Julian Ungar-Sargon

  • Home
  • Theological Essays
  • Healing Essays
  • Podcast
  • Poetry
  • Daf Ditty
  • Deep Dive Ditty
  • Videos
  • Publications
  • Military Service
  • Dominican University
  • Home
  • Theological Essays
  • Healing Essays
  • Podcast
  • Poetry
  • Daf Ditty
  • Deep Dive Ditty
  • Videos
  • Publications
  • Military Service
  • Dominican University
Julian Ungar-Sargon copy 3.jpg

Daf Ditty

A wide-ranging commentary on the daily page of Talmud.

Franz Joseph Hermann, "The Fiery Furnace; from the Book of Daniel, 3"; St. Pankratius, Wiggensbach, Germany. King Nebuchadnezzar (left) watches the three youths and the angelic figure in the furnace (right), while the king's gigantic statue towers behind them (centre).

Ketubot 33: אילמלי נגדוה לחנניה מישאל ועזריה

jyungar August 8, 2022

For the source text click/tap here: Ketubot 33

To download, click/tap here: PDF

The fact that in the case of one who injures another as well he pays money and is not flogged is derived not by means of a verbal analogy but from the verse: Ex 21:22

“If men quarrel and hurt a pregnant woman so that her child departs from her, and yet no harm follow, he shall be punished as imposed upon him by the woman’s husband”

And Rabbi Elazar said: The verse is speaking of a quarrel that involves death, i.e., they sought to kill each other,

as it is written: “And if any harm follow, then you shall give a soul for a soul”

from where do you ascertain that the death penalty is a more severe punishment than lashes?

Perhaps the punishment of lashes is more severe, as Rav said: Had they flogged Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (see Daniel ch.3)

instead of casting them into the fiery furnace, these three would have been induced to worship the graven image.

Apparently, the punishment of lashes is more severe than death. Rav suggests that had they been whipped, they would have relented and bowed to the idol.

Thus it appears that malkot was deemed a more severe punishment than mittah.

We explore the narrative of the furnace into which the three were cast and the narrative history and midrashic interpretation of Daniel 3.

Tags28th
  • Daf Ditty
  • Older
  • Newer

Julian Ungar-Sargon

This is Julian Ungar-Sargon's personal website. It contains poems, essays, and podcasts for the spiritual seeker and interdisciplinary aficionado.​