## Bava Metzia Daf 85b ###### Bava Metzia 85b:1 [Bava Metzia 85b:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/85b:1) אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים וְלֹא פֵּירְשׁוּהוּ, אָמְרוּ נְבִיאִים וְלֹא פֵּירְשׁוּהוּ, עַד שֶׁפֵּירְשׁוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּעַצְמוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֹּאמֶר ה׳ עַל עׇזְבָם אֶת תּוֹרָתִי אֲשֶׁר נָתַתִּי לִפְנֵיהֶם״. אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: שֶׁלֹּא בֵּרְכוּ בַּתּוֹרָה תְּחִילָּה. **William Davidson Edition - English:** **was stated by the Sages,** i.e., the wise man mentioned in the verse, **and** yet **they** could **not explain it.** It **was stated by the prophets,** i.e., those to whom the mouth of the Lord has spoken, **and** yet **they** could **not explain it, until the Holy One, Blessed be He, Himself explained it, as it is stated** in the next verse: **“And the Lord says: Because they have forsaken My Torah which I set before them”** (Jeremiah 9:12). **Rav Yehuda says** that **Rav says:** This does not mean **that** the Jewish people ceased Torah study altogether; rather, **they did not recite a blessing on the Torah prior** to its study, as they did not regard Torah study as a sacred endeavor. ###### Bava Metzia 85b:2 [Bava Metzia 85b:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/85b:2) אָמַר רַב חָמָא: מַאי דִּכְתִיב ״בְּלֵב נָבוֹן תָּנוּחַ חׇכְמָה וּבְקֶרֶב כְּסִילִים תִּוָּדֵעַ״, ״בְּלֵב נָבוֹן תָּנוּחַ חׇכְמָה״ – זֶה תַּלְמִיד חָכָם בֶּן תַּלְמִיד חָכָם, ״וּבְקֶרֶב כְּסִילִים תִּוָּדֵעַ״ – זֶה תַּלְמִיד חָכָם בֶּן עַם הָאָרֶץ. אָמַר עוּלָּא: הַיְינוּ דְּאָמְרִי אִינָשֵׁי: אִסְתֵּירָא בְּלָגִינָא קִישׁ קִישׁ קָרְיָא. **William Davidson Edition - English:** **Rav Ḥama says: What** is the meaning of that **which is written: “In the heart of him that has discernment wisdom rests; but in the inward part of fools it makes itself known”** (Proverbs 14:33)? **“In the heart of him who has discernment wisdom rests”; this** is **a Torah scholar, son of a Torah scholar. “But in the inward part of fools it makes itself known”; this** is **a Torah scholar, son of an ignoramus,** as his wisdom stands out in contrast to the foolishness of the rest of his family. **Ulla said: This** explains the adage **that people say:** A small **coin in** an empty **barrel calls: *Kish*, *kish*,** i.e., it rattles loudly, whereas a coin in a barrel full of coins is not heard. ###### Bava Metzia 85b:3 [Bava Metzia 85b:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/85b:3) אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה לְרַבִּי זֵירָא: מַאי דִּכְתִיב ״קָטֹן וְגָדוֹל שָׁם הוּא וְעֶבֶד חׇפְשִׁי מֵאֲדֹנָיו״? אַטּוּ לָא יָדְעִינַן דְּקָטֹן וְגָדוֹל שָׁם הוּא? אֶלָּא כׇּל הַמַּקְטִין עַצְמוֹ עַל דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה – נַעֲשָׂה גָּדוֹל לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, וְכׇל הַמֵּשִׂים עַצְמוֹ כְּעֶבֶד עַל דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה – נַעֲשֶׂה חׇפְשִׁי לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. **William Davidson Edition - English:** **Rabbi Yirmeya said to Rabbi Zeira: What** is the meaning of that **which is written** with regard to the World-to-Come: **“The humble and great are there; and the servant is free from his master”** (Job 3:19)? **Is that to say** that **we do not know that the humble and the great are there** in the World-to-Come? **Rather,** this is the meaning of the verse: **Anyone who humbles himself over matters of Torah in this world becomes great in the World-to-Come; and anyone who establishes himself as a servant over matters of Torah in this world becomes free in the World-to-Come.** ###### Bava Metzia 85b:4 [Bava Metzia 85b:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/85b:4) רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ הֲוָה מְצַיֵּין מְעָרָתָא דְּרַבָּנַן, כִּי מְטָא לִמְעָרְתֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי חִיָּיא אִיעֲלַמָא מִינֵּיהּ. חֲלַשׁ דַּעְתֵּיהּ. אֲמַר: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם! לֹא פִּלְפַּלְתִּי תּוֹרָה כְּמוֹתוֹ? יָצְתָה בַּת קוֹל וְאָמְרָה לוֹ: תּוֹרָה כְּמוֹתוֹ פִּלְפַּלְתָּ, תּוֹרָה כְּמוֹתוֹ לֹא רִיבַּצְתָּ. **William Davidson Edition - English:** § The Gemara continues discussing the greatness of the Sages. **Reish Lakish was demarcating** burial **caves of the Sages. When he arrived at the cave of Rabbi Ḥiyya,** the precise location of his grave **eluded him.** Reish Lakish **became distressed,** as he was apparently unworthy of finding the grave. **He said: Master of the Universe! Did I not analyze the Torah like** Rabbi Ḥiyya? **A Divine Voice emerged and said to him: You did analyze the Torah like him,** but **you did not disseminate Torah like him.** ###### Bava Metzia 85b:5 [Bava Metzia 85b:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/85b:5) כִּי הֲווֹ מִינְּצוּ רַבִּי חֲנִינָא וְרַבִּי חִיָּיא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי חֲנִינָא לְרַבִּי חִיָּיא: בַּהֲדֵי דִּידִי קָא מִינְּצֵית? חַס וְחָלִילָה, אִי מִשְׁתַּכְחָא תּוֹרָה מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל – מַהְדַּרְנָא לַהּ מִפִּילְפּוּלַי. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי חִיָּיא לְרַבִּי חֲנִינָא: בַּהֲדֵי דִּידִי קָא מִינְּצֵית? דַּעֲבַדִי לְתוֹרָה דְּלֹא תִּשְׁתַּכַּח מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל. **William Davidson Edition - English:** The Gemara relates: **When Rabbi Ḥanina and Rabbi Ḥiyya would debate** matters of Torah, **Rabbi Ḥanina** would **say to Rabbi Ḥiyya:** Do you think **you can debate with me? Heaven forbid! If the Torah were forgotten from the Jewish people, I** could **restore it with my** powers of **analysis** and intellectual acumen. **Rabbi Ḥiyya said to Rabbi Ḥanina:** Do you think **you can debate with me?** You cannot compare yourself to me, **as I am acting** to ensure that **the Torah** will **not be forgotten by the Jewish people.** ###### Bava Metzia 85b:6 [Bava Metzia 85b:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/85b:6) מַאי עָבֵידְנָא – אָזֵילְנָא וְשָׁדֵינָא כִּיתָּנָא וְגָדֵילְנָא נִישְׁבֵּי, וְצָיֵידְנָא טְבֵי וּמַאֲכֵילְנָא בִּשְׂרַיְיהוּ לְיַתְמֵי, וְאָרֵיכְנָא מְגִילָּתָא וְכָתֵבְנָא חֲמִשָּׁה חוּמְשֵׁי, וְסָלֵיקְנָא לְמָתָא וּמַקְרֵינָא חַמְשָׁה יָנוֹקֵי בְּחַמְשָׁה חוּמְשֵׁי, וּמַתְנֵינָא שִׁיתָּא יָנוֹקֵי שִׁיתָּא סִדְרֵי, וְאָמַרְנָא לְהוּ: עַד דְּהָדַרְנָא וְאָתֵינָא אַקְרוֹ אַהֲדָדֵי וְאַתְנוֹ אַהֲדָדֵי וַעֲבַדִי לַהּ לְתוֹרָה דְּלֹא תִּשְׁתַּכַּח מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל. **William Davidson Edition - English:** Rabbi Ḥiyya elaborated: **What do I do** to this end? **I go and sow flax** seeds **and twine nets** with the flax, **and** then **I hunt deer and feed their meat to orphans.** Next **I prepare parchment** from their hides **and I write the five books** of the Torah on them. **I go to a city and teach five children the five books,** one book per child, **and I teach six** other **children the six orders** of the Mishna, **and I say to them: Until I return and come** here, **read each other** the Torah **and teach each other** the Mishna. This is how **I act** to ensure that **the Torah will not be forgotten by the Jewish people.** ###### Bava Metzia 85b:7 [Bava Metzia 85b:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/85b:7) הַיְינוּ דְּאָמַר רַבִּי: כַּמָּה גְּדוֹלִים מַעֲשֵׂי חִיָּיא! אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי: אֲפִילּוּ מִמָּר? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אִין. אֲפִילּוּ מֵאַבָּא? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: חַס וְחָלִילָה! לֹא תְּהֵא כְּזֹאת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. **William Davidson Edition - English:** The Gemara notes that **this is what Rabbi** Yehuda HaNasi **said: How great are the deeds of** Rabbi **Ḥiyya! Rabbi Yishmael, son of Rabbi Yosei, said to** Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi: Are his deeds **even greater than the Master’s,** i.e., yours? Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi **said to him: Yes.** Rabbi Yishmael persisted: Are they **even** greater **than** those of my **father,** Rabbi Yosei? Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi **said to him: Heaven forbid! Such** a statement **shall not be** heard **among the Jewish people,** that someone is greater than your father, Rabbi Yosei. ###### Bava Metzia 85b:8 [Bava Metzia 85b:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/85b:8) אָמַר רַבִּי זֵירָא: אֶמֶשׁ נִרְאָה לִי רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא. אָמַרְתִּי לוֹ: אֵצֶל מִי אַתָּה תָּקוּעַ? אָמַר לִי: אֵצֶל רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן. וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אֵצֶל מִי? אֵצֶל רַבִּי יַנַּאי. וְרַבִּי יַנַּאי אֵצֶל מִי? אֵצֶל רַבִּי חֲנִינָא. וְרַבִּי חֲנִינָא אֵצֶל מִי? אֵצֶל רַבִּי חִיָּיא. אָמַרְתִּי לוֹ: וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אֵצֶל רַבִּי חִיָּיא לֹא? אָמַר לִי: בַּאֲתַר דְּזִקּוּקִין דְּנוּרָא וּבָעוֹרִין דְּאֶשָּׁא – מַאן מְעַיֵּיל בַּר נַפָּחָא לְתַמָּן?! **William Davidson Edition - English:** The Gemara continues discussing the greatness of Rabbi Ḥiyya. **Rabbi Zeira said: Last night, Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, appeared to me** in a dream. **I said to him: Near whom are you placed** in the upper realms? **He said to me: Near Rabbi Yoḥanan.** I asked: **And Rabbi Yoḥanan is near whom?** He replied: **Near Rabbi Yannai. And Rabbi Yannai is near whom? Near Rabbi Ḥanina. And Rabbi Ḥanina is near whom? Near Rabbi Ḥiyya.** Rabbi Zeira added: **I said to** Rabbi Yosei: **But isn’t Rabbi Yoḥanan** worthy of being placed **near Rabbi Ḥiyya? He said to me: In a place of fiery sparks and burning fires, who can bring** Rabbi Yoḥanan, **son of Nappaḥa, there?** ###### Bava Metzia 85b:9 [Bava Metzia 85b:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/85b:9) אָמַר רַב חֲבִיבָא: אִשְׁתַּעִי לִי רַב חֲבִיבָא בַּר סוּרְמָקֵי, חֲזֵי לֵיהּ הָהוּא מֵרַבָּנַן דַּהֲוָה שְׁכִיחַ אֵלִיָּהוּ גַּבֵּיהּ, דִּלְצַפְרָא הֲווֹ שַׁפִּירָן עֵינֵיהּ, וּלְאוּרְתָּא דָּמְיָין כִּדְמִיקַּלְיָן בְּנוּרָא. אֲמַרִי לֵיהּ: מַאי הַאי? וַאֲמַר לִי: דַּאֲמַרִי לֵיהּ לְאֵלִיָּהוּ: אַחְוִי לִי רַבָּנַן כִּי סָלְקִי לִמְתִיבְתָּא דְּרָקִיעַ. אָמַר לִי: בְּכוּלְּהוּ מָצֵית אִסְתַּכּוֹלֵי בְּהוּ, לְבַר מִגּוּהַרְקָא דְּרַבִּי חִיָּיא דְּלָא תִּסְתַּכֵּל בֵּיהּ. מַאי סִימָנַיְיהוּ? בְּכוּלְּהוּ אָזְלִי מַלְאֲכֵי כִּי סָלְקִי וְנָחֲתִי, לְבַר מִגּוּהַרְקָא דְּרַבִּי חִיָּיא דְּמִנַּפְשֵׁיהּ סָלֵיק וּנְחֵית. **William Davidson Edition - English:** **Rav Ḥaviva said: Rav Ḥaviva bar Surmakei told me: I** once **saw one of the Sages whom Elijah** the prophet **would visit,** and **his eyes** looked **beautiful** and healthy **in the morning, but appeared to be charred by fire in the evening. I said to him: What is this** phenomenon? **And he said to me: I said to Elijah: Show me the Sages upon their ascension to the heavenly academy.** Elijah **said to me: You may gaze at all of them except for** those in **the chariot [*miguharka*] of Rabbi Ḥiyya, upon whom you may not gaze.** I asked Elijah: **What are the signs** of Rabbi Ḥiyya’s chariot, so I will know when not to look? He said: **Angels accompany all** of the other Sages’ chariots **as they ascend and descend, except for the chariot of Rabbi Ḥiyya, which ascends and descends of its own accord,** due to his greatness. ###### Bava Metzia 85b:10 [Bava Metzia 85b:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/85b:10) לָא מְצַאי לְאוֹקְמָא אַנַּפְשַׁאי, אִסְתַּכַּלִי בָּהּ: אֲתוֹ תְּרֵי בּוּטִיטֵי דְנוּרָא וּמַחְיוּהּו לְהָהוּא גַּבְרָא וְסַמּוֹנְהוּ לְעֵינֵיהּ. לִמְחַר אֲזַלִי אִשְׁתַּטַּחִי אַמְּעָרְתֵּיהּ, אָמֵינָא: מַתְנְיָיתָא דְּמָר מַתְנֵינָא, וְאִתַּסַּאי. **William Davidson Edition - English:** The Sage relating this story continued: **I was unable to restrain myself,** and **I gazed upon** Rabbi Ḥiyya’s chariot. **Two fiery flames came and struck that man,** i.e., me, **and blinded his eyes. The next day, I went and prostrated on** Rabbi Ḥiyya’s burial **cave** in supplication. **I said: I study the *baraitot* of the Master,** Rabbi Ḥiyya; please pray on my behalf. **And** my vision **was healed,** but my eyes remained scorched. ###### Bava Metzia 85b:11 [Bava Metzia 85b:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/85b:11) אֵלִיָּהוּ הֲוָה שְׁכִיחַ בִּמְתִיבְתָּא דְּרַבִּי, יוֹמָא חַד רֵישׁ יַרְחָא הֲוָה, נְגַהּ לֵיהּ וְלָא אֲתָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מַאי טַעְמָא נְגַהּ לֵיהּ לְמָר? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אַדְּאוֹקֵימְנָא לְאַבְרָהָם וּמָשֵׁינָא יְדֵיהּ וּמְצַלֵּי וּמַגְנֵינָא לֵיהּ, וְכֵן לְיִצְחָק וְכֵן לְיַעֲקֹב. וְלוֹקְמִינְהוּ בַּהֲדֵי הֲדָדֵי! סָבַרי: תָּקְפִי בְּרַחֲמֵי וּמַיְיתִי לֵיהּ לְמָשִׁיחַ בְּלָא זִמְנֵיהּ. **William Davidson Edition - English:** The Gemara relates another incident involving Elijah the prophet. **Elijah was** often **found in the academy of Rabbi** Yehuda HaNasi. **One day it was a New Moon,** the first of the month, and Elijah **was delayed and did not come** to the academy. Later, Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi **said to** Elijah: **What is the reason** that **the Master was delayed?** Elijah **said to him: I** had **to wake up Abraham, wash his hands, and** wait for him to **pray, and** then **lay him down** again. **And similarly,** I followed the same procedure **for Isaac, and similarly for Jacob** in turn. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi asked Elijah: **And let** the Master **wake them** all **together.** Elijah responded: **I maintain** that if I were to wake all three to pray at the same time, **they** would **generate powerful prayers and bring the Messiah prematurely.** ###### Bava Metzia 85b:12 [Bava Metzia 85b:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/85b:12) אֲמַר לֵיהּ: וְיֵשׁ דּוּגְמָתָן בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אִיכָּא רַבִּי חִיָּיא וּבָנָיו. גְּזַר רַבִּי תַּעֲנִיתָא, אַחְתִינְהוּ לְרַבִּי חִיָּיא וּבָנָיו. אֲמַר ״מַשִּׁיב הָרוּחַ״ – וּנְשַׁבָה זִיקָא. אֲמַר ״מוֹרִיד הַגֶּשֶׁם״ – וַאֲתָא מִיטְרָא, כִּי מְטָא לְמֵימַר ״מְחַיֵּה הַמֵּתִים״ – רְגַשׁ עָלְמָא. **William Davidson Edition - English:** Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi **said to** Elijah: **And is there anyone** alive **in this world** who is **comparable to them** and can produce such efficacious prayers? Elijah **said to him: There are Rabbi Ḥiyya and his sons. Rabbi** Yehuda HaNasi **decreed a fast,** and the Sages **brought Rabbi Ḥiyya and his sons down** to the pulpit to pray on behalf of the congregation. Rabbi Ḥiyya **recited** the phrase in the *Amida* prayer: **Who makes the wind blow, and the wind blew.** Rabbi Ḥiyya **recited** the next phrase: **Who makes the rain fall, and rain fell. When he was about to say** the phrase: **Who revives the dead, the world trembled.** ###### Bava Metzia 85b:13 [Bava Metzia 85b:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/85b:13) אָמְרִי בִּרְקִיעָא: מַאן גַּלִּי רָזַיָּא בְּעָלְמָא? אָמְרִי: אֵלִיָּהוּ. אַתְיוּהּ לְאֵלִיָּהוּ מַחְיוּהּ שִׁתִּין פּוּלְסֵי דְנוּרָא. אֲתָא אִידְּמִי לְהוּ כְּדוּבָּא דְנוּרָא, עָל בֵּינַיְיהוּ וְטַרְדִינְהוּ. **William Davidson Edition - English:** **They said in heaven: Who is the revealer of secrets in the world? They said** in response: It is **Elijah. Elijah was brought** to heaven, whereupon **he was beaten with sixty fiery lashes.** Elijah **came** back down to earth **disguised as a bear of fire. He came among** the congregation **and distracted them** from their prayers, preventing Rabbi Ḥiyya from reciting the phrase: Who revives the dead. ###### Bava Metzia 85b:14 [Bava Metzia 85b:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/85b:14) שְׁמוּאֵל יַרְחִינָאָה אָסְיֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי הֲוָה. חֲלַשׁ רַבִּי בְּעֵינֵיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אֶימְלֵי לָךְ סַמָּא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לָא יָכֵילְנָא. אֶשְׁטַר לָךְ מִשְׁטָר. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לָא יָכֵילְנָא. הֲוָה מוֹתֵיב לֵיהּ בְּגוּבְתָּא דְסַמָּנֵי תּוּתֵי בֵּי סַדְיֵיהּ, וְאִיתַּסִּי. **William Davidson Edition - English:** § The Gemara relates: **Shmuel Yarḥina’a was the physician of Rabbi** Yehuda HaNasi. One time, **Rabbi** Yehuda HaNasi **felt a pain in his eye.** Shmuel **said to him: I will place a medication in** your eye. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi **said to him: I cannot** have the medication placed directly in my eye, as I am afraid it will cause me too much pain. Shmuel **said to him: I will apply a salve** above your eye, not directly in it. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi **said to him:** Even that **I cannot** bear. Shmuel **placed** the medication **in a tube of herbs beneath his pillow, and** Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi **was healed.** ###### Bava Metzia 85b:15 [Bava Metzia 85b:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/85b:15) הֲוָה קָא מִצְטַעַר, רַבִּי לְמִסְמְכֵיהּ וְלָא הֲוָה מִסְתַּיְּיעָא מִילְּתָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לָא לִצְטַעַר מָר, לְדִידִי חֲזֵי לִי סִיפְרָא דְּאָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן, וּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ: שְׁמוּאֵל יַרְחִינָאָה **William Davidson Edition - English:** **Rabbi** Yehuda HaNasi **made efforts to ordain** Shmuel Yarḥina’a as a rabbi **but was unsuccessful,** as Shmuel always demurred. Shmuel Yarḥina’a **said to him: The Master should not be upset** about my refusal, as I know that I am not destined to be ordained as a rabbi. **I myself saw the book of Adam the first** man, which contains the genealogy of the human race, **and it is written in it** that **Shmuel Yarḥina’a**