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Succah 49a

סוכה מ״ט ע״א

Sukkah 49a

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

Open Succah 49a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The parts of the מזבח that are required for it to be valid, and the שיתין (drainpipes under the מזבח): where they came from, how deep they go, and what was found in them

Overview

The amud opens with the end of a ברייתא listing the parts every מזבח must have: a כבש (ramp), a קרן (horn), a יסוד (base), and a square shape. If any one of them is missing, the מזבח is פסול for עבודה. רבי יוסי בר יהודה adds that the סובב (ledge) is also required. The גמרא then turns to the שיתין, the pits under the מזבח that received the wine of the נסכים. רבי יוחנן teaches from a פסוק in שיר השירים that ה׳ created the שיתין during the six days of creation. דבי רבי ישמעאל reads בראשית as ברא שית, 'He created the pit.' רבי יוסי learns from the vineyard song in ישעיהו that the שיתין are hollow and reach down to the תהום. Finally, רבי אלעזר בר צדוק describes a small gap near the כבש: once every seventy years, young כהנים gathered hardened wine from there and burned it בקדושה. The פסוק for that practice is quoted, and its explanation continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

שֶׁכׇּל מִזְבֵּחַ שֶׁאֵין לוֹ

for any altar that does not have

לֹא כֶּבֶשׁ וְלֹא קֶרֶן

not a ramp and not a horn

וְלֹא יְסוֹד וְלֹא רִיבּוּעַ —

and not a base and not a square shape

פָּסוּל לַעֲבוֹדָה.

is disqualified for the service.

The steps (8)

  1. StatementAn altar missing its essential parts is invalid
  2. Statementרבי יוסי בר יהודה adds the ledge
  3. StatementThe drainpipes were created during the six days of creation
  4. ProofReading the verse word by word
  5. ProofReading בראשית as ברא שית, 'He created the pit'
  6. Statementרבי יוסי: the pipes reach down to the deep, from ישעיהו's song of the vineyard
  7. ProofMapping the vineyard onto the Temple
  8. StatementOnce every seventy years, the hardened wine was gathered and burned