Sotah 48b

סוטה מ״ח ע״ב

Learn Sotah 48b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Blessings that ceased: the אורים ותומים, prophecy, the שמיר, נופת צופים and אנשי אמנה

Overview

The עמוד asks who the 'early prophets' in the משנה are, since the אורים ותומים stopped when they died. רב הונא says they are דוד, שמואל and שלמה. A ברייתא shows that the אורים ותומים lasted until the first בית המקדש was destroyed. So רב נחמן בר יצחק explains that 'early' only excludes the last prophets, חגי, זכריה and מלאכי. After them רוח הקודש left ישראל, but a בת קול still spoke, pointing to הלל הזקן and later שמואל הקטן. Next the גמרא discusses the שמיר: רבי יהודה and רבי נחמיה argue whether iron tools cut the stones of the בית המקדש, and the שמיר is shown engraving the stones of the חושן. The גמרא then lists more things lost with the first בית המקדש and explains נופת צופים and the word זיפים. Finally it explains 'אנשי אמנה' as people who trust הקב"ה and begins רבא's reading of 'יום קטנות', which continues on the next עמוד.

Opening lines

The steps (45)

1. ProofEnd of the verse about שאול opening its mouth
2. QuestionWho are 'the early prophets'?
3. Responseרב הונא: דוד, שמואל and שלמה
4. Responseרב נחמן: even in דוד's days it didn't always answer
5. Challengeרבה בר שמואל: a פסוק about seeking ה׳ in זכריהו's days
6. ResolutionNo, it means through prophets
7. ChallengeA ברייתא: the אורים ותומים ended with the first בית המקדש
8. ProofThe ברייתא explains away the פסוק in עזרא about the אורים ותומים
9. Responseרב נחמן בר יצחק's new explanation of 'early prophets'
10. ProofProof that חגי, זכריה and מלאכי were the last prophets
11. StatementEven after prophecy ended, a heavenly voice was still used
12. ProofThe heavenly voice in יריחו points to הלל הזקן
13. ProofThe heavenly voice in יבנה points to שמואל הקטן
14. Statementשמואל הקטן predicts disaster as he dies
15. StatementNo eulogy for רבי יהודה בן בבא
16. StatementThe שמיר and רבי יהודה's literal reading
17. Challengeרבי נחמיה: another פסוק says saws were used
18. Resolutionרבי נחמיה: cut outside, brought inside
19. Conclusionרבי settles: Temple stones and palace stones
20. QuestionWhat was the שמיר for, according to רבי נחמיה?
21. ResponseThe שמיר engraved the stones of the חושן
22. ResponseHow the שמיר engraved the stones without cutting them
23. StatementA ברייתא describes the שמיר
24. QuestionHow was the שמיר stored?
25. ResponseStored in wool, inside a lead vessel full of bran
26. Statementרבי אמי: fine silk and white glass stopped after the first בית המקדש
27. ProofA ברייתא supports רבי אמי and adds more items
28. QuestionWhat is נופת צופים?
29. Responseרב: fine flour that floats on the sieve
30. Responseלוי: two loaves that swell until they touch
31. Responseרבי יהושע בן לוי: honey from high places
32. QuestionWhere is this meaning found?
33. Responseרב ששת's תרגום: bees bring honey from mountain plants
34. StatementA משנה about poured liquids mentions 'זיפים' honey
35. QuestionWhat does 'זיפים' mean?
36. Responseרבי יוחנן: honey good enough to be faked
37. Responseריש לקיש: honey named after the place זיף
38. StatementThe same word appears in a פסוק about דוד
39. QuestionWho were the זיפים in the פסוק?
40. Responseרבי יוחנן: people who twisted their words
41. Responseרבי אלעזר: named after their town
42. StatementWho are the 'people of faith' who ceased?
43. ProofBread today, worry about tomorrow
44. StatementSmall faith costs even צדיקים their reward
45. Statementרבא's different reading: the small children of the wicked