Ninth of Av (Historical Analysis) – Part 1

Introduction

Tisha B’Av, the 9^th day of the month of Av, is a day of mourning and fasting, commemorating the major tragedies that befell the Jewish people on this day. This article will discuss the historical development and significance of this day as well as lessons for the future using classical sources from both the written and oral Torah.

The Mishna in Talmud Taanit 26b lists the following tragedies that occurred on this day:

1. In the year 2449 from creation, Hashem decreed that the generation that left Egypt would not enter the land of Israel (Numbers 13-14).
2. The Babylonians destroyed the first temple in 3339 (2 Kings Chapter 25).
3. The Romans destroyed the second temple in 3830 (Tradition).
4. The Romans conquered and destroyed the city of Betar in 3895 (Tradition).
5. The Roman commander Turnus Rufus plowed the Temple Mount in 3897 (Tradition).

For tragedies 3-5,  the Talmud cannot quote from scripture because Hebrew scripture ends at the beginning of the Second Temple based upon the Talmudic saying (Yoma 9b), “After the last prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi died, the Divine Spirit of prophetic revelation departed from the Jewish people.” However the sages of the Mishna and Talmud were divinely inspired, albeit not at a scriptural level, based upon this Talmudic saying (Bava Batra 12a), “From the day that the Temple was destroyed prophecy was taken from the prophets and given to the Sages”, meaning that the dates of these tragedies are authentic. In addition laws and practices instituted by these sages have divine approval.

(Note: The years listed above follow the traditional chronology of Judaism starting from creation. However there is a 1 year difference in counting, between the dates of the Talmud (less by one year) and our current numbering of years.

The land of Israel and particularly Jerusalem are the common thread of these 5 tragic events. Although other tragedies occurred on Tisha B’Av outside of Israel, the Mishna does not list them because they did not fit this divine decree.

In addition to discussing the different tragedies the articles will highlight the moral lessons to be learnt from the past and applied to the present.

Due to the length of this topic the author has divided this article in the following times:

1. Biblical.
2. Destruction of Second Temple.
3. Fall of Betar (Bar Kochva Rebellion).
4. Modern Times and Conclusion.

Tragedy 1 –  Decree Against Entering Israel

It is interesting to note that the Torah does not explicitly mention the 9^th of Av as the day that Hashem issued the decree against entering the land of Israel. The Talmud (ibid. 29a) deduces this date from the following time sequence:

(Note: The Torah counts the months starting from the Exodus. Hence Nissan, Iyar, and Sivan are months 1, 2 and 3 respectively).

The Torah clearly states, that on the 20^th day of the second month of the second year from the Exodus, the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle and the Israelites started to journey towards Israel (ibid. 10:11-12). The Torah then relates that they journeyed for three days (ibid. 10:33). Then the Israelites demanded meat from Hashem (ibid. 11:4). Hashem agreed to their request and granted meat for 30 days (ibid.11:20). However since their request displayed a lack of faith, Hashem smote the Israelites with a mighty blow (ibid. 11:33). Following this tragedy, Miriam spoke improperly about Moses (ibid. 12:1-2), was stricken with a skin condition called tzaarat (ibid. 12:10), and was quarantined for 7 days (ibid. 13:25). In deference to Miriam, the Israelites did not travel for these days.

On the 29^th of Sivan, Moses sent 12 spies to Israel to scout the land of Israel who returned after 40 days (Numbers 13:1-25). Allowing for 2 days in Sivan, 30 days in Tammuz (the 4^th month), and 8 days in Av (2+30+8 =40), they returned to camp on the 8^th of Av and related their fearful message to the people (ibid. 13:32-14:1). As a result, the people panicked and cried that night, the 9^th of Av (ibid. 14:2). Hashem said, “You (the Israelites) have cried without cause, therefore I (Hashem) will establish (this day) for crying for generations.” Hence Tisha B’Av was destined as a day of calamity when the Israelites sin grievously.

Lesson: Have faith in Hashem.

Tragedy 2 – Destruction of First Temple

The Talmud (ibid.) notes an apparent discrepancy between verses in scripture related to the destruction of the temple:

2 Kings 25:8-9 – “In the 5^th month (i.e. Av) on the 7^th of the month … Nebuzaradan captain of the executioners … burned the house of Hashem.”

Jeremiah 52:12-13 – “In the 5^th month on the 10^th of the month … … Nebuzaradan, captain of the executioners … burned the house of Hashem.”

The Talmud (ibid.) resolves this difference by explaining that the Babylonians entered the sanctuary on the 7^th, performed depraved acts on the 7^th and 8^th, and set fire to the sanctuary in the late afternoon of the 9^th. The sanctuary actually burned the entire day of the 10^th. Rabbi Yohanan felt that the fast should be observed on the 10^th. However the Rabbis set the fast on the 9^th because the commemoration should correspond to the beginning of the calamity. Here we see that the 9^th of Av occurs within a range of a few days of calamity which sets a pattern across history.

It is interesting to note that 2 Chronicles 36:19 mentions the burning of the Sanctuary but does not provide a date. Perhaps this book focuses on the actions of the different Kings of Israel and not on the dates of their defeats.

Cause for the Destruction of the Temple

The Talmud investigates the moral cause for the destruction of the temple to answer the obvious question, “Why did Hashem not protect his people?” The Talmud Yoma 9b answers that the first temple was destroyed because the Israelites committed the three major sins – idolatry, forbidden marital relations, and murder.

Lesson: The Israelites should follow the Torah and merit divine protection.