Shevuos 11b

שבועות י״א ע״ב

Shevuot 11b

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

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Topic

The court's silent condition (לב בית דין מתנה) on communal offerings: rare cases, the פרה אדומה, and the מחלוקת between רבי שמעון and the חכמים

Overview

This amud continues a back-and-forth between אביי and רבה about לב בית דין מתנה, the idea that the court silently sets a condition on communal animals. Under that condition, animals that turn out to be unneeded have only money-holiness and can be redeemed without a blemish. אביי asks why lost goats of the communal idol-worship offering must wait for a blemish. רבה answers that the court only makes conditions for common cases, and lost animals are rare. אביי points to the פרה אדומה, which is rare but can be redeemed. רבה first says the פרה is only בדק הבית property, but that answer is knocked down using רבי שמעון and ריש לקיש. רבה then says the פרה is an exception because it is so expensive. The גמרא explains that a dead פרה is redeemed for its hide, since even a small part of something so valuable is worth saving. אביי then objects from רבי שמעון's ruling on switching goats between days. רבה answers that רבי שמעון rejects the court's condition, while the חכמים accept it, as shown by the case of leftover תמידין. The גמרא begins asking who those חכמים are, and the discussion continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (19)

1. ProofLost goats of the idol-worship offering: die, or graze until blemished
2. ChallengeWhy not say the court's unspoken condition applies here?
3. ResolutionLost animals are different because they are rare
4. ChallengeThe פרה אדומה is rare, yet it can be redeemed
5. RejectionThe פרה is different: it is only holy for Temple upkeep
6. ChallengeHow can a dead heifer be redeemed without standing and valuation?
7. ResolutionThe ברייתא follows רבי שמעון, who exempts בדק הבית items from standing and valuation
8. ChallengeThe end of the ברייתא says a properly slaughtered heifer can never be redeemed
9. Proofריש לקיש says רבי שמעון allows redeeming the heifer even on its woodpile
10. ResolutionThe heifer is different because it is very expensive
11. ChallengeWhy redeem a dead פרה if only dogs can eat it?
12. ResolutionIt is redeemed for its hide
13. ChallengeWould the court make a condition just for a hide?
14. ResolutionFrom a camel, even its ear
15. Challengeאביי brings רבי שמעון's ruling on switching goats
16. ChallengeWhy not just say the court made a condition?
17. Resolutionרבי שמעון doesn't hold of the court's condition
18. ProofProof from leftover תמידין
19. QuestionWho are the חכמים who argue with רבי שמעון?