[Avodah] Who is an considered an am ha'aretz

[Micha Berger]

About 20 min ago, at 4:40:38pm EDT, I wrote:
:: Exactly who is considered an am ha'aretz? The Rambam writes, "The Sages
:: defined an am ha' aretz as one who hates to learn Torah..."

: It also depends on context. Sotah 22a:

I found another usage -- Ezra 4:4:
   Then the am haaretz undeminded the resolve of Am Yehudah, and made
   them afraid to build.

... bayis sheini.

Rashi defines "am haaretz" there as "tzarei Yehudah uVinyamin".

Ralbag identifies them with the Kutim, which is interesting given:
: R' Elazar: someone who learned Tanakh and halakhah (qara veshana) but
: lo meshameish t"ch is an am ha'aretz. R' Shemu'els bar Nachmani says he is
: a bur, R' Yanai likens him to a Kusi, R' Acha bar Yaaqov and R' Nachman bar
: Yitzchaq - to a witch.

And yes, it was the Kusim who would be displaced by the return of Yehudah,
and opposed us.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             The meaning of life is to find your gift.
micha at aishdas.org        The purpose of life
http://www.aishdas.org   is to give it away.
Fax: (270) 514-1507                     - Pablo Picasso