Sotah 16b

סוטה ט״ז ע״ב

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

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Topic

The מצורע's full shaving, substitutes for the סוטה's dust, which items must be visible in water, and the order of dust and water

Overview

This amud opens by finishing an earlier question. Why is the מצורע's shaving 'like a gourd' missing from רבי ישמעאל's list of cases where הלכה goes beyond the פסוק? The answer is that this rule belongs to רבי עקיבא, who learns it from the פסוק through ריבוי ומיעוט: the whole body is shaved except inside the nose. Next, the גמרא tries to prove from רב that ashes may replace dust in the סוטה's water. The proof is rejected, because decayed vegetables turn into dust and ashes never do. Then a ברייתא lists items that must be visible: the סוטה's dust, the פרה's ashes, and the יבמה's spit. רבי ישמעאל adds the מצורע's bird blood. He and the רבנן argue back and forth over which פסוק teaches mixing the blood with the water, and whether the blood must be recognizable. רבי זירא then dismisses a question about birds too big or too small, since the measure was set with a sparrow in mind. The amud ends with an argument about putting the dust in before the water. רבי שמעון allows it through a two-way גזירה שוה with פרה אדומה. The רבנן require the water first, because the helper item always goes on top.

Opening lines

The steps (25)

1. ResolutionThe gourd-shaving rule follows רבי עקיבא
2. ProofThe ברייתא showing רבי עקיבא's reading of the shaving verse
3. ResponseWhat is included and what is left out
4. QuestionWhat was decided about ashes for the סוטה water?
5. Proofרב allows decayed vegetable matter when there is no dust
6. RejectionRejection: decayed vegetables become dust, but ashes never do
7. StatementThree things must be visible, and רבי ישמעאל adds a fourth
8. QuestionWhat is רבי ישמעאל's source?
9. ResponseThe פסוק says both blood and water, so the blood must show in the water
10. ResponseThe רבנן: the פסוק only means dip in both together
11. Responseרבי ישמעאל: the extra words teach that the blood must be recognizable
12. ResponseThe רבנן explain why the Torah says 'blood' and 'water' separately
13. Responseרבי ישמעאל learns mixing from a different verse
14. ResponseThe רבנן explain why the slaughter פסוק is not enough
15. Questionרבי ירמיה asks about a bird too big or too small for the water
16. ResponseStay with real cases: the sparrow is the measure
17. StatementDust put in before the water: a ברייתא with two opinions
18. QuestionWhy does רבי שמעון say it is valid?
19. ResponseAshes are called 'dust' to link פרה אדומה with סוטה
20. ConclusionThe link works both ways: dust first is valid by the סוטה too
21. QuestionHow do we know this about פרה אדומה?
22. ResponseTwo phrases in the פסוק, so either order works
23. ResponseHow the רבנן read the same פסוק
24. ChallengeWhy not read it the other way around?
25. ResolutionThe helper item always goes on top