Abba Saul ben Batnit - Misplaced Pages

1st-century rabbi

Rabbinical eras
Chazal Zugot Tannaim Amoraim Savoraim Geonim Rishonim Acharonim
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Abba Saul ben Batnit (Hebrew: אבא שאול בן בטנית, "Abba Shaul ben Batnit") was a Tanna of the latter period of the Second Temple of Jerusalem, approximately two generations before the temple's destruction. He used to take questions from the Jewish public and answer on matters of the halakha, while working as a grocer. In his latter job he became known for being strict on not taking spoils and preserving a fellowman's finances, and for that reason, among others, he donated a significant amount of oil to the Jewish public, in order to revoke any suspicions about public exploitation.

In the Babylonian Talmud, Abba Jose Ben Hanin cites, on Abba Saul's behalf, a saying of criticism on the families of the high priests, who were identified with the Sadducees and their familiars, and who at this time were in charge of the Second Temple of Jerusalem:

"Woe is me because of the house of Boethus, woe is me because of their staves. Woe is me because of the house of Hanin, woe is me because of their whisperings. Woe is me because of the house of Kathros, woe is me because of their pens. Woe is me because of the house of Ishmael the son of Phabi, woe is me because of their fists. For they are High Priests, and their sons are treasurers, and their sons-in-law are trustees (amarkolim), and their servants beat the people with staves".

The historian Josephus makes note that during the high priesthood of Ishmael the son of Phabi, his servants would forcibly remove the tithes from the thrashing floors, what had been given voluntarily before him.

v t e Tannaim
Last Generation of Zugot Era	Hillel the Elder Shammai Houses of Hillel and Shammai Bnei Bathyra Menahem Hananiah ben Hezekiah ben Garon Simeon ben Hillel
First Generation	Gamaliel I, the Elder Shimon ben Gamliel (I) Ishmael ben Elisha ha-Kohen Yohanan ben Zakkai Jonathan ben Uzziel Baba ben Buta Hanina ben Dosa Hanina Segan ha-Kohanim Abba Saul ben Batnit Admon Dosa ben Harkinas Judah ben Bathyra Eliezer ben Jacob I Nahum the Mede
Second Generation	Gamaliel II Joshua ben Hananiah Eliezer ben Hurcanus Eleazar ben Arach Nehunya ben HaKanah Nachum Ish Gamzu Abba Hilkiah Rabbi Zadok Akabia ben Mahalalel Simeon HaPakoli Shmuel ha-Katan
Third Generation	Rabbi Akiva Rabbi Tarfon Judah ben Bava Rabbi Ishmael Eleazar ben Azariah Jose the Galilean Eliezer ben Jose Haninah ben Teradion Eleazar ben Perata I Johanan ben Baroka Simeon ben Zoma Simeon ben Azzai Onkelos Hanina ben Antigonus Hanina ben Hakinai Yochanan ben Nuri Eleazar Chisma Elisha ben Abuyah Rabbi Ilai I Eleazar of Modi'im Halafta Haninah ben Ahi R. Joshua Abtolemus Jose ben Kisma Jeshbab the Scribe Aquila of Sinope Johanan ben Torta Eleazar ben Judah of Bartota Matteya ben Heresh Hanan the Egyptian Simeon the Yemenite Abba Jose ben Hanan Judah ben Dama
Fourth Generation	Simeon ben Gamaliel II Judah bar Ilai Jose ben Halafta Shimon ben Halafta Rabbi Jonathan Rabbi Meir (and wife Bruriah) Shimon bar Yochai Eleazar ben Shammua Rabbi Nehemiah Rabbi Nathan Joshua ben Karha Abba Saul Johanan HaSandlar Pinchas ben Yair Simeon Shezuri Hananiah ben Akavia Eliezer ben Jacob II
Fifth Generation	Judah haNasi (Judah I) Huna Kamma Jose ben Judah Ishmael ben Jose Eleazar ben Simeon Simeon ben Eleazar Eleazar ha-Kappar Symmachus ben Joseph Issi ben Judah Bar Kappara Jose ben Zimra Levi ben Sisi Rabbi Bana'ah Simeon ben Menasya Yadua the Babylonian Joshua ben Levi Abba Kohen Bardela

References

Judah Nadich, Jewish Legends of the Second Commonwealth, p.287
Yehudah David Eisenstein, Otzar Yisrael: Abba Saul ben Batnit
Tractate Pesachim, 57a
Josephus (1981). Josephus Complete Works. Translated by William Whiston. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications. p. 422 (Antiquities 20.8.8). ISBN 0-8254-2951-X.

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