Yoma 52b

יומא נ״ב ע״ב

Learn Yoma 52b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Yoma 52b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

איסי בן יהודה's five undecidable פסוקים; the כהן גדול's path to the ארון with the קטורת, which בית המקדש the משנה describes, and how the קטורת was piled

Overview

The amud finishes איסי בן יהודה's list of five פסוקים in the תורה that have no הכרע: שאת, משוקדים, מחר, ארור, and וקם. In each one, a word could belong to the phrase before it or to the phrase after it. A ברייתא shows that יוסף איש הוצל is the same person as איסי בן יהודה. The גמרא explains that his count of five covers only the תורה, since נביאים has more. It also explains that רב חסדא's doubt about a פסוק in שמות was a doubt only for רב חסדא, not for איסי. A new משנה describes the כהן גדול's path between the two curtains to the ארון on יום כיפור, the burning of the קטורת, and his short prayer. The גמרא asks which בית המקדש this could be. It proves that יאשיהו hid the ארון, and it answers that the משנה means the second בית המקדש and 'the place of the ארון.' Finally, אביי explains two conflicting ברייתות about where the קטורת is piled as a dispute between תנאים, and he begins a proof for one side that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (24)

1. StatementFirst example: the word שאת
2. StatementSecond example: the word משוקדים
3. StatementThird example: the word מחר
4. StatementFourth example: the word ארור
5. StatementThe fifth undecidable word: וקם
6. ChallengeOne sage with many names
7. ResolutionFive in the Torah, more in נביאים
8. Challengeרב חסדא's doubt about a Torah verse
9. ResolutionDoubtful to רב חסדא, obvious to איסי
10. Statementמשנה: walking between the two curtains to the ארון
11. StatementPlacing the incense and leaving with a short prayer
12. ChallengeWhich Temple is the משנה describing?
13. ProofProof that the Ark was hidden away
14. Statementיאשיהו hid the ארון because of a coming exile
15. ProofThe verse showing that יאשיהו hid the ארון
16. ProofHow we know which objects were hidden with the ארון
17. ResolutionThe משנה means the place where the ארון used to stand
18. ChallengeBut the משנה mentions the ארון's carrying poles
19. ResolutionRead it as 'as if between the poles'
20. StatementThe משנה follows the view that he piles the incense
21. ChallengeTwo ברייתות disagree about where he starts piling
22. Resolutionאביי: It is a dispute between תנאים
23. Statementאביי: The 'far side' view makes more sense
24. Proofאביי begins his proof from a משנה's warning