Bava Basra 121b

בבא בתרא קכ״א ע״ב

Bava Batra 121b

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Topic

ט״ו באב's joyful reasons, the seven lives spanning history, who was under the desert decree, and how ארץ ישראל was divided

Overview

The גמרא finishes listing reasons why ט״ו באב became a happy day. It shows from the order of two פסוקים that God spoke to משה again only after the desert generation stopped dying. Then come more reasons: the roads to ירושלים were reopened by הושע בן אלה, the dead of ביתר were buried (when הטוב והמטיב was set up in יבנה), and the wood-cutting for the מזבח ended, a day nicknamed ׳יום תבר מגל׳. Since the nights grow longer from then on, one who adds Torah learning at night adds to his life. Next a ברייתא lists seven people whose lives cover all of history, from אדם to אליהו. The גמרא asks how אחיה השילוני could have survived the desert. רב המנונא answers that שבט לוי was not under the decree, but this is challenged from יאיר בן מנשה, who also lived on. So רב אחא בר יעקב rules that the decree covered only people aged twenty to sixty. Finally the גמרא asks whether ארץ ישראל was divided by tribe or by head count, and the discussion continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (17)

1. ProofProof from a פסוק that God spoke to משה again only after the dying ended
2. Statementעולא: the day the roads to ירושלים were reopened
3. Statementרב מתנה: the day the dead of ביתר were buried
4. ProofThe blessing הטוב והמטיב was set up on that same day
5. Statementרבה and רב יוסף: the day wood-cutting for the מזבח stopped
6. ProofA ברייתא: after ט״ו באב the sun weakens and wood is not cut
7. Statementרב מנשה: the day was called ׳the day the sickle breaks׳
8. StatementFrom ט״ו באב on, adding night learning adds life
9. QuestionWhat does ׳יסיף׳ mean?
10. ResponseHis mother will bury him
11. StatementSeven people whose lives cover all of history
12. ChallengeHow could אחיה השילוני have seen עמרם?
13. ResolutionThe desert decree did not include שבט לוי
14. ChallengeChallenge: יאיר and מכיר from שבט מנשה also entered the land
15. ProofThe פסוק about העי refers to יאיר בן מנשה
16. ResolutionThe decree did not cover anyone under twenty or over sixty
17. QuestionWas the land divided by tribe or by head count?