## Bava Batra Daf 58a

###### Bava Batra 58a:1
[Bava Batra 58a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/58a:1)

לִמְדוּרָה, וּקְדֵרוֹת מַקִּיפוֹת אוֹתָהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**to a bonfire,** where the fire is in the center **and pots surround it.** Similarly, the table of an ignoramus is arranged with the food in the center and is surrounded by plates.


###### Bava Batra 58a:2
[Bava Batra 58a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/58a:2)

מִטָּה שֶׁל תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים – כֵּיצַד? כֹּל שֶׁאֵין תַּחְתֶּיהָ אֶלָּא סַנְדָּלִין בִּימוֹת הַחַמָּה, וּמִנְעָלִין בִּימוֹת הַגְּשָׁמִים. וְשֶׁל עַם הָאָרֶץ – דּוֹמָה לְאוֹצָר בָּלוּס.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rabbi Yoḥanan asked: **How** should **the bed of Torah scholars** be kept? He replied: It is acceptable **as long as there** is **nothing except sandals beneath it during the summer, and shoes** beneath it **during the rainy season,** i.e., winter. **And** the bed **of an ignoramus** is **similar to a cluttered [*balus*] storehouse,** as he keeps a wide array of items beneath it.


###### Bava Batra 58a:3
[Bava Batra 58a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/58a:3)

רַבִּי בְּנָאָה הֲוָה קָא מְצַיֵּין מְעָרָתָא. כִּי מְטָא לִמְעָרְתָּא דְאַבְרָהָם, אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ לֶאֱלִיעֶזֶר עֶבֶד אַבְרָהָם דְּקָאֵי קַמֵּי בָּבָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מַאי קָא עָבֵיד אַבְרָהָם? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: גָּאנֵי בְּכַנְפַהּ דְּשָׂרָה, וְקָא מְעַיְּינָא לֵיהּ בְּרֵישֵׁיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ Having mentioned Rabbi Bena’a, the Gemara relates an incident in which he was involved. **Rabbi Bena’a was marking** burial **caves** for the purpose of helping to prevent the contracting of ritual impurity. **When he arrived at the cave of Abraham,** i.e., the Cave of Machpelah, **he encountered Eliezer,** the **servant** of **Abraham, who was standing before the entrance.** Rabbi Bena’a **said to him: What is Abraham doing** at this moment? Eliezer **said to him:** He is **lying in the arms of Sarah, and she is examining his head.**


###### Bava Batra 58a:4
[Bava Batra 58a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/58a:4)

אֲמַר לֵיהּ, זִיל אֵימָא לֵיהּ: בְּנָאָה קָאֵי אַבָּבָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לֵיעוּל – מִידָּע יְדִיעַ דְּיֵצֶר בְּהַאי עָלְמָא לֵיכָּא. עָיֵיל, עַיֵּין וּנְפַק.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rabbi Bena’a **said to him: Go tell him** that **Bena’a is standing at the entrance,** so that he should assume an appropriate position to receive a visitor. Eliezer **said to him: Let** him, i.e., Rabbi Bena’a, **enter,** since **it is known that there is no** evil **inclination in this** higher **world,** so it is not inappropriate for Rabbi Bena’a to see Abraham and Sarah in this position. He **entered, examined** the cave in order to measure it, **and exited.**


###### Bava Batra 58a:5
[Bava Batra 58a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/58a:5)

כִּי מְטָא לִמְעָרְתָּא דְּאָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן, יָצְתָה בַּת קוֹל וְאָמְרָה: ״נִסְתַּכַּלְתָּ בִּדְמוּת דְּיוֹקְנִי, בִּדְיוֹקְנִי עַצְמָהּ אַל תִּסְתַּכֵּל״. ״הָא בָּעֵינָא לְצַיּוֹנֵי מְעָרְתָּא!״ ״כְּמִדַּת הַחִיצוֹנָה כָּךְ מִדַּת הַפְּנִימִית. וּלְמַאן דְּאָמַר שְׁנֵי בָתִּים זוֹ לְמַעְלָה מִזּוֹ – כְּמִדַּת עֶלְיוֹנָה כָּךְ מִדַּת הַתַּחְתּוֹנָה״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**When he arrived at the cave of Adam the first** man, who is buried in the same area, **a Divine Voice emerged and said: You gazed upon the likeness of My image,** i.e., Abraham, who is similar to the image of Adam the first man. **Do not gaze upon My image itself,** i.e., Adam the first man, about whom the verse states that he was formed in the image of God (see Genesis 1:27). Rabbi Bena’a said: **But I need to mark the cave.** The voice said to him: **As** the measurements of the **dimensions of the outer** cave where Abraham is buried, **so** are the measurements of the **dimensions of the inner** cave, where Adam is buried. The Gemara notes: **And according to the one who says** that the Cave of Machpelah consists of **two chambers, this** one **above that** one, not two adjacent chambers, the voice said: **As** the measurements of the **dimensions of the upper** cave where Abraham is buried, **so** are the measurements of the **dimensions of the lower** cave. Therefore, there is no need to measure it.


###### Bava Batra 58a:6
[Bava Batra 58a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/58a:6)

אָמַר רַבִּי בְּנָאָה: נִסְתַּכַּלְתִּי בִּשְׁנֵי עֲקֵיבָיו, וְדוֹמִים לִשְׁנֵי גַּלְגַּלֵּי חַמָּה. הַכֹּל בִּפְנֵי שָׂרָה – כְּקוֹף בִּפְנֵי אָדָם. שָׂרָה בִּפְנֵי חַוָּה – כְּקוֹף בִּפְנֵי אָדָם. חַוָּה בִּפְנֵי אָדָם – כְּקוֹף בִּפְנֵי אָדָם. אָדָם בִּפְנֵי שְׁכִינָה – כְּקוֹף בִּפְנֵי אָדָם.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rabbi Bena’a says: I gazed at his,** Adam’s, **two heels, and** they shone so brightly that **they are similar to two suns.** Along these lines, the Gemara states that **all** people **compared to Sarah** are **like a monkey compared to a human,** as Sarah was exceedingly beautiful; **Sarah compared to Eve** is **like a monkey compared to a human; Eve compared to Adam** is **like a monkey compared to a human;** and **Adam compared to the Divine Presence** is **like a monkey compared to a human.**


###### Bava Batra 58a:7
[Bava Batra 58a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/58a:7)

שׁוּפְרֵיהּ דְּרַב כָּהֲנָא מֵעֵין שׁוּפְרֵיהּ דְּרַב, שׁוּפְרֵיהּ דְּרַב מֵעֵין שׁוּפְרֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי אֲבָהוּ, שׁוּפְרֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי אֲבָהוּ מֵעֵין שׁוּפְרֵיהּ דְּיַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ, שׁוּפְרֵיהּ דְּיַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ מֵעֵין שׁוּפְרֵיהּ דְּאָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
It was also stated that **the beauty of Rav Kahana is a semblance of the beauty of Rav. The beauty of Rav is a semblance of the beauty of Rabbi Abbahu. The beauty of Rabbi Abbahu is a semblance of the beauty of Jacob our forefather. The beauty of Jacob our forefather is a semblance of the beauty of Adam the first** man.


###### Bava Batra 58a:8
[Bava Batra 58a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/58a:8)

הָהוּא אַמְגּוּשָׁא דַּהֲוָה חָטֵיט שָׁכְבֵי. כִּי מְטָא אַמְּעָרְתָּא דְּרַב טוֹבִי בַּר מַתְנָה, תַּפְשֵׂיהּ בְּדִיקְנֵיהּ. אֲתָא אַבָּיֵי, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: בְּמָטוּתָא מִינָּךְ, שִׁבְקֵיהּ. לְשָׁנָה אַחֲרִיתִי הֲדַר אֲתָא, תַּפְשֵׂיהּ בְּדִיקְנֵיהּ. אֲתָא אַבָּיֵי, לָא שִׁבְקֵיהּ עַד דְּאַיְיתִי מַסְפְּרָא וְגַזְּיֵהּ לְדִיקְנֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
On the topic of burial caves, the Gemara relates that there was **a certain magus [*amgusha*] who was rummaging** through the graves of the **dead. When** he **arrived at the** burial **cave of Rav Tovi bar Mattana,** Rav Tovi **grabbed him by his beard** and would not release him. **Abaye came and said to** Rav Tovi: **I beg of you** to **release him.** The magus **came again in another year,** and Rav Tovi **grabbed him by his beard. Abaye came** and requested that he release him, but Rav Tovi **did not release him, until** Abaye **brought a scissors and cut his beard.**


###### Bava Batra 58a:9
[Bava Batra 58a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/58a:9)

הָהוּא דַּאֲמַר לְהוּ: חָבִיתָא דְעַפְרָא לְחַד בְּרַאי, חָבִיתָא דְגַרְמֵי לְחַד בְּרַאי, חָבִיתָא דְאוּדְרָא לְחַד בְּרַאי. לָא הֲווֹ יָדְעִי מַאי קָאָמַר לְהוּ. אֲתוֹ לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי בְּנָאָה, אֲמַר לְהוּ: ״אִית לְכוּ אַרְעָא?״ אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: ״אִין״. ״אִית לְכוּ חֵיוָתָא?״ ״אִין״. ״אִית לְכוּ בִּסְתַּרְקֵי?״ ״אִין״. ״אִי הָכִי, הָכִי קָאָמַר לְכוּ״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The Gemara relates additional incidents involving Rabbi Bena’a: There was **a certain** individual **who said to** his family before he died: **A barrel of earth to one of my sons, a barrel of bones to one of my sons,** and **a barrel of wads** of wool **to one of my sons. They did not know what he was saying to them. They came before Rabbi Bena’a** for guidance. Rabbi Bena’a **said to them: Do you have land** that your father left as an inheritance? **They said to him: Yes.** He asked: **Do you have livestock** that your father left as an inheritance? They said: **Yes.** He asked: **Do you have quilts [*bistarkei*]** that your father left as an inheritance? They said: **Yes.** He said to them: **If so, this is what he said to you,** i.e., he meant that he is bequeathing land to one son, livestock to the second, and quilts to the third.


###### Bava Batra 58a:10
[Bava Batra 58a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/58a:10)

הָהוּא גַּבְרָא דְּשַׁמְעַהּ לִדְבֵיתְהוּ דְּקָא אָמְרָה לְבַרְתַּהּ: ״אַמַּאי לָא צְנִּיעַתְּ בְּאִיסּוּרָא? הָךְ אִיתְּתָא, עֲשָׂרָה בְּנֵי אִית לַהּ, וְלֵית לִי מֵאֲבוּךְ אֶלָּא חַד״. כִּי שָׁכֵיב, אֲמַר לְהוּ: ״כׇּל נִכְסַי לְחַד בְּרָא״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
There was **a certain man who heard his wife saying to her daughter: Why do you not act clandestinely** when you engage **in forbidden** sexual intercourse? **That woman has,** i.e., I have, **ten sons, and I have only one from your father,** and no one knows. So too, you must be careful so that no one will discover your illicit behavior. Having overheard that only one son was his, **when** that man **was dying he said to** his family: **All of my property** is left **to one son.**


###### Bava Batra 58a:11
[Bava Batra 58a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/58a:11)

לָא יָדְעִי לְהֵי מִינַּיְיהוּ. אֲתוֹ לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי בְּנָאָה, אֲמַר לְהוּ: זִילוּ חֲבוּטוּ קִבְרָא דַּאֲבוּכוֹן, עַד דְּקָאֵי וּמְגַלֵּי לְכוּ לְהֵי מִינַּיְיכוּ שְׁבַקא. אֲזַלוּ כּוּלְּהוּ, הָהוּא דִּבְרֵיהּ הֲוָה לָא אֲזַל. אֲמַר לְהוּ: כּוּלְּהוּ נִכְסֵי דְּהַאי. אֲזַלוּ אֲכַלוּ קוּרָצָא בֵּי מַלְכָּא, אָמְרִי: אִיכָּא גַּבְרָא חַד בִּיהוּדָאֵי, דְּקָא מַפֵּיק מָמוֹנָא מֵאִנָשֵׁי בְּלָא סָהֲדִי וּבְלָא מִידֵּי. אַתְיוּהוּ חַבְשׁוּהוּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**They did not know** to **which of them** he intended to leave his property. **They came before Rabbi Bena’a** for guidance, and **he said to** the sons: **Go strike your father’s grave, until he rises and reveals to you to which of you he left** his property. **They all went,** but **that** one **who was his son did not go.** Rabbi Bena’a **said to them: All of** the **property belongs to this** son who did not go. The other brothers were angry. **They went and slandered [*akhlu kuretza*]** Rabbi Bena’a in **the king’s house. They said: There is one man among the Jews who removes money from people without witnesses and without any** evidence. The king’s guards **brought** Rabbi Bena’a **and imprisoned him.**


###### Bava Batra 58a:12
[Bava Batra 58a:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/58a:12)

אֲזַלָא דְּבֵיתְהוּ, אֲמַרָה לְהוּ: עַבְדָּא חַד הֲוָה לִי, פְּסַקוּ לְרֵישֵׁיהּ וּפְשַׁטוּ לְמַשְׁכֵּיהּ וַאֲכַלוּ בִּישְׂרֵיהּ, וְקָא מָלוּ בֵּיהּ מַיָּא וּמַשְׁקוּ בֵּיהּ לְחַבְרַיָּיא, וְלָא קָא יָהֲבִי לִי דְּמֵי וְלָא אַגְרֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**The wife of** Rabbi Bena’a **went** and **said to** the guards: **I had one servant. They cut off his head, and skinned him and ate his flesh, and they fill him with water and** give their **friends to drink from him, and they have not paid me** his **value nor have they rented him.**


###### Bava Batra 58a:13
[Bava Batra 58a:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/58a:13)

לָא יָדְעִי מַאי קָא אָמְרָה לְהוּ. אָמְרִי: נַיְתוֹ לְחַכִּימָא דִיהוּדָאֵי, וְלֵימָא. קַרְיוּהוּ לְרַבִּי בְּנָאָה, אֲמַר לְהוּ: זַרְנוּקָא אָמְרָה לְכוּ. אָמְרִי: הוֹאִיל וְחַכִּים כּוּלֵּי הַאי, לִיתֵּיב אַבָּבָא וְנֵידוּן דִּינָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**They did not know what she was saying to them. They said: Let us bring the wise** man **of the Jews, and let him say** what she meant. **They called Rabbi Bena’a,** and **he said to them: She spoke to you of a water skin [*zarnuka*].** In other words, she was referring to a goat she owned that was slaughtered, its meat eaten, and its skin made into a water skin that could be filled with drinking water. **They said: Since** he is **so wise, let** him **sit at the gate** where the judges congregate **and render judgment.**


###### Bava Batra 58a:14
[Bava Batra 58a:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/58a:14)

חֲזָא דַּהֲוָה כְּתִיב בַּאֲבוּלָּא: ״כֹּל דַּיָּין דְּמִתְקְרֵי לְדִין – לָא שְׁמֵיהּ דַּיָּין״. אֲמַר לְהוּ: אֶלָּא מֵעַתָּה, אֲתָא אִינִישׁ מֵעָלְמָא

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rabbi Bena’a **saw that it was written upon the gate [*be’abbula*]: Any judge who is summoned to judgment is not considered a judge,** as judges must be above reproach. **He said to them: If that is so,** then if **a person comes from elsewhere**