Tamid 29b

תמיד כ״ט ע״ב

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Topic

The end of שמואל's exaggerations (the golden גפן and the פרוכת), and why olive and vine wood are not used on the מערכה.

Overview

This amud finishes the sources for שמואל's statement that חכמים sometimes spoke in exaggerated language. People hung donated gold pieces on the golden vine, and moving it supposedly took three hundred כהנים. The פרוכת is described as huge and costly, and supposedly needed three hundred כהנים to immerse it. Then the גמרא returns to the משנה: any wood may go on the מערכה except olive and vine. רב פפא says these woods are knotty. רב אחא בר יעקב says using them would harm the settlement of ארץ ישראל. A ברייתא seems to challenge רב אחא בר יעקב, since the תנא קמא allows palm wood even though the palm is a valuable tree. The answer is that the fig and palm wood that was used came from trees that do not bear fruit. The גמרא then asks whether a fruitless fig really exists, and begins quoting רחבה about white figs; his statement continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (16)

1. StatementDonors hang their gifts on the golden vine
2. ProofThree hundred priests to move the vine
3. ProofThe curtain's thickness and weave
4. ProofThe curtain's size, cost and weight
5. StatementBack to the משנה: no olive or vine wood
6. QuestionWhy not olive and vine wood?
7. Responseרב פפא: the wood is knotty
8. Responseרב אחא בר יעקב: protecting the settlement of ארץ ישראל
9. ChallengeA ברייתא: altar wood must burn fully and be free of knots
10. ProofWhich trees are fit for the altar fire
11. ChallengeThe knots reason explains the disagreement well
12. ChallengeIsn't the palm tree also important to the Land?
13. ResolutionThe same question applies to the fig tree
14. ResolutionA fig or palm that does not bear fruit
15. QuestionIs there really a fig that gives no fruit?
16. ResponseYes, like רחבה's white figs