Megillah 20b

מגילה כ׳ ע״ב

Learn Megillah 20b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

When the day begins (עמוד השחר), and why daytime מצוות are valid all day, with a source for each one.

Overview

This amud opens with the last line of the previous discussion: counting days, like a זבה's count, is done by day. The גמרא then asks for the source of the משנה's rule that daytime מצוות are valid from עמוד השחר. רבא brings a פסוק from בראשית, but the גמרא rejects it, because the same reading would make night start right after sunset. רבי זירא proves it instead from נחמיה, where the work time from dawn until צאת הכוכבים is called 'day'. A new משנה then teaches that the whole day is valid for daytime מצוות such as מגילה, הלל, שופר, לולב, מוסף, the confessions, and the קרבן services. It adds that the whole night is valid for nighttime ones like reaping the עומר. The גמרא goes through the list and gives a source for each item. Some come from a direct 'day' פסוק, some from a גזירה שוה or היקש, and תפילת מוסף follows the מוספין because the רבנן modeled it on them. The amud ends with the source for השקאת סוטה, and the list continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (28)

1. ConclusionCounting days is done in the daytime
2. Statementמשנה: daytime מצוות done from dawn are valid
3. QuestionWhat is the source?
4. Responseרבא: 'light' means 'getting lighter'
5. ChallengeThen night would start as it gets dark
6. Responseרבי זירא: proof from the workers in נחמיה
7. QuestionWhy was a second verse needed?
8. ResponseThe second verse shows the whole work time is called day
9. StatementNew משנה: the whole day is valid for daytime מצוות
10. StatementThe whole day is valid for the confessions
11. StatementThe whole day is valid for the Temple services
12. StatementDaytime list ends: סוטה, עגלה ערופה, and the מצורע
13. StatementThe nighttime list: עומר, חלבים, and אברים
14. StatementThe general rule for day and night
15. QuestionWhere do we know these are daytime מצוות?
16. ResponseSource for מגילה: 'these days'
17. ResponseSource for הלל: from sunrise to sunset
18. Responseרבי יוסי's different source for הלל
19. ResponseSources for לולב and שופר
20. ResponseSource for the מוספין קרבנות
21. Responseתפילת מוסף follows the מוספין
22. ResponseConfession over the bulls is by day, learned from יום הכפורים
23. ResponseThe declaration about tithes is by day
24. ResponseLeaning hands and slaughtering are by day
25. ResponseWaving is by day
26. ResponseBringing the מנחה near the altar is by day, like waving
27. ResponsePinching, scooping, burning, and sprinkling are by day
28. ResponseGiving the סוטה her drink is by day, learned from the word 'תורה'