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Kiddushin 61b

קידושין ס״א ע״ב

Learn Kiddushin 61b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Kiddushin 61b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Whether the doubled wording in the deal with בני גד ובני ראובן teaches the rule of תנאי כפול (a doubled condition), as רבי מאיר holds, or is needed for its own content, as רבי חנינא בן גמליאל holds.

Overview

The גמרא finishes explaining רבי מאיר's source for תנאי כפול: the words 'בארץ כנען' seem extra, so they teach that a condition must be stated both ways. רבי חנינא בן גמליאל answers that those words are needed. Without them, we would think בני גד ובני ראובן get a share only in ארץ גלעד. The גמרא then gives רבי מאיר's answer: 'בתוככם' already means everywhere. A ברייתא brings רבי חנינא בן גמליאל's parable of a father dividing fields among his sons. In the parable, the doubled wording gives the son a share of the rest of the property. The גמרא asks why this parable does not match the משנה, and answers that the two were said before and after רבי מאיר's challenge. Next, the גמרא tests רבי חנינא בן גמליאל's view against פסוקים that state both sides of a condition: קין, אברהם and אליעזר, בחוקותי, and ישעיהו. Each time it shows that the second half teaches something new. The amud ends as the גמרא begins a question about a phrase in the ישעיהו פסוק, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

לְמָה לִי?

Why do I need [this]?

שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ לִתְנַאי כָּפוּל הוּא דַּאֲתָא.

Learn from it that it comes for a doubled condition.

וְרַבִּי חֲנִינָא בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אָמַר:

And Rabbi Chanina ben Gamliel says:

אִי לָא כְּתַב רַחֲמָנָא ״בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן״,

If the Merciful One had not written 'in the land of Canaan,'

The steps (18)

  1. Proofרבי מאיר: the extra words teach the doubled condition
  2. Rejectionרבי חנינא בן גמליאל: the words are needed for their own meaning
  3. Resolutionרבי מאיר's answer: 'among you' already means everywhere
  4. Statementרבי חנינא בן גמליאל's parable of the father and his sons
  5. ConclusionThe doubled wording is what gives the son his share
  6. ChallengeThe parable does not match the משנה
  7. ResolutionBefore and after רבי מאיר's challenge
  8. ChallengeWhy does the פסוק about קין state both sides?
  9. ResolutionThe second half teaches that there is punishment
  10. ChallengeWhy does אברהם release אליעזר from the oath outright?
  11. ResolutionWithout the release, he might have to bring her against her family's wishes
  12. ChallengeWhy the extra words 'if the woman is not willing'?
  13. ResolutionWithout it, he might have to bring her against her own will
  14. ChallengeWhy does בחוקותי spell out both blessing and curse?
  15. ResolutionWithout the second half we might think rejecting brings no curse
  16. ChallengeWhy does ישעיהו spell out both obeying and refusing?
  17. ResolutionWithout the second half we might think refusing brings no harm
  18. QuestionOpening a new question about the פסוק in ישעיהו