Gemara Clarity

Chagigah 13a

חגיגה י״ג ע״א

Learn Chagigah 13a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Chagigah 13a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The heights of the heavens, and the strict limits on teaching מעשה מרכבה and ספר יחזקאל

Overview

The גמרא finishes explaining how הקב״ה is surrounded by both light and darkness, and רב אחא בר יעקב adds one more רקיע above the heads of the חיות. The גמרא says this is the limit of what may be discussed, quoting בן סירא. A ברייתא from רבן יוחנן בן זכאי then shows how a בת קול answered נבוכדנצר's boast that he would climb to heaven, by describing the huge distances up to the כסא הכבוד. The גמרא returns to the משנה's rule that מעשה מרכבה is not taught even to one person, and lists who may receive its outlines and who may learn סתרי תורה. Stories follow: רבי אלעזר holds back from learning the מרכבה, and רב יוסף refuses to teach it to the elders of פומבדיתא. A ברייתא about where the מרכבה ends is explained as marking levels of teaching. The amud ends with the story of the youth burned by the חשמל, חנניה בן חזקיה's rescue of ספר יחזקאל, and the question of what חשמל means, which רב יהודה answers on the next amud.

Opening lines

בְּבָתֵּי גַוָּאֵי,

[This one is] in the inner houses;

הָא בְּבָתֵּי בָרָאֵי.

that one is in the outer houses.

וְאָמַר רַב אַחָא בַּר יַעֲקֹב:

And Rav Aḥa bar Ya'akov said:

עוֹד רָקִיעַ אֶחָד יֵשׁ

There is one more firmament

The steps (24)

  1. ResolutionLight inside, darkness outside
  2. StatementOne more firmament above the creatures
  3. StatementThe limit of what may be discussed
  4. StatementThe Divine Voice answers the wicked king
  5. StatementA short life against an endless distance
  6. StatementThe enormous holy creatures
  7. ConclusionThe Throne, the King, and the boaster's fall
  8. StatementThe Chariot may not be taught to one person, but outlines may be given
  9. StatementEven the outlines are only for a court head and someone with a worried heart
  10. StatementFive qualities needed to learn the Torah's secrets
  11. StatementTorah is not given over to a non-Jew
  12. Statementרבי אלעזר feels too young to learn the Chariot from רבי יוחנן
  13. Statementרבי אלעזר turns down רבי אסי as well
  14. Statementרב יוסף and the elders of פומבדיתא agree to trade learning
  15. Statementרב יוסף keeps the Chariot 'under his tongue'
  16. ProofA second verse: hidden things stay under your clothing
  17. StatementThe elders already learned it, and רב יוסף says that is the מרכבה itself
  18. ChallengeA ברייתא says the מרכבה ends earlier
  19. ResolutionDifferent levels of teaching for different parts
  20. ChallengeCan one expound the חשמל at all?
  21. ResolutionThe youth was not yet ready
  22. Statementחנניה בן חזקיה saved ספר יחזקאל
  23. StatementThe youth burned by the חשמל and חנניה's defense of ספר יחזקאל
  24. QuestionWhat is the חשמל?