Sanhedrin 44b

סנהדרין מ״ד ע״ב

Learn Sanhedrin 44b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Torah study above the תמיד, an angel's defense of Israel, praying ahead of trouble, עכן's atonement, a condemned man's claim of innocence, and the start of the stoning procedure

Overview

This amud finishes the story of the angel who met יהושע. The angel says יהושע's people neglected the afternoon תמיד and also תלמוד תורה. From the angel's words 'I have come now,' רב learns that תלמוד תורה is greater than bringing the תמידין. Next, אביי asks רב דימי how ארץ ישראל explains a פסוק in משלי. רב דימי answers with the story of an angel who protested when יחזקאל was told to shame Israel's ancestors, and the גמרא explains that angel's three names. Three אמוראים then explain a פסוק in איוב about praying before trouble comes. The גמרא returns to the משנה and proves that עכן's confession earned him a share in עולם הבא, and that he is the same man as זמרי. It then explains why a condemned man may not declare his innocence, and tells of a man who did, whose sentence still stood even when the witnesses took back their testimony. Finally a new משנה begins about removing the clothes of the person being stoned.

Opening lines

The steps (29)

1. StatementThe angel tells יהושע what was neglected
2. Questionיהושע asks which failure the angel came about
3. ResponseThe angel answers: I have come now
4. Statementיהושע spends the night deep in הלכה
5. ConclusionTorah study is greater than bringing the daily offerings
6. Questionאביי asks how ארץ ישראל explains a פסוק in משלי
7. ResponseThe angel protests on behalf of אברהם and שרה
8. QuestionHow could an angel speak so boldly to God?
9. ResponseThe angel's three names show his special role
10. StatementPray before trouble comes, as אברהם did
11. Statementריש לקיש: strong prayer below means no enemies above
12. Statementרבי יוחנן: pray that all will strengthen you
13. QuestionWhere do we see that עכן's confession atoned for him?
14. Proof'This day' you are troubled, but not in the next world
15. Proof'All five' have a share in עולם הבא
16. QuestionTwo different names in two different פסוקים
17. ResponseFirst view: his real name was עכן
18. ResponseSecond view: his real name was זמרי
19. StatementBack to the משנה: the man who cannot confess
20. ChallengeSo let them clear their names
21. ResolutionTo protect the courts and witnesses
22. StatementThe man who declared his innocence on the way to execution
23. StatementThe חכמים rule: he is still executed
24. ChallengeIsn't that obvious?
25. ResolutionEven when the witnesses take back their testimony
26. ChallengeWhy does it matter if the witnesses take back their words?
27. ResolutionEven when the witnesses give a reason for their lie
28. StatementRemoving the clothes and רבי יהודה's view on covering
29. StatementThe חכמים: a man without clothes, a woman clothed