Sanhedrin 108b

סנהדרין ק״ח ע״ב

Learn Sanhedrin 108b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Stories of the מבול, the תיבה, and the miracles in אברהם's war

Overview

This amud tells many stories about the מבול and the תיבה. First, the generation of נח refuses to repent, mocks his warnings, and boasts that it can stop any flood. נח answers that the water will come from right under their feet. A ברייתא and רב חסדא teach that the flood waters were thick and boiling hot, a punishment that matched their sin. The גמרא then gives four explanations of the seven days before the flood. It also explains which animals entered the תיבה, what גופר wood and the צֹהַר were, and what the three floors were for. Next come the raven's argument with נח, the ban on marital relations in the תיבה, and the dove with its olive leaf. In two conversations between שם and אליעזר, we hear how hard it was to feed every creature in the תיבה, and how אברהם beat the kings when dust and straw miraculously became weapons. The amud ends by beginning the story of נחום איש גם זו, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (44)

1. StatementThe generation refuses to stop sinning
2. Statementרבא: נח rebuked them with harsh words and they mocked him
3. StatementThe people boast they can block any flood
4. Conclusionנח: The water will come from between your feet
5. Statementברייתא: The flood waters were thick like semen
6. Statementרב חסדא: Sinned with hot, punished with hot
7. ProofProof: "calmed" means cooled from heat
8. QuestionWhat were the seven days before the flood?
9. ResponseThe seven days were mourning for מתושלח
10. ResponseThe seven days of the world running backward
11. ResponseA long time, then a short time
12. ResponseA taste of עולם הבא
13. QuestionCan animals be husband and wife?
14. ResponseOnly animals that stayed with their own kind
15. QuestionHow did נח know?
16. ResponseThe ark let in only the right animals
17. ResponseOnly animals that came by themselves
18. QuestionWhat is גופר wood?
19. Responseגופר is מבליגה, or some say גולמיש
20. StatementThe צֹהַר: precious stones that gave light
21. StatementNarrowing the top keeps the ark standing
22. StatementWhat each of the three floors was for
23. StatementThe raven's winning argument against נח
24. ProofWhy the raven says it is hated
25. ChallengeThe raven's challenge: the world could lose my kind
26. Resolutionנח answers the raven with a קל וחומר
27. QuestionHow do we know relations were forbidden in the ark?
28. ResponseThe order of the family in the verses shows the ban
29. StatementThree broke the ban and were punished
30. StatementThe pure birds lived near the righteous
31. StatementThe dove's prayer: bitter food from God rather than sweet food from people
32. QuestionHow do we know the word טרף means food?
33. ResponseProof from משלי: הטריפני means feed me
34. StatementTheir families came out, not necessarily the same animals
35. Questionאליעזר asks שם what his family did in the ark
36. Responseשם answers: we suffered greatly feeding each creature on its schedule
37. StatementThe chameleon: how נח found out what it eats
38. StatementThe lion was kept alive by a fever, with support from רב
39. StatementThe phoenix did not ask for food and was blessed never to die
40. Questionשם asks אליעזר how they fought the kings
41. Responseאליעזר answers that dust and straw became weapons
42. ProofTwo verses support the miracle
43. Statementנחום איש גם זו's habit of saying 'גם זו לטובה'
44. StatementThe Jewish people plan to send a gift to the emperor