Sanhedrin 26b

סנהדרין כ״ו ע״ב

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Topic

The end of שבנא's story, readings of ״כי השתות יהרסון״ and ״תושיה״, and which witnesses are disqualified and when

Overview

The amud opens by finishing the story of שבנא, who tried to surrender ירושלים to סנחריב. His followers abandon him, and the soldiers of אשור drag him behind their horses. רבי אלעזר proves from the word סוכן that שבנא was a בעל הנאה. Three אמוראים then explain the פסוק ״כי השתות יהרסון צדיק מה פעל״, and the גמרא checks each reading against the word ״השתות״. That leads to teachings about ״תושיה״ as a name for the תורה, and to a discussion of whether worry can disturb Torah learning. The גמרא then returns to the משנה about invalid witnesses. It rules like רבי יהודה, requires a הכרזה in בית דין, and teaches that a robber by Torah law needs no announcement. רב נחמן's rulings follow, about people who take support in a shameful way, people suspected of עריות, and harvest-season thieves. The amud ends with gravediggers who buried on יום טוב and are still valid witnesses because they thought they were doing a מצוה, and then opens a new statement with ״איתמר״ that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (42)

1. StatementThe soldiers of אשור ask שבנא where his followers are
2. Statementשבנא is dragged behind horses
3. Statementרבי אלעזר says שבנא chased pleasure
4. ProofProof from the word סוכן
5. StatementAnother verse: when the foundations are destroyed
6. Statementרב יהודה and רב עינא explain the verse
7. Statementעולא: the wicked one's plans
8. Challengeעולא's reading fits the word ״השתות״
9. ProofThe בית המקדש reading also explains the word
10. ChallengeWhere are righteous people called 'foundations'?
11. ResolutionThe world is set upon the righteous
12. ResolutionA second source: 'great wisdom' (תושיה)
13. StatementTorah weakens a person's strength
14. StatementTorah was given quietly because of the שטן
15. StatementThe world is founded on Torah
16. StatementWorry can disturb even Torah learning
17. StatementLearning for its own sake is protected from worry
18. StatementThe הלכה follows רבי יהודה
19. StatementDisqualification needs a public announcement in court
20. StatementDoes a shepherd need an announcement?
21. Challengeרב's statement seems to fit only one view
22. ResolutionEven an ordinary shepherd gets announced
23. StatementA gift document signed by two robbers
24. Rejectionרבא: A Torah-law robber needs no announcement
25. StatementA memory aid for the next three teachings
26. Statementרב נחמן: Those who 'eat something else' are invalid witnesses
27. StatementLimits: only in public, and only if he could have managed privately
28. StatementA man suspected of forbidden relations can testify
29. Challengeרב ששת objects: he deserves lashes, yet he is valid?
30. Statementרבא: he cannot testify about a married woman
31. StatementOnly testimony that frees her is blocked
32. ChallengeIsn't that obvious?
33. ResolutionStolen waters are sweet, but an unmarried woman is more available
34. StatementA harvest-season thief is not called a thief
35. StatementWhen the seasonal-thief leniency applies
36. Statementרב זביד disqualifies his farm workers
37. StatementGravediggers who buried on the first day of שבועות
38. Challengeרב פפא objects: they are wicked
39. ResolutionThey thought they were doing a מצוה
40. ChallengeBut we already put them in נידוי
41. ResolutionThey thought the נידוי was for atonement
42. StatementOpening a new statement