Sanhedrin 32b

סנהדרין ל״ב ע״ב

Learn Sanhedrin 32b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Careful questioning in money cases, the meaning of 'צדק צדק תרדף', and how בית דין opens a capital case in favor of the accused.

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a side question: if money cases are judged in a relaxed way, should judges who make mistakes be excused from paying? The גמרא says no, because that would scare off lenders even more. Next, the גמרא resolves why our משנה requires careful questioning (דרישה וחקירה) in money cases when other sources do not. רבא says our משנה is about fines (קנסות). רב פפא says it is about a case that looks suspicious (דין מרומה), and he matches the view of ריש לקיש, who read the double 'צדק צדק תרדף' the same way. רב אשי instead reads the double 'justice' as one for strict דין and one for פשרה. A ברייתא supports him with the picture of two boats and two camels that must take turns. Two more ברייתות read the same פסוק as a call to seek out the best בית דין and the great חכמים in their towns. Finally, the גמרא asks what words בית דין uses to open a capital case in favor of the accused. רב יהודה's and עולא's wordings are rejected. רבה, רב כהנא, אביי and רבא, and רב אשי each give a wording, and a ברייתא from the סוטה ceremony begins to support אביי and רבא; that proof continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (26)

1. ChallengeShould mistaken judges be excused from paying?
2. ResolutionExcusing judges would scare lenders even more
3. Resolutionרבא: our משנה is about fines, the others are about loans
4. Resolutionרב פפא: it depends on whether the case looks suspicious
5. Challengeריש לקיש points out two פסוקים that seem to clash
6. Resolutionריש לקיש's answer: suspicious case versus normal case
7. Resolutionרב אשי: one 'justice' for judgment, one for compromise
8. ProofSupport from a ברייתא: two boats and two camels
9. ResponseHow to decide who goes first
10. StatementSeek out the best court of the generation
11. StatementSecret signals in בורני and ברור חיל
12. StatementFollow the great חכמים to their ישיבות
13. QuestionWhat does בית דין say when it opens a case?
14. Responseרב יהודה: ask the witnesses how they can be sure
15. Challengeעולא: won't this scare the witnesses into silence?
16. ResolutionLet them be silenced: a ברייתא about moving witnesses
17. RejectionMoving witnesses around is not the same as challenging them directly
18. Responseעולא's answer: ask the accused if he has witnesses to make them זוממין
19. Challengeרבה objects: helping the accused should not endanger the witnesses
20. ChallengeAre the witnesses really in danger? זוממין are only killed after the verdict
21. Resolutionרבה explains: the accused might wait until after the verdict
22. Responseרבה's answer: ask the accused if he has witnesses to contradict them
23. Responseרב כהנא's wording: from your words he is acquitted
24. Responseאביי and רבא's wording: if you did not kill, do not fear
25. Responseרב אשי's wording: anyone who knows a merit should come forward
26. ProofA ברייתא supports אביי and רבא: the סוטה verse opens with innocence