Nedarim 32b

נדרים ל״ב ע״ב

Learn Nedarim 32b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Aggadic number-meanings, the יצר הרע and יצר טוב, and how כהונה passed to אברהם; then the new chapter on מודר הנאה versus מודר מאכל

Overview

This amud starts with אגדה and ends with הלכה. It first finishes a statement that the letters of 'השטן' add up to 364. Then רמי בר אבא teaches that when אברם's name became אברהם (243 became 248), he gained control over all his limbs, including the eyes, the ears and the organ of מילה. He also reads פסוקים in קהלת as a picture of the inner battle: the body is a small city attacked by the יצר הרע, and the 'poor wise man' who saves it is the יצר טוב, through תשובה and good deeds. Next, רבי זכריה in the name of רבי ישמעאל explains that כהונה was meant to come from שם (מלכי צדק). Because he blessed אברהם before blessing God, the כהונה went to אברהם's descendants instead. The chapter ארבעה נדרים then ends. A new משנה teaches that a מודר הנאה and a מודר מאכל differ only in walking on the property and in borrowing utensils not used for food. The גמרא says this משנה follows רבי אליעזר, who forbids even ויתור, and then begins discussing the משנה's rule about lending utensils.

Opening lines

The steps (18)

1. StatementThe numerical value of 'the Satan' is 364
2. StatementFrom אברם to אברהם: rule over 243 limbs, then 248
3. StatementThe five limbs that were added
4. StatementThe small city under siege: body, limbs, evil inclination, sins
5. StatementThe poor wise man: the good inclination that no one remembers
6. StatementWisdom is stronger than the body's ten rulers
7. Statementכהונה was meant for שם but went to אברהם
8. ProofThe פסוק shows the blessings in the wrong order
9. Statementאברהם objects to the order of the blessings
10. Proofתהלים shows God gave the כהונה to אברהם
11. Conclusionמלכי צדק was a כהן, but his children were not
12. ConclusionHadran — Closing the chapter ארבעה נדרים
13. StatementThe only differences between a full benefit vow and a food vow
14. StatementWhich items may be lent to someone under a food vow
15. QuestionWhose view does this משנה follow?
16. Responseרב אדא בר אהבה: It is רבי אליעזר
17. Proofרבי אליעזר forbids even things people normally let go
18. StatementQuoting the משנה's line about lending to a מודר מאכל