Honi HaM'agel

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Rabbinical Eras
Zugot Tannaim Amoraim Savoraim Geonim Rishonim Acharonim

Grave of Honi the Circlemaker in Northern Israel

Honi HaM'agel (חוני המעגל Khoni, or Choni, HaM'agel, Hebrew for Honi the Circle-drawer) (First century BCE) was a Jewish scholar prior to the age of the Tannaim, the scholars from whose teachings the Mishnah (the first part of the Talmud) was derived.

During the first century BCE, a variety of religious movements and splinter groups developed amongst the Jews in Judea. A number of individuals claimed to be miracle workers, in the tradition of Elijah and Elisha the ancient Jewish prophets.

The Talmud provides some examples of such Jewish miracle workers. Mishnah Ta'anit 3:8 tells of Honi HaM'agel' ("Choni the Circle-drawer") who was famous for his ability to successfully pray for rain. On one occasion when God did not send rain well into the winter (in the geographic regions of Israel it rains mainly in the winter), he drew a circle in the dust, stood inside it, and informed God that he would not move until it rained. When it began to drizzle, Honi told God that he was not satisfied and expected more rain; it then began to pour. He explained that he wanted a calm rain, at which point the rain calmed to a normal rain.

He was almost put into excommunucation for the above incident in which he showed "dishonor" to God. However, Shimon Ben Shetach, the brother of the queen Salome Alexandra excused him saying that he was Honi and had a special relationship with God.

The circumstances of Honi's death are described in the Talmud (Taanit 23a): He fell asleep and awoke after 70 years, and when nobody would believe him that he was indeed Honi the Circledrawer, he prayed to God and God took him from this world.

Josephus, in the Antiquities of the Jews, relates Honi's end in the context of conflict between the Hasmonean brothers Hyrcanus II, backed by the Pharisees and advised Antipater the Idumaean, and Aristobulus II, backed by the Saducees. Around 63 BCE, Honi was captured by the followers of Hyrcanus besieging Jerusalem and asked to pray for the demise of their opponents. Honi however prayed: "Lord of the universe, as the besieged and the besiegers both belong to Thy people, I beseech Thee not to answer the evil prayers of either." After this, the followers of Hyrcanus stoned him to death

The Maharsha (Ta'anit ad loc.) answers the discrepancy between the Talmud and Josephus by stating that Honi was "presumed" killed by Hyrcanus II's men, but in reality was put into a deep sleep for 70 years.

Honi's grave can be located near the town of Hatzor Ha Gelilit in northern Israel.