Gemara Clarity

Bava Kamma 17a

בבא קמא י״ז ע״א

Learn Bava Kamma 17a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

חזקיה's funeral honor, the reward for תורה and kindness, and the opening משנה on רגל

Overview

This amud finishes the discussion of how חזקיה מלך יהודה was honored at his death. רבי יהודה says 36,000 men walked before him with bared shoulders. רבי נחמיה objects that אחאב got the same honor. He says instead that they laid a ספר תורה on the bier and said 'this man kept what is written in it.' The גמרא asks that we do this today too, and gives several answers. The last answer, from רבי יוחנן, is that only for חזקיה did they say 'he taught' the תורה. Next, רבי שמעון בן יוחאי teaches that whoever is busy with תורה and גמילות חסדים earns the portion of two tribes, יוסף and יששכר. Then the first פרק ends with a הדרן. The second פרק opens with a משנה: an animal walking normally and breaking things is רגל and pays full damage, while kicking, pebbles, a second broken vessel, and a chicken's string or hopping pay half.

Opening lines

וְחַד אָמַר שִׁבְעָה.

And the other one said: seven.

וְאָמְרִי לַהּ: שְׁלֹשִׁים.

And some say: thirty.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן:

The Rabbis taught:

״וְכָבוֹד עָשׂוּ לוֹ בְמוֹתוֹ״

"And they gave him honor in his death"

The steps (21)

  1. StatementHow long they learned at חזקיה's grave
  2. Statementרבי יהודה: 36,000 mourners went before him
  3. Challengeרבי נחמיה: אחאב got the same honor
  4. Statementרבי נחמיה: a ספר תורה was placed on his bier
  5. ChallengeBut we do this nowadays too
  6. ResolutionWe take it out but do not lay it down
  7. ResolutionWe lay it down but do not say 'he fulfilled'
  8. Statementרבי יוחנן's care before answering
  9. ResolutionWe say 'he fulfilled' but never 'he taught'
  10. ChallengeIsn't doing greater than learning?
  11. ResolutionLearning for yourself versus teaching others
  12. StatementThe reward for Torah and kindness
  13. ProofSowing means charity and water means Torah
  14. ProofThe portion of two tribes: יוסף and יששכר
  15. StatementA second explanation of the two tribes' reward
  16. Conclusionהדרן — Closing the chapter of ארבעה אבות
  17. StatementWhat it means that the foot is forewarned
  18. StatementKicking and flying pebbles pay half damage
  19. StatementOne vessel broken, then a second broken by its fall
  20. StatementChickens walking normally pay full damage
  21. StatementChickens with a string on their leg or hopping pay half