Nazir 13a

נזיר י״ג ע״א

Learn Nazir 13a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

A נזירות vow tied to a child's birth: miscarriage and doubt, the animal set aside, and a friend who joins the vow

Overview

The משנה finishes its cases about a man who vowed to be a נזיר when a child is born to him. If his wife miscarries, the תנא קמא says he is not a נזיר. רבי שמעון says he should take on נזירות with a condition, and he adds a second conditional נזירות if a later birth follows. The גמרא explains why the משנה spells out rulings that seem obvious: 'son' is read literally, and 'child' includes any child. It then shows that the lenient ruling about a miscarriage follows רבי יהודה, who is lenient when נזירות is in doubt (the case of the heap). רבי אבא asks whether an animal set aside after a miscarriage is already holy once a son is born. This matters for shearing it and working with it, and the question stays unresolved (תיקו). Finally, בן רחומי asks אביי what a friend means when he answers 'ועלי' or 'ואני' to a vow tied to a son's birth, and his question continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (22)

1. StatementA miscarriage does not trigger the vow
2. Statementרבי שמעון: take on נזירות with a condition
3. StatementA later birth triggers the vow
4. Statementרבי שמעון: a second conditional נזירות
5. ChallengeWhy say that a son's birth makes him a נזיר?
6. ResolutionIt was said because of the next clause
7. ChallengeBut that is obvious too
8. ResolutionMaybe 'son' really meant any child
9. ChallengeThe 'child' vow also seems obvious
10. ResolutionMaybe 'child' meant one that people value
11. QuestionWhose view says a miscarriage does not make him a nazirite?
12. ResponseIt is רבי יהודה, from the case of the heap
13. Statementרבי שמעון: make a conditional vow
14. Questionרבי אבא asks about a קרבן set aside after a miscarriage
15. QuestionAccording to whom? Not רבי שמעון
16. ResponseIt follows רבי יהודה: is the animal holy or not?
17. ChallengeWhat difference does it make?
18. ResolutionThe difference: shearing it and working with it
19. ConclusionThe question stands unresolved
20. Questionבן רחומי's question about a friend who says 'and upon me'
21. QuestionFollow-up: a friend who says 'and I'
22. QuestionBeginning a third question about speaking face to face