Abba Saul

For the first Generation Tanna sage with a similar name, see Abba Saul ben Batnit.

Tomb of Abba Saul and his wife

Abba Saul (Hebrew: אבא שאול‎‎, Abba Shaul) was a fourth generation Tanna (Jewish sage). His elder contemporary was Rabbi Akiva. Many Masoretes in the Talmud cite him engaging in the topics of the Temple in Jerusalem and the holy work done there.

He was tall at sight, and the Talmud (Babylonian, Tractate "Niddah" 61a) depicts R. Tarfon reaching only up to R. Saul's shoulder. Saul was a grave-digger. (Babylonian, Tractate Niddah 24b)

In the Talmud, Tractate "Yebamoth" (Levirate marriage), Abba Saul was stringent, and demanded that a levir (a "Yabbam", the brother of the deceased) should have pure-sacred intentions:

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"Abba Saul said, ‘If [a levir] married his sister-in-law on account of her beauty, or in order to gratify his desires, or with any other ulterior motive, it is as if he has infringed [the law of] incest; and I am even inclined to think that the child [from such a union] is a bastard [ Mamzer ]’."
— Babylonian Talmud, Tractate "Yebamoth", 109a

Abba Saul opined that in his days there was nowhere to be found a levir with a mitzvah (commandment) intention, and thus he revokes the commandment of the yibbum, replacing it with the Halizah.

Tanna Abba Saul was a proponent of Judaism's version of imitatio dei. "Abba Saul interpreted, and I will be like him: be thou like Him: just as He is gracious and compassionate, so be thou gracious and compassionate." (Babylonian, Tractate Shabbat 133b).^[1]

Tannaim

Last Generation of Zugot Era	Hillel the Elder Shammai Bnei Bathyra Menahem Akabia ben Mahalalel Hananiah b. Hezekiah b. Garon

First Generation	Gamaliel I, the Elder Shimon ben Gamliel (I) Ishmael ben Elisha ha-Kohen Johanan ben Zakai Jonathan ben Uzziel Baba ben Buta Hanina Ben Dosa Hanina Segan ha-Kohanim Abba Saul ben Batnit Admon Dosa ben Harkinas Judah ben Bathyra Eliezer ben Jacob I Nahum the Mede

Second Generation (Destruction of the Second Temple and thereafter)	Gamaliel II Joshua ben Hananiah Eliezer ben Hurcanus Eleazar ben Arach Nehunya ben HaKanah Nachum Ish Gamzu Abba Hilkiah Rabbi Zadok

Third Generation	Rabbi Akiva Rabbi Tarfon Judah ben Bava Rabbi Ishmael Eleazar ben Azariah Jose the Galilean Eliezer ben Jose Haninah ben Teradion Johanan ben Baroka Simon ben Zoma Simeon ben Azzai Onkelos Hanina ben Antigonus Hanina ben Hakinai Yochanan ben Nuri Eleazar Chisma Elisha ben Abuyah Rabbi Ilai I Eleazar of Modi'im Halafta Haninah ben Ahi R. Joshua Abtolemus Jose ben Kisma Jeshbab the Scribe Aquila of Sinope Johanan ben Torta Eleazar ben Judah of Bartota Matteya ben Heresh Hanan the Egyptian Simeon the Yemenite

Fourth Generation	Shimon ben Gamaliel (II) Judah bar Ilai Jose ben Halafta Rabbi Jonathan Rabbi Meir (and wife Bruriah) Simeon bar Yochai Eleazar ben Shammua Rabbi Nehemiah Rabbi Nathan Joshua ben Karha Abba Saul Yochanan HaSandlar Phinehas ben Jair Simeon Shezuri

Fifth Generation	Judah I Huna Kamma Jose b. Judah Ishmael ben Jose Eleazar b. Simeon Simeon ben Eleazar Eleazar ha-Kappar Symmachus ben Joseph Issi ben Judah Bar Kappara Jose ben Zimra Levi ben Sisi Rabbi Bana'ah Simeon b. Menasya Yadua the Babylonian Joshua ben Levi

References

↑ http://www.come-and-hear.com/shabbath/shabbath_133.html#133b_9

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