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Pesachim 87

87b

QUESTION: The Gemara relates that the prophet Hoshea was told by Hashem in a Nevu'ah to name his first son "Yizre'el," to represent Hashem's intent to "spread and sow" the Jewish people throughout the world in exile as a punishment "to the house of Yehu for the blood spilled in Yizre'el." This refers to the blood of Achav whom Yehu killed. Why was the house of Yehu punished for killing Achav? The prophet had stated in a prophecy that Achav was to be killed! Why is Yehu held accountable for his blood?

ANSWER: TARGUM YONASAN (Hoshea 1:4) explains that the reason Achav was killed was for serving Avodah Zarah. Yehu and his family also served Avodah Zarah. Even though the Gemara says in Sanhedrin that Yehu was misled and he did not sin maliciously, nevertheless he sinned by serving Avodah Zarah just like Achav whom he had killed. Because Yehu followed in Achav's ways, he had no right to carry out the prophecy about Achav, and he was found to be deserving of punishment for killing Achav *as if he spilled innocent blood*.

QUESTION: When Hashem sent the Jewish people into Galus to Bavel, in His mercy He sent them to "Beis Iman," their mother's home. What makes Bavel their "mother's home?" RASHI says that Bavel is called their "mother's home" because Ur Kasdim is in Bavel, and Ur Kasdim is the place from which Avraham Avinu came.

Why, though, is Ur Kasdim considered to be their mother's home? Avraham Avinu came from Charan which was not in Bavel (RAMBAN, Bereishis 11:28). He only came to Ur Kasdim later.

ANSWERS:

(a) The MAHARSHA writes that since Ur Kasdim is where Avraham dedicated his life to Emunah in Hashem, that is why it is called "Beis Iman." (As to why it is called their "mother's" home and not their "father's home" if that is where Avraham came from, the Maharsha says that it is the place where Avraham developed his *Emunah*, and thus it is called "Beis *Iman*," from the same root as "Emunah.")

(b) The MAHARSHA also says that we find in the Gemara (Sanhedrin 38b) that the head of Adam ha'Rishon was made from the earth of the land of Israel, and his body was made from the earth of Bavel. "Their mother's home," then, refers to the place from which Adam ha'Rishon's body came. RAV YOSEF ENGEL in Gilyonei ha'Shas adds that Chavah was taken from part of Adam's body (the rib) which was taken from the earth of Bavel, and that is why it is called "Beis *Iman*."