Gittin 56a

גיטין נ״ו ע״א

Learn Gittin 56a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Gittin 56a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The חורבן story: from בר קמצא's revenge through the siege and famine to רבן יוחנן בן זכאי's escape to אספסיינוס

Overview

This amud continues the famous אגדתא about the חורבן. The host throws בר קמצא out of the feast, and because the רבנן stayed silent, he informs on the Jews to the קיסר. He secretly puts a מום on the קרבן sent as a test, and רבי זכריה בן אבקולס blocks both plans to save the situation. רבי יוחנן says this caution destroyed the בית המקדש. Rome sends נירון, who sees signs that the city will fall, so he flees and converts, and רבי מאיר descends from him. אספסיינוס then besieges ירושלים, and the city has enough food for twenty-one years from three rich men. But the בריוני burn the stores to force a war, and a terrible famine follows, shown through the death of מרתא בת בייתוס. Finally, רבן יוחנן בן זכאי fakes his death to escape the city and greets אספסיינוס as king. His answer to the general's charges continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (32)

1. StatementThe host refuses every offer and throws בר קמצא out
2. Statementבר קמצא blames the silent רבנן and decides to inform
3. Statementבר קמצא accuses the Jews and proposes a test
4. StatementThe calf is sent and בר קמצא secretly blemishes it
5. StatementThe רבנן consider offering the blemished calf
6. Challengeרבי זכריה objects: people will think blemished animals are allowed
7. StatementThe רבנן consider killing בר קמצא
8. Challengeרבי זכריה objects: people will think blemishing קדשים is a capital crime
9. Statementרבי יוחנן blames רבי זכריה's caution for the destruction
10. Statementנירון is sent and every arrow lands in ירושלים
11. StatementA child's פסוק makes נירון flee and convert
12. Statementאספסיינוס besieges ירושלים, and three rich men are introduced
13. StatementExplaining the names of the three rich men
14. StatementThe three rich men offer supplies
15. StatementThe רבנן praise the gift of wood
16. ProofWhy wood is so valuable: רב חסדא's keys
17. StatementEnough supplies for twenty-one years
18. StatementThe zealots and the Sages disagree
19. StatementThe zealots burn the storehouses
20. Statementמרתא בת בייתוס tries to buy flour
21. Statementמרתא בת בייתוס goes out and dies
22. StatementA verse about the delicate woman
23. StatementAnother version: the fig of רבי צדוק
24. Statementמרתא throws her money into the street
25. Statementרבן יוחנן בן זכאי secretly confronts his nephew
26. Statementאבא סקרא is trapped, so רבן יוחנן בן זכאי asks for a way out
27. StatementThe plan: fake a death
28. StatementThe students carry out the plan
29. StatementGetting past the guards at the gate
30. StatementGreeting the Roman general as king
31. ChallengeThe general says he deserves two death penalties
32. ResolutionBeginning to answer the first charge