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Pesachim 58a

פסחים נ״ח ע״א

Learn Pesachim 58a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The time of the afternoon תמיד: its Torah source, why it moves earlier on ערב פסח, and the מחלוקת about ערב פסח that falls on שבת

Overview

The משנה gives three times for the afternoon תמיד. On an ordinary day it is slaughtered at 8½ hours. On ערב פסח it is slaughtered at 7½, so the קרבן פסח can come after it. On a Friday ערב פסח it is slaughtered at 6½, so the פסח can be roasted before שבת. רבי יהושע בן לוי derives the 8½ time from 'בין הערבים'. רבא objects: if 8½ were a Torah law, the time could not be moved earlier on ערב פסח. So רבא says the Torah time begins right after midday. The 8½ hour is just a delay to leave room for other offerings, and that delay is shortened on ערב פסח and dropped completely on a Friday ערב פסח. The גמרא then brings a ברייתא where רבי ישמעאל and רבי עקיבא disagree about the schedule when ערב פסח falls on שבת. אביי explains the dispute as being about the order of the מוספין and the בזיכין. רבא explains it as being about whether we worry that the meat will spoil while it waits to be roasted after שבת.

Opening lines

מַתְנִי׳ תָּמִיד נִשְׁחָט

MISHNA: The daily offering is slaughtered

בִּשְׁמוֹנָה וּמֶחְצָה,

at eight and a half hours,

וְקָרֵב בְּתִשְׁעָה וּמֶחְצָה.

and is offered at nine and a half hours.

בְּעַרְבֵי פְסָחִים נִשְׁחָט בְּשֶׁבַע וּמֶחְצָה,

On the eves of Passover it is slaughtered at seven and a half hours,

The steps (19)

  1. StatementThe normal time for the afternoon תמיד
  2. StatementOn ערב פסח the תמיד moves one hour earlier
  3. StatementWhen ערב פסח falls on Friday, it moves even earlier
  4. QuestionWhat is the source for the regular time?
  5. ResponseSplitting the afternoon into two 'evenings'
  6. ChallengeIf the time is from the Torah, how can it move earlier?
  7. Resolutionרבא's new source: the תמיד's time begins when the sun starts going down
  8. ResolutionWhy the תמיד is usually delayed to 8½ hours
  9. ResolutionOn ערב פסח the תמיד is moved one hour earlier
  10. ConclusionWhen ערב פסח falls on ערב שבת, the תמיד goes back to its basic time of 6½
  11. StatementA ברייתא: the תמיד schedule on שבת
  12. QuestionWhat does the ברייתא mean?
  13. Responseאביי's reading: both opinions are about ערב פסח on שבת
  14. QuestionWhat is the basis of their disagreement?
  15. ResponseDo the מוספין or the בזיכין come first?
  16. Challengeרבא: רבי עקיבא never mentioned Friday
  17. Resolutionרבא's reading: ordinary weekday versus regular ערב פסח
  18. QuestionWhat is the reason behind their argument in רבא's reading?
  19. ResponseThey disagree about whether to worry that the meat will spoil