Yoma 45b

יומא מ״ה ע״ב

Learn Yoma 45b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Giving each altar-fire verse its job: returning burned parts, the extra arrangement on יום הכיפורים, and why the fire for the קטורת, the מנורה and the מחתה comes from the outer altar

Overview

This amud continues the discussion of the wood arrangements (מערכות) on the outer altar, especially on יום הכיפורים, and gives each verse about the altar fire its own job. First a ברייתא finishes teaching that limbs not yet burned go back on the altar, or wait on the כבש or סובב until the large arrangement is made. רבי מאיר uses that same verse to teach that partly burned parts of an עולה are returned to the altar, but partly burned קטורת is not, and a ברייתא from the school of רבי אליעזר בן יעקב supports him. Next the גמרא notes that all opinions agree on an extra arrangement on יום הכיפורים, learned from the extra letters in ״והאש״. A ברייתא then teaches from ״אש תמיד״ that the arrangement for the קטורת coals must be on the outer altar. The ברייתא asks where the fire for the מנורה and the מחתה comes from. Each time it tries a logical comparison, then shows that an opposite comparison is just as strong, so a פסוק is needed. ״אש תמיד״ fixes the מנורה's fire on the outer altar, and ״מלפני ה׳״ shows the מחתה's coals come from the outer altar too. Finally the גמרא begins to explain why that פסוק needs both ״מעל המזבח״ and ״מלפני ה׳״, and this explanation continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (18)

1. StatementUnburned limbs are arranged on the altar, or wait beside it
2. Responseרבי מאיר uses the verse for returning partly burned offering parts
3. ProofA ברייתא supports רבי מאיר's reading
4. ConclusionEveryone agrees on an extra arrangement on יום הכיפורים
5. QuestionWhere do they learn the extra arrangement from
6. ResponseIt comes from the extra letters in the word for 'and the fire'
7. QuestionWhat does the phrase 'a perpetual fire' teach
8. ResponseThe incense arrangement must be on the outer altar
9. QuestionWhere must the fire for the coal pan and the מנורה come from?
10. ResponseLogical comparison: like the daily incense, use the outer altar
11. RejectionA competing comparison: use the altar nearest to it
12. ResponseThe verse decides: the מנורה's fire comes from the outer altar
13. QuestionThe מנורה is solved, but what about the coal pan?
14. ResponseA proposed comparison: the coal pan is like the מנורה, so outer altar
15. RejectionA competing comparison points the מחתה to the inner altar
16. ResponseThe words 'from before ה׳' prove it is the outer altar
17. StatementWhy the פסוק needs both phrases: the first reason
18. StatementThe second reason begins: why 'from upon the altar' is needed