Sotah 36b

סוטה ל״ו ע״ב

Learn Sotah 36b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The names on the אבני אפוד, the refutation of רב כהנא, and how יוסף and יהודה sanctified God's name

Overview

This amud finishes a ברייתא showing that the tribes' names on the אבני אפוד were arranged as in ספר שמות and written in their birth form, such as ראובן and not ראובני. Since this does not match רב כהנא, he is refuted. The גמרא then reads 'והחציו' as teaching that the half facing הר גריזים was larger. That was even though לוי stood below, because the numerous בני יוסף were there, and a side story explains that עין הרע has no power over them. Next the גמרא asks how the names reach fifty letters. רבי יצחק's answer, the ה in יהוסף, is rejected, and the extra letter is found in the full spelling בנימין. רבי שמעון חסידא teaches that יוסף got a letter of God's name for sanctifying it in private, while יהודה, who did so in public, carries the whole Name. The גמרא tells how יוסף resisted אשת פוטיפר, what he gained and lost, and how בנימין named his sons after him. It then tells how the added letter helped יוסף learn seventy languages before פרעה. Finally it begins רבי מאיר's story of the tribes at the sea to show יהודה's public act, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (37)

1. StatementThe אבני אפוד follow the order of ספר שמות, not ספר במדבר
2. StatementThe exact layout of the names on the two stones
3. QuestionSo what does 'according to their birth' mean?
4. ResponseIt means the names their father gave them
5. ChallengeThis is a refutation of רב כהנא
6. ConclusionThe refutation stands
7. QuestionThen what does 'and the half' teach?
8. ResponseThe half facing הר גריזים was larger
9. ChallengeLosing לוי should make that half smaller, not bigger
10. ResolutionEven without לוי, the large tribe of יוסף made that side bigger
11. Statementיהושע tells בני יוסף to hide from the evil eye
12. Rejectionבני יוסף reply that the evil eye cannot harm them
13. ProofA second source: like fish hidden under water
14. ChallengeThe names on the stones only add up to forty-nine letters
15. Resolutionיוסף's name was written with an extra letter
16. ChallengeThe names must match their birth
17. ResolutionThe extra letter is in בנימין's name
18. StatementPrivate versus public sanctifying of ה׳'s Name
19. QuestionWhat was יוסף's private act?
20. ResponseThe day יוסף came into the house
21. StatementWhat did יוסף come in to do?
22. ChallengeHow could such a big house be empty?
23. ResolutionIt was their holiday, and she stayed home
24. StatementHis father's image appears in the window
25. StatementReading 'his bow abode firm' as יוסף overcoming his desire
26. StatementHow יוסף earned the אפוד and the title 'shepherd'
27. Statementיוסף's lost twelve tribes come through בנימין
28. StatementThe first four names: בלע, בכר, אשבל, גרא
29. StatementThe remaining names: נעמן through ארד
30. StatementA second explanation of the name ארד
31. StatementThe astrologers object to a slave ruling over them
32. StatementThe seventy-language test and גבריאל's help
33. ProofThe פסוק that shows the added letter, and יוסף passes the test
34. Statementפרעה cannot learn Hebrew and makes יוסף swear to keep it secret
35. StatementThe secret oath forces פרעה to let יוסף bury his father
36. QuestionWhat is the story of יהודה?
37. Responseרבי מאיר: the tribes argued over who would enter the sea first