Perhaps i am not understanding this- how is killing this person justified? How does this work exactly ?
Shimon, Memphis TN
1) The underlying point that we learn from this story is the importance of the honor of the Torah and Torah scholars. The Chazon Ish writes (Chazon Ish Yoreh Deah #205 DH v'Nireh) that everywhere we find in the Gemara that Amoraim cursed, they were obliged to do this, in order that the honor of the Torah should be fixed in people's hearts and they should not be accustomed to make light of the honor of the Sages.
2) A violent person was causing a Torah scholar to suffer. He could not be put in Shamta explicitly because this would be likely to entice the violent man to become even more hostile.
3) The "Sefer HaMichtam"; written by one of the Rishonim, Rabbi David ben Levi of Narbonne of the late 13th century; on Moed Katan 16a page 204; writes that Rav Yosef advised the Torah scholar that he should ask the Sages that they write a document which he could show to his opponent so that he should stop damaging him. However this was not possible because of the fear of retaliation. This is why it had to be hidden in the cemetery, where people would not know about it.
4) HaMichtam writes that the origin of the word "Pesicha" is from Tehilim 55:22 "they were keen-edged swords of curses". It is called Pesicha because it pierces and opens the heart of a man like an arrow.
5) All this shows us the power of the Sages. Of course, the methods are spiritual not physical.
6) Rabeinu Bachaye on Chumash Bamidbar 22:41 gives us additional insights why it is dangerous to damage Torah scholars. He is not discussing our Gemara in particular but he explains this phenomenon that we find sometimes in the Chazal. He writes that the complete Chacham cannot spend even a moment without thinking about Torah. If his thoughts are distracted this means that he is broken off from the Torah ideas and anyone who causes this to happen is worthy of being cursed.
R. Bachaye finds a source for this in the verse in Kohelet 10:9 "Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby". The Torah is the Tree of Life so anyone who causes wisdom to be broken and split up is worthy of danger.
KOL TUV
Dovid Bloom