BAVA BASRA 16 (11 Shevat) - dedicated by Mordechai and Tzivia Bodner in memory of Tzivia's father, Mordechai Teitelbaum, on the day of his Yahrzeit.

1)

(a)When the scenario with the Satan repeated itself, what did Hash-m mean when he said to him "ve'Odenu Machzik be'Tum'aso, va'Tesiseni Vo le'Val'o Chinam"?

(b)What did Rebbi Yochanan comment about this statement? Why is it incredible?

(c)How does the Tana describe the work of the Satan?

1)

(a)When the scenario with the Satan repeated itself, and Hash-m said to him "ve'Odenu Machzik be'Tum'aso, va'Tesiseni Vo le'Val'o Chinam" - he meant that Iyov still retained his Temimus and yet the Satan insists on enticing Hash-m, forcing His Hand to punish him for nothing.

(b)Rebbi Yochanan comments - that the suggestion that Hash-m can be enticed is something we would never have dared say, had Hash-m not said it Himself.

(c)The Tana describing the work of the Satan, says - 'He descends and tricks the person into sinning, ascends and prosecutes and, after obtaining permission, he descends once more to take his Neshamah'.

2)

(a)What did the Satan reply to Hash-m's statement?

(b)What was Hash-m's response to the Satan's request?

(c)Why did the Satan suffer more than Iyov?

(d)Reish Lakish learns from Pesukim that the Yetzer ha'Ra and the Satan are one and the same (like we just learned). He first causes one to sin and then prosecutes the sinner. What does he learn from the Pasuk in Iyov "Ach es Nafsho Shmor"?

2)

(a)In reply to Hash-m's statement, the Satan suggested that, as long as Iyov had not been hit personally, it was not surprising that he remained steadfast in his faith, but that if he were to be made to suffer physical pain, he would not be able to withstand it, and would certainly blaspheme Hash-m.

(b)Hash-m responded - by granting him permission to go ahead, provided he spared his life.

(c)The Satan suffered more than Iyov did - in his efforts to inflict sufficient pain to challenge Iyov's faith without taking his life.

(d)Resh Lakish learns from Pesukim that the Yeitzer ha'Ra and the Satan are one and the same (like we just learned); he first causes one to sin, then prosecutes him for sinning. And from the Pasuk in Iyov "Ach es Nafsho Sh'mor" he also learns - that he is also the Mal'ach ha'Ma'ves (the Angel of Death), only he requires permission before taking someone's life, as we just explained.

3)

(a)What did Rebbi Levi mean when he said that ...

1. ... the Satan acted l'Shem Shamayim?

2. ... Peninah acted l'Shem Shamayim? Who was Peninah?

(b)What happened when Rav Acha bar Ya'akov Darshened this in Papunya?

(c)What does Rava extrapolate from the Pasuk "be'Chol Zos Lo Chata Iyov bi'Sefasav"?

3)

(a)When Rebbi Levi said that ...

1. ... the Satan acted le'Shem Shamayim, he meant - that his motivation in prosecuting Iyov to the extent that he did, was in order to demonstrate that there was no-one who could match Avraham Avinu.

2. ... Peninah (Elkanah's second wife) acted le'Shem Shamayim, he meant - that when she teased Chanah (who later bore Shmuel) it was with the express intention of inducing her to Daven to Hash-m (as the Pasuk in Shmuel writes "ve'Chi'asatah Tzarasah Gam Ka'as Ba'avur Har'imah" [and her - Penina's - rival made her angry in order to cause her to complain to Hash-m"]).

(b)When Rav Acha bar Ya'akov Darshened this in Papunya - the Satan came and kissed his feet.

(c)Rava extrapolates from the Pasuk "be'Chol Zos Lo Chata Iyov bi'Sefasav" - that although Iyov had not sinned (yet) with his lips, he had sinned in his heart.

4)

(a)What did Rava mean when, commenting on the Pasuk "Eretz Nitnah be'Yad Rasha ... ", he explains that Iyov wanted to 'overturn the dish'?

(b)Abaye disagreed. How does he explain the Pasuk?

(c)Rebbi Eliezer in a Beraisa, referring to the same Pasuk, states "Bikesh Iyov Lahafoch Ke'arah al Pihah". What did Rebbi Yehoshua say?

4)

(a)When, commenting on the Pasuk "Eretz Nitnah be'Yad Rasha ... ", Rava explains that Iyov wanted to 'overturn the dish', he means - that these words actually pertain to Hash-m (Kevayachol), in which case they comprise pure blasphemy.

(b)Abaye disagrees. According to him - the Rasha in the Pasuk pertains to the Satan, and not to Hash-m (Chalilah).

(c)Rebbi Eliezer in a Beraisa, referring to the same Pasuk, states "Bikesh Iyov La'hafoch Ke'arah al Pihah" (like Rava), to which Rebbi Yehoshua responded - in the same way as Abaye responded to Rava.

5)

(a)How does Rava explain Iyov's statement "Al Da'atcha Ki Lo Ersha, ve'Ein mi'Yadcha Matzil"?

(b)What does this have to do with the distinction between an ox and a donkey, Gan Eden and Gehinom?

(c)How did Iyov's friends answer him by citing the creation of the Yetzer ha'Ra?

(d)Based on the Pasuk "Birchas Oved Alai Savo, ve'Lev Almanah Arnin", What, according to Rava, did Iyov used to do (before the Midas ha'Din struck) ...

1. ... to the field of Yesomim?

2. ... to boost the chances of an Almanah to get married?

5)

(a)Rava explains Iyov's statement "Al Da'atcha ki Lo Ersha, ve'Ein mi'Yadcha Matzil" to mean - that if only Hash-m so wished, he (Iyov) would not sin. Indeed, nobody can change the status that Hash-m grants him.

(b)Just as Hash-m creates an ox with cloven hooves and a donkey with hoofs that are not cloven (the one Kasher, the other, Tereifah), Gan Eden (the epitome of goodness) and Gehinom (the epitome of evil), he exclaimed - so too, does He create Tzadikim and Resha'im (whose status is likewise predetermined).

(c)Iyov's friends however, answered him by citing the maxim 'I created the Yetzer-ha'Ra', says Hash-m, 'and I created Torah as its antidote'.

(d)Based on the Pasuk "Birchas Oved Alai Savo, ve'Lev Almanah Arnin", Rava explains how (before the Midas ha'Din struck) Iyov ...

1. ... would steal a field belonging to Yesomim and improve it before returning it to its owners.

2. ... to boost the chances of an Almanah to get married - would associate his name with her (either by claiming to be a relation of hers or by making out that he wanted to marry her).

6)

(a)What did Rav (or Rava) mean when he said ...

1. ... 'Afra le'Pumei de'Iyov!'

2. ... 'Chavrusa K'lapei Shemaya'? What had Iyov said that irked him?

(b)What similar remark did he make about Iyov's statement "Lu Yesh Beneinu Mochi'ach ... "?

(c)What did Rava remark about Iyov's self-aggrandizement, when he claimed that he had made a covenant with his eyes that he would refrain from looking at virgins?

(d)And what did Iyov mean when he said "Kalah Anan va'Yeilech Kein Yored She'ol Lo Ya'aleh"?

6)

(a)When Rav (or Rava) said ...

1. ... 'Afra le'Pumei de'Iyov!', he meant - that Iyov needs to have earth placed in his mouth (for blaspheming Hash-m [like one sometimes places a little soap in the mouth of a child who utters foul speech]).

2. ... 'Chavrusa K'lapei Shemaya" he was querying Iyov's challenge to Hash-m to make a reckoning with him, as if Hash-m was his equal.

(b)Similarly, he commented on Iyov's statement "Lu Yesh Beneinu Mochi'ach ... " - that it is not befitting for an Eved to rebuke his master, under any circumstances.

(c)Concerning Iyov's self-aggrandizement, based on the fact that he refrained from looking at virgins, Rava remarked - that this did not reach the level of Avraham, who until an episode that took place when he was already in his seventies, had never even looked at his own wife (despite her being one of the most beautiful women in the world).

(d)And when Iyov said "Kalah Anan va'Yeilech Kein Yored She'ol Lo Ya'aleh" - he meant that once a person dies and is buried, he will never ascend from the grave, effectively denying Techi'as ha'Meisim (the Revival of the Dead).

7)

(a)Rabah, quoting Pesukim, states 'Iyov bi'Se'arah Cheref, u'vi'Se'arah Heshivuhu'. What did Iyov claim happened, after a storm-cloud passed before Hash-m?

(b)How did Hash-m counter his claim (in connection with the storm-cloud). What did He prove from the many ...

1. ... hairs on a human body?

2. ... rain-drops that fall from the clouds to the ground?

3. ... thunderclaps that one hears during a thunder-storm?

(c)With regard to the raindrops, the Pasuk uses the Lashon "Mi Palag le'Shetef Ta'aleh". What do we prove from the Pasuk in Melachim (in connection with Eliyahu on Mount Carmel) "Vaya'as Ta'aleh ke'Veis-Sa'asayim"?

(d)Hash-m brought two final proofs that He was unlikely to become easily flustered between Iyov and Oyev, one from a mountain-she-goat, the other, from a she-gazelle. What is the proof from ...

1. ... a mountain-she-goat?

2. ... a she-gazelle?

7)

(a)Rabah, quoting Pesukim, states 'Iyov bi'Se'arah Cheref, u'vi'Se'arah Heshivuhu'. Iyov claimed - that after a storm-cloud passed before Hash-m, He must have become confused (Kevayachol) between 'Iyov' and 'Oyev'.

(b)But Hash-m countered his claim (in connection with the storm-cloud). He proved that He does not become easily confused - from the many ...

1. ... hairs on a human body - each of which grows from its own source (because if two hairs were to grow from the same source, they would cause the person to go blind).

2. ... rain-drops that are contained in the clouds, each in its own individual mold, (because if two drops would combine, they would saturate the ground, and fruit would not be able to grow there).

3. ... thunderclaps that one hears during a thunder-storm - each one of which passes along its own path (because if two of them connected, they would destroy the world).

(c)With regard to the raindrops, the Pasuk uses the Lashon "Mi Palag le'Shetef Ta'aleh". And we prove from the Pasuk (in connection with Eliyahu on Mount Carmel) " Vaya'as Ta'aleh ke'Veis-Sa'asayim" - that "Ta'aleh" means a ditch (and, in the case of Iyov, a mold).

(d)Hash-m proved that He does not become easily flustered from ...

1. ... a mountain-she-goat, who gives birth at the edge of a mountain cliff, casting its newborn baby over the top. And it is only due to the eagle that Hash-m sends to catch it, at the precisely when it is needed and place it before the mother, that it survives, and from ...

2. ... a she-gazelle - whose womb is too narrow to let out its new-born baby. So Hash-m sends a Darkon (a type of snake) to strike its womb and widen it, at the precise moment that it is needed.

16b----------------------------------------16b

8)

(a)What principle does Rava extrapolate from the Pasuk "Iyov Lo be'Da'as Yedaber, u'Devarav Lo be'Haskel"?

(b)When Iyov was stricken with boils, his friends, Elifaz ha'Teimani, Bildad ha'Shuchi and Tzofer ha'Na'amasi, came to visit him. What do we learn from the Pasuk "va'Yiva'adu Yachdav la'Vo la'Nud lo u'Le'nachamo"?

(c)Considering that they lived hundreds of miles apart, how did they all get to know about Iyov's plight simultaneously?

(d)What folk-saying was born from this incident?

8)

(a)From the Pasuk "Iyov Lo be'Da'as Yedaber, u'Devarav Lo be'Haskel", Rava extroplates the principle 'Ein Adam Nitfas be'Sha'as Tza'aro' (a person cannot be taken to task for what he does or says when he is pain).

(b)When Iyov was stricken with boils, his friends, Elifaz ha'Teimani, Bildad ha'Shuchi and Tzofer ha'Na'amasi, came to visit him. We learn from the Pasuk "va'Yiva'adu Yachdav la'Vo la'Nud lo u'Le'nachamo" - that they all arrived at precisely the same moment.

(c)In spite of the fact that they lived hundreds of miles apart, they all get to know about Iyov's plight simultaneously - due to a crown that each of them possessed, with a picture of each of his three friends painted on it. The moment one of those friends suffered, that picture contorted. Others say that it was a tree with the faces of the three friends carved on it that withered.

(d)The folk-saying that was born from this incident is - 'Either friends like those of Iyov or death!'

9)

(a)Discussing the large percentage of female births preceding the Flood - the Pasuk uses the expression "Va'yehi Ki Heichel ha'Adam la'Rov al-P'nei ha'Adamah". What does Rebbi Yochanan mean when he says 'Revi'ah Ba'ah le'Olam'?

(b)How does Reish Lakish explain the word "la'Rov"?

(c)What did Rebbi Yochanan reply when Reish Lakish asked him why, according to him, Iyov was not blessed with twice as many daughters as he had previously had (like he was with sons)?

(d)Why did Iyov call one of his daughters ...

1. ... Yamimah?

2. ... Ketzi'ah?

9)

(a)Discussing the large percentage of female births preceding the Flood - the Pasuk uses the expression "Vayehi Ki Heichel ha'Adam la'Rov al-P'nei ha'Adamah". When Rebbi Yochanan says 'Revi'ah Ba'ah le'Olam', he means - that more women result in a greater population increase, because they tend to marry younger than men (see also Agados Maharsha).

(b)Resh Lakish explains - that an influx of women was accompanied by an influx in strife.

(c)When Resh Lakish asked Rebbi Yochanan why, according to him, Iyov was not blessed with a hundred percent increase in daughters (like he was in sons) he replied - that although the number of daughters did not increase quantitatively, the three daughters that he fathered were twice as beautiful as the first ones had been.

(d)Iyov called one of his daughters ...

1. ... Yamimah - because she was as radiant as the day.

2. ... Ketzi'ah (the name of one of the spices that comprised the incense) - because she was as fragrant as Ketzi'ah.

10)

(a)How did the Bnei Ma'arava react to de'bei Rebbi Yanai's explanation that Iyov called his third daughter Keren ha'Puch because she had a dark complexion, like the horn of a rhinoceros?

(b)So how does Rav Chisda explain the name?

(c)How did Rebbi console his son Rebbi Shimon, when he expressed disappointment after his wife gave birth to a daughter?

(d)bar Kapara disillusioned Rebbi Shimon bar Rebbi however, by quoting a Beraisa. What does the Beraisa say about ...

1. ... boys and girls and about someone who has only girls?

2. ... spice-makers and tanners, and someone whose profession is tannery?

10)

(a)When de'bei Rebbi Yanai explained that Iyov called his third daughter Keren ha'Puch because she had a dark complexion, like the horn of a rhinoceros - they laughed at him, because that is more an insult than a praise.

(b)Rav Chisda therefore explains - that she resembled a garden saffron (see Tosfos DH 'ke'Kuchla' and Rabeinu Gershom).

(c)When Rebbi Shimon the son of Rebbi expressed disappointment after his wife gave birth to a daughter, his father consoled him - by quoting the maxim of Rebbi Yochanan 'Revi'ah Ba'ah le'Olam'.

(d)bar Kapara disillusioned Rebbi Shimon however, by quoting the Beraisa which states that, although the world needs both ...

1. ... boys and girls, woe to the person who has only girls.

2. ... spice-makers and tanners, woe to the person whose profession is tannery.

11)

(a)It appears that the status of daughters was already then an old bone of contention. Rebbi Meir explains the Pasuk "va'Hashem Beirach es Avraham ba'Kol" to mean that Avraham had no daughters. How does Rebbi Yehudah explain it?

(b)According to Rebbi Elazar ha'Muda'i, Hash-m blessed Avraham with a profound knowledge of astronomy. How did this knowledge affect the world?

(c)Whereas according to Rebbi Shimon, the blessing comprised a special chain that Avraham wore around his neck. What purpose did it serve?

(d)What happened to that chain after Avraham's death?

11)

(a)It appears that the status of daughters was already then an old bone of contention. Rebbi Meir explains the Pasuk "va'Hashem Beirach es Avraham ba'Kol" to mean that Avraham had no daughters. According to Rebbi Yehudah, it means - that he had a daughter, whose name was Bakol.

(b)According to Rebbi Elazar ha'Muda'i, Hash-m blessed Avraham with a profound knowledge of astronomy. This affected the world - inasmuch as the kings of the east and the west would come to him for advice, based on that knowledge.

(c)Whereas according to Rebbi Shimon, the blessing comprised a special chain that Avraham wore around his neck - which cured any sick person who looked at it (Tosfos DH 'she'Kol').

(d)After Avraham's death - Hash-m placed that chain on the planet Sun, which explains why sunrise causes the situation of sick patients to ease.

12)

(a)In the opinion of others, Hash-m's blessing manifested itself in that Esav did not rebel in Avraham's lifetime. What do yet others say?

(b)On the day that Avraham died, Ya'akov prepared a lentil dish, because lentils, which are completely round, hint at mourning, which rolls from one person to another. What is the other reason for using lentils?

(c)What is the practical difference between the two reasons?

(d)Rebbi Yochanan lists five sins that Esav committed on that day, three of them being that he had relations with a betrothed girl, he murdered Nimrod and he denied Hash-m's existence. What are the other two?

12)

(a)Others explain that Hash-m's blessing manifested itself in that Eisav did not rebel in Avraham's lifetime. Yet others say - that it expressed itself in that Yishmael did Teshuvah whilst he was still alive.

(b)On the day that Avraham died, Ya'akov prepared a lentil dish, because lentils, which are completely round, hint at mourning, which rolls from one person to another. Alternatively - mourners, like lentils, have no mouth (opening), since they tend to sit silently (and besides, they are forbidden to study Torah).

(c)The practical difference between the two reasons is - whether one may use eggs (for the first meal [known as 'Se'udas Havra'ah']), since, on the one hand they are not round like lentils, but on the other like lentils, they have no opening.

(d)Rebbi Yochanan lists five sins that Eisav committed on that day. He had relations with a betrothed girl, he murdered Nimrod he denied Hash-m's existence - he denied Techi'as ha'Meisim and he despised the Avodah of Hash-m (i.e. he degraded the birthright by speaking about it as if it was worthless).

13)

(a)What does Rebbi Yochanan learn from the 'Gezeirah-Shavah' ...

1. ... "Sadeh" "Sadeh" from the Pesukim "Vayavo Esav min ha'Sadeh" (in Toldos) and "ki ba'Sadeh Metza'ah" (in Ki Seitzei")?

2. ... "Ayeif" "Ayeif" from the Pesukim "ve'Hu Ayeif (Ibid.) and "Oy Na li ki Ayfah Nafshi la'Horgim" (Yirmiyah)?

3. ... "Zeh" "Zeh" from the Pasuk "ve'Lamah Zeh li Bechorah" (ibid.) and "Zeh Keili ve'Anveihu" (in Beshalach)?

(b)And from where does he learn that Esav ...

1. ... denied Techi'as ha'Meisim?

2. ... despised the Bechorah?

(c)In searching for the source that Yishmael did Teshuvah in Avraham's lifetime, the Gemara cites a discussion that took place between Ravina and Rav Chama bar Buzi. In front of which Amora were they sitting?

(d)What was he doing?

13)

(a)Rebbi Yochanan learns from the 'Gezeirah-Shavah' ...

1. ... "Sadeh" "Sadeh" from the Pesukim "Vayavo Eisav min ha'Sadeh" (in Toldos) and "ki ba'Sadeh Metza'ah" (in Ki Seitzei") - that Eisav committed adultery with a betrothed girl on that day.

2. ... "Ayeif" "Ayeif" from the Pesukim "ve'Hu Ayeif (Ibid.) and "Oy Na li ki Ayfah Nafshi la'Horgim" (Yirmiyah) - that he also murdered (Nimrod).

3. ... "Zeh" "Zeh" from the Pasuk "ve'Lamah Zeh li Bechorah" (ibid.) and "Zeh Keili ve'Anveihu" (in Beshalach) - that he actually denied Hash-m existence.

(b)And he learns that Eisav ...

1. ... denied Techi'as ha'Meisim - from his statement 'Behold I am going to die today (so of what use is the birthright to me')!

2. ... despised the Bechorah - from his latter statement so of what use is the birthright to me!'

(c)In searching for the source that Yishmael did Teshuvah in Avraham's lifetime, the Gemara cites a discussion that took place between Ravina and Rav Chama bar Buzi. They were sitting In front of Rava ...

(d)... dozing.

14)

(a)Rav Chama bar Buzi confirmed to Ravina that he interpreted 'Gevi'ah' as a term describing the death of Tzadikim. How did he then account for the fact that the Torah writes "va'Yigva" in connection with ...

1. ... the Dor ha'Mabul?

2. ... Yishmael?

(b)Who actually gave the latter answer?

(c)What did Rebbi Yochanan extrapolate from the Pasuk in Chayei-Sarah "Va'yikberu oso Yitzchak ve'Yishmael Banav"?

(d)From which Pasuk in Vayishlach do we learn that the Torah does not give Yitzchak precedence only because he was wiser than Yishmael?

14)

(a)Rav Chama bar Buzi confirmed to Ravina that he interpreted 'Gevi'ah' as a term describing the death of Tzadikim. Nevertheless, he accounted for the fact that the Torah writes "ve'Yigva" in connection with ...

1. ... the Dor ha'Mabul - because he (Rav Chama bar Buzi) was referring to the term "va'Yigva va'Yamos", and not just "va'Yigva" on its own.

2. ... Yishmael - because he did indeed, do Teshuvah in Avraham's lifetime ...

(b)... as Rava, who awoke at that moment, stated in the name of Rebbi Yochanan ...

(c)... who in turn, extrapolated it from the Pasuk in Chayei-Sarah "Va'yikberu oso Yitzchak ve'Yishmael", implying that Yishmael gave Yitzchak the honor of going in front of himself.

(d)We learn from the Pasuk in Vayishlach that the Torah is not giving Yitzchak precedence merely because he was wiser than Yishmael - because in that case, how will we explain the Pasuk in Vayishlach "Va'yikberu oso Eisav ve'Ya'akov Banav", where the Torah gives precedence to Eisav, who was certainly not wiser than Ya'akov. We are therefore forced to say that Yishmael did Teshuvah, whereas Eisav did not.

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