Nazir 63b

נזיר ס״ג ע״ב

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Topic

A נזיר who discovers his impurity after his term, and the rules of a hidden body (טומאת התהום) and floating טומאה

Overview

The amud opens by answering an earlier question: a נזיר became טמא during his term but found out only after it ended. רבא proves from the משנה that he still cancels (סותר) his days. The משנה says 'in either case he cancels,' and that would be obvious if he found out during the term. The גמרא then asks whether he cancels everything or only seven days. It shows that this question fits רבי אליעזר's view: one could follow when he became טמא, or when he found out. It answers from the same משנה. The משנה does not divide the cases, so he cancels seven. Next, a ברייתא discusses someone who finds a body lying across a road. He is טמא for תרומה but טהור for a נזיר and the קרבן פסח, and the ברייתא narrows this step by step: whether there was room to pass, whether the body was whole, walking versus riding, and a known versus a hidden טומאה (טומאת התהום). It defines טומאת התהום as a body nobody in the world knew of, gives examples, and limits the rule to a dead body. Finally, the גמרא returns to the משנה's floating body. It teaches that floating טומאה does not make things טמא in the case of a שרץ, citing a ברייתא where רבי שמעון distinguishes between water in a vessel and water in the ground.

Opening lines

The steps (19)

1. Proofרבא brings a proof from the משנה
2. QuestionWhat case is the משנה describing?
3. ProofIt must mean he found out after the term
4. QuestionFollow-up: all the days or only seven?
5. ChallengeWhose view could this question even fit?
6. ResolutionIt fits רבי אליעזר: he became impure before the term ended
7. QuestionOr does the late discovery make it count as after the term?
8. ResponseResolved from the משנה: no distinction
9. StatementA body lying across a road
10. StatementOnly when there was no room to pass
11. StatementA whole body versus a body in pieces
12. StatementWalking versus carrying a load or riding
13. StatementThe leniency applies only to an unknown, hidden impurity
14. StatementDefinition: no one in the world knew of it
15. StatementExamples: hidden in straw and pebbles versus water, darkness, and rock clefts
16. ConclusionThe rule applies only to a dead body
17. StatementFloating טומאה does not make things impure in the case of a שרץ
18. ProofA ברייתא shows that doubtful floating טומאה is pure
19. Statementרבי שמעון makes a distinction between a vessel and the ground