Symmachus ben Joseph

For the author of one of the Greek versions of the Old Testament, see: Symmachus (translator) - Symmachus the Ebionite.

Symmachus ben Joseph ^[1] (or Symmachus or Summakhos;^[2] Hebrew: סוּמָכוֹס בן יוסף‎,^[3] read as Sumchus ben Yosef, or in short סוּמָכוֹס, read as Sumchus) was a Jewish Tanna sage of the fifth generation. Rabbi Meir is considered his Teacher par excellence,^[4] and Symmachus has cited many of his sayings. The most known one was:

"These are the words of Symmachus who said that 'money, which is in doubt - is to be split' [by the parties].^[5]"

"The Sages, however, disagrees with him: it is a fundamental principle in law: 'He who claims what is [in the possession] of another, the onus probandi falls on him' [the claimant].^[6]"

— Talmud, Tractate Bava Kamma, 46a

Symmachus was considered a Talmid Chacham, wise student Torah scholar, as it was said about him:

"R. Abbahu stated in the name of R. Johanan: R. Meir had a disciple of the name of Symmachus who said, on every rule concerning a ritual uncleanness, there are forty-eight reasons in support of its uncleanness, and on every rule concerning a ritual cleanness, forty-eight reasons in support of its cleanness."

— Talmud, Tractate Erubin, 13b

After his teacher R. Meir had died, and despite R. Judah ben Ilai's reluctance to teach R. Meir's disciplines, who were considered "scolding" students, Symmachus got enrolled into R. Judah ben Ilai's class and debate him over Halakha matters. In Epiphanius' treatise On Weights and Measures, a certain Symmachus is said to have converted to the Jewish religion from the Samaritan sect at the time of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius who is also called Verus.^[7] Rabbi Meir would have been his contemporary.

References