Yoma 17a

יומא י״ז ע״א

Learn Yoma 17a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Yoma 17a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Where the chambers of the בית המוקד stood: settling the contradiction between מסכת תמיד and מסכת מידות about the לשכת הטלאים

Overview

This amud continues a contradiction about the chambers of the בית המוקד. מסכת תמיד places the chamber of the lambs (לשכת הטלאים) in the northwest corner, but מסכת מידות places it in the southwest corner. First, the גמרא concludes that מסכת מידות follows רבי אליעזר בן יעקב, so the two משניות come from different authorities. Then רב אדא בריה דרב יצחק gives another answer: the chamber was not in a corner at all. It sat along the western wall, so it looked 'south' to someone coming from the north and 'north' to someone coming from the south. The גמרא adds that the chamber was probably closer to the southwest corner. As proof, it recalls a similar contradiction about the chamber where the לחם הפנים was prepared. רב הונא בריה דרב יהושע resolved that contradiction by saying one משנה counts the chambers going to the right and the other counts going to the left.

Opening lines

The steps (5)

1. ConclusionThe משנה in מסכת מידות follows רבי אליעזר בן יעקב
2. ResolutionThe chamber stood along the wall, not in a corner
3. StatementThe chamber leaned toward the southwest
4. ProofThe proof begins: the shewbread contradiction
5. ProofCounting right versus counting left