Sanhedrin 104b

סנהדרין ק״ד ע״ב

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Topic

The end of the story of the wise captives, teachings on the פסוקים of איכה, and who made the משנה's list of those with no share in עולם הבא.

Overview

This amud opens with the end of a story about two Jewish captives. They correctly figure out details about a camel far ahead of them, and their captor checks, honors them and sets them free. The גמרא then goes back to explaining the פסוקים of איכה. The doubled weeping stands for the two בתי המקדש, and 'at night' points to the night ישראל cried over the מרגלים. That night was תשעה באב, so it became a day of crying for all generations. Several other meanings of 'at night' follow, along with the story of רבן גמליאל and his grieving neighbor. More teachings of רבא in the name of רבי יוחנן explain further phrases, including why ירושלים was not treated with favoritism compared to סדום: it suffered a terrible famine that סדום never knew. Finally the גמרא returns to the משנה's list of those with no share in עולם הבא. The אנשי כנסת הגדולה made the list and were stopped by heaven from adding שלמה. The דורשי רשומות then argue that all of those listed do come to עולם הבא, a reading that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (31)

1. StatementA captive describes a camel he cannot see
2. QuestionThe captor asks how they know
3. ResponseThe captives explain each clue
4. ConclusionThe captor checks, honors them, and frees them
5. QuestionWhy does the פסוק double the word for weeping?
6. ResponseTwo weepings for the two Temples
7. Statement"At night" points to the night of the spies
8. StatementThat night was the night of תשעה באב
9. StatementCrying at night is heard
10. StatementThe stars cry along at night
11. StatementWhoever hears night crying cries too
12. ProofThe story of רבן גמליאל's neighbor
13. StatementTears like a young widow's
14. StatementWhoever oppresses Israel becomes a leader
15. StatementOppressors of Israel do not get tired
16. StatementA Torah source for sharing your pain
17. StatementJerusalem was treated like lawbreakers
18. ProofProof: fire from heaven on both Sodom and Jerusalem
19. ChallengeWhy was ירושלים treated more gently than סדום?
20. Resolutionירושלים suffered an extra measure that סדום never had
21. StatementThe mighty ones of ירושלים became like an invalid coin
22. StatementWhy פ comes before ע in איכה: the מרגלים
23. StatementIsrael's enemies only enjoy the bread of ישראל
24. StatementWho 'did not call upon ה׳': judges or teachers?
25. QuestionWho made the list?
26. ResponseThe אנשי כנסת הגדולה made the list
27. StatementThey wanted to add one more king, and ignored signs from heaven
28. StatementA בת קול praises שלמה for building the בית המקדש first
29. ConclusionOnly הקב״ה decides who gets reward
30. StatementThe דורשי רשומות: all of them come to עולם הבא
31. StatementReading the פסוק: אחאב, מנשה, ירבעם, אחיתופל