Yoma 26b

יומא כ״ו ע״ב

Learn Yoma 26b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

How many כהנים serve with the תמיד, איל, and פר; the morning-only ניסוך המים; the afternoon logs; and why a זר may skin and cut a קרבן

Overview

The amud opens with the closing line of the earlier discussion about the פייסות, the lotteries for Temple jobs. A new משנה then teaches that the תמיד is carried by 9 to 12 כהנים: 9 on a regular day, 10 on סוכות, 11 for the afternoon תמיד or on שבת, and 12 on a שבת during סוכות. The גמרא proves two ways that ניסוך המים is poured only with the morning תמיד: from the משנה's choice of example for 12, and from the story of the crowd pelting a כהן with their אתרוגים. A ברייתא of רבי שמעון בן יוחי learns from ״וערכו עצים״ that the afternoon תמיד needs two logs carried by two כהנים. The גמרא defends that reading from the change in the Torah's wording. רבי חייא counts up to 16 כהנים in the פייס. Another ברייתא counts 17, and the גמרא explains that it follows רבי יהודה rather than רבי אליעזר בן יעקב. A second משנה gives the counts for an איל (11 כהנים) and a פר (24 כהנים), and limits these counts to קרבנות ציבור. The גמרא ends with חזקיה's proof that a זר may do the הפשט and ניתוח, because the Torah names כהנים only for placing the fire.

Opening lines

The steps (26)

1. ConclusionClosing line: that view matches neither רבי אליעזר בן יעקב nor רבי יהודה
2. Statementמשנה: the תמיד is brought by 9 to 12 כהנים
3. StatementExplaining 9 and 10: a regular day and סוכות
4. StatementExplaining 11: the afternoon תמיד with two logs
5. StatementExplaining 11 on שבת and 12 on שבת of סוכות
6. StatementWater is poured on סוכות only with the morning תמיד
7. QuestionWhat is the source?
8. ResponseThe source: the משנה's case of שבת during סוכות
9. ProofWhy the משנה's choice proves the rule
10. Proofרב אשי's second proof from the אתרוג story
11. ConclusionConclusion: the proof stands
12. StatementSource that the afternoon offering needs two logs and two priests
13. ChallengeChallenge: maybe both verses are about the morning
14. ResolutionAnswer: the Torah would have repeated the same word
15. RejectionRejection: the change in wording may teach one priest, then two
16. ResolutionSame verb would have been used if only the number of priests changed
17. ConclusionConclusion: the second verse refers to the afternoon
18. StatementHow many priests are chosen in the second lottery
19. ChallengeA teaching that says seventeen
20. ResolutionThe two teachings follow different תנאים
21. StatementA ram is offered by eleven priests
22. StatementA bull is offered by twenty-four priests
23. StatementThese counts apply only to communal offerings
24. StatementEqual means both may be done by a non-priest
25. Questionחזקיה asks for the source
26. ResponseOnly the fire needs a priest