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Sotah 37b

סוטה ל״ז ע״ב

Learn Sotah 37b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The forty-eight covenants on every מצוה, the blessings and curses at הר גריזים and הר עיבל, and the start of the משנה on ברכת כהנים

Overview

This amud starts by finishing a ברייתא that counts the covenants (בריתות) made on every מצוה. There are sixteen at each place the Torah was given, and three places, so forty-eight in all. רבי שמעון swaps הר גריזים and הר עיבל for the אהל מועד. The גמרא ties this to the מחלוקת between רבי ישמעאל and רבי עקיבא about whether the details of the Torah were given at סיני. רבי שמעון בן יהודה multiplies the covenants by 603,550, one for every Jew. רבי adds a further layer, which רב משרשיא explains as being a guarantor for a guarantor. Next, רבי יהודה בן נחמני teaches that the whole passage of curses is about adulterers, and proves it from the curse on making an idol. A ברייתא then learns from one פסוק that the blessing comes before the curse, that blessings and curses take turns, and that the blessings are said exactly like the curses. Finally, a new משנה begins to explain how ברכת כהנים is said in the מדינה and in the מקדש.

Opening lines

אַרְבַּע, אַרְבַּע וְאַרְבַּע הֲרֵי שְׁמוֹנֶה,

Four. Four and four make eight.

שְׁמוֹנֶה וּשְׁמוֹנֶה הֲרֵי שֵׁשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה.

Eight and eight make sixteen.

וְכֵן בְּסִינַי,

And so too at Sinai,

וְכֵן בְּעַרְבוֹת מוֹאָב,

and so too at the plains of Moab,

The steps (18)

  1. StatementCounting up to sixteen covenants
  2. ProofThe same sixteen at Sinai and at the plains of Moab
  3. ConclusionForty-eight covenants on every מצוה
  4. Statementרבי שמעון swaps the mountains for the Tent of Meeting
  5. StatementThe argument depends on רבי ישמעאל and רבי עקיבא
  6. ConclusionNo מצוה lacks forty-eight covenants
  7. StatementEach covenant was made once for every Jew
  8. Statementרבי says each individual Jew had 603,550 covenants
  9. QuestionWhat is the difference between the two statements?
  10. ResponseThe difference is being a guarantor for a guarantor
  11. StatementThe whole passage of curses speaks about adulterers
  12. QuestionIs a curse really enough for an idol worshipper?
  13. ResponseThe curse is on parents whose forbidden union led their son to idols
  14. QuestionWhy does the Torah repeat which mountain gets the blessing?
  15. ResponseThe blessing must come before the curse
  16. StatementOne blessing, then one curse, alternating
  17. StatementThe blessings are said exactly like the curses
  18. StatementNew משנה: How ברכת כהנים is said in the מדינה and in the מקדש