Makkos 23b

מכות כ״ג ע״ב

Makkot 23b

Learn Makkos 23b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The reward for avoiding sin, whether מלקות removes כרת, things Heaven agreed to, רוח הקודש in three courts, and the 613 מצוות

Overview

The amud opens with the last lines of the final משנה in מכות. A person who simply holds back from sin is rewarded like someone who does a מצוה. רבי שמעון בר רבי adds a קל וחומר: if staying away from blood earns a reward, staying away from גזל and עריות earns reward for all generations. רבי חנניא בן עקשיא teaches that ה׳ gave many מצוות to give Israel merit. The גמרא then asks whether the חכמים disagree with רבי חנניה בן גמליאל that מלקות removes כרת. A proof from the משנה about שבת and יום הכיפורים is pushed away in two ways, and רב rules like רבי חנניה בן גמליאל. When רב יוסף asks how anyone can know what Heaven does, אביי answers that we learn it from פסוקים, just as with the three things the earthly court did and Heaven agreed to: reading the מגילה, greeting with ה׳'s name, and bringing מעשר. רבי אלעזר then lists three courts where רוח הקודש appeared, those of שם, שמואל and שלמה, but רבא shows the פסוקים do not prove it, so it is known from tradition. Finally רבי שמלאי teaches that משה received 613 מצוות, and רב המנונא begins a גימטריא proof that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (34)

1. StatementHolding back from sin earns a reward
2. StatementA קל וחומר from blood to robbery and forbidden relations
3. Statementה׳ gave many מצוות to give Israel merit
4. Statementרבי יוחנן: the other חכמים disagree with רבי חנניה בן גמליאל
5. ProofProof from the difference between שבת and יום הכיפורים
6. RejectionThe משנה follows רבי יצחק, who holds there is no מלקות for כרת sins
7. RejectionEven the Rabbis can explain the משנה: it describes each day's main punishment
8. Statementרב rules that the הלכה follows רבי חנניא בן גמליאל
9. Challengeרב יוסף asks: who went up to Heaven to find out?
10. Resolutionאביי answers: we learn it from verses, just like the three things Heaven agreed to
11. StatementThe three things the earthly court did and Heaven agreed to
12. ProofThe source for reading the מגילה
13. ProofThe source for greeting with ה׳'s name
14. QuestionWhy a second פסוק is needed
15. ResponseMaybe בעז acted on his own
16. ProofThe source for bringing מעשר
17. QuestionWhat does 'עד בלי די' mean?
18. ResponseYour lips will wear out from saying 'enough'
19. StatementThree courts where רוח הקודש appeared
20. ProofThe court of שם: יהודה admits to תמר
21. ChallengeHow could יהודה know he was the father?
22. ResolutionA בת קול said: 'From Me'
23. ProofThe proof for the court of שמואל
24. ChallengeWhy does the verse say 'he said' and not 'they said'?
25. ResolutionA heavenly voice said 'I am witness'
26. ProofThe proof for the court of שלמה
27. ChallengeHow could שלמה be sure?
28. ResolutionA heavenly voice said 'She is his mother'
29. Rejectionרבא: יהודה could have figured it out by counting
30. Rejectionרבא: 'He said' can mean all of Israel
31. Rejectionשלמה could also have figured it out by himself
32. Conclusionרבא's conclusion: it is a received tradition
33. Statementרבי שמלאי: 613 מצוות were given to משה
34. Proofרב המנונא gives the פסוק that hints to 613