Shevuos 11a

שבועות י״א ע״א

Shevuot 11a

Learn Shevuos 11a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shevuos 11a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

What kind of holiness does leftover incense have, and how can it be redeemed? The debate between רבה and רב חסדא, and רבה's idea that the בית דין makes a silent condition.

Overview

The amud opens with the end of רב חסדא's claim that leftover incense can be redeemed because it has only קדושת דמים, holiness tied to its value. רבה challenges him with a ברייתא saying that once incense is placed in the mortar, a טבול יום disqualifies it. He then uses a משנה about מנחות to show that value-holiness alone is not disqualified by a טבול יום, so incense must have more than קדושת דמים. רב חסדא pushes back with another משנה, which names the incense itself. If the incense had קדושת הגוף, it should also be disqualified by being left overnight, yet that משנה ties לינה to being made holy in a vessel. רבה answers that incense is different, because it never spoils, so לינה proves nothing. The גמרא returns to the basic question: if the incense had real holiness, where did that holiness go when it was redeemed? רבה answers that the בית דין silently makes a condition: whatever is not needed was only holy for its value. אביי challenges this from רבה's own ruling about a male animal dedicated for its value, and רבה separates dedicating it 'for the value of an עולה' from dedicating it 'for the value of נסכים'. אביי then begins a new challenge from the lost פר and שעיר of יום הכפורים, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (12)

1. ResolutionIncense has only value-holiness
2. ChallengeA טבול יום can disqualify incense
3. RejectionValue-holiness alone is not disqualified by a טבול יום
4. ProofThe inference from the משנה
5. Challengeרב חסדא pushes back: then it should be disqualified by being left overnight
6. ProofOnly a vessel brings disqualification by being left overnight
7. RejectionIncense is different, because it does not spoil
8. ChallengeBack to the original problem: where did the holiness go?
9. ResolutionThe court makes a silent condition
10. Challengeאביי Quotes רבה's Own Rule Against Him
11. ResolutionIt Depends on What Value It Was Dedicated For
12. Challengeאביי Begins a Challenge from the Lost Yom Kippur Offerings