Taanis 29a

תענית כ״ט ע״א

Taanit 29a

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Topic

The sources for the disasters of ט׳ באב, and how joy goes down in אב and up in אדר

Overview

This amud opens with the last line of the earlier discussion about the עבודה זרה in the בית המקדש. The גמרא then goes through the משנה's list of disasters that happened on ט׳ באב. First it uses the dates in the פסוקים to show that the מרגלים returned, and the people cried, on the night of ט׳ באב. Along the way, אביי explains that תמוז had 30 days that year. ה׳ answered their crying for nothing by making that night a time of crying for all generations. Next, a ברייתא fits together two פסוקים about the first בית המקדש, which give the seventh and the tenth: the fire was set late on the ninth. רבי יוחנן would have chosen the tenth for the fast, but the רבנן mark the start of the disaster. The second בית המקדש, ביתר, and the plowing of the city follow, along with stories of a Roman officer who saved רבן גמליאל and of the young כהנים who gave the keys back to ה׳. The amud ends with רב's teaching that once אדר begins, we increase our joy.

Opening lines

The steps (34)

1. ConclusionClosing line: You want to destroy the House
2. QuestionWhere do we know the decree on ט׳ באב came from?
3. ResponseStarting point: the משכן was set up in the second year
4. ProofThe cloud lifted on the twentieth of the second month
5. ProofThree days of travel, and turning away from God
6. ProofA month of eating meat brings us to the twenty-second of סיון
7. Proofמרים's seven days bring us to the twenty-ninth of סיון, and the מרגלים are sent
8. ProofThe מרגלים were sent on 29 סיון and returned after forty days
9. ChallengeThe count comes out one day short
10. Resolutionאביי: That year תמוז had thirty days
11. ProofThe night of crying was ט׳ באב
12. StatementThe first בית המקדש was destroyed: the פסוק in מלכים says the seventh
13. ChallengeThe פסוק in ירמיהו says the tenth
14. ResolutionA ברייתא explains how both the seventh and the tenth are correct
15. ProofA פסוק shows the fire began toward evening
16. Statementרבי יוחנן would have set the fast on the tenth
17. ResolutionWhy the רבנן chose the ninth
18. QuestionHow do we know the second בית המקדש fell on ט׳ באב
19. ResponseBad events are drawn to a bad day
20. ProofThe details of the day the first בית המקדש fell
21. ProofThe לויים were cut off in the middle of their song
22. ConclusionThe same happened with the second בית המקדש
23. Responseביתר's capture is known by tradition
24. StatementThe plowing of the היכל and the decree against רבן גמליאל
25. StatementThe officer's hidden warning and רבן גמליאל's hiding
26. StatementThe officer's deal: saving רבן גמליאל for a share in עולם הבא
27. StatementThe officer gives his life and the decree is cancelled
28. ConclusionA בת קול: the officer has earned עולם הבא
29. StatementYoung כהנים bring the היכל keys to the roof
30. ConclusionA hand takes the keys and the priests jump into the fire
31. Statementישעיהו laments over the young כהנים
32. ConclusionEven הקדוש ברוך הוא cries out over the destruction
33. StatementBack to the משנה: lowering joy once אב begins
34. StatementJust as joy goes down in אב, it goes up in אדר