Gemara Clarity

Moed Katan 2b

מועד קטן ב׳ ע״ב

Learn Moed Katan 2b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Moed Katan 2b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Which תנא our משנה follows on watering fields, whether weeding and watering on שבת count as plowing or sowing, and how watering can be allowed in שביעית.

Overview

The גמרא finishes a suggestion that רבי יהודה forbids watering a rain-fed field (בית הבעל) only from a brand-new spring that might collapse. It rejects that idea, because then our משנה would match no תנא. So for רבי יהודה only the type of field matters, and the ברייתא mentions a new spring only to show how far רבי מאיר goes. Next, רבה says weeding or watering on שבת counts as plowing (חורש), and רב יוסף says it counts as sowing (זורע). אביי asks both why it is not both, and that difficulty stands. רב יוסף then challenges רבה from a ברייתא about weeding כלאים, and the גמרא defends רבה: the lashes are for keeping the mixture growing (מקיים), as רבי עקיבא learns from the פסוק. Finally the גמרא asks how our משנה can allow watering in שביעית. אביי answers that the משנה means שביעית today, which according to רבי is only rabbinic. רבא begins a second answer that works even for the רבנן, and his answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

דִּלְמָא אָתֵי לְאִינְּפוֹלֵי.

because it might come to collapse.

אֲבָל מַעְיָין שֶׁלֹּא יָצָא בַּתְּחִילָּה,

But a spring that did not just emerge,

דְּלָא אָתֵי לְאִינְּפוֹלֵי —

which will not come to collapse —

אֲפִילּוּ בֵּית הַבַּעַל נָמֵי!

even a rain-watered field may be watered too!

The steps (21)

  1. ChallengeMaybe רבי יהודה's limit is only about a new spring that might collapse
  2. RejectionThen whose view is our משנה?
  3. Resolutionרבי יהודה makes no difference between springs
  4. StatementWeeding and watering on שבת: plowing or sowing?
  5. Proofרבה's reasoning: it loosens the soil
  6. Proofרב יוסף's reasoning: it makes the plant grow
  7. Challengeאביי challenges both רבה and רב יוסף
  8. RejectionBlocking the defense that one act brings only one liability
  9. ConclusionThe difficulty stands
  10. Challengeרב יוסף brings a ברייתא about mixed seeds against רבה
  11. ChallengePlowing has no connection to כלאים
  12. Resolutionרבה: the lashes are for maintaining the כלאים
  13. ChallengeThe ברייתא's ending suggests the first opinion is not about maintaining
  14. ResolutionThe whole ברייתא follows רבי עקיבא and explains its own reason
  15. QuestionWhat is רבי עקיבא's source?
  16. ResponseThe פסוק read as 'כלאים in your field, no'
  17. StatementBack to the משנה: watering a thirsty field
  18. ChallengeHow can watering be allowed in שביעית?
  19. Resolutionאביי: The משנה Is Talking About שביעית Today, Following רבי
  20. Proofרבי's Source: Release of Land Is Tied to Release of Debts
  21. Resolutionרבא: Even the Rabbis Agree, Since the Torah Forbade Only Main Labors