Kiedy umarli dawni prorocy, Urim i Tummim ustały. Kiedy Świątynia została zniszczona, szamir i nopheth zufim przestali. A ludzie wiary przestali mówić, jak mówi: „Pomóż, Panie, bo już nie ma wiernych” (Psalm 12: 2). Rabban Szymon ben Gamaliel powiedział w imieniu rabina Jehoszua: od dnia zniszczenia świątyni nie ma dnia bez klątwy, rosa nie zstąpiła na błogosławieństwo, a smak zniknął z produktów. Rabin Yose mówi: tłuszcz został również usunięty z produktów.
Bartenura on Mishnah Sotah
משמתו נביאים הראשונים – all the prophets are called the Early Prophets, except for Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi and their associates for they were the Latter [Prophets] who were during the days of the Second Temple.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sotah
Introduction
The first section of this mishnah teaches what ceased when the earlier prophets died out. The remainder of the section teaches what ceased when the Second Temple was destroyed.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sotah
השמיר – a kind of worm-like creature like the size of a barley-corn that they would show it–place it upon the stones marked with ink and they would split open on their own, [and through it] would open the stones of the Ephod and the Breastplate, as it is written concerning them (Exodus 28:20 – see also Talmud Sotah 48b): “in their mountings,” that they would be complete and not lacking [but he would write on them with ink] and the Shamir would show them outside upon the ink.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sotah
When the former prophets died, the Urim and Thummim ceased. The Urim and Thummim were two oracular stones that the high priest would carry in his breastplate. When the Israelites had questions they would ask the Urim and Thummim (see Exodus 28:30). The Urim and Thummim were in use only during the First Temple period. When the prophets of the First Temple died out, the Urim and Thummim ceased.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sotah
ונופת צופים – honey that comes from a place whose name is the inner portion of the cells and is more praiseworthy.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sotah
When Temple was destroyed, the shamir and nopheth zufim ceased. According to the Talmud, the “shamir” was a worm that was so strong that it could cut through stone. King Solomon used it to cut the stones to build the Temple and it was also used to the stones for the breastplate. The “nophet zufim” was a special type of sweet honey. According to the mishnah, after the Temple was destroyed, these wondrous creations ceased to exist.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sotah
ופסקו אנשי אמנה – that believe in the Holy One, blessed be He.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sotah
And people of faith ceased, as it says, “Help, O Lord, for the faithful are no more” (Psalms 12:2). Not only did the abovementioned wondrous creations cease to exist, but so did people of faith. This is hinted at in Psalms 12:2.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sotah
Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel in the name of Rabbi Joshua: from the day the Temple was destroyed, there is no day without a curse, the dew has not descended for a blessing, and the flavor has departed from produce. Rabbi Yose says: the fatness was also removed from produce. In these two statements we can see how bitter a loss the destruction of the Temple was for those who lived in that time period. Indeed, this statement reminds me of something someone would say after the loss, God forbid, of a spouse or child. Things just never again taste as good and every day is somewhat of a curse.
