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Nedarim 38a

נדרים ל״ח ע״א

Learn Nedarim 38a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Words written but not read, אגדות about משה's wealth and the gift of the תורה, the qualities of a נביא, and the משנה on feeding the family and animals of someone forbidden by נדר.

Overview

This עמוד opens by finishing a list of words that are written in תנ״ך but not read aloud. רב אחא בר אדא then reports that in ארץ ישראל one long פסוק was split into three. The topic turns to אגדה about משה. From ״פסל לך״ we learn that משה grew rich from the leftover chips of the לוחות. רבי יוסי ברבי חנינא adds that the תורה was first given only to משה, who generously shared it. After several challenges, the גמרא narrows this to say that only the deep analysis (פילפולא) was his alone. רבי יוחנן teaches that the שכינה rests only on someone mighty, wealthy, wise, and humble, and proves each quality from משה. He also teaches that all the נביאים were wealthy, which the גמרא shows from משה, שמואל, עמוס, and יונה, along with רבא's comment that שמואל was even more careful than משה. Finally the משנה returns to the laws of נדרים: one may feed the wife and children of a man forbidden to benefit from him, but not his animals. רבי אליעזר distinguishes kosher from non-kosher animals, and his explanation continues on the next עמוד.

Opening lines

״זֹאת״ ״דְּ״הַמִּצְוָה״,

"This" of "the מצוה,"

״יִדְרֹךְ״ דְּ״הַדֹּרֵךְ״,

"Bend" of "the archer,"

״חֲמֵשׁ״ דִּ״פְאַת נֶגֶב״,

"Five" of "the south side,"

״אִם״ דְּ״כִי גֹאֵל״ —

"If" of "that a near kinsman":

The steps (35)

  1. StatementFinishing the list of words written but not read
  2. StatementIn ארץ ישראל one verse was split into three
  3. Statementמשה became wealthy from the chips of the לוחות
  4. StatementThe תורה was given to משה, and he shared it generously
  5. Challengeרב חסדא challenges from a פסוק saying משה was commanded to teach
  6. ResolutionThe פסוק is split: ה׳ commanded me, and I chose to teach you
  7. ChallengeA second פסוק: I taught you as ה׳ commanded me
  8. ResolutionSame answer: ה׳ commanded me, and I taught you
  9. ChallengeA third פסוק: write this song and teach it
  10. ResolutionOnly the song had to be taught
  11. ChallengeThe song is a witness, so the whole תורה must be included
  12. ResolutionOnly the deep analysis was given to משה alone
  13. StatementThe שכינה rests only on someone mighty, wealthy, wise, and humble
  14. ProofFirst proof of strength: משה spread the tent over the tall boards
  15. RejectionMaybe he was just tall and thin
  16. ProofBetter proof: משה lifted and threw the heavy stone לוחות
  17. Proofמשה was wealthy: the leftover stone of the לוחות was his
  18. Proofמשה was wise: he received 49 of the 50 gates of understanding
  19. Proofמשה was humble: the תורה says so outright
  20. Statementרבי יוחנן: all the prophets were wealthy
  21. ProofFirst try for משה: 'I did not take a single donkey'
  22. RejectionRejected: maybe משה was poor
  23. ProofBetter proof for משה: the leftover stone of the לוחות
  24. ProofFirst try for שמואל: 'Whose ox or donkey have I taken?'
  25. RejectionRejected: maybe שמואל was poor
  26. ProofBetter proof for שמואל: his house went with him wherever he traveled
  27. Statementשמואל was even more careful than משה
  28. Proofעמוס was wealthy
  29. Proofיונה was wealthy
  30. Statementמשה kept forgetting the תורה until it was given as a gift
  31. StatementHe may feed the man's wife and children
  32. StatementHe may not feed the man's animals
  33. Statementרבי אליעזר splits kosher from non-kosher animals
  34. QuestionThe חכמים ask what the difference is
  35. Responseרבי אליעזר begins his answer: a kosher animal's body belongs to its owner