Jose ben Zimra

Rabbinical eras

Jose ben Zimra (or Jose b. Zimra; Hebrew: רבי יוסי בן זמרה) was Jewish rabbi of the 2nd-3rd centuries (sixth generation of tannaim), who lived during the transition period between the eras of the tannaim and the amoraim.

He was a kohen.[1] He came from a privileged background family and his son married Judah haNasi's daughter.[2] According to some, he was a descendant of King David.[3]

Most of his teachings deal with the aggadah, and most of them were delivered by his student Eleazar ben Pedat, in Jose's name.

He spoke frequently against the sin of lashon hara.[4]

  1. ^ Yoma 78a
  2. ^ Babylonian Talmud, Kethuboth 62b
  3. ^ According to Rashi, the reason Judah haNasi did not engage in arrangements for the marriage with Rabbi Hiyya was because he did not descend from the line of David, but rather from King David's father Jesse, hence, R. Jose ben Zimra was a descendant of King David. However, according to Samuel Eidels, there is no proof of this in the Gemara.
  4. ^ For example: Arachin 15b; Vayikra Rabbah 16:4