Menachos 45a

מנחות מ״ה ע״א

Menachot 45a

Learn Menachos 45a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Menachos 45a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

How the קרבנות of מוסף and שבועות hold each other back, and how the hard פסוקים of יחזקאל fit the תורה

Overview

The amud begins by asking which rams the משנה means when it says the bulls, rams and sheep do not hold each other back. The גמרא answers that the rams of ויקרא and the ram of במדבר do not hold each other back, and that the תנא gives each animal its own rule. A ברייתא then explains why יחזקאל lists fewer animals for ראש חודש than the תורה does. When the full number cannot be found, you bring what you can, even one lamb, but you still try for as many as possible. The word 'יהיו' teaches when offerings do hold each other back. The גמרא then works through several hard פסוקים in יחזקאל that seem to clash with the תורה: a bull called a חטאת, נבלה forbidden only to כהנים, and offerings on 'the seventh of the month.' Each one gets an explanation that fits the תורה. רב praises חנינא בן חזקיה, who explained these פסוקים and so kept ספר יחזקאל from being hidden away. Finally, the גמרא returns to רבי שמעון in the משנה. His source teaches that it is better to bring one bull with its נסכים than many bulls without them, and this continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (28)

1. ChallengeWhich rams does the משנה mean?
2. ResolutionThe rams of Leviticus and the ram of Numbers do not hold each other back
3. ChallengeThe משנה's list becomes uneven
4. ResolutionEach item has its own rule
5. QuestionWhy does יחזקאל say only one bull?
6. ResponseIf two bulls cannot be found, bring one
7. QuestionWhy does יחזקאל say only six lambs?
8. ResponseIf seven lambs cannot be found, bring six
9. ResponseBring as many lambs as you can, even one
10. ChallengeWhy say 'six lambs' if even one is enough?
11. ResolutionWe still try to bring as many as possible
12. QuestionWhere do we learn that the animals hold each other back?
13. ResponseThe word 'יהיו' teaches they must all be brought
14. Challengeיחזקאל calls the ראש חודש bull a חטאת, but it is an עולה
15. Resolutionרבי יוחנן: אליהו will explain it in the future
16. Resolutionרב אשי: it is about the מילואים of עזרא's time
17. ProofA ברייתא backs up both earlier answers about יחזקאל's bull
18. ChallengeWhy does יחזקאל forbid נבלה and טרפה only to כהנים?
19. Resolutionרבי יוחנן: אליהו will explain this passage
20. Resolutionרבינא: the פסוק is needed because of מליקה
21. ChallengeWhat is 'the seventh of the month' in יחזקאל?
22. ResolutionSeven means seven tribes who sinned
23. ResolutionMonth means a new ruling, and errs means a mistake together with an action
24. ConclusionPraise for חנינא בן חזקיה, who saved ספר יחזקאל
25. StatementBack to the משנה: רבי שמעון on having many bulls
26. StatementA ברייתא quotes a פסוק about the flour for a bull and a ram
27. Challengeרבי שמעון asks how a bull and a ram could get the same amount
28. ResolutionBetter one bull with its נסכים than many without