Gemara Clarity

Sanhedrin 91b

סנהדרין צ״א ע״ב

Learn Sanhedrin 91b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Sanhedrin 91b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Body and soul judged together, אנטונינוס's questions to רבי, contradictions about the future, proofs for תחיית המתים, and the sin of withholding Torah from a student.

Overview

The amud opens at the end of רבי's parable to אנטונינוס. A lame guard and a blind guard teamed up to steal figs, so the owner judged them together. In the same way, God returns the נשמה to the גוף and judges them as one. אנטונינוס then asks רבי why the sun sets in the west, when the נשמה enters a person, and when the יצר הרע begins to rule. On the last two questions רבי accepts אנטונינוס's view and supports it with a פסוק. Next comes a series of contradictions between פסוקים about the future, raised by ריש לקיש, עולא, רב חסדא and רבא, and each one is resolved. A ברייתא and several אמוראים then bring proofs for תחיית המתים, mostly from future-tense verbs like יָשִׁיר and יְהַלְלוּךָ. The amud ends with teachings on how serious it is to hold back הלכה from a student, and the last proof פסוק continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

בַּכּוּרוֹת נָאוֹת,

fine first fruits (early figs),

וְהוֹשִׁיב בּוֹ שְׁנֵי שׁוֹמְרִים:

and he placed two guards in it:

אֶחָד חִיגֵּר וְאֶחָד סוֹמֵא.

one lame and one blind.

אָמַר לוֹ חִיגֵּר לַסּוֹמֵא:

The lame one said to the blind one:

The steps (41)

  1. ResponseThe lame guard and the blind guard steal the figs
  2. ResponseEach guard makes an excuse, and the owner judges them together
  3. ConclusionSo too, God returns the soul to the body and judges them together
  4. QuestionWhy does the sun rise in the east and set in the west?
  5. Rejectionרבי: you would ask the same question either way
  6. Questionאנטונינוס sharpens his question: why set in the west?
  7. ResponseThe sun sets in the west to bow to its Creator
  8. ChallengeWhy not bow at mid-sky and go back?
  9. ResolutionFor the sake of workers and travelers
  10. QuestionWhen does the soul enter a person?
  11. Responseרבי says: at formation
  12. ChallengeMeat without salt would rot
  13. Proofרבי agrees and brings a פסוק
  14. QuestionWhen does the יצר הרע begin to rule?
  15. Responseרבי says: at formation
  16. ChallengeThe baby would kick its way out
  17. ProofSin crouches at the opening
  18. ChallengeTwo פסוקים clash about the blind and the lame
  19. ResolutionThey rise with their defects, then are healed
  20. Challengeעולא's contradiction: will there be death in the future or not?
  21. ResolutionOne פסוק is about ישראל, the other about אומות העולם
  22. QuestionWhy would the nations be there at all?
  23. ResponseThey are the nations who will serve as farmers and shepherds
  24. Challengeרב חסדא's contradiction: will the sun and moon fade or shine brighter?
  25. ResolutionOne פסוק is about ימות המשיח, the other about עולם הבא
  26. ChallengeBut שמואל says ימות המשיח brings no change in nature
  27. ResolutionFor שמואל: the camp of the righteous versus the camp of the שכינה
  28. Challengeרבא's contradiction: bringing to life versus healing
  29. ResolutionFirst God revives, then God heals
  30. QuestionMaybe one person dies and a different person lives
  31. ResponseLike wounding and healing, death and life happen to the same person
  32. Proofרבי מאיר: 'Then משה will sing' is in the future tense
  33. ProofSame idea: 'Then יהושע will build'
  34. ChallengeChallenge: will שלמה build an idol's altar in the future?
  35. ResolutionThe פסוק counts it against שלמה as if he built it
  36. Proofרבי יהושע בן לוי: 'They will yet praise You'
  37. StatementWhoever sings to ה׳ here will sing in עולם הבא
  38. ProofProof of תחיית המתים from 'they will sing'
  39. StatementAll the prophets will sing together
  40. StatementHolding back Torah is like stealing an inheritance
  41. StatementEven unborn babies curse one who holds back Torah