Sanhedrin 96: Tales of War and G-d's Will

Some basic thoughts about today's daf:

• stories describe Sennacherib's defeats
• G-d is said to be behind each humiliation
• Sennacherib and Nebuchadnezzar are compared, including the fact that their descendants taught Torah to many
• G-d played with time:  when Achav died, there were only two hours in the day and when Chizkiyah recovered from his illness, ten hours were returned to the world
• Warnings are given, including:
• the city of Dan is where people served idols and where Nebuchadnezzar became strong again
• the veins of a bird must be cut carefully for birds are roasted and not salted
• children of ignoramuses who then grow to teach Torah should be honoured
• When one does a small deed they will be rewarded; all the more so were our ancestors rewarded for their great deeds
• The story of Nebuchadnezzar's entry to Jerusalem is recounted:
• hundreds of tools were broken while trying to open the gate
• one axe was found and Nebuchadnezzar used it to enter the city
• Nebuchadnezzar on his own slaughtered hundreds of thousands
• a heavenly voice explained that Nebuchadnezzar was only 'winning' because it was decreed by G-d
• the blood of people would not stop flowing; it flowed differently from different people
• Nebuchadnezzar called to Zechariah to stop the blood from flowing
• We also learn that Nebuchadnezzar feared G-d's return and vengeance

The descriptions of war and bloodshed speak volumes about ancient Israel.  People faced continual fears of torture and death.  There was no expectation of a United Nations or a set of laws that would stop people from attacking each other.  Instead, the Torah was understood as legal and historical guidelines.  If everyone was killed, it was because that was G-d's will.  And G-d would always save Israel eventually.  That type of faith continues to be useful today.  Unfortunately we do not seem to be able to curb horrendous violence regardless of what we believe.