Bava Batra 4 – King Herod Rebuilds the Temple

King Herod feared that the Sages might question his fitness to be a king, leading to a rebellion, and killed all of them, leaving Bava ben Buta, whom he blinded. He then pretended to be a commoner and came to test Bava ben Buta.

H. See, master, what this wicked slave is doing?

B. What shall I do to him?

H. Curse him.

B. “Even in your thoughts do not curse a king...”

H. But this man is not a king.

B. “...even in your bedroom do not curse the rich...”, and “... a prince among your people you shall not curse.”

H. If I knew that Sages were so circumspect, I would not have killed them. What is my remedy?

B. Rebuild the Temple.

And so King Herod started.