Megillah 2a

מגילה ב׳ ע״א

Learn Megillah 2a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Megillah 2a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The days for reading the מגילה, the scriptural source for the early village readings, and whether early reading applies nowadays

Overview

The משנה opens מסכת מגילה by saying the מגילה may be read on any day from the 11th to the 15th of אדר. Walled cities from the time of יהושע בן נון read on the 15th, towns read on the 14th, and villages may read early on the nearest יום הכניסה (Monday or Thursday). The משנה then goes through each weekday on which the 14th can fall. The גמרא asks where the early days are hinted in the פסוק, since a later בית דין could not have added them to the rule of אנשי כנסת הגדולה. רב שמן בר אבא learns them from the plural ״בִּזְמַנֵּיהֶם״, and רבי שמואל בר נחמני learns them from ״כַּיָּמִים״. Both reach the 11th and 12th: the 13th needs no source, and ״וְלֹא יַעֲבוֹר״ rules out later days. רבי יוחנן then says the משנה follows רבי עקיבא. His first version is refuted by a ברייתא of רבי יהודה, and a second version, which forbids early reading only nowadays, is supported by that same ברייתא. The amud ends as רב אשי begins to point out a contradiction between two rulings of רבי יהודה, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (42)

1. StatementThe מגילה can be read from the 11th to the 15th
2. StatementWalled cities read on the 15th, towns on the 14th, villages may read early
3. StatementWhen the 14th falls on Monday
4. StatementWhen the 14th falls on Tuesday or Wednesday
5. StatementWhen the 14th falls on Thursday
6. StatementWhen the 14th falls on Friday
7. StatementWhen the 14th falls on שבת
8. StatementWhen the 14th falls on Sunday
9. QuestionWhere do we learn that the מגילה can be read on the 11th?
10. ChallengeThe question seems unnecessary because חכמים allowed it
11. ResolutionThe real question: all the days were set by אנשי כנסת הגדולה
12. ProofProof: a later בית דין could not cancel the rule of אנשי כנסת הגדולה
13. QuestionSo where is the extra-days rule hinted in the verse?
14. ResponseThe word 'in their times' hints at many reading days
15. ChallengeThe word is needed for its simple meaning
16. ResolutionThe plural form shows extra meaning
17. ChallengeMaybe the plural only means different cities have different days
18. ResolutionA double plural teaches all the days
19. ChallengeThen maybe there are many more days
20. ResolutionThe extra plural adds only two days
21. ChallengeMaybe the two extra days are the 12th and 13th
22. ResolutionThe 13th is already included, so the extra days are the 11th and 12th
23. ChallengeMaybe the extra days are the 16th and 17th
24. Resolutionפורים may not be pushed later
25. StatementA second source from the word ״כַּיָּמִים״
26. ChallengeMaybe the extra days are the 12th and 13th
27. ResolutionThe 13th needs no extra source
28. ChallengeMaybe the days come after Purim here too
29. Resolution״וְלֹא יַעֲבוֹר״ rules out later days
30. QuestionWhy not learn it from ״בִּזְמַנֵּיהֶם״?
31. ResponseHe learns nothing from the different forms of זמן
32. QuestionWhy didn't רב שמן בר אבא use ״כַּיָּמִים״?
33. Response'As the days' is about future generations
34. StatementThe משנה follows רבי עקיבא; the חכמים allow only the 14th
35. Challengeרבי יהודה: early reading only applied in earlier times
36. QuestionWhose view does רבי יהודה follow?
37. RejectionIt cannot follow רבי עקיבא
38. Challengeרבי יהודה must follow the חכמים, who allowed early reading in good times
39. Conclusionרבי יוחנן is refuted
40. StatementA second version of רבי יוחנן's statement
41. ProofA ברייתא of רבי יהודה supports the second version
42. Challengeרב אשי raises a contradiction between two rulings of רבי יהודה