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Horayos 7a

הוריות ז׳ ע״א

Horayot 7a

Learn Horayos 7a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Horayos 7a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

When the כהן משיח brings his own פר: it requires a mistaken ruling like the ציבור, and he is atoned for with the ציבור when he errs together with them.

Overview

The amud asks when the כהן משיח (the anointed כהן גדול) brings his פר. Does he need a mistaken ruling (העלם דבר) together with an unwitting act, like the ציבור? Or is an unwitting act alone enough, like the נשיא? Comparisons pull both ways. The ציבור and the משיח both bring a פר and no אשם תלוי. The נשיא and the משיח both bring a שעירה for עבודה זרה and an אשם ודאי. The פסוק 'לְאַשְׁמַת הָעָם' settles it: the משיח is like the ציבור. Another phrase, 'עַל חַטָּאתוֹ אֲשֶׁר חָטָא', limits him to his own sin, not to sins others commit because of his ruling. The גמרא then explains why he brings no אשם תלוי, and why the ברייתא mentioned that rule only in passing. A new משנה teaches that a משיח who errs alone brings his own קרבן, while one who errs with the ציבור is atoned for with them. The גמרא proves this from a ברייתא and then begins asking what exact case counts as the משיח ruling on his own. That discussion continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

צִבּוּר מוּצָא מִכְּלַל יָחִיד,

The public is taken out of the category of an individual,

וּמָשִׁיחַ מוּצָא מִכְּלַל יָחִיד.

and an anointed priest is taken out of the category of an individual.

מָה צִבּוּר אֵין חַיָּיבִין

Just as the public is not liable

אֶלָּא עַל הֶעְלֵם דָּבָר עִם שִׁגְגַת מַעֲשֶׂה,

except for a hidden matter together with an unwitting action,

The steps (22)

  1. ProofComparing the anointed כהן to the public
  2. ChallengeA competing comparison to the king
  3. ProofLooking for the closer match: the bull and no אשם תלוי
  4. ChallengeThe king matches too: the female goat and the definite guilt offering
  5. ConclusionA פסוק settles it: the משיח is like the ציבור
  6. ChallengeShould the משיח be liable when others follow his ruling?
  7. ResolutionHe brings only for his own sin
  8. QuestionWhere do we learn the משיח brings no אשם תלוי?
  9. ResponseAn אשם תלוי is only for one whose mistake and sin are the same
  10. ChallengeBut the ברייתא had not yet quoted 'לְאַשְׁמַת הָעָם'
  11. ResolutionThe mention of אשם was just said in passing
  12. Statementמשנה: the משיח alone versus the משיח together with the ציבור
  13. QuestionWhat is the source for this rule?
  14. ResponseThe ברייתא begins: maybe he brings his own פר
  15. ProofA comparison to the נשיא suggests the opposite outcome
  16. RejectionThe proof from the נשיא is rejected
  17. QuestionMaybe the משיח always brings his own bull
  18. ProofThe פסוק: 'for his sin that he sinned'
  19. ConclusionAlone, he brings his own; with the ציבור, he is atoned with them
  20. QuestionWhat case is the משיח ruling on his own?
  21. ChallengeFirst option: then the rule is obvious
  22. ChallengeSecond option: then his ruling means nothing