Rabba [Rava] bar Natan

Second Generation Amora. A student of Rav Huna. His colleagues in Babylonia, as we find: Rabbi Hiyya bar Abba and Rabbi Abba bar Asi sat together before they ascended to the Land of Israel, and Rava bar Natan and Rav Nachman sat with them [Eruvin 32b]. Already in Babylonia, he was a great scholar of his generation, so much so that Rav Yosef bar Hama would ask him halachic questions, and Rabbi Hiyya bar Abba would state halachot in his name. When he ascended to the Land of Israel, he studied Torah from Rabbi Yochanan.

His Wisdom

The father of Rav Yosef bar Hama asked Rabba bar Natan: From where is the source for what the Sages said: If someone was liable for two capital punishments by the court, and his judgment was initially concluded for the lighter punishment, but then he committed a more severe offense, he is judged by the more severe one?

Rabba bar Natan replied to him: It is written: “But if a man be just, and do judgment and righteousness;”

“He has not eaten upon the mountains, neither has he lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither has he defiled his neighbor's wife, neither has he come near to a woman in her impurity;”

“And has not wronged any, but has restored to the debtor his pledge, has spoiled none by violence, has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment;”

“He has not given forth upon interest, neither has taken any increase, has withdrawn his hand from iniquity, has executed true judgment between man and man;”

“Has walked in My statutes, and has kept My judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, says the Lord God.”

“And if he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that does any one of these things,” (meaning: that this son does to his brother one of these transgressions) “and he (this son) does not do all these things (all the good deeds his father did, as mentioned above in the section), but rather has eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbor's wife;”

“Has oppressed the poor and needy, has spoiled by violence, has not restored the pledge, and has lifted up his eyes to the idols, has committed abomination;” – “Has given forth upon interest, and has taken increase; shall he then live? He shall not live; he has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.” [Ezekiel 18]

Rabba bar Natan explains it thus: “And if he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood,” meaning: a murderer whose death is by sword.

“And defiled his neighbor's wife,” meaning: this is a married woman, and one who has intercourse with her is killed by strangulation.

“And has lifted up his eyes to the idols,” meaning: this is idolatry, for which the worshipper is liable to stoning.

And it is written at the end of the matter: “he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him,” meaning: by stoning, as this phrase is interpreted throughout the Torah. Therefore, it is necessary to say: that his judgment was already concluded initially for the lighter punishment among them, and yet he is liable to stoning! For if not, what did Ezekiel inform us, that he is liable to stoning! From this, we learn that he is punished for the more severe offense. [Sanhedrin 81a]

His Passing

Rabbi Abba bar Natan had large eyes, and when he responded with wonder to the halachic question, and it appeared to Rabbi Yochanan as if he was scoffing at his words or rejoicing in his answer, Rabbi Yochanan became angry with him, and he died. [Jerushalmi Pe'ah 7:2]