Pesachim 97a

פסחים צ״ז ע״א

Learn Pesachim 97a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 97a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

רבא refuted about the תמורה of a lost פסח; שמואל's rule matching פסח to חטאת, its limits (lost animals only, following רבי), and the challenges to it.

Overview

This amud opens at the end of a ברייתא that the גמרא uses against רבא. The ברייתא says that in a 'before the פסח' case, the תמורה of a lost פסח is not offered. The obvious reading would make the פסוק unnecessary. So the ברייתא must mean an animal found before the שחיטה and swapped after it, and רבא is refuted. Next, שמואל gives a rule: where a חטאת would die, a פסח becomes a שלמים, and where a חטאת would graze, a פסח grazes too. רבי יוחנן says instead that a פסח becomes a שלמים only if it was found after the שחיטה. רב יוסף challenges שמואל from an animal whose year has passed, and the answer is that שמואל meant only lost animals. A further challenge from the חכמים is answered by saying that שמואל follows רבי, for whom every lost חטאת dies. A פסח lost before midday does not count as lost, following רבא. The amud ends by asking how, according to רבי, a חטאת could ever graze, and the answer comes on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (18)

1. ChallengeThe ברייתא: A substitute of a פסח found 'before the פסח' is not offered
2. QuestionWhat case is the ברייתא talking about?
3. RejectionIt can't mean found and swapped before the slaughter
4. ChallengeSo it must mean found before but swapped after — exactly רבא's case
5. Conclusionרבא is refuted
6. Statementשמואל's rule: פסח follows the חטאת
7. Statementרבי יוחנן: Only if found after the slaughter
8. Challengeרב יוסף: Is that really a rule? A year-old חטאת grazes
9. ProofProof from ריש לקיש: A year-old חטאת is treated as if in a cemetery
10. ProofA ברייתא shows that a פסח past its year is offered as a שלמים
11. Resolutionשמואל's rule applies only to lost animals
12. ChallengeEven for lost animals, the rule seems to fail
13. ProofThe משנה about a lost חטאת and its replacement
14. ChallengeA lost פסח found before slaughter becomes a שלמים
15. Resolutionשמואל follows רבי, who holds that a lost חטאת dies
16. ChallengeA פסח lost and found before midday grazes
17. ResolutionBefore midday the פסח does not count as lost
18. ChallengeFor רבי, when does a sin-offering ever graze?