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Arachin 11a

ערכין י״א ע״א

Arakhin 11a

Learn Arachin 11a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Temple music: the מגריפה, who the musicians were, and the Torah sources for the Levites' שירה

Overview

The amud finishes describing the מגריפה, a Temple instrument. It gives two versions: one says the instrument made one hundred tones, and a ברייתא says one thousand. רב נחמן בר יצחק gives a memory aid: the ברייתא is the one that exaggerates. The גמרא then explains the משנה's dispute about who the Temple musicians were. Everyone agrees the voice is the main part of the song. The real question is what serving on the דוכן proves about a person's lineage and his right to מעשרות. Next, a ברייתא brings a dispute about whether a קרבן is valid without the Levites' song. רבי מאיר says it is not valid, and the חכמים say it is. Finally, many sages bring different פסוקים as the Torah source for the duty of שירה, and רב מתנה adds that ביכורים also need song. The last source, from חנניא, is explained on the next amud.

Opening lines

עֲשָׂרָה נְקָבִים הָיוּ בָּהּ,

There were ten holes in it,

כׇּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מוֹצִיא עֲשָׂרָה מִינֵי זֶמֶר,

each and every one produced ten kinds of tone,

נִמְצֵאת כּוּלָּהּ מוֹצִיאָה מֵאָה מִינֵי זֶמֶר.

so it turns out the whole instrument produced one hundred kinds of tone.

בְּמַתְנִיתָא תָּנָא:

It was taught in a baraita:

The steps (29)

  1. StatementThe מגריפה had ten holes making one hundred tones
  2. StatementA ברייתא describes the מגריפה with one thousand tones
  3. StatementA memory aid: the ברייתא exaggerates
  4. StatementSuggestion: the dispute is whether song is mainly voice or instruments
  5. ChallengeChallenge: this does not explain רבי יוסי's view
  6. ResolutionAnswer: everyone agrees song is mainly voice; the dispute is about what the platform proves
  7. ResolutionMatching each view of the musicians to a rule about the platform
  8. StatementIs the Levites' song required for the offering to be valid?
  9. QuestionAsking for רבי מאיר's source
  10. ResponseThe verse that links song to atonement
  11. ChallengeWhat do the חכמים do with this verse?
  12. ResolutionThe חכמים use the verse to teach that song is by day
  13. Statementשמואל's source for שירה in the Torah
  14. ChallengeMaybe the service with God's name is the priestly blessing
  15. ResolutionThe priestly blessing is not called 'service'
  16. Statementרב מתנה's source: service with joy and a good heart
  17. ChallengeMaybe the joyful service is learning Torah
  18. ResolutionTorah is called 'gladdening the heart', not 'good'
  19. ChallengeMaybe the joyful service is bringing ביכורים
  20. Resolutionביכורים is called 'good', not 'good of heart'
  21. StatementFirst fruits also need song
  22. ChallengeSong is said only over wine
  23. ResolutionFirst fruits can be brought as wine
  24. StatementAnother source for the Levites' song
  25. Statementרבי יוחנן: 'Work of work' means song
  26. Statementרבי יצחק: 'Take up a melody'
  27. Statementרב נחמן בר יצחק: 'They lift up their voice'
  28. StatementA תנא: the extra word 'ישאו' means song
  29. Statementחנניא: 'משה spoke and God answered with a voice'