Commentary for Yoma 44:21

ואמר רבי יוחנן משום ר' שמעון בן יהוצדק כל תלמיד חכם

And even according to Rab, who says that David listened to calumny, was he not punished for it? For Rab Judah said in the name of Rab. At the time when David said to Mephibosheth: I say: Thou and Ziba divide the land,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' II Sam. XIX, 30.');">³²</span> a heavenly voice came forth to say to him: Rehoboam and Jeroboam will divide the Kingdom. Saul<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I Sam. XIII, 1.');">³³</span> was a year old<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The literal interpretation being impossible because of earlier texts, the Rabbis endeavour to find therein homiletical suggestion.');">³⁴</span> when he began to reign. R'Huna said: Like an infant of one year, who had not tasted the taste of sin. R'Nahman B'Isaac demurred to this: Say perhaps: Like an infant of one year old that is filthy with mud and excrement?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' R. Nahman was not actuated by any animus against Saul. He objected primarily to the too ready way of moralizing in advance of textual equivocality. With even justice one could illustrate an opposite aspect of infancy, and an analogy would thus throw evil light on King Saul.');">³⁵</span> R'Nahman thereupon was shown a frightening vision in his dream, whereupon he said: I beg your pardon,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' His conscience smote him afterwards, for in his eagerness to demonstrate the error of hasty interpretation, he had offended the memory of Saul.');">³⁶</span> bones of Saul, son of Kish. But he saw again a frightening vision in his dream, whereupon he said: I beg your pardon, bones of Saul, son of Kish,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' His conscience was not at rest, until he had fully realized that he had offended the King of Israel. His dreams reflected his thoughts by day, and only after his second apology did he feel relieved.');">³⁷</span> King in Israel. Rab Judah said in the name of Samuel: Why did the kingdom of Saul not endure? Because no reproach rested on him,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' On Saul's descent. None could therefore prevent his arrogance by pointing to a family skeleton, saying: Turn around and your basket of reptiles (family ignominy) will stand revealed.');">³⁸</span> for R'Johanan had said in the name of R'Simeon B'Jehozadak: One should not appoint any one administrator of a community, unless he carries a basket of reptiles on his back, so that if he became arrogant, one could tell him: Turn around!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. preceding note.');">³⁹</span> Rab Judah said in the name of Rab: Why was Saul punished? Because he forewent the honour due to himself, as it is said: But certain base fellows said: 'How shall this man save us? ' And they despised him and brought him no present. But he was as one that held his peace,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I Sam. X, 27.');">⁴⁰</span> and it is written [immediately following that]: Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh-gilead.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. XI, 1, hence, because immediately following, viewed as consequence of his too great humility.');">⁴¹</span> R'Johanan further said in the name of R'Simeon B'Jehozadak: Any scholar,

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