Study Yoma folio 69B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Sitting in the Temple courtyard is permitted only for kings of the House of David, as it is stated: “Then King David went in and sat before YHWH” (I Chronicles 17:16)? How, then, could the High Priest have been sitting? The Talmud explains: As Rav Ḥisda said in a similar context: This took place not
§ The Talmud clarifies: And where was this statement of Rav Ḥisda originally stated? It was stated in relation to the following: The rabbis raised an objection based on that which was taught in a baraita: Where did they read the Torah scroll in fulfillment of the mitzva of assembly, in which the T
Apropos the verse in Nehemiah, the Talmud interprets an adjacent verse homiletically. It is stated: “And Ezra blessed YHWH, the great God” (Nehemiah 8:6). The Talmud asks: What is the meaning of “great” here? Rav Yosef said that Rav said: It means that he ascribed greatness to Him by enunciating Go
Abaye said to Rav Dimi: Why does Rav Giddel interpret it this way? Perhaps the meaning of “great” is that he ascribed greatness to Him by enunciating God’s explicit name? Rav Dimi said to him: The explicit name may not be enunciated in the provinces, i.e., outside the Temple courtyard.
The Talmud asks: And is this really not permitted? Isn’t it written: “And Ezra the Scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose... and Ezra blessed YHWH, the great God” (Nehemiah 8:4-6); and Rav Giddel said: “Great” in this verse means that he ascribed greatness to Him by