Gemara Clarity

Beitzah 24a

ביצה כ״ד ע״א

Learn Beitzah 24a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Beitzah 24a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Trapping from ביברין on יום טוב, the definition of מחוסר צידה, and fish from traps or of doubtful readiness (ספק מוכן)

Overview

The amud opens with the end of a משנה: an animal in an enclosure that still needs real trapping (מחוסר צידה) may not be taken on יום טוב, but one that can be grabbed right away may be taken. The גמרא sets a ברייתא against this. The ברייתא forbids trapping animals and birds from ביברין on יום טוב. The גמרא first explains the animal clash as a מחלוקת between רבי יהודה and חכמים. For birds it suggests a roofed vs. unroofed ביבר. It defends that suggestion by saying the 'bird in a house is not caught' rule is only about a צפור דרור. Then it explains the animals the same way, as a small vs. large ביבר, and רב אשי gives three ways to tell them apart. Next, שמואל rules like רבן שמעון בן גמליאל, which leads to אביי's famous point that we must understand, not just repeat a ruling. שמואל defines מחוסר צידה as 'bring a trap'. That test is refined using geese, chickens and dovecote doves. A new משנה then says animals from traps set before יום טוב may be taken only if they were caught before יום טוב. The גמרא fills in missing words to fit the story of רבן גמליאל and the fish, and שמואל rules that ספק מוכן is forbidden. A third version of that ruling begins at the end and continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

הַמְחוּסָּר צֵידָה — אָסוּר,

One whose trapping is still lacking — is forbidden,

וְשֶׁאֵינוֹ מְחוּסָּר צֵידָה — מוּתָּר.

and one whose trapping is not lacking — is permitted.

גְּמָ׳ וּרְמִינְהוּ:

GEMARA: And they raised a contradiction:

בֵּיבָרִין שֶׁל חַיָּה וְשֶׁל עוֹפוֹת —

Enclosures of animals and of birds —

The steps (34)

  1. StatementThe משנה's rule: needs trapping is forbidden, does not need trapping is allowed
  2. ChallengeA ברייתא forbids trapping from enclosures, contradicting the משנה
  3. ResolutionThe animal contradiction is solved: two different תנאים
  4. ProofProof that רבי יהודה and חכמים disagree about animals in enclosures
  5. ChallengeThe bird contradiction is still unsolved
  6. ResolutionSuggested answer: roofed vs. unroofed enclosure
  7. RejectionRejection: a bird in a house is not trapped
  8. Resolutionרבה בר רב הונא: that rule is about a צפור דרור
  9. ProofSupport from the school of רבי ישמעאל
  10. ResolutionAnimals too: small vs. large enclosure
  11. QuestionWhat counts as a small or large enclosure
  12. ResponseFirst definition: caught in one lunge
  13. ResponseSecond definition: many corners
  14. ResponseThird definition: walls' shadows overlap
  15. StatementThe ruling follows רבן שמעון בן גמליאל
  16. Questionאביי: does 'הלכה' mean there is a dispute?
  17. Challengeרב יוסף: what difference does it make?
  18. Responseאביי: learning is not just reciting a song
  19. QuestionWhat is an animal still needing to be caught?
  20. ResponseDefinition: when people would say 'bring a trap'
  21. Challengeאביי challenges the definition from geese and chickens
  22. ResolutionFirst answer: geese and chickens come home at night
  23. ChallengeChallenge from dovecote doves, which also come home
  24. ResolutionCorrected answer: who feeds them
  25. Resolutionרב מרי: some birds tend to slip away, others do not
  26. ChallengeBut all birds try to escape
  27. ResolutionEscaping even inside their coop
  28. StatementTraps set before יום טוב
  29. StatementThe story of רבן גמליאל and the fish
  30. ChallengeDoes the story contradict the rule?
  31. ResolutionThe משנה is missing words: a מחלוקת about ספק מוכן
  32. Statementשמואל: the הלכה is not like רבן גמליאל
  33. StatementAnother version: שמואל's ruling on a ברייתא
  34. StatementA third version begins