Succah 52b

סוכה נ״ב ע״ב

Sukkah 52b

Learn Succah 52b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Succah 52b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The battle with the יצר הרע, end-of-days figures in the נביאים, and the lighting at שמחת בית השואבה.

Overview

This amud continues the אגדה about the יצר הרע. ריש לקיש teaches that it attacks a person every day, and only הקדוש ברוך הוא's help lets him win. דבי רבי ישמעאל says to drag it into the בית המדרש, because תורה wears it down like water on stone or smashes it like a hammer. Other teachings show how it grows: it tempts a person and later testifies against him, it moves from outside him to inside him, and it changes from a passing traveler to a guest to the master of the house. Feeding a desire only makes it hungrier. The יצר הרע is listed among four creations הקדוש ברוך הוא 'regrets,' and רבי יוחנן and רב פפא bring verses showing that ה׳ takes part in fixing the human heart. Next the גמרא identifies end-of-days figures: the four craftsmen in זכריה (after a challenge from רב ששת), and the seven shepherds and eight princes in מיכה. Finally it returns to the משנה of שמחת בית השואבה. It explains that the young כהנים carried 30 לוגין each up steep ladders, a feat greater than that of the strong son of מרתא בת בייתוס. It then begins a ברייתא about the light reaching every courtyard in ירושלים, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (33)

1. StatementThe evil inclination attacks daily, but God helps a person win
2. StatementThe cure: drag the evil inclination to the study hall
3. ProofVerses proving that תורה dissolves stone and shatters iron
4. StatementThe evil inclination tempts now and testifies later
5. ProofA letter code shows that מנון means 'witness'
6. ChallengeTwo verses disagree about where the spirit of promiscuity is
7. ResolutionFirst it leads astray from outside, later it lives inside
8. Statementרבא: The evil urge goes from traveler to guest to master
9. ProofThe proof from נתן's parable of the poor man's lamb
10. Statementרבי יוחנן: Feeding a desire makes it hungrier
11. StatementFour creations that God 'regrets' creating
12. ProofA verse for each of the four
13. StatementThree verses that keep Israel from falling
14. ProofListing the three verses
15. Proofרב פפא adds a fourth verse
16. QuestionWho are the four craftsmen?
17. ResponseThe four craftsmen are four redeemers
18. Challengeרב ששת: the verse calls them destroyers
19. ResolutionLook at the end of the verse
20. Conclusionרב ששת yields to רב חנא in אגדתא
21. QuestionWho are the seven shepherds in Micah's vision?
22. ResponseThe seven shepherds, with David in the middle
23. QuestionWho are the eight princes of men?
24. ResponseThe list of the eight princes
25. StatementBack to the משנה: the lamp height and the oil jugs
26. QuestionWas the 120 לוגין the total or per boy?
27. ResponseProof: 30 each, 120 in total
28. StatementThe young כהנים were more impressive than a famous strongman
29. StatementThe strength of the son of מרתא בת בייתוס
30. QuestionIn what way were the boys more impressive?
31. RejectionIt can't be about weight
32. ResolutionThe difference: a gentle ramp vs. steep ladders
33. StatementBack to the משנה: no courtyard was left without light