Gemara Clarity

Shabbos 109b

שבת ק״ט ע״ב

Shabbat 109b

Learn Shabbos 109b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 109b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Bathing in healing waters on שבת, the משנה on medicinal foods and drinks, and the גמרא's identification of those plants with related remedies

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a discussion about bathing in healing waters on שבת. The גמרא rejects the idea that the contradicting ברייתות follow a dispute among תנאים about טומאה וטהרה. It then settles on two answers. In the ים הגדול it depends on whether one bathes in the clean water or the polluted water. In מי משרה it depends on whether one lingered in the water. A new משנה then teaches that food healthy people do not eat, like איזוביון, is forbidden on שבת because eating it shows it is medicine. Normal foods and drinks are allowed even for healing. The גמרא identifies the plants in the משנה and explains what each one cures: איזוביון for intestinal worms, יועזר for liver worms, and אבוברואה for גילוי (drinking uncovered liquid). This leads into a long list of folk remedies for liver worms, swallowed venom, a swallowed snake, and a snakebite, with stories showing the cures at work. The last word of the amud begins a new story that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

אֵימוֹר דִּפְלִיגִי לְעִנְיַן טוּמְאָה וְטׇהֳרָה,

Say that they disagree regarding impurity and purity,

לְעִנְיַן שַׁבָּת מִי שָׁמְעַתְּ לְהוּ?

but regarding Shabbat, did you hear them disagree?

אֶלָּא אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק,

Rather, Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said:

לָא קַשְׁיָא:

It is not difficult:

The steps (33)

  1. RejectionA dispute about purity does not prove a dispute about שבת
  2. ResolutionLingering versus not lingering in the water
  3. ChallengeIf he did not linger, even flax water should be allowed
  4. ProofA ברייתא shows a quick dip is allowed even in medicinal waters
  5. ResolutionThe clean part of the sea versus the polluted part
  6. ResolutionThe flax-water contradiction is resolved by lingering
  7. StatementMedicinal-only plants are forbidden; normal ones are allowed
  8. StatementAll normal foods and drinks are allowed, except two jaundice remedies
  9. StatementPalm water for thirst and root oil not for healing are allowed
  10. Statementרב יוסף names the two kinds of hyssop
  11. Statementעולא says hyssop is white sage, based on a visit
  12. Statementרב פפי says hyssop is shumshuk
  13. ProofA proof for רב פפי from the three stems
  14. StatementWhat איזוביון cures and what causes the illness
  15. QuestionWhat is יועזר?
  16. Responseיועזר is potnak
  17. StatementPotnak cures liver worms, and what causes them
  18. StatementBackup remedies for liver worms: cress, fasting, meat, vinegar
  19. RejectionSome say not to drink vinegar
  20. StatementLast resort for liver worms: thorn-bush scrapings in beer
  21. QuestionWhat is אבוברואה?
  22. Responseאבוברואה is the 'lonely staff'
  23. StatementThe lonely staff treats exposed drinks, with a backup remedy
  24. ProofA story of the rose-and-beer cure in action
  25. StatementWhite goat's milk as a cure
  26. StatementA honey-filled citron roasted on coals
  27. StatementAged urine in different amounts for different harms
  28. StatementHerb waters and balsam help against both dangers
  29. StatementCure for someone who swallowed a snake
  30. Proofרב שימי בר אשי uses the snake cure
  31. ProofAnother version: אליהו cures רב שימי בר אשי
  32. StatementCure for a snakebite
  33. StatementA limit on the donkey cure