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Sanhedrin 95a

סנהדרין צ״ה ע״א

Learn Sanhedrin 95a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

סנחריב's march on ירושלים and its downfall, the story of דוד and ישבי בנוב, and the three people for whom the land shrank.

Overview

The גמרא finishes reading the verses in ישעיהו 10 about סנחריב's march on ירושלים. 'עניה ענתות' hints that ירמיהו of ענתות will prophesy about נבוכדנצר. רבי יוחנן explains that ארי and ליש are both names for a lion, and the count of ten stops still works because עברו and מעברה are two places. רב הונא teaches that 'עוד היום בנב' means only one day was left of the punishment for the sin of נוב. סנחריב rushes to ירושלים, mocks the small city, and puts off the attack until morning, and that night an angel destroys his army. רב פפא sums it up: a judgment left overnight is cancelled. The theme of נוב then leads to the story of ישבי בנוב. He was sent to punish דוד for נוב, and אבישי rescued דוד through a holy שם and prayer. Finally, a ברייתא lists three people for whom the land shrank, and the list of sources for יעקב אבינו continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

״עֲנִיָּה עֲנָתוֹת״ –

"Poor Anathoth":

עָתִיד יִרְמְיָה בֶּן חִלְקִיָּה

Jeremiah son of Hilkiah is destined

וּמִתְנַבֵּא עֲלַהּ מֵעֲנָתוֹת,

to prophesy about it from Anathoth,

דִּכְתִיב:

as it is written:

The steps (35)

  1. Statementעניה ענתות hints at ירמיהו's prophecy
  2. Challengeירמיהו says 'ארי' but ישעיהו says 'ליש'
  3. ResolutionThe lion has six names
  4. ChallengeThen there are too few stops on the march
  5. Resolutionעברו and מעברה are two places
  6. QuestionWhat does 'This very day at נוב' mean?
  7. ResponseThe last day of punishment for the sin of נוב
  8. StatementThe astrologers' warning and the rushed march
  9. Statementסנחריב climbs up and sees ירושלים
  10. Statementסנחריב mocks the city and waves at the בית המקדש
  11. StatementThe officers want to attack now, but סנחריב says wait until tomorrow
  12. StatementThat night an angel destroys the Assyrian army
  13. Statementרב פפא: a judgment left overnight is cancelled
  14. StatementA new פסוק about ישבי בנוב, who tried to kill דוד
  15. QuestionWhat does the name ישבי בנוב mean?
  16. ResponseA man who came because of נוב
  17. Statementה׳ holds דוד responsible for three tragedies
  18. Statementדוד chooses to be handed to an enemy rather than lose his descendants
  19. StatementThe שטן disguised as a deer lures דוד into Philistine land
  20. Statementישבי בנוב captures דוד and tries to crush him
  21. StatementA miracle: the ground sinks under דוד
  22. Statementאבישי sees a sign that דוד is in trouble
  23. QuestionMay אבישי use the king's animal in an emergency?
  24. ResponseIn danger, it is permitted
  25. Statementאבישי's miraculous ride and the death of ערפה
  26. Statementאבישי holds דוד in mid-air with a holy שם
  27. ChallengeWhy didn't דוד say the שם himself?
  28. ResolutionA prisoner cannot free himself
  29. Statementאבישי tells דוד to reverse his prayer
  30. Statementדוד asks אבישי for help, matching the פסוק
  31. Statementאבישי helped through prayer and brought דוד down
  32. StatementThe chase and the killing of ישבי בנוב
  33. Conclusionדוד's men swear he will not go to war again
  34. StatementThree people for whom the land shrank
  35. StatementSources for אבישי and אליעזר