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Nazir 31a

נזיר ל״א ע״א

Learn Nazir 31a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Mistaken consecration (הקדש בטעות): the argument between בית שמאי and בית הלל, and whether בית שמאי really hold a true mistake creates הקדש

Overview

The משנה finishes the argument about a person who consecrates something by mistake. בית שמאי say it is הקדש, and בית הלל say it is not. The משנה gives three examples: a black bull that turned out white, a gold coin that turned out silver, and a barrel of wine that turned out to be oil. The גמרא explains that בית שמאי learn the start of הקדש from תמורה, which works even by mistake, while בית הלל say only תמורה works that way. The גמרא then challenges בית שמאי: a תמורה set for a later time waits for that time, so the הקדש should wait to see what really comes out. רב פפא answers that the man meant the first black bull to come out, so even בית שמאי agree that a true mistake does not create הקדש. The case is only called a mistake because his first words were misleading. The גמרא tests this against a משנה about a released נזיר vow and answers that בית הלל had misunderstood בית שמאי's reason. A new challenge from another משנה begins at the end of the עמוד and continues on the next עמוד.

Opening lines

וּבֵית הִלֵּל אוֹמְרִים: אֵין הֶקְדֵּשׁ.

And Beit Hillel say: it is not consecrated.

כֵּיצַד?

How so?

אָמַר ״שׁוֹר שָׁחוֹר

He said: 'A black bull'

שֶׁיֵּצֵא מִבֵּיתִי רִאשׁוֹן

that will come out of my house first

The steps (17)

  1. Statementבית הלל: a mistaken consecration does not take effect
  2. StatementFirst example: the black bull that turned out white
  3. StatementMore examples: the gold coin and the barrel of wine
  4. QuestionWhat is בית שמאי's reason?
  5. Responseבית שמאי learn the start of הקדש from תמורה
  6. Rejectionבית הלל: only תמורה works by mistake
  7. ChallengeChallenge to בית שמאי: a delayed תמורה waits for its time
  8. Resolutionרב פפא: 'First' means the first black bull to come out
  9. ChallengeWhat if he owns only one black bull?
  10. ResolutionThe case is someone with two or three black bulls
  11. Rejectionבית הלל: Then he should have said it differently
  12. Challengeרבא from Barnish: This is not a mistake at all
  13. ResolutionIt is called a mistake because his first words were misleading
  14. ChallengeDo בית שמאי really hold a mistaken consecration does not work?
  15. Challengeבית הלל's challenge shows בית שמאי think a mistaken consecration takes effect
  16. Resolutionבית הלל misunderstood בית שמאי's reason
  17. ChallengeA new challenge begins from another משנה