Bava Metzia 87a

בבא מציעא פ״ז ע״א

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Topic

Lessons from אברהם's hospitality, the miracles of יצחק's birth, and workers' meals and their right to eat

Overview

The גמרא continues reading the פסוקים about אברהם's guests and draws lessons from small details: you should not turn down a great person, צדיקים say little and do much while רשעים like עפרון do the opposite, and a woman tends to be more sparing with guests. It explains that the bread was never served because שרה became a נדה, and that the guests asked 'where is שרה' to show her modesty or to send her the כוס של ברכה. From this the גמרא learns that a guest may ask about a woman through her husband. It also teaches that peace is so great that הקב״ה changed שרה's words, and it tells how miracles at יצחק's weaning feast proved he was truly the son of אברהם and שרה. Next comes a list of firsts: visible old age with אברהם, illness before death with יעקב, and recovery from illness with אלישע. The גמרא then returns to the earlier משנה about feeding workers. It confirms the wording 'bread and legumes' and shows that רבן שמעון בן גמליאל's word 'everything' includes paying a worker by the local wage. Finally, a new משנה begins listing which workers may eat from the produce by Torah law, and the list of those who may not eat continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (31)

1. StatementYou may turn down a lesser person but not a great person
2. StatementThe righteous say little and do much
3. ProofProof from עפרון that the wicked say much and do little
4. StatementFlour and fine flour: a woman is more careful with guests
5. ChallengeWhy was the bread never served?
6. Resolutionשרה became a נדה, so the bread was impure
7. Statement'Where is שרה?' shows her modesty
8. StatementThe מלאכים asked to make שרה more beloved to אברהם
9. StatementThey asked in order to send her the כוס של ברכה
10. StatementThe dots on אליו teach good manners
11. Challengeשמואל says not to greet a woman at all
12. ResolutionAsking through her husband is different
13. Statementשרה's youth and beauty return
14. Challengeהקב״ה did not repeat שרה's exact words
15. ResolutionPeace is so great that הקב״ה changed the words
16. QuestionWhy does the פסוק say שרה nursed 'children'?
17. ResponseThe weaning feast and the nations' gossip
18. ResponseSarah nurses all the guests' babies
19. Statementיצחק's face changes to look like אברהם
20. Statementאברהם prays for old age to show
21. Statementיעקב prays for illness before death
22. Statementאלישע is the first to get sick and recover
23. StatementA ברייתא lists אלישע's three illnesses
24. StatementReturning to the משנה's line about bread and legumes
25. QuestionIs it 'bread of legumes' or 'bread and legumes'?
26. Responseרב חסדא: definitely 'bread and legumes'
27. Statementרבן שמעון בן גמליאל: everything follows local custom
28. QuestionWhat does the word 'everything' add?
29. ResponseIt includes paying a worker 'like the townspeople'
30. StatementNew משנה: workers who may eat by Torah law
31. Statementמשנה begins the list of workers who may not eat