Menachos 98a

מנחות צ״ח ע״א

Menachot 98a

Learn Menachos 98a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Menachos 98a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Measurements of the מזבח and the אמה, respect for kings, the arrangement of the לחם הפנים, and the direction of the ארון and its poles

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a point about the מזבח: its קרנות are measured with the small five-טפח אמה. Adding up the מזבח in טפחים (58 total, 29 half, 23 from the top down to the סובב) shows the סובב is six טפחים above the middle. That fits a ברייתא, and the wording of the פסוק supports it too. The גמרא then sets the medium אמה at six טפחים, proving it from the שלחן. It also explains why the מקדש kept two longer measuring rods in שושן הבירה: so workers would never take הקדש money they had not earned. This leads to why שושן הבירה was pictured on the eastern gate, to the rule of respecting the king, and to the healing leaves of the future river. Next comes a ברייתא showing that every word about the לחם הפנים is needed to teach two rows of six. רבי rules that with rows of seven the top loaf is ignored, because he reads 'על' as 'next to'. Finally, a ברייתא teaches that the ארון lay across the width of the בית, which we know from its poles, and begins explaining how the poles were 'seen' yet 'not seen outside'. That answer comes on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (35)

1. ConclusionCorners: height and width use the same small cubit
2. StatementAdding up the altar in handbreadths
3. ProofThe ledge is six handbreadths above the halfway mark, which fits a ברייתא
4. ProofThe verse's wording supports this reading
5. QuestionHow many handbreadths is a medium cubit?
6. ResponseA medium cubit is six handbreadths
7. ProofSupport from the measurements of the שלחן
8. QuestionDoes 'medium' imply a bigger cubit exists?
9. ResponseYes: the two cubits in שושן הבירה
10. QuestionWhy have a large and a small measure?
11. ResponseSo workers never misuse Temple property
12. QuestionWhy two large cubits?
13. ResponseOne for silver and gold, one for building
14. QuestionWhy was שושן הבירה pictured on the eastern gate?
15. ResponseTwo reasons for the picture of שושן
16. StatementAlways respect the king: משה and פרעה
17. StatementA different source: אליהו runs before אחאב
18. StatementWhat the healing leaves will open
19. StatementAnother pair of sages holds the same two views
20. StatementWhy the Torah adds 'six in a row'
21. StatementWhy the Torah adds 'twelve'
22. StatementWithout 'two' and 'six,' one might think of three rows of four
23. ConclusionAll three phrases are needed
24. StatementThe practical rule: two rows of six, not four and eight
25. Statementרבי: with rows of seven, ignore the top loaf
26. ChallengeBut the לבונה must be placed 'on' the row
27. Resolutionרבי holds that 'על' means 'next to'
28. ProofProof from the פרוכת that 'על' can mean 'next to'
29. StatementDirection of the כלים in the מקדש; the ארון is the exception
30. QuestionWhat does the last line of the ברייתא mean?
31. ResponseWe know how the ארון lay from the direction of its poles
32. QuestionHow do we know which way the poles faced?
33. ResponseThe poles reached the פרוכת, because the פסוק says they were seen
34. StatementThe poles did not tear through the פרוכת
35. QuestionHow can both halves of the פסוק be true?