Me’ilah 3a

מעילה ג׳ ע״א

Meilah 3a

Learn Me’ilah 3a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Rabbinic מעילה on dead קדשים, and רב יוסף's refutation of רבה about wrong-place offerings that went up on the מזבח

Overview

The גמרא finishes explaining the new point taught by עולא: even dead קדשים that are not חטאות carry rabbinic מעילה. It then asks how a dead חטאת can carry מעילה when a teaching says חטאות המתות carry none. The answer is that חטאות המתות were already unfit while alive, so people avoided them all along. A חטאת that was fit and then died is different. Next the גמרא returns to the argument between רבה and רב יוסף about offerings done in the wrong place that were put on the מזבח. רב יוסף links three משניות together: such birds carry מעילה, they count as פסולו בקודש, and whatever is פסולו בקודש does not come down once it has gone up. רבה is refuted. Finally the גמרא says this question was already obvious to רבי אלעזר and begins quoting his ruling about an עולה of a בָּמַת יָחִיד brought inside. His ruling continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (10)

1. ResolutionWhy we need to be told that other dead קדשים carry מעילה
2. ChallengeChallenge: a teaching says dead חטאות carry no מעילה
3. ResolutionAnswer: חטאות המתות were already avoided while alive
4. Challengeרב יוסף sets up a challenge to רבה
5. ProofFirst source: wrongly done bird offerings still carry מעילה
6. ProofSecond source: these birds count as disqualified in the holy place
7. ChallengeThird source: what is disqualified in the holy place does not come down
8. ConclusionThe refutation of רבה stands
9. Statementרבי אלעזר found this question obvious
10. ProofA private-altar burnt offering brought inside