Yoma 49b

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Learn Yoma 49b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The קטורת procedure inside קודש הקדשים, and whether a replacement כהן גדול may use the blood of a פר his predecessor slaughtered, with challenges from פסח and פטר חמור.

Overview

This amud opens with a ברייתא describing how the כהן גדול, inside קודש הקדשים on יום הכיפורים, moves the קטורת from the ladle back into his cupped hands. It then records a dispute over whether he heaps the קטורת on the coals or scatters it. The ברייתא calls this the hardest עבודה in the מקדש. The גמרא objects that מליקה and קמיצה are also very hard, so it rereads the line as 'one of the hardest'. From the ברייתא it proves that the כהן גדול scoops the קטורת a second time inside (חופן וחוזר וחופן). Next comes a new question: if the כהן גדול slaughtered his פר and then died, may a replacement enter with its blood? Two pairs of אמוראים split on how to read 'בפר'. רבי אמי challenges רבי יצחק from the deadline for joining a פסח group, and מר זוטרא challenges from the rule against redeeming a פטר חמור with a slaughtered animal. Both proofs are turned aside as special rules tied to the word 'שה' by פסח, and the גמרא explains how the doubled 'תפדה' widens the donkey law while 'שה' still limits it.

Opening lines

The steps (16)

1. StatementHow the High Priest moves the incense from the ladle into his hands
2. StatementHeaping versus scattering the incense on the coals
3. StatementThe ברייתא calls this the hardest service in the מקדש
4. ChallengeChallenge: aren't pinching and scooping just as hard?
5. ResolutionAnswer: it is one of the hardest services
6. ConclusionProof that he scoops a second time inside
7. QuestionNew question: may a replacement priest use the dead priest's bull blood?
8. ResponseTwo pairs of sages split on the bull question
9. Challengeרבי אמי challenges from the deadline for joining a Pesach group
10. Resolutionפסח is different because of a special verse
11. Challengeמר זוטרא challenges from redeeming a firstborn donkey
12. ResolutionThe donkey law is learned from פסח
13. ChallengeThen the donkey's lamb should need all of the requirements of פסח
14. ResolutionThe repeated 'redeem' widens the law
15. ChallengeIf the doubled word widens the law, why not include every animal?
16. ResolutionThe word 'lamb' still has a job, so the widening has limits