Nazir 7a

נזיר ז׳ ע״א

Learn Nazir 7a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

When words of length make one term of נזירות, many terms, or just thirty days; and why adding a day or an hour makes two terms

Overview

The amud opens by finishing an earlier discussion. Years are counted by months, not days, as the רבנן of קיסרי learn from a פסוק. A new משנה then rules that 'one long term,' 'one short term,' or even 'from now until the end of the world' gives only thirty days of נזירות, because he only means it feels that long. The גמרא challenges this from the משנה of 'from here until such and such a place,' which counts the real travel days. רבא answers that there the man was already on the road. The גמרא then asks why each פרסה or lodging station is not its own term, as with 'like the dust of the earth.' The answers given are that people there don't count פרסאות, that things with a fixed amount differ from endless ones, and (רבה) that hairs are separate while days and roads are continuous. רבא then says all of this is unnecessary, since our משנה says 'one.' Finally, a new משנה rules that adding a day, an hour, or a half makes two full terms, and the גמרא explains why each example is needed.

Opening lines

The steps (20)

1. ChallengeMaybe it means a year
2. ResolutionYears are not counted by days
3. ProofProof from the Sages of Caesarea
4. Statementמשנה: long, short, or until the end of the world means thirty days
5. ChallengeWhy only thirty days if he said forever?
6. ResolutionHe means it feels that long
7. ChallengeChallenge from 'until such and such a place'
8. ResolutionHe had already set out on the road
9. ChallengeWhy not a separate term for every פרסה?
10. ResolutionA place where people don't count in פרסאות
11. ChallengeWhy not a separate term for every lodging station?
12. ResolutionThings with a fixed amount are different
13. ProofA ברייתא: a fixed number of years is not נזיר עולם
14. Resolutionרבה: hairs are separate units
15. ChallengeBut days are also separate units
16. ResolutionThe verse only defines a day; time is continuous
17. Resolutionרבא: the vow said 'one'
18. StatementAdding a day, an hour, or a half means two terms
19. QuestionWhy list so many cases?
20. ResponseThe day case alone would not teach the hour case