Huna B. Nathan

Babylonian scholar of the fourth and fifth centuries. He was the pupil of Amemar II. and a senior and companion of Ashi, to whom he repeated several of Amemar's sayings and halakot (Giṭ. 19b; B. B. 55a, 74b). He was wealthy; but though "in him learning and dignity met," he was nevertheless subject to Ashi (Giṭ. 59a). He had access to the royal court of Persia, and the esteem in which he was held by King Yezdegerd isinstanced by the fact that on one occasion at court (as told by Huna to Ashi) the king himself adjusted Huna's belt (Zeb. 19a; see Amemar II.). According to Sherira (Neubauer, "M. J. C." i. 32), Huna was exilarch in the time of Ashi. Another Huna b. Nathan was a companion of Raba (Ned. 12a) and, apparently, a pupil of Naḥman (Ket. 7a).

Bibliography:

  * Halévy, Dorot ha-Rishonim, ii. 517;
  * Heilprin, Seder ha-Dorot, ii.;
  * Lazarus, in Brüll's Jahrb. x. 110, 111.



S. M. Sel.