REḤUMAI (I.), RAB:

By: Wilhelm Bacher, Jacob Zallel Lauterbach

Babylonian amora of the fifth generation; pupil of Raba b. Joseph b. Ḥama. He addressed some questions to Abaye (Pes. 39a; Nazir 13a). He died on the eve of a Day of Atonement, and the manner of his death is told as follows: He was wont to return home on the eve of every Day of Atonement, but on the last occasion he was so engrossed in his studies that the time for departure passed and left him still at Maḥoza. His wife waited for him in vain, and at last gave expression to her disappointment in tears. As a punishment for his neglect, so runs the legend, it was decreed in heaven that he should die. Accordingly, the roof on which he was sitting fell in and he was killed (Ket. 62b).

W. B. J. Z. L.