Menachos 85a

מנחות פ״ה ע״א

Menachot 85a

Learn Menachos 85a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Menachos 85a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Settling רבי יוחנן's view on lower-quality ביכורים, the story of עפריים, and a new משנה on growing and checking the best grain for מנחות

Overview

The גמרא first asks how רבי יוחנן fits with a ברייתא that seems to go against him. It answers that this is a dispute among תנאים, and רבי יוחנן follows the other side. It then returns to the משנה's rule that מנחות come only from the best produce, and tells a short story in which פרעה's magicians mock משה with a saying about עפריים, a town famous for its grain. A new משנה follows. It says grain for מנחות should not come from fertilized, irrigated, or tree-filled fields, though after the fact it is כשר. It also explains how to grow top-quality grain, and how the גזבר checks the flour for powder and worms. The גמרא asks whether the farmer plows again in the second year, and brings a ברייתא of רבי יוסי that says 'חורש ושונה'. It then pushes back on that proof, since the משנה never mentions plowing twice. The discussion continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (15)

1. ChallengeHow does רבי יוחנן fit the ברייתא?
2. ResolutionIt is a dispute among תנאים
3. StatementQuoting the משנה: only the best produce
4. Challengeיוחנא and ממרא mock משה
5. Responseמשה answers: bring vegetables to a vegetable town
6. StatementNew משנה: fields that should not supply grain for מנחות
7. StatementHow to grow the best grain for מנחות
8. StatementHow the treasurer checks the flour
9. StatementWormy flour is not allowed
10. QuestionDoes the farmer plow again in the second year?
11. ProofA ברייתא about the best fields for the עומר
12. ProofThe farming method: plow, plow again, then sow
13. ProofProcessing the grain and checking the flour
14. ResponseThe proof: in year two he plows again
15. RejectionThe proof is pushed back: the משנה never mentions plowing twice