Samuel ben Nahman (Hebrew: שמואל בן נחמן) or Samuel [bar] Nahmani (Hebrew: שמואל [בר] נחמני) was a rabbi of the Talmud, known as an amora, who lived in the Land of Israel from the beginning of the 3rd century until the beginning of the 4th century.
[5] As an old man he went to the court of Zenobia (267-273), the powerful queen of Palmyra who invaded Roman Egypt, to petition her to pardon an orphaned youth who had committed a grave political crime.
[8] Samuel held a position of authority in the academy; to him is ascribed the rule that during the heat of the day instruction should be suspended.
[16] Samuel ben Naḥman's decisions and sayings concern the study of dogma,[17] prayer,[18] and Shabbat regulations;[19] the history of Israel and the nations and empires;[20] the laws regarding converts;[21] Scripture;[22] halakic exegesis;[23] and Biblical characters and narratives.
[27] Especially noteworthy is Samuel b. Naḥman's description of the grief of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and of Rachel, over the destruction of the Temple.