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Yevamos 7a

יבמות ז׳ ע״א

Yevamot 7a

Learn Yevamos 7a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Whether executions override שבת (the ברייתא of "לא תבערו"), and why the word עליה is needed, using the rules of דבר שהיה בכלל ויצא

Overview

The גמרא is explaining a ברייתא that uses the פסוק "לא תבערו" to teach that בית דין does not carry out executions on שבת. רב שמי בר אשי says the ברייתא's first idea, that executions might override שבת, came from a קל וחומר: execution overrides עבודה, and עבודה overrides שבת. The puzzling words "או אינו" are read as an attempt to break that קל וחומר from קבורת מת מצוה. The attempt fails, so the פסוק is needed. The גמרא then explains "או אינו" according to its earlier reading, in which the תנא went back and forth over whether an עשה can override a לאו that carries כרת. Next the גמרא gives a new reason why the word עליה is needed in the יבום פרשה. One might apply the rule of דבר שהיה בכלל ויצא מן הכלל ללמד and permit all עריות, the way the example of שלמים teaches about all קדשי מזבח. The גמרא rejects this comparison, because אשת אח is permitted while her group is forbidden. It says her case fits a different rule instead: something that left its group for a new law, יצא לידון בדבר החדש. A ברייתא illustrates that rule with the אשם of a מצורע, and its explanation continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

וּמָה עֲבוֹדָה, שֶׁהִיא חֲמוּרָה

If the Temple service, which is severe,

וְדוֹחָה שַׁבָּת —

and overrides Shabbat,

רְצִיחָה דּוֹחָה אוֹתָהּ,

murder overrides it,

שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״מֵעִם מִזְבְּחִי תִּקָּחֶנּוּ לָמוּת״,

as it is stated: "From My altar you shall take him to die,"

The steps (19)

  1. StatementThe קל וחומר: execution should override שבת
  2. QuestionWhat does "or perhaps not" mean?
  3. ResponseBurial of a מת מצוה seems to break the קל וחומר
  4. RejectionThe תנא pushes back: burial should also override שבת
  5. ConclusionThe פסוק "לא תבערו" settles it
  6. QuestionHow to read "or perhaps not" under the earlier assumption
  7. ResponseRereading או אינו as a positive מצוה overriding a prohibition
  8. RejectionDoubting whether a positive מצוה overrides a prohibition with כרת
  9. RejectionHow serious the prohibition is should not matter
  10. ConclusionThe verse לא תבערו is needed
  11. ResolutionA new reason the word עליה is needed
  12. StatementA ברייתא introduces the rule about something that left a general rule
  13. ProofThe example of שלמים eaten while טמא
  14. ResolutionApplying the rule to a brother's wife
  15. RejectionThe comparison does not work
  16. ResolutionA new comparison: something that left its group for a brand-new law
  17. ProofA ברייתא states the rule
  18. QuestionThe example: why does the פסוק compare אשם to חטאת?
  19. ResponseThe מצורע's אשם got a new law, so one might think it skips the altar