Shabbos 63a

שבת ס״ג ע״א

Shabbat 63a

Learn Shabbos 63a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shabbos 63a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

A man going out on שבת with weapons, and the אגדות that grow out of it about ימות המשיח, Torah study, and kindness

Overview

The amud opens by finishing an אגדה about ירושלים. רב חסדא explains that the people's coded questions were all hints about immorality. Then רבי יהודה describes the city's fragrant cinnamon firewood, hidden away after the חורבן. A new משנה rules that a man may not go out on שבת with weapons, while רבי אליעזר says weapons are a man's תכשיטין and the חכמים say they are a disgrace. The גמרא brings two versions of a ברייתא about whether weapons will disappear in ימות המשיח, and ties each version to the views of שמואל and רבי חייא בר אבא. רבי אליעזר's source is the פסוק 'gird your sword… your glory', defended with the rule אין מקרא יוצא מידי פשוטו and רב כהנא's lesson to first learn and then understand. A series of teachings from רבי אלעזר and ריש לקיש then praises scholars who learn together properly, adds rewards for doing מצוות, and ranks loans and partnership above צדקה. The amud ends in the middle of ריש לקיש's teaching about a vicious dog keeping חסד out of a home, and the פסוק continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (51)

1. StatementThe last coded questions the people of ירושלים asked
2. Statementרב חסדא decodes the questions as hints about women
3. StatementThe cinnamon firewood of ירושלים
4. StatementA man may not go out on שבת with weapons
5. Statementרבי אליעזר: weapons are a man's ornaments
6. StatementThe Sages say weapons are a disgrace, not an ornament
7. StatementA garter is pure and may be worn out on שבת
8. StatementAnkle chains can become impure and may not be worn out on שבת
9. QuestionThe גמרא asks what the word אלה means
10. ResponseAn אלה is a club
11. StatementThe גמרא quotes רבי אליעזר's view from the משנה
12. ChallengeThe Rabbis ask: if weapons are ornaments, why will they disappear?
13. Resolutionרבי אליעזר answers: they will simply not be needed
14. ChallengeWhy not keep weapons just for decoration?
15. Resolutionאביי: like a candle at noon
16. StatementThis ברייתא disagrees with שמואל
17. ProofThis ברייתא supports רבי חייא בר אבא
18. ChallengeA second version: the same challenge to רבי אליעזר
19. Resolutionרבי אליעזר: even in the days of משיח they stay
20. ConclusionThe second version matches שמואל and disagrees with רבי חייא בר אבא
21. QuestionWhat is the source for calling weapons ornaments?
22. ResponseThe verse about girding a sword
23. ChallengeThe verse is about Torah, not swords
24. ResolutionA verse never loses its plain meaning
25. Statementרב כהנא only learned this rule late
26. QuestionWhat is the lesson of רב כהנא's story?
27. ResponseFirst learn, then understand
28. StatementMemory aid for the next teachings
29. StatementScholars who sharpen each other are given success
30. ProofReading 'your majesty' as 'your sharpening'
31. StatementThey also rise to greatness
32. StatementOnly if they learn for the right reasons
33. StatementOnly if they stay humble
34. StatementThey merit the Torah given with the right hand
35. StatementAnother reading: the blessings on Torah's right side
36. QuestionWhat does the verse about the Torah's two hands mean?
37. ChallengeDoes the right hand lack wealth and honor?
38. ResolutionLearning 'with the right' versus 'with the left'
39. Statementה׳ listens to scholars who are gentle with each other
40. ProofThe word 'דיבור' means calm
41. QuestionWhat does 'those who think of His name' mean?
42. ResponsePlanning a מצוה counts as doing it
43. StatementDoing a מצוה properly protects from bad news
44. StatementEven a heavenly decree can be cancelled for one who keeps מצוות
45. Statementה׳ listens to scholars who listen to each other
46. StatementNot listening to each other drives the שכינה away
47. StatementGod loves two scholars who learn together, even when they make mistakes
48. Statementרבא limits the teaching with two conditions
49. StatementLending is greater than charity, and partnership is greatest of all
50. StatementStay close to a scholar even if he is hard; avoid living near an ignorant pious man
51. StatementKeeping a vicious dog keeps kindness out of the home