Pt2 Leviathan, Behemoth, and Jerusalem in the Messianic Future (Bava Batra 74b-75b)

This is the second part of a three-part series. Part 1 is here; the outline of the series can be found at Part 1.

Rav Yehuda citing Rav - The Jordan emerges from the cave of Pamyas

ואמר רב יהודה, אמר רב:

ירדן יוצא ממערת פמייס.

And Rav Yehuda says that Rav says:

The Jordan issues forth (יוצא) from the cave of Pamyas.¹

Baraita - The Jordan flows from Pamyas through Lake Sivkhi and the Sea of Tiberias, reaches the Great Sea, and continues to Leviathan’s mouth - Job 40:23

תניא נמי הכי:

ירדן

1. יוצא ממערת פמייס,

2. ומהלך

   1. בימה של סיבכי

   2. ובימה של טבריא,

3. ומתגלגל ויורד לים הגדול;

4. ומתגלגל ויורד עד שמגיע לפיו של לויתן,

שנאמר:

״יבטח

כי יגיח ירדן אל פיהו״.

[...]

That is also taught in a baraita:

The Jordan

1. issues forth from the cave of Pamyas,

2. and travels (מהלך)

   1. in the Sea of Sivkhi, i.e., the Hula Lake,

   2. and in the Sea of Tiberias, the Sea of Galilee,

3. and rolls down to the Great Sea,

4. and rolls down until it reaches the mouth of the Leviathan.

As it is stated:

“He is confident,

though the Jordan rush forth to his mouth” (Job 40:23).

[...]²

Rav Dimi citing R’ Yonatan - In the messianic future, Gabriel will hunt Leviathan with God’s assistance - Job 40:19, 25

כי אתא רב דימי, אמר רבי יונתן:

עתיד גבריאל לעשות קניגיא עם לויתן,

שנאמר:

״התמשך לויתן בחכה?

ובחבל תשקיע לשנו?״,

When Rav Dimi came from Eretz Yisrael to Babylonia he said that R’ Yonatan says:

In the future, Gabriel will perform a hunt³ of the Leviathan,

as it is stated:

“Can you draw out Leviathan with a fish hook?

Or press down his tongue with a cord?” (Job 40:25).

ואלמלא הקדוש ברוך הוא עוזרו –

אין יכול לו;

שנאמר: ״העשו יגש חרבו״.

And were God not assisting Gabriel,

he would not be able to hunt it,

as it is stated: “Only He Who made him can use His sword to approach him” (Job 40:19).

Rav Dimi citing R’ Yoḥanan - When Leviathan is hungry, its breath boils the deep - Job 41:23

כי אתא רב דימי, אמר רבי יוחנן:

בשעה שלויתן רעב --

מוציא הבל מפיו

ומרתיח כל מימות שבמצולה

שנאמר:

״ירתיח כסיר מצולה״.

When Rav Dimi came from Eretz Yisrael to Babylonia, he said that R’ Yoḥanan said:

When the Leviathan is hungry --

he produces breath (הבל) from his mouth

and thereby boils all of the waters in the depths (מצולה) of the sea.

As it is stated:

“He makes the deep boil like a pot” (Job 41:23).

Leviathan must place its head in Eden so that creatures can endure its smell - Job 41:23

ואלמלא מכניס ראשו לגן עדן –

אין כל בריה יכולה לעמוד בריחו,

שנאמר: ״ים ישים כמרקחה״.

And if the Leviathan did not place its head in the Garden of Eden --

no creature could withstand his foul smell,

as it is stated:

“He makes the sea like a seething mixture [merkaḥa]” (Job 41:23),

and the term merkaḥa is also used to describe something with a smell (see Exodus 30:25).

When Leviathan is thirsty, it cuts furrows through the sea - Job 41:24

ובשעה שצמא –

עושה תלמים תלמים בים,

שנאמר:

״אחריו יאיר נתיב״.

And when he is thirsty --

he makes many furrows in the sea,

as it is stated:

“He makes a path to shine after him” (Job 41:24).

Rav Aḥa bar Yaakov - After Leviathan drinks, the deep (tehom) does not recover for 70 years; “elderly” implies an age of at least 70 - Job 41:24

אמר רב אחא בר יעקב:

אין תהום חוזר לאיתנו עד שבעים שנה,

שנאמר: ״יחשב תהום לשיבה״ –

ואין ״שיבה״ פחותה משבעים.

Rav Aḥa bar Yaakov says:

After the Leviathan drinks from the sea, the depth⁴ of the sea does not return to its normal condition until 70 years have passed,

as it is stated: “One would think the deep to be elderly (שיבה)” (Job 41:24),

and “elderly” indicates a person who is no less than 70 years old.

Rabba citing R’ Yoḥanan - God will make a feast for the righteous in the messianic future from Leviathan’s flesh

אמר רבה, אמר רבי יוחנן:

עתיד הקדוש ברוך הוא לעשות סעודה לצדיקים מבשרו של לויתן,

Rabba says that R’ Yoḥanan says:

In the messianic future, God will make a feast for the righteous from the flesh of the Leviathan,

Prooftexts - “Companions” means Torah scholars, and “prepare” means a feast - Job 40:30; II Kings 6:23; Song of Songs 8:13

שנאמר:

״יכרו עליו חברים״;

• ואין ״כרה״ אלא סעודה

  • שנאמר: ״ויכרה להם כרה גדולה, ויאכלו וישתו״;

• ואין ״חברים״ אלא תלמידי חכמים –

  • שנאמר: ״היושבת בגנים, חברים מקשיבים לקולך, השמיעני״.

as it is stated:

“The ḥabbarim will make a feast [yikhru] of him” (Job 40:30).

• And kera means nothing other than a feast,

  • as it is stated: “And he prepared [va’yikhreh] for them a great feast [kera]; and they ate and drank” (II Kings 6:23).

• And ḥabbarim means nothing other than Torah scholars,

  • as it is stated: “You that dwell in the gardens, the companions [ḥaverim] hearken for your voice: Cause me to hear it” (Song of Songs 8:13). This verse is interpreted as referring to Torah scholars, who listen to God’s voice.

The remaining Leviathan meat will be divided and sold in Jerusalem’s markets

והשאר –

מחלקין אותו,

ועושין בו סחורה בשוקי ירושלים

And with regard to the remainder of the Leviathan --

they will divide it

and use it for commerce (סחורה) in the markets of Jerusalem,

Prooftexts - “Canaanites” means merchants - Job 40:30; Hosea 12:8; Isaiah 23:8

שנאמר: ״יחצוהו בין כנענים״;

ואין ״כנענים״ אלא תגרים

שנאמר:

״כנען --

בידו מאזני מרמה

לעשק אהב״.

as it is stated: “They will part him among the kena’anim” (Job 40:30).

And kena’anim means nothing other than merchants,

as it is stated:

“As for the merchant [kena’an] --

the balances of deceit are in his hand.

He loves to oppress” (Hosea 12:8).

ואי בעית אימא, מהכא:

״אשר סחריה שרים,

כנעניה נכבדי ארץ״.

And if you wish, say that the proof is from here:

“Whose merchants are princes,

whose traffickers [kinaneha] are the honorable of the earth” (Isaiah 23:8).

Rabba citing R’ Yoḥanan - In the messianic future, God will make rewards of differing sizes from Leviathan’s skin: a sukkah, covering, necklace, or amulet, according to merit - Job 40:29, 31; Proverbs 1:9

ואמר רבה, אמר רבי יוחנן:

עתיד הקדוש ברוך הוא לעשות סוכה לצדיקים מעורו של לויתן,

שנאמר: ״התמלא בשכות עורו״.

1. 1. זכה –

      1. עושין לו סוכה,

   2. לא זכה –

      1. עושין לו צלצל;

   3. שנאמר: ״ובצלצל דגים ראשו״.

2. 1. זכה –

      1. עושין לו צלצל,

   2. לא זכה –

      1. עושין לו ענק;

   3. שנאמר: ״וענקים לגרגרתיך״.

3. 1. זכה –

      1. עושין לו ענק,

   2. לא זכה –

      1. עושין לו קמיע;

   3. שנאמר: ״ותקשרנו לנערותיך״.

And Rabba says that R’ Yoḥanan says:

In the messianic future, God will prepare a sukka for the righteous from the skin of the Leviathan,

as it is stated: “Can you fill his skin with barbed irons [be-sukkot]” (Job 40:31).

1. 1. If one is deserving of being called righteous --

      1. an entire sukka is prepared for him from the skin of the Leviathan;

   2. if one is not deserving of this honor --

      1. a covering (צלצל) is prepared for his head,

   3. as it is stated: “Or his head with fish-spears” (Job 40:31).

2. 1. If one is deserving at least of this reward,

      1. a covering is prepared for him,

   2. and if one is not deserving,

      1. a necklace (ענק) is prepared for him,

   3. as it is stated: “And necklaces about your neck” (Proverbs 1:9).

3. 1. If one is somewhat deserving,

      1. a necklace is prepared for him,

   2. and if one is not deserving even of this,

      1. only an amulet (קמיע) is prepared for him from the skin of the Leviathan,

   3. as it is stated: “Or will you bind him for your maidens” (Job 40:29), i.e., a small amulet is prepared for him, like the amulets tied on children’s necks.

The Leviathan’s remaining skin will be spread over Jerusalem’s walls and illuminate the entire world - Isaiah 60:3

והשאר –

פורסו הקדוש ברוך הוא על חומות ירושלים,

וזיוו מבהיק מסוף העולם ועד סופו,

שנאמר:

״והלכו גוים לאורך,

ומלכים לנגה זרחך״.

And with regard to the remaining part of the skin of the Leviathan --

God spreads it on the walls of Jerusalem,

and its glory (זיוו) radiates from one end of the world until the other end.

As it is stated:

“And nations shall walk in your light,

and kings at the brightness of your rising” (Isaiah 60:3).

R’ Shmuel bar Naḥmani - Gabriel and Michael, or Yehuda and Ḥizkiyya sons of R’ Ḥiyya, dispute whether Jerusalem’s future walls will be made of onyx or jasper; God declares that they will be made of both - Isaiah 54:12

״ושמתי כדכד שמשתיך״ –

אמר רבי שמואל בר נחמני:

פליגי תרי מלאכי ברקיעא –

1. גבריאל

2. ומיכאל;

ואמרי לה תרי אמוראי במערבא,

ומאן אינון?

1. יהודה

2. וחזקיה

בני רבי חייא;

§ With regard to the future glory of Jerusalem, the Talmud interprets the verse: “And I will make your pinnacles of kadkhod” (Isaiah 54:12).

R’ Shmuel bar Naḥmani said:

Two angels in heaven,

1. Gabriel

2. and Michael,

disagree with regard to the material that will be used to form the walls of Jerusalem.

And some say that this dispute is between two amora’im in the West, i.e., Eretz Yisrael.

And who are they?

They are

1. Yehuda

2. and Ḥizkiyya,

the sons of R’ Ḥiyya.

• חד אמר:

  • שוהם,

• וחד אמר:

  • ישפה.

אמר להו הקדוש ברוך הוא:

להוי כדין וכדין.

• One said

  • they will be made of onyx (שוהם),

• and one said

  • of jasper (ישפה).⁵

God said to them:

Let it be like this [ke-dein] and like that [u-khe-dein],

i.e., let them be formed from both together.

This compromise is indicated by the word kadkhod, a combination of this [kedein] and that [u-khe-dein].

R’ Yoḥanan - Jerusalem’s future gates will contain gemstones 30 by 30 cubits, hollowed out to openings 10 by 20 cubits - Isaiah 54:12

״ושעריך לאבני אקדח״

כי הא דיתיב רבי יוחנן וקא דריש:

עתיד הקדוש ברוך הוא להביא אבנים טובות ומרגליות שהם שלשים על שלשים,

וחוקק בהן עשר על עשרים,

ומעמידן בשערי ירושלים.

The Talmud analyzes the rest of that verse: “And your gates of precious stones” (Isaiah 54:12).

This should be understood in light of that incident where R’ Yoḥanan sat and taught:

In the messianic future, God will bring precious (טובות) stones and pearls⁶ that are 30 by 30 cubits,

and He will hollow out in them a hole of 10 by 20 cubits

and set them in the gates of Jerusalem.

Anonymous student mocked R’ Yoḥanan’s claim

לגלג עליו אותו תלמיד:

השתא כביעתא דציצלא לא משכחינן,

כולי האי משכחינן?!

A certain unnamed student sneered (לגלג) at him,

saying: Now we do not find precious stones even of the size of an egg of a dove (ציצלא),

and yet all of this we will find?!

The anonymous student later went to sea and saw angels preparing the stones exactly as described by R’ Yoḥanan

לימים הפליגה ספינתו בים,

חזא מלאכי השרת דיתבי וקא מינסרי אבנים טובות ומרגליות שהם שלשים על שלשים,

וחקוק בהן עשר ברום עשרים.

אמר להו:

הני למאן?

אמרו ליה:

שעתיד הקדוש ברוך הוא להעמידן בשערי ירושלים.

After a period of time that student’s ship went to sea,

where he saw ministering angels sitting and sawing precious stones and pearls that were 30 by 30 cubits,

and hollowed out in them were holes of 10 by 20 cubits.

He said to the angels: For whom are these?

They said to him that in the future,

God will place them in the gates of Jerusalem.

The anonymous student then affirmed it to R’ Yoḥanan

אתא לקמיה דרבי יוחנן,

אמר ליה:

דרוש רבי!

לך נאה לדרוש!

כאשר אמרת --

כן ראיתי.

Later, the student came before R’ Yoḥanan and said to him:

Continue to interpret, my teacher!

it is fitting for you to interpret!

just as you said --

I saw

R’ Yoḥanan condemned the student’s earlier disbelief, and killed the student with his gaze

אמר לו:

ריקא!

אלמלא לא ראית –

לא האמנת;

מלגלג על דברי חכמים אתה!

נתן עיניו בו,

ונעשה גל של עצמות.

[...]

R’ Yoḥanan said to him:

Worthless man!

if you had not seen,

you would not have believed;

clearly, you are mocking (מלגלג) the statement of the rabbis.

R’ Yoḥanan set his eyes upon him,

and the student was instantly killed and turned into a pile of bones.

[...]

R’ Meir - In the messianic future, people will be 200 cubits tall, twice Adam’s height - Leviticus 26:13

״ואולך אתכם קוממיות״

רבי מאיר אומר:

מאתים אמה,

כשתי קומות של אדם הראשון.

The verse states: “And I will make you go upright [komemiyyut]” (Leviticus 26:13).

R’ Meir says:

In the messianic future, the Jewish people will have the stature of 200 cubits,

equivalent to two times the height [komot] of Adam the first man, whose height was 100 cubits.

R’ Meir interprets the word komemiyyut as two komot.

R’ Yehuda - In the messianic future, people will be 100 cubits tall, corresponding to the Sanctuary and its walls - Psalms 144:12

רבי יהודה אומר:

מאה אמה,

כנגד היכל וכתליו –

שנאמר:

״אשר בנינו כנטעים מגדלים בנעוריהם,

בנותינו כזוית מחטבות תבנית היכל״

[...]

R’ Yehuda says:

They will have the stature of 100 cubits,

corresponding to the Sanctuary and its walls,

as it is stated:

“We whose sons are as plants grown up in their youth;

whose daughters are as corner-pillars carved after the fashion of the Sanctuary” (Psalms 144:12).⁷

[...]

1. On Pamyas, see the note on the intro to my “Pt1 Mapping Roman-Era Eretz Yisrael: From Biblical Place-Names to the Powers of Edom (Megillah 6a-b)“.

2. For part of the passage that I elide here, see my “The Seven Seas and Four Rivers that Surround Eretz Yisrael (Bava Batra 74b), and Its Comparative Context”.

3. קניגיא - from Greek.

See Jastrow (modernized), entry “קְנִיגְיָא”:

(κυνηγία [kynēgia])

chase, hunt.

• [Targum Sheni Esther I, 2 - וכל קניגייא, see קֵינַי.]

• Bava Batra 74b sq. - עתיד גבריאל לעשות קניגיא עם וכ׳ - “in the future Gabriel shall arrange a chase of the Leviathan”

4. תהום - tehom.

5. Note that these two gems are in the 4th row of the priestly breastplate; see Wikipedia, “Priestly breastplate“, section “Fourth row“, list items #2-3.

6. מרגליות - from Greek; see the note on the intro of my “6,000 Men and a Sunken Ship: The Talmud’s Curious Chronicle of the Roman Method of Coral Harvesting (Rosh Hashanah 23a)“.

7. For a different Talmudic homiletic reading of that verse, see my recent “Pt1 Hosea, Exile, and the Restoration of Israel (Pesachim 87a-88a)“, section “Rav Zutra bar Toviya citing Rav - Israel’s young men are pure, its young women are modest virgins - Psalms 144:12“.