Menachos 85b

מנחות פ״ה ע״ב

Menachot 85b

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

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Topic

Preparing and choosing the grain for the עומר, wormy flour and wood, and the best sources of oil for מנחות

Overview

The amud opens by settling how the field for the עומר is plowed. The משנה and a ברייתא seem to disagree, but they speak about two kinds of fields, and a second ברייתא shows that the field is plowed in both years. רבי יוחנן and אבא שאול teach that the עומר came from sunny southern fields, farmed half at a time, and רב חלקיה בר טובי's field proves the method works. Next the גמרא rules that mostly wormy flour or wheat is פסול, and it does the same for wormy altar wood, with שמואל limiting that rule to wet logs. רבא's questions about getting מלקות for consecrating these wormy items end in תיקו. A new משנה names תקוע as the best source of oil and lists which olives may not be used. The גמרא links תקוע's oil to wisdom, then tells a long story about a plain-looking farmer in אשר's land who had enough oil to fill a giant order, fulfilling 'and dips his foot in oil.' At the end, the גמרא returns to the משנה and begins a challenge about unripe olives that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (27)

1. ChallengeOnly the ברייתא says to plow a second time
2. ResolutionTwo different kinds of fields
3. QuestionWhat is the final ruling?
4. ResponsePlow half, sow half, each year
5. StatementThe עומר comes only from the sunny southern fields
6. ProofA ברייתא supports the southern field and describes how it was farmed
7. Statementרב חלקיה בר טובי's field shows how well the method works
8. StatementWormy flour or wheat is unfit when most of it is wormy
9. QuestionDoes 'most' mean most of each kernel or most of the whole סאה?
10. QuestionIs someone who consecrates wormy wheat punished like one who consecrates a blemished animal?
11. StatementA log with a worm is unfit for the altar
12. Statementשמואל limits the rule to wet wood
13. QuestionIs one flogged for consecrating a wormy log?
14. Statementמשנה: תקוע is the best source of oil
15. StatementOlives to avoid, and olives that are unfit
16. QuestionWhy did יואב go to תקוע for a wise woman?
17. ResponseOlive oil brings wisdom
18. Statementאשר's land flows with oil
19. Statementלודקיא sends a messenger to buy oil
20. StatementThe search leads to a farmer hoeing his olive trees
21. StatementThe messenger thinks he is being mocked
22. ProofHe dips his feet in oil, just as the פסוק says
23. StatementThe farmer sells a huge amount of oil, and more on credit
24. StatementEvery animal in the land was rented to carry the oil
25. ConclusionPraise the farmer, not me: the verse is fulfilled
26. StatementBack to the משנה: no oil from a fertilized grove
27. ChallengeA ברייתא about unripe olives begins a challenge