Gemara Clarity

Shevuos 2a

שבועות ב׳ ע״א

Shevuot 2a

Learn Shevuos 2a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Shevuos 2a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The opening משנה of מסכת שבועות: the 'two that are four' list, and which קרבנות atone for entering the מקדש or eating קדשים while טמא, depending on what the person knew.

Overview

The מסכת opens with a list built on one repeating pattern: 'two that are four.' In four topics (שבועות, ידיעות הטומאה, יציאות השבת, and מראות נגעים), the תורה states two cases, and חז"ל show there are really four. The משנה then goes back to the case of a טמא person who entered the מקדש or ate קדשים. It explains what atones for him, depending on whether he knew about the sin before it happened, after it happened, both, or neither. If he knew both before and after, he brings a קרבן עולה ויורד. If he knew only before, the inner שעיר of יום הכיפורים holds off his punishment until he finds out. If he knew only after, the outer שעיר of יום הכיפורים atones, and a פסוק links the two goats to prove this. If he never knew at all, רבי יהודה says the goats of the רגלים and of ראש חודש atone, while רבי שמעון says only the רגלים goats do. The amud ends by asking what the ראש חודש goats atone for according to רבי שמעון, and the answer comes on the next amud.

Opening lines

מַתְנִי׳ שְׁבוּעוֹת

MISHNA: Oaths

– שְׁתַּיִם שֶׁהֵן אַרְבַּע.

are two types that are four.

יְדִיעוֹת הַטּוּמְאָה

Cases of awareness of impurity

– שְׁתַּיִם שֶׁהֵן אַרְבַּע.

are two types that are four.

The steps (11)

  1. StatementOaths: two that are four
  2. StatementAwareness of impurity: two that are four
  3. StatementCarrying out on שבת: two that are four
  4. StatementShades of leprous marks: two that are four
  5. StatementKnowing at the start and at the end means bringing a sliding-scale offering
  6. StatementKnowing only at the start: the inner goat holds off punishment
  7. StatementKnowing only at the end: the outer goat atones
  8. ProofThe verse links the outer goat to the inner goat
  9. StatementNo awareness at all: the יום טוב and ראש חודש goats atone, says רבי יהודה
  10. Statementרבי שמעון: only the festival goats atone for this
  11. QuestionSo what do the ראש חודש goats atone for?