Biblical Hermeneutics

PRINCIPLES OF BIBLICAL HERMENETICS ; M. M. NINAN
13 RULES OF RABBI ISHMAEL
Rabbi Ishmael or Ishmael ben Elisha (90-135 CE, Hebrew: ישמעאל ‏(רבי was a Tanna of the 1st
and 2nd centuries (third tannaitic generation). A Tanna (plural, Tannaim) is a rabbinic sage
whose views are recorded in the Mishnah. Ismael son of Elisha was a young boy during the
destruction of the Temple. He was redeemed from captivity by Rabbi Neḥunya ben ha-Ḳanah,
who Mesecheth Shabbat lists as his teacher. He was a close colleague of Rabbi Joshua. He is
likely the grandson of the high priest of the same name.
Rabbi Ishmael came from a very distinguished family of High Priests, and he, too, had the
title "Kohen Godol." As a boy, he was taken to Rome as a captive. The great Sage Rabbi
Joshua ben Chanania came to Rome, probably as a messenger of the Jews in the Holy Land,
to try to appeal before the Roman Emperor for a more lenient policy towards the persecuted
Jews in the Holy Land. He learned that a Jewish boy was held captive in that city. He passed
by the place where the boy was kept prisoner, and called out "Who delivered Jacob for a
spoil, and Israel to the robbers?" quoting a passage from the Prophet Isaiah (42:24). And the
boy's voice came back in reply, "Did not G-d, He against Whom we have sinned?" quoting the
words of the prophet from the second part of the same verse. Rabbi Joshua decided to spare
no effort to ransom that boy, saying, "I am sure that boy will grow up to be one of our great
Sages." Indeed, for a large sum of money Rabbi Joshua succeeded in ransoming the young
boy, whom he took home with him, fed him and clothed him, and taught him the Torah every
day. Before long, Rabbi Ishmael became well-known as a distinguished scholar of the Torah.
Rabbi Joshua himself now considered him as his colleague, and called him "My brother
Ishmael."
Rabbi Ishmael ben Elisha, who lived some fifty years after the Destruction of the Second Beth
Hamikdosh. He lived at the time of Rabbi Akiva, and like him, he was one of the Ten Martyrs
who were cruelly put to death by the Roman governor.
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