Sotah 46a

סוטה מ״ו ע״א

Learn Sotah 46a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The עגלה ערופה: which blemishes and work disqualify it compared with the פרה אדומה, the measure of pulling a yoke, and the meaning behind the ceremony

Overview

The משנה finishes the עגלה ערופה ceremony. The כהנים pray for forgiveness, and the end of the פסוק is רוח הקודש promising that the blood is forgiven. The גמרא asks why a blemish does not disqualify the עגלה when it does disqualify the פרה אדומה. The answer is that the word בה limits the blemish rule to the פרה, while a גזירה שוה from the word עול carries the work rule from the עגלה to the פרה. This leads to a long side discussion about how we know that work does not disqualify קדשים. The גמרא then looks directly at רב's ruling that a load of sacks disqualifies the פרה, while the עגלה is disqualified only once it pulls. It explains that this depends on a dispute of תנאים about the source of the פרה's work rule. Then רבי יוחנן gives the measure of pulling: the width of a yoke, a טפח. רבי יוחנן בן שאול explains the symbolism of killing a barren heifer in a barren stream for a victim who lost his chance to do מצוות. Finally, the גמרא begins to prove that נחל איתן means a hard stream, and the proof continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (44)

1. StatementThe priests' prayer for forgiveness
2. StatementThe end of the verse is a divine promise
3. ChallengeA blemish should disqualify the heifer by logic
4. ResolutionThe word 'בה' limits the blemish rule to the red heifer
5. ChallengeThen other work should not disqualify the red heifer
6. Challengeרב rules that even a load disqualifies the red heifer
7. ResolutionThe work rule comes from a גזירה שוה: 'yoke' and 'yoke'
8. ChallengeLet the blemish rule reach the calf through the same link
9. ResolutionThe word בה blocks the blemish rule
10. ChallengeThe calf also has the word בה
11. ResolutionThe calf's בה teaches that work does not disqualify קדשים
12. ChallengeThe קל וחומר can be broken: the calf has an age limit
13. ResolutionSome קדשים also have an age limit
14. ChallengeWe already know this from another פסוק
15. ResolutionBoth sources are needed: permitted work versus forbidden work
16. ChallengeAnother source already teaches that work does not disqualify קדשים
17. ResolutionEach source covers a different case
18. Statementרב: a load of sacks disqualifies the פרה, but the עגלה only once it pulls
19. ChallengeA ברייתא learns 'other work' for the פרה from the עגלה
20. ChallengeThe ברייתא's backup source: a גזירה שוה on the word 'yoke'
21. QuestionWhy did the ברייתא say 'if you want to argue'?
22. ResponseThe קל וחומר can be broken, so the word 'yoke' is needed
23. ChallengeIf the פרה is learned from the עגלה, it should need pulling too
24. Resolutionתנאים disagree about where the rule comes from
25. ProofA ברייתא learns the rule from the פרה's own פסוק
26. ChallengeMaybe the פרה verse is a general rule limited by its detail
27. ResolutionThe word אֲשֶׁר widens the rule
28. ProofA matching ברייתא about the עגלה ערופה
29. ChallengeThe same general-and-detail question for the עגלה
30. ResolutionAgain, אֲשֶׁר widens the rule
31. QuestionHow far must the animal pull the yoke
32. ResponseThe answer: a full yoke's measure
33. QuestionLength or width of the yoke
34. ResponseBy its width, a טפח
35. ChallengeWhy not just say 'a handbreadth'?
36. ResolutionHe was teaching that a yoke is a handbreadth wide
37. QuestionWhat practical difference does this make?
38. ResponseIt matters for buying and selling
39. StatementWhy the heifer is brought to a stream
40. QuestionWhat does 'fruit' mean here?
41. ChallengeIt cannot mean having children
42. ResolutionThe 'fruit' is מצוות
43. Statementנחל איתן means a hard, strong stream
44. ProofA ברייתא begins to prove that איתן means hard