Chagigah 14b

חגיגה י״ד ע״ב

Learn Chagigah 14b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Chagigah 14b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The stories of expounding מעשה מרכבה, the four who entered the פרדס, and questions put to בן זומא

Overview

The amud opens by finishing an earlier discussion: people stayed trustworthy in Torah matters even when ירושלים fell, but not in business. The גמרא then returns to מעשה מרכבה with a ברייתא. רבי אלעזר בן ערך presents his own understanding before רבן יוחנן בן זכאי. Fire comes down, the trees sing, an angel confirms his words, and his rebbe praises him warmly. A second story follows: רבי יהושע expounds, clouds and a rainbow appear in midsummer, and angels gather. רבן יוחנן בן זכאי praises his students and tells of a dream inviting them to a special place in Heaven. The גמרא then asks why a list of three lecturers leaves out רבי אלעזר בן ערך, and explains that the list counts only a chain of lecturers. Next comes the famous ברייתא of four who entered the פרדס, where only רבי עקיבא came out safely. Finally, people bring questions to בן זומא. The second question, about a pregnant בתולה marrying a כהן גדול, continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (25)

1. ResolutionTrustworthy in Torah, not in business
2. StatementThe scene on the road and the student's request
3. ResponseThe rebbe refuses, but lets the student speak
4. ResponseThe rebbe gets off the donkey out of reverence
5. StatementThe student expounds and the trees sing
6. ProofThe trees' song and the angel's confirmation
7. ConclusionThe rebbe kisses and praises his student
8. Statementרבי יהושע and רבי יוסי הכהן decide to expound
9. StatementClouds, a rainbow, and angels come to listen
10. Responseרבן יוחנן בן זכאי praises his students
11. Proofרבן יוחנן בן זכאי's dream on Mount Sinai
12. ChallengeA list of three lecturers leaves out רבי אלעזר בן ערך
13. ResolutionOnly one who lectured and was also lectured to is counted
14. ChallengeBut חנניא בן חכינאי had no one lecture before him
15. ResolutionHe lectured before someone who himself had lectured
16. StatementFour sages entered the פרדס
17. Statementרבי עקיבא warns: do not say 'Water, water'
18. Statementבן עזאי glimpsed and died
19. Statementבן זומא glimpsed and was harmed
20. Statementאחר cut down the shoots
21. Statementרבי עקיבא came out safely
22. QuestionIs castrating a dog allowed?
23. ResponseAny animal in your land may not be castrated
24. QuestionMay a pregnant בתולה marry a כהן גדול?
25. QuestionDoes the question depend on שמואל?