Zevachim 116a

זבחים קט״ז ע״א

Learn Zevachim 116a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Offerings before the משכן: which animals were allowed, whether בני נח brought שלמים, and when יתרו came

Overview

The גמרא explains a ברייתא about the offerings brought before the משכן was set up. Back then, males, females and even blemished animals could be offered, because animals were compared to birds. An animal missing a limb was still not allowed, and רבי אלעזר learns this from 'ומכל החי'. After a long back-and-forth, the גמרא concludes that a טריפה is excluded through 'אתך', because the animals had to be like נח, who was whole. 'לחיות זרע' then teaches that the animals had to be able to reproduce. Next the גמרא explains how נח knew which animals were 'pure': either the תיבה took them in, or they came on their own. It then discusses whether בני נח brought שלמים or only עולות. This becomes a מחלוקת tied to the question of when יתרו came, before or after מתן תורה. The amud ends with three תנאים explaining what news brought יתרו: the war with עמלק, מתן תורה (with the story of the kings and בלעם), or קריעת ים סוף.

Opening lines

The steps (46)

1. StatementWhy males, females and blemished animals were allowed
2. StatementBlemished is allowed, but missing a limb is not
3. Proofרבי אלעזר's source for excluding a missing limb
4. ChallengeMaybe the פסוק excludes a טריפה instead
5. Resolutionטריפה comes from 'לחיות זרע'
6. ChallengeWhat about the view that a טריפה can give birth?
7. Resolution'With you' means animals similar to נח
8. ChallengeMaybe נח himself was a טריפה
9. Resolutionנח is called 'תמים' (whole)
10. ChallengeMaybe 'תמים' means perfect in his ways
11. ResolutionHis goodness is already covered by 'צדיק'
12. ChallengeMaybe the two words describe two kinds of goodness
13. ResolutionLogic proves נח was not a טריפה
14. QuestionThen why do we need 'לחיות זרע'?
15. Response'לחיות זרע' excludes old or castrated animals
16. StatementBefore the משכן, only pure animals were offered
17. ChallengeWere there pure and impure animals back then?
18. Resolution'Pure' means animals never used for a sin
19. QuestionHow did they know which animals were involved in sin?
20. Responseרב חסדא: the תיבה took in only the pure ones
21. Responseרבי אבהו: the pure animals came by themselves
22. StatementEverything offered was an עולה, so no שלמים?
23. ChallengeThe פסוק says שלמים were offered at סיני
24. ResolutionCorrect the wording: עולות and שלמים
25. ChallengeAnother ברייתא says only burnt offerings were brought
26. ResolutionThat ברייתא follows the view that בני נח did not bring peace offerings
27. ProofSource for the view that בני נח brought peace offerings
28. ProofSource for the view that בני נח did not bring peace offerings
29. ChallengeHow does the second view explain הבל's 'fat'?
30. Resolution'Their fat' means the fattest animals
31. ChallengeHow does the other side explain 'Awake, north'?
32. ResolutionThe north wind verse is about the ingathering of exiles
33. Challengeמשה asked פרעה for זבחים
34. Resolutionזבחים were for eating, עולות for offering
35. Challengeיתרו brought an עולה and זבחים
36. Resolutionיתרו's offering came after the Torah was given
37. ChallengeBut what about the view that יתרו came before the Torah?
38. StatementThe dispute about when יתרו came
39. ResolutionWhoever puts יתרו before the Torah holds בני נח brought שלמים
40. StatementThe dispute about יתרו goes back to the תנאים: רבי יהושע's view
41. Statementרבי אלעזר המודעי: יתרו heard about מתן תורה
42. StatementThe kings ask בלעם whether a flood is coming
43. StatementMaybe a flood of fire? בלעם says no
44. Statementבלעם explains the noise: God is giving His treasure, the Torah
45. Statementרבי אליעזר: יתרו came because he heard about the splitting of the sea
46. QuestionWhy do two similar verses describe the nations' fear differently?