Sanhedrin 6b

סנהדרין ו׳ ע״ב

Learn Sanhedrin 6b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Whether a judge may arrange a פשרה instead of strict דין, the תנאים's readings of ״בוצע״, and the responsibility of judges and witnesses

Overview

This amud asks whether a judge may settle a case with a פשרה (compromise) instead of strict דין. It opens with the rule that once the verdict is given, a פשרה is no longer allowed. רבי אליעזר בנו של רבי יוסי הגלילי forbids פשרה entirely: the דין must 'pierce the mountain' like משה's way, while אהרן, who was not acting as a judge, pursued peace. Other תנאים read the same פסוק ״ובוצע ברך נאץ ה׳״ about a thief's ברכה and about יהודה selling יוסף. רבי יהושע בן קרחה disagrees and says making a פשרה is a מצוה, since only a פשרה joins משפט with שלום and צדקה. The first תנא and רבי each read דוד's ״משפט וצדקה״ in a way that needs no פשרה. רבי שמעון בן מנסיא and ריש לקיש allow a judge to suggest a פשרה, or to step away from a case, only until he knows which way the case leans. A ברייתא then warns students, witnesses and judges that they stand before ה׳, and comforts judges that they answer only for what their eyes see. Finally, רב defines the גמר דין and rules like רבי יהושע בן קרחה. The גמרא challenges this ruling from רב הונא's practice and starts to explain what 'מצוה' means, an answer that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (27)

1. ConclusionAfter the verdict, no more compromise
2. StatementMaking a compromise is forbidden
3. StatementLet the judgment pierce the mountain
4. Statementאהרן pursued peace
5. StatementA thief's blessing over challah is an insult
6. Statementרבי מאיר: The word ״בוצע״ is about יהודה
7. Statementרבי יהושע בן קרחה: Making a פשרה is a מצוה
8. ProofA second proof: דוד did ״משפט וצדקה״
9. StatementHow the first תנא reads the פסוק about דוד
10. StatementJustice for the winner, kindness for the poor loser
11. Challengeרבי's difficulty: the verse says all his people
12. Resolutionרבי: the ruling itself is kindness to the loser
13. StatementA judge may suggest compromise only until he sees where the case leans
14. ProofSource: drop the quarrel before it is revealed
15. StatementA judge may refuse a case with a dangerous party only before he knows the outcome
16. StatementA student must not stay silent before his teacher
17. StatementDo not hold back your words
18. StatementWitnesses must know before Whom they testify
19. StatementJudges must know before Whom they judge
20. ProofSupport from יהושפט's words to the judges
21. QuestionWhy should a judge take on this burden?
22. ResponseA judge only goes by what his eyes see
23. QuestionWhat counts as a final verdict?
24. ResponseThe verdict is saying 'liable' and 'cleared'
25. Statementרב rules like רבי יהושע בן קרחה
26. ChallengeBut רב הונא gave people a choice
27. ResolutionWhat does 'מצוה' really mean?