Gemara Clarity

Sanhedrin 42a

סנהדרין מ״ב ע״א

Learn Sanhedrin 42a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Sanhedrin 42a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

End of ברכת הלבנה, then the close of פרק היו בודקין: witnesses' timing, the student who argues for acquittal, judges and wine, a deadlocked court, and נזדקן הדין

Overview

The amud opens by finishing the discussion of ברכת הלבנה. Both time limits are readings of רבי יוחנן. The moon gets no הטוב והמטיב because its changes are its normal nature. Saying the ברכה on time is like greeting the שכינה, so אביי rules that it is said standing. רב יהודה's full text of the ברכה is given. After a short teaching that winning the 'war' of Torah needs 'bundles' of משנה, the גמרא returns to the משנה. Witnesses who disagree about before sunrise versus during sunrise have void testimony. A student who argues for acquittal stays seated all day when his point is weak. Judges avoid wine because they deal with 'the secret of the world.' A court that stays deadlocked sets the defendant free. The amud ends by explaining the phrase נזדקן הדין, read either as 'the case is stuck' or 'the case has grown wise.' Then the הדרן closes פרק היו בודקין.

Opening lines

וְתַרְוַיְיהוּ כְּרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן סְבִירָא לְהוּ:

And both of them hold like Rabbi Yochanan:

הָא לְמִיהְוֵי כִּי יִתְרָא,

this one: until it becomes like a bowstring,

הָא לְמִיהְוֵי כִּי נָפְיָא.

that one: until it becomes like a sieve.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב אַחָא מִדִּיפְתִּי לְרָבִינָא:

Rav Acha of Difti said to Ravina:

The steps (40)

  1. ResolutionBoth opinions follow רבי יוחנן, but read him differently
  2. ChallengeWhy not say הטוב והמטיב on the moon?
  3. ResolutionWe don't say דיין האמת when it shrinks either
  4. ChallengeThen let us say both ברכות
  5. ResolutionIt is the moon's normal way, so no ברכה
  6. StatementBlessing the month on time is like greeting the שכינה
  7. ProofThe word 'this' links the month to seeing ה׳
  8. ProofOnce a month would have been enough
  9. ConclusionSo we say it standing
  10. Statementמרימר and מר זוטרא lean on each other while blessing
  11. QuestionThe short ברכה used in ארץ ישראל
  12. RejectionEven our women say that short version
  13. ResponseThe full blessing follows רב יהודה's version
  14. StatementThe war of Torah needs bundles of משנה
  15. Statementרב יוסף applies a verse about the ox to himself
  16. StatementBefore sunrise versus after sunrise voids testimony
  17. ChallengeIsn't that obvious?
  18. ResolutionThe case is before sunrise versus during sunrise
  19. ChallengeIsn't this also obvious?
  20. ResolutionWe might have thought he only saw an early glow
  21. ChallengeOnly that day? A ברייתא says he can stay forever
  22. Resolutionאביי: The משנה means a student whose point had no substance
  23. QuestionWhy may the judges not drink wine?
  24. Responseרבי אחא בר חנינא: 'Princes' deal with deep matters and must not get drunk
  25. QuestionWhat if the judges never come to agree?
  26. Responseרבי אחא and רבי יוחנן: They set him free
  27. Challengeרב פפא: Then why not free him right away?
  28. Resolutionאביי: So the court does not walk out confused
  29. ChallengeSecond version: why add judges at all?
  30. Resolutionאביי: רבי יוסי agrees with you
  31. StatementThe phrase "the judgment has grown old"
  32. ChallengeIf it means "the case is stuck," the rule seems backwards
  33. ResolutionFirst answer: reverse the ברייתא
  34. Resolutionרב אשי: keep the ברייתא, it means "the case has grown wise"
  35. ChallengeChallenge: the greatest judge would not announce something embarrassing
  36. ResolutionYes, the greatest judge says it, because self-embarrassment is easier
  37. ChallengeSecond version: the challenge is turned against the 'grown wise' reading
  38. ResolutionCourt business is the greatest judge's job
  39. ProofProof from the משנה: the greatest judge announces the verdict
  40. ConclusionHadran — Closing the chapter היו בודקין