Pisaro) and some manuscripts (Munich 95, Fr. ebr. 420) have Rabba, several others (Hamburg 156, Oxford 369, Paris 1337, Vatican 115b, JTS: ENA 3741/7) have the more expected Rabba bar bar Chana roughly throughout¹. In Vatican 115b, an initial Rabba bar bar Chana turns into a plain Rabba, perhaps as an obvious shorthand. Third-generation Rabba bar bar Chana was a Babylonian Amora who traveled back and forth between Bavel and Israel (thus, one of the nechutei), who studied from Rabbi Yochanan and often transmits teaching in his name. 

Understanding Obscure Words

Rabbi Yochanan’s statements involve interpreting phrases in Iyov. That book is filled with obscure words, so aside from its philosophical content, it is difficult to simply understand / mentally translate. We want to, since it’s part of the Biblical canon. That is, it’s a tough Job, but somebody’s got to do it.

J.R. Firth famously said “you shall know a word by the company it keeps”. That is,