[Avodah] Who is a Talmid Chacham

[Micha Berger]

On Fri, Jul 06, 2012 at 07:30:21AM +0300, Doron Beckerman wrote:
:> the Shofetim

: Who, by and large, were not the greatest Talmidei Chachamim of their times.

Yiftach bedoro keShmuel bedoro.

:> Shaul

: Hashem explicitly appointed him as the best there was.

... despite it interfering with his talmud Torah.

:> David haMelekh

: See Rashi Sanhedrin 49a - "Ilmalei David Shehayah Osek BaTorah, Lo Asah
: Yoav Milchamah, Aval Zechuso Shel David Omedes Lo LeYoav BeMilchamosav Shel
: David."

In some wars. Shemuel I 19:8, "vayeitzei David bayilachem baPelishtim",
predate his appointment. II 8:1, "vayakh David es Pelishtim". v. 2
"Vayach es Moav". Etc.. for a number of battles through that pereq.

"Lo sivneh bayis liShmi, ki damim Rabim shafakhta artzah lefanai"
-Divrei haYamim I 22:8.

He went to enough wars to be disqualified from bulding bayis rishon.

:> R' Aqiva -- including avos of their respective Batei Din haGadol -- are
:> also relevent.

: Sources?

Sources that a number of the Shofetim, Shaul, and David were av beis din?
(Or that the mashiach will be?) Or that they went to war?

The head of Shelomo's guard was his predecessor as av beis din --
Behnayahu. Admittedly that's not formal war, but still seems relevant.

:-)BBii!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             Man can aspire to spiritual-moral greatness
micha at aishdas.org        which is seldom fully achieved and easily lost
http://www.aishdas.org   again. Fulfillment lies not in a final goal,
Fax: (270) 514-1507      but in an eternal striving for perfection. -RSRH