Martha daughter of Boethus
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Martha daughter of Boethus, in the Mishnah
and Babylonian Talmud
, was one of the richest women in Jerusalem in the period prior to the destruction of the Temple
in 70 C.E. (Talmud Gittin 56a; see also Talmud Ketubot 104a.)
After her first husband died, she became engaged to Joshua ben Gamala. (Mishnah Yevamot 6:4; Talmud Yevamot 61a.) Rav Assi
said that she paid King Jannai (whom scholars identify with Agrippa II
) a quantity of money equal in size to 72 eggs to nominate Joshua to become high priest
(Talmud Yoma 18a), even though the Sanhedrin
had not elected him to the post. (Talmud Yevamot 61a.) Even though the general rule was that a high priest should not marry a widow (Mishnah Yevamot 6:4), the couple went on to marry, and the Mishnah cites the event for the proposition that a priest who betroths a widow and subsequently becomes high priest may consummate the marriage. (Mishnah Yevamot 6:4; Talmud Yevamot 61a.)
It was said of Martha’s son, who was a priest, that he was so strong that he could carry up to the altar
two sides of a huge ox without any lack of decorum. (Talmud Sukkah 52b.)
The Talmud recounts the story of her last day during the Roman
siege of Jerusalem. (Talmud Gittin 56a.) At that time, Martha sent her manservant out to bring her some fine flour, but it had sold out. He told her that there was no fine flour, but there was white flour. She then sent him to bring her some white flour. By the time he went, the white flour had sold out. He told her that there was no white flour, but there was dark flour. She sent him to bring her some dark flour. By the time he went, the dark flour had sold out. He told her that there was no dark flour, but there was barley flour. She sent him to bring her some barley flour. By the time he went, the barley flour had also sold out. In desperation, without even putting on her shoes, she went out to see if she could find anything to eat. She stepped in some dung and died of shock. Rabban Johanan ben Zakkai
thus applied to her the Biblical verse, "The tender and delicate woman among you who would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground."
Some report that she ate a fig left by Rabbi Zadok
, became sick, and died. Rabbi Zadok observed fasts for 40 years in order that Jerusalem might not be destroyed. When he wanted to restore himself, they used to bring him a fig, and he used to suck the juice and throw the rest away. (Talmud Gittin 56a.)
When Martha was about to die, she brought out all her gold and silver and threw it in the street, saying, "What is the good of this to me," thus giving effect to the verse, "They shall cast their silver in the streets." (Talmud Gittin 56a.)
Mishnah
The Mishnah or Mishna is the first major written redaction of the Jewish oral traditions called the "Oral Torah". It is also the first major work of Rabbinic Judaism. It was redacted c...
and Babylonian Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
, was one of the richest women in Jerusalem in the period prior to the destruction of the Temple
Temple in Jerusalem
The Temple in Jerusalem or Holy Temple , refers to one of a series of structures which were historically located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, the current site of the Dome of the Rock. Historically, these successive temples stood at this location and functioned as the centre of...
in 70 C.E. (Talmud Gittin 56a; see also Talmud Ketubot 104a.)
After her first husband died, she became engaged to Joshua ben Gamala. (Mishnah Yevamot 6:4; Talmud Yevamot 61a.) Rav Assi
Rav Assi
Rav Assi , a Kohen, was a Jewish Amora sage of Babylon, of the first generation of the Amora era. He originated from Hutzal, that was located nearby Nehardea of Babylonia. He was a "Fellow Student" of R. Abba Arika and a teacher of R. Judah ben Ezekiel....
said that she paid King Jannai (whom scholars identify with Agrippa II
Agrippa II
Agrippa II , son of Agrippa I, and like him originally named Marcus Julius Agrippa, was the seventh and last king of the family of Herod the Great, thus last of the Herodians. He was the brother of Berenice, Mariamne, and Drusilla...
) a quantity of money equal in size to 72 eggs to nominate Joshua to become high priest
Kohen
A Kohen is the Hebrew word for priest. Jewish Kohens are traditionally believed and halachically required to be of direct patrilineal descent from the Biblical Aaron....
(Talmud Yoma 18a), even though the Sanhedrin
Sanhedrin
The Sanhedrin was an assembly of twenty-three judges appointed in every city in the Biblical Land of Israel.The Great Sanhedrin was the supreme court of ancient Israel made of 71 members...
had not elected him to the post. (Talmud Yevamot 61a.) Even though the general rule was that a high priest should not marry a widow (Mishnah Yevamot 6:4), the couple went on to marry, and the Mishnah cites the event for the proposition that a priest who betroths a widow and subsequently becomes high priest may consummate the marriage. (Mishnah Yevamot 6:4; Talmud Yevamot 61a.)
It was said of Martha’s son, who was a priest, that he was so strong that he could carry up to the altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
two sides of a huge ox without any lack of decorum. (Talmud Sukkah 52b.)
The Talmud recounts the story of her last day during the Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
siege of Jerusalem. (Talmud Gittin 56a.) At that time, Martha sent her manservant out to bring her some fine flour, but it had sold out. He told her that there was no fine flour, but there was white flour. She then sent him to bring her some white flour. By the time he went, the white flour had sold out. He told her that there was no white flour, but there was dark flour. She sent him to bring her some dark flour. By the time he went, the dark flour had sold out. He told her that there was no dark flour, but there was barley flour. She sent him to bring her some barley flour. By the time he went, the barley flour had also sold out. In desperation, without even putting on her shoes, she went out to see if she could find anything to eat. She stepped in some dung and died of shock. Rabban Johanan ben Zakkai
Yochanan ben Zakai
Johanan ben Zakai , also known as Johanan B. Zakkai was one of the tannaim, an important Jewish sage in the era of the Second Temple, and a primary contributor to the core text of Rabbinical Judaism, the Mishnah. He is widely regarded as one of the most important Jewish figures of his time...
thus applied to her the Biblical verse, "The tender and delicate woman among you who would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground."
Some report that she ate a fig left by Rabbi Zadok
Rabbi Zadok
Rabbi Zadok was a Tanna of the second generation of the Tannaic era, a contemporary of Joshua ben Hananiah and Eliezer ben Hurcanus, descending from Tribe of Benjamin....
, became sick, and died. Rabbi Zadok observed fasts for 40 years in order that Jerusalem might not be destroyed. When he wanted to restore himself, they used to bring him a fig, and he used to suck the juice and throw the rest away. (Talmud Gittin 56a.)
When Martha was about to die, she brought out all her gold and silver and threw it in the street, saying, "What is the good of this to me," thus giving effect to the verse, "They shall cast their silver in the streets." (Talmud Gittin 56a.)