Q&A: The Sages of the Talmud
The Sages of the Talmud
Question
Hello Rabbi, what is the meaning of the terms “divine inspiration” or “Torah insight” that are attributed to the Amoraim?
2) Regarding stories in the Talmud that sound a bit bizarre (“he fixed his eyes on him and turned him into a heap of bones,” etc.), the explanation that is always given is that this should not be understood literally. But what is the alternative? That is, in certain cases it’s impossible to understand any meaning other than the literal one, and it sounds like the authors of the Talmud really were trying to describe actual events. What does the Rabbi think?
Answer
It would be best to ask those who attribute that to the Amoraim. I am not among those who do so. The Amoraim were human beings like you and me. Therefore, to the best of my understanding, those stories are metaphors.