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Chagigah 16a

חגיגה ט״ז ע״א

Learn Chagigah 16a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Chagigah 16a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

רבי עקיבא's safety in the פרדס, שדים and people, the forbidden areas of the משנה, secret sin, and the new משנה on סמיכה

Overview

The גמרא first asks which פסוק רבי עקיבא learned from that kept him safe in the פרדס. Four אמוראים give four answers, each showing that God stands apart from His angels or is not found in the great forces around Him. Next comes a ברייתא that sorts שדים between angels and people, and people between angels and animals, with three traits on each side. The גמרא then returns to the משנה. It explains, with a parable of a palace built on a garbage dump, why one may not look into what came before creation. It then asks what 'not caring for the Maker's honor' means: staring at a rainbow (רבי אבא) or sinning in private (רב יוסף). A challenge from רבי אלעא הזקן is resolved by whether the person can control his יצר. Teachings of רבי יהודה בר רבי נחמני follow: three things one should not stare at, a warning not to trust the יצר הרע, and several views on who testifies against a secret sinner. The amud ends with a new משנה listing the pairs of leaders who argued about סמיכה on a קרבן.

Opening lines

מַאי דְּרַשׁ?

What did he expound?

אָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה

Rabba bar bar Ḥana said

אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן:

Rabbi Yoḥanan said:

״וְאָתָא מֵרִבְבוֹת קֹדֶשׁ״ —

"And He came from the holy myriads"

The steps (33)

  1. QuestionWhat did רבי עקיבא learn from?
  2. ResponseFirst answer: God is unique among His myriads
  3. ResponseSecond answer: God is the model among His myriad
  4. ResponseThird answer: God is the Master of His host
  5. ResponseFourth answer: God was not in the wind, earthquake or fire
  6. StatementDemons are like angels in three ways
  7. ChallengeCan demons really know the future?
  8. ResolutionThey overhear the future from behind the curtain
  9. StatementDemons are like people in three ways
  10. StatementPeople are like angels in three ways
  11. StatementPeople are like animals in three ways
  12. StatementQuoting the משנה: Looking Into Four Things
  13. ChallengeWhy Is Thinking About 'Before' Forbidden?
  14. ResolutionThe Parable of the Palace on the Garbage Dump
  15. StatementQuoting the משנה: Not Caring for the Maker's Honor
  16. QuestionWhat Does This Mean?
  17. ResponseTwo Answers: Looking at a Rainbow or Sinning in Private
  18. ProofWhy the Rainbow: It Looks Like ה׳'s Glory
  19. ProofWhy Sinning in Private: Pushing Away ה׳'s Feet
  20. ChallengeChallenge from רבי אלעא הזקן: sinning in private can be the better choice
  21. ResolutionAnswer: it depends on whether he can control his יצר
  22. StatementThree things that make the eyes grow dim
  23. ProofSources for each of the three things
  24. StatementDo not believe the יצר הרע when it says ה׳ will forgive
  25. ProofProving what "רֵעַ" and "אַלּוּף" mean
  26. QuestionBut who will testify against me in private?
  27. ResponseThe stones and beams of his house testify
  28. ResponseThe Sages say the person's own soul testifies
  29. ProofProof from מיכה: the one lying in your bosom is the soul
  30. Responseרבי זריקא: the two escorting angels testify
  31. ResponseAnother view of the Sages: a person's own limbs testify
  32. StatementNew משנה: four pairs of leaders argue about סמיכה
  33. Statementהלל and מנחם agreed; then שמאי replaced מנחם and argued