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Rosh Hashanah 5b

ראש השנה ה׳ ע״ב

Learn Rosh Hashanah 5b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The sources and limits of בל תאחר: what it covers, which substitute is excluded, and why a late קרבן stays valid

Overview

This amud opens with the end of an answer: שלמי פסח follow the normal שלמים rule for בל תאחר. The גמרא then asks where the list of בל תאחר items comes from. A ברייתא reads the פסוק ״כי תדור נדר״ phrase by phrase, adding נדבה, Temple pledges, all kinds of קרבנות, צדקה, מעשר, בכור, and the gifts to the poor. It also teaches that the sin is on the person, not the קרבן. The גמרא asks which 'substitute' is excluded by 'it, and not its substitute.' It first suggests a תמורת תודה that can never be offered, then objects that no פסוק is needed for that. רב ששת and רבא explain instead that a replacement animal does not inherit the original animal's רגלים, according to the חכמים and according to רבי מאיר. Finally, the גמרא asks why ״והיה בך חטא״ is needed when אחרים learn the same rule from בכור. It answers that a בכור does not atone, and then opens a further challenge that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

כְּפֶסַח דָּמוּ —

[You might have said:] they are like the Paschal offering;

קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן.

therefore it teaches us [otherwise].

מְנָהָנֵי מִילֵּי?

From where are these matters derived?

דְּתָנוּ רַבָּנַן:

As the Sages taught:

The steps (26)

  1. ResolutionWhy the list mentions peace-offerings connected to the פסח
  2. QuestionWhere do these rules come from?
  3. ResponseThe ברייתא begins: the verse clearly covers a vow
  4. QuestionWhat about a gift-offering?
  5. ResponseLinking the word 'vow' in two verses
  6. Statement'To the Lord your God' includes Temple-maintenance pledges
  7. Statement'Do not delay paying it': the item itself, not its substitute
  8. Statement'He will surely require it' includes obligatory offerings
  9. Statement'ה׳ your God' includes charity, tithes and firstborn
  10. Statement'From you' includes the gifts to the poor
  11. StatementThe sin is on the person, not on the offering
  12. QuestionWhich substitute is excluded?
  13. RejectionNot the substitute of a burnt-offering or peace-offering
  14. RejectionNot the substitute of a sin-offering
  15. ResponseIt means the substitute of a thanks-offering
  16. Proofרבי חייא: a thanks-offering mixed with its substitute
  17. ProofWhy the leftover animal can never be offered
  18. ChallengeWhy would a verse be needed to exclude an animal that can never be offered?
  19. Resolutionרב ששת: the verse excludes a replacement animal from adding up the old רגלים
  20. ChallengeHow does רב ששת's answer work for רבי מאיר?
  21. Resolutionרבא: blemished mid-festival, so the replacement has not had a full רגל
  22. StatementThe sin is in you, not in your offering
  23. ChallengeIsn't this already learned from אחרים?
  24. Proofאחרים compare בכור to מעשר
  25. ResolutionBoth sources are needed: בכור does not atone
  26. ChallengeOpening of a further challenge