Hello there,
I am working on an assignment in which I am summarizing and interpreting details found in Bavli Sotah, on page 49b. My questions are these:
1. When the old man in the story who is "learned in Greek" speaks to the besiegers in Greek (because those people in the city don't understand it), whom is he speaking to? I know that the Romans were helping Hyrcanus, so does "besiegers" refer only to the Romans, or to others (Jews?) who were helping Hyrcanus to besiege the city?
2. Didn't both Hyrcanus and Aristobulus know how to speak Greek? Within the Hasmonean dynasty, were not all Jews speaking Greek? Who then, wouldn't have been knowledgeable in the language?
3. When those Jews inside of the city (inside of the Temple) let down a basket to collect animals for the sacrifices, is it other Jews (supporters of Hyrcanus) who send up a pig? Or is it the Romans?
4. Who makes the declaration at the end of the story that "those who rear pigs and teach their sons Greek wisdom should be cursed?" Is it the Jews supporting Hyrcanus that are inside of the Temple? Or is it the rabbis of the Mishnah or the Bavli (discussing this mishnah and where it may have stemmed from) commenting?
Molly, Ann Arbor, MI (USA)
1. The Talmud is not referring to the Greek language, but to a sophisticated sign language that was used by Greek aristocrats (to converse while drinking wine), as Rashi explains. The old man was speaking to Jews on the outside who were laying siege to the city (either Hurkanus' group or Aristobulus' group, according to the various versions of the story here and in Tractate Bava Kama 82b - historically both versions could be correct since Hurkanus was originally inside and later outside; see http://www.dafyomi.co.il/general/info/chashmonaim.htm footnote 16.)
The Jews on the outside, who were trying to gain control of the Temple, respected the Temple service and sent sheep daily for the sacrificial service. Their generals and chief of staff presumably identified with Greek aristocracy and understood the sign language.
2. Answered above.
3. It was the attacking army of Jews, who finally decided that it was more important for them to regain control of the Temple service that to allow the continuation of the daily sacrifices. (This, as well as your previous question, supports the version that it was Aristobulus and his men who were on the outside.)
4. The Rabbis of Hurkenus' generation instituted the prohibition after witnessing the events that occurred.
I hope this was helpful.
Mordecai Kornfeld
Kollel Iyun Hadaf