Gemara Clarity

Yoma 64b

יומא ס״ד ע״ב

Learn Yoma 64b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Yoma 64b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Yoma 64b: Whether a living animal that becomes unfit can be permanently pushed aside (בעלי חיים נדחין) when one of the two Yom Kippur goats dies. רבא shows the משנה fits רב and the ברייתא fits רבי יוחנן, and then a challenge is raised against רב from רבי יהודה.

Overview

When one of the two goats of יום כפור dies after the lottery, רב and רבי יוחנן disagree about the goat that is left. רב holds בעלי חיים אינן נדחין: the survivor is not permanently disqualified and can still be used. רבי יוחנן holds בעלי חיים נדחין: the survivor is pushed aside for good, and a goat from a new pair is used instead. The amud opens with the last line of רבי יוסי's ברייתא, and then רבא shows that the משנה's wording supports רב while a ברייתא, reading the verse יעמד חי, supports רבי יוחנן. Next the גמרא challenges רב from רבי יהודה's ruling that the שעיר המשתלח must die if the blood spills. רב answers that he follows the חכמים, not רבי יהודה. The גמרא then asks what רבי יהודה and the חכמים would argue about according to רבי יוחנן, and רבא simply concedes that the משנה reads better like רב. Finally, the גמרא draws an inference from the משנה that a private חטאת in such a case is left to die. It explains this easily for רבי יוחנן using a ruling of רבי אבא in the name of רב, and the challenge against רב continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

וְאִם הָיָה הַשֵּׁנִי מוּבְחָר מִמֶּנּוּ —

And if the second one was superior to it

יְבִיאֶנּוּ.

he brings that one.

אָמַר רָבָא:

Rava said:

דַּיְקָא מַתְנִיתִין כְּווֹתֵיהּ דְּרַב,

The mishna is precise in accordance with Rav,

The steps (13)

  1. ProofThe end of רבי יוסי's teaching: use the second animal if it is better
  2. Statementרבא: the משנה's wording fits רב, the ברייתא's wording fits רבי יוחנן
  3. ProofHow the משנה's wording supports רב
  4. ProofHow the ברייתא's wording supports רבי יוחנן
  5. QuestionHow does the verse show this?
  6. ResponseThe future tense excludes a goat that already stood
  7. StatementQuoting רבי יהודה's ruling in the משנה
  8. ChallengeChallenge to רב: why must the scapegoat die?
  9. Resolutionרב follows the חכמים, not רבי יהודה
  10. ChallengeWhat do רבי יהודה and the חכמים argue about according to רבי יוחנן?
  11. Conclusionרבא: the משנה's wording fits רב
  12. StatementReading an inference from the משנה about a private sin-offering
  13. ChallengeHow רבי יוחנן explains the private case, introducing רבי אבא