Pesachim 57b

פסחים נ״ז ע״ב

Learn Pesachim 57b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 57b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The end of the story of the כהן גדול ישׂשכר איש כפר ברקאי: his contempt for the king, his punishment, and two אמוראים showing his answer was wrong according to the משנה and the פסוק. Then the הדרן closing פרק מקום שנהגו.

Overview

This עמוד finishes a story that began on the previous עמוד. A king and queen argued over whether goat meat or lamb meat is better, and they asked the כהן גדול ישׂשכר איש כפר ברקאי to decide. He waved his hand with contempt and said lamb must be better because the תמיד is a lamb. The king ordered his right hand cut off for disrespecting the kingdom. ישׂשכר bribed the official, who cut off his left hand instead, and when the king found out he had the right hand cut off too. רב יוסף thanks ה׳ that ישׂשכר was punished in this world, measure for measure, because he used to wrap his hands in silk to avoid touching the קרבנות. רב אשי then says ישׂשכר did not know the משנה of רבי שמעון, which teaches that lambs and goats are equal. רבינא goes further and says the plain פסוק already lets a person bring either one. The עמוד ends with the הדרן closing פרק מקום שנהגו, which also completes the section called פסח ראשון.

Opening lines

The steps (8)

1. Statementישׂשכר answers the king with a rude gesture
2. StatementThe king orders ישׂשכר's right hand cut off
3. StatementA bribe backfires, and both hands are cut off
4. Statementרב יוסף blesses God for punishing ישׂשכר in this world
5. Statementרב אשי says ישׂשכר never learned the משנה
6. ProofThe משנה of רבי שמעון: lambs and goats are equal
7. Statementרבינא: he did not even read the verse correctly
8. Conclusionהדרן — Closing פרק מקום שנהגו and the פסח ראשון section