Mar 'Ukban III

Who is Mar 'Ukban III?

Nathan de-Zuzita, Jewish Amora sage of the 3d generation, whom according to Joseph ben Ḥama, is to be identified with the exilarch 'Uḳban ben Nehemiah, Joseph's contemporary, who was a contrite sinner.

The Seder 'Olam Zuṭa, too, in the list of the exilarchs, mentions an exilarch called "Nathan 'Uḳban. Rashi gives two explanations for the surname "Ẓuẓita," which means literally either "sparks" or "hair". Rashi explains that in touching the angel who received his repentance Nathan 'Uḳban either emitted sparks, or the angel took him by the hair. In Sanh. 31b Rashi explains the nature of Nathan's sin and says that after Nathan's repentance a radiance was seen about his head: hence the name "de-Ẓuẓita." According to the geonim Ẓemaḥ and Saadia, Nathan 'Uḳban, when he was young, was wont to curl his hair, his surname "de-Ẓuẓita" being derived from that habit. Another interpretation is that fire would flash out from his ẓiẓit, so that nobody could stand near him.

As to the nature of Nathan 'Uḳban's sins and repentance see Rashi to Sanh. l.c. Rabbi Aḥai of Shabḥa, in his "She'eltot", tells almost the same story as Rashi, of a man who was called "Nathan de-Ẓuẓita," but without mentioning either that he was likewise called "'Uḳban" or that he was an exilarch. Further, this story is related by Nissim ben Jacob in his "Ma'aseh Nissim," at great length, Nathan being placed in the time of Akiba—that is, not later than the first third of the 2nd century.