Makkos 24a

מכות כ״ד ע״א

Makkot 24a

Learn Makkos 24a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

How the 613 מצוות were summed up by later נביאים, how משה's harsh decrees were softened, and the start of רבי עקיבא's hopeful story about רומי

Overview

This amud finishes רבי שמלאי's teaching about the 613 מצוות. The word תורה adds up to 611, and the two commandments we heard directly from ה׳ bring the total to 613. Then the גמרא shows how later leaders summed up the whole Torah in fewer and fewer principles. דוד used eleven traits from תהלים פרק ט״ו, and each trait is matched to a role model. ישעיהו used six traits, then מיכה three, then ישעיהו again two. Finally חבקוק used one: 'וצדיק באמונתו יחיה'. Along the way, the חכמים comfort רבן גמליאל: even one trait is enough. Next, רבי יוסי בר חנינא teaches that four harsh decrees of משה were softened by four later נביאים, and the hopeful readings of 'ואבדתם בגוים' answer רב's fear. The amud ends with the start of the story of רבי עקיבא laughing at the noise of רומי, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (46)

1. ResponseHow 611 plus two makes 613
2. StatementA memory aid for the list of נביאים
3. Statementדוד sums up the מצוות in eleven traits
4. Statement'Walking wholeheartedly' means living like אברהם
5. StatementWorks righteousness: like אבא חלקיהו
6. StatementSpeaks truth in his heart: like רב ספרא
7. StatementNo deceit on his tongue: like יעקב אבינו
8. StatementDoes no evil to his neighbor: not taking over another's trade
9. StatementThe sixth trait: keeping relatives close
10. StatementThe seventh trait: despising the wicked, like חזקיהו
11. StatementThe eighth trait: honoring Torah scholars, like יהושפט
12. StatementThe ninth trait: keeping a costly promise, like רבי יוחנן
13. StatementNot lending with interest, even to a non-Jew
14. StatementNot taking a bribe, like רבי ישמעאל ברבי יוסי
15. Statementרבן גמליאל cries over the closing words of the פסוק
16. RejectionThe חכמים: the פסוק says 'these,' not 'all these'
17. ProofProof from 'אל תטמאו בכל אלה'
18. ConclusionHere too, one trait is enough
19. Statementישעיהו narrows the מצוות down to six traits
20. StatementWalking righteously is like אברהם
21. StatementSpeaking uprightly means not shaming others in public
22. StatementDespising dishonest gain, like רבי ישמעאל בן אלישע
23. StatementFourth trait: shaking off bribes
24. StatementFifth trait: not staying silent when a scholar is insulted
25. StatementSixth trait: shutting the eyes from evil
26. ConclusionThe reward: he will dwell on high
27. Statementמיכה sums up the מצוות in three
28. StatementExplaining מיכה's three principles
29. StatementA קל וחומר for doing private מצוות quietly
30. Statementישעיהו sums up the מצוות in two
31. Statementעמוס sums up the מצוות in one
32. ChallengeMaybe 'seek Me' means through the whole Torah
33. Resolutionחבקוק is the one who sums it up in one
34. StatementFour decrees of משה cancelled by four נביאים
35. StatementFirst decree: safety only on יעקב's level, cancelled by עמוס
36. StatementSecond decree: no rest among the nations, softened by ירמיה
37. StatementThird decree: children punished for parents' sins, cancelled by יחזקאל
38. StatementFourth decree: lost among the nations, softened by ישעיהו
39. Statementרב is afraid of the verse 'You shall be lost among the nations'
40. Challengeרב פפא: 'lost' can mean a lost item that is searched for
41. ResolutionRather, רב feared the end of the verse: 'Your enemies' land will consume you'
42. Challengeמר זוטרא: 'consumed' like cucumbers and gourds, not completely
43. StatementFour sages hear the noise of Rome: three cry and one laughs
44. QuestionThe sages ask רבי עקיבא why he is laughing
45. Questionרבי עקיבא asks them first why they are crying
46. ResponseThe sages explain: idol worshippers live in peace while our Temple is burned