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Shevuos 27b

שבועות כ״ז ע״ב

Shevuot 27b

Learn Shevuos 27b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Oaths about a מצוה versus optional matters, and the rules of repeated oaths not to eat a loaf: how many times one is liable, which wording forbids what, and what happens when an oath is annulled.

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a ברייתא of רבי יונתן. It then shows that the rule 'a שבועת ביטוי applies only to optional matters' can also fit רבי יאשיה, who follows רבי עקיבא's method of רבויי ומיעוטי. The limiting words of the verse must leave out something, and that only works if the verse is about דבר הרשות. Next the גמרא discusses רבי יהודה בן בתירא, who holds one is liable for an oath about a מצוה. He points to oaths to do good to others, and the חכמים answer that such an oath still has a valid negative form ('I will not do good'), while a מצוה does not. A new משנה then teaches that swearing several times not to eat a loaf makes one liable only once, and it lists the penalties for שבועת ביטוי and שבועת שוא. Using רבא's rule that 'I will not eat' forbids any כזית while 'I will not eat it' forbids only the whole loaf, the גמרא explains why the order of the oaths matters. It also explains that an extra oath still exists and takes effect if the first is annulled. A suggested proof from two נזירות is rejected. Finally, רב אחא בריה דרבא challenges רבא's rule about annulling an oath on a loaf while a כזית remains, and the discussion continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

עַד שֶׁיִּפְרוֹט לְךָ הַכָּתוּב ״יַחְדָּיו״.

until the verse spells out for you "together."

אֲפִילּוּ תֵּימָא רַבִּי יֹאשִׁיָּה;

You can even say it follows Rabbi Yoshiya;

וְסָבַר לַהּ כְּרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא

and he holds like Rabbi Akiva,

דְּדָרֵישׁ רִבּוּיֵי וּמִיעוּטֵי,

who learns from additions and limitations,

The steps (21)

  1. StatementEnd of רבי יונתן's rule: separate unless the verse says 'together'
  2. ResolutionThe derivation can fit רבי יאשיה too
  3. ProofThe verse must be about optional matters
  4. StatementQuoting רבי יהודה בן בתירא from the משנה
  5. ChallengeThe חכמים's reply to רבי יהודה בן בתירא looks strong
  6. Resolutionרבי יהודה בן בתירא answers with the case of doing good to others
  7. RejectionThe חכמים explain why doing good to others is different
  8. StatementSwearing three times not to eat the same loaf
  9. StatementThe penalties for breaking a שבועת ביטוי
  10. StatementThe penalty for a vain oath
  11. QuestionWhy does the משנה use two different wordings?
  12. ResponseThe order of the oaths decides how many times he is liable
  13. Statementרבא: 'I will not eat' means any bite, 'I will not eat it' means the whole loaf
  14. QuestionWhy mention the third oath?
  15. ResponseNo extra liability, but the oath is still there
  16. QuestionWhen does this make a difference?
  17. Responseרבא: if the first oath is annulled, the second takes its place
  18. ProofA possible proof from two נזירות
  19. RejectionThe two נזירות are not like two oaths
  20. Statementרבא: you can annul an oath on a loaf only while an olive-bulk remains
  21. ChallengeWhich oath wording could רבא mean?