Pesachim 99b
פסחים צ״ט ע״ב
Learn Pesachim 99b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.
Open Pesachim 99b in Gemara Clarity
Topic
עֶרֶב פֶּסַח: not eating close to מנחה, and how this compares to ערב שבת and ערב יום טוב
Overview
The משנה opens פרק ערבי פסחים. On ערב פסח, from close to מנחה time, a person may not eat until dark. Even the poorest Jew must recline at the סדר and must be given four cups of wine. The גמרא asks why the משנה limits the eating rule to ערב פסח, since a ברייתא records רבי יהודה forbidding eating from מנחה onward before every שבת and יום טוב, while רבי יוסי allows eating until dark. רב הונא answers that the משנה follows רבי יוסי, who agrees that on ערב פסח one must stop eating because of the obligation of מצה. רב פפא answers that the משנה can even follow רבי יהודה, because on ערב פסח the ban starts earlier, already close to מנחה. The גמרא challenges רב פפא with another version of the ברייתא, in which רבי יהודה forbids eating on ערב שבת from nine hours. מר זוטרא responds by questioning whether that version is accurate, and his answer continues on the next עמוד.
Opening lines
מַתְנִי׳
MISHNAH
עֶרֶב פְּסָחִים סָמוּךְ לַמִּנְחָה
On the eve of Passover, close to Minchah time,
לֹא יֹאכַל אָדָם עַד שֶׁתֶּחְשַׁךְ.
a person may not eat until it gets dark.
אֲפִילּוּ עָנִי שֶׁבְּיִשְׂרָאֵל
Even the poorest person in Israel
The steps (8)
- StatementNo eating on ערב פסח from close to מנחה
- StatementEven the poorest must recline and get four cups
- ChallengeWhy only ערב פסח?
- Proofברייתא: no eating before שבת and יום טוב
- Resolutionרב הונא: the משנה follows רבי יוסי
- Resolutionרב פפא: even רבי יהודה, the ban starts earlier on פסח
- ChallengeA ברייתא seems to forbid eating on ערב שבת from nine hours
- Rejectionמר זוטרא doubts that this version of the ברייתא is accurate