Bava Basra 12a
From the Prophets to Sages
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From the day that the Temple was destroyed,
prophecy was taken away from the prophets
and given to the Sages. What a crazy statement!
Question: Is a Sage not fit to be a prophet?
Answer: These are 2 different types of people.
Even though prophecy was taken from the prophets,
it was not taken away from the Sages.
And a Sage is greater than a prophet!
A verse: “And a prophet has a heart of wisdom”
Meaning that a prophet is naturally wise.
Here too, prophecy is compared to wisdom,
So wisdom is greater than prophecy.
prophecy was taken away from the prophets
and given to the Sages. What a crazy statement!
Question: Is a Sage not fit to be a prophet?
Answer: These are 2 different types of people.
Even though prophecy was taken from the prophets,
it was not taken away from the Sages.
And a Sage is greater than a prophet!
A verse: “And a prophet has a heart of wisdom”
Meaning that a prophet is naturally wise.
Here too, prophecy is compared to wisdom,
So wisdom is greater than prophecy.