Sotah 49b

סוטה מ״ט ע״ב

Learn Sotah 49b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Sotah 49b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The end of the משנה's lament over the decline after the חורבן and in the time before the משיח, followed by the opening of the גמרא: which kinds of bridegroom crowns were banned (רב, שמואל, לוי).

Overview

This amud finishes the משנה and the whole of מסכת סוטה. The משנה ends its lament over the decline after the חורבן. It then describes the dark time before the משיח: חוצפה, high prices, heresy in power, rotting Torah wisdom and families turning on each other. Twice it ends with the same answer: we can rely only on our Father in Heaven. The גמרא then goes back over the decrees from the time of the wars. רב, שמואל and לוי argue about which bridegroom crowns were banned. The גמרא also defines the forbidden drum, the brides' 'city of gold' crown and the gold-trimmed grooms' canopy. A ברייתא tells how a traitor's use of Greek wisdom during the חשמונאי civil war led to the curse on teaching it. The גמרא then separates the Greek language, which is allowed, from Greek wisdom, which is banned except for families close to the government, like רבן גמליאל's. Finally it explains the bride's covered carriage, lists the special greatness lost with each great חכם, and records רב יוסף and רב נחמן objecting to the last line before the הדרן closes the מסכת.

Opening lines

The steps (42)

1. StatementThe people keep declining and our only support is ה׳
2. StatementSigns of the time before the משיח: society and land
3. StatementSigns of the time before the משיח: Torah, truth and family
4. Statementרב: only crowns of salt and sulfur were banned
5. Statementשמואל: myrtle and rose are also banned, but reeds are allowed
6. Statementלוי: even crowns of reeds are banned
7. Proofלוי's ברייתא matches his view
8. QuestionWhat is the forbidden drum?
9. ResponseA drum with one opening
10. Statementרב הונא breaks his grandson's tambourine
11. QuestionWhat are brides' crowns?
12. ResponseA gold 'city' crown
13. ProofA ברייתא agrees, and allows a wool cap
14. StatementThey also banned grooms' canopies
15. QuestionWhich canopy is meant?
16. ResponseGold-decorated crimson cloths
17. ProofA ברייתא agrees, and allows a papyrus frame
18. StatementThe Hasmonean civil war begins the Greek story
19. StatementCoins down, offering animals up
20. StatementThe elder's secret hint and the pig on the wall
21. ConclusionThe curse on raising pigs and teaching Greek wisdom
22. StatementThat year the offerings came from unusual places
23. ChallengeBut רבי and רב יוסף praised Greek and Persian
24. ResolutionThe Greek language is different from Greek wisdom
25. ChallengeWas Greek wisdom really forbidden? Half of רבן גמליאל's household studied it
26. Resolutionרבן גמליאל's family was different because they dealt with the government
27. ProofProof from a ברייתא: people close to the government got special permission
28. StatementQuoting the משנה: the decree against a bride's covered carriage
29. QuestionAsking for the reason
30. ResponseBecause of modesty
31. StatementQuoting the משנה: when רבן יוחנן died, wisdom ceased
32. StatementA ברייתא: what was lost when רבי אליעזר, רבי יהושע and רבי עקיבא died
33. Statementרבי אלעזר בן עזריה and the crowns of wisdom
34. Statementרבי חנינא בן דוסא and אבא יוסי בן קטונתא
35. QuestionWhy was he called בן קטונתא?
36. ResponseHe lived when the pious had become few
37. Statementבן עזאי and בן זומא
38. StatementTroubles after רבן שמעון בן גמליאל and רבי
39. StatementWith רבי, humility and fear of sin ended
40. Rejectionרב יוסף: do not teach that humility ended
41. Rejectionרב נחמן: do not teach that fear of sin ended
42. ConclusionHadran: closing פרק עגלה ערופה and מסכת סוטה