Shevuos 17a

שבועות י״ז ע״א

Shevuot 17a

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Topic

The limits of the שהייה tradition for a טמא person in the מקדש, and whether the long-way and short-way rule is about route or time

Overview

The גמרא has a tradition (גמירי) that a person who becomes טמא inside the מקדש is liable only if he stays there for a set time (שהייה), the time it takes to bow down. First come four questions that test how far this tradition reaches: lashes as well as a קרבן, someone hanging in the air of the עזרה, someone who made himself טמא on purpose, and a נזיר at a grave outside the מקדש. Each ends with תיקו. Then the גמרא returns to the משנה's rule that leaving by the long way is חייב and by the short way is פטור. רבא says the short way is פטור even if he walks heel-to-toe all day, and he asks whether several short stops add up. אביי asks רבה about someone who rushes out the long way in the time of the short way, and רבה answers that the long way always makes him חייב. רבי זירא then challenges רבה from the rule that a טמא כהן who serves gets מיתה, showing that such a case only works if the measure is a fixed time. The challenge continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (12)

1. QuestionDoes the tarrying rule cover lashes too? Left unresolved
2. QuestionA טמא person hanging in the air of the courtyard
3. QuestionSomeone who made himself impure on purpose inside
4. QuestionA נזיר at a grave: does he need to tarry before lashes?
5. StatementThe short way is exempt, even if he walks very slowly
6. QuestionDo separate short stops add up?
7. Challengeרבא's own rule should answer this
8. ResolutionThere he never actually stopped
9. QuestionRushing out the long way in the time of the short way
10. ResponseThe long way always makes him liable
11. ChallengeHow can a טמא כהן who serves ever get only מיתה?
12. ChallengeIf the time limit is a tradition, the case can work