Gemara Clarity

Makkos 19a

מכות י״ט ע״א

Makkot 19a

Learn Makkos 19a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Makkos 19a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

בכורים: when they become holy, רב ששת's rule on הנחה and קריאה, and רבי ישמעאל's proof that מעשר שני depends on the בית המקדש

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a rule about בכורים: a non-כהן is liable for eating them only once they enter the בית המקדש, which matches רבי אליעזר's view that בכורים outside are חולין and those inside are הקדש. Next, רב ששת rules that הנחה (placing the fruits by the מזבח) is essential for בכורים, but קריאה (reading the פסוקים) is not. The גמרא supports him from a ברייתא in which רבי ישמעאל asks whether מעשר שני may be eaten in ירושלים today. He tries comparisons to בכור and to בכורים, each is refuted, and he finally learns from a פסוק that links מעשר to בכור. Since the ברייתא attacked בכורים only for needing הנחה and never for קריאה, the גמרא says קריאה must not be essential. רב אשי rejects this proof: the תנא left out קריאה because a גר brings בכורים without reading, so קריאה does not apply in every case. The גמרא then explains why a מה הצד argument could not replace the פסוק, and asks what רבי ישמעאל holds about the lasting holiness of ירושלים. רבינא answers with a בכור whose meat is compared to its blood. The amud closes by explaining that the double הקש is allowed because מעשר דגן is חולין.

Opening lines

מֵאֵימָתַי (מ)חַיָּיבִין עֲלֵיהֶם –

From when is one liable for them?

מִשֶּׁיִּרְאוּ פְּנֵי הַבַּיִת.

From when they will see the face of the House.

כְּמַאן – כִּי הַאי תַּנָּא,

In accordance with whom? In accordance with this tanna,

דְּתַנְיָא, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר:

as it is taught: Rabbi Eliezer says:

The steps (18)

  1. StatementLiability for eating first fruits starts when they enter the Temple
  2. ProofThis rule follows רבי אליעזר: outside is ordinary, inside is holy
  3. StatementPlacing first fruits is essential; reading the verses is not
  4. ProofSource for רב ששת: רבי ישמעאל asks about second tithe today
  5. ProofProposed proof: second tithe is like a firstborn animal
  6. ChallengeObjection: a firstborn also needs its blood placed on the altar
  7. ResolutionAnswer: first fruits prove the altar is not the reason
  8. ChallengeObjection: first fruits require placement by the altar
  9. Conclusionרבי ישמעאל concludes from a פסוק that links מעשר to בכור
  10. ProofHow the ברייתא supports רב ששת: it never attacked בכורים for needing קריאה
  11. Rejectionרב אשי: even without עיכוב there is still a מצוה, so the תנא should have mentioned it
  12. Rejectionרב אשי's real reason for the silence: a גר cannot do קריאה, so it is not universal
  13. ChallengeWhy not derive it with a מה הצד argument from בכור and בכורים together?
  14. ResolutionThe מה הצד fails: both cases have a connection to the מזבח
  15. ChallengeWhat does רבי ישמעאל hold about the lasting holiness of ירושלים?
  16. Resolutionרבינא explains the firstborn case through a comparison of meat to blood
  17. ChallengeCan something learned from a comparison teach through another comparison?
  18. ResolutionGrain tithe is non-sacred, so the double comparison is allowed