Sotah 15b

סוטה ט״ו ע״ב

Learn Sotah 15b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The סוטה's barley offering, and how the cup, water and dust for the bitter waters are prepared

Overview

The amud finishes explaining why the סוטה's מנחה is barley, which is animal food. רבי מאיר says it is because she fed her lover fine foods. רבן גמליאל objects that this does not fit a poor woman, and says instead that she acted like an animal. A new משנה then describes the earthenware cup, the amount of water (חצי לוג, or a רביעית according to רבי יהודה), and the dust taken from under a marble tile in the היכל. In the גמרא, רבי ישמעאל requires a new cup, learning it from the מצורע through the shared word 'כלי'. The גמרא defends that comparison, and רבא adds that a blackened vessel is unfit. רבא then asks about a vessel that was whitened again, and the attempted proof is pushed away. Next, the גמרא explains why the כהן turns right and brings two ברייתות on where the dust must come from. The amud ends as אִיסִי בֶּן יְהוּדָה begins a teaching that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (30)

1. Statementרבי מאיר's reason for the barley offering
2. Challengeרבן גמליאל: what about a poor woman?
3. Conclusionרבן גמליאל's own reason: she acted like an animal
4. StatementThe earthenware cup and half a log of water
5. Statementרבי יהודה: only a quarter-log
6. StatementTaking dust from under the marble tile
7. ProofThe verse behind the dust
8. Statementרבי ישמעאל: the cup must be new
9. QuestionWhat is רבי ישמעאל's source?
10. ResponseLearning 'vessel' from the מצורע
11. QuestionHow do we know the מצורע's vessel must be new?
12. ResponseThe vessel is compared to the fresh water next to it
13. ChallengeThen the סוטה should also need fresh spring water
14. Resolutionרבי ישמעאל agrees: spring water is needed
15. ProofProof: רבי ישמעאל requires spring water for the כיור
16. ChallengeThe comparison can be broken: the מצורע has extra requirements
17. Resolutionרבה: The verse points to the vessel already mentioned
18. Statementרבא: A vessel with a blackened surface is unfit
19. Questionרבא asks: What if the blackened vessel is whitened again?
20. ProofProof from the מצורע's items tied to a basket
21. RejectionThe basket case is different because the items were damaged
22. QuestionWhy does the כהן turn to the right?
23. ResponseAll turns should be to the right
24. StatementCould the dust be prepared outside and brought in?
25. ResponseThe dust must be from the floor of the משכן
26. QuestionCould he dig up the floor with axes?
27. ResponseThe dust must already be there
28. ConclusionIf loose dust is there, take it; if not, put some there
29. StatementAnother ברייתא: dust may be prepared outside and brought in
30. Statementאִיסִי בֶּן יְהוּדָה begins explaining 'on the floor of the משכן'