Sanhedrin 63b

סנהדרין ס״ג ע״ב

Learn Sanhedrin 63b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Sanhedrin 63b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

No מלקות for a לאו with no action, the prohibition against vowing by or mentioning idols, the permission to mock עבודה זרה, and why ישראל worshipped idols.

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a ברייתא about leftover פסח meat. רבי יהודה and רבי יעקב both say there is no מלקות, but they give different reasons, and the גמרא infers that רבי יהודה gives מלקות even for a לאו with no action. Next the גמרא finds the source that vowing or swearing in an idol's name is forbidden: 'לֹא יִשָּׁמַע עַל פִּיךָ' in שמות. That source also forbids causing others to swear by an idol, which supports אבוה דשמואל's ban on going into a partnership with a נכרי. A story about עולא staying in קלנבו teaches רבי יוחנן's rule that an idol whose name is written in תנ״ך may be mentioned. רב נחמן then rules that mocking עבודה זרה is the one kind of mockery that is allowed. The גמרא brings פסוקים and explanations that make idols look foolish: pocket idols, calves that are kissed, idols shaped like animals, and חזקיה saved from the fire. Finally, רב says ישראל knew idols were empty and worshipped them only to permit עריות. The גמרא defends this against a challenge and begins a story about אליהו and a starving child, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (33)

1. StatementNo lashes for leftover פסח meat, says רבי יהודה
2. Statementרבי יעקב gives a different reason: no action was done
3. ConclusionSo רבי יהודה must hold lashes are given even with no action
4. StatementThe משנה: vowing or swearing in an idol's name is forbidden
5. QuestionWhere do we learn this prohibition from?
6. ResponseA ברייתא gives the source: do not mention, vow, or swear by an idol
7. StatementA second reading: the פסוק warns the מסית and the מדיח
8. ChallengeThe מסית already has his own פסוק
9. ResolutionRather, the פסוק is the warning for the מדיח
10. ProofThe ברייתא's rule on causing others supports אבוה דשמואל
11. Statementאבוה דשמואל forbids a partnership with a נכרי
12. Statementעולא stays overnight in קלנבו
13. Challengeרבא objects: we may not mention other gods
14. Resolutionרבי יוחנן: idols written in the תורה may be named
15. QuestionWhere is this idol written?
16. Responseנבו is written in ישעיהו
17. Challengeרב משרשיא: a משנה names the idol גדיון
18. Resolutionרבינא: גד is also written
19. Statementרב נחמן: mocking idols is permitted
20. ProofA second פסוק: read 'its burden' instead of 'its glory'
21. StatementEveryone carried a little idol in his pocket
22. QuestionWhat does 'those who sacrifice men kiss calves' mean
23. ResponseThe priests' trick to get rich men sacrificed
24. Rejectionרבא: the wording does not fit that reading
25. Statementרבא: the reward for sacrificing a son is kissing the calf
26. StatementThe animal shapes of the idols of the nations in שומרון
27. StatementThe gods of ספרוים: the mule and the horse
28. Statementחזקיה is saved from being burned
29. StatementIsrael knew idols were empty but used them to permit immorality
30. ChallengeChallenge: Israel longed for idols like a parent misses a child
31. ResolutionThey loved the idols only after becoming attached to them
32. ChallengeA new proof: the פסוק about carcasses and אליהו finding a starving child
33. Statementאליהו talks with the child and teaches him שמע ישראל