Sanhedrin 69b

סנהדרין ס״ט ע״ב

Learn Sanhedrin 69b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

רוב in דיני נפשות, the age at which a boy's intercourse counts, proofs that earlier generations fathered children at eight, and the start of 'a son, not a daughter'

Overview

This amud opens by finishing רבי ירמיה מדפתי's proof that we follow the רוב even in דיני נפשות. The proof comes from the משנה about a married three-year-old girl, who might turn out to be an איילונית. The גמרא pushes back with several readings and ends by saying the husband accepted her no matter what, so the proof falls away. Next, a ברייתא brings a מחלוקת between בית שמאי and בית הלל about a minor boy's intercourse with his mother. רב חסדא explains that they argue only about an eight-year-old: can we learn from earlier generations, when people fathered children at eight? The גמרא then hunts for a source for that fact. The proofs from אחיתופל's family and from הרן and שרה are both rejected. A proof from כלב, חור, אורי and בצלאל finally shows that each father had a child at eight. The amud ends by returning to the משנה's words 'a son, not a daughter,' where רבי שמעון begins a ברייתא that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (26)

1. ProofProof that we follow the majority even for the death penalty
2. RejectionMaybe 'liable' only means a sin-offering
3. ChallengeBut the משנה says 'executed because of her'
4. ResolutionExecution is for when her father sleeps with her
5. ChallengeBut the משנה says 'any of the forbidden relations'
6. ResolutionThe husband accepted her no matter what
7. StatementA minor son and his mother: does it disqualify her from marrying a כהן?
8. StatementThe argument is only about an eight-year-old
9. QuestionHow do we know earlier generations fathered children so young?
10. ProofBuilding the family tree: בת שבע, אחיתופל and the birth of שלמה
11. ProofCounting the years after שלמה's birth: אבשלום's sheepshearing and his escape
12. ProofCounting to seven years and the death of אחיתופל
13. Proofאחיתופל lived only thirty-three years
14. ProofThe math: each generation had a child at eight
15. RejectionMaybe two fathers at nine and a mother at six
16. ProofA new proof begins from תרח's sons
17. StatementIscah is Sarah
18. ProofHaran had Sarah at age eight
19. RejectionMaybe Abraham was the youngest brother
20. ProofProof from Noah's sons that the verse lists by wisdom
21. ConclusionHere too the list may follow wisdom
22. ProofA simpler verse shows יפת was the oldest
23. QuestionSo where do we learn fathering at age eight?
24. Proofבצלאל's family line and his age at the משכן
25. ProofThe math: three generations in 24 years
26. StatementA son and not a daughter: רבי שמעון's logic