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Shevuos 16b

שבועות ט״ז ע״ב

Shevuot 16b

Learn Shevuos 16b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Liability for becoming טמא inside the עזרה: the source from משכן and מקדש, and the rules of bowing and staying

Overview

The משנה says a person who became טמא while already inside the עזרה can be liable. רבי אלעזר learns this from two פסוקים, one saying 'משכן ה׳' and one saying 'מקדש ה׳'. A ברייתא seems to use up both words for other lessons, so the גמרא explains that the lesson comes from the switch between the two names. Since each building can be called by either name, the תורה could have used one word twice. The גמרא then proves from שמות 25:8-9 that the משכן is also called 'מקדש'. Next, רבא explains the משנה's rule about bowing: bowing toward the קודש הקדשים makes a person liable right away, but bowing outward counts only if he stayed long enough to bow. The גמרא defines the long bow as lying fully spread out and measures it by the time it takes to say a פסוק from דברי הימים. A ברייתא then defines קידה, כריעה and השתחוואה. Finally, רבא asks whether this staying is also needed for מלקות, and that question continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

נִטְמָא בָּעֲזָרָה

He became impure in the Temple courtyard

וְנֶעֶלְמָה מִמֶּנּוּ טוּמְאָה וְכוּ׳.

and the impurity was hidden from him, etc.

טוּמְאָה בַּעֲזָרָה מְנָלַן?

Impurity in the courtyard: from where do we derive it?

אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר,

Rabbi Elazar said:

The steps (20)

  1. StatementQuoting the משנה: became impure inside the courtyard
  2. QuestionAsking for the source for impurity inside the courtyard
  3. Responseרבי אלעזר learns it from two verses
  4. ChallengeChallenge: the verses are not really extra
  5. ProofProof from a ברייתא: each word is needed
  6. ResolutionThe change in wording teaches two lessons
  7. QuestionWhere is the Tabernacle called 'Temple'?
  8. RejectionFirst proof rejected: that verse is about the Ark
  9. ResponseThe real proof from the building of the משכן
  10. Statementרבא explains that bowing counts only when facing inward
  11. ChallengeSecond version: the later clause seems to say bowing itself needs staying
  12. Resolutionרבא: the staying requirement applies only to outward bowing
  13. QuestionWhat bowing has staying and what bowing has none?
  14. ResponseKneeling has no staying; spreading out hands and feet has staying
  15. QuestionHow long is the staying?
  16. ResponseTwo Sages disagree: the whole verse, or from 'and they kneeled' to the end
  17. StatementThe verse used to measure the staying
  18. StatementThree kinds of bowing and their proofs
  19. Questionרבא asks if staying is needed for lashes
  20. QuestionFirst side: the staying tradition may only be for an offering