Symmachus ben Joseph

Rabbinical eras

* Chazal
* Zugot
* Tannaim
* Amoraim
* Savoraim
* Geonim
* Rishonim
* Acharonim

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Symmachus ben Joseph (Hebrew: סוֹמְכוֹס בן יוסף[1][2] Romanized: Sômǝkôs ben Joseph)[a] was a Jewish Tanna sage of the fifth generation.

## Biography

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Rabbi Meir is considered his main teacher.[3] After R. Meir died, and despite R. Judah ben Ilai's reluctance to teach R. Meir's students (who were considered "vexatious" students), Symmachus joined R. Judah ben Ilai's class and debated halakhic matters with him.[3]

Symmachus' brilliance was described as follows:

> R. Abbahu stated in the name of R. Johanan: R. Meir had a disciple of the name of Symmachus who said, on every rule concerning a ritual uncleanness, there are forty-eight reasons in support of its uncleanness, and on every rule concerning a ritual cleanness, forty-eight reasons in support of its cleanness.[4]

## Teachings

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He is quoted five times in the Mishna: three times his teachings appear, and twice he quotes an opinion of Rabbi Meir.

He is best known for the following disagreement about judgment in a case of monetary dispute:

> These are the words of Symmachus who said that "money which is in dispute - is to be split [equally between the parties]" (ממון המוטל בספק חולקין). The Sages, however, disagreed with him: "It is a fundamental principle in law: One who wishes to extract money from another person, the burden of proof falls on him [the claimant]" (המוציא מחברו עליו הראיה).[5]

Later opinions differ on which situations Symmachus intended for his rule to apply.[6]

## Relation to other individuals named Symmachus

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Some have tried to identify him with Symmachus the translator, but this view has been generally rejected.[7] In Epiphanius' treatise On Weights and Measures, a certain Symmachus is said to have converted to Judaism from the Samaritan religion at the time of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius who is also called Verus.[8] Rabbi Meir would have been his contemporary.

## References

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1. ^ Yerushalmi Berachot 12b; Rif Berachot 7a
2. ^ Encyclopedia Da'at, article: סומכוס
3. ^ a b Talmud, Kiddushin 33a
4. ^ Talmud, Erubin 13b
5. ^ Talmud, Bava Kamma 46a
6. ^ The Position of Sumchus: Mammon Ha-Mutal Be-Safek Cholkim
7. ^ Jewish Encyclopedia, SYMMACHUS, By: Crawford Howell Toy & Felix Perles
8. ^ Epiphanius' Treatise on Weights and Measures - The Syriac Version (ed. James Elmer Dean), University of Chicago Press 1935, p. 32

1. ^ Vocalization diverges in printings but all MSS are consistent with the presented here.

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Tannaim

Last Generation of Zugot Era|

* Hillel the Elder
* Shammai
* Houses of Hillel and Shammai
* Bnei Bathyra
* Menahem
* Hananiah ben Hezekiah ben Garon
* Simeon ben Hillel

First Generation|

* Gamaliel I, the Elder
* Shimon ben Gamliel (I)
* Ishmael ben Elisha ha-Kohen
* Yohanan ben Zakkai
* Jonathan ben Uzziel
* Baba ben Buta
* Hanina ben Dosa
* Hanina Segan ha-Kohanim
* Abba Saul ben Batnit
* Admon
* Dosa ben Harkinas
* Judah ben Bathyra
* Eliezer ben Jacob I
* Nahum the Mede

Second Generation|

* Gamaliel II
* Joshua ben Hananiah
* Eliezer ben Hurcanus
* Eleazar ben Arach
* Nehunya ben HaKanah
* Nachum Ish Gamzu
* Abba Hilkiah
* Rabbi Zadok
* Akabia ben Mahalalel
* Simeon HaPakoli
* Shmuel ha-Katan

Third Generation|

* Rabbi Akiva
* Rabbi Tarfon
* Judah ben Bava
* Rabbi Ishmael
* Eleazar ben Azariah
* Jose the Galilean
* Eliezer ben Jose
* Haninah ben Teradion
* Eleazar ben Perata I
* Johanan ben Baroka
* Simeon ben Zoma
* Simeon ben Azzai
* Onkelos
* Hanina ben Antigonus
* Hanina ben Hakinai
* Yochanan ben Nuri
* Eleazar Chisma
* Elisha ben Abuyah
* Rabbi Ilai I
* Eleazar of Modi'im
* Halafta
* Haninah ben Ahi R. Joshua
* Abtolemus
* Jose ben Kisma
* Jeshbab the Scribe
* Aquila of Sinope
* Johanan ben Torta
* Eleazar ben Judah of Bartota
* Matteya ben Heresh
* Hanan the Egyptian
* Simeon the Yemenite
* Abba Jose ben Hanan
* Judah ben Dama

Fourth Generation|

* Simeon ben Gamaliel II
* Judah bar Ilai
* Jose ben Halafta
* Shimon ben Halafta
* Rabbi Jonathan
* Rabbi Meir (and wife Bruriah)
* Shimon bar Yochai
* Eleazar ben Shammua
* Rabbi Nehemiah
* Rabbi Nathan
* Joshua ben Karha
* Abba Saul
* Johanan HaSandlar
* Pinchas ben Yair
* Simeon Shezuri
* Hananiah ben Akavia
* Eliezer ben Jacob II

Fifth Generation|

* Judah haNasi (Judah I)
* Huna Kamma
* Jose ben Judah
* Ishmael ben Jose
* Eleazar ben Simeon
* Simeon ben Eleazar
* Eleazar ha-Kappar
* Symmachus ben Joseph
* Issi ben Judah
* Bar Kappara
* Jose ben Zimra
* Levi ben Sisi
* Rabbi Bana'ah
* Simeon ben Menasya
* Yadua the Babylonian
* Joshua ben Levi
* Abba Kohen Bardela

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