Sanhedrin 100b

סנהדרין ק׳ ע״ב

Learn Sanhedrin 100b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Reward outweighs punishment; the ban on 'outside books' and on ספר בן סירא, with its good sayings that may still be taught; and many readings of the פסוק 'all the days of the poor are bad.'

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a proof that God's measure of good is bigger than His measure of punishment: the מן came through the 'doors' of heaven, but the מבול came only through 'windows.' It then asks how anyone could survive the endless fire in ישעיהו. The answer is that God gives the wicked strength to bear their punishment, and gives the righteous strength to receive their reward. Next the גמרא turns to רבי עקיבא's warning in the משנה about reading 'outside books,' which a ברייתא explains as books of מינים. רב יוסף adds that ספר בן סירא is also forbidden. אביי tests one line from it after another (the fish skin, the daughters, worry, crowds in the house) and shows each matches the תורה or חז"ל, until a list of silly sayings about beards and cups is left as the real problem. רב יוסף concludes that the book's good sayings may still be taught, and he quotes many of them. Finally, several אמוראים explain the פסוק 'all the days of the poor are bad' in different ways: about תלמוד and משנה scholars, a bad or good wife, a sensitive or easygoing person, and a compassionate or cruel person. רבי יהושע בן לוי's reading begins here and continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (29)

1. ConclusionGood is bigger than punishment: doors versus windows
2. StatementA verse about endless fire for the wicked
3. ChallengeHow can anyone survive endless fire?
4. ResolutionGod gives strength to receive both punishment and reward
5. StatementThe משנה: reading outside books
6. StatementOutside books means books of heretics
7. Statementרב יוסף: ספר בן סירא is also forbidden
8. Challengeאביי asks why: the fish-skin saying
9. RejectionRead simply, the Torah says the same
10. RejectionRead as a hint, it teaches proper conduct
11. ChallengeMaybe the problem is the line about daughters
12. RejectionThe Sages said the same about daughters
13. ChallengeMaybe the problem is the line about worry
14. Rejectionשלמה said the same about worry
15. StatementTwo ways to read the word ישחנה
16. ChallengeMaybe the problem is the line about crowds in your house
17. Rejectionרבי taught the same about friends in the house
18. ChallengeMaybe the problem is a string of silly sayings
19. ConclusionThe good sayings of בן סירא may still be taught
20. StatementMore good advice from בן סירא: guard your eyes, home, secrets, and worries
21. StatementThe poor suffer by night too
22. StatementMemory aid for the next teachings
23. Statementרב: The 'poor' are תלמוד scholars, the 'feasting' are משנה scholars
24. Statementרבא reverses the reading
25. ProofSupport for רבא from a verse in קהלת about stones and wood
26. Statementרבי חנינא: A bad wife or a good wife
27. Statementרבי ינאי: A picky person or an easygoing person
28. Statementרבי יוחנן: A compassionate person or a cruel person
29. Statementרבי יהושע בן לוי begins his reading