Titus and the Gnat, Onkelos and the Seance, Tur Malka's Destruction - Gittin 56b, Uganda Shiur

Uganda Shiur - July 20

Meeting Purpose

To study Gemara stories about the destruction of the Second Temple.

Key Takeaways

• God's Power is Absolute: The story of Titus's death by a gnat illustrates that God's power is not limited to specific domains (e.g., water) but is absolute, using any tool, no matter how small, to overcome the mightiest foes.
• Internal Strife Destroys: The destruction of the Second Temple was caused by sinat chinam (baseless hatred). The Gemara states that any generation in which the Temple is not rebuilt is as if it was destroyed, implying that internal fighting continues to prevent its return.
• Prayer's Power is Universal: Sincere prayer is answered regardless of the petitioner's intent. The Roman emperor's sincere prayer for victory was answered, while the Jew Bar de Roma's complaint against God was punished.
• Land of Israel's Supernatural Quality: The Land of Israel is described as "the land of deer," meaning it expands to accommodate its inhabitants when settled and contracts when empty. This explains how it could support massive populations in the past and continues to do so today.

Topics

The Destruction of the Second Temple

• Cause: The Temple was destroyed due to sinat chinam (baseless hatred) and public shaming among Jews.
• Consequence: The Gemara states that any generation in which the Temple is not rebuilt is as if it was destroyed, implying that internal fighting continues to prevent its return.

Titus's Hubris and Punishment

• Hubris: After destroying the Temple, Titus challenged God's power, believing it was limited to water.
• Divine Punishment: A gnat entered Titus's nostril and gnawed at his brain for 70 years.
  • Temporary Relief: The gnat was silenced by the sound of a blacksmith's hammer.
  • Titus's Reaction: He paid Gentile blacksmiths but told Jewish ones, "It is enough for you that you see your enemy in so much pain."
  • End of Relief: After 30 days, the gnat became accustomed to the sound and resumed its torment.
• Death & Afterlife:
  • Final Act: Titus ordered his body burned and ashes scattered to evade divine judgment.
  • Punishment: In the afterlife, he is subjected to the very fate he tried to escape.

Onkelos's Necromancy

• Context: Onkelos, Titus's nephew, raised three figures from the dead to ask about the afterlife before converting to Judaism.
• Titus's Counsel:
  • Importance: The Jewish people.
  • Conversion Advice: Don't convert; the commandments are too numerous. Instead, fight against them to become a leader, citing the verse "her adversaries have become the chief."
• Balaam's Counsel:
  • Importance: The Jewish people.
  • Conversion Advice: Don't seek their peace or welfare.
  • Punishment: Cooked in boiling for causing Israel to sin with the daughters of Moab.
• Jesus's Counsel:
  • Importance: The Jewish people.
  • Conversion Advice: Yes, seek their welfare. "For anyone who touches them, it is as if they are touching the apple of his eye."
  • Punishment: Boiled in excrement for mocking the words of the sages.

The Fall of King's Mountain

• Catalyst: Roman soldiers stole a rooster and hen from a Jewish wedding procession. The residents attacked the soldiers, triggering a Roman invasion.
• Bar de Roma: A powerful Jewish warrior who could jump a mil (approx. 1.5 km) and killed many Romans.
  • Downfall: He complained to God as a statement of fact ("You have rejected us"), unlike King David, who asked a question. This was punished by a snakebite in an outhouse.
• Final Destruction:
  • Misstep: After the Romans retreated, the Jews held a massive, public celebration.
  • Roman Response: The emperor interpreted this as mockery, returned, and massacred the city's inhabitants for three days and nights.

The Land of Israel's Supernatural Quality

• Exaggerated Numbers: The Gemara uses symbolic numbers (e.g., 600,000 cities) to describe the Land of Israel's past population.
• Reconciliation: The land is "the land of deer," meaning it expands to accommodate its inhabitants when settled and contracts when empty. This explains how it could support massive populations in the past and why it appears smaller today.

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