Gemara Clarity

Sotah 16a

סוטה ט״ז ע״א

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

Open Sotah 16a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The source of the סוטה dust, whether ashes may replace it, and רבי ישמעאל's list of places where the הלכה goes beyond the פסוק

Overview

The גמרא finishes איסי בן יהודה's list of places where the משכן stood, showing that the סוטה dust is taken from the Sanctuary floor wherever it is. איסי בן מנחם says no פסוק is needed for this, since a קל וחומר teaches it. He reads 'בקרקע המשכן' as teaching that the dust must come from the floor itself, not from a basket. The גמרא then asks whether ashes may be used if there is no dust. It explains that this question only arises according to בית הלל. To answer it, the גמרא brings רבי ישמעאל's list of three places where the הלכה goes beyond the פסוק: dust for covering blood, a נזיר's razor, and the scroll of a גט. Since סוטה is not on the list, it seems ashes are not allowed. The גמרא answers that the list is not complete and points to the מצורע, who shaves his whole body even though the פסוק, read as a כלל ופרט וכלל, seems narrower. רב נחמן בר יצחק, רב פפא and רב אשי then each explain why רבי ישמעאל did not count the מצורע.

Opening lines

שִׁילֹה נוֹב וְגִבְעוֹן

Shiloh, Nob, and Gibeon,

וּבֵית עוֹלָמִים.

and the Eternal House.

אִיסִי בֶּן מְנַחֵם אוֹמֵר,

Isi ben Menachem says,

אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ:

It is not needed:

The steps (16)

  1. StatementThe places where the Sanctuary stood
  2. Statementאיסי בן מנחם learns it from a קל וחומר
  3. ResolutionWhat the words 'floor of the Sanctuary' teach instead
  4. QuestionIf there is no dust, may ashes be used?
  5. RejectionNo question according to בית שמאי
  6. QuestionThe real question according to בית הלל
  7. Proofרבי ישמעאל's three places where the halacha goes beyond the verse
  8. ChallengeIf ashes worked, סוטה should be on the list
  9. ResolutionThe list is not complete
  10. ChallengeWhat else was left out?
  11. ResolutionHe also left out the מצורע's shaving
  12. StatementWhat the rule for the מצורע's shaving includes and leaves out
  13. ProofThe הלכה says the מצורע shaves his whole body
  14. Resolutionרב נחמן בר יצחק: the הלכה here only overrides a דרשה of the חכמים
  15. Resolutionרב פפא: the הלכה here adds to the פסוק and does not uproot it
  16. Resolutionרב אשי: the limiting ברייתא is רבי ישמעאל's own view