## Bava Batra Daf 14b

###### Bava Batra 14b:1
[Bava Batra 14b:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/14b:1)

שִׁבְרֵי לוּחוֹת שֶׁמּוּנָּחִים בָּאָרוֹן. וְאִי סָלְקָא דַעְתָּךְ סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה הֶקֵּיפוֹ שִׁשָּׁה טְפָחִים; מִכְּדֵי כֹּל שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּהֶקֵּיפוֹ שְׁלֹשָׁה טְפָחִים – יֵשׁ בּוֹ רוֹחַב טֶפַח, וְכֵיוָן דִּלְאֶמְצָעִיתוֹ נִגְלָל – נְפִישׁ לֵיהּ מִתְּרֵי טִפְחָא רַוְוחָא דְּבֵינֵי בֵּינֵי; בִּתְרֵי פּוּשְׁכֵי הֵיכִי יָתֵיב?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**the broken pieces of the** first set of **tablets, which were placed in the Ark.** Having cited the *baraita*, the Gemara now presents its objection to what was taught earlier with regard to the dimensions of a Torah scroll: **And if it should enter your mind** to say, as Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi held, that **the circumference of a Torah scroll is six handbreadths, now since any** cylindrical object **having a circumference of three handbreadths has a diameter of one handbreadth,** a Torah scroll with a circumference of six handbreadths has a diameter of two handbreadths. **And since** a Torah scroll **is wound to the middle,** since it is rolled from both sides, **it** must take up **more than two handbreadths** due to **the space between** the sheets of parchment and the double rolling. According to Rabbi Meir, who says that the Torah scroll was placed inside the ark, **how did** the scroll **fit in** the remaining **two handbreadths [*pushkei*]** of space in the Ark?


###### Bava Batra 14b:2
[Bava Batra 14b:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/14b:2)

אָמַר רַב אַחָא בַּר יַעֲקֹב: סֵפֶר עֲזָרָה לִתְחִלָּתוֹ הוּא נִגְלָל. וְאַכַּתִּי, תְּרֵי בִּתְרֵי הֵיכִי יָתֵיב? אָמַר רַב אָשֵׁי: דְּכָרֵיךְ בֵּיהּ פּוּרְתָּא, וְכַרְכֵיהּ לְעֵיל.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Aḥa bar Ya’akov said: The scroll of the** Temple **courtyard,** which was kept in the Ark, **was wound to its beginning,** i.e., it had only a single pole, so that its circumference was only two handbreadths. The Gemara asks: **But still, how does** an item **that is two** handbreadths wide **fit into** a space that is precisely **two** handbreadths? It would be impossible to fit it in. **Rav Ashi said: A small section** of the scroll **was wound** separately **and** then **placed on top** of the scroll.


###### Bava Batra 14b:3
[Bava Batra 14b:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/14b:3)

וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה – מִקַּמֵּי דְּלַיְתֵי אַרְגַּז, סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה הֵיכִי הֲוָה יָתֵיב? דַּפָּא הֲוָה נָפֵיק מִינֵּיהּ, וְיָתֵיב עִילָּוֵהּ סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה. וְרַבִּי מֵאִיר – הַאי ״מִצַּד אֲרוֹן״, מַאי עָבֵיד לֵיהּ? הַהוּא מִיבְּעֵי לֵיהּ דְּמִתְּנַח לֵיהּ מִצַּד וְלָא מִתְּנַח בֵּינֵי לוּחֵי; וּלְעוֹלָם בְּגַוֵּיהּ – מִן הַצַּד.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Having concluded its current discussion, the Gemara now addresses the details of the aforementioned *baraita* and asks: **And** according to **Rabbi Yehuda,** who says that the Torah scroll rested on the chest that came from the Philistines, **where was the Torah scroll placed before the chest arrived?** The Gemara answers: **A shelf protruded from** the Ark **and the Torah scroll rested on it.** The Gemara asks: **And** according to **Rabbi Meir,** who says that the Torah scroll rested inside the Ark, **what does he do with this** verse: “Take this Torah scroll and put it **at the side of the Ark”** (Deuteronomy 31:26)? The Gemara answers: **He requires** that verse to teach **that** the Torah scroll **was placed at the side** of the tablets, **and that it was not placed between** the two **tablets, but** it was **actually** placed **inside** the Ark **at the side** of the tablets.


###### Bava Batra 14b:4
[Bava Batra 14b:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/14b:4)

וְרַבִּי מֵאִיר, עַמּוּדִין הֵיכָא הֲווֹ קָיְימִי? מִבָּרַאי. וְרַבִּי מֵאִיר, שִׁבְרֵי לוּחוֹת דְּמוּנָּחִין בָּאָרוֹן – מְנָא לֵיהּ? נָפְקָא לֵיהּ מִדְּרַב הוּנָא – דְּאָמַר רַב הוּנָא, מַאי דִּכְתִיב: ״אֲשֶׁר נִקְרָא שֵׁם שֵׁם ה׳ צְבָאוֹת יֹשֵׁב הַכְּרֻבִים עָלָיו״? מְלַמֵּד שֶׁלּוּחוֹת וְשִׁבְרֵי לוּחוֹת מוּנָּחִים בָּאָרוֹן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **And** according to **Rabbi Meir, where were the** silver **columns placed?** The Gemara answers: **Outside** the Ark. The Gemara further asks: **And from where does Rabbi Meir** derive that **the broken pieces of the** first set of **tablets were placed in the Ark,** as the verse from which Rabbi Yehuda learns this: “There was nothing in the Ark except” (I Kings 8:9), is needed by Rabbi Meir to teach that the Torah scroll was placed there? The Gemara answers: **He derives** this point **from what Rav Huna** expounded, **as Rav Huna says: What** is the meaning of that **which is written:** “The Ark of God, **whereupon is called the Name, the name of the Lord of hosts that sits upon the cherubs”** (II Samuel 6:2)? The phrase “the name, the name of the Lord” **teaches that** both **the** second **tablets and the broken pieces of the** first set of **tablets were placed in the Ark.**


###### Bava Batra 14b:5
[Bava Batra 14b:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/14b:5)

וְאִידַּךְ – הַהוּא מִבְּעֵי לֵיהּ לְכִדְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַאי: מְלַמֵּד, שֶׁהַשֵּׁם וְכׇל כִּינּוּיָו מוּנָּחִין בָּאָרוֹן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **And** what does **the other** Sage, i.e., Rabbi Yehuda, derive from this verse? The Gemara responds: **He requires** that text **for** that **which Rabbi Yoḥanan** says, **as Rabbi Yoḥanan says** that **Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai says:** This **teaches that the** ineffable **name** of God **and all of His appellations were placed in the Ark.**


###### Bava Batra 14b:6
[Bava Batra 14b:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/14b:6)

וְאִידַּךְ נָמֵי מִיבְּעֵי לֵיהּ לְהָכִי! אֵין הָכִי נָמֵי. אֶלָּא שִׁבְרֵי לוּחוֹת דְּמוּנָּחִין בָּאָרוֹן מְנָא לֵיהּ? נָפְקָא לֵיהּ מִדְּתָנֵי רַב יוֹסֵף – דְּתָנֵי רַב יוֹסֵף: ״אֲשֶׁר שִׁבַּרְתָּ וְשַׂמְתָּם״ – מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהַלּוּחוֹת וְשִׁבְרֵי לוּחוֹת מוּנָּחִין בָּאָרוֹן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara inquires: **And** doesn’t **the other** Sage, Rabbi Meir, **also require it for that?** The Gemara answers: **Yes,** it **is indeed so. Rather, from where does he** derive that **the broken pieces of the** first set of **tablets were placed in the Ark?** The Gemara expounds: **He derives** this **from** that **which Rav Yosef taught, as Rav Yosef taught** a *baraita*: The verses state: “At that time the Lord said to me: Hew for yourself two tablets of stone like the first…and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, **which you broke, and you shall put them** in the Ark” (Deuteronomy 10:1–2). **This teaches that** both **the** second set of **tablets and the broken pieces of the** first set of **tablets were placed in the Ark.**


###### Bava Batra 14b:7
[Bava Batra 14b:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/14b:7)

וְאִידַּךְ – הַהוּא מִיבְּעֵי לֵיהּ לְכִדְרֵישׁ לָקִישׁ, דְּאָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ: ״אֲשֶׁר שִׁבַּרְתָּ״ – אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמֹשֶׁה: יִישַׁר כֹּחֲךָ שֶׁשִּׁבַּרְתָּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **And** what does **the other** one, Rabbi Yehuda, learn from this verse? The Gemara answers: **He requires it for** that **which Reish Lakish** teaches, **as Reish Lakish says:** What is the meaning of that which is stated: “The first tablets, **which you broke [*asher shibbarta*]”?** These words allude to the fact that God approved of Moses’ action, as if **the Holy One, Blessed be He, said to Moses: May your strength be straight [*yishar koḥakha*] because you broke** them.


###### Bava Batra 14b:8
[Bava Batra 14b:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/14b:8)

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן, סִדְרָן שֶׁל נְבִיאִים: יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְשׁוֹפְטִים, שְׁמוּאֵל וּמְלָכִים, יִרְמְיָה וִיחֶזְקֵאל, יְשַׁעְיָה וּשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר. מִכְּדֵי הוֹשֵׁעַ קָדֵים; דִּכְתִיב: ״תְּחִלַּת דִּבֶּר ה׳ בְּהוֹשֵׁעַ״ – וְכִי עִם הוֹשֵׁעַ דִּבֵּר תְּחִלָּה? וַהֲלֹא מִמֹּשֶׁה וְעַד הוֹשֵׁעַ כַּמָּה נְבִיאִים הָיוּ! וְאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: שֶׁהָיָה תְּחִלָּה לְאַרְבָּעָה נְבִיאִים שֶׁנִּתְנַבְּאוּ בְּאוֹתוֹ הַפֶּרֶק – וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: הוֹשֵׁעַ וִישַׁעְיָה, עָמוֹס וּמִיכָה; וְלַיקְדְּמֵיהּ לְהוֹשֵׁעַ בְּרֵישָׁא!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ **The Sages taught: The order of the** books of the **Prophets** when they are attached together is as follows: **Joshua and Judges, Samuel and Kings, Jeremiah and Ezekiel,** and **Isaiah and the Twelve** Prophets. The Gemara asks: **Consider: Hosea preceded** some of the other prophets whose books are included in the Bible, **as it is written: “The Lord spoke first to Hosea”** (Hosea 1:2). At first glance this verse is difficult: **But did God speak first with Hosea,** and not with any other prophet before him? **Weren’t there many prophets between Moses and Hosea? And Rabbi Yoḥanan says: He was the first of four prophets who prophesied in that period, and they were: Hosea and Isaiah, Amos and Micah.** Accordingly, Hosea preceded those three prophets; **and** the book of **Hosea** as well **should precede** the books of those prophets.


###### Bava Batra 14b:9
[Bava Batra 14b:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/14b:9)

כֵּיוָן דִּכְתִיב נְבוּאֲתֵיהּ גַּבֵּי חַגַּי זְכַרְיָה וּמַלְאָכִי, וְחַגַּי זְכַרְיָה וּמַלְאָכִי סוֹף נְבִיאִים הֲווֹ – חָשֵׁיב לֵיהּ בַּהֲדַיְיהוּ. וְלִיכְתְּבֵיהּ לְחוֹדֵיהּ, וְלַיקְדְּמֵיהּ! אַיְּידֵי דְּזוּטַר מִירְכַס.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara answers: **Since his prophecy is written together with** those of **Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi** in one book of the Twelve Prophets, **and Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi were the last of the prophets, he is counted with them.** The Gemara inquires: **But let** the book of Hosea **be written separately and let it precede** the others. The Gemara answers: Were it written separately, **since it is small it would be lost.**


###### Bava Batra 14b:10
[Bava Batra 14b:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/14b:10)

מִכְּדִי יְשַׁעְיָה קָדֵים מִיִּרְמְיָה וִיחֶזְקֵאל, לַיקְדְּמֵיהּ לִישַׁעְיָה בְּרֵישָׁא! כֵּיוָן דִּמְלָכִים סוֹפֵיהּ חוּרְבָּנָא; וְיִרְמְיָה כּוּלֵּיהּ חוּרְבָּנָא; וִיחֶזְקֵאל רֵישֵׁיהּ חוּרְבָּנָא וְסֵיפֵיהּ נֶחָמְתָּא; וִישַׁעְיָה כּוּלֵּיהּ נֶחָמְתָּא – סָמְכִינַן חוּרְבָּנָא לְחוּרְבָּנָא, וְנֶחָמְתָּא לְנֶחָמְתָּא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara further asks: **Consider: Isaiah preceded Jeremiah and Ezekiel; let** the book of **Isaiah precede** the books of those other prophets. The Gemara answers: **Since** the book of **Kings ends with the destruction** of the Temple, **and** the book of **Jeremiah** deals **entirely with** prophecies of **the destruction, and** the book of **Ezekiel begins with the destruction** of the Temple **but ends with consolation** and the rebuilding of the Temple, **and Isaiah** deals **entirely with consolation,** as most of his prophecies refer to the redemption, **we juxtapose destruction to destruction and consolation to consolation.** This accounts for the order: Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Isaiah.


###### Bava Batra 14b:11
[Bava Batra 14b:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/14b:11)

סִידְרָן שֶׁל כְּתוּבִים: רוּת וְסֵפֶר תְּהִלִּים וְאִיּוֹב וּמִשְׁלֵי, קֹהֶלֶת, שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים וְקִינוֹת, דָּנִיאֵל וּמְגִילַת אֶסְתֵּר, עֶזְרָא וְדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים. וּלְמַאן דְּאָמַר: אִיּוֹב בִּימֵי מֹשֶׁה הָיָה, לַיקְדְּמֵיהּ לְאִיּוֹב בְּרֵישָׁא! אַתְחוֹלֵי בְּפוּרְעֲנוּתָא לָא מַתְחֲלִינַן. רוּת נָמֵי פּוּרְעָנוּת הִיא! פּוּרְעָנוּת דְּאִית לֵיהּ אַחֲרִית – דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמָהּ רוּת? שֶׁיָּצָא מִמֶּנָּה דָּוִד, שֶׁרִיוָּהוּ לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּשִׁירוֹת וְתוּשְׁבָּחוֹת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The *baraita* continues: **The order of the Writings** is: **Ruth and the book of Psalms, and Job and Proverbs; Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and Lamentations; Daniel and the Scroll of Esther;** and **Ezra and Chronicles.** The Gemara asks: **And according to the one who says** that **Job** lived **in the time of Moses, let** the book of **Job precede** the others. The Gemara answers: **We do not begin with suffering,** i.e., it is inappropriate to start the Writings with a book that deals so extensively with suffering. The Gemara asks: But the book of **Ruth,** with which the Writings opens, **is also** about **suffering,** since it describes the tragedies that befell the family of Elimelech. The Gemara answers: This is **suffering which has a future** of hope and redemption. **As Rabbi Yoḥanan says: Why was she named Ruth,** spelled *reish*, *vav*, *tav*? Because there **descended from her David who sated,** a word with the root *reish*, *vav*, *heh*, **the Holy One, Blessed be He, with songs and praises.**


###### Bava Batra 14b:12
[Bava Batra 14b:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/14b:12)

וּמִי כְּתָבָן? מֹשֶׁה כָּתַב סִפְרוֹ וּפָרָשַׁת בִּלְעָם וְאִיּוֹב. יְהוֹשֻׁעַ כָּתַב סִפְרוֹ וּשְׁמוֹנָה פְּסוּקִים שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה. שְׁמוּאֵל כָּתַב סִפְרוֹ וְשׁוֹפְטִים וְרוּת. דָּוִד כָּתַב סֵפֶר תְּהִלִּים – עַל יְדֵי עֲשָׂרָה זְקֵנִים: עַל יְדֵי אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן, עַל יְדֵי מַלְכִּי צֶדֶק, וְעַל יְדֵי אַבְרָהָם, וְעַל יְדֵי מֹשֶׁה, וְעַל יְדֵי הֵימָן, וְעַל יְדֵי יְדוּתוּן, וְעַל יְדֵי אָסָף,

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The *baraita* now considers the authors of the biblical books: **And who wrote** the books of the Bible? **Moses wrote his own book,** i.e., the Torah, **and the portion of Balaam** in the Torah, **and** the book of **Job. Joshua wrote his own book and eight verses in the Torah,** which describe the death of Moses. **Samuel wrote his own book,** the book of **Judges, and** the book of **Ruth. David wrote the book of Psalms by means of ten elders** of previous generations, assembling a collection that included compositions of others along with his own. He included psalms authored **by Adam the first** man, **by Melchizedek** king of Salem, **and by Abraham, and by Moses, and by Heman, and by Jeduthun, and by Asaph,**