Machshavaמחשבה

Breaking the Tablets and Jerusalem's Walls

Jewish sources explore the theological and historical connection between Moses breaking the Tablets on the Seventeenth of Tammuz and the later breaching of Jerusalem's walls, examining both the causal relationship between these covenantal events and their deeper spiritual significance.

נִשְׁתַּבְּרוּ הַלּוּחוֹת וְהוּבְקְעָה הָעִיר

8 sources · all verified

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What the sources say

The Mishnah establishes the foundational link: both the breaking of the tablets and the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem are listed together as calamities of the Seventeenth of Tammuz, as Mishnah Ta'anit 4:6 records that on that day "the tablets were broken, the daily sacrifice ceased, and the city was breached" — placing these events in a single catalogue of national catastrophe.

The same list appears in Jerusalem Talmud Ta'anit 4:5 and in Ta'anit 26b–29a, confirming that both the shattering of the Luchos and the breach of Jerusalem's walls share the same fateful date, with the Jerusalem Talmud even noting a textual difficulty about the precise dating of the breach and resolving it as "an erroneous computation."

Ein Aya, Shabbat 9:33 adds a purposive dimension, explaining that Moshe's breaking of the tablets was itself directed toward repair — "the greater the quality of the breaking, the greater the quality of the doubled and redoubled repair" — suggesting the breach is not merely destruction but a condition for future restoration.

Sefat Emet, Bamidbar, Balak 24 extends this forward, citing the Ari that the Seventeenth of Tammuz is destined to become a festival when Israel rectifies the sin, at which point the first tablets will shine once more — so that the day of the breached walls and broken tablets ultimately points toward redemption.

Source 1 · Chazal
Verified

Jerusalem Talmud Taanit 4:5

Jerusalem Talmud Taanit 4:5

The Mishnah lists five calamities that befell Israel on the Seventeenth of Tammuz, including the breaking of the tablets and the breaching of the city, and five on the Ninth of Av, with the passage subsequently debating whether the city's breaching occurred on the Seventeenth of Tammuz or Ninth of Av through interpretations of conflicting scriptural dates.

משנה: חֲמִשָּׁה דְבָרִים אֵירְעוּ אֶת אֲבוֹתֵינוּ בְּשִׁבְעָה עָשָׂר בְּתַמּוּז וַחֲמִשָּׁה בְּתִשְׁעָה בְאָב. בְּשִׁבְעָה עָשָׂר בְּתַמּוּז נִשְׁתַּבְּרוּ הַלּוּחוֹת וּבָטַל הַתָּמִיד וְהוֹבְקְעָה הָעִיר וְשָׂרַף אַפּוֹסְטוֹמוֹס אֶת הַתּוֹרָה וְהֶעֱמִיד צֶלֶם בַּהֵיכָל. בְּתִשְׁעָה בְאָב נִגְזַר עַל אֲבוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁלֹּא יִכָּנְסוּ לָאָרֶץ וְחָרַב הַבַּיִת בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה וּבַשְּׁנִיָּה וְנִלְכְּדָה בֶּיתָּר וְנֶחְרְשָׁה הָעִיר. וְהוֹבְקְעָה הָעִיר. כָּתוּב בְּתִשְׁעָה לַחוֹדֶשׁ הוֹבְקְעָה הָעִיר וְאַתְּ אָמַר הָכֵין. אָמַר רִבִּי תַנְחוּם בַּר חֲנִילַאי. קִילְקוּל חֶשְׁבוֹנוֹת יֵשׁ כָּאן. הָדָא הִיא דִכְתִיב וַיְהִי בְּעַשְׁתֵּי עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה בְּאֶחָד לַחוֹדֶשׁ הָיָה דְבַר יי אֵלַי לֵאמֹר. בֶּן אָדָם יַעַן אֲשֶׁר אָמְרָה צּוֹר עַל יְרוּשָׁלַם הֶאָח. מָהוּ הֶאַח. אִין תִּימַר. בְּאֶחָד בְּאַב. עַדַּיִין לָא נִשְׂרַף. אִין תֵּימַר בְּאֶחָד בְּאֶלּוּל. [בְּ]יוֹם וָלַיְלָה נְפַק בַּלְדָּרָה מִן יְרוּשָׁלִַם וְאָתֵי לְצוֹר. אֶלָּא קִילְקוּל חֶשְׁבוֹנוֹת יֵשׁ כָּאן. רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְרִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ. רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר. לַמֶּלֶךְ שֶׁהָיָה יוֹשֵׁב וּמְחַשֵּׁב חֶשְׁבּוֹנוֹת. בָּאוּ וְאָמְרוּ לוֹ. נִשְׁבָּה בִּנְךָ. וְנִתְקַלְקְלוֹ חֶשְׁבּוֹנוֹתָיו. אָמַר. יֵיעָשֶׂה זֶה רֹאשׁ לַחֶשְׁבוֹנוֹת. רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ אָמַר. לַמֶּלֶךְ שֶׁהָיָה יוֹשֵׁב וּמְחַשֵּׁב חֶשְׁבּוֹנוֹתָיו. בָּאוּ וְאָמְרוּ לוֹ. נִשְׁבָּה בִּנְךָ וְנִתְקַדֵּשׁ. אָמַר. יֵיעָשֶׂה זֶה רֹאשׁ לַחֶשְׁבוֹנוֹת. רִבִּי מָנָא בָעִי. נִיחָא נִתְקַלְקְלוֹ לְשֶׁעָבַר. דִּילְמָא לְהַבָּא. בֵּין כְּמָאן דְּאָמַר. בַּתִּשְׁעָה לַחוֹדֶשׁ. בֵּין כְּמָאן דְּאָמַר. בְּשִׁבְעָה עָשָׂר. [מַה בֵינִיהוֹן.] עֶשְׂרִים וְאֶחָד יוֹם מִיּוֹם שְׁהוֹבְקְעָה הָעִיר וְעַד יוֹם שֶׁחָרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ. אָמַר רִבִּי אָבוּנָה. סִימָנָא מַקֵּל שָׁקֵד אֲנִי רוֹאֶה. מָה הַלּוּז הַזֶּה מִשֶּׁהוּא מוֹצִיא אֶת נִיצּוֹ וְעַד שֶׁהוּא גוֹמֵר אֶת פֵּירוֹתָיו עֶשְׂרִים וְאֶחָד יוֹם. כָּךְ מִיּוֹם שְׁהוֹבְקְעָה הָעִיר וְעַד יוֹם שֶׁחָרַב הַבַּיִת עֶשְׂרִים וְאֶחָד יוֹם. מָאן דְּאָמַר. בַּתִּשְׁעָה לַחוֹדֶשׁ. (בְּשִׁבְעָה עָשָׂר) [בְּאֶחָד] בְּאַב חָרַב הַבַּיִת. מָאן דְּאָמַר בְּשִׁבְעָה עָשָׂר. בְּתִשְׁעָה בְאַב חָרַב הַבַּיִת.

MISHNAH: Five things happened to our forefathers on the Seventeenth of Tammuz and five on the Ninth of Av. On the Seventeenth of Tammuz were the tablets broken, the daily sacrifice ceased, the city was breached, Apostomos burned the Torah, and put up an idol in the Temple. On the Ninth of Av was decided that our forefathers would not enter the Land, the Temple was destroyed the first and second times, Betar was taken, and the city ploughed over. “And the city was breached.” It is written, on the Ninth of the month the city was breached, and you are saying so? Rebbi Tanḥum bar Ḥanilai said, here is an erroneous computation. That is what is written, it was in the eleventh year, on the first of the month, was the Eternal’s word to me, saying: Son of man, since Tyre said about Jerusalem hurrah. What “hurrah”? If you are saying on the first of Av, it still was not burned. If you are saying on the first of Ellul, cannot in one day and night the messenger leave Jerusalem and arrive at Tyre? But here is an erroneous computation. Rebbi Joḥanan and Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish. Rebbi Joḥanan said, {a parable} of a king who was sitting and computing computations. They came and told him, your son was kidnapped; his computations became erroneous. He said, let this be the beginning of computations. Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish said, {a parable} of a king who was sitting and computing computations. They came and told him, your son was kidnapped and incapacitated; his computations became erroneous. He said, let this be the beginning of computations. Rebbi Mana asked, one understands this that they were erroneous for the past; maybe for the future? Whether one follows him who said on the ninth of the month, or the one who said on the seventeenth, [in what do they differ?] there are twenty-one days from the day the city was breached to the day the Temple was destroyed. Rebbi Abuna said, an indication, I am seeing an almond stick. Since this almond tree from sprouting its flower to finishing its fruit needs twenty-one days, so from the day the city was breached to the day the Temple was destroyed twenty-one days. He who says on the Ninth of the month, the Temple was destroyed on the first of Av. He who says on the Seventeenth, the Temple was destroyed on the Ninth of Av.

Source 2 · Chazal
Verified

Mishnah Ta'anit 4:6

Mishnah Ta'anit 4:6

The Mishnah lists the five calamities of the seventeenth of Tammuz, including the breaking of the tablets, making it a primary source for linking the first breach in covenant to later national tragedy.

חֲמִשָּׁה דְבָרִים אֵרְעוּ אֶת אֲבוֹתֵינוּ בְּשִׁבְעָה עָשָׂר בְּתַמּוּז וַחֲמִשָּׁה בְּתִשְׁעָה בְאָב. בְּשִׁבְעָה עָשָׂר בְּתַמּוּז נִשְׁתַּבְּרוּ הַלּוּחוֹת, וּבָטַל הַתָּמִיד, וְהֻבְקְעָה הָעִיר, וְשָׂרַף אַפּוֹסְטֹמוֹס אֶת הַתּוֹרָה, וְהֶעֱמִיד צֶלֶם בַּהֵיכָל.

Source 3 · Chazal
Verified

Ta'anit 26b-29a

Taanit 26b-29a

The Gemara expands on the fast of the seventeenth of Tammuz and the disasters associated with it, including the shattering of the luchos and the later destruction of the Temple-related order.

נִשְׁתַּבְּרוּ הַלּוּחוֹת, וּבָטַל הַתָּמִיד, וְהוּבְקְעָה הָעִיר, וְשָׂרַף אַפּוֹסְטְמוֹס אֶת הַתּוֹרָה, וְהֶעֱמִיד צֶלֶם בַּהֵיכׇל.

Source 4 · Hasidic
Verified

Sefat Emet, Deuteronomy, Eikev 19

Sefat Emet, Deuteronomy, Eikev 19

A midrash interprets the verse "a time to cast away stones" as referring to the breaking of the Luchos, which occurred after the sin when the Luchos were given from below under the heavens in the manner of other matters subject to time, whereas the first Luchos were above the sun and not bound by known time or place.

ובמדרש בעת ההוא אמר ה"א פסל לך כו' לכל זמן ועת כו' עת להשליך אבנים זה שבירת הלוחות. כנוס אבנים פסל לך ע"ש. והענין הוא כי אחר החטא ניתנו הלוחות מלמטה תחת השמים והוא בדרך הכ"ח עתים שתחת השמש. אבל לוחות הראשונות היו למעלה מן השמש ולא הי' בזמן ובמקום ידוע.

Source 5 · Hasidic
Verified

Sefat Emet, Numbers, Balak 24

Sefat Emet, Numbers, Balak 24

On the 17th of Tammuz, Moshe descended with the first Luchos and although they broke, the fragments remained in the Aron since all gifts given by the Holy One to Israel endure forever; and in the name of the Arizal, the day will become a festival when Israel corrects the sin and the first Luchos will shine.

בי"ז בתמוז ירד מרע"ה עם הלוחות ראשונות והגם שנשברו איתא שברי לוחות מונחין בארון כי כל המתנות שנתן הקב"ה לבנ"י הם לעולם. ואיתא בשם האר"י ז"ל חג לה' מחר כי לעתיד לבוא יהי' י"ז בתמוז חג כשיתקנו בנ"י החטא יאירו הלוחות ראשונות.

Source 6 · Hasidic
Verified

Shem MiShmuel, Ki Tisa 1:4

Shem MiShmuel, Ki Tisa 1:4

The Luchos, while intact, prevented death from having dominion over the Jewish people; therefore they had to be broken so that matter and form would no longer be unified, allowing the body to be repaired through burial in the earth.

וכל עוד שהיו הלוחות קיימין לא הי' אפשר לשלוט בהם המיתה, ע"כ הצריך לשבר את הלוחות שלא יהי' החומר והצורה אחת, ואז יתתקן הגוף ע"י ארץ שיקבר, והבן:

Source 7 · Modern
Verified

Ein Aya, Shabbat 9:43

Ein Aya, Shabbat 9:43

The passage addresses the breaking of the Luchos by interpreting it through textual derivation: the action teaches that from the Torah's light and its paths of interpretation, a specific light must necessarily shine forth that shows the way to dim the supernal light for the purpose of its exile in the end of days.

שבר את הלוחות מאי דרש. בנין יקרא לה, וממאור התורה וארחות דרושיה מוכרח להתנוצץ אור זה, המורה דרך, איך להאפיל את האורה העליונה, למטרת הגלותה באחרית הימים, ותאות שאלת מאי דרש לשבר את הלוחות._

Source 8 · Modern
Verified

Ein Aya, Shabbat 9:33

Ein Aya, Shabbat 9:33

Moses's view, which aligns with God's, holds that breaking can serve a corrective purpose, such that the magnitude of the breaking corresponds proportionally to the magnitude of the subsequent repair, comparable to how a commercial venture's preparation is recognized through the profit it yields upon success; therefore, the breaking of the Luchos occurred specifically according to Moses's judgment, with which God agrees.

זוהי דעתו של משה המסכימה עם דעת עליון, שהיא מוצאה מטרה בשבירה לשם תיקון, שלפי גודל האיכות של השבירה תוכר האיכות הגדולה הכפולה ומכופלת של התיקון, כדרך שיוכר מהוצאה של איזו הכנה מסחרית על הריוח המקווה בה בהצלחתה. ע"כ דוקא ע"פ דעתו של משה, שהקב"ה מסכים עמו, באה שבירת הלוחות.