Gemara Clarity

Sanhedrin 90a

סנהדרין צ׳ ע״א

Learn Sanhedrin 90a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Sanhedrin 90a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The scope of the false-prophet dispute, the עדים זוממין of a בת כהן, and the opening of פרק חלק on who loses עולם הבא.

Overview

The amud starts by working out which false-prophet cases fall under the dispute between רבי שמעון (חנק) and the חכמים (סקילה). The first view, defended by רב חסדא against רב המנונא's challenge, limits the dispute to עבודה זרה, whether the prophet uproots it fully or cancels only part. רב המנונא says the dispute also covers fully uprooting any מצוה. A ברייתא on the topic is then read two ways: אביי reads it like רב חסדא, and רבא reads it like רב המנונא. רבי יוחנן gives the practical rule: listen to a prophet's temporary order to break any מצוה except עבודה זרה, even if he stops the sun. רבי יוסי הגלילי and רבי עקיבא discuss how such a miracle could happen. Next, a ברייתא of רבי יוסי teaches that the עדים זוממין of a בת כהן get the man's חנק, because the פסוק says 'his brother'. The פרק ends, and פרק חלק opens: all of ישראל have a share in עולם הבא, except those the משנה lists. The גמרא explains that one who denies תחיית המתים loses it מדה כנגד מדה, and starts a proof from אלישע's prophecy that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

מַחְלוֹקֶת בְּעוֹקֵר הַגּוּף דַּעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה,

The dispute is about [a prophet who] uproots the essence of idol worship,

וְקִיּוּם מִקְצָת וּבִיטּוּל מִקְצָת דַּעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה,

and [one who says to] keep part and cancel part of idol worship,

דְּרַחֲמָנָא אָמַר: ״מִן הַדֶּרֶךְ״ –

for the Merciful One said: "from the way"

אֲפִילּוּ מִקְצָת הַדֶּרֶךְ.

even [from] part of the way.

The steps (29)

  1. StatementThe dispute is only about idol worship, even partial
  2. StatementFor other מצוות, everyone agrees
  3. ChallengeHow can there be a positive מצוה about idol worship?
  4. ResolutionThe positive מצוה is smashing idols
  5. Statementרב המנונא's own version of the dispute
  6. StatementEnd of רב המנונא's view: partial cancelling of other מצוות is exempt
  7. StatementA ברייתא about a prophet who uproots or partly cancels Torah laws
  8. Statementאביי follows רב חסדא, רבא follows רב המנונא
  9. Resolutionאביי reads the ברייתא according to רב חסדא
  10. Resolutionרבא reads the ברייתא according to רב המנונא
  11. StatementObey a prophet in everything except idol worship
  12. Proofרבי יוסי הגלילי: the Torah knew idol worship's pull
  13. Rejectionרבי עקיבא: God would not do miracles for idolaters
  14. QuestionSource for the plotting witnesses of a בת כהן
  15. Responseרבי יוסי: plotting witnesses match the man's penalty
  16. ConclusionThe plotting witnesses get the man's punishment, not the woman's
  17. ConclusionHadran — Closing פרק אלו הן הנחנקין
  18. StatementAll of Israel have a share in the World to Come
  19. StatementThe first exceptions: people who deny basic beliefs
  20. Statementרבי עקיבא adds two more people to the list
  21. Statementאבא שאול adds one who says ה׳'s Name as it is spelled
  22. StatementThree kings and four commoners lose their share
  23. Statementרבי יהודה says מנשה does have a share
  24. RejectionThe חכמים answer: he was returned only to his kingdom
  25. StatementThe four commoners
  26. QuestionWhy such a harsh punishment?
  27. ResponseHe denied it, so he will not have it: measure for measure
  28. ProofSource for measure for measure: אלישע's promise
  29. ProofThe officer doubts, and is told he will see but not eat