Nedarim 2b

נדרים ב׳ ע״ב

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

Open Nedarim 2b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Why the opening משנה of נדרים lists all four kinds of כינויים, why חרמים comes before שבועות, and the משנה's style of explaining ידות before כינויים

Overview

The גמרא opens by asking why the first משנה of נדרים lists כינויים for all four categories (נדרים, חרמים, שבועות, נזירות), while the משנה in נזיר lists only its own topic. The answer is that נדר and שבועה are written together in the תורה, so the משנה mentions both, and once it lists two it lists all four. The גמרא then asks why שבועות doesn't come right after נדרים. The answer is that נדרים and חרמים both make an object forbidden, while in a שבועה the person forbids himself from the object. Next, the גמרא notes that the משנה opens with כינויים but its first example is a case of ידות, which it never introduced. It answers that words are missing: the משנה should also say that ידות of vows are like vows. Since ידות were mentioned last, the משנה explains them first, and the גמרא proves this style from three משניות in שבת. Five other משניות explain their first item first, and the גמרא answers that this happens when there are many cases. The amud ends with a challenge from the משנה about an animal going out on שבת, which has only two sides yet starts with the first. The answer comes on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (16)

1. QuestionWhy does our משנה list all four categories?
2. ResponseVows and oaths are written together in the תורה
3. ChallengeThen oaths should come right after vows
4. ResolutionVows and חרמים both forbid an object
5. ChallengeThe משנה opened with כינויים but explains ידות
6. ChallengeDid the משנה forget to mention ידות?
7. ResolutionThe משנה is missing words: ידות also count like vows
8. ChallengeWhy not explain the substitute words first?
9. ResolutionThe משנה explains the last item first
10. ProofThree examples from מסכת שבת
11. ChallengeMany משניות explain the first item first
12. ProofSecond example: Women permitted to husbands but forbidden to יבמים
13. ProofThird and fourth examples: מנחות with oil, לבונה, הגשה and תנופה
14. ProofFifth example: A firstborn for inheritance but not for the כהן
15. ResolutionWhen there are many cases, the משנה starts with the first
16. ChallengeA משנה about animals on שבת has only two sides but starts with the first