Epes the Southerner
| Rabbinical eras |
|---|
Epes the Southerner(Hebrew:אפס הדרומי,translit:Efes ha-Daromi) orRabbi Epes,was a scholar of the 3rd century, secretary to the patriarchJudah ha-Nasi,[1]and one of the lasttannaim.After Judah's death, while Efes conducted a college in southernJudea,on account of which he was called "'Efes (in theJerusalem Talmud,"Pas" ) the Southerner ",[2]he was made head of the academy atSepphoris,although the dying patriarch had ordered the appointment ofHanina bar Hamato that position. Hanina refused to supersede Efes, who was his senior by two years and a half.[3]
Hoshaiah Rabbahwas one of his disciples, and reported in his name severalaggadicremarks, among them one bearing onIsaiah 60:3: "Nations shall walk by thy light," from which he argues thatJerusalemwill in the future become a torch by the light of which people will walk.[4]Hoshaiah also reported a civil law in Efes' name,[5]andShimon ben Lakishasked him a question of halacha.[6]
Efes did not survive Judah ha-Nasi by many years. He was succeeded by Hanina ben Hama.
References[edit]
- ^Genesis Rabbah75:5
- ^YerushalmiTaanit4 68a;Ecclesiastes Rabbah7:7
- ^Shabbat59b;Ketuvot103b; compareYerushalmil.c.;Ecclesiastes Rabbahl.c.
- ^Pesikta Rabbati21 144b
- ^YerushalmiYoma5 43a
- ^Eruvin 65b;Yerushalmi Eruvin 4 23c
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Solomon SchechterandS. Mendelsohn(1901–1906)."EFES".InSinger, Isidore;et al. (eds.).The Jewish Encyclopedia.New York: Funk & Wagnalls.It has the following bibliography:
- Frankel, Mebo, p. 122a;
- Halevy, Dorot ha-Rishonim, ii. 133a et seq.;
- Bacher, Ag. Pal. Amor. i. 91;
- Heilprin, Seder ḥa-Dorot,ii., s.v.;
- Weiss, Dor, iii. 44.