Gemara Clarity

Sanhedrin 95b

סנהדרין צ״ה ע״ב

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

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Topic

יעקב's miraculous journey, the near-destruction of דוד's line, and the downfall of סנחריב's enormous army.

Overview

This amud opens by finishing the proof that the land 'jumped' for יעקב, so that he suddenly arrived at the place where his fathers prayed. It then reads ויפגע as תפילה and explains that the sun set early so יעקב would sleep there, which was later balanced by the sun rising early for him. Next the גמרא shows that דוד's line was nearly wiped out by עתליה, and that יואש survived only because אביתר had survived the killing of the כהנים in נוב. The גמרא then describes the enormous army of סנחריב: its divisions, the size of its camp, and how it drained a river while crossing. It explains that the 185,000 struck by the מלאך were only the officers, and lists many opinions on how they were struck and how many survived. Finally, רבי אבהו brings the startling פסוק about ה׳ 'shaving' the king of אשור. The story behind it begins with ה׳ appearing to סנחריב as an old man, and it continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיֵּצֵא יַעֲקֹב מִבְּאֵר שָׁבַע

As it is written: 'And Jacob left Beersheba

וַיֵּלֶךְ חָרָנָה״,

and went to Haran,'

וּכְתִיב: ״וַיִּפְגַּע בַּמָּקוֹם

and it is written: 'And he reached the place,

וַיָּלֶן שָׁם כִּי בָא הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ״.

and he slept there, for the sun had set.'

The steps (37)

  1. ProofThe land jumped for יעקב
  2. StatementAnother reading: reaching means praying
  3. StatementThe sun set early so יעקב would sleep there
  4. ProofSupport from 'the sun shone for him'
  5. ChallengeDid the sun shine only for him?
  6. ResolutionRabbi Yitzchak: the early sunset was balanced by an early sunrise
  7. QuestionHow do we know David's line was wiped out?
  8. ResponseAthaliah destroyed the royal family
  9. ChallengeBut Yoash survived
  10. ResolutionIn Nov too, one survivor remained
  11. Conclusionרב: without Evyatar, nothing of David would remain
  12. Statementרב describes the makeup of Sennacherib's army
  13. StatementA baraita gives the size of the camp
  14. Questionאביי asks what 'minus one' means, and it stays unresolved
  15. StatementHow the army drained the river as it crossed
  16. ChallengeChallenge: the פסוק says only 185,000 died
  17. Resolutionרבי אבהו: the 185,000 were officers
  18. Proofרב אשי brings support from 'among his fat ones'
  19. Proofרבינא brings support from 'every leader and officer'
  20. QuestionWith what were they struck?
  21. Responseרבי אליעזר: struck by the hand
  22. Responseרבי יהושע: struck by the finger
  23. ResponseGabriel's sickle has been sharp since Creation
  24. ResponseGabriel strikes them on his way to ripen fruit
  25. Statementרב פפא: 'on your way, show yourself to your enemy'
  26. ResponseSome say: He blew into their noses
  27. ResponseRabbi Yirmeya bar Abba: He clapped His hands
  28. ResponseRabbi Yitzchak Nappacha: they heard the angels' song and died
  29. QuestionHow many soldiers survived?
  30. Responseרב: ten survived
  31. Responseשמואל: nine survived
  32. Responseרבי יהושע בן לוי: fourteen survived
  33. Responseרבי יוחנן: five survived, and he names them
  34. ProofProof for each of the five survivors
  35. Statementרבי אבהו: a פסוק we could never say on our own
  36. Statementה׳ appears to סנחריב as an old man
  37. Responseסנחריב admits his fear and asks what to do