Gemara Clarity

Pesachim 6b

פסחים ו׳ ע״ב

Learn Pesachim 6b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Learning the laws of פסח before the חג, אין מוקדם ומאוחר בתורה, and why ביטול חמץ is done at the time of בדיקה

Overview

The amud opens by finishing the question of how early we start learning the laws of פסח. The תנא קמא says thirty days, because משה taught the laws of פסח שני on פסח ראשון. רבן שמעון בן גמליאל rejects that proof and says two weeks. After one source is dropped, the גמרא proves through a גזירה שוה from 'במדבר סיני' that משה taught the laws of פסח on ראש חודש ניסן. That raises a question: why is the ניסן speech written after the אייר speech? The answer is אין מוקדם ומאוחר בתורה. רב פפא limits this rule to separate topics, and proves from the rules of כלל ופרט that within one topic the written order is exact. Then a new topic begins: רב rules that one who does בדיקת חמץ must also do ביטול. רבא explains that this is a decree, in case he later finds a nice loaf after the sixth hour, when he can no longer nullify it. ביטול is fixed at night with the בדיקה so that he will not forget.

Opening lines

שֶׁהֲרֵי מֹשֶׁה עוֹמֵד בְּפֶסַח רִאשׁוֹן,

For Moses was standing at the first Pesach,

וּמַזְהִיר עַל הַפֶּסַח שֵׁנִי,

and warning about the second Pesach,

שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְיַעֲשׂוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

as it is stated: 'Let the children of Israel perform'

אֶת הַפָּסַח בְּמוֹעֲדוֹ״,

the Pesach at its appointed time' (Bamidbar 9:2),

The steps (26)

  1. ResponseThe source for thirty days: משה on פסח ראשון
  2. Rejectionרבן שמעון בן גמליאל rejects the proof
  3. QuestionWhat is רבן שמעון בן גמליאל's own source?
  4. ResponseThe source for two weeks: משה on ראש חודש ניסן
  5. ChallengeHow do we know משה spoke on ראש חודש?
  6. ResponseA new verse shows משה taught פסח laws in the first month
  7. ChallengeHow do we know this speech was on the first of the month?
  8. ResolutionA גזירה שוה from 'מדבר סיני' proves the speech was on ראש חודש
  9. ChallengeWhy is the ניסן speech written after the אייר speech?
  10. ResolutionThe Torah is not always written in time order
  11. StatementThe rule applies only between separate topics
  12. ProofProof from כלל ופרט that order matters within one topic
  13. ProofA second proof from detail followed by generalization
  14. ChallengeChallenge: then order should matter across two topics too
  15. ResolutionFar-apart verses count only within one topic
  16. StatementOne who searches for חמץ must also cancel it
  17. QuestionWhy is cancelling needed?
  18. RejectionNot because of crumbs, since crumbs do not matter
  19. ChallengeMaybe crumbs are important because they are guarded with the house
  20. RejectionLeftover figs and grapes show that guarding does not make items important
  21. Responseרבא: a decree in case he finds a nice loaf he cares about
  22. ChallengeWhy not just nullify the loaf when he finds it?
  23. ResolutionHe may find it after it is forbidden, when ביטול no longer works
  24. Proofרבי אלעזר: חמץ after the sixth hour is treated as his though it is not
  25. ChallengeWhy not nullify in the fourth or fifth hour?
  26. ResolutionThose hours are not a set time, so he might forget