Sotah 29a

סוטה כ״ט ע״א

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Topic

The verses that forbid a סוטה, two sources for doubtful טומאה, and a קל וחומר for a third-level loaf.

Overview

The amud opens by finishing the argument between רבי עקיבא and רבי ישמעאל about what the word ונטמאה forbids for a סוטה. The גמרא rejects one explanation, then says רבי עקיבא has four verses: husband, בועל, כהונה and תרומה. רבי ישמעאל has three verses and learns כהונה through a קל וחומר. The גמרא explains why רבי ישמעאל uses his verse for תרומה: like the husband and בועל, תרומה matters while the husband is alive. It then gives two ways to explain רבי עקיבא. Next, רב גידל in the name of רב brings a verse as a second source for doubtful טומאה. It teaches that something that can be asked is impure when in doubt, and something that cannot be asked is pure. The גמרא shows why both this verse and the lesson from סוטה are needed. Finally it turns to the משנה about a third-level loaf. רב explains רבן יוחנן בן זכאי's view with a קל וחומר from a טבול יום. That קל וחומר is refuted, and a new source for it begins at the end of the amud and continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (17)

1. ChallengeIf a doubtful זונה counts as a real זונה, תרומה wouldn't need a verse either
2. Resolutionרבי עקיבא has four verses: husband, בועל, כהונה, תרומה
3. Statementרבי ישמעאל has three verses, and כהונה comes from a קל וחומר
4. ChallengeWhy should רבי ישמעאל's verse go to תרומה and not to כהונה?
5. ResolutionThe extra verse should match the husband and paramour, which apply during the husband's lifetime
6. Resolutionרבי עקיבא does not accept the comparison to husband and paramour
7. ResolutionThe Torah sometimes writes out what a קל וחומר could teach
8. Statementרב's source for doubtful impurity: only certain impurity may not be eaten
9. ChallengeThe end of the verse seems to say the opposite
10. ResolutionTwo kinds of doubt: something that can be asked and something that cannot
11. StatementWhy the source from סוטה is still needed
12. ConclusionWhy רב's source is still needed
13. StatementQuoting the משנה about רבי עקיבא's teaching on the earthen vessel
14. ChallengeIf there is no verse, why did רבן יוחנן בן זכאי call the loaf impure?
15. Resolutionרב's answer: a קל וחומר from a טבול יום
16. RejectionThe קל וחומר is refuted: a טבול יום was once an אב הטומאה
17. ResolutionLet it be derived from a better source