Sanhedrin 49b

סנהדרין מ״ט ע״ב

Learn Sanhedrin 49b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Sanhedrin 49b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Whether the order of lists in a משנה matters (רב הונא's rule and its exceptions), and the ranking of סקילה versus שריפה

Overview

The new משנה lists the four death penalties of בית דין: סקילה, שריפה, הרג, and חנק. רבי שמעון gives them in a different order. The גמרא opens with רב הונא's rule that the order of a list in a משנה usually does not matter, except for the seven substances used to test a stain. Other אמוראים suggest more lists whose order matters: the ארבע מיתות, the יום הכפורים service, and the תמיד. The גמרא explains why רב הונא did not count each one. רב הונא's rule also teaches that the order of חליצה is only the ideal way, as רב יהודה and a ברייתא show. In the same way, the order of the כהן's garments in a משנה is not the order of dressing, since the trousers go on first. Finally, the גמרא starts to explain the משנה's ranking: סקילה seems more severe than שריפה. Then it argues the opposite, and that question continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (34)

1. StatementThe four death penalties given to the court
2. Statementרבי שמעון lists the death penalties in a different order
3. StatementThis was the procedure for those who are stoned
4. Statementרב הונא: the order of a list usually does not matter
5. ProofThe משנה of the seven stain-testing substances
6. ProofThe ending of that משנה proves the order matters
7. StatementThe four death penalties are also in exact order
8. ProofProof: רבי שמעון argues about the order
9. ResolutionWhy רב הונא left it out: it is a disputed list
10. StatementThe Yom Kippur service is also in exact order
11. ProofProof: a משנה says out-of-order work is worthless
12. ResolutionWhy רב הונא left it out: it is only a stringency
13. StatementThe daily offering is also in exact order
14. ProofProof: the משנה calls it "the order"
15. ResolutionWhy רב הונא left it out: it is only the ideal way
16. StatementThe order of the חליצה ceremony is also not essential
17. ProofThe משנה describing the start of חליצה
18. ProofThe משנה continues: shoe, spitting, and the final words
19. Statementרב יהודה sums up the order of חליצה
20. ChallengeWhat did רב יהודה add? It is already in the משנה
21. ResolutionThe order is the best way, but switching it is fine
22. ProofA ברייתא agrees: switching the shoe and the spitting still works
23. StatementExcluding the משנה about the כהן's garments
24. ProofA ברייתא: the trousers go on first
25. QuestionThen why does the תנא list the tunic first?
26. ResponseBecause the פסוק lists it first
27. QuestionWhy does the פסוק list the tunic first?
28. ResponseThe tunic covers the whole body, so it is mentioned first
29. StatementStoning is more severe than burning
30. QuestionWhat makes those sins so severe?
31. ResponseThey attack the foundation of faith
32. ChallengeOn the contrary, burning is more severe
33. QuestionWhat makes her sin so severe?
34. ResponseShe shames her father too