Gemara Clarity

Shabbos 26a

שבת כ״ו ע״א

Shabbat 26a

Learn Shabbos 26a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 26a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Forbidden and permitted fuels for the שבת lamp (balsam sap, טבל טמא, נפט לבן, the תוספתא's debate on oils), ending with tree-based materials and linen for טומאה and סכך

Overview

This amud continues the discussion of fuels that may not be used for the שבת lamp. First, the גמרא explains that balsam sap is forbidden for two reasons: it is dangerous because it flares up (עף), and there is also a גזירה that a person might take some for himself. A short story about a mother-in-law shows how dangerous balsam oil is, and a verse about the poor people left to gather balsam and trap the חלזון is explained. Next, a ברייתא forbids lighting with טבל טמא and נפט לבן even on a weekday. The danger of נפט לבן is clear, and a verse teaches that טבל טמא is forbidden because a כהן may use impure תרומה only after it has been separated. The גמרא then quotes the full תוספתא, where תנאים argue about which fuels are allowed, from רבי טרפון's 'olive oil only' to רבי יוחנן בן נורי's rule that only fuels the חכמים named are forbidden. The amud ends with a ברייתא saying that tree-based materials, except linen, cannot become טמא as cloth and may be used as סכך. אביי begins to comment on this, and his words continue on the next amud.

Opening lines

לֵימָא מָר: מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא עָף.

Let the Master say: because it is volatile (it 'flies').

חֲדָא וְעוֹד קָאָמַר:

He was saying one reason and another:

חֲדָא — מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא עָף.

One: because it is volatile.

וְעוֹד — גְּזֵירָה שֶׁמָּא יִסְתַּפֵּק מִמֶּנּוּ.

And another: a decree, lest he take some of it for himself.

The steps (15)

  1. ChallengeWhy not give the simpler reason: it is dangerous?
  2. ResolutionTwo reasons were intended: danger and a decree
  3. StatementStory: a mother-in-law and the balsam oil
  4. StatementThe poor who were left behind: balsam gatherers and snail trappers
  5. Statementברייתא: no lighting with impure טבל or white naphtha, even on a weekday
  6. QuestionWhite naphtha makes sense, but why impure טבל?
  7. ResponseA verse shows that impure תרומה may only be used after it is separated
  8. StatementBack to the תוספתא: no lighting with צרי, which is balsam sap
  9. StatementThree תנאים narrow which fuels may be used
  10. Challengeרבי יוחנן בן נורי protests: what will people in other lands do?
  11. Statementרבי יוחנן בן נורי's rule: only what the חכמים listed is forbidden
  12. StatementMore permitted fuels: fish oil, tar, gourd oil, and naphtha
  13. QuestionIsn't סומכוס saying the same as the first opinion?
  14. ResponseThey argue about רב ברונא's ruling, but we don't know who holds which side
  15. StatementTree-based materials cannot become impure as cloth, except linen