Eruvin 53b

עירובין נ״ג ע״ב

Learn Eruvin 53b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Eruvin 53b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The forgiveness of שאול, the spelling of מאברין/מעברין, and stories of precise, clever and careless speech

Overview

This amud finishes the side discussion about שאול. רבי יוחנן proves from a verse that he was forgiven for the sin of נוב. The גמרא then returns to the spelling question of מאברין or מעברין. בני יהודה, known for precise speech, answer that both versions are taught. The גמרא contrasts the exact speech of בני יהודה with the sloppy, comical speech of בני גליל. It then brings examples of clever coded speech (לשון חכמה) from רבי's maidservant, רבי יוסי בר אסיין, רבי אבהו and רבי אלעאי. Next, רבי יהושע בן חנניה tells how a woman, a young girl and a young boy each beat him in words. The amud ends with stories of ברוריה's sharp wisdom: she corrects רבי יוסי הגלילי for using too many words, then comes across a student learning in a whisper. Her reaction to the student comes on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (40)

1. ProofEnd of the verse about שאול
2. Statementשאול was forgiven for the sin of נוב
3. Questionרבי אבא wants to ask בני יהודה about the spelling
4. ResponseBoth spellings are taught
5. QuestionWhat does it mean that בני יהודה are precise in speech?
6. ResponseThe man from יהודה selling a cloak 'like beets on the ground'
7. QuestionWhat does it mean that בני גליל are not precise?
8. ResponseThe man from גליל shouting 'Who wants amar?'
9. ProofThe woman who meant to offer milk but said 'may a lioness eat you'
10. ProofThe woman before the judge who accidentally insulted him
11. Proofרבי's maidservant signals that the wine is finished
12. Proofרבי's maidservant signals that the students should stay
13. Proofרבי יוסי בר אסיין asks for beets in mustard in code
14. Proofרבי יוסי בר אסיין asks about the innkeeper in code
15. Proofרבי אבהו orders roosters in code
16. QuestionThe Rabbis ask where רבי אלעאי is hiding
17. Responseרבי אבהו answers with a riddle
18. ConclusionTwo ways to decode the riddle: a wife or a tractate
19. QuestionThe Rabbis ask רבי אלעאי where רבי אבהו is hiding
20. Responseרבי אלעאי answers in a riddle: רבי אבהו went south
21. Statementרבי יהושע בן חנניה: only a woman, a boy and a girl ever beat me
22. QuestionWhat happened with the woman?
23. ResponseThe innkeeper's beans: eaten twice, over-salted the third day
24. QuestionThe hostess asks why he is not eating
25. ResponseHis polite excuse: I already ate earlier
26. ChallengeHer comeback: you should have held back from the bread
27. ChallengeHer teasing guess: maybe you are making up for the first days
28. ProofShe backs her jab with a rule of חכמים about leftovers
29. ChallengeThe young girl questions his walking through a field
30. ResolutionHe answers that the path is already well-trodden
31. RejectionThe girl answers that people like him made the path
32. QuestionHe asks a boy at a crossroads for directions
33. ResponseThe boy describes one road as short and long and the other as long and short
34. ChallengeThe short road leads to blocked gardens, so he comes back to complain
35. ResolutionThe boy answers that he also said 'long'
36. ConclusionHe kisses the boy and praises the wisdom of all Israel
37. Questionרבי יוסי הגלילי asks ברוריה for directions to לוד
38. Challengeברוריה scolds him for talking too much with a woman
39. Conclusionברוריה shows the shorter way to ask
40. Statementברוריה finds a student learning in a whisper