Yevamos 120b

יבמות ק״כ ע״ב

Yevamot 120b

Learn Yevamos 120b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

When סימנים and serious wounds are enough to testify that a husband died

Overview

The גמרא finishes explaining the argument about a mole: both sides may trust סימנים, and they argue only about whether a mole is a סימן מובהק. It then challenges the version of רבא that trusts סימנים מדאורייתא, since our משנה will not rely on signs on the body or belongings. The first answer is that body signs means weak ones like tall or short, and belongings may have been borrowed. The borrowing worry is tested against a donkey returned by its saddle and a lost גט tied to a ring, purse or money bag. The answer is that people do not lend these items. A second answer says the belongings had only common colors. Next the גמרא asks whether a person who is מגוייד can survive. אביי says our משנה follows רבי שמעון בן אלעזר, and רבא says it is about a white-hot knife, which everyone agrees can save him. Finally, שמואל explains when a wild animal's bite or cutting both סימנים lets witnesses testify to death. The גמרא then works through challenges from giving a גט and from גלות.

Opening lines

The steps (22)

1. ResolutionThe argument is about whether a mole is a fully reliable sign
2. ChallengeChallenge to רבא's version from our משנה
3. ResolutionBody marks means weak signs, and belongings may be borrowed
4. ChallengeThen how do we return a donkey by its saddle marks?
5. ResolutionPeople do not borrow saddles
6. ChallengeA lost גט tied to a purse, bag or ring
7. ResolutionRings, purses and money bags are not lent out
8. ResolutionA second answer: the belongings in the משנה had only general colors
9. ChallengeCan a cut-open person really survive?
10. Resolutionאביי: the two sources follow different opinions
11. ChallengeThe incident in עסיא seems to go against רבי שמעון בן אלעזר
12. ResolutionWater makes a wound worse
13. ChallengeThe camel that died before it stopped crying out
14. ResolutionThat camel was weak
15. ResolutionA white-hot knife, and everyone agrees
16. StatementWhich bites by a wild animal count as deadly
17. StatementTestifying after both passageways were cut
18. ChallengeA man with cut passageways can still order a divorce
19. ResolutionAlive now, but sure to die
20. ChallengeThen the one who cut him should go to exile
21. ResolutionMaybe the wind made it worse
22. ResolutionA second reason begins: maybe the man himself