Pesachim 47a

פסחים מ״ז ע״א

Learn Pesachim 47a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 47a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Preparing for שבת on יום טוב: the לחם הפנים, the שתי הלחם and ״לָכֶם״, and רב חסדא's challenge to רבה's הואיל.

Overview

This amud tests רב חסדא's view that, by Torah law, food for שבת may be prepared on יום טוב. רבה cites the משנה about the לחם הפנים. It says the bread is baked early, never on שבת or יום טוב, even though it is eaten on שבת. רב חסדא answers that the ban is only a rabbinic שבות. In the מקדש the רבנן lifted it for the שבת right after יום טוב, but not for a שבת a week away. The opinion of רבי שמעון בן הסגן, that the baking does override יום טוב, is explained as extending that relaxation to the distant שבת. רב מרי then objects from the שתי הלחם of שבועות, which are not baked even on the יום טוב when they are eaten. The גמרא answers that the פסוק permits cooking on יום טוב only ״לָכֶם״, for people and not for the מקדש. רבי שמעון בן הסגן instead follows אבא שאול, who reads ״לָכֶם״ as 'not for גוים'. Finally, רב חסדא challenges רבה's principle of הואיל with a משנה about plowing one furrow and breaking eight prohibitions. That challenge continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (10)

1. StatementThe schedule of the showbread: eaten on the 9th, 10th, or 11th day
2. ChallengeWhy can't the showbread be baked on יום טוב for שבת?
3. ResolutionA rabbinic prohibition relaxed only for the coming שבת
4. ChallengeWhat about the view that it does override יום טוב?
5. ResolutionThe dispute is only about the distant שבת
6. ChallengeThe two loaves of שבועות are never baked on the holiday itself
7. ResolutionThe word 'for you' means for people, not for the Temple
8. ChallengeHow does רבן שמעון בן גמליאל read 'for you'?
9. ResolutionHe reads 'for you' as 'for Jews, not for gentiles'
10. Challengeרב חסדא challenges the 'since' principle with the case of one furrow