Megillah 18a

מגילה י״ח ע״א

Learn Megillah 18a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Megillah 18a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The order of שמונה עשרה, limits on praising God, and the laws of reading the מגילה (by heart, in translation, in other languages, and with breaks)

Overview

The amud opens by finishing the גמרא's explanation of the order of שמונה עשרה. Each blessing is linked to the next by a פסוק: דוד, then תפלה, עבודה, הודאה, ברכת כהנים and שים שלום. The גמרא explains that the 120 elders set the order, it was later forgotten, and שמעון הפקולי restored it. One may not add praises of God beyond these fixed blessings, and silence is the best praise. The גמרא then returns to the משנה about reading the מגילה. רבא learns from עמלק that it must be read from a written text, and a ברייתא shows the words must be said aloud. Any language works for people who speak it, and רב ושמואל add that Greek works for everyone, following רבן שמעון בן גמליאל. A לועז who hears the Hebrew is יוצא, because the מצוה is the reading and פרסומי ניסא. The amud ends with stories of how the רבנן learned rare words like סירוגין from everyday speech, and the start of a ברייתא that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (59)

1. ProofVerse showing דוד's kingdom comes with the return to ירושלים
2. StatementOnce דוד comes, prayer comes
3. StatementOnce prayer comes, the Temple service comes
4. StatementOnce the service comes, thanksgiving comes
5. QuestionWhy is the Priestly Blessing placed after thanksgiving?
6. ResponseAaron blessed the people after the sacrifices
7. ChallengeMaybe the Priestly Blessing should come before the service
8. ResolutionThe verse says 'from offering,' meaning the sacrifices were already done
9. ChallengeShouldn't the Priestly Blessing come right after the Temple-service blessing?
10. ResolutionNo, because thanksgiving goes with sacrifice
11. ChallengeWhy rely on this verse and not the other one?
12. ResolutionLogic: service and thanksgiving are one thing
13. QuestionWhy does 'Grant Peace' come after the Priestly Blessing?
14. ResponseGod's blessing that follows the כהנים is peace
15. ChallengeIf the 120 elders set the order, what did שמעון הפקולי arrange?
16. ResolutionThe order was forgotten, and he restored it
17. StatementNo adding praises beyond the fixed blessings
18. ProofOnly one who can say all of God's praise may speak it
19. StatementOver-praising God is dangerous
20. StatementSilence is the best praise
21. ProofA saying from ארץ ישראל: silence is worth double
22. QuestionWhere do we learn that reading by heart does not count?
23. ResponseLearning from עמלק: remembering means from a book
24. ChallengeMaybe 'remembering' only means looking at the text
25. Resolution'Remember' means with the mouth
26. ChallengeWhy does the משנה need the translation rule?
27. ResolutionThe מגילה is written in תרגום
28. ChallengeForeign language contradicts 'any language'
29. Resolutionרב and שמואל: only Greek
30. ChallengeHebrew text read in Greek is 'by heart'
31. ResolutionThe מגילה is written in Greek
32. StatementGod called יעקב by the name אל
33. ProofProof from the missing name יעקב
34. ConclusionThe correct reading of the verse
35. ChallengeA ברייתא says reading in Greek does not count
36. ResolutionAny language works for those who speak it
37. ChallengeThen why did רב and שמואל limit it to Greek?
38. Resolutionרב and שמואל's statement was a separate rule
39. ConclusionGreek is valid for everyone
40. ChallengeThe ברייתא seems to limit Greek to Greeks only
41. Resolutionרב ושמואל follow רבן שמעון בן גמליאל
42. ChallengeWhy not just say the הלכה follows רבן שמעון בן גמליאל?
43. ResolutionTheir own wording teaches that it applies even to מגילה
44. ChallengeHow can a לועז fulfill the מצוה without understanding Hebrew?
45. ResolutionJust like נשים and עמי הארץ
46. Rejectionרבינא: even scholars don't understand every word
47. ConclusionThe מצוה is reading and publicizing the miracle
48. StatementThe משנה's phrase: reading the מגילה 'סירוגין'
49. QuestionThe רבנן did not know the word 'סירוגין'
50. ResponseThe maidservant explains 'סירוגין' without meaning to
51. QuestionThe רבנן did not know the word 'חלוגלוגות'
52. ResponseThe maidservant reveals that 'חלוגלוגות' is purslane
53. QuestionThe רבנן did not know 'סלסלה' in the verse
54. ResponseThe maidservant reveals 'סלסלה' means turning over
55. QuestionThe רבנן did not know 'יהבך' in the verse
56. ResponseAn Arab traveler shows that 'יהב' means a burden
57. QuestionThe רבנן did not know the meaning of 'מטאטא'
58. ResponseThe maidservant tells her friend to sweep the house
59. StatementReading the מגילה with breaks is valid