Bava Basra (74b) Once we were travelling on board a ship when we saw a precious stone that was surrounded by a snake. A diver descended to bring it up. Thereupon the snake approached with the purpose of swallowing the ship, when a raven came and bit off its head and the waters were turned into blood. A second snake came, took the head of the decapitated snake and attached it to the body, and it revived. Again the snake approached intent on swallowing the ship. Again a bird came and severed its head. Thereupon the diver seized the precious stone and threw it into the ship. We had with us salted birds. As soon as we put the stone upon them, they took it up and flew away with it.
Megila (7b) Rabbah and R. Zera joined together in a Purim feast. They became inebriated, and Rabbah arose and cut R. Zera's throat. On the next day he prayed on his behalf and revived him. Next year he said, Will your honour come and we will have the Purim feast together. He replied: A miracle does not take place on every occasion.
Ramban says that midrashim should not be taken literally. Ok so you might call this an aggadah, but it's obviously not to be taken literally.
ReplyDeleteNever mind that there's a halachic concept of pseik resha.
It's likely talking about the risks of getting too drunk.
That's a typo, should be Rambam!
DeleteMidrashim generally come in two flavours when they tell stories. Sometimes they're historical tales. Sometimes they're metaphors and those are usually ones like these two. You're not supposed to take them literally. You're supposed to explore the lessons Chazal were trying to teach
ReplyDeleteYes- according to Maimonides.
DeleteSome people think it gives chazal supernatural powers to revive the dead