Menachos 91b
מנחות צ״א ע״ב
Menachot 91b
Learn Menachos 91b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.
Open Menachos 91b in Gemara Clarity
Topic
Which offerings need נסכים: the extra words in the פסוקים of libations and what each one includes
Overview
The גמרא works through a ברייתא that uses extra words in the פסוקים about נסכים to show which offerings need libations. First it explains why the מצורע's חטאת and אשם each need their own source: they serve different purposes. It also proves that the word זבח means the מצורע's חטאת and not the נזיר's offerings, because only offerings that can come as a נדר or נדבה need נסכים. Next it asks why עולה means the מצורע's עולה and not the יולדת's. אביי says the יולדת is learned from the end of the פסוק, as רבי נתן teaches. רבא says three inclusions must point to the מצורע. רב ששת then explains that 'לאיל' includes the ram of אהרן, and 'או' includes the פלגס. The פלגס teaching fits רבי יוחנן but remains a difficulty for בר פדא. Finally, the summary פסוק teaches that only male sheep get different נסכים by age, and the amud ends as רב פפא begins telling how רבא tested his students.
Opening lines
דְּאָמַר מָר:
As the Master said:
חַטָּאת וְאָשָׁם מִנַּיִן?
From where do we know a sin offering and a guilt offering?
תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״זָּבַח״.
The verse says: "the sacrifice."
הָנֵי מִילֵּי הֵיכָא
This applies only where
The steps (30)
- ChallengeOne word can cover both חטאת and אשם
- ResolutionSame purpose needs one source, different purposes need two
- ChallengeMaybe זבח means the נזיר's offerings
- ResolutionThe נזיר's נסכים come only with his עולה and שלמים
- ProofThe ברייתא proves from a פסוק that the נזיר's נסכים go only with his עולה and שלמים
- ProofThe ram is singled out so other offerings can be compared to it
- ChallengeWhy say עולה means the מצורע's burnt offering and not a יולדת's?
- Resolutionאביי: the יולדת's burnt offering is learned from the end of the verse
- Proofרבי נתן's source: 'for the lamb' is the יולדת and 'the one' is the eleventh animal
- ProofWhy the eleventh animal needs its own source
- Resolutionרבא: three inclusions point to the מצורע
- QuestionWhy does the פסוק say 'for the ram'?
- Responseרב ששת: to include the ram of אהרן
- ChallengeThe ram of אהרן is already covered by 'on your festivals'
- ResolutionWe might have limited 'on your festivals' to communal offerings
- ChallengeWhy not learn from the יולדת's עולה?
- ResolutionAn offering with a set time might be different
- QuestionWhy does the פסוק say 'or for a ram'?
- Response'Or' includes the פלגס
- ChallengeThe teaching about the פלגס fits רבי יוחנן but not בר פדא
- ConclusionThe difficulty stands according to בר פדא
- QuestionWhy does the פסוק say 'for the one bull'?
- ResponseA bull and a calf get the same נסכים
- QuestionWhy does the פסוק say 'or for the one ram'?
- ResponseAll rams get the same נסכים, whatever their age
- QuestionWhy does the פסוק say 'or for the lamb among the sheep'?
- ResponseFemale sheep get the same נסכים whether young or old
- QuestionWhy does the פסוק say 'or among the goats'?
- ResponseYoung and old goats get the same נסכים
- Statementרב פפא begins: רבא tested us