Niddah 18b

נדה י״ח ע״ב

Learn Niddah 18b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

רבי יוחנן's list of three cases where חכמים followed the majority: why רבי יהושע בן לוי's case is missing, and what kind of case the list is meant to exclude.

Overview

Earlier, רבי יוחנן said there are only three cases where חכמים settled a doubt by following the majority and treated it as certain. The amud opens by asking why one more case is missing. רבי יהושע בן לוי ruled that a woman who miscarried in a river brings the birth offerings, because most women give birth to a full baby. The גמרא answers that רבי יוחנן's list only counts cases taught in a משנה or ברייתא. It then defends that answer against רבין's report of an objection from the case of a טועה. Next the גמרא asks what kind of case רבי יוחנן's rule is meant to exclude. The case of a רוב opposed by a חזקה is rejected, since רבי יוחנן already ruled on it in the case of the child found next to the dough. The גמרא then suggests the rule excludes the רוב of רבי יהודה, from the משנה of a woman who miscarries a piece of flesh. Finally, שמואל and רבי יוחנן disagree about exactly which piece of flesh רבי יהודה and the חכמים argue about, and that discussion continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (16)

1. ChallengeA woman who miscarried in the river brings an offering
2. ChallengeThe reason: follow the majority of women
3. ResolutionThe list only counts cases from a משנה or ברייתא
4. Challengeרבין reports an objection from the case of an unsure woman
5. ChallengeMaybe the ברייתא actually supports רבי יהושע בן לוי
6. ResolutionThe ברייתא may be neither a refutation nor a support
7. QuestionWhat does רבי יוחנן's rule mean to exclude?
8. ChallengeFirst suggestion: a majority with a חזקה against it, but רבי יוחנן already said that
9. ProofThe משנה of the child next to the dough
10. QuestionWhy רבי מאיר rules the dough pure
11. ResponseWhy the רבנן rule the dough impure
12. Proofריש לקיש and רבי יוחנן argue about burning the תרומה
13. ResponseA new suggestion: the rule excludes רבי יהודה's majority
14. ProofThe משנה of the woman who miscarries a piece of flesh
15. Statementשמואל limits רבי יהודה's ruling to a piece with the color of impure blood
16. Statementרבי יוחנן says both clear cases are agreed, and the argument is elsewhere