Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!news.cs.indiana.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: cms@dragon.com Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Sotah 49a-49b Message-ID: Date: 13 May 91 07:53:07 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 67 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu I am taking a course in Judaism this quarter at Georgia State. We're studying this passage from the Talmud. I'd appreciate any commentary on this passage. I'd like to analyze it in true Talmudic fashion. Thanks for any help. BEGIN QUOTATION MISHNAH, Sotah 49a-49b In the footsteps of the Messiah insolence will increase and honour dwindle (1); the vine will yield its fruit [abundantly] but wine will be dear (2); the government will turn to heresy (3) and there will be none [to offer them] reproof; the meeting-place [of scholars] will be used for immorality; Galilee will be destroyed, Gablan desolated, and the dwellers on the frontier will go about [begging] from place to place without anyone to take pity on them; the wisdom of the learned (5) will degenerate, fearers of sin will be despised, and the truth will be lacking; youths will put old men to shame, the old will stand up in the presence of the young, a son will revile his father, a daughter will rise against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and a man's enemies will be the members of his household (6); the face of the generation will be like the face of a dog (7), a son will not feel ashamed before his father, so upon whom is it for us to rely? upon our Father who is in Heaven. NOTES 1. JAST. RENDERS; THE NOBILITY SHALL BE OPPRESSED. IN SANH. 97A THERE IS A VARIANT: HONOUR WILL BE PERVERTED; OR, ACCORDING TO JAST. THE NOBILITY WILL PERVERT (JUSTICE). 2. Through the spread of drunkenness. 3. These words are omitted in the Talmud ed. of the Mishnah. The meaning is: The Roman Empire will go over to Christianity. V. Herford, op. cit., p. 207. 4. Perhaps Gabal of Ps. LXXXIII, 8, i.e., the Northern part of Mount Seir. [Others: Gaulan, E. of the Sea of Galilee and the Upper Jordan.] 5. Lit., 'scribes'. 6. V. Micah VII, 6. 7. Impervious to shame. [In some editions the whole of this passage beginning 'R. Phineas b. Jair' is introduced with 'Our Rabbis taught', and not as part of the Mishnah.] END QUOTATION The Rabbi teaching the course gave a handout on this passage xeroxing the Gemara passage pertaining to it. Unfortunately, it ends with a commentary on when Rabbi died, "humility and fear of sin ceased." Does this mean the Gemara has no commentary on the Messiah or simply no commentary on the section I've quoted? Thanks for any help. -- Sincerely, Cindy Smith emory!dragon!cms [I normally disallow discussions of non-Christian religions in this group. However given the sensitivity of Christian postings in s.c.j, and the Messianic involvement of this passage, I suspect it would be a bad idea to suggest that you ask this on s.c.j. --clh]