Sanhedrin 64b

סנהדרין ס״ד ע״ב

Learn Sanhedrin 64b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The requirements and limits of liability for מולך, and why כרת is written three times for עבודה זרה

Overview

The גמרא sets out exactly what makes a person liable for giving his child to מולך. He must hand the child to the כומרין, pass him through fire, and do it for מולך itself. A ברייתא learns each of these from the words of the פסוקים. Passing all of one's children is פטור. Grandchildren and children of flawed lineage do count, learned from the word 'offspring.' רב אשי's questions about a blind or sleeping child are never answered. אביי and רבא disagree about what the ritual looked like, and a ברייתא supports רבא: the child leaps over the fire, like children jumping over bonfires on פורים. The ברייתא also limits liability to one's own descendants. רבי אלעזר ברבי שמעון disagrees with it about passing oneself and about passing a child to other idols. Finally, רבי יוסי ברבי חנינא explains why כרת is written three times for עבודה זרה, which leads to the dispute between רבי עקיבא and רבי ישמעאל over the doubled word הכרת תכרת.

Opening lines

The steps (28)

1. StatementLiability requires handing the child to the idol's priests
2. ProofA teaching supports the rule and lists the required parts
3. ProofPassing must be through fire, learned from a matching word
4. StatementPassing all one's children is exempt
5. Questionרב אשי asks about a blind child, a sleeping child, and a grandchild
6. ResponseA ברייתא shows that grandchildren are included
7. ChallengeWhy does the ברייתא switch from one פסוק to another?
8. ResolutionThe second פסוק teaches that children of flawed lineage are included
9. StatementOnly the usual way of passing makes one liable
10. QuestionWhat does the usual way look like?
11. Responseאביי: walking a brick path between two fires
12. Responseרבא: jumping over the fire like on פורים
13. ProofA ברייתא supports רבא
14. StatementLiable only for one's own children
15. StatementPassing oneself: a dispute
16. StatementPassing a child to other idols, not just מולך
17. Questionעולא asks for רבי אלעזר ברבי שמעון's reason
18. ResponseThe word 'among you' means 'yourself'
19. ChallengeDon't the רבנן also read 'among you' as 'yourself'?
20. ResolutionThe lost-object rule comes from 'אפס'
21. QuestionWhy does the תורה mention כרת three times for idol worship?
22. ResponseEach כרת teaches a different case
23. ChallengeIf מולך is idol worship, why does it need its own כרת?
24. ResolutionThe מולך כרת is for passing a child to a different idol
25. ChallengeIf the מגדף is an idol worshipper, why does he need his own כרת?
26. ResolutionThe extra כרת teaches punishment in this world and the next
27. ChallengeThere cannot be three worlds of punishment
28. Statementרבי ישמעאל's reading: the Torah speaks like people speak