Menachos 69a

מנחות ס״ט ע״א

Menachot 69a

Learn Menachos 69a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Questions about the עומר and the שתי הלחם, and about things that passed into the ground or through an animal: sown grain, kernels from dung, and an elephant's basket

Overview

The amud opens by finishing an earlier argument. The word ביכורים, used for the שתי הלחם, means 'first for the מזבח,' and the מזבח already received this year's grain through the עומר. רמי בר חמא then asks whether the budding of a tree's leaves counts like grain taking root, so that the שתי הלחם would permit its fruit. This is left as תיקו. רבא בר רב חנן asks about grain that was reaped and then sown again before the עומר. Is it still like loose grain in a jug, or has it become part of the ground? He asks this about the עומר, about אונאה and about oaths, and all three stay תיקו. רמי בר חמא asks whether kernels found in animal dung, once planted again, may be used for מנחות. The answer depends on whether the problem is disgust or weakness, and this too stays תיקו. Finally, he asks about an elephant that swallowed palm leaves that were later woven into a basket. The גמרא begins to ask whether passing through the elephant counts as digestion, and that discussion continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (27)

1. RejectionFirst fruits means first for the altar, not first of the crop
2. Questionרמי בר חמא asks: do the שתי הלחם permit at budding or at formation?
3. QuestionWhat do budding and formation mean here?
4. ChallengeIt can't mean the fruit's budding, since even taking root is enough
5. ResolutionHe means the budding of the tree's leaves
6. ConclusionThe question stays unresolved
7. Questionרבא בר רב חנן asks: does the עומר permit wheat that was sown?
8. ChallengeEither way, a משנה already teaches it
9. ProofThe משנה that covers both rooted and unrooted grain
10. ResolutionThe question is about reaped kernels that were sown again
11. QuestionDoes the law of overcharging apply to these kernels?
12. ChallengeWhat case is meant? A wrong amount of seed is covered by רבא's rule
13. ResolutionThe worker who said he sowed 'as needed'
14. QuestionDo we swear over the sown kernels?
15. ConclusionThe questions stay unresolved
16. QuestionGrain found in animal dung
17. ChallengeWhich law is he asking about?
18. ProofThe ברייתא about impurity of grain in dung
19. RejectionNot about מנחות either, since that is obvious
20. ResolutionThe real case: the kernels were planted again
21. QuestionDisgust or weakness: two ways to see the problem
22. ConclusionThe question about planted kernels is left open
23. QuestionAn elephant swallows an Egyptian basket
24. ChallengeWhat is the question about? Maybe removing the basket's impurity
25. ProofThe משנה: vessels lose impurity only through a physical change
26. ResolutionThe real case: swallowed palm leaves later woven into a basket
27. QuestionDoes passing through the elephant count as digestion?