Megillah 8a

מגילה ח׳ ע״א

Learn Megillah 8a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Megillah 8a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Three 'אין בין' משניות: a full-benefit vow vs. a food-only vow, נדרים vs. נדבות, and a זב of two emissions vs. one of three.

Overview

This amud goes through three more משניות in the 'אין בין' series, each naming just one difference between two cases. First, a מודר הנאה differs from a מודר מאכל only in walking on the friend's land and borrowing non-food utensils. רבא explains that the ban on walking follows רבי אליעזר, who forbids even ויתור. Next, נדרים and נדבות differ only in the duty to replace a lost animal, though בל תאחר applies to both. A נדר ('הרי עלי') is like a load on your shoulders, so you must replace it, while a נדבה ('הרי זו') is tied only to that animal. Finally, a זב with two emissions and one with three differ only in the קרבן. The גמרא proves this from רבי סימאי's two פסוקים together with the word מזובו, and explains why both sources are needed. It then shows that the other מזובו teaches that a זב with two emissions must also count seven clean days. The amud ends as the ברייתא asks why a פסוק is needed when logic seems to teach this.

Opening lines

The steps (26)

1. StatementFull-benefit vow vs. food-only vow
2. StatementFood utensils are forbidden to both
3. ChallengeWhy is walking on land a benefit?
4. ResolutionThe משנה follows רבי אליעזר
5. StatementVow offerings vs. gift offerings
6. StatementBoth kinds of offering share the rule against delay
7. StatementA משנה elsewhere defines a נדר and a נדבה
8. QuestionWhat is the source for the replacement rule?
9. Responseרבי שמעון learns it from the words 'to atone upon him'
10. QuestionHow does the פסוק show this?
11. ResponseSaying 'on me' is like carrying it on your shoulders
12. StatementTwo emissions versus three: only the offering differs
13. StatementInference: in all other laws they are equal
14. QuestionAsking for the source
15. Responseרבי סימאי: two for impurity, three for the offering
16. ChallengeMaybe the two cases are completely separate
17. ResolutionAnyone who saw three already saw two
18. ChallengeMaybe two emissions bring a קרבן and three bring טומאה too
19. ResolutionA ברייתא on מזובו: only some זבים bring a קרבן
20. ChallengeThe ברייתא asks: maybe two bring a קרבן and three do not
21. ResolutionWhoever saw three already saw two
22. StatementWhy we need both רבי סימאי and מזובו
23. QuestionWhat do we learn from the other מזובו?
24. ResponseThe earlier מזובו is needed for a ברייתא
25. StatementA זב with two emissions also counts seven days
26. ChallengeWhy is a פסוק needed if logic already teaches this?