Menachos 99a

מנחות צ״ט ע״א

Menachot 99a

Learn Menachos 99a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Menachos 99a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The placement and use of the tables and מנורות in the מקדש, the rule מעלין בקודש ולא מורידין, and honoring a תלמיד חכם who forgot his learning

Overview

The גמרא first checks whether שלמה's ten tables and משה's שלחן can all fit in the north half of the היכל. If the tables ran צפון ודרום, everything fits. If they ran מזרח ומערב, the measurements seem to push the שלחן half an אמה into the south. The גמרא answers that משה's שלחן was not in the same row. It stood higher, and שלמה's tables sat a little lower, like a student before his teacher. Next a ברייתא argues over whether the לחם הפנים was placed only on משה's table and only משה's מנורה was lit, or whether all of them were used. רבי יוסי ברבי יהודה explains the plural 'tables' as three tables: silver and gold ones in the אולם, and the gold שלחן inside. This follows the rule מעלין בקודש ולא מורידין. The גמרא then gives a separate פסוק as the source for each half of that rule. From the broken לוחות kept in the ארון, it learns that a תלמיד חכם who forgot his learning through אונס must still be honored. It ends with a memory aid for three teachings of ריש לקיש, the first of which begins here and continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (19)

1. StatementThe north-south opinion works out fine
2. ChallengeMeasuring the space from the northern wall
3. ChallengeThe total spills half a cubit into the south
4. Resolutionמשה's Table was set higher, not in the same row
5. StatementTen tables, but the bread went only on משה's table
6. StatementTen מנורות, but only משה's was lit
7. Statementרבי אלעזר בן שמוע: all tables and all מנורות were used
8. Statementרבי יוסי ברבי יהודה: bread only on משה's table
9. QuestionThen what does the plural 'tables' mean?
10. ResponseThe 'tables' are three other tables in the מקדש
11. ResponseHow the silver and gold tables are used, and the third table inside
12. QuestionWhere do we learn that we don't lower in holiness?
13. ResponseSource from משה setting up the משכן
14. QuestionWhere do we learn that we raise in holiness?
15. ResponseSource from the fire-pans of קרח's group
16. StatementThe broken לוחות were kept in the ארון
17. ConclusionRespect for a תלמיד חכם who forgot his learning
18. StatementA memory aid for the next three teachings
19. Statementריש לקיש begins his first teaching