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Shabbos 17a

שבת י״ז ע״א

Shabbat 17a

Learn Shabbos 17a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 17a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The ox-goad decree (מרדע) as one of the י״ח דברים, the eighteen decrees. רבי טרפון says the ruling was misunderstood, רבי עקיבא defends it, רבי ינאי explains it, and the גמרא makes sure the count of eighteen still works for רבי טרפון.

Overview

This amud continues the list of the eighteen decrees made on one day. רבי טרפון swears that the ox-goad (מרדע) decree is a garbled הלכה. רבי עקיבא defends it by spelling out exactly who becomes טמא and at what size, and רבי ינאי explains that it is a decree on an object whose circumference is a טפח. The גמרא asks how רבי טרפון still reaches eighteen. רב נחמן בר יצחק answers that he counts the decree on the daughters of כותים and follows רבי מאיר on drawn water. Next comes the decree on grapes picked for the wine press, which שמאי and הלל argued about. The גמרא tells the story of the sword in the בית המדרש, the day that was as hard as the day of the Golden Calf, and how the decree was accepted only from the students. It then asks for the reason behind the decree: זעירי in the name of רבי חנינא gives impure baskets and then pitched baskets, while רבא points to clusters stuck together. The amud ends as the גמרא begins to name another of the decrees, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

אֲקַפֵּחַ אֶת בָּנַי

I will bury my sons

שֶׁזּוֹ הֲלָכָה מְקוּפַּחַת,

if this is not a truncated ruling,

שֶׁשָּׁמַע הַשּׁוֹמֵעַ, וְטָעָה:

that the listener heard and erred:

הָאִיכָּר עוֹבֵר וּמַרְדְּעוֹ עַל כְּתֵפוֹ

the farmer was passing with his ox goad on his shoulder

The steps (18)

  1. Statementרבי טרפון says the ox-goad ruling was misunderstood
  2. Statementרבי עקיבא explains the decree so it stands
  3. Statementרבי ינאי: the decree is about circumference
  4. ChallengeFor רבי טרפון, the count of eighteen is short
  5. Resolutionרב נחמן בר יצחק completes רבי טרפון's count
  6. StatementThe next decree: harvesting grapes for the press
  7. Challengeהלל compares grapes to olives
  8. Resolutionשמאי threatens to extend the decree to olives
  9. StatementA sword in the בית המדרש and הלל sitting like a student
  10. StatementA day as hard as the day of the Golden Calf
  11. StatementThe decree was accepted only when the students issued it
  12. QuestionWhy was this decree made?
  13. ResponseFirst reason: impure baskets
  14. ChallengeThe first reason works only for one opinion
  15. ResolutionSecond reason: sealed, pitched baskets
  16. Responseרבא's reason: grapes stuck together
  17. ProofJuice squeezed to test ripeness stays wet until harvest
  18. QuestionWhat is the remaining decree?