Sotah 36a

סוטה ל״ו ע״א

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Topic

The miracles and events of the day ישראל crossed the ירדן, the hornet, and the split of the tribes on the mountains and the אפוד stones

Overview

The amud opens by naming the author of the earlier ברייתא: it follows רבי שמעון. Then it describes the miracles on the day ישראל crossed the ירדן. They traveled more than sixty מיל to הר גריזים and הר עיבל, and no enemy could stand against them. A פסוק in שירת הים hints at two entries into the land. The גמרא concludes that ישראל deserved miracles the second time too, but sin prevented them. Next comes the rest of that day: building the מזבח, writing the תורה on the stones in seventy languages, the offerings, the blessings and curses, and carrying the stones to גלגל. A ברייתא says the hornet did not cross the ירדן. ריש לקיש and רב פפא each answer the challenge from a פסוק. Finally the גמרא returns to the משנה. רב כהנא says the tribes were split on the mountains the same way as on the stones of the אפוד, and a ברייתא about those stones is brought to challenge him; it continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (15)

1. ConclusionThe earlier teaching follows רבי שמעון
2. StatementThe miracles on the day of crossing the ירדן
3. ProofA second verse hints at two entries into the land
4. Conclusionישראל deserved miracles the second time too, but sin prevented it
5. StatementBuilding the מזבח and writing the תורה in seventy languages
6. StatementOfferings, blessings and curses, and taking the stones to גלגל
7. ProofThe stones were set down only at that one night's lodging
8. StatementA teaching: the hornet did not cross the ירדן
9. ChallengeChallenge: the תורה promises God will send the hornet
10. ResolutionThe hornet attacked from the bank of the river
11. ResolutionThere were two different hornets
12. QuestionWhat does 'and the half of it' mean?
13. ResponseThe split matches the stones of the אפוד
14. ChallengeA ברייתא about the two shoulder stones
15. ChallengeOnly the second stone followed birth order, and each stone had twenty-five letters