Avodah Zarah 25a

עבודה זרה כ״ה ע״א

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Topic

ספר הישר, the sun standing still for יהושע and משה, שאול's portion, and the start of the משנה's rule on יחוד with גוים

Overview

The גמרא asks what ספר הישר is, since a פסוק in יהושע says the sun standing still is 'written' there. רבי יוחנן says it is בראשית, the book of the אבות, and finds the hint in יעקב's blessing to אפרים. Three אמוראים then argue, in two versions, about how many hours the sun stood still: 24, 36 or 48. A ברייתא adds that the sun also stood still for משה and for נקדימון בן גוריון. The גמרא finds a source for משה in three different ways, and answers the challenge that יהושע's day was 'like no other'. A second פסוק about teaching בני יהודה the bow also mentions ספר הישר. רבי יוחנן, רבי אלעזר and רבי שמואל בר נחמני identify that book as בראשית, דברים or שופטים, and each finds a hint to the bow. The same three then explain which part of the animal was served to שאול with the thigh. Finally the גמרא returns to the משנה's ban on a woman being alone with גוים and starts asking what case it means.

Opening lines

The steps (39)

1. QuestionWhat is ספר הישר?
2. ResponseIt is the book of the אבות
3. QuestionWhere is it hinted in בראשית?
4. ResponseThe hint in יעקב's blessing to אפרים
5. QuestionHow long did the sun stand still?
6. Statementרבי יהושע בן לוי: twenty-four hours
7. Statementרבי אלעזר: thirty-six hours
8. Statementרבי שמואל בר נחמני: forty-eight hours
9. StatementSecond version: the argument is about the extra hours, starting with רבי יהושע בן לוי
10. Statementרבי אלעזר in the second version: 36 extra hours
11. Statementרבי שמואל בר נחמני in the second version: 48 extra hours
12. StatementThe sun also stood still for משה and for נקדימון בן גוריון
13. QuestionHow do we know it happened for משה?
14. ResponseLearned from the word 'אחל' in both places
15. Responseרבי יוחנן: learned from the word 'תת' instead
16. ResponseProof straight from the verse that the sun stood still for משה
17. ChallengeChallenge: there was never a day like יהושע's day
18. ResolutionFirst answer: משה's miracle lasted fewer hours
19. ResolutionSecond answer: משה's day had no hailstones
20. QuestionWhat is ספר הישר in the פסוק about the bow?
21. ResponseIt is the book of the אבות, who are called 'ישרים'
22. QuestionWhere in that book is the bow hinted at?
23. Responseיעקב's blessing to יהודה hints at the bow
24. Statementרבי אלעזר: ספר הישר is משנה תורה
25. QuestionWhere does דברים hint at the bow?
26. Response'His hands shall contend for him' means the bow
27. Statementרבי שמואל בר נחמני: ספר הישר is שופטים
28. QuestionWhere does שופטים hint at the bow?
29. Response'To teach them war' means the bow
30. QuestionHow do we know this פסוק is about יהודה?
31. Responseה׳ chose יהודה to lead the fighting
32. QuestionWhat does 'והעליה' mean in the פסוק about שאול's meal?
33. Responseרבי יוחנן: the thigh and the tail
34. QuestionWhy is the tail called 'what was on it'?
35. ResponseThe thigh holds up the tail
36. Responseרבי אלעזר: The Thigh and the Breast
37. Responseרבי שמואל בר נחמני: The Thigh and the Top Cap
38. QuestionWhat Case Does the Rule About Being Alone With גוים Mean?
39. ChallengeIf It Means One גוי, That Is Obvious