Rav Hiyya bar Joseph[1] (or Rav Hiyya bar Yosef;[2] Hebrew: רבי חייא בר יוסף[3]) was a Babylonian rabbi of the 3rd century (second generation of amoraim).
Biography
In Babylonia, he lived in a place called Sikara on the shore of the Tigris river, near Mahuza,[4] and had served as the city sage instituting measures.
He mainly studied under Rav and frequently quotes his teachings.[5] He would sometimes go to Samuel's school and submit secondhand reports of Rav, and get Samuel's response.[6] He was also a student of Samuel (probably after the death of Rav, like some other of Rav's students), and addressed him with questions,[7] and would sometimes dispute him.[8]
Later on he made Aliyah to the Land of Israel. Here he made his livelihood from salt trading.[9] Little is known about his family, except that after immigrating to the Land of Israel alone, he sent someone to bring his wife.[10]
Upon arrival to the Land of Israel he studied with R. Yochanan bar Nafcha and Shimon ben Lakish,[11] and submitted to them rulings by Rav.[12] Even with Yochanan bar Nafcha he disputed on various matters.[13] He also studied under R. Hiyya bar Abba.[14] The Talmud also mentions that Hiyya bar Joseph is addressing Yochanan bar Nafcha with questions, however, he was probably not considered Yochanan's pupil: in a dispute among them, Hiyya bar Joseph is mentioned first, and various doubts on halachic matters were brought before both of them as one.[15] At times, Hiyya bar Joseph also delivers statements in the name of Hoshaiah Rabbah.[16]
Pupils
Rav Giddel studied under him when he was still in Babylonia, and delivers statements in his name that are secondhand statements made by Rav.[17] The rabbis of Caesarea, the students of Caesarean academy, also cite laws in his name.[18]