Sanhedrin 111a

סנהדרין קי״א ע״א

Learn Sanhedrin 111a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The meaning of אמן, generous readings of harsh פסוקים, how few are redeemed, משה's complaint and punishment, and משה's lesson about ארך אפים.

Overview

The גמרא opens by explaining that the word אמן stands for אל מלך נאמן, 'God, faithful King.' Next, ריש לקיש gives harsh readings of three פסוקים about who will be saved. Each time רבי יוחנן answers, 'Their Master is not pleased that you said this about them,' and offers a kinder reading. רב later corrects his student רב כהנא in the same words. רב then teaches him that Torah is not found in someone who keeps himself comfortable while learning. A ברייתא teaches that only a small share left מצרים, and רבא says the days of משיח will be the same. Another ברייתא tells how משה was punished for complaining about the people's suffering. הקדוש ברוך הוא contrasts him with אברהם, יצחק and יעקב, who never questioned Him, and tells משה he will not see the conquest of ארץ ישראל. Finally, the גמרא asks what משה saw when he hurried to bow. One answer is ארך אפים, and a ברייתא tells how משה once said the wicked should be lost. That story continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (27)

1. QuestionWhat does the word אמן mean?
2. Responseאמן stands for God, faithful King
3. Statementריש לקיש: missing even one law opens the netherworld
4. Rejectionרבי יוחנן: even one law learned is enough
5. Statementריש לקיש: only a third of שם's descendants survive
6. Rejectionרבי יוחנן: a third of all נח's descendants
7. Statementריש לקיש: one from a city means just one
8. Rejectionרבי יוחנן: one person's merit saves the whole city
9. Statementרב כהנא gives the same literal reading before רב
10. Rejectionרב answers just like רבי יוחנן
11. Statementרב quotes a verse when he sees רב כהנא grooming
12. Questionרב כהנא asks if he is being cursed
13. ResponseTorah is not found in someone who pampers himself
14. StatementOnly two of 600,000 left מצרים
15. StatementThe days of משיח will be the same
16. StatementAn old Egyptian describes what his ancestors did
17. Statementמשה was punished for complaining about this suffering
18. StatementThe אבות never questioned הקדוש ברוך הוא
19. Proofאברהם paid for a grave in his own promised land
20. ProofSecond example: יצחק fought over water and did not complain
21. ProofThird example: יעקב had to buy land and did not complain
22. ConclusionThe contrast: the אבות never asked, but משה asked and complained
23. Statementמשה's punishment: he will see פרעה fall but not the conquest of the land
24. QuestionWhat did משה see that made him bow quickly?
25. ResponseTwo answers: patience or truth
26. ProofA ברייתא supports ארך אפים: משה said the wicked should be lost
27. Proofה׳ turns משה's words back to him when ישראל sin