Page:Jewish Encyclopedia Volume 2.pdf/268

230 Asshurites

Gen.

x. 11,

12 (Gen. R. xxxvii.

The Targum

4).

Yerushalmi on the passage considers the name " Asshur " not as that of a person but as meaning " Assyria," and takes " Nirnrod " to be tlie subject of the sentence. See Ginzberg, "Die Haggada bei den ,

JXirchenvatern," pp. 88, 89. .7.

230

THE JEWISH ENCYCLOPEDIA

Assignment

L. G.

jr.

ASSHURITES.—Biblical Data A nation de-

Assi I. but where their disciples, or their younger contemporaries or successors (particularly in the Palestinian Talmud and Midrashim) report, it is most Where, finally, none of these frequently Assi II. landmarks is present, a positive determination is well-nigh impossible, nor can the presence or absence of the titles Rab and Rabbi, on which (according to Tos. IJul. 19a, s.v. Amar) many rely, be accepted as is





scended from Abraham and Keturah (Gen. xxv. 3). In prophetic literature the nation is mentioned as being engaged in making benches of ivory for Tyre (Ezek. xxvii. 6). The Asshurites in II Sam. ii. 9can not refer to the same people as Gen. xxv. 3, or to the Assyrians. Either we have here a text corruption for Geshurites (Ewald, Wellhausen), or the name is to be explained according to Targum Jonathan as the Asherites.

G. B. L.

j. .ik.

In Rabbinical Literature



The

Palestinian

exegetes consider Asshurim, and also Letushim and Leummim in the passage Gen. xxv. 3, to be appellatives of the nations recorded as the children of Dedan; and explain Asshurim as "merchants," or more exactly as " those who travel with their wares from place to place " (" ashur " = footstep). Similarly, Letushim are those who sharpen weapons, from "latash," to whet; Leummim are the chiefs people), or island-inhabitants of peoples ("leiim" (Targumim on the passage Gen. R. lxi. 5). In the Onkelos passage, according to Jerome, ad loo., pIX' (for pl^L") should be read (see Ginzberg,

=

a clue.

A

Babylonian amora Assi (Assa, Issi) I., Rab of the first generation, third century contemporary of Rab (Abba Arika) and his equal in dialectics, though inferior to him in general knowledge of



the Halakah (Sanh. 36*). But even in the latter branch Rab manifested great deference for Assi's opinions, often adopting these in preference to his own (Meg. Socially, also, 5a; Kid. 456; Sanh. 296; B. B. 62ft). Rab treated Assi as an equal (Shab. 1466). Mar Samuel, also, treated Assi with great respect (B. K. 80a et seq.). Rab Assi is better known in the field of the Halakah than in that of the Haggadah, where he is found in association with Kahana and putting questions to Rab (Gif. 88a; compare Lam. R., In-

Status.

trod. 33



Yoma

10a).

According to a Talmudic narrative combining fact and fiction, Assi's end was precipitated by grief. Commissioned by his dying teacher Death. and friend, Rab, to bring about Shela b. Abuna's retraction of a certain decision on the ritual, Assi visited the latter, when the following conversation took place Assi " Retract

"Haggada j.

bei

den Kirchenvittern,"

p. 117).

L. G.

sr.

ASSI ( Assa,

Josah, Jose, sometimes "Wl, a contraction of Rab or Rabbi Assi): A pra> nomen of several amoraim, which, with its variants, is a modification or diminutive of " Joseph " (compare Bacher, " Ag. Tan. " ii. 371 " Ag. Pal. Amor. " ii. 151, 8). "Assi" is of Babylonian origin, while other forms are Palestinian. Hence Name. in the Babylonian Talmud, except in cases of clerical error, " Assi " is the only form used whereas in the Palestinian Talmud and Midrashim all forms are used indifferently, two or even more Issi, Jesa,



in a single passage (for instance, Yer. Kil. in parallel passages (compare Yer. Er. vi. 23tZ; Yer. Shek. ii. 46d, vii. 50c; Yer. Naz. iv. 53J). As to the bearers of the name, most of those having additional patronymics or cognomens are better known by the appellation of Jose. The two that

appearing ix. 326) or

'

are best known by their simple prrenomen, without further designation, are considered here. Great care is requisite in determining the authorship of docBoth trines and sayings bearing the above name. the Assis are halakic authorities, are native Baby-

and are cited in both Talmudim, and they nourished within about half a century of each other. They can therefore be distinguished only by observing the persons with whom they are associated or who transmit their opinions. Thus, where Assi appears in company with Rab, with Samuel, or with their contemporaries, Assi I. is meant but where the lonians,



associates are

Assi

II.

members

Again, where

of a later generation, it is Huna I., Judah b. Ezekiel, or

their contemporaries or predecessors cite the name,

it



thy decision because Rab has retracted his opinion on which thy decision was based." Shela: "Had Rab renounced his opinion he would have told me so himself. " Assi, misunderstanding the instructions of Rab, thereupon excommunicated his colleague. Shela " Does the master not fear the fire for abusing a scholar? " (compare Ab. ii. 10.) Assi: "lama mortar [" Asita," a play on his name] of brass, over which decay has no power. " Shela " And I am an iron pestle that may break the brass mortar. " Assi soon after sickened and died whereupon Shela, to prevent nis adversary from carrying evil reports of him to Rab, prepared his own shroud and died also. At the double funeral it was observed that the myrtle branches which lay on the two biers leaped from one





to the other,

whence

it

was

inferred that the de-

parted spirits had become reconciled (Niddah 366 et seq. the names Isi b. Judah, etc. used in Assi's reply to Shela are a glossator's interpolation borrowed from Of Assi's last hours the Midrash relates Pes. 1136). the following: As Rab Assi was about to depart from this world, his nephew entered the sick-room and found him weeping. Said the nephew: "My master, why weepest thou ? Is there any part of the Torah which thou hast not learned or taught ? Look at the disciples before thee. Is there any one good deed that thou hast not practised? And does not above all thy noble traits stand the fact that thou hast never acted as judge and hast never permitted thyself to be appointed to public office? " Then answered Rab Assi: "My son, this is just the reason why I am weeping. Perhaps I shall be required to aflswer for being alble to administer justice and not doing so, thus exemplifying in myself what the

,