Ukban ben Nehmiah was a Jewish Amora sage of the third generation, who, according to Joseph ben Ḥama,[1] who was a contrite sinner. The Seder 'Olam Zuṭa, too, in the list of the exilarchs,[2] mentions an exilarch called "Ukban d'Zuzita" who was buried in Israel. According to the geonim Ẓemaḥ and Saadia, Ukban, when he was young, was wont to curl his hair, his surname "de-Ẓuẓita" being derived from that habit. Another interpretation is that fire would flash out from his ẓiẓit, so that nobody could stand near him.
As to the nature of Ukban's sins and repentance[3] Rabbi Aḥai of Shabḥa, in his "She'eltot" (sections "Wa'era" and "Ki Tissa"), tells almost the same story as Rashi, of a man who was called "Nathan de-Ẓuẓita," but without mentioning either that he was likewise called "'Ukban" or that he was an exilarch. Further, this story is related by Nissim ben Jacob in his "Ma'aseh Nissim," at great length, Nathan being placed in the time of Akiba—that is, not later than the first third of the second century.
It may therefore be assumed either that there were two Nathan de-Ẓuẓitas, the second being identical with the exilarch Ukban b. Nehemiah, or that Joseph b. Ḥama must be understood as comparing Ukban, in his repentance, to Nathan de-Ẓuẓita, who was much earlier and, perhaps, was not an exilarch. It is true that in the Seder 'Olam Zuṭa it is clearly affirmed that Nathan I was called also "Ukban"; but in other details the three recensions of that work disagree with Joseph ben Hama, in that they leave it to be supposed that Nathan de-Ẓuẓita was the son of Anan and not of Nehemiah, and that they represent him as the father of Huna the exilarch, who lived in the time of Judah ha-Nasi I. The Seder 'Olam Zuṭa has in its list three exilarchs called "Nathan," the second being the grandson of the first, and the third the son of Abba ben Huna and father of Mar Zuṭra; it is the chronology of Nathan III that coincides with that of another Ukban.[4]
It may be added that Rashi (to Sanh. l.c.) confuses Nathan de-Ẓuẓita 'Ukban with Mar Ukba, "ab bet din" in the time of Samuel, which time coincides with that of Nathan II. Lazarus (in the list of exilarchs in Brüll's "Jahrb." vol. x.) supposes that Nathan I reigned from about 260 to about 270, and Nathan II from 370 to about 400.
Genealogy of the House of David- Nathan Ukban III, 10th Exilarch
January 12, 2023
ukban, nehmiah, jewish, amora, sage, third, generation, according, joseph, Ḥama, contrite, sinner, seder, olam, zuṭa, list, exilarchs, mentions, exilarch, called, ukban, zuzita, buried, israel, according, geonim, Ẓemaḥ, saadia, ukban, when, young, wont, curl, . Ukban ben Nehmiah was a Jewish Amora sage of the third generation who according to Joseph ben Ḥama 1 who was a contrite sinner The Seder Olam Zuṭa too in the list of the exilarchs 2 mentions an exilarch called Ukban d Zuzita who was buried in Israel According to the geonim Ẓemaḥ and Saadia Ukban when he was young was wont to curl his hair his surname de Ẓuẓita being derived from that habit Another interpretation is that fire would flash out from his ẓiẓit so that nobody could stand near him As to the nature of Ukban s sins and repentance 3 Rabbi Aḥai of Shabḥa in his She eltot sections Wa era and Ki Tissa tells almost the same story as Rashi of a man who was called Nathan de Ẓuẓita but without mentioning either that he was likewise called Ukban or that he was an exilarch Further this story is related by Nissim ben Jacob in his Ma aseh Nissim at great length Nathan being placed in the time of Akiba that is not later than the first third of the second century It may therefore be assumed either that there were two Nathan de Ẓuẓitas the second being identical with the exilarch Ukban b Nehemiah or that Joseph b Ḥama must be understood as comparing Ukban in his repentance to Nathan de Ẓuẓita who was much earlier and perhaps was not an exilarch It is true that in the Seder Olam Zuṭa it is clearly affirmed that Nathan I was called also Ukban but in other details the three recensions of that work disagree with Joseph ben Hama in that they leave it to be supposed that Nathan de Ẓuẓita was the son of Anan and not of Nehemiah and that they represent him as the father of Huna the exilarch who lived in the time of Judah ha Nasi I The Seder Olam Zuṭa has in its list three exilarchs called Nathan the second being the grandson of the first and the third the son of Abba ben Huna and father of Mar Zuṭra it is the chronology of Nathan III that coincides with that of another Ukban 4 It may be added that Rashi to Sanh l c confuses Nathan de Ẓuẓita Ukban with Mar Ukba ab bet din in the time of Samuel which time coincides with that of Nathan II Lazarus in the list of exilarchs in Brull s Jahrb vol x supposes that Nathan I reigned from about 260 to about 270 and Nathan II from 370 to about 400 See also EditExilarchReferences Edit Shab 56b Recension A Neubauer M J C ii 71 see Rashi to Sanh l c Shab 56b Heilprin Seder ha Dorot ii Zacuto Yuḥasin ed Filipowski pp 171 et seq Regnal titlesPreceded byNehemiah 10th Babylonian Exilarch400 Succeeded byHuna IIIExternal links EditJewish Encyclopedia Nathan Ukban III Genealogy of the House of David Nathan Ukban III 10th Exilarch Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ukban ben Nehmiah amp oldid 1097020218, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
