Menachos 49b

מנחות מ״ט ע״ב

Menachot 49b

Learn Menachos 49b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Menachos 49b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

תדיר versus מקודש: tomorrow's תמיד or today's מוספין, and the six checked lambs of the לשכת הטלאים

Overview

The גמרא is trying to answer the question of רבי חייא בר אבין: if the Temple has only enough animals for today's מוספין or for tomorrow's תמיד, which one comes first? Tomorrow's תמיד is תדיר (more frequent), and today's מוספין are מקודש (their day has already arrived). רב חסדא tries to prove from the משנה that the two are equal, because it says the תמידין and מוספין do not hold each other back. אביי rejects this: the משנה may be talking only about the order, and the ברייתא that says nothing comes before the morning תמיד describes only the ideal way. Next the גמרא tries a משנה in ערכין that says to keep at least six checked lambs for שבת and the two days of ראש השנה, which seems to show that the תמידין come first. This proof is also rejected. The six lambs are only the ones checked four days before slaughter, following בן בג בג, who learns this four-day check from the קרבן פסח. Finally רבינא asks רב אשי why the count is six and not seven, since Tuesday morning's lamb also needs checking. רב אשי answers that by that logic it would be eight, and רבינא explains that the count starts after Friday afternoon's offering, so his question about seven still stands as the amud ends.

Opening lines

The steps (13)

1. ConclusionSo the משנה must be talking about a shortage of animals
2. ChallengeIt cannot mean today's תמיד, because the תמיד would clearly win
3. ProofSo it must mean tomorrow's תמיד, proving the two are equal
4. Rejectionאביי: the משנה is about order, and the ברייתא is only the ideal
5. ProofA new attempt: six checked lambs kept ready
6. QuestionWhat case is the six-lamb משנה talking about?
7. ProofSo it must be a shortage, and the daily offerings come first
8. RejectionNo, the six lambs are only the ones checked four days ahead
9. Proofבן בג בג's source for checking the תמיד four days ahead
10. ProofThe four-day check carries over from the קרבן פסח to the תמיד
11. Challengeרבינא asks why the count is six and not seven
12. Challengeרב אשי replies that by that logic it should be eight
13. ResolutionThe count starts after Friday afternoon's offering