Dear Willneeb,
Page 97a in Tractate (Masechet) Sanhedrin and 9a in Avoda Zara 9a deal
with several issues. On the face - they deal with salvation and to be
exact - the time of the salvation. This was used sometimes by
messianic circles to "prove" when the salvation is due to come. This
period, in which the "footsteps" of the Messiah would be seen, is a
period of despair and lack of morals. But they also deal with what
they believe is the age of the world - which is 2,000 years at that
time. "The Talmud (Sanhedrin 97a and Avoda Zara 9a) identifies the
time of the physical universe as six thousand years, before ascending
to a spiritual bliss (Sabbath) lasting a thousand years." (source: Age
of Light.com, "The Concept of Revelation (Hitgalut)"
<http://www.ageoflight.com/analysis.htm>)
When discussing the answer to your question, we should separate
between several questions:
(1) When did the speakers to whom the words are attributed, live? When
did they say what is attributed to them?
(2) When was the Babylonian Talmud written and published?
First, the "easier", second question. The Mishnah part of the Talmud
was was edited in 192 CE by Rabbi Judah the Prince, based upon the
text provided by Rabbi Meir (soruce: Rabbi Robert Alpert, 1996 "When
was the Talmud written?" in jewish.com
<http://www.jewish.com/askarabbi/askarabbi/askr3913.htm>). To that add
the Gemara (the learning of the mishnayot), which were
"written/compiled by Rav Ashi and his colleagues ca. 500 C.E. (about
474 CE), preserving generations of analysis and discussion by
"Amoraim" of the more concise Mishnah, which contains the discussions
of the "Tannaim" <Judaism 101 "talmus",
http://www.ou.org/about/judaism/tw.htm#talmud>. Sanhedrin is a
Masechta of the Talmud that discusses "the activities of the
Sanhedrin, and related matters" (Judaism 101, "Sanhedrin",
<http://www.ou.org/about/judaism/sanhedrin.htm>) and tried to clarify
them. It is located in Seder Nezikin.
After we know that the discussions took place between the 3rd century
(closing of the Mishnah) and the 5th century, we can look for the
speakers themselves. Those who speak in Aramaic, the lingua franca of
the region at that time, can probably be "later" speakers (3-5th
centuries), while those who are also apparent in Judah the Prince
Version are earlier speakers, who belonged to the "real" Sanhedrin
before the 2nd century CE.
Rabbi Yehuda the Tana, mentioned in the text, could be Rabbi Judah the
Prince, who was active during the 5th generation of Tanaim, in 170-200
CE.
Rabbi Yitzchak, mentioned in the text of Sanhedrin 97a lived in the
fourth century (Kimleman, Reuven, "Identifying Jews and Christians in
Roman Syrio-Palestine"
<http://www2.bc.edu/~cunninph/kimelman_identifying.htm> fn 4 and 5).
Another later Talmudic rabbi is Rav Yosef, on whom you can find a
whole description in
<http://www.aishdas.org/webshas/torah/amora/ryosef.htm>. Rav Yosef, an
Amora, was part of the 3rd generation of Amoraim, 290 - 320 CE. (which
is also the times of Rabbi Yitzhak). Abyi and Rabba belong to Rabbi
Yosi students, and were active 320 - 350 CE. Rav Pappa, belongs to the
fifth generation of Amorais, 350 - 375 CE.
Rabbi Yochanan (ben Zakai), on the other hand, lived during the first
century CE (the era of Jesus) and belongs to the "earlier" speakers.
Rabbi Nechemya mentioned in text is also a Tana from the fourth
generation 135-170 CE.
To sum up, both chapters were written over the years, complied from
sources that vary between the mid 2nd century CE, and the late 4th
century, and maybe also beyond that. As a whole unit, the Talmud Bavli
was complied in 474 CE.
Further Interesting reading:
http://www.torah.org/linkedlists/torah-forum/vol3/0950.html - The Age
of the World, a discussion on science and Halacha in Torah.org
My search method was to search for the Talmudic pages online (also in
Hebrew Google, ://www.google.co.il), and to add a search for each
individual Rabbi. If you read Hebrew, I recommend this Word Document,
from which I understood the generations better :
http://members.rambler.co.il/talmud/course/09-389-01/dorot.doc -
Generations of Talmud - in Hebrew.
I think that answered your question. If you need any clarifications,
please let me know. I'll be pleased to clarify before you rate the
question. |
