Shabbos 89a

שבת פ״ט ע״א

Shabbat 89a

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Topic

אגדות about מתן תורה: משה and the angels, שטן's search for the תורה, the crowns on the letters, the sin of the עגל, and the meaning of the name סיני.

Overview

This amud continues an אגדה from the previous daf. The angels had objected to giving the תורה to humans, and משה shows them that every command in the עשרת הדברות fits human life, not angels. The angels agree, each one gives משה a gift, and even מלאך המות teaches him that קטורת stops a plague. Then רבי יהושע בן לוי tells three more stories. In the first, שטן searches all of creation for the תורה, is sent to משה, and משה humbly refuses credit, so the תורה is called by his name: תורת משה. In the second, משה finds God tying crowns on the letters and learns that he should wish his Master success. In the third, the word בשש is reread as באו שש, explaining how שטן tricked the people into believing משה had died, which led to the עגל. Finally, the גמרא asks why the mountain is called סיני. Two answers are rejected, and the accepted one is that hatred (שנאה) came down on the nations there. This is supported by רבי יוסי ברבי חנינא's list of the desert's five names, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (26)

1. Challengeמשה challenges the angels: שבת and oaths do not apply to you
2. Challengeמשה continues: honoring parents and the moral commands do not fit angels
3. ConclusionThe angels agree with God, proven from a verse
4. StatementEach angel becomes משה's friend and gives him a gift
5. ProofEven מלאך המות gave משה a secret
6. Statementרבי יהושע בן לוי: שטן asks God where the תורה is
7. Statementשטן searches the earth, sea and depths, and none has the תורה
8. Statementשטן returns and God sends him to משה
9. Questionשטן asks משה for the תורה and משה humbly deflects
10. ChallengeGod challenges משה: are you lying?
11. Resolutionמשה explains: the תורה is God's treasure, and I take no credit
12. ConclusionBecause משה made himself small, the תורה is called by his name
13. StatementGod tying crowns on the letters
14. ChallengeGod asks why משה did not greet Him
15. Resolutionמשה: a servant does not greet his master
16. ConclusionYou should have helped Me, and משה does so
17. StatementRereading בושש as 'six hours have come'
18. StatementHow the שטן confused the people
19. ProofThis is why they told אהרן 'this man משה'
20. QuestionWhat does the name הר סיני mean?
21. ResponseFirst answer: a mountain of miracles
22. ChallengeThen it should be called הר ניסאי
23. ResolutionSecond answer: a mountain of good omen
24. ChallengeThen it should be called הר סימנאי
25. ResponseThe real answer: hatred came down on the nations
26. ProofSupport: the desert has five names, each from an event