Gemara Clarity

Berachos 4b

ברכות ד׳ ע״ב

Berakhot 4b

Learn Berachos 4b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Berachos 4b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The evening קריאת שמע: the חצות fence, joining גאולה to תפילה at night, אשרי, and the bedtime שמע

Overview

The גמרא asks why the חכמים set the deadline for evening קריאת שמע at חצות if they agree with רבן גמליאל that the Torah allows the whole night. It answers that חצות is only a protective fence. A ברייתא describes a tired worker who plans to rest first, falls asleep and misses שמע, and it warns that one who breaks the חכמים's words is חייב מיתה. The גמרא gives two reasons for that harsh warning: the real danger of falling asleep, or to teach that תפילת ערבית is a חובה. The same ברייתא then supports רבי יוחנן, who joins גאולה to the evening תפילה, against רבי יהושע בן לוי, who places the תפילות between the two readings of שמע. Their argument is explained through סברא and through the פסוק ״בְּשָׁכְבְּךָ וּבְקוּמֶךָ״. The גמרא also shows that הַשְׁכִּיבֵנוּ does not break the link between גאולה and תפילה. Several אגדות follow: why תְּהִלָּה לְדָוִד is special, why אשרי has no נ verse, and how fast different angels fly. The amud ends with רבי יהושע בן לוי's rule to say שמע again on one's bed, and רב נחמן begins a comment that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

וְאִי כְּרַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל סְבִירָא לְהוּ —

And if they hold like Rabban Gamliel —

לֵימְרוּ כְּרַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל.

let them say like Rabban Gamliel.

לְעוֹלָם כְּרַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל סְבִירָא לְהוּ,

Really, they hold like Rabban Gamliel,

וְהָא דְּקָא אָמְרִי ״עַד חֲצוֹת״,

and the fact that they say "until midnight"

The steps (35)

  1. ChallengeIf the Sages agree with רבן גמליאל, why don't they rule like him?
  2. ResolutionThe Sages agree, but midnight is a protective deadline
  3. ProofA ברייתא describes the fence and the tired worker
  4. StatementThe ברייתא's harsh warning
  5. QuestionWhy does this rule get a death warning when others don't?
  6. ResponseFirst answer: the danger of falling asleep
  7. ResponseSecond answer: evening prayer is mandatory
  8. ProofThe ברייתא supports רבי יוחנן
  9. Statementרבי יהושע בן לוי: the prayers go in the middle
  10. QuestionWhat is their argument based on?
  11. ResponseEither a verse or reasoning
  12. ResponseThe logic approach: רבי יוחנן's view of the night redemption
  13. ResponseThe logic approach: רבי יהושע בן לוי's view
  14. ResponseThe verse approach: both learn from the same פסוק
  15. Responseרבי יוחנן compares the order of night to morning
  16. Responseרבי יהושע בן לוי compares the timing of night to morning
  17. Challengeהַשְׁכִּיבֵנוּ seems to break the link at night
  18. Resolutionהַשְׁכִּיבֵנוּ counts as part of the גאולה blessing
  19. ProofProof from the morning: the same problem exists there
  20. ConclusionBoth added pieces are part of the main unit
  21. StatementSaying תְּהִלָּה לְדָוִד three times a day
  22. QuestionWhat makes תהלה לדוד so special?
  23. RejectionThe alphabet reason is not enough
  24. RejectionThe feeding reason is not enough either
  25. ConclusionIt has both features together
  26. StatementWhy there is no verse starting with נ in אשרי
  27. StatementIn ארץ ישראל they read the verse with hope
  28. Statementדוד gave support right away in the ס verse
  29. Statementמיכאל is described as faster than גבריאל
  30. QuestionHow do we know the angel in ישעיהו is מיכאל?
  31. ResponseThe word 'one' links the שרף to מיכאל
  32. StatementHow many flights each angel needs
  33. StatementSay שמע again on your bed
  34. ProofA פסוק that hints to the bedtime שמע
  35. Statementרב נחמן begins a comment