Page 25 - Armon-T-Ulpan-Full-RG-061019

25

Herod in the Eyes of the Sages

Why did Herod renovate the Temple?

They tell that cruel Herod murdered all the Jewish sages, but left one sage –
Bava ben Buta – in order to help him to understand how to act with the Jews.
Herod was a great paranoid, and wanted to know what Bava ben Buta thinks
about him. Therefore, Herod blinded Bava ben Buta, and then went to visit him
without identifying himself.
Herod asked Bava ben Buta, "What do you think about Herod, the cruel king?
He murdered many Jews! What should be done to him?" Bava ben Buta was
blind and did not know that he was speaking with Herod. But he said, "I cannot
do anything to him. It is written in the Bible that it is forbidden to curse a ruler."

Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought, and curse not the rich in thy
bedchamber; for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath
wings shall tell the matter. (Ecclesiastes Chapter 10, verse 20)
Herod said to him, "But he is a cruel ruler!" Bava ben Buta said, "Nevertheless,
he is the ruler."

Herod understood that the Jewish sages were cautious and wise, and he
regretted that he had murdered them. He said to Bava ben Buta, "It is I! I am
Herod. I regret that I murdered the sages. What should I do now?"

Bava ben Buta said to him, "You murdered the sages, and so you extinguished
the light of the world.

Now you need to renovate the Temple and so to kindle a light in the world."

And in truth, Herod renovated the Second Temple. The Jews nevertheless did
not like him, but said: Whoever did not see the Temple that Herod renovated
does not know what a beautiful building is.

Copyrighted and owned by Ulpan-Or. Any usage, copying and distribution without express

.‫ העתקה והפצה אסורים‬,‫ כל שימוש‬.‫אור‬-‫ כל הזכויות שמורות לאולפן‬permission from Ulpan-Or is prohibited.