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Sotah 21a

סוטה כ״א ע״א

Learn Sotah 21a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Which merit delays a סוטה's punishment, and the power of Torah compared with a מצוה

Overview

The גמרא finishes matching the משנה's rule, that merit can hold off a סוטה's punishment for up to three years, to רבי ישמעאל. His twelve-month delay can repeat up to three times, and he calls his source only a hint because non-Jews may be judged differently. The גמרא then asks which merit does the delaying. Torah study seems ruled out because a woman is not commanded to learn. The merit of a מצוה is also questioned, since a ברייתא compares a מצוה to a lamp that protects only for a while, and Torah to sunlight that protects forever. The ברייתא also adds a parable about a man walking in the dark. רב יוסף and then רבא explain that a מצוה still protects from suffering after it is done. רבינא says instead that a woman shares the Torah merit of her sons and husband. The amud ends by explaining the parable's crossroads, the mistake of דואג and אחיתופל, and the story of הלל and שבנא, which shows that money cannot buy a share in Torah after the learning is done.

Opening lines

הֵן תֶּהֱוֵי אַרְכָא לִשְׁלֵוְתָךְ״,

and then there shall be an extension to your tranquility.

וּכְתִיב: ״כֹּלָּא מְטָא עַל נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר מַלְכָּא״,

And it is written: 'All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar,'

וּכְתִיב: ״לִקְצָת יַרְחִין תְּרֵי עֲשַׂר״!

and it is written: 'At the end of twelve months'!

לְעוֹלָם רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל,

Actually, it is Rabbi Yishmael,

The steps (27)

  1. ChallengeEnd of רבי ישמעאל's proof from נבוכדנצר
  2. ResolutionThe משנה follows רבי ישמעאל: the delay can repeat three times
  3. QuestionWhy did רבי ישמעאל call it only a hint?
  4. ResponseNon-Jews may be judged differently
  5. QuestionWhich merit delays the punishment?
  6. ChallengeTorah study can't be it: she isn't commanded
  7. ResponseSuggestion: the merit of a מצוה
  8. ChallengeA ברייתא says a מצוה protects only for a short time
  9. ProofTorah is like sunlight and protects forever
  10. StatementParable: a man walking alone in the dark
  11. StatementThe torch, the dawn and the crossroads
  12. ProofA sin puts out a מצוה but not Torah
  13. Resolutionרב יוסף: a מצוה still protects after it is done
  14. Challengeרבה: then why didn't Torah save דואג and אחיתופל?
  15. Resolutionרבא rearranges the rule
  16. Resolutionרבינא: it really is Torah merit, through her sons and husband
  17. QuestionWhat is the crossroads in the parable?
  18. Responseרב חסדא: A Torah scholar on his day of death
  19. Responseרב נחמן בר יצחק: A Torah scholar with fear of sin
  20. Responseמר זוטרא: A תלמיד חכם whose learning matches the הלכה
  21. StatementHad דואג and אחיתופל understood this, they would not have chased דוד
  22. ResponseThe verse דואג and אחיתופל misread
  23. QuestionWhat does 'he would be utterly scorned' mean?
  24. Responseעולא: Not people like שמעון אחי עזריה or רבי יוחנן דבי נשיאה
  25. ResponseThe Scorned One Is Like הלל and שבנא
  26. Statementרב דימי Tells the Story of the Two Brothers
  27. ConclusionThe בת קול Rejects שבנא's Offer